Fermionic quantum processing with programmable neutral atom arrays.

Simulating the properties of many-body fermionic systems is an outstanding computational challenge relevant to material science, quantum chemistry, and particle physics.-5.4pc]Please note that the spelling of the following author names in the manuscript differs from the spelling provided in the article metadata: D. González-Cuadra, D. Bluvstein, M. Kalinowski, R. Kaubruegger, N. Maskara, P. Naldesi, T. V. Zache, A. M. Kaufman, M. D. Lukin, H. Pichler, B. Vermersch, Jun Ye, and P. Zoller. The spelling provided in the manuscript has been retained; please confirm. Although qubit-based quantum computers can potentially tackle this problem more efficiently than classical devices, encoding nonlocal fermionic statistics introduces an overhead in the required resources, limiting their applicability on near-term architectures. In this work, we present a fermionic quantum processor, where fermionic models are locally encoded in a fermionic register and simulated in a hardware-efficient manner using fermionic gates. We consider in particular fermionic atoms in programmable tweezer arrays and develop different protocols to implement nonlocal gates, guaranteeing Fermi statistics at the hardware level. We use this gate set, together with Rydberg-mediated interaction gates, to find efficient circuit decompositions for digital and variational quantum simulation algorithms, illustrated here for molecular energy estimation. Finally, we consider a combined fermion-qubit architecture, where both the motional and internal degrees of freedom of the atoms are harnessed to efficiently implement quantum phase estimation as well as to simulate lattice gauge theory dynamics.

Dynamical Solitons and Boson Fractionalization in Cold-Atom Topological Insulators.

We study the Z_{2} Bose-Hubbard model, a chain of interacting bosons the tunneling of which is dressed by a dynamical Z_{2} field. The interplay between spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) and topological symmetry protection gives rise to interesting fractional topological phenomena when the system is doped to certain incommensurate fillings. In particular, we hereby show how topological defects in the Z_{2} field can appear in the ground state, connecting different SSB sectors. These defects are dynamical and can travel through the lattice carrying both a topological charge and a fractional particle number. In the hardcore limit, this phenomenon can be understood through a bulk-defect correspondence. Using a pumping argument, we show that it survives also for finite interactions, demonstrating how boson fractionalization induced by topological defects can occur in strongly correlated bosonic systems. Our results indicate the possibility of observing this phenomenon, which appears for fermionic matter in solid-state and high-energy physics, using ultracold atomic systems.

[Study of marine actinomycetes isolated from the central coast of Peru and their antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis]. / Estudio de actinomicetos marinos aislados de la costa central del Perú y su actividad antibacteriana frente a Staphylococcus aureus Meticilina Resistentes y Enterococcus faecalis Vancomicina Resistentes.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the antimicrobial potential of marine actinomycetes against drug-resistant pathogens represented by strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Strains of actinomycetes (29) isolated from marine sediment were evaluated by their characteristics in two culture media and by testing their inhibitory capacity by in vitro antagonism against multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogenic bacteria for MRSA and VRE. Organic extracts of 3 selected actinomicetes were processed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the active compound. RESULTS: Most isolated actinomycetes belong to a homogeneous group of write-gray actinomycetes with a good growth in Marine Agar. The inhibitory rates of the isolates were above 85% for both pathogens with inhibition zones greater than 69 and 78 mm in diameter for MRSA and VRE respectively. Dichloromethane extracts of 3 isolates (I-400A, B1-T61, M10-77) showed strong inhibitory activity of both pathogens, M10-77 being the highest actinomycete strain with antibiotic activity against methicillin-resistant S. aureus ATCC 43300 and vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis ATCC 51299 with a minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 7.9 and 31.7 µg/ml respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of M10-77 strain showed 99% similarity with the marine species Streptomyces erythrogriseus. CONCLUSIONS: Marine sediments of the central coast of Peru, are a source of actinomycetes strains showing high capacity to produce bioactive compounds able to inhibit pathogens classified as multi-drug-resistant such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus and vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis.

Estudio de actinomicetos marinos aislados de la costa central del Perú y su actividad antibacteriana frente a Staphylococcus aureus Meticilina Resistentes y Enterococcus faecalis Vancomicina Resistentes / Study of marine actinomycetes isolated from the central coast of Peru and their antibacterial activity against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis

