FAIRE-seq data analysis of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii under carbon deprivation

For the genome-wide identification of nucleosome depleted regions under carbon deprivation, we analyze an available set of data from an assay of formaldehyde-assisted isolation of regulatory elements followed by sequencing (FAIRE-seq). Mapping to the sequenced nuclear genome of C.reinhardtii, followed by the identification of the enrichment-sequenced fragments was performed. We examined the location of these fragments relative to annotated genes. The related genes were associated to the corresponding Gene-Ontology (GO), for an evaluation of over-representate GO categories. Some genes, link with functions or locations, that have been previous described, indicating the success of the method finding carbon-metabolism related fragments

Possible limits on superconducting quantum computers from spontaneous wave-function collapse models

The continuous spontaneous localization (CSL) model is an alternative formulation of quantum mechanics, which introduces a noise-coupled nonlinearly to the wave function to account for its collapse. We consider CSL effects on quantum computers made of superconducting transmon qubits. As a direct effect CSL reduces quantum superpositions of the computational basis states of the qubits: we show the reduction rate to be negligibly small. However, an indirect effect of CSL, dissipation induced by the noise, also leads transmon qubits to decohere, by generating additional quasiparticles. Since the decoherence rate of transmon qubits depends on the quasiparticle density, by computing their generation rate induced by CSL, we can estimate the corresponding quasiparticle density and thus the limit set by CSL on the performances of transmon quantum computers. We show that CSL could spoil the quantum computation of practical algorithms on large devices. We further explore the possibility of testing CSL effects on superconducting devices

Research Notes : Italy : Light shock in soybean plantlets?

In a new soybean breeding program, 70 cross combinations were performed between the following varieties: \u27Agripro\u27, \u27Beeson\u27, \u27Caloria\u27, \u27Corsoy\u27, \u27Extra Early\u27, \u27Mikawashima\u27, \u27Norman\u27, \u27SRF150\u27, \u27SRF307 P\u27, \u27TXK505\u27, \u27TXK.535\u27, \u27Vansoy\u27, and \u27Wells\u27. Mother plants were the varieties indicated in Table l; in this table is also reported the number of combinations involv-ing each variety used as female and the number of seeds obtained

Comparison of populations of helianthus Argophyllus and H. debilis SSP. cucumerifolius and their hybrids from the African coast of the Indian Ocean and the Usa using molecular markers

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Total orthotopic small bowel transplantation in swine under FK 506

Previous experimental studies in rodents and in dogs have established the efficacy of FK 506 in controlling the immunologic events following small bowel or multivisceral transplantation.1–5 To complete the assessment of FK 506 in experimental small bowel transplantation, we present here our experience with the frequently used swine model

Evaluation of genetic variability for Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Lib. de Bary resistance in a f2 population from a Cross between susceptible and resistant sunflower

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Electron Cooling with Graphene-Insulator-Superconductor Tunnel Junctions for Applications in Fast Bolometry

Electronic cooling in hybrid normal-metal-insulator-superconductor junctions is a promising technology for the manipulation of thermal loads in solid-state nanosystems. One of the main bottlenecks for efficient electronic cooling is the electron-phonon coupling, as it represents a thermal leakage channel to the phonon bath. Graphene is a two-dimensional material that exhibits a weaker electron-phonon coupling compared to standard metals. For this reason, we study the electron cooling in graphene-based systems consisting of a graphene sheet contacted by two insulator-superconductor junctions. We show that, by properly biasing the graphene, its electronic temperature can reach base values lower than those achieved in similar systems based on metallic ultrathin films. Moreover, the lower electron-phonon coupling is mirrored in a lower heat power pumped into the superconducting leads, thus avoiding their overheating and preserving the cooling mechanisms. Finally, we analyze the possible application of cooled graphene as a bolometric radiation sensor. We study its main figures of merit, i.e., responsivity, noise equivalent power, and response time. In particular, we show that the built-in electron refrigeration allows reaching a responsivity of the order of 50nA/pW and a noise equivalent power of order of 10-18WHz-1/2 while the response speed is about 10 ns corresponding to a thermal bandwidth in the order of 20 MHz

Oncoplastic and reconstructive surgery in SENONETWORK Italian breast centers: lights and shadows

Highlights: • Despite the significance of oncoplastic procedure, an italian database is lacking. • Senonetwork established a multidisciplinary survey to assess their safety and efficacy. • Reconstructive outcomes were positive across low and high-volume centers. • After mastectomy, implant-based techniques are common. DTI reconstruction is advantageuos. • This contributes to the global understanding of effective strategies against breast cancer

Pain and Frailty in Hospitalized Older Adults

Introduction: Pain and frailty are prevalent conditions in the older population. Many chronic diseases are likely involved in their origin, and both have a negative impact on quality of life. However, few studies have analysed their association. Methods: In light of this knowledge gap, 3577 acutely hospitalized patients 65 years or older enrolled in the REPOSI register, an Italian network of internal medicine and geriatric hospital wards, were assessed to calculate the frailty index (FI). The impact of pain and some of its characteristics on the degree of frailty was evaluated using an ordinal logistic regression model after adjusting for age and gender. Results: The prevalence of pain was 24.7%, and among patients with pain, 42.9% was regarded as chronic pain. Chronic pain was associated with severe frailty (OR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.38–2.07). Somatic pain (OR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.23–2.07) and widespread pain (OR = 1.60, 95% CI 0.93–2.78) were associated with frailty. Osteoarthritis was the most common cause of chronic pain, diagnosed in 157 patients (33.5%). Polymyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis and other musculoskeletal diseases causing chronic pain were associated with a lower degree of frailty than osteoarthritis (OR = 0.49, 95%CI 0.28–0.85). Conclusions: Chronic and somatic pain negatively affect the degree of frailty. The duration and type of pain, as well as the underlying diseases associated with chronic pain, should be evaluated to improve the hospital management of frail older people