Quantum coherent control of highly multipartite continuous-variable entangled states by tailoring parametric interactions

The generation of continuous-variable multipartite entangled states is important for several protocols of quantum information processing and communication, such as one-way quantum computation or controlled dense coding. In this article we theoretically show that multimode optical parametric oscillators can produce a great variety of such states by an appropriate control of the parametric interaction, what we accomplish by tailoring either the spatio-temporal shape of the pump, or the geometry of the nonlinear medium. Specific examples involving currently available optical parametric oscillators are given, hence showing that our ideas are within reach of present technology.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure

Clonal Evolution through Loss of Chromosomes and Subsequent Polyploidization in Chondrosarcoma

Near-haploid chromosome numbers have been found in less than 1% of cytogenetically reported tumors, but seem to be more common in certain neoplasms including the malignant cartilage-producing tumor chondrosarcoma. By a literature survey of published karyotypes from chondrosarcomas we could confirm that loss of chromosomes resulting in hyperhaploid-hypodiploid cells is common and that these cells may polyploidize. Sixteen chondrosarcomas were investigated by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array and the majority displayed SNP patterns indicative of a hyperhaploid-hypodiploid origin, with or without subsequent polyploidization. Except for chromosomes 5, 7, 19, 20 and 21, autosomal loss of heterozygosity was commonly found, resulting from chromosome loss and subsequent duplication of monosomic chromosomes giving rise to uniparental disomy. Additional gains, losses and rearrangements of genetic material, and even repeated rounds of polyploidization, may affect chondrosarcoma cells resulting in highly complex karyotypes. Loss of chromosomes and subsequent polyploidization was not restricted to a particular chondrosarcoma subtype and, although commonly found in chondrosarcoma, binucleated cells did not seem to be involved in these events

Roles of the DYRK Kinase Pom2 in Cytokinesis, Mitochondrial Morphology, and Sporulation in Fission Yeast

Pom2 is predicted to be a dual-specificity tyrosine-phosphorylation regulated kinase (DYRK) related to Pom1 in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. DYRKs share a kinase domain capable of catalyzing autophosphorylation on tyrosine and exogenous phosphorylation on serine/threonine residues. Here we show that Pom2 is functionally different from the well-characterized Pom1, although they share 55% identity in the kinase domain and the Pom2 kinase domain functionally complements that of Pom1. Pom2 localizes to mitochondria throughout the cell cycle and to the contractile ring during late stages of cytokinesis. Overexpression but not deletion of pom2 results in severe defects in cytokinesis, indicating that Pom2 might share an overlapping function with other proteins in regulating cytokinesis. Gain and loss of function analyses reveal that Pom2 is required for maintaining mitochondrial morphology independently of microtubules. Intriguingly, most meiotic pom2Δ cells form aberrant asci with meiotic and/or forespore membrane formation defects. Taken together, Pom2 is a novel DYRK kinase involved in regulating cytokinesis, mitochondrial morphology, meiosis, and sporulation in fission yeast

E2F1 Mediated Apoptosis Induced by the DNA Damage Response Is Blocked by EBV Nuclear Antigen 3C in Lymphoblastoid Cells

EBV latent antigen EBNA3C is indispensible for in vitro B-cell immortalization resulting in continuously proliferating lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). EBNA3C was previously shown to target pRb for ubiquitin-proteasome mediated degradation, which facilitates G1 to S transition controlled by the major transcriptional activator E2F1. E2F1 also plays a pivotal role in regulating DNA damage induced apoptosis through both p53-dependent and -independent pathways. In this study, we demonstrate that in response to DNA damage LCLs knocked down for EBNA3C undergo a drastic induction of apoptosis, as a possible consequence of both p53- and E2F1-mediated activities. Importantly, EBNA3C was previously shown to suppress p53-induced apoptosis. Now, we also show that EBNA3C efficiently blocks E2F1-mediated apoptosis, as well as its anti-proliferative effects in a p53-independent manner, in response to DNA damage. The N- and C-terminal domains of EBNA3C form a stable pRb independent complex with the N-terminal DNA-binding region of E2F1 responsible for inducing apoptosis. Mechanistically, we show that EBNA3C represses E2F1 transcriptional activity via blocking its DNA-binding activity at the responsive promoters of p73 and Apaf-1 apoptosis induced genes, and also facilitates E2F1 degradation in an ubiquitin-proteasome dependent fashion. Moreover, in response to DNA damage, E2F1 knockdown LCLs exhibited a significant reduction in apoptosis with higher cell-viability. In the presence of normal mitogenic stimuli the growth rate of LCLs knockdown for E2F1 was markedly impaired; indicating that E2F1 plays a dual role in EBV positive cells and that active engagement of the EBNA3C-E2F1 complex is crucial for inhibition of DNA damage induced E2F1-mediated apoptosis. This study offers novel insights into our current understanding of EBV biology and enhances the potential for development of effective therapies against EBV associated B-cell lymphomas

Etude du mécanisme d'action du dialkyldithiophosphate de zinc en régime de lubrification limite

Le mécanisme d'action de l'isobutyl-isopentyl dithiophosphate de zinc en régime de lubrification limite a été étudié grâce à la comparaison des films superficiels apparaissant par simple immersion et au cours du frottement, en présence de cet additif. Deux étapes de ce mécanisme ont ainsi pu être mises en évidence : 1) Avant sa décomposition dans l'huile, le DTPZn réagit avec la surface pour former un film de sulfure et d'oxyde métallique dont l'épaisseur ne peut atteindre généralement que quelques 1/1000 de micromètre Cette réaction se traduit, au niveau de la molécule, par la rupture d'une partie des liaisons thiophosphorées et par un échange ionique entre le métal support et Zn2+. 2) Après la dégradation, dans l'huile, des liaisons P-O-C de la molécule de DTPZn, les produits phosphorés de cette décomposition s'adsorbent ou réagissent en surface pour constituer un film de phosphates de quelques 1/10 de micromètre. Parallèlement les produits soufrés (mercaptans, disulfures), issus de la décomposition du DTPZn dans l'huile ou en surface, réagissent indépendamment avec le métal. L'activité extrême-pression de l'additif qui provient de la formation de sulfure métallique en surface est donc fonction de l'affinité du métal support vis-à-vis du soufre. Bien que l'effet de la température ne suffise pas à expliquer la décomposition du DTPZn, au cours du frottement, les intermédiaires réactionnels de la dégradation de l'additif par simple chauffage ou entre les éprouvettes de frottement sont très proches. En effet, la décomposition partielle de l'additif, par chauffage préalable, favorise la formation du film phosphoré sur les surfaces de frottement, ce qui confère au lubrifiant une efficacité plus grande

Quantum noise detection: A portable and educational system

10.1119/1.2969722American Journal of Physics76111022-102

Spatial reshaping of a squeezed state of light

Reshaping the spatial profile, or mode, of a quantum state of light is one of the challenges in many quantum optics applications. We test the noise properties of a universal programmable mode converter and demonstrate that it can reshape the spatial mode of a beam while retaining its quantum properties. No detectable amount of noise is added to the light and only the standard transmission losses through conventional optical elements are found to affect the non-classical nature of the transformed light