9 research outputs found
Lessons on Eternal Traversable Wormholes in AdS
We attempt to construct eternal traversable wormholes connecting two
asymptotically AdS regions by introducing a static coupling between their dual
CFTs. We prove that there are no semiclassical traversable wormholes with
Poincar\'e invariance in the boundary directions in higher than two spacetime
dimensions. We critically examine the possibility of evading our result by
coupling a large number of bulk fields. Static, traversable wormholes with less
symmetry may be possible, and could be constructed using the ingredients we
develop here.Comment: 22 pages, 4 figures. v2: minor additions, matches published versio
A simple quantum algorithm to efficiently prepare sparse states
State preparation is a fundamental routine in quantum computation, for which
many algorithms have been proposed. Among them, perhaps the simplest one is the
Grover-Rudolph algorithm. In this paper, we analyse the performance of this
algorithm when the state to prepare is sparse. We show that the gate complexity
is linear in the number of non-zero amplitudes in the state and quadratic in
the number of qubits. We then introduce a simple modification of the algorithm,
which makes the dependence on the number of qubits also linear. This is
competitive with the best known algorithms for sparse state preparatio
Worsening of Cardiomyopathy Using Deflazacort in an Animal Model Rescued by Gene Therapy
We have previously demonstrated that gene therapy can rescue the phenotype and extend lifespan in the delta-sarcoglycan deficient cardiomyopathic hamster. In patients with similar genetic defects, steroids have been largely used to slow down disease progression. Aim of our study was to evaluate the combined effects of steroid treatment and gene therapy on cardiac function. We injected the human delta-sarcoglycan cDNA by adeno-associated virus (AAV) 2/8 by a single intraperitoneal injection into BIO14.6 Syrian hamsters at ten days of age to rescue the phenotype. We then treated the hamsters with deflazacort. Treatment was administered to half of the hamsters that had received the AAV and the other hamsters without AAV, as well as to normal hamsters. Both horizontal and vertical activities were greatly enhanced by deflazacort in all groups. As in previous experiments, the AAV treatment alone was able to preserve the ejection fraction (70±7% EF). However, the EF value declined (52±14%) with a combination of AAV and deflazacort. This was similar with all the other groups of affected animals. We confirm that gene therapy improves cardiac function in the BIO14.6 hamsters. Our results suggest that deflazacort is ineffective and may also have a negative impact on the cardiomyopathy rescue, possibly by boosting motor activity. This is unexpected and may have significance in terms of the lifestyle recommendations for patients
Identificazione di composti volatili in estratti da diverse cultivar di Olea europaea L. biologicamente attivi su Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Chemical orientation of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) to conspecific sexes and commercial fish feed
A longitudinal study on BIO14.6 hamsters with dilated cardiomyopathy: Micro-echocardiographic evaluation
Background: In recent years, several new technologies for small-animal imaging have been developed. In
particular, the use of ultrasound in animal imaging has focused on the investigation of accessible biological
structures such as the heart, of which it provides a morphological and functional assessment. The purpose of this
study was to investigate the role of micro-ultrasonography (ÎĽ-US) in a longitudinal study on BIO14.6
cardiomyopathic hamsters treated with gene therapy.
Methods: Thirty hamsters were divided into three groups (n = 10): Group I, untreated BIO 14.6 hamsters; Group II,
BIO 14.6 hamsters treated with gene therapy; Group III, untreated wild type (WT) hamsters. All hamsters underwent
serial ÎĽ-US sessions and were sacrificed at predetermined time points.
Results: ÎĽ-US revealed: in Group I, progressive dilation of the left ventricle with a change in heart morphology
from an elliptical to a more spherical shape, altered configuration of the mitral valve and subvalvular apparatus,
and severe reduction in ejection fraction; in Group II, mild decrease in contractile function and ejection fraction; in
Group III, normal cardiac chamber morphology and function. There was a negative correlation between the
percentage of fibrosis observed at histology and the ejection fraction obtained on ÎĽ-echocardiography (Spearman
r: -0.839; p < 0.001).
Conclusions: Although histological examination remains indispensable for a conclusive diagnosis, high-frequency
ÎĽ-echocardiography, thanks to the high spatial and contrast resolution, can be considered sufficient for monitoring
therapeutic efficacy and/or the progression of dilated cardiomyopathy, providing an alternative tool for repeatable
and noninvasive evaluation.Background: In recent years, several new technologies for small-animal imaging have been developed. In particular, the use of ultrasound in animal imaging has focused on the investigation of accessible biological structures such as the heart, of which it provides a morphological and functional assessment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of micro-ultrasonography (-US) in a longitudinal study on BIO14.6 cardiomyopathic hamsters treated with gene therapy. Methods. Thirty hamsters were divided into three groups (n = 10): Group I, untreated BIO 14.6 hamsters; Group II, BIO 14.6 hamsters treated with gene therapy; Group III, untreated wild type (WT) hamsters. All hamsters underwent serial -US sessions and were sacrificed at predetermined time points. Results: -US revealed: in Group I, progressive dilation of the left ventricle with a change in heart morphology from an elliptical to a more spherical shape, altered configuration of the mitral valve and subvalvular apparatus, and severe reduction in ejection fraction; in Group II, mild decrease in contractile function and ejection fraction; in Group III, normal cardiac chamber morphology and function. There was a negative correlation between the percentage of fibrosis observed at histology and the ejection fraction obtained on -echocardiography (Spearman r: -0.839; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Although histological examination remains indispensable for a conclusive diagnosis, high-frequency μ-echocardiography, thanks to the high spatial and contrast resolution, can be considered sufficient for monitoring therapeutic efficacy and/or the progression of dilated cardiomyopathy, providing an alternative tool for repeatable and noninvasive evaluation. © 2011 Belfiore et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd