CNOT and Bell-state analysis in the weak-coupling cavity QED regime

We propose an interface between the spin of a photon and the spin of an electron confined in a quantum dot embedded in a microcavity operating in the weak coupling regime. This interface, based on spin selective photon reflection from the cavity, can be used to construct a CNOT gate, a multi-photon entangler and a photonic Bell-state analyzer. Finally, we analyze experimental feasibility, concluding that the schemes can be implemented with current technology.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Roles in Research Software Engineering (RSE) Consultancies

Consultation services are an helpful tool to support scientists in developing software. Different types of knowledge are required to perform an efficient and effective consultation. Based on our experience, by providing a consultation service for 18 research centers with over 43,000 employees, we defined five roles and show their relevance on three consultations. Being aware of these roles and trying to cover them when setting up a consultancy, is an important step towards a good consultancy

Face recognition based on the proximity measure clustering

In this paper problems of featureless face recognition are considered. The recognition is based on clustering the proximity measures between the distributions of brightness clusters cardinality for segmented images. As a proximity measure three types of distances are used in this work: the Euclidean, cosine and Kullback-Leibler distances. Image segmentation and proximity measure clustering are carried out by means of a software model of the recurrent neural network. Results of the experimental studies of the proposed approach are presented

Occupation with grain crops is associated with lower type 1 diabetes incidence:Registry-based case-control study

Intranasal administration of gliadin prevents autoimmune diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice. The current study was designed to investigate if bakers are intranasally exposed to gluten during work and whether occupation as baker is inversely associated with type 1 diabetes. Gliadin was measured in nasal swabs from eight bakers and butchers. The odds ratio of type 1 diabetes in selected profession groups was analysed in a registry-based case-control study with data from 1980 to 2010 derived from Statistics Denmark. The cohort included 1,210,017 Danish individuals, thereof 15,451 with type 1 diabetes (1.28%). Average nasal gliadin swab content after full working days was 6.3 μg (confidence interval (CI): 2.8 to 9.7) among bakers, while no nasal gliadin was detected among butchers. The odds ratio of type 1 diabetes was lower among bakers (OR = 0.57; CI: 0.52 to 0.62) and agriculture workers occupied with production of grains (OR = 0.65; CI: 0.56 to 0.75). Bakers had a lower odds ratio of type 1 diabetes, which potentially could be attributed to exposure of nasal mucosal gluten during work, as observed in this study. If other studies confirm the present observations, intranasal gliadin administration could possibly be an easy and safe approach for the prevention of type 1 diabetes in high-risk individuals or prediabetic subjects

Substrate elasticity modulates TGF beta stimulated re-differentiation of expanded human articular chondrocytes

Substrate elasticity has emerged as important biomaterial design parameter. In particular, it has been reported that on soft substrates (~4kPa) freshly isolated porcine chondrocytes better maintain their phenotype than on stiffer ones (>20kPa). Thus, we investigated whether this also applies to re-differentiating, expanded/de-differentiated (EDD) human articular chondrocytes (HAC). EDD HAC were seeded onto Type I collagen functionalized poly acrylamide (PA) films with a Young's modulus of 0.26 ± 0.08kPa (soft), 21.32 ± 0.79kPa (intermediately stiff) and 74.88 ± 5.13kPa (stiff), or type I collagen-coated plastic dishes (TCPS w/CI). Cells were cultured for 7 to 14days in chondrogenic medium supplemented with transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) and assessed for attachment, initial adhesion strength, proliferation, morphology as well as for expression of type I and II collagen at mRNA and type II collagen on protein level. Attachment and adhesion strength was similar on the different PA substrates and proliferation remained marginal (<1 doubling/week). On intermediately stiff to infinitely stiff substrates EDD HAC assumed a spindle shaped, fibroblastic morphology, whereas on the soft substrate they remained more spherical, as assessed by shape factor analysis, and had a reduced spreading area (up to 3.2-fold). F-actin organization on the soft substrate was restricted cortically, while on the stiffer substrates F-actin assembled into stress fibers. While type II collagen mRNA expression on the soft substrate was (similar to that in aggregate culture and) 18-fold higher than on TCPS w/CI, it was not detectable on protein level. On all substrates, in the absence of TGF-β1 type II collagen mRNA remained at levels expressed by EDD HAC. In summary, substrate elasticity modulated the TGF-β1 stimulated re-differentiation of EDD HAC. Mechanical compliance is thus an important parameter to be coupled with the delivery of appropriate morphogens in designing biomaterials for cartilage engineering and repai

