Recursive simulation of quantum annealing

The evaluation of the performance of adiabatic annealers is hindered by lack of efficient algorithms for simulating their behaviour. We exploit the analyticity of the standard model for the adiabatic quantum process to develop an efficient recursive method for its numerical simulation in case of both unitary and non-unitary evolution. Numerical simulations show distinctly different distributions for the most important figure of merit of adiabatic quantum computing - the success probability - in these two cases

Caracterización de la púrpura trombótica trombocitopénica congénita mediante técnicas inmunológicas y moleculares: resultados de la colección nacional del GEPTT

CO-093 Introducción: La Púrpura Trombótica Trombocitopénica congénita (PTTc) es una enfermedad ultra-rara caracterizada por un déficit severo de la enzima ADAMTS13 como consecuencia de mutaciones heredadas de forma autosómica recesiva en el gen ADAMTS13 (9q34). En este estudio, desarrollado dentro del Grupo Cooperativo Español de PTT (GEPTT), se ha llevado a cabo la creación de una colección centralizada de muestras biológicas y su caracterización inmunológica y molecular para mejorar el diagnóstico y el manejo clínico de los pacientes. Métodos: Se incluyeron en este estudio seis pacientes con diagnóstico clínico o sospecha de PTTc de diferentes hospitales españoles. Se estudió la actividad de ADAMTS13 e inhibidores mediante la técnica ELISA con el kit “TECHNOZYM® ADAMTS-13 Activity e INH” (Technoclone). Además, se realizó test Bethesda para descartar la presencia de inhibidores no IgG. Para el estudio genético, se implementó un panel de captura (SureSelect, Agilent) dirigido a la región genómica completa, incluyendo también las regiones no codificantes, del gen ADAMTS13 (chr9: 136278459 - 136325025, hg19). Las librerías de DNA se secuenciaron con la plataforma MiSeq (Illumina®) y el posible efecto patogénico de las variantes identificadas se estudió a nivel de i) proteína, utilizando predictores de cambio de aminoácido (SIFT) y de estructura de la proteína (SwissModel) y ii) splicing, con herramientas de análisis in silico (HSF) y validación funcional in vitro mediante minigenes. En 3 casos se realizó un cariotipo molecular utilizando array de SNPs (CytoScan HD, Affymetrix) para detectar regiones de pérdida de material genético y/o de heterocigosidad (LOH). Resultados: La mediana de actividad de ..

Diagonalization of quadratic matrix polynomials

Solving the quadratic eigenvalue problem is critical in several applications in control and systems theory. One alternative to solve this problem is to reduce the matrix to a diagonal form so that its eigenvalue structure can be recognized in the diagonal of the equivalent matrix. There are two major categories of diagonalizable systems. The first category concerns systems that are strictly equivalent. The second category is much wider and consists of systems for which their linearizations are strictly equivalent. Here we are concerned with methods to reduce the linearization of a quadratic matrix polynomial to a diagonal form. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for a system to have a diagonalization and we argue on two different methods to diagonalize a system (via its linearization) that one can find in the literature. Based on the results presented here, we conclude that the problem is still open. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Regulation of thymocyte differentiation: pre-TCR signals and beta-selection

The specificity of the adaptive immune response is, in Part, dependent on the clonal expression of the mature T cell receptor (TCR) on T lymphocytes. One mechanism regulating the clonality of the TCR occurs at the level of TCR-beta gene rearrangements during lymphocyte development. Expression of a nascent TCR-beta chain together with pre-Talpha (pTalpha) and CD3 molecules to form the pre-TCR complex, represents a critical checkpoint in T cell differentiation known as beta-selection. Indeed, failure to generate a functionally rearranged TCR-beta chain at this stage of development results in apoptosis. Signals derived from the pre-TCR complex trigger a maturation program within developing thymocytes that includes: rescue from apoptosis, inhibition of further DNA recombination at the TCR-beta gene locus (allowing for the clonality of antigen receptor expression; allelic exclusion); and induction of proliferation and differentiation. The signaling mechanisms that control this developmental program remain largely undefined. Here, we discuss recent evidence investigating the molecular mechanisms that regulate thymocyte differentiation downstream of pre-TCR formation

Algorithm for Decoupling and Complete Pole Assignment of Linear Multivariable Systems

The problem of decoupling and complete pole assignment of linear square, and controllable systems by static state feedback is addressed in this paper. Based on a characterization of the whole set of attainable finite pole-zero structures of a decouplable system, we present a reliable numerical algorithm which tests the conditions for decoupling and computes the state feedback which decouples the system with a particular pole-zero finite structure, avoiding unnecessary cancellations of invariant zeros. With the use of this algorithm, fixed decoupling poles are determined, non-fixed poles can be arbitrarily located, and no cancellation of system invariant zeros is produced, if this is not necessary for decoupling

Inulin surfactants for colon-specific drug delivery

[No abstract available

Inulin surfactants for colon-specific drug delivery

[No abstract available

The Spontaneous Fission Decay Constant Of 238u Using Ssntd

This work reports the results of 5 measurements of the 238U decay constant for spontaneous fission, λ(f) carried out using solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD), resulting in a mean value of λ(f) = (8.35±0.24)·10-17 y-1. The neutron fluence of the irradiations needed for these measurements were monitored with thin films of natural uranium.2452441442Bigazzi, G., (1981) Nucl. Tracks, 5, p. 35Roberts, J.H., Gold, R., Armani, R.J., (1968) Phys. Rev., 174, p. 4847Bigazzi, G., Hadler Neto, J.C., Iunes, P.J., Oddone, M., Paulo, S.R., Zuniga, A., (1995) Nucl. Instrum. Meth. Phys. Res., 352 A, p. 588Bigazzi, G., Hadler Neto, J.C., Iunes, P.J., Osorio Araya, A.M., (1991) Nucl. Tracks Radiat. Meas., 19, p. 451Hadler Neto, J.C., Iunes, P.J., Mello, T.C.W.P., Navia, L.M.S., Paulo, S.R., (1996) Radiat. Meas., 26, p. 169Lederer, C.M., Shirley, V., (1978), p. 1443. , Table of Isotopes, 7th ed., Wiley-Interscience, New York, US

Cyclic adenosine 5 '-monophosphate response element binding protein plays a central proliferation and differentiation role in mediating downstream of the pre-TCR complex in developing thymocytes

The roles played by specific transcription factors during the regulation of early T cell development remain largely undefined. Several key genes induced during the primary checkpoint of T cell development, beta-selection, contain cAMP response element sites within their enhancer-promoter region that are regulated by CREB activation. In this study, we show that CREB is constitutively phosphorylated in the thymus, but not the spleen. We also show that CREB is activated downstream of the pre-TCR complex, and that the induction of CREB activity is regulated by protein kinase Calpha- and ERK-MAPK-mediated signals. We addressed the importance of this activation by expressing a naturally occurring inhibitor of CREB, inducible cAMP early repressor in wild-type fetal liver-derived lymphoid progenitor cells, and assessed their developmental potential. Fetal thymic organ cultures reconstituted with cells constitutively expressing inducible cAMP early repressor displayed a delay in generating CD4(+)CD8(+) thymocytes and a decrease in cellularity compared with control fetal thymic organ cultures. Taken together, our studies establish that CREB plays a central role in relaying proliferation and differentiation signals from the pre-TCR complex into the nucleus in developing thymocytes