Automated equivalence checking of concurrent quantum systems

The novel field of quantum computation and quantum information has gathered significant momentum in the last few years. It has the potential to radically impact the future of information technology and in influence the development of modern society. The construction of practical, general purpose quantum computers has been challenging, but quantum cryptographic and communication devices have been available in the commercial marketplace for several years. Quantum networks have been built in various cities around the world and a dedicated satellite has been launched by China to provide secure quantum communication. Such new technologies demand rigorous analysis and verification before they can be trusted in safety- and security- critical applications. Experience with classical hardware and software systems has shown the difficulty of achieving robust and reliable implementations. We present CCSq, a concurrent language for describing quantum systems, and develop verification techniques for checking equivalence between CCSq processes. CCSq has well-defined operational and superoperator semantics for protocols that are functional, in the sense of computing a deterministic input-output relation for all interleavings arising from concurrency in the system. We have implemented QEC (Quantum Equivalence Checker), a tool which takes the specification and implementation of quantum protocols, described in CCSq, and automatically checks their equivalence. For efficiency purposes, we restrict ourselves to Clifford operators in the stabilizer formalism, but we are able to verify protocols over all input states. We have specified and verified a collection of interesting and practical quantum protocols ranging from quantum communication and quantum cryptography to quantum error correction

Tip cap for a rotor blade

A replaceable tip cap for attachment to the end of a rotor blade is described. The tip cap includes a plurality of walls defining a compartment which, if desired, can be divided into a plurality of subcompartments. The tip cap can include inlet and outlet holes in walls thereof to permit fluid communication of a cooling fluid there through. Abrasive material can be attached with the radially outer wall of the tip cap

Dynamics of Antimatter-Atom Collisions

Classical-trajectory Monte Carlo calculations have been used to study ionizing collisions between charged particles (p, p̅ , ℯ+, ℯ-) and He atoms at an incident velocity of 2.83 a.u. While differences in the total single-ionization cross sections for these projectiles are small, our calculations reveal large effects at all angles in the ionized electron spectra, and provide qualitative evidence for a Barkas effect in p and p̅ collisions. Experimental data agree well with our fully classical calculations, including cross sections involving ejected electrons of long wavelength

Dynamics of Antimatter-Atom Collisions

Classical-trajectory Monte Carlo calculations have been used to study ionizing collisions between charged particles (p, p̅ , ℯ+, ℯ-) and He atoms at an incident velocity of 2.83 a.u. While differences in the total single-ionization cross sections for these projectiles are small, our calculations reveal large effects at all angles in the ionized electron spectra, and provide qualitative evidence for a Barkas effect in p and p̅ collisions. Experimental data agree well with our fully classical calculations, including cross sections involving ejected electrons of long wavelength

Molekulare Signalwege der aseptischen Endoprothesenlockerung (Molecular pathways in aseptic loosening of orthopaedic endoprosthesis)

Abstract Operative joint replacement to treat disabling joint conditions secondary to degenerative and inflammatory arthritides has become one of the most efficacious and cost-effective procedures to relieve pain and restore joint function. However, prosthetic implants are not built to last forever and osteolysis and aseptic loosening has been associated with prosthetic arthroplasties since their introduction. The functional life of a synthetic joint is influenced by many factors including the material of the implant, operation procedures and the surgeon involved, as well as patient-related factors. Although promising developments have been achieved in this field, more than 10% of all implants still have to undergo operative revision within 15 years after the initial operation. Failure due to sepsis, fractures and dislocations has become rare; premature loosening of implants on the other hand is becoming much more important. Prosthetic loosening without concurrent infection or trauma is called aseptic loosening. It is generally accepted that small particles ("wear debris") and activated macrophages play a key role in aseptic loosening. The pathophysiology of this condition, however, is still not very well characterized. In this article, we review the molecular mechanisms and signal pathways that were unravelled as responsible factors for loosening orthopaedic implants. Finally, we discuss possible novel strategies for future therapeutic approaches

