A complete MacWilliams theorem for convolutional codes

© 2014 IEEE. In this paper, we prove a MacWilliams identity for the weight adjacency matrices based on the constraint codes of a convolutional code (CC) and its dual. Our result improves upon a recent result by Gluesing-Luerssen and Schneider, where the requirement of a minimal encoder is assumed. We can also establish the MacWilliams identity for the input-parity weight adjacency matrices of a systematic CC and its dual. Most importantly, we show that a type of Hamming weight enumeration functions of all codewords of a CC can be derived from the weight adjacency matrix, which thus provides a connection between these two very different notions of weight enumeration functions in the convolutional code literature. Finally, the relations between various enumeration functions of a CC and its dual are summarized in a diagram. This explains why no MacWilliams identity exists for the free-distance enumerators

An efficient algorithm for optimizing whole genome alignment with noise

Motivation: This paper is concerned with algorithms for aligning two whole genomes so as to identify regions that possibly contain conserved genes. Motivated by existing heuristic-based software tools, we initiate the study of an optimization problem that attempts to uncover conserved genes with a global concern. Another interesting feature in our formulation is the tolerance of noise, which also complicates the optimization problem. A brute-force approach takes time exponential in the noise level. Results: We show how an insight into the optimization structure can lead to a drastic improvement in the time and space requirement [precisely, to O(k2n2) and O(k2n), respectively, where n is the size of the input and k is the noise level]. The reduced space requirement allows us to implement the new algorithm, called MaxMinCluster, on a PC. It is exciting to see that when tested with different real data sets, MaxMinCluster consistently uncovers a high percentage of conserved genes that have been published by GenBank. Its performance is indeed favorably compared to MUMmer (perhaps the most popular software tool for uncovering conserved genes in a whole-genome scale). © Oxford University Press 2004; all rights reserved.published_or_final_versio

Vacuum Stability of the wrong sign (−ϕ6)(-\phi^{6}) Scalar Field Theory

We apply the effective potential method to study the vacuum stability of the bounded from above $(-\phi^{6})$ (unstable) quantum field potential. The stability ($\partial E/\partial b=0)$ and the mass renormalization ($\partial^{2} E/\partial b^{2}=M^{2})$ conditions force the effective potential of this theory to be bounded from below (stable). Since bounded from below potentials are always associated with localized wave functions, the algorithm we use replaces the boundary condition applied to the wave functions in the complex contour method by two stability conditions on the effective potential obtained. To test the validity of our calculations, we show that our variational predictions can reproduce exactly the results in the literature for the $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric $\phi^{4}$ theory. We then extend the applications of the algorithm to the unstudied stability problem of the bounded from above $(-\phi^{6})$ scalar field theory where classical analysis prohibits the existence of a stable spectrum. Concerning this, we calculated the effective potential up to first order in the couplings in $d$ space-time dimensions. We find that a Hermitian effective theory is instable while a non-Hermitian but $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric effective theory characterized by a pure imaginary vacuum condensate is stable (bounded from below) which is against the classical predictions of the instability of the theory. We assert that the work presented here represents the first calculations that advocates the stability of the $(-\phi^{6})$ scalar potential.Comment: 21pages, 12 figures. In this version, we updated the text and added some figure

Adding control to arbitrary unknown quantum operations

While quantum computers promise significant advantages, the complexity of quantum algorithms remains a major technological obstacle. We have developed and demonstrated an architecture-independent technique that simplifies adding control qubits to arbitrary quantum operations-a requirement in many quantum algorithms, simulations and metrology. The technique is independent of how the operation is done, does not require knowledge of what the operation is, and largely separates the problems of how to implement a quantum operation in the laboratory and how to add a control. We demonstrate an entanglement-based version in a photonic system, realizing a range of different two-qubit gates with high fidelity.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

Cyclodextrin-PEI-Tat Polymer as a Vector for Plasmid DNA Delivery to Placenta Mesenchymal Stem Cells

This study aims to modify a cyclodextrin-PEI-based polymer, PEI-β-CyD, with the TAT peptide for plasmid DNA delivery to placenta mesenchymal stem cells (PMSCs). By using the disulfide exchange between the SPDP-activated PEI-β-CyD and TAT peptide, the TAT-PEI-β-CyD polymer was fabricated and the success of this was confirmed by the presence of characteristic peaks for PEI (at δ 2.8-3.2 ppm), CyD (at δ 5.2, 3.8-4.0 and 3.4-3. 6 ppm) and TAT (at δ 1.6-1.9 and 6.8-7.2 ppm) in the 1H NMR spectrum of TAT-PEI-β-CyD. The polymer-plasmid-DNA polyplex could condense DNA at an N/P ratio of 7.0-8.0, and form nanoparticles with the size of 150.6±5.6 nm at its optimal N/P ratio (20/1). By examining the transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity of TAT-PEI-β-CyD, conjugation of the TAT peptide onto PEI-β-CyD was demonstrated to improve the transfection efficiency of PEI-β-CyD in PMSCs after 48 and 96 hours of post-transfection incubation. The viability of PEI-β-CyD-treated PMSCs was shown to be over 80% after 5 h of treatment and 24 h of post-treatment incubation. In summary, this study showed that the TAT-PEI-β-CyD polymer as a vector for plasmid DNA delivery to PMSCs and other cells warrants further investigations. © 2011 The Author(s).published_or_final_versionSpringer Open Choice, 21 Feb 201

