311 research outputs found
Multi-particle and High-dimension Controlled Order Rearrangement Encryption Protocols
Based on the controlled order rearrange encryption (CORE) for quantum key
distribution using EPR pairs[Fu.G.Deng and G.L.Long Phys.Rev.A68 (2003)
042315], we propose the generalized controlled order rearrangement encryption
(GCORE) protocols of qubits and qutrits, concretely display them in the
cases using 3-qubit, 2-qutrit maximally entangled basis states. We further
indicate that our protocols will become safer with the increase of number of
particles and dimensions. Moreover, we carry out the security analysis using
quantum covariant cloning machine for the protocol using qutrits. Although the
applications of the generalized scheme need to be further studied, the GCORE
has many distinct features such as great capacity and high efficiency
Influence of an external magnetic field on the decoherence of a central spin coupled to an antiferromagnetic environment
Using the spin wave approximation, we study the decoherence dynamics of a
central spin coupled to an antiferromagnetic environment under the application
of an external global magnetic field. The external magnetic field affects the
decoherence process through its effect on the antiferromagnetic environment. It
is shown explicitly that the decoherence factor which displays a Gaussian decay
with time depends on the strength of the external magnetic field and the
crystal anisotropy field in the antiferromagnetic environment. When the values
of the external magnetic field is increased to the critical field point at
which the spin-flop transition (a first-order quantum phase transition) happens
in the antiferromagnetic environment, the decoherence of the central spin
reaches its highest point. This result is consistent with several recent
quantum phase transition witness studies. The influences of the environmental
temperature on the decoherence behavior of the central spin are also
investigated.Comment: 29 preprint pages, 4 figures, to appear in New Journal of Physic
Arsenic and Fluoride Exposure in Drinking Water: Childrenās IQ and Growth in Shanyin County, Shanxi Province, China
BACKGROUND: Recently, in a cross-sectional study of 201 children in Araihazar, Bangladesh, exposure to arsenic (As) in drinking water has been shown to lower the scores on tests that measure childrenās intellectual function before and after adjustment for sociodemographic features. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effects of As and fluoride exposure on childrenās intelligence and growth. METHODS: We report the results of a study of 720 children between 8 and 12 years of age in rural villages in Shanyin county, Shanxi province, China. The children were exposed to As at concentrations of 142 Ā± 106 Ī¼g/L (medium-As group) and 190 Ā± 183 Ī¼g/L (high-As group) in drinking water compared with the control group that was exposed to low concentrations of As (2 Ā± 3 Ī¼g/L) and low concentrations of fluoride (0.5 Ā± 0.2 mg/L). A study group of children exposed to high concentrations of fluoride (8.3 Ā± 1.9 mg/L) but low concentrations of As (3 Ā± 3 Ī¼g/L) was also included because of the common occurrence of elevated concentrations of fluoride in groundwater in our study area. A standardized IQ (intelligence quotient) test was modified for children in rural China and was based on the classic Ravenās test used to determine the effects of these exposures on childrenās intelligence. A standardized measurement procedure for weight, height, chest circumference, and lung capacity was used to determine the effects of these exposures on childrenās growth. RESULTS: The mean IQ scores decreased from 105 Ā± 15 for the control group, to 101 Ā± 16 for the medium-As group (p < 0.05), and to 95 Ā± 17 for the high-As group (p < 0.01). The mean IQ score for the high-fluoride group was 101 Ā± 16 and significantly different from that of the control group (p < 0.05). Children in the control group were taller than those in the high-fluoride group (p < 0.05); weighed more than the those in the high-As group (p < 0.05); and had higher lung capacity than those in the medium-As group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Childrenās intelligence and growth can be affected by high concentrations of As or fluoride. The IQ scores of the children in the high-As group were the lowest among the four groups we investigated. It is more significant that high concentrations of As affect childrenās intelligence. It indicates that arsenic exposure can affect childrenās intelligence and growth
A retrospective analysis of 3954 patients in phase 2/3 trials of bortezomib for the treatment of multiple myeloma: towards providing a benchmark for the cardiac safety profile of proteasome inhibition in multiple myeloma
[EN] This retrospective analysis aimed to establish the overall cardiac safety profile of bortezomib using patient-level data from one phase 2 and seven phase 3 studies in previously untreated and relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM). Seven clinically relevant primary [congestive heart failure (CHF), arrhythmias, ischaemic heart disease (IHD), cardiac death] and secondary (hypertension, dyspnoea, oedema) cardiac endpoints were defined based on MedDRA v16.0 preferred terms. 2509 bortezomib-treated patients and 1445 patients in non-bortezomib-based control arms were included. The incidence of grade ā„3 CHF was 1Ā·3ā4Ā·0% in studies in relapsed/refractory MM and 1Ā·2ā4Ā·7% in previously untreated MM (2Ā·0ā7Ā·6% all grades), with no significant differences between bortezomib- and non-bortezomib-based arms in comparative studies. Incidences of arrhythmias (1Ā·3ā5Ā·9% grade ā„2; 0Ā·6ā4Ā·1% grade ā„3), IHD (1Ā·2ā2Ā·9% all grades; 0Ā·4ā2Ā·7% grade ā„3) and cardiac death (0ā1Ā·4%) were low, with no differences between bortezomib-based and non-bortezomib-based arms
Management of granulomatous lobular mastitis: an international multidisciplinary consensus (2021 edition)
Granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM) is a rare and chronic benign inflammatory disease of the breast. Difficulties exist in the management of GLM for many front-line surgeons and medical specialists who care for patients with inflammatory disorders of the breast. This consensus is summarized to establish evidence-based recommendations for the management of GLM. Literature was reviewed using PubMed from January 1, 1971 to July 31, 2020. Sixty-six international experienced multidisciplinary experts from 11 countries or regions were invited to review the evidence. Levels of evidence were determined using the American College of Physicians grading system, and recommendations were discussed until consensus. Experts discussed and concluded 30 recommendations on historical definitions, etiology and predisposing factors, diagnosis criteria, treatment, clinical stages, relapse and recurrence of GLM. GLM was recommended as a widely accepted definition. In addition, this consensus introduced a new clinical stages and management algorithm for GLM to provide individual treatment strategies. In conclusion, diagnosis of GLM depends on a combination of history, clinical manifestations, imaging examinations, laboratory examinations and pathology. The approach to treatment of GLM should be applied according to the different clinical stage of GLM. This evidence-based consensus would be valuable to assist front-line surgeons and medical specialists in the optimal management of GLM.Improving the Ability of Diagnosis and Treatment of Difficult Disease
c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation has a prognostic implication and is negatively associated with FOXO1 activation in gastric cancer
BACKGROUND: Since the biological function of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in gastric cancer remains unclear, we investigated the clinical significance of JNK activation and its association with FOXO1 activation. METHODS: Immunohistochemical tissue array analysis of 483 human gastric cancer specimens was performed, and the results of the immunostaining were quantified. The correlation between JNK activation (nuclear staining for pJNK) and clinicopathological features, the proliferation index, prognosis or FOXO1 inactivation (cytoplasmic staining for pFOXO1) was analyzed. The SNU-638 gastric cancer cell line was used for in vitro analysis. RESULTS: Nuclear staining of pJNK was found in 38Ā % of the gastric carcinomas and was higher in the early stages of pTNM (Pā<ā0.001). pJNK staining negatively correlated with lymphatic invasion (Pā=ā0.034) and positively correlated with intestinal type by Laurenās classification (Pā=ā0.037), Ki-67-labeling index (Pā<ā0.001), cyclin D1 (Pā=ā0.045), cyclin E (Pā<ā0.001) and pFOXO1 (Pā<ā0.001). JNK activation correlated with a longer patients survival (P =0.008) and patients with a JNK-active and FOXO1-inactive tumor had a higher survival rate than the remainder of the population (Pā=ā0.004). In vitro analysis showed that JNK inhibition by SP600125 in SNU-638 cells decreased cyclin D1 protein expression and increased FOXO1 activation. Further, JNK inhibition markedly suppressed colony formation, which was partially restored by FOXO1 shRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that JNK activation may serve as a valuable prognostic factor in gastric cancer, and that it is implicated in gastric tumorigenesis, at least in part, through FOXO1 inhibition
Uptake of evidence-based statin therapy among atrial fibrillation patients in China:a report from the CAFR (Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry) Study
Background:Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular disease, and hence, statin therapy is indicated in majority of AF patients.Methods and results:We analyzed data from the Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry (CAFR) involving 11,496 AF patients from 2011 to 2014. Practice patterns of statin therapy and factors associated with statin underuse were analyzed.Based on the 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol management guidelines, statins should be recommended for 67.4% (7720/11,461) of AF participants in CAFR, but only 43.4% (3352/7720) with appropriate indications were taking statins. Statin underuse in AF patients was independently associated with male sex, tertiary hospital treatment, outpatient attendance, and absence of āhigh riskā cardiovascular risk factors (overweight, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke/transient ischemic attack/peripheral embolism and hypertension).Conclusions:A high proportion of Chinese AF patients had indications for statin therapy. Evidence-based statin prescribing was suboptimal in this population. Greater efforts should be made to improve a holistic approach to cardiovascular risk management in the Chinese AF population
Effects of rapid urbanisation on the urban thermal environment between 1990 and 2011 in Dhaka Megacity, Bangladesh
This study investigates the influence of land-use/land-cover (LULC) change on land surface temperature (LST) in Dhaka Megacity, Bangladesh during a period of rapid urbanisation. LST was derived from Landsat 5 TM scenes captured in 1990, 2000 and 2011 and compared to contemporaneous LULC maps. We compared index-based and linear spectral mixture analysis (LSMA) techniques for modelling LST. LSMA derived biophysical parameters corresponded more strongly to LST than those produced using index-based parameters. Results indicated that vegetation and water surfaces had relatively stable LST but it increased by around 2 Ā°C when these surfaces were converted to built-up areas with extensive impervious surfaces. Knowledge of the expected change in LST when one land-cover is converted to another can inform land planners of the potential impact of future changes and urges the development of better management strategies
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