The distribution of entangled states across the nodes of a future quantum internet will unlock fundamentally new technologies. Here, we report on the realization of a three-node entanglement-based ...quantum network. We combine remote quantum nodes based on diamond communication qubits into a scalable phase-stabilized architecture, supplemented with a robust memory qubit and local quantum logic. In addition, we achieve real-time communication and feed-forward gate operations across the network. We demonstrate two quantum network protocols without postselection: the distribution of genuine multipartite entangled states across the three nodes and entanglement swapping through an intermediary node. Our work establishes a key platform for exploring, testing, and developing multinode quantum network protocols and a quantum network control stack.
In this paper, we investigate a correlation between theoretical calculations and experimental data to explain the electronic structure and optical properties of silver molybdate (β-Ag2MoO4) ...microcrystals synthesized by the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction, Rietveld refinement, and micro-Raman spectroscopy confirmed that these microcrystals crystallize in a spinel-type cubic structure. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the processing temperatures influence in the final shape of microcrystals. Optical properties were analyzed by ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy; the increase in the optical band gap energy (E gap) (from 3.24 to 3.31 eV) with processing temperature is associated with the reduction of intermediary energy levels. First-principles quantum mechanical calculations based on the density functional theory at the B3LYP level were conducted. The calculated band structure revealed an indirect E gap of approximately 4.00 and 3.34 eV for the β-Ag2MoO4 without and with the formation of defects, respectively. Theoretical calculations based on density of states and electron density maps were employed to understand the polarization phenomenon induced by structural defects in the β-Ag2MoO4 crystals. Finally, photoluminescence properties at room temperature of β-Ag2MoO4 microcrystals were explained by the charge-transfer mechanism involving tetrahedral MoO4 clusters.
Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy characterized by the clonal proliferation of plasma cells within the bone marrow. Diagnosing MM presents considerable challenges, involving the ...identification of plasma cells in cytology examinations on hematological slides. At present, this is still a time-consuming manual task and has high labor costs. These challenges have adverse implications, which rely heavily on medical professionals' expertise and experience. To tackle these challenges, we present an investigation using Artificial Intelligence, specifically a Machine Learning analysis of hematological slides with a Deep Neural Network (DNN), to support specialists during the process of diagnosing MM. In this sense, the contribution of this study is twofold: in addition to the trained model to diagnose MM, we also make available to the community a fully-curated hematological slide dataset with thousands of images of plasma cells. Taken together, the setup we established here is a framework that researchers and hospitals with limited resources can promptly use. Our contributions provide practical results that have been directly applied in the public health system in Brazil. Given the open-source nature of the project, we anticipate it will be used and extended to diagnose other malignancies.
The present paper describes fundamentals, advantages and limitations of the Box-Behnken design (BBD) for the optimization of analytical methods. It establishes also a comparison between this design ...and composite central, three-level full factorial and Doehlert designs. A detailed study on factors and responses involved during the optimization of analytical systems is also presented. Functions developed for calculation of multiple responses are discussed, including the desirability function
, which was proposed by Derringer and Suich in 1980. Concept and evaluation of robustness of analytical methods are also discussed. Finally, descriptions of applications of this technique for optimization of analytical methods are presented.
The olive oil mill wastewater (OMW) is a problematic and polluting effluent which may degrade the soil and water quality, with critical negative impacts on ecosystems functions and services provided. ...The main purpose of this review paper is presenting the state of the art of OMW treatments focusing on their efficiency to reduce OMW toxicity, and emphasizing the role of ecotoxicological tests on the evaluation of such efficiency before the up-scale of treatment methodologies being considered. In the majority of research works, the reduction of OMW toxicity is related to the degradation of phenolic compounds (considered as the main responsible for the toxic effects of OMW on seed germination, on bacteria, and on different species of soil and aquatic invertebrates) or the decrease of chemical oxygen demand content, which is not scientifically sound. Batteries of ecotoxicological tests are not applied before and after OMW treatments as they should be, thus leading to knowledge gaps in terms of accurate and real assessment of OMW toxicity. Although the toxicity of OMW is usually high, the evaluation of effects on sub-lethal endpoints, on individual and multispecies test systems, are currently lacking, and the real impacts yielded by its dilution, in freshwater trophic chains of receiving systems can not be assessed. As far as the terrestrial compartment is considered, ecotoxicological data available include tests only with plants and the evaluation of soil microbial parameters, reflecting concerns with the impacts on crops when using OMW for irrigation purposes. The evaluation of its ecotoxicity to other edaphic species were not performed giving rise to a completely lack of knowledge about the consequences of such practice on other soil functions. OMW production is a great environmental problem in Mediterranean countries; hence, engineers, chemists and ecotoxicologists should face this problem together to find an ecologically friend solution.
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is characterized by high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and a high risk of early coronary heart disease. Structural alterations in the LDLR, ...APOB, and PCSK9 genes were not found in 20-40% of patients diagnosed using the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network (DCLN) criteria. We hypothesized that methylation in canonical genes could explain the origin of the phenotype in these patients. This study included 62 DNA samples from patients with a clinical diagnosis of FH according to the DCLN criteria, who previously tested negative for structural alterations in the canonical genes, and 47 DNA samples from patients with normal blood lipids (control group). All DNA samples were tested for methylation in the CpG islands of the three genes. The prevalence of FH relative to each gene was determined in both groups and the respective prevalence ratios (PRs) were calculated. The methylation analysis of APOB and PCSK9 was negative in both groups, showing no relationship between methylation in these genes and the FH phenotype. As the LDLR gene has two CpG islands, we analyzed each island separately. The analysis of LDLR-island1 showed PR = 0.982 (CI 0.33-2.95; χ
= 0.001; p = 0.973), also suggesting no relationship between methylation and the FH phenotype. Analysis of LDLR-island2 showed a PR of 4.12 (CI 1.43-11.88; χ
= 13,921; p = 0.00019), indicating a possible association between methylation on this island and the FH phenotype.
