Variable order Mittag-Leffler fractional operators on isolated time scales and application to the calculus of variations

We introduce new fractional operators of variable order on isolated time scales with Mittag-Leffler kernels. This allows a general formulation of a class of fractional variational problems involving variable-order difference operators. Main results give fractional integration by parts formulas and necessary optimality conditions of Euler-Lagrange type.Comment: This is a preprint of a paper whose final and definite form is with Springe

Development of a model for robust and exploratory analysis of the rodent brief-access taste aversion data

The rodent brief-access taste aversion (BATA) model is an efficient in vivo screening tool for taste assessment. A new Emax (maximum effect attributable to the drug) model was developed and further investigated in comparison with three previously published models for analysing the rodent BATA data; the robustness of all the models was discussed. The rodent BATA data were obtained from a series of experiments conducted with a bitter reference compound, quinine hydrochloride dihydrate (QHD). A new Emax model that could be applied to both "lick numbers" and "lick ratios" was built and three published models that used lick ratios were employed for analysing the BATA data. IC50, the concentration that inhibits 50% of the maximum lick numbers, quantified the oral aversiveness of QHD. One thousand bootstrap datasets were generated from the original data. All models were applied to estimate the confidence intervals of the IC50s without symmetric assumption. The IC50 value obtained from the new Emax model was 0.0496mM (95% CI 0.0297-0.0857) using the lick numbers for analysis, while an IC50 of 0.0502mM (95% CI 0.0267-0.0859) was acquired with the lick ratios. Except one published model, the IC50 values have a similar range for the 95% CI. The new Emax model enabled the analysis of both "lick numbers" and "lick ratios" whereas other models could only handle data presented as "lick ratios". IC50s obtained with these two types of datasets showed similarity among all models thereby justified the robustness of the new Emax model

Multi-Timescale Perceptual History Resolves Visual Ambiguity

When visual input is inconclusive, does previous experience aid the visual system in attaining an accurate perceptual interpretation? Prolonged viewing of a visually ambiguous stimulus causes perception to alternate between conflicting interpretations. When viewed intermittently, however, ambiguous stimuli tend to evoke the same percept on many consecutive presentations. This perceptual stabilization has been suggested to reflect persistence of the most recent percept throughout the blank that separates two presentations. Here we show that the memory trace that causes stabilization reflects not just the latest percept, but perception during a much longer period. That is, the choice between competing percepts at stimulus reappearance is determined by an elaborate history of prior perception. Specifically, we demonstrate a seconds-long influence of the latest percept, as well as a more persistent influence based on the relative proportion of dominance during a preceding period of at least one minute. In case short-term perceptual history and long-term perceptual history are opposed (because perception has recently switched after prolonged stabilization), the long-term influence recovers after the effect of the latest percept has worn off, indicating independence between time scales. We accommodate these results by adding two positive adaptation terms, one with a short time constant and one with a long time constant, to a standard model of perceptual switching

Memory-built-in quantum teleportation with photonic and atomic qubits

The combination of quantum teleportation and quantum memory of photonic qubits is essential for future implementations of large-scale quantum communication and measurement-based quantum computation. Both steps have been achieved separately in many proof-of-principle experiments, but the demonstration of memory-built-in teleportation of photonic qubits remains an experimental challenge. Here, we demonstrate teleportation between photonic (flying) and atomic (stationary) qubits. In our experiment, an unknown polarization state of a single photon is teleported over 7 m onto a remote atomic qubit that also serves as a quantum memory. The teleported state can be stored and successfully read out for up to 8 micro-second. Besides being of fundamental interest, teleportation between photonic and atomic qubits with the direct inclusion of a readable quantum memory represents a step towards an efficient and scalable quantum network.Comment: 19 pages 3 figures 1 tabl

Disposition of Federally Owned Surpluses

PDZ domains are scaffolding modules in protein-protein interactions that mediate numerous physiological functions by interacting canonically with the C-terminus or non-canonically with an internal motif of protein ligands. A conserved carboxylate-binding site in the PDZ domain facilitates binding via backbone hydrogen bonds; however, little is known about the role of these hydrogen bonds due to experimental challenges with backbone mutations. Here we address this interaction by generating semisynthetic PDZ domains containing backbone amide-to-ester mutations and evaluating the importance of individual hydrogen bonds for ligand binding. We observe substantial and differential effects upon amide-to-ester mutation in PDZ2 of postsynaptic density protein 95 and other PDZ domains, suggesting that hydrogen bonding at the carboxylate-binding site contributes to both affinity and selectivity. In particular, the hydrogen-bonding pattern is surprisingly different between the non-canonical and canonical interaction. Our data provide a detailed understanding of the role of hydrogen bonds in protein-protein interactions

Effective Dark Matter Model: Relic density, CDMS II, Fermi LAT and LHC

The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search recently announced the observation of two signal events with a 77% confidence level. Although statistically inconclusive, it is nevertheless suggestive. In this work we present a model-independent analysis on the implication of a positive signal in dark matter scattering off nuclei. Assuming the interaction between (scalar, fermion or vector) dark matter and the standard model induced by unknown new physics at the scale $\Lambda$, we examine various dimension-6 tree-level induced operators and constrain them using the current experimental data, e.g. the WMAP data of the relic abundance, CDMS II direct detection of the spin-independent scattering, and indirect detection data (Fermi LAT cosmic gamma-ray), etc. Finally, the LHC reach is also explored

Feynman Rules for the Rational Part of the Standard Model One-loop Amplitudes in the 't Hooft-Veltman γ5\gamma_5 Scheme

We study Feynman rules for the rational part $R$ of the Standard Model amplitudes at one-loop level in the 't Hooft-Veltman $\gamma_5$ scheme. Comparing our results for quantum chromodynamics and electroweak 1-loop amplitudes with that obtained based on the Kreimer-Korner-Schilcher (KKS) $\gamma_5$ scheme, we find the latter result can be recovered when our $\gamma_5$ scheme becomes identical (by setting $g5s=1$ in our expressions) with the KKS scheme. As an independent check, we also calculate Feynman rules obtained in the KKS scheme, finding our results in complete agreement with formulae presented in the literature. Our results, which are studied in two different $\gamma_5$ schemes, may be useful for clarifying the $\gamma_5$ problem in dimensional regularization. They are helpful to eliminate or find ambiguities arising from different dimensional regularization schemes.Comment: Version published in JHEP, presentation improved, 41 pages, 10 figure

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study of intranasal and intravenous dexmedetomidine

Background: Intranasal dexmedetomidine produces safe, effective sedation in children and adults. It may be administered by drops from a syringe or by nasal mucosal atomization (MAD NasalTM). / Methods: This prospective, three-period, crossover, double-blind study compared the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) profile of i.v. administration with these two different modes of administration. In each session each subject received 1 μg kg−1 dexmedetomidine, either i.v., intranasal with the atomizer or intranasal by drops. Dexmedetomidine plasma concentration and Ramsay sedation score were used for PK/PD modelling by NONMEM. / Results: The i.v. route had a significantly faster onset (15 min, 95% CI 15–20 min) compared to intranasal routes by atomizer (47.5 min, 95% CI 25–135 min), and by drops (60 min, 95%CI 30–75 min), (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in sedation duration across the three treatment groups (P=0.88) nor in the median onset time between the two modes of intranasal administration (P=0.94). A 2-compartment disposition model, with transit intranasal absorption and clearance driven by cardiac output using the well-stirred liver model, was the final PK model. Intranasal bioavailability was estimated to be 40.6% (95% CI 34.7–54.4%) and 40.7% (95% CI 36.5–53.2%) for atomization and drops respectively. Sedation score was modelled via a sigmoidal Emax model driven by an effect compartment. The effect compartment had an equilibration half time 3.3 (95% CI 1.8–4.7) min−1, and the EC50 was estimated to be 903 (95% CI 450–2344) pg ml−1. / Conclusions: There is no difference in bioavailability with atomization or nasal drops. A similar degree of sedation can be achieved by either method. / Clinical trial registration: HKUCTR-1617

Novel methods by using non-vacuum insulated tubing to extend the lifetime of the tubing

The analysis of the failure mechanics, namely hydrogen permeation of vacuum insulated tubing (VIT), indicated that the failure of VIT could be decreased but could not be avoided. To solve this problem, some measures by using non-vacuum materials were proposed and analyzed in this paper. The results show that to fill the tubing with foam-glass beads or high pressure argon may lead to a good performance

Quantum teleportation and entanglement distribution over 100-kilometre free-space channels

A long standing goal for quantum communication is to transfer a quantum state over arbitrary distances. Free-space quantum communication provides a promising solution towards this challenging goal. Here, through a 97-km free space channel, we demonstrate long distance quantum teleportation over a 35-53 dB loss one-link channel, and entanglement distribution over a 66-85 dB high-loss two-link channel. We achieve an average fidelity of {80.4(9)}% for teleporting six distinct initial states and observe the violation of the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt inequality after distributing entanglement. Besides being of fundamental interest, our result represents a significant step towards a global quantum network. Moreover, the high-frequency and high-accuracy acquiring, pointing and tracking technique developed in our experiment provides an essential tool for future satellite-based quantum communication.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure