Probing Operator Spreading via Floquet Engineering in a Superconducting Circuit.

Operator spreading, often characterized by out-of-time-order correlators (OTOCs), is one of the central concepts in quantum many-body physics. However, measuring OTOCs is experimentally challenging due to the requirement of reversing the time evolution of systems. Here we apply Floquet engineering to investigate operator spreading in a superconducting 10-qubit chain. Floquet engineering provides an effective way to tune the coupling strength between nearby qubits, which is used to demonstrate quantum walks with tunable couplings, reversed time evolution, and the measurement of OTOCs. A clear light-cone-like operator propagation is observed in the system with multiple excitations, and has a nearly equal velocity as the single-particle quantum walk. For the butterfly operator that is nonlocal (local) under the Jordan-Wigner transformation, the OTOCs show distinct behaviors with (without) a signature of information scrambling in the near integrable system.

[Clinical features and outcomes of newly diagnosed follicular lymphoma concurrent with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma component].

Objective: To explore the clinical features and survival of newly diagnosed follicular lymphoma (FL) patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) component. Methods: 1845 newly diagnosed FL patients aged ≥ 18 years with grades 1-3a in 11 medical centers in China from 2000 to 2020 were included, and patients with DLBCL component were screened. The clinical data and survival data of the patients were retrospectively analyzed, and the prognostic factors were screened by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: 146 patients (7.9% ) with newly diagnosed FL had DLBCL component. The median age was 56 (25-83) years, 79 males (54.1% ) . The pathology of 127 patients showed the proportion of DLBCL component. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether the proportion of DLBCL component was ≥ 50% . The study found that patients with DLBCL component ≥ 50% had higher grade 3 ratio (94.3% vs 91.9% , P=0.010) , Ki-67 index ≥ 70% ratio (58.5% vs 32.9% , P=0.013) and PET-CT SUVmax ≥ 13 ratio (72.4% vs 46.3% , P=0.030) than patients with DLBCL component<50% . All patients received CHOP or CHOP like ± rituximab chemotherapy. The overall response rate (ORR) was 88.2% , and the complete response (CR) rate was 76.4% . In the groups with different proportions of DLBCL component, there was no significant difference in the remission rate after induction treatment and the incidence of disease progression within 2 years after initiation of treatment (POD24) (P<0.05) . The overall estimated 5-year progression free survival (PFS) rate was 58.9% , and the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 90.4% . The 5-year OS rate of POD24 patients was lower than that of non POD24 patients (70.3% vs 98.5% , P<0.001) . Compared with non maintenance treatment of rituximab, maintenance treatment of rituximab could not benefit the 5-year PFS rate (57.7% vs 58.8% , P=0.543) , and the 5-year OS rate had a benefit trend, but the difference was not statistically significant (100% vs 87.8% , P=0.082) . Multivariate analysis showed that failure to reach CR after induction treatment was an independent risk factor for PFS (P=0.006) , while LDH higher than normal was an independent risk factor for OS (P=0.031) . Conclusion: FL patients with DLBCL component ≥50% have more invasive clinical and pathological features. CHOP/CHOP like ± rituximab regimen can improve the clinical efficacy of patients. Rituximab maintenance therapy can not benefit the PFS and OS of patients. Failure to reach CR after induction therapy was the independent unfavorable factor for PFS.

[Effect of death decoy receptor 3 on prognosis of breast cancer and function of breast cancer cells in vitro].

