QOMIC: quantum optimization for motif identification.

Motivation: Network motif identification (MI) problem aims to find topological patterns in biological networks. Identifying disjoint motifs is a computationally challenging problem using classical computers. Quantum computers enable solving high complexity problems which do not scale using classical computers.

QuTIE: quantum optimization for target identification by enzymes.

Summary: Target identification by enzymes (TIE) problem aims to identify the set of enzymes in a given metabolic network, such that their inhibition eliminates a given set of target compounds associated with a disease while incurring minimum damage to the rest of the compounds. This is a NP-hard problem, and thus optimal solutions using classical computers fail to scale to large metabolic networks. In this article, we develop the first quantum optimization solution, called (quantum optimization for target identification by enzymes), to this NP-hard problem.

Synthesis, characterization and third-order nonlinear optical properties of a dodecaruthenium organometallic dendrimer with a zinc(ii) tetraphenylporphyrin core.

A new Zn(ii) porphyrin-based dendrimer (52) containing twelve Ru(ii) alkynyl fragments, has been prepared following a convergent approach in two steps from 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-ethynylphenyl)porphyrinatozinc(ii) (6). The cubic nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of 52 and other derivatives of 6 have been measured by third-harmonic generation (THG) at 1907 nm and by Z-scan over the spectral range 500-1700 nm, revealing the remarkable NLO response of 52 in the near-IR range. These results highlight the beneficial role of the extended "cross fourchée"-like polymetallic structure of 52 on its third-order NLO properties.

Surface area-dependent second harmonic generation from silver nanorods.

The nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of metallic nanoparticles strongly depend on their size and shape. Metallic gold nanorods have already been widely investigated, but other noble metals could also be used for nanorod fabrication towards applications in photonics. Here we report on the synthesis and NLO characterization of silver nanorods (AgNRs) with controllable localized surface plasmon resonance.

High second-order nonlinear response of platinum nanoflowers: the role of surface corrugation.

Platinum nanoflowers (PtNFs) were elaborated using the seed-mediated growth technique applied to monodisperse platinum nanoparticles (∼3.0 nm) synthesized by the chemical reduction method. The X-ray diffraction pattern confirmed the formation of face-centered-cubic platinum nanocrystals.

Optimization of second harmonic generation of gold nanospheres and nanorods in aqueous solution: the dominant role of surface area.

Size and shape of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have a strong influence on their second order nonlinear optical properties. In this work, we propose a systematic investigation of surface and shape effects in the case of small gold nanoparticles. Colloidal solutions on AuNPs with different sizes and shapes have been synthesized, i.

A summary statistic approach to sequence variation in noncoding regions of six schizophrenia-associated gene loci.

In order to explore the role of noncoding variants in the genetics of schizophrenia, we sequenced 27 kb of noncoding DNA from the gene loci RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT1), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), dopamine receptor-3 (DRD3), dystrobrevin binding protein-1 (DTNBP1), neuregulin-1 (NRG1) and regulator of G-protein signaling-4 (RGS4) in 37 schizophrenia patients and 25 healthy controls. To compare the allele frequency spectrum between the two samples, we separately computed Tajima's D-value for each sample. The results showed a smaller Tajima's D-value in the case sample, pointing to an excess of rare variants as compared to the control sample.