On the failure of subadditivity of the Wigner-Yanase entropy

It was recently shown by Hansen that the Wigner-Yanase entropy is, for general states of quantum systems, not subadditive with respect to decomposition into two subsystems, although this property is known to hold for pure states. We investigate the question whether the weaker property of subadditivity for pure states with respect to decomposition into more than two subsystems holds. This property would have interesting applications in quantum chemistry. We show, however, that it does not hold in general, and provide a counterexample.Comment: LaTeX2e, 4 page

Conceptualizations of Mental Health Across Europe: Comparing Psychology with Science and Engineering Students

There is a lack of consensus on the conceptualization of mental health, with models emphasizing negative aspects, positive aspects, or both. The models are mainly theory-based and may not fit in with the population’s opinions. The aim of this ongoing study is to investigate the conceptualizations of mental health in Europe from psychology, science, and engineering students’ perspectives in an explorative way through semi-structured interviews. Their conceptualizations of mental health are investigated qualitatively by thematic analysis to compare seven European countries. Results can be used to improve mental health questionnaires and interventions across Europe by enhancing the fit with students’ conceptualization

Testing one-body density functionals on a solvable model

There are several physically motivated density matrix functionals in the literature, built from the knowledge of the natural orbitals and the occupation numbers of the one-body reduced density matrix. With the help of the equivalent phase-space formalism, we thoroughly test some of the most popular of those functionals on a completely solvable model.Comment: Latex, 16 pages, 4 figure

Emerging therapies for right ventricular dysfunction and failure

Therapeutic options for right ventricular (RV) dysfunction and failure are strongly limited. Right heart failure (RHF) has been mostly addressed in the context of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), where it is not possible to discern pulmonary vascular- and RV-directed effects of therapeutic approaches. In part, opposing pathomechanisms in RV and pulmonary vasculature, i.e., regarding apoptosis, angiogenesis and proliferation, complicate addressing RHF in PAH. Therapy effective for left heart failure is not applicable to RHF, e.g., inhibition of adrenoceptor signaling and of the renin-angiotensin system had no or only limited success. A number of experimental studies employing animal models for PAH or RV dysfunction or failure have identified beneficial effects of novel pharmacological agents, with most promising results obtained with modulators of metabolism and reactive oxygen species or inflammation, respectively. In addition, established PAH agents, in particular phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors and soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators, may directly address RV integrity. Promising results are furthermore derived with microRNA (miRNA) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) blocking or mimetic strategies, which can target microvascular rarefaction, inflammation, metabolism or fibrotic and hypertrophic remodeling in the dysfunctional RV. Likewise, pre-clinical data demonstrate that cell-based therapies using stem or progenitor cells have beneficial effects on the RV, mainly by improving the microvascular system, however clinical success will largely depend on delivery routes. A particular option for PAH is targeted denervation of the pulmonary vasculature, given the sympathetic overdrive in PAH patients. Finally, acute and durable mechanical circulatory support are available for the right heart, which however has been tested mostly in RHF with concomitant left heart disease. Here, we aim to review current pharmacological, RNA- and cell-based therapeutic options and their potential to directly target the RV and to review available data for pulmonary artery denervation and mechanical circulatory support

Atmospheric Degradation of Amines (ADA). Summary report: Photo-oxidation of methylamine, dimethylamine and trimethylamine. CLIMIT project no. 201604.

The atmospheric gas phase photo-oxidation of methylamine (CH3NH2), dimethylamine ((CH3)2NH) and trimethylamine ((CH3)3N) has been studied under pseudo natural conditions at the European Photochemical Reactor, EUPHORE, in Valencia, Spain. Major products in the photo-oxidation were imines (methanimine and N-methyl-methanimine) and amides (formamide, N-methyl formamide and N,N-dimethyl formamide). Total aerosol yields obtained in EUPHORE experiments were between 8 and 14%. Mimicking conditions at Mongstad results in a steady-state nitrosamine concentration of less than 0.6 % of photo-oxidized dimethylamine and less than 1.1 % of photo-oxidized trimethylamine. For rural regions it is predicted that the formation yield of the corresponding nitramine in the atmospheric oxidation of CH3NH2, (CH3)2NH and (CH3)3N is less than 0.4 %, 2.5 % and 5 %, respectively. The major uncertainties in the current understanding of the fate of amines emitted to the atmosphere are related to night-time chemistry, to the chemistry of imines, and to chemistry in the aqueous aerosol