•52 volatile compounds and 177 PC was tentatively identified in PCF and CSF.•Chlorogenic, p-coumaric, ferulic and caffeic acids were the most abundant compounds.•Phytol, linalool and α-terpineol were ...identified by GC-MS.•Pineapple crown flour exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity in bound extract.•CSF and PCF presented great bioactive potential and discrete antimicrobial activity.
Unconventional parts of vegetables represent a rich source of health-promoting phytochemicals. The phenolic profile of cabbage-stalk flour (CSF), pineapple-crown flour (PCF), and their essential oils were characterized via UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MSE and GC-FID/MS. Antimicrobial activity was tested against five strains, and antioxidant activities were determined in free and bound extracts. Globally, 177 phenolics were tentatively identified in PCF (major p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde) and 56 in CSF (major chlorogenicacid, quercetin 3-O-glucuronide, and p-coumaric acid). PCF exhibited a distinguished profile (lignans, stilbenes) and antioxidant capacity, especially in bound extracts (1.3 g GAE.100 g−1; 0.6 g catechin eq.100 g−1; DPPH: 244.7; ABTS: 467.8; FRAP: 762.6 µg TE.g−1, ORAC: 40.9 mg TE.g−1). The main classes of volatile compounds were fatty acids, their esters, and terpenes in CSF (30) and PCF (41). A comprehensive metabolomic approach revealed CSF and PCF as a promising source of PC, showing great antioxidant and discrete antimicrobial activities.
Aims
The biofilm produced by Staphylococcus aureus isolates involved in clinical or subclinical bovine mastitis and the activity of nisin and lysostaphin against the preformed biofilm produced by ...these strains were investigated.
Methods and Results
Eighteen strains were tested and all produced biofilm. Eight strains with distinct biofilm composition were selected for the antimicrobial activity assays. The minimal inhibitory concentration of each bacteriocin was determined against the planktonic cells and ranged from 15·6 to 500 μg ml−1 for nisin, and from 3·9 to 50 μg ml−1, for lysostaphin. Lysostaphin treatment (0·4 μg ml−1) for 4 h caused a strong Staph. aureus 4181 biofilm detachment and death of the majority of the sessile cells, while nisin treatment (100 μg ml−1) for the same time caused only a great reduction in cell viability. Additionally, combination of both bacteriocins for 4 h resulted in significant death of the sessile cells but no biofilm detachment.
Conclusions
The treatment with lysostaphin alone or in combination with nisin was effective in killing most biofilm sessile cells.
Significance and Impact of the Study
The action of lysostaphin, either alone or in combination with nisin, against established staphylococcal biofilm may represent an alternative to bovine mastitis control. However, the duration of the treatment should be considered for its application so that the best effectiveness can be achieved.
Multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with naringenin have been developed as new drug carriers to improve the performance of lung cancer treatment. The nanocarrier was characterized by ...Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Drug release rates were determined in vitro by the dialysis method. The cytotoxic profile was evaluated using the MTT assay, against a human skin
(
) as a model for normal cells, and against an adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial (A569) cell line as a lung cancer in vitro model. The results demonstrated that the functionalization of carbon nanotubes with naringenin occurred by non-covalent interactions. The release profiles demonstrated a pH-responsive behavior, showing a prolonged release in the tumor pH environment. The naringenin-functionalized carbon nanotubes showed lower cytotoxicity on non-malignant cells (hFB) than free naringenin, with an improved anticancer effect on malignant lung cells (A549) as an in vitro model of lung cancer.
Background and Purpose
A long‐term imbalance between pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory mediators leads to airway remodelling, which is strongly correlated to most of the symptoms, severity and progression ...of chronic lung inflammation. The Angiotensin‐(1‐7) Ang‐(1‐7)/Mas receptor axis of the renin‐angiotensin system is associated with attenuation of acute and chronic inflammatory processes. In this study, we investigated the effects of Ang‐(1‐7) treatment in a model of chronic allergic lung inflammation.
Experimental Approach
Mice were sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA; 4 injections over 42 days, 14 days apart) and were challenged three times per week (days 21–46). These mice received Ang‐(1‐7) (1 μg·h−1, s.c.) by osmotic mini‐pumps, for the last 28 days. Histology and morphometric analysis were performed in left lung and right ventricle. Airway responsiveness to methacholine, analysis of Ang‐(1‐7) levels (RIA), collagen I and III (qRT‐PCR), ERK1/2 and JNK (Western blotting), IgE (elisa), cytokines and chemokines (elisa multiplex), and immunohistochemistry for Mas receptors were performed.
Key Results
Infusion of Ang‐(1‐7) in OVA‐sensitized and challenged mice decreased inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen deposition in the airways and lung parenchyma, and prevented bronchial hyperresponsiveness. These effects were accompanied by decreased IgE and ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and decreased pro‐inflammatory cytokines. Mas receptors were detected in the epithelium and bronchial smooth muscle, suggesting a site in the lung for the beneficial actions of Ang‐(1‐7).
Conclusions and Implications
Ang‐(1‐7) exerted beneficial attenuation of three major features of chronic asthma: lung inflammation, airway remodelling and hyperresponsiveness. Our results support an important protective role of Ang‐(1‐7) in lung inflammation.
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