On the impact of controlled wall roughness shape on the flow of a soft-material

We explore the impact of geometrical corrugations on the near-wall flow properties of a soft-material driven in a confined rough microchannel. By means of numerical simulations, we perform a quantitative analysis of the relation between the flow rate $\Phi$ and the wall stress $\sigma_w$ for a number of setups, by changing both the roughness values as well as the roughness shape. Roughness suppresses the flow, with the existence of a characteristic value of $\sigma_w$ at which flow sets in. Just above the onset of flow, we quantitatively analyze the relation between $\Phi$ and $\sigma_w$. While for smooth walls a linear dependency is observed, steeper behaviours are found to set in by increasing wall roughness. The variation of the steepness, in turn, depends on the shape of the wall roughness, wherein gentle steepness changes are promoted by a variable space localization of the roughness

Tripartite quantum state mapping and discontinuous entanglement transfer in a cavity QED open system

We describe the transfer of quantum information and entanglement from three flying (radiation) to three localized (atomic) qubits via cavity modes resonantly coupled to the atoms, in the presence of a common reservoir. Upon addressing the full dynamics of the resulting nine-qubit open system, we find that once the cavities are fed, fidelity and transferred entanglement are optimal, while their peak values exponentially decrease due to dissipative processes. The external radiation is then turned off and quantum correlations oscillate between atomic and cavity qubits. For a class of mixtures of W and GHZ input states we deal with a discontinuous exchange of entanglement among the subsystems, facing the still open problem of entanglement sudden death and birth in a multipartite system.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, 2 table

Durum wheat grain yield and quality as affected by S rate under Mediterranean conditions

The decreased inputs of S from atmospheric acidic deposition, the use of low S-containing fertilisers, and the decrease of organic matter content in soil resulted in S deficiency in many agricultural regions of the world. Sulphur fertilisation significantly affects grain yield and protein composition of cereals, thus altering the technological quality of grain. Field experiments were conducted in central Italy in two subsequent seasons to investigate the effects ofNand S application on five commercial wheat cultivarsknownto differ in yield potential and grain N content. Fertiliser treatments were two levels of N fertiliser (120 kgNha−1 and 180 kgNha−1) and three levels of S fertiliser (not applied, 60 kg S ha−1, and 120 kg S ha−1). Analyzed characters were dry weight and N and S uptake of grain and vegetative plant part, and grain quality characters. Variations in weather pattern – and especially in rainfall – between years significantly influenced grain yield and N and S content of grain, but did not affect quality parameters. Nitrogen and S application also significantly affected grain yield and the quality characteristicsW, P/L, dry gluten and SDS, although no interactive effect between treatments was observed. The highest protein content and W in grain was obtained with the combination of the highest fertiliser rates: 180 kgNha−1 and 120 kg S ha−1. Genotypes differed for yield stability between years, in that grain production was decreased in the driest year only in the varieties Claudio and Creso, but they responded similarly to N and S fertilisation. Genotypes differed also for protein concentration and quality parameters, and, on average, the varieties Duilio, Simeto and Svevo gave better performances. Differences in grain quality parameters were maintained through years, indicating that these traits are under strong genetic control

Post-anthesis dry matter and nitrogen dynamics in durum wheat as affected by nitrogen supply and soil water availability.

Durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) is commonly grown in dryland conditions, where environmental stress during grain filling can limit productivity and increase the dependency on stored assimilate.We investigated current assimilation and remobilization of dry matter and nitrogen during grain filling in N fertilized and unfertilized durum wheat subjected to different levels of water deficit during grain filling. Two durum wheat varieties, Appio and Creso, were grown in open-air containers with three rates of nitrogen fertilizer (not applied, N0; normal amount, NN; high amount, NH) and four water regimes during grain filling (fully irrigated treatment, FI; low, LWS, moderate, MWS and high water stress, HWS) across 2 years. Grain yield and dry matter and N accumulation and remobilization were positively affected by N availability and negatively by water stress during grain filling. The reduction of grain yield by severe post-anthesis water stress amounted to 27 and 37% for N0 and NN, respectively, and was associated with a decrease in kernel weight. There was also a small negative effect on the number of kernels per spike. Conversely, the duration of grain filling was not modified either by water stress or by nitrogen treatments. Severe water stress also reduced dry matter accumulation and remobilization by 36 and 14% in N0 plants and by 48 and 25% in NH plants. Similarly, N accumulation and N remobilization was reduced by 43% and by 16% in N0 plants and by 51% and by 15% in NH plants. Conversely, low and moderate water stress did not substantially modify the patterns of dry matter and nitrogen deposition in grain. Although remobilization of dry matter and N was less affected by water stress than accumulation, it was not able to counterbalance the reduction of assimilation and consequently it was not able to stabilize grain yield under drought

Tripartite entanglement transfer from flying modes to localized qubits

We investigate the process of entanglement transfer from a three-mode quantized field to a system of three spatially separated qubits, each one made of a two-level atom resonantly coupled to a cavity mode. The optimal conditions for entanglement transfer, evaluated by atomic tripartite negativity, are derived for radiation prepared in qubitlike and Gaussian entangled states in terms of field parameters, atom-cavity interaction time, cavity mirror losses, and atomic preparation. For qubitlike states we find that for negligible cavity losses some states may completely transfer their entanglement to the atoms and/or be exactly mapped to the atomic state, whereas for Gaussian states we find a range of field parameters needed to obtain a large entanglement transfer. The purity of the three-qubit states and the entanglement of two-qubit subsystems are also discussed in some detail

Tripartite entanglement transfer from flying modes to localized qubits

We investigate the process of entanglement transfer from a three-mode quantized field to a system of three spatially separated qubits each one made of a two-level atom resonantly coupled to a cavity mode. The optimal conditions for entanglement transfer, evaluated by atomic tripartite negativity, are derived for radiation prepared in qubit-like and Gaussian entangled states in terms of field parameters, atom-cavity interaction time, cavity mirror losses, and atomic preparation. For qubit-like states we found that for negligible cavity losses some states may completely transfer their entanglement to the atoms and/or be exactly mapped to the atomic state, whereas for Gaussian states we found a range of field parameters to obtain a large entanglement transfer. The purity of the three-qubit states and the entanglement of two-qubit subsystems are also discussed in some details.Comment: 12 pages, 12 fig

Dynamical description of state mapping and discontinuous entanglement transfer for tripartite systems

We describe the transfer of quantum information and correlations from an entangled tripartite bosonic system to three localized qubits also in the presence of various dissipative effects. Optimal state mapping and entanglement transfer are shown in the framework of optical cavity quantum electrodynamics involving qubit-like radiation states and two-level atoms via the mediation of cavity modes. For an input GHZ state mixed with white noise we show the occurrence of sudden death and birth of tripartite entanglement, that is discontinuously exchanged among the subsystems. Each subsystem can exhibit, in different time intervals, tripartite entanglement of both GHZ and W class

DNA Damage Response Protein CHK2 Regulates Metabolism in Liver Cancer

Defective mitosis with chromosome missegregation can have a dramatic effect on genome integrity by causing DNA damage, activation of the DNA damage response (DDR), and chromosomal instability. Although this is an energy-dependent process, mechanisms linking DDR to cellular metabolism are unknown. Here we show that checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2), a central effector of DDR, regulates cellular energy production by affecting glycolysis and mitochondrial functions. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) had increased CHK2 mRNA in blood, which was associated with elevated tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) metabolites. CHK2 controlled expression of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and intervened with mitochondrial functions. DNA damage and CHK2 promoted SDH activity marked by increased succinate oxidation through the TCA cycle; this was confirmed in a transgenic model of HCC with elevated DNA damage. Mitochondrial analysis identified CHK2-controlled expression of SDH as key in sustaining reactive oxygen species production. Cells with DNA damage and elevated CHK2 relied significantly on glycolysis for ATP production due to dysfunctional mitochondria, which was abolished by CHK2 knockdown. This represents a vulnerability created by the DNA damage response that could be exploited for development of new therapies