Entanglement in thermal equilibrium states

We revisist the issue of entanglement of thermal equilibrium states in composite quantum systems. The possible scenarios are exemplified in bipartite qubit/qubit and qubit/qutrit systems.Comment: 4 figure

Gas-graft coverage after DMEK: A clinically validated numeric study

Purpose: We investigate the influence of positioning, gas fill, and anterior chamber size on bubble configuration and graft coverage after Descemet\u2019s membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). Methods: We use a mathematical model to study the bubble shape and graft coverage in eyes of varying anterior chamber depths (ACD). The governing equations are solved numericly using the open source software OpenFOAM. Numeric results are validated clinically so that clinical gas fill measures can be correlated with numeric results providing gas-graft coverage information otherwise clinically inaccessible. Results: In a phakic eye (ACD = 2.65 mm) with a gas fill of 35%, graft contact ranged from 35% to 38% depending on positioning and increased to 85% to 92% with a 70% fill. In contrast, positioning of a pseudophakic eye (ACD = 4.35) with a gas fill of 35% results in graft contact ranging from 8% to 52%, increasing to 63% to 94% with a 70% fill. The mathematical model demonstrates negligible differences between air and SF6 results and interestingly, a very thin central patch of aqueous humor within the gas bubble is found in some cases. Conclusions: Graft coverage in phakic eyes (ACD 64 3 mm) is dominated by the gas fill and less sensitive to patient positioning. In pseudophakic eyes with larger values of ACD, the graft coverage depends on gas fill and patient positioning with positioning even more important as ACD increases. Translational Relevance: Anterior chamber depth markedly influences the role of patient positioning in gas-filled eyes after DMEK due to the interplay between anterior chamber anatomy and gas bubble morphology

Self-adaptive high-frequency injection based sensorless control for interior permanent magnet synchronous motor drives \u2020

Abstract: An auto-tuning and self-adaptation procedure for High Frequency Injection (HFI) based position and speed estimation algorithms in Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (IPMSM) drives is proposed in this paper. Analytical developments show that, using conventional approaches, the dynamics of the high-frequency tracking loop varies with differential inductances, which in turn depend on the machine operating point. On-line estimation and adaptation of the small signal gain of the loop is proposed here, allowing accurate auto-tuning of the sensorless control scheme which does not rely on a priori knowledge of the machine parameters. On-line adaptation of Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) gains and of the injected voltage magnitude is also possible, leading to important advantages from the performance, loss and acoustic point of view. The theoretical basis of the method has been introduced first and the main concept demonstrated by means of simulations. Implementation has been carried out using the hardware of a commercial industrial drive and two Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors, namely a prototype and an off-the-shelf machine. Experimental tests demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposal

Regulation of Marginal Zone B-Cell Differentiation by MicroRNA-146a.

B-cell development in the bone marrow is followed by specification into functional subsets in the spleen, including marginal zone (MZ) B-cells. MZ B-cells are classically characterized by T-independent antigenic responses and require the elaboration of distinct gene expression programs for development. Given their role in gene regulation, it is not surprising that microRNAs are important factors in B-cell development. Recent work demonstrated that deficiency of the NFκB feedback regulator, miR-146a, led to a range of hematopoietic phenotypes, but B-cell phenotypes have not been extensively characterized. Here, we found that miR-146a-deficient mice demonstrate a reduction in MZ B-cells, likely from a developmental block. Utilizing high-throughput sequencing and comparative analysis of developmental stage-specific transcriptomes, we determined that MZ cell differentiation was impaired due to decreases in Notch2 signaling. Our studies reveal miR-146a-dependent B-cell phenotypes and highlight the complex role of miR-146a in the hematopoietic system

Temporal evolution of carbon stocks, fluxes and carbon balance in pedunculate oak chronosequence under close-to-nature forest management

Under current environmental changes, forest management is challenged to foster contrasting benefits from forests, such as continuous wood supply while preserving biomass production, biodiversity conservation, and contribution to climate change mitigation through atmospheric carbon sequestration. Although being found as globally important, estimates of long-term forest C balance are still highly uncertain. In this context, the chronosequence experiments (space-for-time substitution) might fill this gap in even-aged forests, as they represent an approach that enables the assessment of forest net C balance in the long term. In this research, we explored the dynamics of C stocks and fluxes in different forest pools throughout the rotation period (140 years) of a Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) forest in Croatia. For this purpose, we selected a chronosequence that was made up of seven forest stands with different age (5, 13, 38, 53, 68, 108, and 138 years). To address the issues of uncertainty in C balance estimates, we compared net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) estimated while using two different approaches, which we name pool-change (from C stocks) approach and component-flux (from C fluxes) approach. Overall, the pool-change approach showed higher NECB estimate, with the greatest difference being observed in younger stands (<50 years). Component-flux approach showed significantly higher uncertainty. Throughout the rotation period, managed pedunculate oak stands become a C sink early in their development phase, between the age of 13 and 35 years according to pool-change and component-flux approach, respectively. During the 140 years, oak forest provided 187.2 Mg C ha−1 (604 m3 ha−1) through thinnings and 147.9 Mg C ha−1 (477 m3 ha−1) in the final cut, while preserving, on average, 88.9 Mg C ha−1 in mineral soil down to 40 cm, 18.2 Mg C ha−1 in dead wood, and 6.0 Mg C ha−1 in the forest floor. Soil C stocks in our chronosequence did not show any age-related trend, indicating that current management practice has no negative effect on soil C stocks. Finally, under current close-to-nature forest management, Pedunculate oak forest showed to be sustainable in providing both economic and ecological ecosystem services

Short- or long-rest intervals during repeated-sprint training in soccer?