Objective: To study the effect of death decoy receptor 3 on the prognosis of breast cancer and the invasive function of breast cancer cells in vitro. Methods: Expression of DcR3 were assessed qualitatively by Q-PCR to analyze the correlation in 115 mammary tissue samples with a 10-year median follow-up. The expression of DcR3 was examined in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines using immunocytochemical staining and RT-PCR. DcR3 knock-down cell sub-lines were constructed. The effects of reduced DcR3 expression were observed by establishing invasion and migration models. Results: Patients were divided into the good prognosis group (n=81) and the poor prognosis group (n=26). The expression of DcR3 in the poor prognosis group (133 350+49 646 copies/50 ng RNA)was significantly higher than that in the good prognosis group (5 393+1 428 copies/50 ng RNA, P=0.020). DcR3 transcripts were found to be increased significantly in grade 2 cancers compared to well differentiated grade 1(82 844±34 068 copies/50 ng RNA, n=39,) vs (5 371±3 500 copies/50 ng RNA, n=20, P=0.029).The DcR3 gene of MCF7 cell line and MDA-MB-231 cell line were successfully knocked out and verified that DcR3 knockout. And the invasion and migration of MCF7 cells were inhibited (P=0.009, P=0.001). However, no significant difference was found in these two aspects of the MDA-MB-231 cell line (P=0.475, P=0.102). Conclusion: DcR3 promotes the capacity of invasion of breast cancer cells and plays an important role in the metastasis of breast cancer. DcR3 detection is helpful to the judgment about prognosis of breast cancer.

Comparative transcriptome analysis of self-incompatible flower stigmas and self-compatible bud stigmas following self-pollination in broccoli.

DH07 is a DH line of Class I S-haplotype in broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica), in which stigmas of flowers show self-incompatibility (SI) and stigmas of buds show self-compatibility (SC). The molecular mechanisms that lead to stigmas at different developmental stages having different responses to self-pollination are yet unknown. In the present study, comparative transcriptome profiling of the stigmas of flowers and buds before and after self-pollination was performed by RNA-sequencing using an Illumina HiSeqTM 2000. A total of 80,102,897 reads were generated for further analysis in four libraries. Comparisons of the transcriptome profiles before and after self-pollination revealed 579 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the stigmas of buds (SBs); of these, 431 DEGs showed increased and 148 DEGs showed decreased transcript abundance after self-pollination in SBs. There were a total of 686 DEGs between unpollinated stigmas of flowers (SFs) and pollinated SFs, among which, 517 DEGs were up regulated and 169 DEGs were down regulated. Following the self-pollination, 379 identified DEGs were common in both SBs and SFs. It was found that ARR7-like and oxysterol-binding family protein related DEGs could play key roles in SI or SC signal transduction. The results obtained in this study would form the foundation for further studies on investigating the molecular mechanisms of SI and SC in Brassica.

In-depth analysis of internal control genes for quantitative real-time PCR in Brassica oleracea var. botrytis.

Quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) is a versatile technique for the analysis of gene expression. The selection of stable reference genes is essential for the application of this technique. Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) is a commonly consumed vegetable that is rich in vitamin, calcium, and iron. Thus far, to our knowledge, there have been no reports on the validation of suitable reference genes for the data normalization of qRT-PCR in cauliflower. In the present study, we analyzed 12 candidate housekeeping genes in cauliflower subjected to different abiotic stresses, hormone treatment conditions, and accessions. geNorm and NormFinder algorithms were used to assess the expression stability of these genes. ACT2 and TIP41 were selected as suitable reference genes across all experimental samples in this study. When different accessions were compared, ACT2 and UNK3 were found to be the most suitable reference genes. In the hormone and abiotic stress treatments, ACT2, TIP41, and UNK2 were the most stably expressed. Our study also provided guidelines for selecting the best reference genes under various experimental conditions.

Association analysis of IL-17A and IL-17F polymorphisms in Chinese women with cervical cancer.

We selected six tagged single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the interleukin 17A (IL-17A) and IL-17F genes, and evaluated the relationship between the six common SNPs and environmental factors in cervical cancer patients. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to detect the IL-17A (rs2275913, rs3748067, and rs3819025) and IL-17F (rs763780, rs9382084, and rs1266828) SNPs. The associations between IL-17A and IL-17F gene polymorphisms and risk of cervical cancer were estimated by conditional logistic regression. Compared with the control subjects, the cervical cancer patients had a lower age at first live birth, a habit of smoking, a family history of cancer, and a greater incidence of human papillomavirus-16 or 18 infections. The logistic regression analysis showed that the variant AA genotype of rs2275913 was associated with a significantly higher risk of cervical cancer than the wild-type GG genotype (OR = 1.99, 95%CI = 1.12-3.50). However, no evidence of the association was observed between rs3748067, rs3819025, rs763780, rs9382084, and rs1266828 polymorphisms and the risk of cervical cancer. We suggest that rs2275913 may play a role in the etiology of cervical cancer. These findings could be helpful in identifying individuals at increased risk of developing cervical cancer.

