Codes for Simultaneous Transmission of Quantum and Classical Information

We consider the characterization as well as the construction of quantum codes that allow to transmit both quantum and classical information, which we refer to as `hybrid codes'. We construct hybrid codes $[\![n,k{: }m,d]\!]_q$ with length $n$ and distance $d$, that simultaneously transmit $k$ qudits and $m$ symbols from a classical alphabet of size $q$. Many good codes such as $[\![7,1{: }1,3]\!]_2$, $[\![9,2{: }2,3]\!]_2$, $[\![10,3{: }2,3]\!]_2$, $[\![11,4{: }2,3]\!]_2$, $[\![11,1{: }2,4]\!]_2$, $[\![13,1{: }4,4]\!]_2$, $[\![13,1{: }1,5]\!]_2$, $[\![14,1{: }2,5]\!]_2$, $[\![15,1{: }3,5]\!]_2$, $[\![19,9{: }1,4]\!]_2$, $[\![20,9{: }2,4]\!]_2$, $[\![21,9{: }3,4]\!]_2$, $[\![22,9{: }4,4]\!]_2$ have been found. All these codes have better parameters than hybrid codes obtained from the best known stabilizer quantum codes.Comment: 6 page

Biodiversity and activity of the gut microbiota across the life history of the insect herbivore Spodoptera littoralis

Microbes that live inside insects play critical roles in host nutrition, physiology, and behavior. Although Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) are one of the most diverse insect taxa, their microbial symbionts are little-studied, particularly during metamorphosis. Here, using ribosomal tag pyrosequencing of DNA and RNA, we investigated biodiversity and activity of gut microbiotas across the holometabolous life cycle of Spodoptera littoralis, a notorious agricultural pest worldwide. Proteobacteria and Firmicutes dominate but undergo a structural “metamorphosis” in tandem with its host. Enterococcus, Pantoea and Citrobacter were abundant and active in early-instar, while Clostridia increased in late-instar. Interestingly, only enterococci persisted through metamorphosis. Female adults harbored high proportions of Enterococcus, Klebsiella and Pantoea, whereas males largely shifted to Klebsiella. Comparative functional analysis with PICRUSt indicated that early-instar larval microbiome was more enriched for genes involved in cell motility and carbohydrate metabolism, whereas in late-instar amino acid, cofactor and vitamin metabolism increased. Genes involved in energy and nucleotide metabolism were abundant in pupae. Female adult microbiome was enriched for genes relevant to energy metabolism, while an increase in the replication and repair pathway was observed in male. Understanding the metabolic activity of these herbivore-associated microbial symbionts may assist the development of novel pest-management strategies

Mutation analysis of the WNT4 gene in Han Chinese women with premature ovarian failure

BACKGROUND: The WNT4 gene plays an important role in female sex determination and differentiation. It also contributes to maintaining of the ovaries and the survival of follicles. METHODS: We sequenced the coding region and splice sites of WNT4 in 145 Han Chinese women with premature ovarian failure (POF) and 200 healthy controls. RESULTS: Only one novel variation, in Exon 2 (195C > T), was detected among the women with POF. However, this synonymous variation did not result in a change in amino acid sequence (65 Asp > Asp). No further variants were found in any of the samples. CONCLUSION: Although we cannot provide any evidence that it is a possible disease-causing gene, this study is the first attempt to investigate the possible role of WNT4 in Han Chinese women with POF