1,574 research outputs found
Scalable Bell inequalities for multiqubit systems
Based on Clauser-Horner-Shimony-Holt inequality, we show a fruitful method to
exploit Bell inequalities for multipartite qubit systems. These Bell
inequalities are designed with a simpler architecture tailored to experimental
demonstration. Under the optimal setting we derive a set of compact Mermin-type
inequalities and discuss quantum violations for generalized
Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GGHZ) states. Also, we reveal relationship between
quantum nonlocality and four-partite entanglement for four-qubit GGHZ states.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur
Evolution of Interlayer Coupling in Twisted MoS2 Bilayers
Van der Waals (vdW) coupling is emerging as a powerful method to engineer and
tailor physical properties of atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) materials.
In graphene/graphene and graphene/boron-nitride structures it leads to
interesting physical phenomena ranging from new van Hove singularities1-4 and
Fermi velocity renormalization5, 6 to unconventional quantum Hall effects7 and
Hofstadter's butterfly pattern8-12. 2D transition metal dichalcogenides
(TMDCs), another system of predominantly vdW-coupled atomically thin layers13,
14, can also exhibit interesting but different coupling phenomena because TMDCs
can be direct or indirect bandgap semiconductors15, 16. Here, we present the
first study on the evolution of interlayer coupling with twist angles in
as-grown MoS2 bilayers. We find that an indirect bandgap emerges in bilayers
with any stacking configuration, but the bandgap size varies appreciably with
the twist angle: it shows the largest redshift for AA- and AB-stacked bilayers,
and a significantly smaller but constant redshift for all other twist angles.
The vibration frequency of the out-of-plane phonon in MoS2 shows similar twist
angle dependence. Our observations, together with ab initio calculations,
reveal that this evolution of interlayer coupling originates from the repulsive
steric effects, which leads to different interlayer separations between the two
MoS2 layers in different stacking configurations
A scalable tripartite Wigner's friend scenario
Wigner's friend thought experiment is intended to reveal the inherent tension
between unitary evolution and measurement collapse. On the basis of Wigner's
friend experiment, Brukner derives a no-go theorem for observer-independent
facts. We construct an extended Wigner's friend scenario including three
laboratories, namely, Alice's laboratory, Bob's laboratory and Charlie's
laboratory, where Alice, Bob and Charlie are standing outside the laboratories
while their friends are placed inside their own laboratories. We consider
quantum simulation via Q\# quantum programming and also realize the primary
quantum circuits using IBM quantum computers. Then, we calculate the
probabilities and corresponding statistical uncertainties. It has been shown
that the results of quantum simulation are clearly consistent with theoretical
values, while it has a slightly higher error rates for the experimental results
of quantum computers mainly because of a series of quantum gates, especially
CNOT gates.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure
Pulse Width Modulation Electro-Acupuncture on Cardiovascular Remodeling and Plasma Nitric Oxide in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
This study was designed to investigate the effect of pulse width modulation electro-acupuncture (PWM-EA) on cardiovascular remodeling and nitric oxide (NO) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Thirty-four male SHR were randomly divided into control, captopril, and two PWM-EA groups, which were treated with 350âHz (SHR-350âHz) and whole audio bandwith electro-acupuncture (SHR-WAB group) respectively, on the ST 36 point located on the outside of the hind leg. Systolic blood pressure (BP), plasma and myocardial NO were measured. Histological studies were also performed on the aortic wall and the left ventricle. The BP in the SHR-350âHz, SHR-WAB and the captopril groups was lower than in the control group following the treatment (P < .05). The average aortic media wall thickness in the two electro-acupuncture groups was less than in the control group (P < .05). The left ventricle/heart weight ratio in the captopril and SHR-350âHz groups was less than in the control group (P < .01), but was similar between the SHR-WAB and the control group (P > .05). The plasma and myocardium NO levels were elevated in the captopril and the SHR-350âHz group (P < .05 and .01, resp.). The plasma level of NO in the SHR-WAB group was also higher than in the control group (P < .05). We concluded that pulse width modulation electro-acupuncture on the ST 36 point prevents the progression of hypertension and diminishes the cardiovascular remodeling in SHR. It also elevates plasma and cardiac NO in this animal model
Two Photon Decays of from Lattice QCD
We present an exploratory lattice study for the two-photon decay of
using twisted mass lattice QCD gauge configurations generated by the
European Twisted Mass Collaboration. Two different lattice spacings of
fm and fm are used in the study, both of which are of
physical size of 2. The decay widths are found to be KeV for the
coarser lattice and KeV for the finer lattice respectively where the
errors are purely statistical. A naive extrapolation towards the continuum
limit yields KeV which is smaller than the previous
quenched result and most of the current experimental results. Possible reasons
are discussed.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures; matches the published versio
Molecules in the peculiar age-defying source IRAS 19312+1950
Context. IRAS 19312+1950 is an isolated infrared source that exhibits a
characteristic quasi-point-symmetric morphology in the near- and mid-infrared
images and is also very bright in molecular radio lines. Because of its unique
observational characteristics, various observational studies have been
conducted and several hypotheses have been proposed regarding its origin, which
is still unclear. So far, it has been suggested that it could be a peculiar
evolved star, a young stellar object, or even a red nova remnant. Regardless of
which type of object it is ultimately classified as, IRAS 19312+1950 is
exceptionally bright in the infrared and molecular radio lines and therefore
will undoubtedly be crucial as a prototype of this kind of object having a
peculiar nature or unusual evolutionary phase.