Survey and analysis on birth quality influence factors of 300 cases of newborns.

PURPOSE: Little research has been conducted to specifically identify the correlations of birth quality influence factors of newborns and hemoglobin of gravidae and puerperal with birth weight of newborns. To investigate the correlations of birth quality influence factors of newborns and hemoglobin of gravidae and puerperal with birth weight of newborns in order to provide a scientific basis for promoting health ofgravidae and their newborns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred cases of gravidae and puerpera treated in the present hospital were randomly selected, and questionnaire survey method was used to survey their basic situations. Also, hemoglobin values in different pregnancy stages were detected. According to birth weight of newborns, gravidae were divided into several groups to compare antepartum hemoglobin levels of various groups of gravidae. In addition, logistic regression analysis was carried out for birth quality influence factors of newborns. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis result showed that birth quality influence factors of newborns included age, nutrition situation and pregnancy healthcare education of gravidae and puerpera. In addition, birth weight of newborns was positively related to antepartum hemoglobin level of gravidae (r = 0.746, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: It was feasible for promoting smooth delivery of gravidae and puerpera, reducing incidence rate of mother and baby complications and effectively enhancing health situations of newborns to strengthen health monitoring of gravidae and conduct health education intervention.

The first pulse of the extremely bright GRB 130427A: a test lab for synchrotron shocks.

Gamma-ray burst (GRB) 130427A is one of the most energetic GRBs ever observed. The initial pulse up to 2.5 seconds is possibly the brightest well-isolated pulse observed to date. A fine time resolution spectral analysis shows power-law decays of the peak energy from the onset of the pulse, consistent with models of internal synchrotron shock pulses. However, a strongly correlated power-law behavior is observed between the luminosity and the spectral peak energy that is inconsistent with curvature effects arising in the relativistic outflow. It is difficult for any of the existing models to account for all of the observed spectral and temporal behaviors simultaneously.

A cryogen-free dilution refrigerator based Josephson qubit measurement system.

We develop a small-signal measurement system on cryogen-free dilution refrigerator which is suitable for superconducting qubit studies. Cryogen-free refrigerators have several advantages such as less manpower for system operation and large sample space for experiment, but concern remains about whether the noise introduced by the coldhead can be made sufficiently low. In this work, we demonstrate some effective approaches of acoustic isolation to reduce the noise impact. The electronic circuit that includes the current, voltage, and microwave lines for qubit coherent state measurement is described. For the current and voltage lines designed to have a low pass of dc-100 kHz, we show that the measurements of Josephson junction's switching current distribution with a width down to 1 nA, and quantum coherent Rabi oscillation and Ramsey interference of the superconducting qubit can be successfully performed.

Energy gaps in Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8+δ) cuprate superconductors.

The relationship between the cuprate pseudogap (Δ(p)) and superconducting gap (Δ(s)) remains an unsolved mystery. Here, we present a temperature- and doping-dependent tunneling study of submicron Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8+δ) intrinsic Josephson junctions, which provides a clear evidence that Δ(s) closes at a temperature T(c) (0) well above the superconducting transition temperature T(c) but far below the pseudogap opening temperature T*. We show that the superconducting pairing first occurs predominantly on a limited Fermi surface near the node below T(c) (0), accompanied by a Fermi arc due to the lifetime effects of quasiparticles and Cooper pairs. The arc length has a linear temperature dependence, and as temperature decreases below T(c) it reduces to zero while pairing spreads to the antinodal region of the pseudogap leading to a d-wave superconducting gap on the entire Fermi surface at lower temperatures.

Quantum phase diffusion in a small underdamped Josephson junction.