Objetivos. Determinar el potencial antimicrobiano de actinomicetos marinos frente a cepas S. aureus meticilino-resistentes (MRSA) y E. faecalis vancomicina-resistentes (VRE). Materiales y métodos. En dos medios de cultivo se sembraron 29 cepas de actinomicetos aislados de sedimento marino. Se evaluó la capacidad inhibitoria mediante pruebas de antagonismo in vitro para MRSA y VRE. Se procesó los extractos orgánicos de tres actinomicetos seleccionados para determinar la Concentración Mínima Inhibitoria (CMI) del compuesto activo. Resultados. La mayoría de los actinomicetos aislados correspondieron a un grupo homogéneo de blanco-grisáceos (62 por ciento) con buen nivel de crecimiento en agar marino. Los porcentajes inhibitorios fueron superiores a 85 por ciento para ambos patógenos con halos de inhibición mayores a 69 y 78 mm de diámetro para MRSA y VRE respectivamente. Los extractos diclorometánicos de tres de los actinomicetos aislados (I-400A, B1-T61, M10-77) mostraron gran potencial inhibitorio de ambos patógenos, siendo M10-77 la cepa de actinomiceto de mayor actividad antibiótica frente a S. aureus ATCC 43300 resistente a meticilina y E. faecalis ATCC 51299 resistente a vancomicina con una Concentración Mínima Inhibitoria (CMI) de 7,9 y 31,7 μg/ mL respectivamente. El análisis filogenético de la cepa M10- 77 presenta un 99 por ciento de similaridad con la especie marina Streptomyces erythrogriseus. Conclusiones. El sedimento marino de la costa central del Perú es fuente promisorio de cepas de actinomicetos con gran capacidad de producir compuestos bioactivos capaces de inhibir patógenos tipificados como multidrogo-resistentes tales como S. aureus meticilino resistentes y E. faecalis vancomicina resistentes.

Objectives. To determine the antimicrobial potential of marine actinomycetes against drug-resistant pathogens represented by strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE). Materials and methods. Strains of actinomycetes (29) isolated from marine sediment were evaluated by their characteristics in two culture media and by testing their inhibitory capacity by in vitro antagonism against multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogenic bacteria for MRSA and VRE. Organic extracts of 3 selected actinomicetes were processed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the active compound. Results. Most isolated actinomycetes belong to a homogeneous group of write-gray actinomycetes with a good growth in Marine Agar. The inhibitory rates of the isolates were above 85 percent for both pathogens with inhibition zones greater than 69 and 78 mm in diameter for MRSA and VRE respectively. Dichloromethane extracts of 3 isolates (I-400A, B1-T61, M10-77) showed strong inhibitory activity of both pathogens, M10-77 being the highest actinomycete strain with antibiotic activity against methicillin-resistant S. aureus ATCC 43300 and vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis ATCC 51299 with a minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 7.9 and 31.7 μg/ml respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of M10-77 strain showed 99 percent similarity with the marine species Streptomyces erythrogriseus. Conclusions. Marine sediments of the central coast of Peru, are a source of actinomycetes strains showing high capacity to produce bioactive compounds able to inhibit pathogens classified as multi-drugresistant such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus and vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis.

Actinomycetes bioactivos de sedimento marino de la costa central del Perú / Bioactives Actinomycetes of marine sediment from the central coast of Peru

En el presente trabajo evaluamos la actividad antibacteriana y antifúngica de actinomycetes marinos sobre patógenos de origen clínico. Asimismo, fueron evaluadas la capacidad de producir enzimas extracelulares como carbohidrasas, lipasas y proteasas. Los Actinomycetes fueron aislados de sedimentos colectados entre setiembre a diciembre del 2005 de las Bahías de Ancón (Lima) e Independencia (Ica) de 34 y 100 m de profundidad. El aislamiento se realizó en Agar Caseína - Almidón (ACA) y Agar Marino (AM) con adición de Cicloheximide (10 ng/mL). Las evaluaciones antimicrobianas fueron realizadas frente a bacterias patógenas antibiótico-multirresistentes y hongos de origen clínico; en tanto, para evaluar su actividad multienzimática se utilizaron sustratos poliméricos diversos. Se aislaron un total de 62 actinomycetes, de los cuales 31 (50 por ciento) mostraron actividad antibacteriana frente a Staphylococcus aureus, 36 (59 por ciento) frente a Pseudomonas aeruginosa y 23 (37 por ciento) a ambos patógenos. Las cepas de actinomycetes I-400A y M10-77 identificadas en cada caso como Streptomyces y Thermoactinomyces fueron las que exhibieron mayor actividad inhibitoria frente a P. aeruginosa y S. aureus respectivamente. Asimismo, 13 actinomycetes (20,97 por ciento) mostraron actividad antifúngica frente a cultivos de Candida albicans cepa 1511 y 17 (27,42 por ciento) frente a Candida albicans cepa 1511MIC; sin embargo, ningún actinomycete presentó actividad inhibitoria frente a Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus y Trichophyton mentagrophytes. La mayoría de los actinomycetes mostraron tener actividad multienzimática capaz de hidrolizar compuestos poliméricos como el tween-80 (96 por ciento), la gelatina (95 por ciento), almidón (93 por ciento), lecitina (88 por ciento) y la caseína (74 por ciento).

In the present research we evaluated the antibacterial and antifungical activity of marine actinomycetes over pathogen of clinical origin. Likewise, it was evaluated the capacity to produce extracellular enzymes like carbohidrases, lipases and proteases. The Actinomycetes were isolated from sediments collected between September to December 2005 of Ancón (Lima) and Independencia (Ica) Bays at depths of 34 and 100 m. The isolation was performed in Casein - Starch Agar (CSA) and Marine Agar (AM) with addition of Cicloheximide (10 ng/mL). The antimicrobial evaluations were done comparing them with pathogenic antibiotic-multiresistant bacteria and fungi from clinical origin; in as much, to evaluate their multienzimatic activity several polimeric substrates were used. A total of 62 actinomycetes were isolated, 31 of there (50 per cent) showed antibacterial activity in opposite to Staphylococcus aureus, 36 (59 per cent) in opposite to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 23 (37 per cent) to both pathogens. Strains of actinomycetes I-400A and M10-77 identified in each case like Streptomyces and Thermoactinomyces exhibited higher inhibitory activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa respectively. Also, 13 actinomycetes (20,97 per cent) showed to antifungical activity against cultures of Candida albicans strain 1511 and 17 (27,42 per cent) with Candida albicans strain 1511MIC; nevertheless, no actinomycete displayed inhibitory activity to the growth of Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Most Actinomycetes showed to have multienzymic activity able to hydrolysis polymerics compounds like the tween-80 (96 per cent), gelatin (95 per cent), starch (93 per cent), lecitine (88 per cent) and casein (74 per cent).

Effectiveness of virosomal subunit influenza vaccine in preventing influenza-related illnesses and its social and economic consequences in children aged 3-14 years: a prospective cohort study.

To evaluate the effectiveness of a virosomal subunit influenza vaccine in preventing influenza-related illnesses and its social and economic consequences in children aged 3-14 years, a prospective cohort study was carried out during the 2004-2005 influenza season in 11 private pediatric clinics in the Barcelona metropolitan area. One dose of a virosomal subunit inactivated influenza vaccine (Inflexal V Berna) was given during September and October 2004 to healthy children aged 3-14 years attended in 5 of the 11 clinics. Who comprised the vaccinated cohort (n=966). The non-vaccinated cohort (n=985) was comprised of children attended in the other six clinics. Informed consent was obtained from all parents. The follow up was performed between 1 November 2004 and 31 March 2005. Using a self-administered questionnaire, information was collected from parents or guardians on any type of acute, febrile respiratory illness suffered by their children during the study period, including antibiotic use, and absence from school or work-loss of parents as a result of the illness. RT-PCR (influenza A+B+C) was carried out on pharyngeal and nasal samples obtained from children attended by pediatricians during this period in these clinics with the following symptoms: fever> or =38.5 degrees lasting at least 72h, cough or sore throat (influenza-like illness). Adjusted vaccination effectiveness was 58.6% (95% CI 49.2-66.3) in preventing acute febrile respiratory illnesses, 75.1% (95% CI 61.0-84.1) in preventing cases of influenza-like illnesses and 88.4% (95% CI 49.2-97.3) in preventing laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza A. The adjusted vaccination effectiveness in reducing antibiotic use (18.6%, 95% CI -4.2 to 3.64), absence from school (57.8%, 95% CI 47.9-65.9) and work-loss of parents (33.3%, 95% CI 8.9-51.2) in children affected by an acute febrile respiratory illness was somewhat lower. Vaccination of children aged 3-14 years in pediatric practices with one dose of virosomal subunit inactivated influenza vaccine has the potential to considerably reduce the health and social burdens caused by influenza-related illnesses.

Type 5 phosphodiesterase regulation of human sperm motility.

OBJECTIVE: Inhibition of phosphodiesterases results in the buildup of intracellular cyclic nucleotides, which have been shown to affect sperm motility and acrosome reaction. The objective of this study was to determine whether the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-specific type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitor sildenafil has an effect on sperm motility and acrosome parameters. STUDY DESIGN: Sperm cells were washed by two-layer colloid wash and resuspended in modified human tubal fluid with 5% serum albumin. They were incubated in the presence of different concentrations (0-40 nmol/L) of the type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitor sildenafil. Aliquots of sperm were removed at hours 0, 4, 24, and 48, and motility parameters were measured on the Hamilton-Thorn HTM-C (Hamilton-Thorn Research, Danvers, Mass) motility analyzer. Sperm acrosomes were analyzed with the Spermac (Stain Enterprises, South Africa; distributed by Sage Biopharma, Bedminster, NJ) acrosome stain. RESULTS: Sperm progressive motility and hyperactivation were stimulated to greater than the control at hour 4, followed by a decrease. There was a dose-dependent effect of the type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitor on sperm motility parameters but not on percentage of cells with acrosome reaction. The type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitor stimulated sperm acrosome reaction by almost 50% above the control. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that inhibition of type 5 phosphodiesterase activity in human sperm resulted in enhanced progressive motility and hyperactivation. In addition, inhibition of type 5 phosphodiesterase also caused an increase in acrosome reaction. This suggests a role for type 5 phosphodiesterase in preventing premature acrosome reaction, which is associated with failed fertilization.