Quantum correlations in a noisy neutron interferometer

We investigate quantum coherences in the presence of noise by entangling the spin and path degrees of freedom of the output neutron beam from a noisy three-blade perfect crystal neutron interferometer. We find that in the presence of dephasing noise on the path degree of freedom the entanglement of the output state reduces to zero, however the quantum discord remains non-zero for all noise values. Hence even in the presence of strong phase noise non-classical correlations persist between the spin and path of the neutron beam. This indicates that measurements performed on the spin of the neutron beam will induce a disturbance on the path state. We calculate the effect of the spin measurement by observing the changes in the observed contrast of the interferometer for an output beam post-selected on a given spin state. In doing so we demonstrate that these measurements allow us to implement a quantum eraser, and a which-way measurement of the path taken by the neutron through the interferometer. While strong phase noise removes the quantum eraser, the spin-filtered which-way measurement is robust to phase noise. We experimentally demonstrate this disturbance by comparing the contrasts of the output beam with and without spin measurements of three neutron interferometers with varying noise strengths. This demonstrates that even in the presence of noise that suppresses path coherence and spin-path entanglement, a neutron interferometer still exhibits uniquely quantum behaviour.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures. V3 includes expanded theoretical analysis and discussion of post-selected spin measurements in different base

Heat Stroke in Emergency Department: Diagnosis and Management

Background: Heat stroke is a severe health concern with the potential for multi-organ failure, necessitating rapid and effective management. With rising global temperatures, there is increasing concern regarding the vulnerability of populations in high-heat areas, notably in Saudi Arabia, especially during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Objective: This paper aims to review the epidemiology, evaluation and management techniques of heat stroke, emphasizing the situation during Hajj pilgrimages in Saudi Arabia, and to outline the best practices for emergency management. Methodology: A comprehensive review of literature and studies related to heat stroke, both globally and specific to Saudi Arabia, was undertaken. An in-depth analysis of emergency management, including initial assessment, cooling methods, organ support, medication, and prevention strategies, was conducted. Results: Heat stroke remains a significant cause of emergency department visits, with specific groups, such as men and the elderly, being more susceptible. During the Hajj in 2016, 267 patients were diagnosed with heat-related illnesses, with heatstroke accounting for 29% of these cases. With the threat of global warming, studies indicate a potential tenfold increase in heat stroke risk with a 2°C rise in temperatures. Swift and comprehensive cooling is pivotal for recovery. Management emphasizes rapid recognition, assessment, and varied cooling methods, along with targeted treatments for organ dysfunctions. Prevention strategies play a vital role, given the higher efficacy and practicality over treating organ dysfunctions. Conclusion: Heat stroke is a pressing health challenge, particularly in high-risk environments like Saudi Arabia during the Hajj pilgrimage. While effective emergency management protocols exist, an emphasis on prevention is crucial. It is imperative to incorporate a comprehensive approach to address both the immediate threat and long-term risks of heat stroke, especially with the looming challenge of global warming

Mild cognitive impairment among patients with diabetes in Tabuk City, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its relation to glycaemic control

BackgroundThere is an increasing awareness regarding the interaction between diabetes mellitus and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), no researchers have assessed mild cognitive impairment among patients with diabetes in Saudi Arabia.AimsThe current study aimed to assess mild cognitive impairment among patients with diabetes mellitus in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.Methods A case-control study was conducted among 106 patients with diabetes mellitus, and 96 control subjects attending a diabetes center in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia during the period from December 2018 to September 2019. The participants were invited to sign a written informed consent and then interviewed using a questionnaire based on the Montreal Cognitive assessment, demographic data, and cardiovascular risk factors. The ethical committee of the University of Tabuk approved the research and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used for data analysis. A P-value of < 0.05 was considered significant.Results There were 106 patients with diabetes mellitus and 96 control subjects matched for age and sex. MCI was evident in 50.9 per cent of patients with diabetes vs. 8.9 per cent of control subjects with a highly significant statistical difference (P < 001, 95CI, 3.33–33.93), hypertension, overweight/obesity, coronary artery disease, and dyslipidaemia were commoner among patient with diabetes compared to their counterparts. A positive correlation was observed between mild cognitive impairment and hypertension (P < 0.05, Wald, 7.649, 95 per cent CI, 018-.506). No correlation was found between MCI, duration of diabetes, and other cardiovascular risk factors.ConclusionMore than half of patients with diabetes in Tabuk City had MCI and is correlated with hypertension. Raising awareness about the effects of high blood pressure on cognitive function is needed

