Coherent Optical Memory with High Storage Efficiency and Large Fractional Delay

A high-storage efficiency and long-lived quantum memory for photons is an essential component in long-distance quantum communication and optical quantum computation. Here, we report a 78% storage efficiency of light pulses in a cold atomic medium based on the effect of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). At 50% storage efficiency, we obtain a fractional delay of 74, which is the best up-to-date record. The classical fidelity of the recalled pulse is better than 90% and nearly independent of the storage time, as confirmed by the direct measurement of phase evolution of the output light pulse with a beat-note interferometer. Such excellent phase coherence between the stored and recalled light pulses suggests that the current result can be readily applied to single photon wave packets. Our work significantly advances the technology of EIT-based optical memory and may find practical applications in long-distance quantum communication and optical quantum computation.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Geographical heterogeneity and influenza infection within households

Although it has been suggested that schoolchildren vaccination reduces influenza morbidity and mortality in the community, it is unknown whether geographical heterogeneity would affect vaccine effectiveness

An Onto-Hermeneutic Analysis of “Jinsheng Yuzhen” in the Warring States Period

The concept of “jinsheng yuzhen” appears in both the Wuxing and Mencius, but the “benti” of Confucianism in the Warring States period contained in this concept has not been thoroughly understood. This paper incorporates and analyzes “onto-Hermeneutics”, applying it to concepts and conceptual histories to clarify the debates around “jinsheng yuzhen” and explore its broader hermeneutic space. The concept of “jinsheng yuzhen” aims to conclude, unify, and transcend “jinsheng” through “yuzhen”, which means that both Wuxing and Mencius integrate pre-Qin Confucian virtues to interpret the “Way of Heaven”. In addition, “jinsheng yuzhen” begins with the “jinsheng” but the “yuzhen” does not have a specific endpoint. This metaphor indicates that the Way of Heaven is embodied by human beings as the self-awareness, cultivation, and practice of the inherent “benevolence” of the innate goodness of nature. Because of human creativity and the infinite nature of experiential reality, this process ultimately leads to the boundless unfolding, enrichment, and generation of the Way of Heaven

Metabolic Stress-Induced Phosphorylation of KAP1 Ser473 Blocks Mitochondrial Fusion in Breast Cancer Cells

Mitochondrial dynamics during nutrient starvation of cancer cells likely exert profound effects on their capability for metastatic progression. Here, we report that KAP1 (TRIM28), a transcriptional coadaptor protein implicated in metastatic progression in breast cancer, is a pivotal regulator of mitochondrial fusion in glucose-starved cancer cells. Diverse metabolic stresses induced Ser473 phosphorylation of KAP1 (pS473-KAP1) in a ROS- and p38-dependent manner. Results from live-cell imaging and molecular studies revealed that during the first 6 to 8 hours of glucose starvation, mitochondria initially underwent extensive fusion, but then subsequently fragmented in a pS473-KAP1-dependent manner. Mechanistic investigations using phosphorylation-defective mutants revealed that KAP1 Ser473 phosphorylation limited mitochondrial hyperfusion in glucose-starved breast cancer cells, as driven by downregulation of the mitofusin protein MFN2, leading to reduced oxidative phosphorylation and ROS production. In clinical specimens of breast cancer, reduced expression of MFN2 corresponded to poor prognosis in patients. In a mouse xenograft model of human breast cancer, there was an association in the core region of tumors between MFN2 downregulation and the presence of highly fragmented mitochondria. Collectively, our results suggest that KAP1 Ser473 phosphorylation acts through MFN2 reduction to restrict mitochondrial hyperfusion, thereby contributing to cancer cell survival under conditions of sustained metabolic stress

How Do People Process Ambiguous Strings

This article combines ambiguity phenomenon with Chinese word segmentation to observe how human being conduct language processing to clarify ambiguity between overlapping ambiguity and combination ambiguity. Artificial intelligence will easily missegment these two strings, while the study tries to introduce optimality theory to discover possible base of these two types of ambiguity comprehended by general people. According to the result, the key to clarify ambiguity is context, idiomaticity and word frequency

Learning Languages Through Cognition－Death and Excess Extent

This paper presents a preliminary research regarding death words and the excess extent. Mandarin si presents a close relation of DEATH and EXCESS, and such a relation would be further proved to be universal-like by the additional data of other languages. Cognitive operations are thought to be the main that bring about DEATH-EXCESS linking. It is also cognition that makes the linking universal. Keywords: cognition; taboo; image schema; metaphor; death; excess exten

Metaphysical Foundations of Knowledge and Ethics in Chinese and European Philosophy

In the history of Chinese and European philosophy, metaphysics has played an outstanding role: it is a theoretical framework which provides the basis for a philosophical understanding of the world and the self. A theory of the self is well integrated in a metaphysical understanding of the totality of nature as a dynamic process of continuous changes. According to this view, the purpose of existence can be conceived of as the development and realization of the full potential given to the individual by its nature. In regard to human nature specifically, this idea of self-realization includes the development of all cognitive faculties as well as of the moral character. Metaphysics has, however, suffered a loss of importance in current debates, especially in ethics. As a result, we observe the emergence of such philosophical views as moral skepticism and even nihilism. The consequence of this tendency has been the renunciation of a claim to understanding and to providing a solid ground for ethics. Yet an intercultural dialogue can provide us with some hope as the consolidation of debates on crucial topics of our traditions might indeed serve as the basis for a more powerful philosophy in the future

Effective leadership by capacities of virtues: a new analysis of power of political leadership in Confucian perspective

This paper develops the theory of virtues as those capabilities of a human person which integrate both the view of Confucian ethics and Aristotelian ethics. It proposes a theory of leadership (political leadership, in particular) based on the development and implementation of the virtue-capabilities of wisdom, care and courage as defined in Confucian Analects. It argues for those Confucian insights into the depth structure of the human self in terms of feeling, thinking and willing, which then leads to the virtue-capabilities of zhi ren yong (wisdom, care and courage). Ii explains how these three virtue-capabilities form a unity of trinity which warrants effective political leadership. It also show how this model of political leadership will have to be effective on three levels of society at large; namely, community, business and government.Cheng, C. (2011). Effective leadership by capacities of virtues: a new analysis of power of political leadership in Confucian perspective. Journal of East-West Thought, 1(1), 105-114