Quantum information processing architecture with endohedral fullerenes in a carbon nanotube

A potential quantum information processor is proposed using a fullerene peapod, i.e., an array of the endohedral fullerenes 15N@C60 or 31P@C60 contained in a single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT). The qubits are encoded in the nuclear spins of the doped atoms, while the electronic spins are used for initialization and readout, as well as for two-qubit operations.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure

Oridonin induces apoptosis and senescence in colorectal cancer cells by increasing histone hyperacetylation and regulation of p16, p21, p27 and c-myc

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Oridonin, a tetracycline diterpenoid compound, has the potential antitumor activities. Here, we evaluate the antitumor activity and action mechanisms of oridonin in colorectal cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Effects of oridonin on cell proliferation were determined by using a CCK-8 Kit. Cell cycle distribution was determined by flow cytometry. Apoptosis was examined by analyzing subdiploid population and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay. Senescent cells were determined by senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity analysis. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to examine the changes of mRNA of p16, p21, p27 and c-myc. The concomitant changes of protein expression were analyzed with Western blot. Expression of AcH3 and AcH4 were examined by immunofluorescence staining and Western blots. Effects of oridonin on colony formation of SW1116 were examined by Soft Agar assay. The in vivo efficacy of oridonin was detected using a xenograft colorectal cancer model in nude mice.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Oridonin induced potent growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, senescence and colony-forming inhibition in three colorectal cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Daily i.p. injection of oridonin (6.25, 12.5 or 25 mg/kg) for 28 days significantly inhibited the growth of SW1116 s.c. xenografts in BABL/C nude mice. With western blot and reverse transcription-PCR, we further showed that the antitumor activities of oridonin correlated with induction of histone (H3 and H4) hyperacetylation, activation of p21, p27 and p16, and suppression of c-myc expression.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Oridonin possesses potent in vitro and in vivo anti-colorectal cancer activities that correlated with induction of histone hyperacetylation and regulation of pathways critical for maintaining growth inhibition and cell cycle arrest. Therefore, oridonin may represent a novel therapeutic option in colorectal cancer treatment.</p

Functional perovskite hybrid of polyacetylene ammonium and lead bromide: Synthesis, light emission, and fluorescence imagining

A highly photoresponsive perovskite hybrid containing an electroactive organic component (H1) was fabricated. A disubstituted polyacetylene (PA) with a hidden amino functionality (P3) was synthesized, hydrolysis and quaternization of which afforded the desired PA ammonium salt (P5). Mixing P5 with lead bromide readily yielded H1, which was stable, soluble, and film-forming. The inorganic framework induced the polymer chains to align in an ordered fashion, which helped to populate the chain segments with long conjugation lengths. The hybrid emitted a blue light (457 nm) in a high quantum yield (62\%), thanks to the enhanced electronic conjugation, the weakened interaction between the layer-segregated chains, and the efficient energy transfer from the inorganic sheets to the organic layers. P3 exhibited a half-discharge time as short as similar to 0.7 s, representing the first example of an efficient photoconductive disubstituted PA. While stable to normal light illumination, H1 was rapidly bleached upon exposure to high-power UV irradiation, enabling facile generation of two-dimensional luminescent photopatterns. After the UV irradiation, the emissions of P9 and P9/H12 were enhanced and weakened, respectively, proving that the inorganic perovskite framework works as a photocatalyst for accelerating the bleaching process of the conjugated PA chains

Meta-Analysis of Laparoscopic versus Open Hepatectomy for Live Liver Donors

<div><p>Objective</p><p>To document the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic living donor hepatectomy in comparison with open liver resection for living donor liver transplantation.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Medline database, EMASE and Cochrane library were searched for original studies comparing laparoscopic living donor hepatectomy (LLDH) and open living donor hepatectomy (OLDH) by January 2015. Meta-analysis was performed to evaluate donors’ perioperative outcomes.</p><p>Results</p><p>Nine studies met selection criteria, involving 1346 donors of whom 318 underwent LLDH and 1028 underwent OLDH. The Meta analysis demonstrated that LLDH group had less operative blood loss [patients 1346; WMD: -56.09 mL; 95%CI: -100.28-(-11.90) mL; <i>P</i> = 0.01], shorter hospital stay [patients 737; WMD: -1.75 d; 95%CI: -3.01-(-0.48) d; <i>P</i> = 0.007] but longer operative time (patients 1346; WMD: 41.05 min; 95%CI: 1.91–80.19 min; <i>P</i> = 0.04), compared with OLDH group. There were no significant difference in other outcomes between LLDH and OLDH groups, including overall complication, bile leakage, postoperative bleeding, pulmonary complication, wound complication, time to dietary intake and period of analgesic use.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>LLDH appears to be a safe and effective option for LDLT. It improves donors’ perioperative outcomes as compared with OLDH.</p></div

Forest plot displaying the results of the meta-analysis on overall complication.

<p>Forest plot displaying the results of the meta-analysis on overall complication.</p

Egger test results of studies on hospital stay.

<p>Egger test results of studies on hospital stay.</p

Egger test results of studies on intraoperative blood loss.

<p>Egger test results of studies on intraoperative blood loss.</p

Characteristics of studies included in the meta-analysis.

<p>Characteristics of studies included in the meta-analysis.</p

Forest plot displaying the results of the meta-analysis on hospital stay.

<p>Forest plot displaying the results of the meta-analysis on hospital stay.</p

Egger test results of studies on operation time.

<p>Egger test results of studies on operation time.</p