We report the first experimental demonstration of quantum entanglement among ten spatially separated single photons. A near-optimal entangled photon-pair source was developed with simultaneously a ...source brightness of ∼12 MHz/W, a collection efficiency of ∼70%, and an indistinguishability of ∼91% between independent photons, which was used for a step-by-step engineering of multiphoton entanglement. Under a pump power of 0.57 W, the ten-photon count rate was increased by about 2 orders of magnitude compared to previous experiments, while maintaining a state fidelity sufficiently high for proving the genuine ten-particle entanglement. Our work created a state-of-the-art platform for multiphoton experiments, and enabled technologies for challenging optical quantum information tasks, such as the realization of Shor's error correction code and high-efficiency scattershot boson sampling.
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This study evaluated the effects of Bacillus fermentation on soybean meal protein (SBMP) microstructure and major anti‐nutritional factors (ANFs) in soybean meal (SBM). The Bacillus siamensis isolate ...JL8 producing high yield of protease at 519·1 U g−1 was selected for the laboratory production of fermented soybean meal (FSBM). After 24 h fermentation, the FSBM showed better properties compared with those of SBM, the ANFs such as glycinin, β‐conglycinin and trypsin inhibitor significantly decreased by 86·0, 70·3 and 95·01%, while in vitro digestibility and absorbability increased by 8·7 and 18·9% respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image of fermented soybean meal protein showed smaller aggregates and looser network than that of SBMP. Secondary structure examination of proteins revealed fermentation significantly decreased the content of β‐sheet structure by 43·2% and increased the random coil structure by 59·9%. It is demonstrated that Bacillus fermentation improved the nutritional quality of SBM through degrading ANFs and changing the microstructure of SBMP.
Significance and Impact of the Study
There is limited information about the structural property changes of soybean protein during fermentation. In this study, physicochemical analysis of soybean meal protein showed evidence that the increase in in vitro digestibility and absorbability of fermented soybean meal reflected the decrease in β‐conformation and destruction of original structure in soybean meal protein. The results directly gained the understanding of nutritional quality improvement of soybean meal by Bacillus fermentation, and supply the potential use of Bacillus siamensis for fermented soybean meal production.
Significance and Impact of the Study: There is limited information about the structural property changes of soybean protein during fermentation. In this study, physicochemical analysis of soybean meal protein showed evidence that the increase in in vitro digestibility and absorbability of fermented soybean meal reflected the decrease in β‐conformation and destruction of original structure in soybean meal protein. The results directly gained the understanding of nutritional quality improvement of soybean meal by Bacillus fermentation, and supply the potential use of Bacillus siamensis for fermented soybean meal production.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Machine learning, a branch of artificial intelligence, learns from previous experience to optimize performance, which is ubiquitous in various fields such as computer sciences, financial analysis, ...robotics, and bioinformatics. A challenge is that machine learning with the rapidly growing "big data" could become intractable for classical computers. Recently, quantum machine learning algorithms Lloyd, Mohseni, and Rebentrost, arXiv.1307.0411 were proposed which could offer an exponential speedup over classical algorithms. Here, we report the first experimental entanglement-based classification of two-, four-, and eight-dimensional vectors to different clusters using a small-scale photonic quantum computer, which are then used to implement supervised and unsupervised machine learning. The results demonstrate the working principle of using quantum computers to manipulate and classify high-dimensional vectors, the core mathematical routine in machine learning. The method can, in principle, be scaled to larger numbers of qubits, and may provide a new route to accelerate machine learning.
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Summary
Complement system activation is associated with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) activity and progression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the importance of urinary ...mannose‐binding lectin (MBL), at the time of renal biopsy, for evaluating disease severity and predicting the progression of IgAN. A total of 162 patients with biopsy‐proven IgAN were enrolled and 50 healthy individuals were selected as normal controls. Urinary MBL was measured by sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and normalized for urinary creatinine concentration. Urinary MBL was significantly higher in IgAN patients than that in normal controls, and elevated as histopathological phenotypes upgraded. Urinary MBL was correlated significantly with the well‐known clinical predictors for the prognosis of IgAN; that is, renal function (represented by serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate), proteinuria and arterial hypertension. Urinary MBL was demonstrated to be correlated with the histopathological parameters which have independent value in predicting renal outcome of IgAN according to the Oxford classification; that is, mesangial hypercellularity, segmental glomerulosclerosis, endocapillary hypercellularity and tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis. More importantly, non‐remission patients at the end of follow‐up had significantly higher levels of urinary MBL compared with patients in remission. In conclusion, urinary MBL can be a reliable non‐invasive biomarker for evaluating disease severity and predicting the prognosis of IgAN. This is the first report on this issue. However, our conclusions should be verified further in large‐scale studies with long‐term follow‐up.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
BACKGROUND: Although metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been reported to be associated with cognitive decline and dementia, little was known about late-life MetS and cognitive decline among older old ...population. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of MetS and cognitive decline among men aged 75 and over in Taiwan. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study which recruited men aged 75 years and older with intact cognitive function living in the Banciao Veterans Home, a retirement community for veterans in northern Taiwan. All participants received complete history taking, physical examinations, global cognitive tests and laboratory tests. Cognitive status was re-evaluated one year after enrollment to evaluate the role of MetS to cognitive decline in this study population. RESULTS: Overall, 338 people participated in the study and 62 of them were excluded due to low baseline MMSE score, and the remaining 276 people (mean age: 82.4±4.2 years) were enrolled for study. The prevalence of MetS and annual cognitive decline were 22.5% and 15.6%, respectively. During the follow-up period, 9 (3.3%) participants died, 229(83.0%) complete the study. Subjects with cognitive decline were older and had lower serum levels of serum total cholesterol. Multivariate logistic regression showed that older age (OR:1.13, 95% C.I.: 1.01–1.25, P=0.026) and central obesity (OR: 4.19, 95% CI: 1.26–13.91, P=0.019) were independent risk factors for cognitive decline; and MetS defined by Adult Treatment Panel III was a protective factor (OR: 0.20, 95% CI: 0.04–0.94, P=0.041). The protective effect of MetS remained the same when MetS was defined by the criteria of International Diabetes Federation. CONCLUSIONS: Age and central obesity were significant risk factors of cognitive decline, but late-life MetS, however defined, had protective effect on cognitive function. Further investigation is needed to clarify the possible mechanism of MetS and cognitive function in older adults.
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EMUNI, GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, VSZLJ, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and Bacillus licheniformis (B. licheniformis) on growth performance, body composition, intestinal enzymes activities ...and gut histology of Megalobrama terminalis. Nine experimental diets were formulated to contain three FOS levels (0, 3 and 6 g kg⁻¹) and three B. licheniformis levels (0, 1 and 5 × 10⁷ CFU g⁻¹) following a 3 × 3 factorial design. Accordingly, diets were named as 0/0, 0/3, 0/6, 1/0, 1/3, 1/6, 5/0, 5/3 and 5/6 (B. licheniformis/FOS). At the end of the 8‐week feeding trial, weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) of fish fed 6 g kg⁻¹ FOS were both significantly (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05) higher than that of the other groups in terms of dietary FOS levels. Besides, WG and SGR of fish fed 1 × 10⁷ CFU g⁻¹ B. licheniformis were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of the control group in terms of dietary B. licheniformis levels. In addition, a significant interaction (P < 0.05) between dietary FOS and B. licheniformis was observed in finial weight, WG, SGR as well as the survival rate with the highest values all observed in fish fed diet 1/3. Hepatosomatic index, carcass lipid content, lipase activities as well as microvilli length increased significantly (P < 0.05) from 0 to 1 × 10⁷ CFU g⁻¹, but no significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed in terms of dietary FOS levels. In addition, a significant (P < 0.05) interaction of FOS and B. licheniformis was observed in both protease and Na⁺, K⁺‐ATPase activities with the highest value obtained in fish fed diet 1/3. The results indicated that the dietary applications of dietary FOS and B. licheniformis alone or in combination can significantly improve the growth performance, survival rate, intestinal enzymes activities as well as microvilli length of triangular bream. In addition, there is a significant interaction between dietary FOS and B. licheniformis. The best combination for this species is 3 g kg⁻¹ FOS with 1 × 10⁷ CFU g⁻¹ B. licheniformis.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of malnutrition and its impact on mortality, functional decline and cognitive impairment among elder residents in long-term care settings. DESIGNS: A ...prospective cohort study. SETTINGS: Two veteran homes in Taiwan. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1,248 male residents aged equal or more than 65 years. MEASUREMENTS: Charlson’s comorbidity index (CCI), Minimum data set (MDS), resident assessment protocols (RAP), Activity of daily living-Hierarchy scale, Cognitive Performance Scale, MDS Social engagement scale. RESULTS: The mean age of participants is 83.1 ± 5.1 years, and the prevalence of malnutrition was 6.1%. Inadequate dietary content (57.9%) and unintentional weight loss (31.6%) account for the majority of malnutrition identified by MDS tool. Higher 18-month mortality rate (25% vs. 14.2%), higher baseline CCI (median 1 vs. 0), and higher baseline sum of RAP triggers (median 8.5 vs. 5) were noted among residents with malnutrition. Furthermore, malnutrition was shown predictive for functional decline (OR: 3.096, 95% CI: 1.715-5.587) and potential cognitive improvement (OR: 2.469, 95% CI: 1.188-5.128) among survivors after adjustment for age, body mass index and CCI. CONCLUSION: Malnutrition among elder men residing in veteran homes was associated with multimoridities and higher care complexity, and was predictive for mortality and functional decline.
