Exploring multipartite quantum correlations with the square of quantum discord

We explore the quantum correlation distribution in multipartite quantum states based on the square of quantum discord (SQD). For tripartite quantum systems, we derive the necessary and sufficient condition for the SQD to satisfy the monogamy relation. Particularly, we prove that the SQD is monogamous for three-qubit pure states, based on which a genuine tripartite quantum correlation measure is introduced. In addition, we also address the quantum correlation distributions in four-qubit pure states. As an example, we investigate multipartite quantum correlations in the dynamical evolution of multipartite cavity-reservoir systems.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Aerosolized amphotericin B as prophylaxis for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis: a meta-analysis

SummaryObjectivesInvasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is associated with high mortality in high-risk (immunosuppressed) patients. Many studies have investigated whether prophylactic inhalation of amphotericin B (AMB) reduces the incidence of IPA, but no definitive conclusions have been reached. The present meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic inhalation of AMB for the prevention of IPA.MethodsMEDLINE and other databases were searched for relevant articles published until December 2013. Randomized controlled trials that compared aerosolized AMB with placebo were included. Two reviewers independently assessed and extracted the data of all trials.ResultsSix animal studies and two clinical trials involving 768 high-risk patients were eligible. The animal studies showed lower overall mortality rate among animals that underwent aerosolized AMB prophylaxis (odds ratio (OR) 0.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.08–0.21). Similarly, the clinical trials showed a lower incidence of IPA among patients who underwent aerosolized AMB prophylaxis (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.22–0.79).ConclusionsThis analysis provides evidence supporting the notion that the prophylactic use of aerosolized AMB effectively reduces the incidence of IPA among high-risk patients

Transverse force on a moving vortex with the acoustic geometry

We consider the transverse force on a moving vortex with the acoustic metric using the $\phi$-mapping topological current theory. In the frame of effective spacetime geometry the vortex appear naturally by virtue of the vortex tensor in the Lorentz spacetime and we show that it is just the vortex derived with the order parameter in the condensed matter. With the usual Lagrangian we obtain the equation of motion for the vortex. At last, we show that the transverse force on the moving vortex in our equation is just the usual Magnus force in a simple model.Comment: 11 pages, no figur

Efficacy of the Combination of Voriconazole and Caspofungin in Experimental Pulmonary Aspergillosis by Different Aspergillus Species

OBJECTIVES: Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, or Aspergillus niger is associated with high mortality. We evaluated the efficacy and compared the therapeutic effect differences of voriconazole (VRC) in combination with caspofungin (CAS) in transiently neutropenic rats infected by A. fumigatus, A. flavus, or A. niger. METHODS: Treatment groups consisted of VRC (10 mg/kg q12 h) monotherapy, CAS (1 mg/kg/day) monotherapy, combination of VRC (10 mg/kg q12 h) + CAS (1 mg/kg/day), and no drug for 10 consecutive days. The efficacy and the difference in the treatments were evaluated through prolongation of survival, reduction in serum galactomannan levels and residual fungal burden, and histological studies. RESULTS: For all the strains, the combination of VRC and CAS led to significant prolongation in survival (P < 0.05) and reduction in residual fungal burden (P < 0.05) compared with CAS alone, and decrease in serum galactomannan levels (P < 0.05) compared with either agent alone. The survival in the combined therapy groups was significantly improved compared to VRC monotherapy for the strains of A. flavus and A. niger (P < 0.05), but no significant difference for the strains of A. fumigatus (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Combination of VRC and CAS was synergistic in IPA by A. flavus and A. niger, but small efficacy benefits in IPA by A. fumigatus

Disproportionately Elevated Proinsulin Levels as an Early Indicator of -Cell Dysfunction in Nondiabetic Offspring of Chinese Diabetic Patients