Gluten-Free Diet Only during Pregnancy Efficiently Prevents Diabetes in NOD Mouse Offspring

Studies have documented that the pathogenesis of autoimmune diabetes is influenced by the intake of gluten. Aims. To investigate the importance of gluten exposure during pregnancy and the subsequent development of autoimmune diabetes in offspring. Methods. Nonobese diabetic mice were divided into 7 groups to receive combinations of gluten-free and standard diet before, during, or after pregnancy. Diabetes incidence in offspring was followed in each group (n=16–27) for 310 days. Insulitis score and intestinal expression of T-cell transcription factors (RT-QPCR) were evaluated in animals from the different diet groups. Results. If mothers were fed a gluten-free diet only during pregnancy, the development of autoimmune diabetes in offspring was almost completely prevented with an incidence reduction from 62.5% in gluten-consuming mice to 8.3% (p<0.0001) in the gluten-free group. The islets of Langerhans were less infiltrated (p<0.001) and the intestinal expression of RORγt (Th17) (p<0.0001) reduced in mice whose mothers were Gluten-free during pregnancy. Conclusion. A gluten-free diet exclusively during pregnancy efficiently prevents autoimmune diabetes development in offspring and reduces insulitis and intestinal expression of RORγt (Th17)

Effect of resistance training on muscle properties and function in women with generalized joint hypermobility: a single-blind pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Generalized joint hypermobility is defined as an excessive range of motion in several joints. Having joint hypermobility is not a pathology, but when associated with pain and other symptoms, it might affect health and function. Evidence for physiotherapy management is sparse and resistance training might be a possible intervention. Thus, the effects of 12-week resistance-training on muscle properties and function in women with generalized joint hypermobility were evaluated. METHODS In this single-blind randomized controlled trial women between 20 and 40 years with generalized joint hypermobility (Beighton score at least 6/9) were included. Participants were randomly allocated to 12-week resistance training twice weekly (experimental) or no lifestyle change (control). Resistance training focused on leg and trunk muscles. Primary outcome was muscle strength; additional outcomes included muscle properties, like muscle mass and density, functional activities, pain and disability. Training adherence and adverse events were recorded. RESULTS Of 51 participating women 27 were randomised to training and 24 into the control group. In each group 11 women had joint hypermobility syndrome, fulfilling the Brighton criteria, while 24 (89%) in the training group and 21 (88%) in the control group mentioned any pain. The mean strength of knee extensors varied in the training group from 0.63 (sd 0.16) N/bm before training to 0.64 (sd 0.17) N/bm after training and in the control group from 0.53 (sd 0.14) N/bm to 0.54 (sd 0.15) N/bm. For this and all other outcome measures, no significant differences between the groups due to the intervention were found, with many variables showing high standard deviations. Adherence to the training was good with 63% of participants performing more than 80% of sessions. One adverse event occurred during training, which was not clearly associated to the training. Four participants had to stop the training early. CONCLUSIONS No improvement in strength or muscle mass by self-guided resistance training was found. Low resistance levels, as well as the choice of outcome measures were possible reasons. A more individualized and better guided training might be important. However, program adherence was good with few side effects or problems triggered by the resistance training. TRIAL REGISTRATION This trial was prospectively registered in the ISRCTN registry ( www.isrctn.com , BMC, Springer Nature) on July 16, 2013 as ISRCTN90224545 . The first participant was enrolled at October 25, 2013