Nonreciprocal Bundle Emissions of Quantum Entangled Pairs.

Realizing precise control over multiquanta emission is crucial for quantum information processing, especially when integrated with advanced techniques of manipulating quantum states. Here, by spinning the resonator to induce the Sagnac effect, we can obtain nonreciprocal photon-phonon and photon-magnon super-Rabi oscillations under conditions of optically driving resonance transitions. Opening dissipative channels for such super-Rabi oscillations enables the realization of directional bundle emissions of entangled photon-phonon pairs and photon-magnon pairs by transferring the pure multiquanta state to a bundled multiquanta outside of the system. This nonreciprocal emission is a flexible switch that can be controlled with precision, and simultaneous emissions of different entangled pairs (such as photon-phonon or photon-magnon pairs) can even emerge but in opposite directions by driving the resonator from different directions. This ability to flexibly manipulate the system allows us to achieve directional entangled multiquanta emitters, and has also potential applications for building hybrid quantum networks and on-chip quantum communications.

Parity-Symmetry-Protected Multiphoton Bundle Emission.

We demonstrate symmetry protected multiphoton bundle emission in the cavity QED system under the ultrastrong coupling regime. Our proposal only enables the super-Rabi oscillations with periodic generation of even correlated photons in the cavity, which is realized by combining the laser driven flip of qubit and the symmetry conserved transitions induced by Rabi interaction with parity symmetry. Combined with dissipation, only 2n-photon bundle emissions are allowed, due to the almost perfect suppression of bundle emissions with odd correlated photons. Meanwhile, the corresponding purities are significantly enhanced by the parity symmetry. This work extends multiphoton bundle emission to the ultrastrong coupling regime, and offers the prospect of exploring symmetry-protected multiphoton physics.

N-Phonon Bundle Emission via the Stokes Process.

We demonstrate theoretically the bundle emission of n strongly correlated phonons in an acoustic cavity QED system. The mechanism relies on Stokes resonances that generate super-Rabi oscillations between states with a large difference in their number of excitations, which, combined with dissipation, transfer coherently pure n-phonon states outside of the cavity. This process works with close to perfect purity over a wide range of parameters and is tunable optically with well-resolved operation conditions. This broadens the realm of quantum phononics, with potential applications for on-chip quantum information processing, quantum metrology, and engineering of new types of quantum devices, such as optically heralded n-phonon guns.

Mass sensing by quantum criticality.

Mass sensing connects mass variation to a frequency shift of a mechanical oscillator, whose limitation is determined by its mechanical frequency resolution. Here we propose a method to enlarge a minute mechanical frequency shift, which is smaller than the linewidth of the mechanical oscillator, into a huge frequency shift of the normal mode. Explicitly, a frequency shift of about 20 Hz of the mechanical oscillator would be magnified to be a 1 MHz frequency shift in the normal mode, which increases it by 5 orders of magnitude. This enhancement relies on the sensitivity appearing near the quantum critical point of the electromechanical system. We show that a mechanical frequency shift of 1 Hz could be resolved with a mechanical resonance frequency ωb=11×2π MHz. Namely, an ultrasensitive mechanical mass sensor of the resolution Δm/m∼2Δωb/ωb∼10-8 could be achieved. Our method has potential application in mass sensing and other techniques based on the frequency shift of a mechanical oscillator.

Single-photon-induced two qubits excitation without breaking parity symmetry.

We investigate theoretically the model of two "qubits" system (one qubit having an auxiliary level) interacting with a single-mode resonator in the ultrastrong coupling regime. We show that a single photon could simultaneously excite two qubits without breaking the parity symmetry of system by properly encoding the excited states of qubits. The optimal parameter regime for achieving high probability approaching one is identified in the case of ignoring the system dissipation. Moreover, using experimentally feasible parameters, we also analyze the dissipation dynamics of the system, and present the realization of two-qubit excitation induced by single-photon. This work offers an alternative approach to realize the single-photon-induced two qubits excitation, which should advance the development of single-photon quantum technologies and have potential applications in quantum information science.

[Effect of smoke water and distillation liquid on the seed germination and seedling growth of Trichosathes kirilowii].

