Demonstration of a bosonic quantum classifier with data re-uploading

In a single qubit system, a universal quantum classifier can be realised using the data-reuploading technique. In this study, we propose a new quantum classifier applying this technique to bosonic systems and successfully demonstrated it using silicon optical integrated quantum circuits. We established a theory of quantum machine learning algorithm applicable to bosonic systems and implemented a programmable optical circuit combined with an interferometer. Learning and classification using part of the implemented optical quantum circuit with uncorrelated two-photons resulted in a classification with a reproduction rate of approximately 94\% in the proof of principle experiment. As this method can be applied to arbitrary two-mod N-photon system, further development of optical quantum classifiers, such as extensions to quantum entangled and multi-photon states, is expected in the future.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Impact of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation on cardiac disorders in patients with coexisting heart failure

AIMS: We sought to investigate the time course of cardiac disorders after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with coexisting heart failure (HF) during long-term follow-up. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed consecutive 280 patients undergoing first-time catheter ablation for AF who had coexisting HF, which was defined as prior HF hospitalization, estimated right ventricular systolic pressure ≥45 mmHg, or B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) ≥200 pg/dL before the procedure. The primary endpoints were improvements in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), E/e', BNP, left atrial dimension (LAD), and mitral regurgitation (MR) at 1 year. The secondary endpoints were serial changes of LVEF, E/e', BNP, LAD, and MR at 6 months, 1 year, and 5 years and cumulative incidence of HF hospitalization. During the mean follow-up of 5.1 ± 3.0 years, 70.7% of patients were free from recurrent AF. Among patients with LVEF < 50%, E/e' ≥ 15, BNP ≥ 200 pg/dL, LAD ≥ 40 mm, and moderate-to-severe MR, changes in those parameters from baseline to 1 year were 34.5 ± 9.9% to 43.2 ± 14.4% (P < 0.001), 19.7 ± 3.9 to 12.5 ± 6.6 (P < 0.001), 290 to 85 pg/dL (P < 0.001), and 100% to 37.8% (P < 0.001), respectively. The improvements in the cardiac disorders were maintained up to 5 years except for E/e'. In patients with LVEF < 40%, significant delayed improvement of LVEF beyond 1 year was observed (ΔLVEF = 10.5 ± 18.5, P = 0.001), but not in patients with LVEF of 40-49%. The cumulative incidence of HF hospitalization was 12.6% at 5 years. Baseline diastolic dysfunction was the only independent predictor for subsequent HF hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing AF ablation with coexisting HF, all cardiac disorders significantly improved after the procedure, which was mostly maintained during 5 year follow-up

Chromosome 1p36 deletion syndrome detected by NGS

Although chromosome 1p36 deletion syndrome is considered clinically recognizable based on characteristic features, the clinical manifestations of patients during infancy are often not consistent with those observed later in life. We report a 4-month-old girl who showed multiple congenital anomalies and developmental delay, but no clinical signs of syndromic disease caused by a terminal deletion in 1p36.32-p36.33 that was first identified by targeted-exome sequencing for molecular diagnosis

Five-minute resolved spatial distribution of radiocesium in sea sediment derived from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant

AbstractThe spatial distributions of radiocesium concentration in sea sediment to a core depth of 14 cm were investigated in the offshore region from the Fukushima Prefecture to the northern part of the Ibaraki Prefecture in February and July 2012, at a spatial resolution of 5 min of latitude and longitude. The concentrations in the area south of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) were generally higher than those in the area north of it. In the southern area, a band of especially high concentration with a width about 20 km was present in the region shallower than 100 m, and a narrow minimal concentration band was found along the 200-m isobaths. In more than half of all cases, the vertical core profiles of radiocesium concentration generally showed an exponential decreasing trend with depth. However, in the area north of the FDNPP, where the radiocesium concentrations tended to be very low, radiocesium concentrations that had similar or larger magnitude compared with those of the most-surface layer were often found in deeper layers. Relatively good correlations were found between radiocesium concentrations and grain sizes of the most-surface sediment. The vertical profile of radiocesium concentration also had a relationship with grain size. In other case, the radiocesium concentration in the sediment seems to have had a dependence on the radiocesium concentration in bottom seawater, suggesting that the quantity of radiocesium supplied and the grain size were major factors determining the spatial distribution pattern of the radiocesium concentration after the FDNPP accident

