Matrix Tensor Product Approach to the Equivalence of Multipartite States under Local Unitary Transformations

The equivalence of multipartite quantum mixed states under local unitary transformations is studied. A criterion for the equivalence of non-degenerate mixed multipartite quantum states under local unitary transformations is presented.Comment: 7 page

Expressions and clinic significance of miRNA-143, miRNA- 34A, miRNA-944, miRNA-101 and miRNA-218 in cervical cancer tissues

Purpose: To search for novel biomarkers for early diagnosis of cervical cancer, as well as novel therapeutic target for cervical cancer.Methods: A total of 96 cervical tissue specimens were collected from patients in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, out of which 10 were normal control. The remaining specimens (86) were cervical cancer specimens and were divided into 4 groups (A - D) based on tumor-biomarker levels of CA125 and SCC. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction technology (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expressions of miRNA-143, miRNA-34A, miRNA-944, miRNA-101 and miRNA-218 in the cervical cancer tissues.Results: The levels of CA125 (U/mL) and SCC (ug/L) expressed in normal control group and groups A - D were 11.75 and 0.73 (n = 10), 382 and 2.72 (n = 25), 912.9 and 3.93 (n = 21), 1675 and 5.87 (n = 29), and 2120 and 6.66 (n = 11), respectively. Furthermore, qRT-PCR results showed that the expressions of miRNA-944 and miRNA-218 in cervical cancer tissues were markedly up-regulated compared to normal control tissues (p < 0.01). In contrast, the expression level of miRNA-143, miRNA-34A, and miRNA-101 were significantly decreased (p < 0.01).Conclusion: The biomarkers, miRNA-143, miRNA-34A, miRNA-944, miRNA-101 and miRNA-218, can be considered novel for early diagnosis of cervical cancer.Keywords: Cervical cancer, Biomarkers, miRNA-143, miRNA-34A, miRNA-944, miRNA-101, miRNA- 21

Gene expression profile analysis of tobacco leaf trichomes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Leaf trichomes of <it>Nicotiana tabacum </it>are distinguished by their large size, high density, and superior secretion ability. They contribute to plant defense response against biotic and abiotic stress, and also influence leaf aroma and smoke flavor. However, there is limited genomic information about trichomes of this non-model plant species.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have characterized <it>Nicotiana tabacum </it>leaf trichome gene expression using two approaches. In the first, a trichome cDNA library was randomly sequenced, and 2831 unique genes were obtained. The most highly abundant transcript was ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBisCO). Among the related sequences, most encoded enzymes involved in primary metabolism. Secondary metabolism related genes, such as isoprenoid and flavonoid biosynthesis-related, were also identified. In the second approach, a cDNA microarray prepared from these 2831 clones was used to compare gene expression levels in trichome and leaf. There were 438 differentially expressed genes between trichome and leaves-minus-trichomes. Of these, 207 highly expressed genes in tobacco trichomes were enriched in second metabolic processes, defense responses, and the metabolism regulation categories. The expression of selected unigenes was confirmed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis, some of which were specifically expressed in trichomes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The expression feature of leaf trichomes in <it>Nicotiana tabacum </it>indicates their metabolic activity and potential importance in stress resistance. Sequences predominantly expressed in trichomes will facilitate gene-mining and metabolism control of plant trichome.</p

Precise and label-free tumour cell recognition based on a black phosphorus nanoquenching platform

Breast cancer is a type of heterogeneous disease, which manifests as different molecular subtypes due to the complex nature of tumour initiation, progression, and metastasis. Accurate identification of a breast cancer subtype plays crucial roles in breast cancer management. Herein, taking advantage of the efficient quenching properties of black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNSs), in combination with the high specificity of ssDNA (or RNA) aptamer, a fluorometric duplexed assay that is capable of the simultaneous detection of two tumour markers within one run is developed. When mixed with BPNSs, the fluorescence of both FAM and Cy3 labelled aptamers was quenched. The presence of different subtypes of breast cancer cells restored the FAM and Cy3 fluorescence in distinct patterns according to their intrinsic features. The proposed assay can precisely recognise label-free breast cancer subtypes, providing an efficient method for cell type identification and guidance for subsequent breast cancer treatment. The significance of the proposed study is two-fold. First, we provide a simple method for sensitive and specific tumour cell detection; secondly, and more importantly, the proposed dual assay allows precise recognition of tumour cells and thus opens a door for rapid characterization and sorting of a wide range of tumours without using expensive instruments

Separability of rank two quantum states on multiple quantum spaces

Explicit sufficient and necessary conditions for separability of $N$-dimensional rank two multiparty quantum mixed states are presented. A nonseparability inequality is also given, for the case where one of the eigenvectors corresponding to nonzero eigenvalues of the density matrix is maximally entangled.Comment: 10 pages, Late