Pseudopotential for the electron-electron interaction

We propose a pseudopotential for the electron-electron Coulomb interaction to improve the efficiency of many-body electronic structure calculations. The pseudopotential accurately replicates the scattering properties of the Coulomb interaction, and recovers the analytical solution for two electrons in a parabolic trap. A case study for the homogeneous electron gas using the diffusion Monte Carlo and configuration interaction methods recovers highly accurate values for the ground state energy, and the smoother potential reduces the computational cost by a factor of ~30. Finally, we demonstrate the use of the pseudopotential to study isolated lithium and beryllium atoms.GJC acknowledges the financial support of the Royal Society and Gonville & Caius College.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from APS via http://dx.doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.92.07510

リビングラジカル固相重合法によるバイオハイブリッド用ポリマーの創製

指導教員: 石原, 一

Vandetanib-eluting radiopaque beads for chemoembolization: physicochemical evaluation and biological activity of vandetanib in hypoxia.

Vandetanib-eluting radiopaque beads (VERB) have been developed for use in transarterial chemoembolization of liver tumours, with the goal of combining embolization with local delivery of antiangiogenic therapy. The objective of this study was to investigate how embolization-induced hypoxia may affect antitumoural activity of vandetanib, an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), in the context of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. We studied the effect of vandetanib on proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of HCC cells, in hypoxic conditions, as well as the direct effects of the beads on 3D HCC spheroids. Vandetanib suppressed proliferation and induced apoptosis of HCC cells in vitro and was equipotent in hypoxic and normoxic conditions. High degrees of apoptosis were observed among cell lines in which vandetanib suppressed ERK1/2 phosphorylation and upregulated the proapoptotic protein Bim, but this did not appear essential for vandetanib-induced cell death in all cell lines. Vandetanib also suppressed the hypoxia-induced secretion of VEGF from HCC cells and inhibited proliferation of endothelial cells. Incubation of tumour spheroids with VERB led to sustained growth inhibition equivalent to the effect of free drug. We conclude that vandetanib has both antiangiogenic and direct anticancer activity against HCC cells even in hypoxic conditions, warranting the further evaluation of VERB as novel anticancer agents

Delayed reperfusion deficits after experimental stroke account for increased pathophysiology.

Cerebral blood flow and oxygenation in the first few hours after reperfusion following ischemic stroke are critical for therapeutic interventions but are not well understood. We investigate changes in oxyhemoglobin (HbO(2)) concentration in the cortex during and after ischemic stroke, using multispectral optical imaging in anesthetized mice, a remote filament to induce either 30 minute middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo), sham surgery or anesthesia alone. Immunohistochemistry establishes cortical injury and correlates the severity of damage with the change of oxygen perfusion. All groups were imaged for 6 hours after MCAo or sham surgery. Oxygenation maps were calculated using a pathlength scaling algorithm. The MCAo group shows a significant drop in HbO(2) during occlusion and an initial increase after reperfusion. Over the subsequent 6 hours HbO(2) concentrations decline to levels below those observed during stroke. Platelets, activated microglia, interleukin-1α, evidence of BBB breakdown and neuronal stress increase within the stroked hemisphere and correlate with the severity of the delayed reperfusion deficit but not with the ΔHbO(2) during stroke. Despite initial restoration of HbO(2) after 30 min MCAo there is a delayed compromise that coincides with inflammation and could be a target for improved stroke outcome after thrombolysis

Maximum levels of hepatitis C virus lipoviral particles are associated with early and persistent infection

Background & Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is bound to plasma lipoproteins and circulates as an infectious lipoviral particle (LVP). Experimental evidence indicates that LVPs have decreased susceptibility to antibody-mediated neutralisation and higher infectivity. This study tested the hypothesis that LVPs are required to establish persistent infection, and conversely, low levels of LVP in recent HCV infection increase the probability of spontaneous HCV clearance. Methods: LVP in non-fasting plasma was measured using the concentration of HCV RNA bound to large >100 nm sized lipoproteins after ex vivo addition of a lipid emulsion, that represented the maximum concentration of LVP (maxi-LVP). This method correlated with LVP in fasting plasma measured using iodixanol density gradient ultracentrifugation. Maxi-LVP was measured in a cohort of 180 HCV participants with recent HCV infection and detectable HCV RNA from the Australian Trial in Acute Hepatitis C (ATAHC) and Hepatitis C Incidence and Transmission Study in prison (HITS-p) cohorts. Results: Spontaneous clearance occurred in 15% (27 of 180) of individuals. In adjusted analyses, low plasma maxi-LVP level was independently associated with spontaneous HCV clearance (≤827 IU/ml; adjusted odds ratio 3.98, 95% CI: 1.02, 15.51, P = 0.047), after adjusting for interferon lambda-3 rs8099917 genotype, estimated duration of HCV infection and total HCV RNA level. Conclusions: Maxi-LVP is a biomarker for the maximum concentration of LVP in non-fasting samples. Low maxi-LVP level is an independent predictor of spontaneous clearance of acute HCV