Quantum phase diffusion in a small underdamped Nb/AlO(x)/Nb junction (∼0.4 µm(2)) is demonstrated in a wide temperature range of 25-140 mK where macroscopic quantum tunneling (MQT) is the dominant escape mechanism. We propose a two-step transition model to describe the switching process in which the escape rate out of the potential well and the transition rate from phase diffusion to the running state are considered. The transition rate extracted from the experimental switching current distribution follows the predicted Arrhenius law in the thermal regime but is greatly enhanced when MQT becomes dominant.

Free radical scavenging activity of Lactobacillus fermentum in vitro and its antioxidative effect on growing-finishing pigs.

AIMS: To evaluate the free radical-scavenging capacity of Lactobacillus fermentum and its effects on antioxidant enzyme levels in finishing pigs. METHODS AND RESULTS: The free radical-scavenging activity of Lact. fermentum was analysed in vitro. The tested Lactobacillus showed a high scavenging ability against DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), superoxide and hydroxyl radicals which was dose dependent. Subsequently, 108 crossbred pigs weighing 20.67 BW, were allotted to dietary treatments including a basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with either aureomycin or 10.2 x 10(7) Lact. fermentum CFU g(-1) diet. Supplementation of Lact. fermentum increased total antioxidant capacity (P < 0.01) in serum from 50 kg pigs, while serum superoxide dismutase (P = 0.01) and glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.01) increased, and malondialdehyde levels decreased (P < 0.01) in 90 kg pigs. Hepatic catalase (P = 0.04), muscle superoxide dismutase (P < 0.01) and copper-zinc-superoxide dismutase were enhanced (P = 0.01), whereas malondialdehyde levels were reduced (P = 0.05) by Lact. fermentum. CONCLUSIONS: The free radical-scavenging capacity of Lact. fermentum was dose dependent and its supplementation improved the antioxidant status of pigs. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Lactobacillus fermentum could be used to alleviate oxidative stress and increase pig performance and improve pork quality.

[Factors affecting stroke patients' motivations for rehabilitation].

Factors correlated to the motivation for rehabilitation in stroke patients were studied. Thirty patients who had had only one stroke were recruited between December 1991 and April 1992 for our study. Several assessment tools including the Motivational scale, the Health Locus of Control scale and a questionnaire were used. According to the results of the assessment, the stroke patients' motivation remained stable when assessed two to three times during the hospital stay, whereas their UE/LE Brunnstrom stage scores and activities of daily living skill (ADL) improved significantly. The motivation of the patients was closely correlated with the degree of education, the internal scores and ADL performance: patients with education level higher than primary school, higher internal scores, or better ADL performance had stronger motivation for rehabilitation. On the other hand, motivational assessments between the nursing staff and the therapists were not completely in agreement. The ADL performance was better correlated with the degree of motivation on the nursing assessment, whereas the Brunnstrom stage scores of UE/LE were more closely correlated with the therapists' assessment. Items on the motivational questionnaire such as "eagerness to recover earlier", "recognition of the effectiveness of rehabilitation", "support of spouse" and "homesickness" were commonly considered to be positive factors. However, the other factors such as "being in bad mood", "lack of family cooperation", "worrying about things other than finances" and "lack of family support" were commonly considered to be negative factors on motivation. In the comparison between high and low motivation groups, the high motivation group payed more attention to the positive factors such as "eagerness to be independent" and such negative factors as "lack of understanding of illness" as well as "poor appetite and fatigue". The low motivation group was considered to be more affected by such negative factors as "worrying about things other than finances", "not good enough facilities" and "homesickness" which resulted in lessening the motivation for rehabilitation.

[External pituitary irradiation therapy for acromegaly].

