Quantum correlation measure in arbitrary bipartite systems

A definition of quantum correlation is presented for an arbitrary bipartite quantum state based on the skew information. This definition not only inherits the good properties of skew information such as the contractivity and so on, but also is effective and almost analytically calculated for any bipartite quantum states. We also reveal the relation between our measure and quantum metrology. As applications, we give the exact expressions of quantum correlation for many states, which provides a direct support for our result.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures. Comments are welcom

Alterations in the oral microbiome in HIV infection: causes, effects and potential interventions

A massive depletion of CD4(+) T lymphocytes has been described in early and acute human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, leading to an imbalance between the human microbiome and immune responses. In recent years, a growing interest in the alterations in gut microbiota in HIV infection has led to many studies; however, only few studies have been conducted to explore the importance of oral microbiome in HIV-infected individuals. Evidence has indicated the dysbiosis of oral microbiota in people living with HIV (PLWH). Potential mechanisms might be related to the immunodeficiency in the oral cavity of HIV-infected individuals, including changes in secretory components such as reduced levels of enzymes and proteins in saliva and altered cellular components involved in the reduction and dysfunction of innate and adaptive immune cells. As a result, disrupted oral immunity in HIV-infected individuals leads to an imbalance between the oral microbiome and local immune responses, which may contribute to the development of HIV-related diseases and HIV-associated non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome comorbidities. Although the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has led to a significant decrease in occurrence of the opportunistic oral infections in HIV-infected individuals, the dysbiosis in oral microbiome persists. Furthermore, several studies with the aim to investigate the ability of probiotics to regulate the dysbiosis of oral microbiota in HIV-infected individuals are ongoing. However, the effects of ART and probiotics on oral microbiome in HIV-infected individuals remain unclear. In this article, we review the composition of the oral microbiome in healthy and HIV-infected individuals and the possible effect of oral microbiome on HIV-associated oral diseases. We also discuss how ART and probiotics influence the oral microbiome in HIV infection. We believe that a deeper understanding of composition and function of the oral microbiome is critical for the development of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies for HIV infection

The Measurement of rho‐independent Transcription Terminator Efficiency

The purpose of this RFC is to provide standard methodology for the measurement of the absolute strength of terminators in bacteria. Because we have characterized the performance of terminator in E. coli and used a simple equation model, it can be expressed in PoPS

Droplets Formation and Merging in Two-Phase Flow Microfluidics

Two-phase flow microfluidics is emerging as a popular technology for a wide range of applications involving high throughput such as encapsulation, chemical synthesis and biochemical assays. Within this platform, the formation and merging of droplets inside an immiscible carrier fluid are two key procedures: (i) the emulsification step should lead to a very well controlled drop size (distribution); and (ii) the use of droplet as micro-reactors requires a reliable merging. A novel trend within this field is the use of additional active means of control besides the commonly used hydrodynamic manipulation. Electric fields are especially suitable for this, due to quantitative control over the amplitude and time dependence of the signals, and the flexibility in designing micro-electrode geometries. With this, the formation and merging of droplets can be achieved on-demand and with high precision. In this review on two-phase flow microfluidics, particular emphasis is given on these aspects. Also recent innovations in microfabrication technologies used for this purpose will be discussed

IL-33 guides osteogenesis and increases proliferation and pluripotency marker expression in dental stem cells

Objectives Soluble IL-33 (interleukin (IL)-1-like cytokine) acts as endogenous alarm signal (alarmin). Since alarmins, besides activating immune system, act to restore tissue homeostasis, we investigated whether IL-33 exerts beneficial effects on oral stem cell pull. Materials and Methods Clonogenicity, proliferation, differentiation and senescence of stem cells derived from human periodontal ligament (PDLSCs) and dental pulp (DPSCs) were determined after in vitro exposure to IL-33. Cellular changes were detected by flow cytometry, Western blot, immunocytochemistry and semiquantitative RT-PCR. Results IL-33 stimulated proliferation, clonogenicity and expression of pluripotency markers, OCT-4, SOX-2 and NANOG, but it inhibited ALP activity and mineralization in both PDLSCs and DPSCs. Higher Ki67 expression and reduced beta-galactosidase activity in IL-33-treated cells were demonstrated, whereas these trends were more conspicuous in osteogenic medium. However, after 7-day IL-33 pretreatment, differentiation capacity of IL-33-pretreated cells was retained, and increased ALP activity was observed in both cell types. Results showed that IL-33 regulates NF-kappa B and beta-catenin signalling, indicating the association of these molecules with changes observed in IL-33-treated PDLSCs and DPSCs, particularly their proliferation, pluripotency-associated marker expression and osteogenesis. Conclusions IL-33 treatment impairs osteogenesis of PDLSCs and DPSCs, while increases their clonogenicity, proliferation and pluripotency marker expression. After exposure to IL-33, osteogenic capacity of cells stayed intact. NF-kappa B and beta-catenin are implicated in the effects achieved by IL-33 in PDLSCs and DPSCs

Electrospinning as a route to advanced carbon fibre materials for selected low-temperature electrochemical devices: a review

Electrospinning has been proven as a highly versatile fabrication method for producing nano-structured fibres with controllable morphology, of both the fibres themselves and the void structure of the mats. Additionally, it is possible to use heteroatom doped polymers or to include catalytic precursors in the electrospinning solution to control the surface properties of the fibres. These factors make it an ideal method for the production of electrodes and flow media for a variety of electrochemical devices, enabling reduction in mass transport and activation overpotentials and therefore increasing efficiency. Moreover, the use of biomass as a polymer source has recently gained attention for the ability to embed sustainable principles in the materials of electrochemical devices, complementing their ability to allow an increase in the use of renewable electricity via their application. In this review, the historical and recent developments of electrospun materials for application in redox flow batteries, fuel cells, metal air batteries and supercapacitors are thoroughly reviewed, including an overview of the electrospinning process and a guide to best practice. Finally, we provide an outlook for the emerging use of this process in the field of electrochemical energy devices with the hope that the combination of tailored microstructure, surface functionality and computer modelling will herald a new era of bespoke functional materials that can significantly improve the performance of the devices in which they are used