Implementing Session Centered Calculi

Recently, specific attention has been devoted to the development of service oriented process calculi. Besides the foundational aspects, it is also interesting to have prototype implementations for them in order to assess usability and to minimize the gap between theory and practice. Typically, these implementations are done in Java taking advantage of its mechanisms supporting network applications. However, most of the recurrent features of service oriented applications are re-implemented from scratch. In this paper we show how to implement a service oriented calculus, CaSPiS (Calculus of Services with Pipelines and Sessions) using the Java framework IMC, where recurrent mechanisms for network applications are already provided. By using the session oriented and pattern matching communication mechanisms provided by IMC, it is relatively simple to implement in Java all CaSPiS abstractions and thus to easily write the implementation in Java of a CaSPiS process

Analgesic action of acetaminophen in symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee

Objectives. The study was designed to investigate the analgesic effects and mechanisms of acetaminophen (paracetamol) in symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Methods. Twenty patients with symptomatic OA were randomly allocated to two groups treated with either acetaminophen or rofecoxib for 3 months. Visits and measurements were scheduled upon entry (T0), at month 1 (T1) and at month 3 (T3). The intensity of joint pain was evaluated with a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS). The physical function of the affected knee was evaluated with a questionnaire comparable to the Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Levels of serotonin, substance P (SP) and β-endorphin (BEND) were determined with commercial enzyme-linked immunoassay kits. The expression of κ opioid receptor (KOR) in peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMCs) was quantified by real-time PCR. Results. Both acetaminophen and rofecoxib relieved pain considerably but with different kinetics, and affected different biomarkers. Rofecoxib appeared to be more efficient, reducing pain intensity by 56% at T1 (P<0.01), whereas acetaminophen reduced it by only 29%. Physical function improved in both groups by T3. Correlated with the pain relief, acetaminophen significantly reduced plasma BEND levels, whereas rofecoxib did not do so. In both groups plasma SP levels were elevated compared with T0. A reduction in serum serotonin was detected in the rofecoxib group at T1 (P=0.004) but had recovered at T3. No changes in KOR mRNA in PBMCs were observed in either group. Conclusions. There is a correlation between reduction in circulating BEND and OA pain relief in patients treated with acetaminophe

Synovial fibroblasts: key players in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune-disease of unknown origin that primarily affects the joints and ultimately leads to their destruction. The involvement of immune cells is a general hallmark of autoimmune-related disorders. In this regard, macrophages, T cells and their respective cytokines play a pivotal role in RA. However, the notion that RA is a primarily T-cell-dependent disease has been strongly challenged during recent years. Rather, it has been understood that resident, fibroblast-like cells contribute significantly to the perpetuation of disease, and that they may even play a role in its initiation. These rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts (RASFs) constitute a quite unique cell type that distinguishes RA from other inflammatory conditions of the joints. A number of studies have demonstrated that RASFs show alterations in morphology and behaviour, including molecular changes in signalling cascades, apoptosis responses and in the expression of adhesion molecules as well as matrix-degrading enzymes. These changes appear to reflect a stable activation of RASFs, which occurs independently of continuous exogenous stimulation. As a consequence, RASFs are no longer considered passive bystanders but active players in the complex intercellular network of R

Analgesic action of acetaminophen in symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee

Objectives. The study was designed to investigate the analgesic effects and mechanisms of acetaminophen (paracetamol) in symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Methods. Twenty patients with symptomatic OA were randomly allocated to two groups treated with either acetaminophen or rofecoxib for 3 months. Visits and measurements were scheduled upon entry (T0), at month 1 (T1) and at month 3 (T3). The intensity of joint pain was evaluated with a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS). The physical function of the affected knee was evaluated with a questionnaire comparable to the Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Levels of serotonin, substance P (SP) and β-endorphin (BEND) were determined with commercial enzyme-linked immunoassay kits. The expression of κ opioid receptor (KOR) in peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMCs) was quantified by real-time PCR. Results. Both acetaminophen and rofecoxib relieved pain considerably but with different kinetics, and affected different biomarkers. Rofecoxib appeared to be more efficient, reducing pain intensity by 56% at T1 (P<0.01), whereas acetaminophen reduced it by only 29%. Physical function improved in both groups by T3. Correlated with the pain relief, acetaminophen significantly reduced plasma BEND levels, whereas rofecoxib did not do so. In both groups plasma SP levels were elevated compared with T0. A reduction in serum serotonin was detected in the rofecoxib group at T1 (P=0.004) but had recovered at T3. No changes in KOR mRNA in PBMCs were observed in either group. Conclusions. There is a correlation between reduction in circulating BEND and OA pain relief in patients treated with acetaminophe