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Classical-to-quantum transfer of geometric phase for non-interferometric phase measurement and manipulation of quantum state
No full textThe geometric phase, originating from the cyclic evolution of a state, such as polarization on the Poincaré sphere, is typically measured through interferometric approaches that often include unwanted contributions from the dynamic phase. Here, we present a non-interferometric technique based on quantum correlation of pair photons to measure the geometric phase of a classical beam. The transfer of geometric phase of the classical pump beam arising from the cyclic evolution of its polarization state on the Poincaré sphere onto the polarization-entangled pair photons generated via spontaneous parametric down-conversion in a Sagnac interferometer enables easy control over the quantum state. Characterization of the generated quantum states reveals that the geometric phase of the pump beam controls the coincidence counts, entanglement visibility, Bell's parameter, quantum state tomography, and fidelity in close agreement with theoretical predictions. We observe sinusoidal modulation of the Bell's parameter and state fidelity with changes in the geometric phase, resulting in transitions between orthogonal Bell states and Bell-like maximally entangled states. Our results establish the geometric phase of the classical pump as a tunable parameter for quantum state control, offering a compact, passive platform for phase manipulation in quantum photonic systems, enabling geometric phase-based quantum gates, and compensating unwanted phase acquired by the quantum state on propagation
MYB80 and TEK: Dynamic duo regulating callose wall degradation and pollen exine development
No full textImproved estimates of temperature distributions for design of jointed plain concrete pavements in India and Nepal
No full textLocal weather conditions give rise to temperature distributions within Jointed Plain Concrete Pavements (JPCPs). Previous research has demonstrated that these temperature distributions are non-linear, leading to the development of curling and eigenstresses. In India and Nepal, JPCPs are designed based on the IRC:58 and NCRDG standards, respectively, in which the two countries are divided into a small number of climatic zones that span large geographical areas. Within each zone, a single linear temperature difference is prescribed for design, while eigenstresses are not explicitly considered. This may lead to erroneous designs that overlook local climatic variations within each zone, potentially leading to over- or under-designed sections. In this study, two historical climate datasets–ASOS and ERA5–were examined for predicting temperature distributions in 150–250 mm thick JPCPs. ASOS was found to contain a lot of missing data, which could not be cleaned and ERA5 was found to be more suitable. A pavement temperature prediction program, called ILLI-THERM, was then validated and used to develop temperature distributions for the sections across 24 locations. These distributions were then decomposed into linear temperature differences and eigenstresses. The results indicate that temperature differences exhibit a broad distribution, and eigenstress is significant in all cases. When comparing the 90th percentile distribution values with the codes of practice, it is found that the design standards tend to be overly conservative in most climate zones for both bottom-up and top-down cracking. This can lead to sections being over-designed, leading to increased costs and environmental impacts
Archaeology of Organic Heritage: Living-Deads amongst the Pochury Nagas
No full textThis paper outlines the ritual Nyiehzakhuo kuthou [the hanging of Nyiaza’s basket] of the Pochury Nagas of Anyuwie. This ritual is an annual propitiation of ancestors (living-dead) with food offerings in lieu of fertility, harvest, health, prosperity and good fortune. The combination of the ritual’s carefully crafted paraphernalia and observed taboos highlight the deep connection the Pochury Nagas maintain with their ancestors. This study explores the challenges stemming from the delicate nature of organic heritage, to the degree that indigenous archaeology can preserve not just the ritual but the worldview it represents. The “curious” aspect here is how living-deads, who seem dormant, neglected or insignificant in a community’s history, intersect with the everyday lives of the people
Design and evaluation of recurrent language models and predictive text entry systems for eye typing
No full textA Theory of Gravity in Minkowski Space
No full textAbstract: We propose a theory of gravity in Minkowski space. The basic idea is that the presence of mass affects the world line of particles in flat Minkowski background. Although General Relativity is in complete agreement with observations so far, the theory discussed in this paper can solve some of the conceptual difficulties of GR, such as the energy problem, that is at the core of constructing this theory. We also discuss the cosmic expansion of the present universe and comment on the early universe. Furthermore, we demonstrate how the flatness problem and horizon problem are solved within this framework. As it will become clear, this is a theory of principle and not a theory of construction
Microbial exopolysaccharides as postbiotics: Structure, function, and translational potential
No full textThe approach of leveraging microbial benefits has been redefined, especially in enhancing human health, with a shift from probiotics to postbiotics. Postbiotic compounds have gained significant interest, with microbial exopolysaccharides standing out due to their complex structures, diverse functions, and ability to provide benefits without requiring live microbial cells. High-molecular-weight polysaccharides, known as exopolysaccharides, are produced and secreted by a wide range of microorganisms, particularly lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria. Their roles reach beyond providing structural support; they also influence biofilm formation, modulate the host's immune response, exhibit antioxidant activity, and contribute to antimicrobial defense. This review offers a comprehensive examination of the microbial origins, classification, biosynthetic pathways, and physical and chemical properties of exopolysaccharides. It emphasizes recent advances in extraction, purification, and structural analysis methods, including both traditional and modern techniques. The functional properties of exopolysaccharides, such as immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor effects, are explored in detail along with their underlying mechanisms. The review highlights applications of exopolysaccharides in food technology, pharmaceuticals, and biomedical engineering, demonstrating their versatility as postbiotic biomolecules. Although exopolysaccharides show promising bioactivities, challenges remain in scaling up production and achieving standardization due to strain-specific variability, low yields, and regulatory hurdles. While most existing studies rely on conventional biochemical and structural analyses, the emerging multi-omics, bioinformatics, and AI-driven approaches are discussed to provide predictive and mechanistic insights into EPS structure, function relationships. Exopolysaccharides represent a rapidly evolving area in postbiotic research, underscoring the need for translational research, clinical validation, and industry-driven development to unlock their full potential as next-generation functional polymers
Chirp-Coded Subharmonic Imaging With Volterra Filtering: Histotripsy Bubble Cloud Assessment In Vitro and Ex Vivo
No full textHistotripsy is a noninvasive focused ultrasound therapy that liquifies tissue via bubble activity. Conventional ultrasound imaging is used in current clinical practice to monitor histotripsy. Developing surrogate imaging metrics for successful treatment outcomes remains an unmet clinical need. The goal of this work was twofold. First, we investigated whether histotripsy bubble clouds detected with nonlinear imaging (chirp-coded subharmonic imaging with and without Volterra filtering) could be used to assess the ablation zone in vitro. Second, we evaluated the feasibility of improving bubble cloud contrast with this approach in ex vivo porcine kidney. Histotripsy bubble clouds were generated in red blood cell-doped agarose phantoms and imaged with a curvilinear ultrasound probe. The ablation zone was assessed based on images collected with a digital camera. The relationship between the bubble cloud area and the ablation area was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, F1 score, accuracy, and Matthews correlation coefficient. Histotripsy bubble clouds were also generated in ex vivo porcine tissue and the ability to improve bubble cloud contrast to tissue was evaluated. Implementing chirp-coded subharmonic imaging with the third-order Volterra filter enhanced contrast-to-tissue ratio (CTR) by up to 40.06 ± 0.70 dB relative to standard imaging in vitro. Furthermore, subharmonic imaging combined with Volterra filtering estimated bubble cloud areas that best matched the ablation zone area based on the analysis metrics. Furthermore, ex vivo studies showed CTR improvement of up to 26.95 ± 6.49 dB. Taken together, these findings advance image guidance and monitoring approaches for histotripsy