Search

Transmon qubits are the predominant element in circuit-based quantum information processing, such as existing quantum computers, due to their controllability and ease of engineering implementation. But more than qubits, transmons are multilevel nonlinear oscillators that can be used to investigate fundamental physics questions. Here, they are explored as simulators of excited state quantum phase transitions (ESQPTs), which are generalizations of quantum phase transitions to excited states. We show that the spectral kissing (coalescence of pairs of energy levels) experimentally observed in the effective Hamiltonian of a driven SNAIL-transmon is an ESQPT precursor. We explore the dynamical consequences of the ESQPT, which include the exponential growth of out-of-time-ordered correlators, followed by periodic revivals, and the slow evolution of the survival probability due to localization. These signatures of ESQPT are within reach for current superconducting circuits platforms and are of interest to experiments with cold atoms and ion traps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nucleus incertus (NI) neurons in the pontine tegmentum give rise to ascending forebrain projections and express the neuropeptide relaxin-3 (RLN3) which acts via the relaxin-family peptide 3 receptor (RXFP3). Activity in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex can be driven from the medial septum (MS), and the NI projects to all these centers, where a prominent pattern of activity is theta rhythm, which is related to spatial memory processing. Therefore, we examined the degree of collateralization of NI projections to the MS and the medial temporal lobe (MTL), comprising medial and lateral entorhinal cortex (MEnt, LEnt) and dentate gyrus (DG), and the ability of the MS to drive entorhinal theta in the adult rat. We injected fluorogold and cholera toxin-B into the MS septum and either MEnt, LEnt or DG, to determine the percentage of retrogradely labeled neurons in the NI projecting to both or single targets, and the relative proportion of these neurons that were RLN3-positive (+). The projection to the MS was threefold stronger than that to the MTL. Moreover, a majority of NI neurons projected independently to either MS or the MTL. However, RLN3 + neurons collateralize significantly more than RLN3-negative (–) neurons. In in vivo studies, electrical stimulation of the NI induced theta activity in the MS and the entorhinal cortex, which was impaired by intraseptal infusion of an RXFP3 antagonist, R3(BΔ23-27)R/I5, particularly at ~ 20 min post-injection. These findings suggest that the MS plays an important relay function in the NI-induced generation of theta within the entorhinal cortex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work designs a methodology to quantify the uncertainty of a volatility parameter in a stochastic control problem arising in energy management. The difficulty lies in the non-linearity of the underlying scalar Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation. We proceed by decomposing the unknown solution on a Hermite polynomial basis (of the unknown volatility), whose different coefficients are solutions to a system of second order parabolic non-linear PDEs. Numerical tests show that computing the first basis elements may be enough to get an accurate approximation with respect to the uncertain volatility parameter. We provide an example of the methodology in the context of a swing contract (energy contract with flexibility in purchasing energy power), this allows us to introduce the concept of Uncertainty Value Adjustment (UVA), whose aim is to value the risk of misspecification of the volatility model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite its generality and powerful convergence properties, Milstein's method for functionals of spatially bounded stochastic differential equations is widely regarded as difficult to implement. This has likely prevented it from being utilised in applications. In this paper, we design and analyse in detail one such implementation. The presented method turns out to be on par with other, popular schemes in terms of computational cost—but with a (nearly) linear weak convergence rate under the usual smoothness requirements on coefficients and boundary. Two byproducts of theoretical interest are a new, non-standard rank-one update formula, and a connection between numerics of bounded diffusions and Eikonal equations. Three examples are worked out, confirming the accuracy and robustness of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a polyad-preserving algebraic approach to molecular structure and, as an application, we fit the model parameters to reproduce an extensive experimental data set of vibrational energies of carbon dioxide in its ground electronic state. The data set includes levels with vibrational angular momentum ℓ = 1, ...,6 and some recently obtained term values that have not been previously considered. The obtained results are close to experimental uncertainty and we compare the results obtained making use of the three most common polyad schemes that can be found in the literature for this molecular species. Graphical abstract: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of microglial motility in the context of adult neurodegeneration is poorly understood. In the present work, we investigated the microanatomical details of microglia-neuron interactions in an experimental mouse model of Parkinson's disease following the intraperitoneal injection of MPTP. The specific intoxication of dopaminergic neurons induces the cellular polarization of microglia, leading to the formation of body-to-body