Multiscale correlative tomography: an investigation of creep cavitation in 316 stainless steel

Creep cavitation in an ex-service nuclear steam header Type 316 stainless steel sample is investigated through a multiscale tomography workflow spanning eight orders of magnitude, combining X-ray computed tomography (CT), plasma focused ion beam (FIB) scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging and scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) tomography. Guided by microscale X-ray CT, nanoscale X-ray CT is used to investigate the size and morphology of cavities at a triple point of grain boundaries. In order to understand the factors affecting the extent of cavitation, the orientation and crystallographic misorientation of each boundary is characterised using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Additionally, in order to better understand boundary phase growth, the chemistry of a single boundary and its associated secondary phase precipitates is probed through STEM energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) tomography. The difference in cavitation of the three grain boundaries investigated suggests that the orientation of grain boundaries with respect to the direction of principal stress is important in the promotion of cavity formation

DNA Methylome Alterations are Associated with Airway Macrophage Differentiation and Phenotype During Lung Fibrosis

RATIONALE: Airway macrophages (AMs) are key regulators of the lung environment and are implicated in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a fatal respiratory disease with no cure. However, knowledge of epigenetics of AMs in IPF are limited. METHODS: We undertook DNA methylation profiling using Illumina EPIC (850k) arrays in sorted AMs from Healthy (n=14) and IPF (n=30) donors. Cell-type deconvolution was performed using reference myeloid-cell DNA methylomes. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Our analysis revealed epigenetic heterogeneity was a key characteristic of IPF-AMs. DNAm 'clock' analysis indicated epigenetic alterations in IPF-AMs was not associated with accelerated ageing. In differential DNAm analysis, we identified numerous differentially methylated positions (DMPs, n=11) and regions (DMRs, n=49) between healthy and IPF AMs respectively. DMPs and DMRs encompassed genes involved in lipid (LPCAT1) and glucose (PFKFB3) metabolism and importantly, DNAm status was associated with disease severity in IPF. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our data identify that changes in the epigenome are associated with development and function of AMs in the IPF lung

The incidence of scarring on the dorsum of the hand

When undertaking image comparison of the hand between accused and perpetrator, it is not unusual for scars to be identified on the back of the hand. To investigate the occurrence of scarring in a discreet sample, a database of 238 individuals was examined, and the dorsum of the right and left hands was gridded for each individual. The position, size and type of scar were recorded within each grid. It was found that, in general, males exhibited a higher incidence of scarring than females. However, males were more likely to show scarring on their left hand whereas females were more likely to exhibit scarring on their right hand. Contrary to the literature, scarring was not most prevalent along the borders of the hand but occurred more frequently in association with the index and middle finger corridor regions. Surgical scars were rare as were large scars whereas linear scars smaller than 6 mm were the most frequently identified. Close to half of the sample did not exhibit scarring on one hand. The importance of understanding the pattern of scarring on the back of the hand is discussed in the light of forensic image comparison analysis

The Road to Quantum Computational Supremacy

We present an idiosyncratic view of the race for quantum computational supremacy. Google's approach and IBM challenge are examined. An unexpected side-effect of the race is the significant progress in designing fast classical algorithms. Quantum supremacy, if achieved, won't make classical computing obsolete.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figur

Quantum interferometry with three-dimensional geometry

Quantum interferometry uses quantum resources to improve phase estimation with respect to classical methods. Here we propose and theoretically investigate a new quantum interferometric scheme based on three-dimensional waveguide devices. These can be implemented by femtosecond laser waveguide writing, recently adopted for quantum applications. In particular, multiarm interferometers include "tritter" and "quarter" as basic elements, corresponding to the generalization of a beam splitter to a 3- and 4-port splitter, respectively. By injecting Fock states in the input ports of such interferometers, fringe patterns characterized by nonclassical visibilities are expected. This enables outperforming the quantum Fisher information obtained with classical fields in phase estimation. We also discuss the possibility of achieving the simultaneous estimation of more than one optical phase. This approach is expected to open new perspectives to quantum enhanced sensing and metrology performed in integrated photonic.Comment: 7 pages (+4 Supplementary Information), 5 figure