Osteoarticular infections in childhood

Objectives : Osteomyelitis (OM) and septic arthritis (SA) in childhood might cause complications, sequelae, or even death if diagnosis and treatment are delayed. Here, we examined the outcomes of OM / SA at a pediatric emergency core hospital in Japan. Methods : This was a single-center, retrospective, observational cohort study at a pediatric emergency core hospital in Japan. Pediatric outpatients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging at the hospital in the period 2012–2020 were recruited. Primary outcomes were sequelae, recurrent symptoms, chronicity, and death. Results : Fifteen OM / SA patients (9 OM, 4 SA, 2 OM+SA) were recruited. The identified major pathogens included methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (40.0 %, n = 6) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (13.3 %, n = 2). Mean time from onset to first hospital visit, hospitalization, and initiation of effective antibiotics was 2 days, 3.9 ± 1.8 days, and 4.9 ± 2.2 days, respectively. All OM / SA patients recovered without complications or sequelae. Conclusions : In this study, all patients with OM / SA showed a good prognosis. Despite the small sample size, this pilot study suggests that the pediatric emergency core system in Japan provides early treatment and a good prognosis for patients diagnosed with OM / SA

Early combined treatment with steroid and immunoglobulin is effective for serious Kawasaki disease complicated by myocarditis and encephalopathy

Severe-type Kawasaki disease (KD) complicated by serious myocarditis and encephalopathy can be successfully treated without abnormality of the coronary arteries by steroid pulse treatment and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). A 4-year-old Japanese girl was diagnosed with KD due to a 6-day history of fever, rash, flushed lips, conjunctival hyperemia, palmar edema, and cervical lymphadenopathy. The day after initiation of IVIg and aspirin, cardiac gallop rhythm was identified. Cardiac ultrasonography revealed severe left ventricular dysfunction. Disturbance of consciousness, hallucinations, and slurred speech were also observed. Magnetic resonance imaging showed no abnormalities, but electroencephalography revealed high-voltage slow waves. Despite this serious disease, cardiac function and neurological abnormalities showed complete recovery without dilatation of the coronary arteries by steroid pulse treatment and additional IVIg. Follow-up at 15 months revealed no abnormality of the coronary arteries. In conclusion, we suggest that early combined treatment with steroid and IVIg is effective for serious KD complicated by myocarditis and encephalopathy

Physiological effects of natural flagrance of “CEDROL” and cedrol for application to aromatherapy

匂い物質は，嗅覚神経系を介して行動発現や自律神経機能の調節などに関与する神経系（大脳辺縁系および視床下部）を賦活することにより，アロマセラピーの効果発現に関与していることが示唆されている．セドロールは，セダーウッド油から抽出した天然香料であり，セドロールを含むセダーウッドエッセンスはアロマセラピーに用いられていることから，自律神経機能に及ぼす作用が期待される．そこでセドロールを実験的に健常人に上気道から吸入させると，副交感神経の活動が有意に増大し，交感神経系の活動が有意に低下した．さらに，喉頭全摘除術を受けた被験者を用いて，上気道を介さずに下気道からセドロールを直接吸入させると，同様の効果が認められた．以上から，セドロールは嗅覚神経系だけでなく肺の迷走神経系を介して，交感神経系の活動や精神緊張を低下させる作用を有することが示唆された．これらのことは，セドロールがアロマセラピーに有用であることを示唆する．Odor substance is suggested to induce clinical effects of aromatherapy by stimulating the brain areas（limbic system and hypothalamus）involved in emotion and autonomic control through the olfactory system. Effects of pure compound （Cedrol） extracted from cedar wood oil on the cardiovascular system were investigated since cedar wood essence, which includes Cedrol, has been applied to aromatherapy. Vaporized Cedrol were presented to healthy human subjects via a face mask, which decreased sympathetic activity and increased parasympathetic activity. In the subsequent experiment, vaporized Cedrol was directly inhaled through the lower airway from a hole in the trachea of the totally laryngectomized subjects, but not through the upper airway. The experiment using the totally laryngectomized subjects replicated the similar results in healthy subjects who inhaled Cedrol through the nose. These results suggest that Cedrol acts on the peripheral nervous system （vagus nerve） innervating the lower airway and pulmonary system as well as the olfactory system in the upper airway. These results suggest usefulness of Cedrol for aromatherapy