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EMUNI, FZAB, GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, VKSCE, VSZLJ, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Summary
There is accumulating evidence to support a hypothesis of the activation of the lectin complement pathway in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). The glomerular deposition of mannose‐binding ...lectin (MBL), an initiator of the lectin pathway, has been identified, but its clinical significance has not been defined consistently. The aim of the present study was to investigate the value of glomerular MBL deposition as a useful histological biomarker in evaluating the severity and predicting the prognosis of IgAN. We included all consecutive patients with biopsy‐proven primary IgAN from December 2008 to July 2010. Renal deposition of MBL was detected by immunofluorescence. The biopsy material from 131 patients (72 men) was thus used for MBL staining. The deposition of MBL was observed in a predominantly mesangial pattern in 45 patients (34·35%), which presented as global or segmental deposition. Compared with the patients without glomerular MBL deposition, those with glomerular MBL deposition had more severe proteinuria, decreased renal function, lower levels of serum albumin and a greater possibility of hypertension at the time of renal biopsy; they had more severe histological changes according to the Oxford classification (i.e. mesangial hypercellularity, segmental glomerulosclerosis, endocapillary hypercellularity and tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis), and their ratio presented an increase as the histopathological phenotypes segregated according to Lee's classification; furthermore, the follow‐up data demonstrated that they had a lower renal remission rate. In conclusion, glomerular MBL deposition may predict a poor prognosis, and thus can be a new prognostic factor in IgA nephropathy.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Powerful terahertz (THz) radiation is observed from large-scale underdense preplasmas in front of a solid target irradiated obliquely with picosecond relativistic intense laser pulses. The radiation ...covers an extremely broad spectrum with about 70% of its energy located in the high frequency regime over 10 THz. The pulse energy of the radiation is found to be above 100 μJ per steradian in the laser specular direction at an optimal preplasma scale length around 40-50 μm. Particle-in-cell simulations indicate that the radiation is mainly produced by linear mode conversion from electron plasma waves, which are excited successively via stimulated Raman scattering instability and self-modulated laser wakefields during the laser propagation in the preplasma. This radiation can be used not only as a powerful source for applications, but also as a unique diagnostic of parametric instabilities of laser propagation in plasmas.
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Key mechanistic features of the cobalt-mediated and aminoquinoline-directed dehydrogenative aryl-aryl coupling were investigated computationally and experimentally. A series of Co
II
and Co
III
...complexes relevant to the proposed reaction cycle have been synthesized and characterized. Stoichiometric reactions and electrochemical studies were used to probe the role of different additives in the reaction pathway. Computationally, three different mechanisms, such as
charge neutral
,
anionic
, and
dimetallic
were explored. It is shown that the mono-metallic
anionic
and
charge neutral
mechanisms are the most favorable ones, among which the former mechanism is slightly more encouraging and proceeds
via
the: (a) concerted-metalation-deprotonation (CMD) of the first benzamide C-H bond, (b) PivOH-to-PivO
−
rearrangement, (c) CMD of the second benzamide C-H bond, (d) C-C coupling, (e) product formation facilitated by the amide nitrogen re-protonation, and (f) catalyst regeneration. The rate-determining step of this multi-step process is the C-C coupling step. The computational studies suggest that the electronics of both the aryl-benzamide and pyridine fragments of the aminoquinoline-benzamide ligand control the efficiency of the reaction.
Anionic
mechanism is favorable, aryl-aryl C-C coupling is the rate-determining, a Co
II
and Co
III
aminoquinoline-directed benzamide complexes.
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