neuron-glia contacts, called gliapses, which precede neuron elimination. Inhibiting ROCK/Cdc42-mediated microglial motility in vivo blocks the activating features of microglia, such as increased cell size and number of filopodia and diminishes their phagocyting/secreting domains, as the reduction of the Golgi apparatus and the number of microglia-neuron contacts has shown. High-resolution confocal images and three-dimensional rendering demonstrate that microglia engulf entire neurons at one-to-one ratio and the microglial cell body participates in the formation of the phagocytic cup, engulfing and eliminating neurons in areas of dopaminergic degeneration in adult mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare physical parameters in groups of sheep with different phenotypic characteristics in the Centre-west region of Brazil. Five groups of sheep, with nine animals per group, were selected, three groups of Santa Inês animals with different coat colours (white, brown and black), one group with crossbred animals (Santa Inês × Bergamasca) and one group with animals of the Bergamasca breed. The following traits were evaluated: coat thickness, number and length of hair, pigmentation level in the coat and the skin as well as the percentage area of sweats glands in the skin tissue, carried out by histological analysis. The number of hairs and the area of sweats glands were not significantly different between the evaluated groups. The Bergamasca breed showed low pigmentation of the skin and long hairs. The levels of pigmentation of the hair and of the skin were highly correlated. Between the Santa Inês groups, the group with white hair showed the better parameters for heat adaptation, while the brown hair group showed the lower heat adaptation when compared with another hair breed groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of hyaluronidase gel on the prevention of post-operative peritoneal adhesions to prosthetic materials used in laparosopic ventral hernia repair. Ten pigs were included in this study. The animals were anesthtetized using Na-penthotal for induction and isofluorane for maiteneance. The abdomen was opened and, using helical fasteners, four implantantions were perfomed (squares of 4 × 4 cm). Two of the implants, placed in an upper location, were in polypropylene mesh, and two of the implants, placed in a lower aera, were in polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE-e, Dualmesh® Plus Corduroy). The implants located in the right side of animals were painted with hyaluronidase gel. Two helical fasteners, painted and unpainted, were implanted in a medial location. After a five-week period the pigs were operated on again, intraperitoneal adhesion ratios and grades were determined, and the pigs later sacrificed. Specimens having abdominal wall implants were taken for histological studies. Intraperitoneal adhesions decreased in implants painted with hyaluronidase gel in a comparative study with implants located in the left side of animals (not painted). On the other hand the polypropylene mesh, said typically to produce intraperitoneal adhesions, produced almost no adhesion in many animals. Hyaluronidase gel reduces post-operative peritoneal adhesions ratio and grades including in the presence of polypropylene mesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Interferon (IFN) α-2b is a protein with antiviral, antiproliferative and immunoregulatory properties that is approved for several clinical indications. A new liquid, albumin-free, IFNα-2b formulation has recently been developed. This study aimed to evaluate the equivalence of the pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and safety properties of the new formulation with a reference one in healthy male volunteers. Methods: A randomised, crossover, double-blind study with a 3-week washout period was performed in which Heberon Alfa R® (formulation A) and Viraferon® (formulation B) were compared. A single 20 × 106 IU IFNα-2b dose was administered subcutaneously to 14 apparently healthy male subjects. Serum IFN level was measured over 48 hours by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and by antiviral activity titration. Clinical and laboratory variables were determined, as were pharmacodynamic and safety criteria. Results: Groups were homogeneous with regard to all demographic and baseline variables. Pharmacokinetic comparison by EIA did not show differences between the formulations: area under the curve (AUC) 2572 versus 2561 ng · h/L, maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) 318 versus 354 ng/L, time to Cmax (tmax) 8.2 versus 8.5h, elimination half-life (t1/2) 5.87 versus 6.08h, terminal elimination rate (λ) 0.122 versus 0.118h-1, and mean residence time (MRT) 10.9 versus 12.0h for formulations A and B, respectively. The differences never reached 20%, which is the clinically significant threshold. The 90% confidence interval of the ratio between them was in all cases within the 0.8, 1.25 range. The two formulations were clinically equivalent with regard to serum IFN antiviral activity titration (0.8, 1.25 criterion) regarding their pharmacokinetic parameters. There were no significant differences with respect to the pharmacodynamic variables: serum β2-microglobulin and temperature increase. Heart rate and blood pressure changes did not differ either. Both products provoked similar haematological count decreases and had similar safety profiles. The most frequent adverse reactions were fever, tachycardia, headache and arthralgias. Conclusion: The overall analysis strongly suggests the bioequivalence of these two products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]