Insights into interdisciplinary approaches for bioremediation of organic pollutants: innovations, challenges and perspectives

Modern industrialization has originated a tremendous industrial growth. Discharge of industrial effluent is a critical threat to a safe environment. Removal of various pollutants from industrial wastewater is obligatory for controlling environmental pollution. Bioremediation using biotechnological interventions has attracted greater attention among the researchers in the field of control and abatement of environmental pollution. This review is aimed to introduce methods for bioremediation on the removal of organic pollutants from industrial wastewater that have been discussed, and the kinetic models that are related to it have been introduced. In addition, biotechnological interventions on bioremediation of pollutants have been discussed fingerprinting of microbial sp. present at polluted sites. Microbial electrochemical technologies such as a green technology for the removal of pollutants from industrial effluents and simultaneous resource recovery from industrial waste have been discussed to generate up-to-date scientific literature. This review also provides detailed knowledge gaps, challenges and research perspectives related to the topic.(undefined)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

N_LyST: a simple and rapid screening test for Lynch Syndrome

Aims: We sought to use PCR followed by high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis to develop a single closed-tube screening panel to screen for Lynch Syndrome. This comprises tests for microsatellite instability (MSI), MLH1 methylation promoter and BRAF mutation.Methods:For MSI-testing, 5 mononucleotide markers (BAT25, BAT26, BCAT25, MYB, EWSR1) were developed. In addition, primers were designed to interrogate Region C of the MLH1 promoter for methylation (using bisulphite-modified DNA) and to test for mutations in codon 600 of BRAF. Two separate cohorts from Nottingham (n = 99, 46 with MSI, 53 being microsatellite stable (MSS)) and Edinburgh (n=88, 45 MSI, 43 MSS). Results:All the cases (n=187) were blind tested for MSI and all were correctly characterised by our panel. The MLH1 promoter and BRAF were tested only in the Nottingham cohort. Successful blinded analysis was performed on the MLH1 promoter in 97 cases. All MSS cases showed a pattern of non-methylation whilst 41/44 cases with MSI showed full methylation. The three cases with MSI and a non-methylated pattern had aberrations in MSH2 and MSH6 expression. BRAF mutation was detected in 61% of MSI cases and 11% of MSS cases. Finally, 12 cases were blind screened by using the whole panel as a single test. Of these, 5 were identified as MSS, 4 as MSI/non-LS and 3 as MSI/possible LS. These results were concordant with the previous data.Conclusion: We describe the Nottingham Lynch Syndrome Test (N_LyST). This is a quick simple cheap method for screening for Lynch Syndrome

Instantaneous Frequency Estimation Using Stochastic Calculus and Bootstrapping

Stochastic calculus methods are used to estimate the instantaneous frequency of a signal. The frequency is modeled as a polynomial in time. It is assumed that the phase has a Brownian-motion component. Using stochastic calculus, one is able to develop a stochastic differential equation that relates the observations to instantaneous frequency. Pseudo-maximum likelihood estimates are obtained through Girsanov theory and the Radon-Nikodym derivative. Bootstrapping is used to find the bias and the confidence interval of the estimates of the instantaneous frequency. An approximate expression for the Cramér-Rao lower bound is derived. An example is given, and a comparison to existing methods is provided