Aims. This study aims to reveal the molecular composition of the central part
of IRAS 19312+1950 by performing an unbiased molecular radio line survey and
discussing the origin of the object from a molecular chemical point of view.
Methods. We carried out a spectral line survey with the IRAM 30 m telescope
towards the center of IRAS 19312+1950 in the 3 and 1.3 mm windows.
Results. In total, 28 transition lines of 22 molecular species and those
isotopologues are detected towards IRAS 19312+1950, some of which exhibit a
broad and a narrow components. Seventeen thermal lines and 1 maser line are
newly detected. The molecular species of CO, SiO, HNC,
HCO, HCO, and -CH are detected for the first
time in this object.
Conclusions. Our results, in combination with previous studies, favor the
hypothesis that IRAS 19312+1950 might be a red nova remnant, in which the
progenitors that merged to become a red nova may have contained at least two
evolved stars with oxygen-rich and carbon-rich chemistry, respectively.Comment: 30 pages, 24 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Population genetic structure of the deepâsea mussel Bathymodiolus platifrons (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) in the Northwest Pacific
Š The Author(s), 2018. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Evolutionary Applications 11 (2018): 1915-1930, doi:10.1111/eva.12696.Studying population genetics of deepâsea animals helps us understand their history of habitat colonization and population divergence. Here, we report a population genetic study of the deepâsea mussel Bathymodiolus platifrons (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) widely distributed in chemosynthesisâbased ecosystems in the Northwest Pacific. Three mitochondrial genes (i.e., atp6, cox1, and nad4) and 6,398 genomewide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were obtained from 110 individuals from four hydrothermal vents and two methane seeps. When using the three mitochondrial genes, nearly no genetic differentiation was detected for B. platifrons in the Northwest Pacific. Nevertheless, when using SNP datasets, all individuals in the South China Sea (SCS) and three individuals in Sagami Bay (SB) together formed one genetic cluster that was distinct from the remaining individuals. Such genetic divergence indicated a genetic barrier to gene flow between the SCS and the open Northwest Pacific, resulting in the coâoccurrence of two cryptic semiâisolated lineages. When using 125 outlier SNPs identified focusing on individuals in the Okinawa Trough (OT) and SB, a minor genetic subdivision was detected between individuals in the southern OT (SâOT) and those in the middle OT (MâOT) and SB. This result indicated that, although under the influence of the Kuroshio Current and the North Pacific Intermediate Water, subtle geographic barriers may exist between the SâOT and the MâOT. Introgression analyses based on these outlier SNPs revealed that Hatoma Knoll in the SâOT represents a possible contact zone for individuals in the OTâSB region. Furthermore, migration dynamic analyses uncovered stronger gene flow from Daiâyon Yonaguni Knoll in the SâOT to the other local populations, compared to the reverse directions. Taken together, the present study offered novel perspectives on the genetic connectivity of B. platifrons mussels, revealing the potential interaction of ocean currents and geographic barriers with adaption and reproductive isolation in shaping their migration patterns and genetic differentiation in the Northwest Pacific.General Research Fund Grant Number: HKBU12302917;
Hong Kong Baptist University Grant Number: 15â1012âP0
Bardoxolone methyl induces apoptosis and autophagy and inhibits epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and stemness in esophageal squamous cancer cells
Natural and synthetic triterpenoids have been shown to kill cancer cells via multiple mechanisms. The therapeutic effect and underlying mechanism of the synthetic triterpenoid bardoxolone methyl (C-28 methyl ester of 2-cyano-3,12-dioxoolean-1,9-dien-28-oic acid; CDDO-Me) on esophageal cancer are unclear. Herein, we aimed to investigate the anticancer effects and underlying mechanisms of CDDO-Me in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells. Our study showed that CDDO-Me suppressed the proliferation and arrested cells in G2/M phase, and induced apoptosis in human ESCC Ec109 and KYSE70 cells. The G2/M arrest was accompanied with upregulated p21Waf1/Cip1 and p53 expression. CDDO-Me significantly decreased B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xl), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), cleaved caspase-9, and cleaved poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) levels but increased the expression level of Bcl-2-associated X (Bax). Furthermore, CDDO-Me induced autophagy in both Ec109 and KYSE70 cells via suppression of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) signaling pathway. There were interactions between the autophagic and apoptotic pathways in Ec109 and KYSE70 cells subject to CDDO-Me treatment. CDDO-Me also scavenged reactive oxygen species through activation of the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway in Ec109 and KYSE70 cells. CDDO-Me inhibited cell invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and stemness in Ec109 and KYSE70 cells. CDDO-Me significantly downregulated E-cadherin but upregulated Snail, Slug, and zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (TCF-8/ZEB1) in Ec109 and KYSE70 cells. CDDO-Me significantly decreased the expression of octamer-4, sex determining region Y-box 2 (Sox-2), Nanog, and B lymphoma Mo-MLV insertion region 1 homolog (Bmi-1), all markers of cancer cell stemness, in Ec109 and KYSE70 cells. Taken together, these results indicate that CDDO-Me is a promising anticancer agent against ESCC. Further studies are warranted to explore the molecular targets, efficacy and safety of CDDO-Me in the treatment of ESCC
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