Objective. To study the characteristics of -cell dysfunction and insulin resistance (IR) in the first-degree relatives (FDRs) of T2DM in Chinese population and to examine the usefulness of proinsulin (PI) for evaluating -cell dysfunction. Methods. 229 subjects of nondiabetic FDRs, 71 newly diagnosed T2DM, and 114 with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) but not FDRs (NGT-non-FDRs) were verified by a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test. Specific insulin (SI) and PI were measured by highly sensitive ELISA. Results. Compared to NGT-non-FDRs, NGT-FDRs showed higher levels of fasting and 2-hour PI, fasting PI-to-SI ratio (FPI/SI), and HOMA-IR ( &lt; 0.01). Meanwhile, fasting PI, FPI/SI, and HOMA-IR were increased steadily from NGT-FDRs to prediabetesFDRs and were highest in T2DM group ( &lt; 0.001), whereas a significant decrease in HOMA-B could be observed only in T2DM group. Moreover, a progressive deterioration of -cell function in NGT-FDRs, prediabetes-FDRs, and T2DM could be identified by FPI/SI even after adjusting for HOMA-IR: relative to non-FDRs controls, mean FPI/SI levels were increased 1.5, 2.0, and 4.7-fold, respectively (all &lt; 0.01). Conclusions. -cell dysfunction as assessed by disproportionate secretion of proinsulin and IR by HOMA (using specific insulin assay) already exist in FDRs of T2DM even with normal glucose status. Compared with HOMA-B, FPI/SI could detect -cell failure in earlier stage of diabetes development

Systematic analysis of leucine-rich repeat disease resistance genes in maize

Leucine-rich repeat disease resistance (LRRDR) genes are important for defending plants from a range of pathogens. However, little information has been reported on the systematic analysis of LRRDR genes in maize. In this study, 235 LRRDR genes were identified in the complete genome sequence of maize (Zea mays cv. B73), classified as six different structural types, and then characterized based on conserved protein motifs, chromo- somal locations and gene duplications. Subsequent phylogenetic comparisons indicated that ~20 pairs of maize LRRDR proteins possessed high similarities to LRRDR proteins with known functions. Analyses of the physical locations and duplications of LRRDR genes indicated that gene duplication events involving LRRDR genes were high in maize and 84% occurred between chromosomes, which may ensure the functional performance and en- hancement of maize LRRDR genes. Meanwhile, the functions and expression patterns of the LRRDR genes were associated with their conserved protein secondary structures, suggesting that different conserved domains might distinguish their biological functions. Transcripts of 13 genes were regulated by two or more fungal pathogens, respectively, indicating that one LRRDR gene might mediate resistance to multiple fungal pathogens, suggest- ing that the signal networks of the maize-fungal pathogen interactions were partially crossed. Additionally, we screened five candidate LRRDR genes for ear rot resistance. The results reported in this study contribute to an improved understanding of the LRRDR gene family in maize

Screening and analysis of soda saline-alkali stress induced up- regulated genes in sugar sorghum

Soil salinization severely constrains the growth of crops, which ultimately leads to reduced yields. Because Sorghum dochna (common name sugar sorghum) has the advantageous properties of excellent salt stress resis- tance, high biomass, and tremendous flexibility for utilization as food, livestock feed, and industrial products, this species holds great potential to be further developed as a primary alternative crop. To elucidate the molecular mechanism that governs sugar sorghum’s adaptation to high salinity environments, we constructed a suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) cDNA library from sugar sorghum transcripts that contains the soda saline-alkali induced up-regulated genes from the resistant variety M-81E. The SSH cDNA library was screened by using the colony hybridization method, and the ESTs obtained were sequenced and analyzed. A total of 200 EST clones were identified, representing 127 unigenes (6 contigs and 121 singlets). A Blast analysis showed that 48 ESTs (46.6%) have annotated functions in GenBank, 55 ESTs (53.4%) have unknown functions (or encode hypothetical proteins), and 24 ESTs (18.9%) have no blast hits. The majority of the hypothetical ESTs from the cDNA library displayed very high sequence similarity with their homologs found through GenBank. A clustering analysis of the ESTs with known functions indicated that a wide variety of genes were induced during the salt stress treatment. These genes were found to function in photosynthesis, material and energy metabolism (carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, co-enzymes, ions, etc.), synthesis or maintenance of constituents of the cell wall and cell membrane, signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, and as water channels. This indicates that sugar sorghum tolerance to soda saline-alkali stress results from the coordinated functions of many genes