Experimental implementation of a quantum zero-knowledge proof for user authentication.

A new interactive quantum zero-knowledge protocol for identity authentication implementable in currently available quantum cryptographic devices is proposed and demonstrated. The protocol design involves a verifier and a prover knowing a pre-shared secret, and the acceptance or rejection of the proof is determined by the quantum bit error rate. It has been implemented in modified Quantum Key Distribution devices executing two fundamental cases.

Regulation of replicative histone RNA metabolism by the histone chaperone ASF1.

In S phase, duplicating and assembling the whole genome into chromatin requires upregulation of replicative histone gene expression. Here, we explored how histone chaperones control histone production in human cells to ensure a proper link with chromatin assembly. Depletion of the ASF1 chaperone specifically decreases the pool of replicative histones both at the protein and RNA levels.

p53 governs an AT1 differentiation programme in lung cancer suppression.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Mutations in the tumour suppressor gene TP53 occur in 50% of lung adenocarcinomas (LUADs) and are linked to poor prognosis, but how p53 suppresses LUAD development remains enigmatic. We show here that p53 suppresses LUAD by governing cell state, specifically by promoting alveolar type 1 (AT1) differentiation.

HIRA-dependent boundaries between H3 variants shape early replication in mammals.

The lack of a consensus DNA sequence defining replication origins in mammals has led researchers to consider chromatin as a means to specify these regions. However, to date, there is no mechanistic understanding of how this could be achieved and maintained given that nucleosome disruption occurs with each fork passage and with transcription. Here, by genome-wide mapping of the de novo deposition of the histone variants H3.

CENP-A overexpression promotes distinct fates in human cells, depending on p53 status.

Tumour evolution is driven by both genetic and epigenetic changes. CENP-A, the centromeric histone H3 variant, is an epigenetic mark that directly perturbs genetic stability and chromatin when overexpressed. Although CENP-A overexpression is a common feature of many cancers, how this impacts cell fate and response to therapy remains unclear.

AsiDNA Is a Radiosensitizer with no Added Toxicity in Medulloblastoma Pediatric Models.

Purpose: Medulloblastoma is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in pediatric oncology. Here, we investigated whether the DNA repair inhibitor, AsiDNA, could help address a significant unmet clinical need in medulloblastoma care, by improving radiotherapy efficacy without increasing radiation-associated toxicity.

Experimental Design: To evaluate the brain permeability of AsiDNA upon systemic delivery, we intraperitoneally injected a fluorescence form of AsiDNA in models harboring brain tumors and in models still in development.

Histone supply: Multitiered regulation ensures chromatin dynamics throughout the cell cycle.

As the building blocks of chromatin, histones are central to establish and maintain particular chromatin states associated with given cell fates. Importantly, histones exist as distinct variants whose expression and incorporation into chromatin are tightly regulated during the cell cycle. During S phase, specialized replicative histone variants ensure the bulk of the chromatinization of the duplicating genome.

High-resolution visualization of H3 variants during replication reveals their controlled recycling.

DNA replication is a challenge for the faithful transmission of parental information to daughter cells, as both DNA and chromatin organization must be duplicated. Replication stress further complicates the safeguard of epigenome integrity. Here, we investigate the transmission of the histone variants H3.

Neurogenesis: Regulation by Alternative Splicing and Related Posttranscriptional Processes.

The complexity of the mammalian brain requires highly specialized protein function and diversity. As neurons differentiate and the neuronal circuitry is established, several mRNAs undergo alternative splicing and other posttranscriptional changes that expand the variety of protein isoforms produced. Recent advances are beginning to shed light on the molecular mechanisms that regulate isoform switching during neurogenesis and the role played by specific RNA binding proteins in this process.

The Calcineurin Variant CnAβ1 Controls Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation by Directing mTORC2 Membrane Localization and Activation.

Embryonic stem cells (ESC) have the potential to generate all the cell lineages that form the body. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying ESC differentiation and especially the role of alternative splicing in this process remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the alternative splicing regulator MBNL1 promotes generation of the atypical calcineurin Aβ variant CnAβ1 in mouse ESCs (mESC).

Very high-capacity short-reach VCSEL systems exploiting multicarrier intensity modulation and direct detection.

Multicarrier intensity modulation of a bandwidth-limited long-wavelength VCSEL is exploited combined to direct detection to achieve very high capacity simple systems for short-reach applications. Tailored FDM subcarriers modulation and allocation allow to match the non-uniform frequency response of the system induced by the direct modulation and detection of the FDM signal and by the uncompensated SSMF propagation, overcoming the VCSEL bandwidth limitations. A whole transported throughput ranging from 34 Gb/s to 25 Gb/s from few hundreds meters to 20 km of SSMF propagation is experimentally demonstrated even by employing a 5-GHz band VCSEL source.

Role of pharmacogenetic in ribavirin outcome prediction and pharmacokinetics in an Italian cohort of HCV-1 and 4 patients.

Ribavirin is phosphorylated by adenosine kinase 1 (AK1) and cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase 2 and it is transported into cells by concentrative nucleoside transporters (CNT) 2/3, coded by SLC28A2/3 genes, and equilibrative nucleoside transporters (ENT) 1/2, coded by SLC29A1/2 genes. We evaluated the association of some polymorphisms of IL28B, SLC28A2/3, SLC29A1, ABCB1, NT5C2, AK1, HNF4α genes and ribavirin treatment outcome and pharmacokinetics after 4weeks of therapy, in a cohort of HCV-1/4 Italian patients. Allelic discrimination was performed by real-time PCR; plasma concentrations were determined at the end of dosing interval (Ctrough) using an HPLC-UV method.

FineSplice, enhanced splice junction detection and quantification: a novel pipeline based on the assessment of diverse RNA-Seq alignment solutions.

Alternative splicing is the main mechanism governing protein diversity. The recent developments in RNA-Seq technology have enabled the study of the global impact and regulation of this biological process. However, the lack of standardized protocols constitutes a major bottleneck in the analysis of alternative splicing.

Analog nonlinear MIMO receiver for optical mode division multiplexing transmission.

The complexity and the power consumption of digital signal processing are crucial issues in optical transmission systems based on mode division multiplexing and coherent multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) processing at the receiver. In this paper the inherent characteristic of spatial separation between fiber modes is exploited, getting a MIMO system where joint demultiplexing and detection is based on spatially separated photodetectors. After photodetection, one has a MIMO system with nonlinear crosstalk between modes.

The alternative heart: impact of alternative splicing in heart disease.

Alternative splicing is the main driver of protein diversity and allows the production of different proteins from each gene in the genome. Changes in exon exclusion, intron retention or the use of alternative splice sites can alter protein structure, localisation, regulation and function. In the heart, alternative splicing of sarcomeric genes, ion channels and cell signalling proteins can lead to cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias and other pathologies.

Gouy phase shift in nondiffracting Bessel beams.

The results of a theoretical and experimental investigation of the Gouy effect in Bessel beams are presented. We point out that the peculiar feature of the Bessel beams of being nondiffracting is related to the accumulation of an extra axial phase shift (i.e.

Adjustable-chirp VCSEL-to-VCSEL injection locking for 10-Gb/s transmission at 1.55 microm.

1.55-microm single-mode VCSEL frequency chirp behavior is investigated in under-threshold and above-threshold operating conditions for different VCSEL-to-VCSEL injection locking configurations with respect to free-running case. We experimentally evaluated the capability of adjusting the frequency chirp, reducing its value and inverting the sign.