The present study compared the effects of two repeated-sprint training (RST) programs, differing in duration of the between-sprint rest intervals, on various soccer-related exercise performances. For 5 weeks during the competitive season, twenty-nine young trained male soccer players either replaced two of their habitual fitness conditioning sessions with RST characterized by short (5-15; n = 9) or long (5-30; n = 10) rest intervals, or served as control (n = 10). The 5-15 and 5-30 protocols consisted of 6 repetitions of 30-m (~5 s) straight-line sprints interspersed with 15 s or 30 s of passive recovery, respectively. 5-15 improved 200-m sprint time (2.0±1.5%; p<0.05) and had a likely positive impact on 20-m sprint performance, whereas 5-30 lowered the 20-m sprint time (2.7±1.6%; p<0.05) but was only possibly effective for enhancing the 200-m sprint performance. The distance covered during the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 2 increased following 5-15 (11.4±5.0%; p<0.05), which was possibly better than the non-significant 6.5% enhancement observed in 5-30. Improvements in the total time of a repeated-sprint ability test were possibly greater following 5-30 (3.6±0.9%; p<0.05) compared to 5-15 (2.6±1.1%; p<0.05). Both RST interventions led to similar beneficial (p<0.05) reductions in the percentage decrement score (~30%) of the repeated-sprint ability test as well as in blood lactate concentration during submaximal exercise (17-18%). No changes occurred in the control group. In soccer players, RST over a 5-week in-season period is an efficient means to simultaneously develop different components of fitness relevant to match performance, with different benefits induced by shorter compared to longer rest intervals

Analysis of the 5'UTR of HCV genotype 3 grown in vitro in human B cells, T cells, and macrophages

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Previously, we have reported the isolation and molecular characterization of human Hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (HCV-1) from infected patients. We are now reporting an analysis of HCV obtained from patients infected with HCV genotype 3 (HCV-3) as diagnosed by clinical laboratories.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>HCV was cultured <it>in vitro </it>using our system. HCV RNA was isolated from patients' blood and from HCV cultured in various cell types for up to three months. The 5'UTR of these isolates were used for comparisons. Results revealed a number of sequence changes as compared to the serum RNA. The HCV RNA produced efficiently by infected macrophages, B-cells, and T-cells had sequences similar to HCV-1, which suggests that selection of the variants was performed at the level of macrophages. Virus with sequences similar to HCV-1 replicated better in macrophages than HCV having a 5'UTR similar to HCV-3.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although HCV-3 replicates in cell types such as B-cells, T-cells, and macrophages, it may require a different primary cell type for the same purpose. Therefore, in our opinion, HCV-3 does not replicate efficiently in macrophages, and patients infected with HCV-3 may contain a population of HCV-1 in their blood.</p

Elucidating the photosynthetic responses in chlorophyll-deficient soybean (Glycine max, L.) leaf

Chlorophyll (Chl)-deficient plants can potentially increase global surface albedo of mono-cropping systems, and simultaneously maintain a similar photosynthetic efficiency by increasing light canopy penetration and thus lowering investment in pigments. However, some previous studies have shown that pale mutants might reduce productivity in field conditions. Such lower yields were suspected to be due to loss of photosynthetic efficiency at leaf level during light fluctuations as a consequence of reduced capacity and slower relaxation of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of Chl fluorescence. In this paper, we tested this hypothesis by comparing, CO2 assimilation (A), photosystem II (PSII) efficiency (ΦPSII), photochemical quenching and NPQ, electron transport rate (ETR) and fluorescence yield (Fyield) in a green soybean (Glycine max L.) cultivar (Eiko) and in a Chl-deficient (MinnGold) mutant under dynamically fluctuating light conditions. MinnGold had significantly slower induction of ETR and lower A and ETR than Eiko, but there was little difference in ΦPSII between the two genotypes, suggesting that the lower photosynthesis of MinnGold was mainly due to lower light energy absorption by a Chl-deficient leaf. The NPQ capacity was also smaller in MinnGold than in Eiko. As for the kinetics of the rapidly inducible component of NPQ, MinnGold showed slower induction, not relaxation, than Eiko. The combination of the effect of Chl-deficiency on lower photosynthesis, NPQ capacity and slower NPQ induction may explain the lower biomass accumulation of MinnGold in the field. Our physiological observations, combined with fluorescence kinetics, can serve as a basis to parameterize Chl content in modelling radiative transfer and photosynthesis for upscaling measures of plant and ecosystem productivity by a big leaf model