Smoke water and distillation liquid were used to treat the seeds of Trichosathes kirilowii and to study the effects of smoke water and distillation liquid on the seed germination and seedling growth of T. kirilowii. The results showed that germination rate, germination index and germination vigor of T. kirilowii all were significantly improved with the treatment of SW and DL treatment. The activity of α-amylase were significantly increased with the treatment of SW and DL at 1:2,000. SW and DL treatment showed no significant effects on the activity of SOD. The activity of POD were markedly enhanced under the treatment of SW (1:000) and DL (1:2,000). CAT activity were increased with the treatment of SW and DL at 1:2,000 while were inhibited by SW and DL at 1:500. Seedling height and root length were increased with the treatment of SW and DL (1:1,000, 1:2,000). SW and DL treaments improved the content of chlorophyll, and moreover with the concentration of SW and DL, the stimulatory were also increased. This work demonstrated that smoke water and diatillation liquid at 1:2,000 could stimulate the seed germination and seedling growth of T. kirilowii, and it provided the references for the study of seed germination technology.

Effects of bidirectional phenotype switching on signal noise in a bacterial community.

Cells can sense and process various signals. Noise is inevitable in the cell signaling system. In a bacterial community, the mutual conversion between normal cells and persistent cells forms a bidirectional phenotype switching cascade, in which either one can be used as an upstream signal and the other as a downstream signal. In order to quantitatively describe the relationship between noise and signal amplification of each phenotype, the gain-fluctuation relationship is obtained by using the linear noise approximation of the master equation. Through the simulation of these theoretical formulas, it is found that the bidirectional phenotype switching can directly generate interconversion noise which is usually very small and almost negligible. In particular, the bidirectional phenotype switching can provide a global fluctuating environment, which will not only affect the values of noise and covariance, but also generate additional intrinsic noise. The additional intrinsic noise in each phenotype is the main part of the total noise and can be transmitted to the other phenotype. The transmitted noise is also a powerful supplement to the total noise. Therefore, the indirect impact of bidirectional phenotype switching is far greater than its direct impact, which may be one of the reasons why chronic infections caused by persistent cells are refractory to treat.

Noisy signal propagation and amplification in phenotypic transition cascade of colonic cells.

Like genes and proteins, cells can use biochemical networks to sense and process information. The differentiation of the cell state in colonic crypts forms a typical unidirectional phenotypic transitional cascade, in which stem cells differentiate into the transit-amplifying cells (TACs), and TACs continue to differentiate into fully differentiated cells. In order to quantitatively describe the relationship between the noise of each compartment and the amplification of signals, the gain factor is introduced, and the gain-fluctuation relation is obtained by using the linear noise approximation of the master equation. Through the simulation of these theoretical formulas, the characters of noise propagation and amplification are studied. It is found that the transmitted noise is an important part of the total noise in each downstream cell. Therefore, a small number of downstream cells can only cause its small inherent noise, but the total noise may be very large due to the transmitted noise. The influence of the transmitted noise may be the indirect cause of colon cancer. In addition, the total noise of the downstream cells always has a minimum value. As long as a reasonable value of the gain factor is selected, the number of cells in colonic crypts will be controlled within the normal range. This may be a good method to intervene the uncontrollable growth of tumor cells and effectively control the deterioration of colon cancer.

[Acupoint catgut embedding improves dysmenorrhea by suppressing activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes in uterine tissues in primary dysmenorrhea rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupoint catgut embedding on the expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-18 in the uterine tissue of primary dysmenorrhea (PD) rats, so as to explore its underlying mechanisms in improving PD. METHODS: Forty female SD rats were randomly divided into control, model, acupoint catgut embedding and medication groups (n＝10 in each group). The PD model was established by subcutaneous injection of Estradiol Benzoate (0.5 mg/rat on the 1st and 10thday, and 0.2 mg/rat from 2nd to 9thday) and Oxytocin (2 U/rat, i．p.). The catgut embedding was applied to bilateral "Sanyinjiao" (SP6) and "Guanyuan" (CV4) on the 1st and 5th day after modeling. Rats of the medication group were treated by intragastric perfusion of Fenbid (0.8 mL/rat, 125 mg/100 mL) once daily for 10 days. The body writhing times in 30 min were recorded. The histopathological changes of the uterine were observed by H．E. staining. Western blot was used to detect the expression of NLRP 3, caspase-1, IL-1ß and IL-18 in uterine tissues. RESULTS: The body writhing times were notably more in the model group than in the control group (P<0.01), and obviously fewer in both medication and catgut embedding groups than in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). After modeling, the rats' endometrium was extensively exfoliated and got swelling, the histopathological score and the expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1ß and IL-18 proteins in the uterus tissue were evidently increased in the model group relevant to the control group (P<0.01). Following the treatment, the degree of endometrial exfoliation and edema of the uterus tissue was lightened, the pathological score was significantly reduced (P<0.01), and the expression levels of caspase-1, IL-1ß and IL-18 protein in uterus tissue were markedly decreased in both acupoint catgut embedding and medication groups (P<0.01, P<0.05). The NLRP3 protein expression was significantly decreased in the acupoint catgut embedding group compared with that in the model group (P<0.01). The therapeutic effect of acupoint catgut embedding was significantly superior to that of medication in reducing writhing times and down-regulating expression of NLPR3 protein (P<0.01). No significant differences were found between catgut embedding and medication in histopathological score, and expression levels of caspase-1, IL-1ß and IL-18 proteins (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The acupoint catgut embedding can significantly alleviate the symptoms and pathological damage in PD rats, which may be related to its effect in inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in the uterine tissue.

Geometric distortion-invariant watermarking based on Tschebycheff transform and dual-channel detection.

Many proposed image watermarking techniques are sensitive to geometric distortions such as rotation, scaling, and translation. Geometric distortion, even by a slight amount, can disable a watermark decoder. In this study, a geometric distortion-invariant watermarking technique is designed by utilizing Tschebycheff moments of the original image to estimate the geometric distortion parameters of corrupted watermarked images. The Tschebycheff moments of an original image can be used as a private key for watermark extraction. The embedding process is a closed-loop system that modifies the embedding intensity according to the results of the performance analysis. The convergence of the closed-loop system is proved. Different from early heuristic methods, the optimal blind watermark detector is designed with the introduction of dual-channel detection utilizing high-order spectra detection and likelihood detection. Even with a small signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the detector can still get a satisfying detection probability if there is enough high-order spectra information. When the high-order spectra are small, this dual-channel detection system will become a likelihood detection system. The watermark decoder extracts a watermark by blindly utilizing independent component analysis (ICA). The computational aspects of the proposed watermarking technique are also discussed in detail. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed watermarking technique is robust with respect to attacks performed by the popular watermark benchmark, StirMark.

Mucosal and systemic anti-HIV responses in rhesus macaques following combinations of intranasal and parenteral immunizations.

There is an urgent need to develop vaccines that can elicit immunological memory responses against HIV. Using the rhesus macaque model and a combination of intranasal (IN) and parenteral immunizations with DNA or protein adsorbed to microparticles or mixed with mucosal adjuvants we sought to induce anti-HIV memory-type immune responses in both the mucosal and systemic compartments. Prime/boost immunizations were performed through five IN immunizations alone with HIV-env oligomeric gp140 (Ogp140) or HIV-gag-p24 mixed with Escherichia coli heat labile-derived mutant adjuvants or two parenteral immunizations with DNA encoding HIV-env or -gag adsorbed to microparticles followed by three IN immunizations with p24 gag protein and the mutant adjuvants. Both modes of immunizations induced anti-gp140 plasma and vaginal IgG and IgA as well as interferon (IFN)-gamma secreting peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after HIV-env and -gag peptide restimulation. After a resting period of 4 months, when the levels of humoral and cellular responses had decreased, intramuscular (IM) booster immunizations with p55-gag protein adsorbed to microparticles and Ogp140 in MF59 oil in water emulsion significantly enhanced anti-HIV plasma and vaginal antibody, as well as peripheral blood IFN-gamma responses in all groups of vaccinated macaques. Importantly, plasma neutralization activity against both homologous and heterologous HIV strains was observed in all groups following the IM booster immunizations with protein. These findings show that IN priming alone or combinations of parenteral and IN immunizations followed by IM booster immunizations hold promise to significantly enhance mucosal and systemic memory-type immune responses against HIV-1 antigens.

Synthesis, DNA-binding, and photocleavage properties of a serious of porphyrin-daunomycin hybrids.

It is widely accepted that the pharmacological activities of anthracyclines antitumor agents express when the quinone-containing chromophore intercalates into base pairs of the duplex DNA. We have successfully synthesized and investigated the DNA-interactions of hybrids composed with quinone chromophore and cationic porphyrin. Herein, a clinic anticancer drug, daunomycin, is introduced to the porphyrin hybrids through different lengths of amide alkyl linkages, and their interactions and cleavage to DNA were studied compared with the previous porphyrin-quinone hybrids. Spectral results and the determined binding affinity constants (Kb) show that the attachment of daunomycin to porphyrin could improve the DNA-binding and photocleaving abilities. The porphyrin-daunomycin hybrids may find useful employment in investigating the ligand-DNA interaction.

Characterization of human immunodeficiency virus Gag-specific gamma interferon-expressing cells following protective mucosal immunization with alphavirus replicon particles.

A safe, replication-defective viral vector that can induce mucosal and systemic immune responses and confer protection against many infectious pathogens, such as human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), may be an ideal vaccine platform. Accordingly, we have generated and tested alphavirus replicon particles encoding HIV-1 Gag from Sindbis virus (SIN-Gag) and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE-Gag), as well as chimeras between the two (VEE/SIN-Gag). Following intramuscular (i.m.), intranasal (i.n.), or intravaginal (IVAG) immunization with VEE/SIN-Gag and an IVAG challenge with vaccinia virus encoding HIV Gag (VV-Gag), a larger number of Gag-specific CD8+ intracellular gamma interferon-expressing cells (iIFNEC) were detected in iliac lymph nodes (ILN), which drain the vaginal/uterine mucosa (VUM), than were observed after immunizations with SIN-Gag. Moreover, a single i.n. or IVAG immunization with VEE/SIN-Gag induced a larger number of cells expressing HIV Gag in ILN, and immunizations with VEE/SIN-Gag through any route induced better protective responses than immunizations with SIN-Gag. In VUM, a larger percentage of iIFNEC expressed alpha4beta7 or alpha(Ebeta)7 integrin than expressed CD62L integrin. However, in spleens (SP), a larger percentage of iIFNEC expressed alpha4beta7 or CD62L than expressed alpha(Ebeta)7. Moreover, a larger percentage of iIFNEC expressed the chemokine receptor CCR5 in VUM and ILN than in SP. These results demonstrate a better induction of cellular and protective responses following immunizations with VEE/SIN-Gag than that following immunizations with SIN-Gag and also indicate a differential expression of homing and chemokine receptors on iIFNEC in mucosal effector and inductive sites versus systemic lymphoid tissues.

Production of macrophage migration inhibitory factor by human and murine neuroblastoma.

Tumor cells avoid immune recognition by subverting the ability of the immune system to mount an inflammatory response that generates cytotoxic effector cells. This can be achieved through cytokine production by the tumor itself. Our objective was to determine the cytokine profile of neuroblastoma (NB) lesions in tumor vaccine models. We found that the murine NB cell line, Neuro2a, secretes macrophage migration inhibitory factor, MIF, a multifunctional cytokine with the potential to block effective immune responses to a tumor. Patient-derived NB cell lines were also found to produce MIF. MIF production by NB was documented at the level of RNA by RNAse protection, soluble cytokine production by ELISA, and in a macrophage migration assay. Our studies also confirmed reports of IL-6 production by human NB cell lines. NB culture-derived MIF was also shown to activate tumor cell migration. This supports the hypothesis that MIF is a tumor-derived cytokine that may play a role in NB aggressiveness and evasion of immune recognition.

An alphavirus replicon particle chimera derived from venezuelan equine encephalitis and sindbis viruses is a potent gene-based vaccine delivery vector.

Alphavirus replicon particle-based vaccine vectors derived from Sindbis virus (SIN), Semliki Forest virus, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE) have been shown to induce robust antigen-specific cellular, humoral, and mucosal immune responses in many animal models of infectious disease and cancer. However, since little is known about the relative potencies among these different vectors, we compared the immunogenicity of replicon particle vectors derived from two very different parental alphaviruses, VEE and SIN, expressing a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 p55(Gag) antigen. Moreover, to explore the potential benefits of combining elements from different alphaviruses, we generated replicon particle chimeras of SIN and VEE. Two distinct strategies were used to produce particles with VEE-p55(gag) replicon RNA packaged within SIN envelope glycoproteins and SIN-p55(gag) replicon RNA within VEE envelope glycoproteins. Each replicon particle configuration induced Gag-specific CD8(+) T-cell responses in murine models when administered alone or after priming with DNA. However, Gag-specific responses varied dramatically, with the strongest responses to this particular antigen correlating with the VEE replicon RNA, irrespective of the source of envelope glycoproteins. Comparing the replicons with respect to heterologous gene expression levels and sensitivity to alpha/beta interferon in cultured cells indicated that each might contribute to potency differences. This work shows that combining desirable elements from VEE and SIN into a replicon particle chimera may be a valuable approach toward the goal of developing vaccine vectors with optimal in vivo potency, ease of production, and safety.