The inhibitory effects of a RANKL-binding peptide on articular and periarticular bone loss in a murine model of collagen-induced arthritis: a bone histomorphometric study

Showing the effects of OP3-4 on the proliferation and differentiation of cartilage cell line ATDC5. A Results of proliferation assay on day 1 with the noninduction medium. B Alcian blue-positive area ratio in the cartilage induction medium on day 10. **p <0.01 vs. vehicle control, #p <0.05 vs. 100 ÎźM OP3-4. (JPEG 384 kb

Extensive expansion and diversification of the chemokine gene family in zebrafish: Identification of a novel chemokine subfamily CX

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The chemokine family plays important roles in cell migration and activation. In humans, at least 44 members are known. Based on the arrangement of the four conserved cysteine residues, chemokines are now classified into four subfamilies, CXC, CC, XC and CX3C. Given that zebrafish is an important experimental model and teleost fishes constitute an evolutionarily diverse group that forms half the vertebrate species, it would be useful to compare the zebrafish chemokine system with those of mammals. Prior to this study, however, only incomplete lists of the zebrafish chemokine genes were reported.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We systematically searched chemokine genes in the zebrafish genome and EST databases, and identified more than 100 chemokine genes. These genes were CXC, CC and XC subfamily members, while no CX3C gene was identified. We also searched chemokine genes in pufferfish fugu and <it>Tetraodon</it>, and found only 18 chemokine genes in each species. The majority of the identified chemokine genes are unique to zebrafish or teleost fishes. However, several groups of chemokines are moderately similar to human chemokines, and some chemokines are orthologous to human homeostatic chemokines CXCL12 and CXCL14. Zebrafish also possesses a novel species-specific subfamily consisting of five members, which we term the CX subfamily. The CX chemokines lack one of the two N-terminus conserved cysteine residues but retain the third and the fourth ones. (Note that the XC subfamily only retains the second and fourth of the signature cysteines residues.) Phylogenetic analysis and genome organization of the chemokine genes showed that successive tandem duplication events generated the CX genes from the CC subfamily. Recombinant CXL-chr24a, one of the CX subfamily members on chromosome 24, showed marked chemotactic activity for carp leukocytes. The mRNA was expressed mainly during a certain period of the embryogenesis, suggesting its role in the zebrafish development.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The phylogenic and genomic organization analyses suggest that a substantial number of chemokine genes in zebrafish were generated by zebrafish-specific tandem duplication events. During such duplications, a novel chemokine subfamily termed CX was generated in zebrafish. Only two human chemokines CXCL12 and CXCL14 have the orthologous chemokines in zebrafish. The diversification observed in the numbers and sequences of chemokines in the fish may reflect the adaptation of the individual species to their respective biological environment.</p

NGS utility for diagnosis of MCA/ID

Background : In clinical practice, a large proportion of patients with multiple congenital anomalies and/or intellectual disabilities (MCA/ID) lacks a specific diagnosis. Recently, next-generation sequencing (NGS) has become an efficient strategy for genetic diagnosis of patients with MCA/ID. Objective : To review the utility of NGS for the diagnosis of patients with MCA/ID. Method : Patients with MCA/ID were recruited between 2013 and 2017. Molecular diagnosis was performed using NGS-based targeted panel sequencing for 4,813 genes. Promising causative variants underwent confirmation by Sanger sequencing or chromosomal microarray. Results : Eighteen patients with MCA/ID were enrolled in this study. Of them, 8 cases (44%) were diagnosed by targeted panel sequencing. Most of diagnosed patients were able to receive better counseling and more appropriate medical management. Conclusion : NGS-based targeted panel sequencing seems to be an effective testing strategy for diagnosis of patients with MCA/ID