The effect of ex-vivo rotenone intoxication on dopamine re-uptake of LRRK2-R1441G mutant mouse

Poster presentationpublished_or_final_versio

The antidiabetic effects of a dry powder of dietary vegetable and fruit mixtures in diabetic db/db mice

We evaluated the antidiabetic effects of a mixed vegetable powder-formula I (MVP-FI), which is a dry powder mixture of over 65 kinds of vegetables and fruits, using the db/db type 2 diabetes mouse model. The db/db mice at 8-10 weeks of age were randomly divided into three groups: vehicle treatment, 1.575 g/kg MVP-FI treatment, and 3.15 g/kg MVP-FI treatment. During 12 days of treatment, we measured food intake and body weight changes, fasting blood glucose levels, and plasma lipid levels. Our results showed that the food intake and the body weight of MVP-FI-treated group were decreased gradually. Moreover, the fasting blood glucose level of the treated group was significantly dropped to a normal level comparable to that of the lean mice. Furthermore, we also found that the plasma triglyceride level in the treated group was dropped, whereas the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level was increased and total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio was decreased. Taken together, these results suggest that the diabetic conditions of the db/db mice have been improved after 12 days treatment with MVP-FI. The antihyperglycemic and antiobese activities of the MVP-FI, as demonstrated in the present study, may have important clinical implications for improving the management of type 2 diabetic patients. © 2008 Yeung et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd.published_or_final_versio

Rapid quantification of semen hepatitis B virus DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction

Aim: To examine the sensitivity and accuracy of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the quantification of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in semen. Methods: Hepatitis B viral DNA was isolated from HBV carriers' semen and sera using phenol extraction method and QIAamp DNA blood mini kit (Qiagen, Germany). HBV DNA was detected by conventional PCR and quantified by TaqMan technology-based real-time PCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)). The detection threshold was 200 copies of HBV DNA for conventional PCR and 10 copies of HBV DNA for real time PCR per reaction. Results: Both methods of phenol extraction and QIAamp DNA blood mini kit were suitable for isolating HBV DNA from semen. The value of the detection thresholds was 500 copies of HBV DNA per mL in the semen. The viral loads were 7.5×10 7 and 1.67×10 7 copies of HBV DNA per mL in two HBV infected patients' sera, while 2.14×10 5 and 3.02×10 5 copies of HBV DNA per mL in the semen. Conclusion: Real-time PCR is a more sensitive and accurate method to detect and quantify HBV DNA in the semen. © 2005 The WJG Press and Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.published_or_final_versio

MiR-637 maintains the balance between adipocytes and osteoblasts by directly targeting Osterix

Bone development is dynamically regulated by homeostasis, in which a balance between adipocytes and osteoblasts is maintained. Disruption of this differentiation balance leads to various bone-related metabolic diseases, including osteoporosis. In the present study, a primate-specific microRNA (miR-637) was found to be involved in the differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Our preliminary data indicated that miR-637 suppressed the growth of hMSCs and induced S-phase arrest. Expression of miR-637 was increased during adipocyte differentiation (AD), whereas it was decreased during osteoblast differentiation (OS), which suggests miR-637 could act as a mediator of adipoosteogenic differentiation. Osterix (Osx), a significant transcription factor of osteoblasts, was shown to be a direct target of miR-637, which significantly enhanced AD and suppressed OS in hMSCs through direct suppression of Osx expression. Furthermore, miR-637 also significantly enhanced de novo adipogenesis in nude mice. In conclusion, our data indicated that the expression of miR-637 was indispensable for maintaining the balance of adipocytes and osteoblasts. Disruption of miR-637 expression patterns leads to irreversible damage to the balance of differentiation in bone marrow. © 2011 Zhang et al.published_or_final_versio

Experimental realisation of Shor's quantum factoring algorithm using qubit recycling

Quantum computational algorithms exploit quantum mechanics to solve problems exponentially faster than the best classical algorithms. Shor's quantum algorithm for fast number factoring is a key example and the prime motivator in the international effort to realise a quantum computer. However, due to the substantial resource requirement, to date, there have been only four small-scale demonstrations. Here we address this resource demand and demonstrate a scalable version of Shor's algorithm in which the n qubit control register is replaced by a single qubit that is recycled n times: the total number of qubits is one third of that required in the standard protocol. Encoding the work register in higher-dimensional states, we implement a two-photon compiled algorithm to factor N=21. The algorithmic output is distinguishable from noise, in contrast to previous demonstrations. These results point to larger-scale implementations of Shor's algorithm by harnessing scalable resource reductions applicable to all physical architectures.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure