Robust and Scalable Scheme to Generate Large-Scale Entanglement Webs

We propose a robust and scalable scheme to generate an $N$-qubit $W$ state among separated quantum nodes (cavity-QED systems) by using linear optics and postselections. The present scheme inherits the robustness of the Barrett-Kok scheme [Phys. Rev. A {\bf 71}, 060310(R) (2005)]. The scalability is also ensured in the sense that an arbitrarily large $N$-qubit $W$ state can be generated with a quasi-polynomial overhead $\sim 2^{O[(\log_2 N)^2]}$. The process to breed the $W$ states, which we introduce to achieve the scalability, is quite simple and efficient, and can be applied for other physical systems.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Investigating nanostructures in carbon fibres using Raman spectroscopy

Nanostructures in the PAN-based carbon fibres were investigated by means of the Raman spectroscopy which was performed using a series of different excitation wavelengths. UV-Raman measurements showed the predominance of sp2 carbon for the carbon fibres with Young’s moduli ranging from 55 to 440 GPa. The excitation wavelength dependence of the spectral line shape implied the presence of the graphitic (sp2 carbon layers) as well as the amorphous carbon-like component (sp2 carbon clusters) in these fibres. An analytical modelbased upon the Tuinstra-Koenig relation and the rule-of-mixtures concept was proposed to account for the observed behaviour of the peak intensity ratio ID/IG. It was suggested that the carbonisation heat treatment led to the sp2 carbon layers extending rapidly throughout the nanostructure, resulting in the complete loss of the sp2 carbon clusters for the higher-modulus carbon fibres. These new findings together with the proposed analytical model are believed to be essential keys towards the development of new generation carbon fibres

Prevalence of Viral Frequency-Dependent Infection in Coastal Marine Prokaryotes Revealed Using Monthly Time Series Virome Analysis

海洋微生物も”密”ならウイルスに感染する --頻度依存的なウイルス感染を大阪湾で実証--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2023-02-24.Viruses infecting marine prokaryotes have a large impact on the diversity and dynamics of their hosts. Model systems suggest that viral infection is frequency dependent and constrained by the virus-host encounter rate. However, it is unclear whether frequency-dependent infection is pervasive among the abundant prokaryotic populations with different temporal dynamics. To address this question, we performed a comparison of prokaryotic and viral communities using 16S rRNA amplicon and virome sequencing based on samples collected monthly for 2 years at a Japanese coastal site, Osaka Bay. Concurrent seasonal shifts observed in prokaryotic and viral community dynamics indicated that the abundance of viruses correlated with that of their predicted host phyla (or classes). Cooccurrence network analysis between abundant prokaryotes and viruses revealed 6, 423 cooccurring pairs, suggesting a tight coupling of host and viral abundances and their “one-to-many” correspondence. Although stable dominant species, such as SAR11, showed few cooccurring viruses, a fast succession of their viruses suggests that viruses infecting these populations changed continuously. Our results suggest that frequency-dependent viral infection prevails in coastal marine prokaryotes regardless of host taxa and temporal dynamics

Verifying Attention Robustness of Deep Neural Networks against Semantic Perturbations

It is known that deep neural networks (DNNs) classify an input image by paying particular attention to certain specific pixels; a graphical representation of the magnitude of attention to each pixel is called a saliency-map. Saliency-maps are used to check the validity of the classification decision basis, e.g., it is not a valid basis for classification if a DNN pays more attention to the background rather than the subject of an image. Semantic perturbations can significantly change the saliency-map. In this work, we propose the first verification method for attention robustness, i.e., the local robustness of the changes in the saliency-map against combinations of semantic perturbations. Specifically, our method determines the range of the perturbation parameters (e.g., the brightness change) that maintains the difference between the actual saliency-map change and the expected saliency-map change below a given threshold value. Our method is based on activation region traversals, focusing on the outermost robust boundary for scalability on larger DNNs. Experimental results demonstrate that our method can show the extent to which DNNs can classify with the same basis regardless of semantic perturbations and report on performance and performance factors of activation region traversals

Verifying Attention Robustness of Deep Neural Networks against Semantic Perturbations

International audienceIn this paper, we propose the first verification method for attention robustness, i.e., the local robustness of the changes in the saliency-map against combinations of semantic perturbations. Specifically, our method determines the range of the perturbation parameters (e.g., the amount of brightnesschange) that maintains the difference between the actual saliency-map change and the expected saliency-map change below a given threshold value. Our method is based on linear activation region traversals, focusing on the outermost boundary of attention robustness for scalability on larger deep neural networks

Oral delivery of Lactococcus lactis that secretes bioactive heme oxygenase-1 alleviates development of acute colitis in mice

Background: Mucosal delivery of therapeutic proteins using genetically modified strains of lactic acid bacteria (gmLAB) is being investigated as a new therapeutic strategy. Methods: We developed a strain of gmLAB, Lactococcus lactis NZ9000 (NZ-HO), which secretes the anti-inflammatory molecule recombinant mouse heme oxygenase-1 (rmHO-1). The effects of short-term continuous oral dosing with NZ-HO were evaluated in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis as a model of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Results: We identified the secretion of rmHO-1 by NZ-HO. rmHO-1 was biologically active as determined with spectroscopy. Viable NZ-HO was directly delivered to the colon via oral administration, and rmHO-1 was secreted onto the colonic mucosa in mice. Acute colitis in mice was induced by free drinking of 3 % DSS in water and was accompanied by an increase in the disease activity index score and histopathological changes. Daily oral administration of NZ-HO significantly improved these colitis-associated symptoms. In addition, NZ-HO significantly increased production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 and decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 alpha and IL-6 in the colon compared to a vector control strain. Conclusions: Oral administration of NZ-HO alleviates DSS-induced acute colitis in mice. Our results suggest that NZ-HO may be a useful mucosal therapeutic agent for treating IBD.ArticleMICROBIAL CELL FACTORIES. 14:189 (2015)journal articl

Investigating nanostructures in carbon fibres using Raman spectroscopy

Nanostructures in the PAN-based carbon fibres were investigated by means of the Raman spectroscopy which was performed using a series of different excitation wavelengths. UV-Raman measurements showed the predominance of sp2 carbon for the carbon fibres with Young’s moduli ranging from 55 to 440 GPa. The excitation wavelength dependence of the spectral line shape implied the presence of the graphitic (sp2 carbon layers) as well as the amorphous carbon-like component (sp2 carbon clusters) in these fibres. An analytical modelbased upon the Tuinstra-Koenig relation and the rule-of-mixtures concept was proposed to account for the observed behaviour of the peak intensity ratio ID/IG. It was suggested that the carbonisation heat treatment led to the sp2 carbon layers extending rapidly throughout the nanostructure, resulting in the complete loss of the sp2 carbon clusters for the higher-modulus carbon fibres. These new findings together with the proposed analytical model are believed to be essential keys towards the development of new generation carbon fibres

Proteomic Profiling of Thyroid Papillary Carcinoma

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common endocrine malignancy. We performed shotgun liquid chromatography (LC)/tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis on pooled protein extracts from patients with PTC and compared the results with those from normal thyroid tissue validated by real-time (RT) PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC). We detected 524 types of protein in PTC and 432 in normal thyroid gland. Among these proteins, 145 were specific to PTC and 53 were specific to normal thyroid gland. We have also identified two important new markers, nephronectin (NPNT) and malectin (MLEC). Reproducibility was confirmed with several known markers, but the one of two new candidate markers such as MLEC did not show large variations in expression levels. Furthermore, IHC confirmed the overexpression of both those markers in PTCs compared with normal surrounding tissues. Our protein data suggest that NPNT and MLEC could be a characteristic marker for PTC

Inhibitory/Suppressive oligodeoxynucleotide nanocapsules as simple oral delivery devices for preventing atopic dermatitis in mice

Advance online publication 6 January 2015Here, we report a simple and low-cost oral oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) delivery system targeted to the gut Peyer's patches (PPs). This system requires only Dulbecco's modified eagle's medium, calcium chloride, ODNs, and basic laboratory equipment. ODN nanocapsules (ODNcaps) were directly delivered to the PPs through oral administration and were taken up by macrophages in the PPs, where they induced an immune response. Long-term continuous oral dosing with inhibitory/suppressive ODNcaps (iODNcaps, "iSG3caps" in this study) was evaluated using an atopic dermatitis mouse model to visually monitor disease course. Administration of iSG3caps improved skin lesions and decreased epidermal thickness. Underlying this effect is the ability of iSG3 to bind to and prevent phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6, thereby blocking the interleukin-4 signaling cascade mediated by binding of allergens to type 2 helper T cells. The results of our iSG3cap oral delivery experiments suggest that iSG3 may be useful for treating allergic diseases.ArticleMOLECULAR THERAPY. 23(2):297-309 (2015)journal articl

Locality and diel cycling of viral production revealed by a 24 h time course cross-omics analysis in a coastal region of Japan

International audienceViruses infecting microorganisms are ubiquitous and abundant in the ocean. However, it is unclear when and where the numerous viral particles we observe in the sea are produced and whether they are active. To address these questions, we performed time-series analyses of viral metagenomes and microbial metatranscriptomes collected over a period of 24 h at a Japanese coastal site. Through mapping the metatranscriptomic reads on three sets of viral genomes ((i) 878 contigs of Osaka Bay viromes (OBV), (ii) 1766 environmental viral genomes from marine viromes, and (iii) 2429 reference viral genomes), we revealed that all the local OBV contigs were transcribed in the host fraction. This indicates that the majority of viral populations detected in viromes are active, and suggests that virions are rapidly diluted as a result of diffusion, currents, and mixing. Our data further revealed a peak of cyanophage gene expression in the afternoon/dusk followed by an increase of genomes from their virions at night and less-coherent infectious patterns for viruses putatively infecting various groups of heterotrophs. This suggests that cyanophages drive the diel release of cyanobacteria-derived organic matter into the environment and viruses of heterotrophic bacteria might have adapted to the population-specific life cycles of hosts