128 acromegaly patients were followed up for 1-23 years (mean 5.9 +/- 5.0 years) after external pituitary irradiation; among them 104 patients received fractional irradiation with an ultimate total dose of 4000-5000 rad. The remaining patients received a total dose of either < 4000 rad or > 5000 rad. Human growth hormone (hGH) level was measured after an oral load of 100g glucose to evaluate the effect of irradiation. After external pituitary irradiation, the serum level of hGH decreased progressively. The decrease was more rapid in the first three years with a decrement of 35.1% per year. 36.2% of all the patients has been judged as clinically inactive with low serum hGH level of < or = 5 ng/ml. 62.1% of the patients was considered as slightly active with hGH level < or = 10 ng/ml in the 15th year after therapy. The effect of irradiation was not influenced by the age of the patients, the course of acromegaly, the size of sella turcica and operation prior to irradiation. If the total dose of irradiation is lower than 4000 rad, the effect will not be good.

Chromosomal Polymorphism and Female Receptivity in a Natural Population of DROSOPHILA PERSIMILIS.

In a natural population of Drosophila persimilis (McDonald Ranch, Napa Valley, California), KL and MD chromosomal arrangement frequencies undergo a seasonal cycle, with MD common in spring and KL common in summer. Samples collected from spring and summer provided isofemale strains established as homozygous KL and MD pairs (kinlines) with each pair derived from a single heterokaryotype wild progenitor. Haploid doses of chromosomes 2 and 4 were controlled by marker-cross derivations of kinlines. Percentage onset of female receptivity was measured from cultures at 25 degrees and at 15 degrees , using ten kinlines from spring and nine from summer collections, with fast-mating hybrid males as standard testers. Mating tests consisted of 20 tester males x 20 females of specific age, karyotype, and kinline observed for 30 min. At 25 degrees females became receptive at 48 hr after eclosion: parental line (KL(i)/KL(i) and MD(i)/MD(i)) females were approximately equal at 55 to 60% receptive, while among hybrids, MD(i)/MD(j) homokaryotype females were significantly less receptive (68%) than all other outbred combinations (73 to 77%). At 15 degrees , females became receptive at four days of age, with increases on the fifth and sixth days: both parental line and outbred MD/MD females were significantly more receptive (28% at four days and 62% at six days) than all heterokaryotype females (20 to 26% at four days and 55 to 59% at six days), which in turn were more receptive than KL/KL parental and outbred females (10% at four days and 40% at six days). Heterosis was expressed at 25 degrees , but not at 15 degrees . Thus, dominance for female receptivity was temperature dependent. Females polymorphic for these third chromosomal karyotypes possess differential temperature sensitivity for onset of receptivity and are likely to contribute in a significant way to the observed seasonal frequency cycle in the natural population from which they have been derived.

Relative mating activity of the sexes in homokaryotypes of Drosophila persimilis from a Redwoods population.

Previous tests for mating activity of Drosophila persimilis homokaryotype KL (Klamath) and MD (Mendocino) chromosomal arrangements (northern California population: Redwoods) had shown KL to mate faster on the average than MD in homogamic tests. A strain (double-cross hybrid of four KL lines from the same population) with reliable high mating activity was developed for testing the sexes separately. Five pairs of KL-MD homokaryotype strains were chosen to be tested by the criterion that each pair had been derived from a separate wild KL/MD progenitor. Strains were crossed within arrangements in a diallelic design (20 inter- and five intrastrain crosses tested in 16 replicates per cross) to provide mating activity indices of four sets: KL females, KL males, MD females, MD males. Mating tests employed ten virgin experimental flies with ten tester (double-cross hybrid) flies of the opposite sex in 30-min observation periods. All flies were matured for 5 days at 25 degrees C before testing. Among parental strains, females were consistently higher in mating activity than males for both KL and MD arrangements. Most interstrain hybrids were heterotic, with KL and MD females not significantly different. However, hybrid MD males displayed greatest variation and had lowest mating activity, while KL males were the least variable and highest in mating activity. With heterosis in the hybrids, there was no predictability (additivity) from performance of parental strains to hybrid offspring. Mating activities of the two sexes were uncorrelated, indicating either that the sexes have independent genetic systems controlling mating activity or that the expression of the same genetic system is influenced by sex. Since the hybrid males of the two karyotypes displayed different courtship activity while the females were at about an equal level of receptivity, intrasexual selection among males is likely to be important in nature.