2-Server PIR with sub-polynomial communication

A 2-server Private Information Retrieval (PIR) scheme allows a user to retrieve the $i$th bit of an $n$-bit database replicated among two servers (which do not communicate) while not revealing any information about $i$ to either server. In this work we construct a 1-round 2-server PIR with total communication cost $n^{O({\sqrt{\log\log n/\log n}})}$. This improves over the currently known 2-server protocols which require $O(n^{1/3})$ communication and matches the communication cost of known 3-server PIR schemes. Our improvement comes from reducing the number of servers in existing protocols, based on Matching Vector Codes, from 3 or 4 servers to 2. This is achieved by viewing these protocols in an algebraic way (using polynomial interpolation) and extending them using partial derivatives

Kondo Effect in Defect-bound Quantum Dots Coupled to NbSe2_2

We report the fabrication of a van der Waals tunneling device hosting a defect-bound quantum dot coupled to NbSe$_2$. We find that upon application of magnetic field, the device exhibits a zero-bias conductance peak. The peak, which splits at higher fields, is associated with a Kondo effect. At the same time, the junction retains conventional quasiparticle tunneling features at finite bias. Such coexistence of a superconducting gap and a Kondo effect are unusual, and are explained by noting the two-gap nature of the superconducting state of NbSe$_2$, where a magnetic field suppresses the low energy gap associated with the Se band. Our data shows that van der Waals architectures, and defect-bound dots in them, can serve as a novel and effective platform for investigating the interplay of Kondo screening and superconducting pairing in unconventional superconductors

Clobetasol 17-Propionate Cream as an Effective Preventive Treatment for Drug Induced Superficial Thrombophlebitis

Commonly used therapies for thrombophlebitis have a high failure rate. There are scant data on the application  of topical corticosteroids to treat thrombophlebitis. The present study investigated if the potent topical  corticosteroid clobetasol 17-propionate cream (Dermovate, Glaxo Wellcome) can be an effective treatment  for drug-induced thrombophlebitis. DP-b99, a neuroprotective agent currently undergoing development for acute stroke, can cause injectionsite  phlebitis. DP-b99 was administered at doses of 1 and 2 mg/kg by a 1 hour intravenous infusion into the  lateral ear vein of groups of 6 and 5 rabbits, respectively. Each rabbit served as its own control by injecting  both ears with DP-b99, while treating only one ear with clobetasol cream immediately after treatment, with  subsequent applications twice daily for 3 days. Phlebitis was evaluated 1, 3, 5, 24, 32, 48, 56 and 72 hours  after DP-b99 treatment using a clinical score ranging from 0 (no reaction) to 4. After 3 days the rabbits were  sacrificed for histological analysis of the ears. The phlebitis score was highest at 24 hours. Clobetasol treatment reduced the clinical scores at all time points and shortened the course of phlebitis. Maximal effect was observed 24-48 hours after the first application  of clobetasol cream. Histologically, there were fewer cases of thrombophlebitis in the clobetasoltreated  ears, and those seen were milder and more focal. To the best of the authors’ knowledge this appears  to be the only study to report a phlebitis-ameliorating effect of a topical corticosteroid.

Holevo's bound from a general quantum fluctuation theorem

We give a novel derivation of Holevo's bound using an important result from nonequilibrium statistical physics, the fluctuation theorem. To do so we develop a general formalism of quantum fluctuation theorems for two-time measurements, which explicitly accounts for the back action of quantum measurements as well as possibly non-unitary time evolution. For a specific choice of observables this fluctuation theorem yields a measurement-dependent correction to the Holevo bound, leading to a tighter inequality. We conclude by analyzing equality conditions for the improved bound.Comment: 5 page

Epilepsy syndrome-associated balance dysfunction assessed by static posturography

