Entanglement as a semantic resource

The characteristic holistic features of the quantum theoretic formalism and the intriguing notion of entanglement can be applied to a field that is far from microphysics: logical semantics. Quantum computational logics are new forms of quantum logic that have been suggested by the theory of quantum logical gates in quantum computation. In the standard semantics of these logics, sentences denote quantum information quantities: systems of qubits (quregisters) or, more generally, mixtures of quregisters (qumixes), while logical connectives are interpreted as special quantum logical gates (which have a characteristic reversible and dynamic behavior). In this framework, states of knowledge may be entangled, in such a way that our information about the whole determines our information about the parts; and the procedure cannot be, generally, inverted. In spite of its appealing properties, the standard version of the quantum computational semantics is strongly "Hilbert-space dependent". This certainly represents a shortcoming for all applications, where real and complex numbers do not generally play any significant role (as happens, for instance, in the case of natural and of artistic languages). We propose an abstract version of quantum computational semantics, where abstract qumixes, quregisters and registers are identified with some special objects (not necessarily living in a Hilbert space), while gates are reversible functions that transform qumixes into qumixes. In this framework, one can give an abstract definition of the notions of superposition and of entangled pieces of information, quite independently of any numerical values. We investigate three different forms of abstract holistic quantum computational logic

La terra cruda nelle costruzioni: dalle testimonianze archeologiche all'architettura sostenibile

Il volume raccoglie i contributi alla Giornata di studi svolta a Caltanissetta il 29 giugno 2007; Responsabile Scientifico Maria Luisa Germanà. La pubblicazione è stata finanziata dalla DISMAT (Laboratorio per la sperimentazione sulle strutture e sui materiali da costruzione) con sede a Canicattì (AG). I contenuti sono articolati nelle seguenti parti: - Contributi generali; - La terra cruda nei contesti antichi: problemi conoscitivi; La terra cruda nei contesti antichi: problemi conservativi; - La terra cruda nelle costruzioni: potenzialità e limiti nell'impiego odierno

Pleistocene human footprints from the Willandra Lakes, southeastern Australia

40

Disruption of HOX activity leads to cell death that can be enhanced by the interference of iron uptake in malignant B cells.

The HOX genes encode a family of transcription factors that are dysregulated in several malignancies and have been implicated in oncogenesis and cancer cell survival. Disruption of HOX protein function using the peptide HXR9 has shown anti-tumor effects against melanoma, lung cancer and renal cancer. In this report, we evaluated the expression of all 39 HOX genes in a panel of six malignant B-cell lines, including multiple myeloma cells and found different levels of expression of HOX family members suggesting that they also have a role in malignant B-cell survival. We show that disrupting HOX function using the peptide HXR9 induces significant cytotoxicity in the entire panel of cell lines. Importantly, we found that the cytotoxic effects of HXR9 can be enhanced by combining it with ch128.1Av, an antibody-avidin fusion protein specific for the human transferrin receptor 1 (CD71). Iron starvation induced by the fusion protein contributes to the enhanced effect and involves, at least in part, the induction of a caspase-independent pathway. These results show the relevance of HOX proteins in malignant B-cell survival and suggest that our therapeutic strategy may be effective in the treatment of incurable B-cell malignancies such as multiple myeloma

TGF beta type II receptor signaling controls Schwann cell death and proliferation in developing nerves

During development, Schwann cell numbers are precisely adjusted to match the number of axons. It is essentially unknown which growth factors or receptors carry out this important control in vivo. Here, we tested whether the type II transforming growth factor (TGF)beta receptor has a role in this process. We generated a conditional knock-out mouse in which the type II TGF beta receptor is specifically ablated only in Schwann cells. Inactivation of the receptor, evident at least from embryonic day 18, resulted in suppressed Schwann cell death in normally developing and injured nerves. Notably, the mutants also showed a strong reduction in Schwann cell proliferation. Consequently, Schwann cell numbers in wild-type and mutant nerves remained similar. Lack of TGF beta signaling did not appear to affect other processes in which TGF beta had been implicated previously, including myelination and response of adult nerves to injury. This is the first in vivo evidence for a growth factor receptor involved in promoting Schwann cell division during development and the first genetic evidence for a receptor that controls normal developmental Schwann cell death

Framing digital tools and techniques in built heritage 3D modelling: the problem of level of detail in a simplified environment

Recently, the built heritage sector has witnessed an increase demand for 3D models of historical sites mainly due to the widespread of new technologies in buildings’ surveying. Although these technologies have been credited for enabling highly detailed 3D modelling of the built heritage, their implementation is still so complex and costly. This research aims to explore the possibility of implementing new low-cost digital acquisition technologies and modelling techniques as an alternative to the existing expensive ones in terms of level of detail (LOD), as an attempt to enable low-skilled users in simplified environment, which are faced paced leaning milieus in education, places with high constraints, or developing countries, to practically learn about their built heritage; consequently, contribute to its preservation. To achieve this purpose, the most diffused SFM and laser scanning open-source packages were first cross-compared using web-content analysis data collection method. Afterwards, the best programme from each category namely; Autodesk 123D catch and Reconstructme, accompanied with Canon D550 camera and Xbox Kinect, respectively, were intensively evaluated through an experiment. The analysis of the findings has suggested that low-cost close-range photogrammetry can replace laser scanning when there is a lack of funding and time

The histopathological changes associated with allograft rejection and drug toxicity in renal transplant recipients maintained on FK506: Clinical significance and comparison with cyclosporine

The histopathological changes in 51 renal allograft biopsies from patients immunosuppressed with FK506 were compared with those seen in 30 needle biopsies obtained from patients on cyclosporine. The frequency and severity of rejection episodes were similar in both groups. Tubular vacuolation and myocyte vacuolation were found to be useful morphological markers to monitor short-term drug toxicity associated with both drugs. Long-term administration of FK506 led to striped interstitial fibrosis and arteriolar hyalinosis, similar to that previously documented for cyclosporine. One case each of hemolytic uremic syndrome and necrotizing arteriopathy was noted in patients receiving FK506. FK506 and cyclosporine are structurally unrelated compounds; hence the parallelism observed in their nephrotoxicity profile suggests that the interactions of these drugs with renal tissue involves the operation of two different initial signal-transducing mechanisms, ultimately activating the same final metabolic pathways

Excisional treatment of cavernous hemangioma of the liver

Fifteen patients had hepatic hemangiomas removed with liver resections that ranged in extent from local excision to right trisegmentectomy. There was no mortality and little morbidity. The propriety and feasibility of extirpative treatment of such liver tumors has been emphasized by this experience