AbstractPurposeTo compare subclinical balance dysfunction in patients with various epilepsy syndromes with apparently healthy subjects.MethodsTwenty-seven patients with localization-related epilepsy (LRE), 19 with primary generalized epilepsy (PGE), who had no subjective complaints of impaired balance and no abnormal neurologic findings on examination, and 22 apparently healthy subjects, underwent static posturography using the Posture Scale Analyzer (PSA) system.ResultsSway index was higher in patients compared to healthy subjects in all tests, significant for single leg stance (p=0.005). Patients with PGE had a higher sway index compared to patients with LRE in six of the tests, also significant for single leg stance (p=0.027). This difference was not affected by the type of AED treatment or disease duration.ConclusionPosturography can improve balance function assessment in patients with epilepsy, demonstrate subclinical impairment in seemingly asymptomatic patients, and further characterize balance deficits in different epilepsy syndromes

The key project managers’ competences for different types of projects

This paper describes a quantitative research approach for identifying key project managers’ competences for different types of projects. By identifying the perceived most valuable project manager competences, as having the most potential for increased contribution to project management (PM) performance, practitioners and organizations can select their priorities when developing their PM practices. The 46 competences (technical, behavioural and contextual) provided by IPMA (International Project Management Association) were surveyed through an online questionnaire. Three dimensions to distinguish project types were used: application area, innovation and complexity. Completed questionnaires were received from 96 project managers from Portugal. The results showed that 13 key competences (20%) were common to the majority of the projects. Most of these are behavioural competences, such as: ethics, reliability, engagement, openness, and leadership. It was also observed a clear correlation between technical competences and project complexity

Reference-based analysis of lung single-cell sequencing reveals a transitional profibrotic macrophage.

Tissue fibrosis is a major cause of mortality that results from the deposition of matrix proteins by an activated mesenchyme. Macrophages accumulate in fibrosis, but the role of specific subgroups in supporting fibrogenesis has not been investigated in vivo. Here, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to characterize the heterogeneity of macrophages in bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in mice. A novel computational framework for the annotation of scRNA-seq by reference to bulk transcriptomes (SingleR) enabled the subclustering of macrophages and revealed a disease-associated subgroup with a transitional gene expression profile intermediate between monocyte-derived and alveolar macrophages. These CX3CR1+SiglecF+ transitional macrophages localized to the fibrotic niche and had a profibrotic effect in vivo. Human orthologs of genes expressed by the transitional macrophages were upregulated in samples from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Thus, we have identified a pathological subgroup of transitional macrophages that are required for the fibrotic response to injury

Network Physiology reveals relations between network topology and physiological function

The human organism is an integrated network where complex physiologic systems, each with its own regulatory mechanisms, continuously interact, and where failure of one system can trigger a breakdown of the entire network. Identifying and quantifying dynamical networks of diverse systems with different types of interactions is a challenge. Here, we develop a framework to probe interactions among diverse systems, and we identify a physiologic network. We find that each physiologic state is characterized by a specific network structure, demonstrating a robust interplay between network topology and function. Across physiologic states the network undergoes topological transitions associated with fast reorganization of physiologic interactions on time scales of a few minutes, indicating high network flexibility in response to perturbations. The proposed system-wide integrative approach may facilitate the development of a new field, Network Physiology.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figure

Nanowired three-dimensional cardiac patches

Engineered cardiac patches for treating damaged heart tissues after a heart attack are normally produced by seeding heart cells within three-dimensional porous biomaterial scaffolds1, 2, 3. These biomaterials, which are usually made of either biological polymers such as alginate4 or synthetic polymers such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA)5, help cells organize into functioning tissues, but poor conductivity of these materials limits the ability of the patch to contract strongly as a unit6. Here, we show that incorporating gold nanowires within alginate scaffolds can bridge the electrically resistant pore walls of alginate and improve electrical communication between adjacent cardiac cells. Tissues grown on these composite matrices were thicker and better aligned than those grown on pristine alginate and when electrically stimulated, the cells in these tissues contracted synchronously. Furthermore, higher levels of the proteins involved in muscle contraction and electrical coupling are detected in the composite matrices. It is expected that the integration of conducting nanowires within three-dimensional scaffolds may improve the therapeutic value of current cardiac patches.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (NIH, grant GM073626)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (NIH, grant DE13023)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (NIH, grant DE016516)American Heart Association (Postdoctoral Fellowship)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (no. F32GM096546)