8,301 research outputs found
Dynamics of quantum correlations in colored environments
We address the dynamics of entanglement and quantum discord for two non
interacting qubits initially prepared in a maximally entangled state and then
subjected to a classical colored noise, i.e. coupled with an external
environment characterized by a noise spectrum of the form . More
specifically, we address systems where the Gaussian approximation fails, i.e.
the sole knowledge of the spectrum is not enough to determine the dynamics of
quantum correlations. We thus investigate the dynamics for two different
configurations of the environment: in the first case the noise spectrum is due
to the interaction of each qubit with a single bistable fluctuator with an
undetermined switching rate, whereas in the second case we consider a
collection of classical fluctuators with fixed switching rates. In both cases
we found analytical expressions for the time dependence of entanglement and
quantum discord, which may be also extended to a collection of flcutuators with
random switching rates. The environmental noise is introduced by means of
stochastic time-dependent terms in the Hamiltonian and this allows us to
describe the effects of both separate and common environments. We show that the
non-Gaussian character of the noise may lead to significant effects, e.g.
environments with the same power spectrum, but different configurations, give
raise to opposite behavior for the quantum correlations. In particular,
depending on the characteristics of the environmental noise considered, both
entanglement and discord display either a monotonic decay or the phenomena of
sudden death and revivals. Our results show that the microscopic structure of
environment, besides its noise spectrum, is relevant for the dynamics of
quantum correlations, and may be a valid starting point for the engineering of
non-Gaussian colored environments.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure
Effectiveness of continence promotion for older women via community organisations: A cluster randomised trial
This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 3.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/Objectives: The primary objective of this cluster randomised controlled trial was to compare the effectiveness of the three experimental continence promotion interventions against a control intervention on urinary symptom improvement in older women with untreated incontinence recruited from community organisations. A second objective was to determine whether changes in incontinence-related knowledge and new uptake of risk-modifying behaviours explain these improvements.
Setting: 71 community organisations across the UK.
Participants: 259 women aged 60 years and older with untreated incontinence entered the trial; 88% completed the 3-month follow-up.
Interventions: The three active interventions consisted of a single 60 min group workshop on (1) continence education (20 clusters, 64 women); (2) evidence-based self-management (17 clusters, 70 women); or (3) combined continence education and self-management (17 clusters, 61 women). The control intervention was a single 60 min educational group workshop on memory loss, polypharmacy and osteoporosis (17 clusters, 64 women).
Primary and secondary outcome measures: The primary outcome was self-reported improvement in incontinence 3 months postintervention at the level of the individual. The secondary outcome was change in the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ) from baseline to 3-month follow-up. Changes in incontinence-related knowledge and behaviours were also assessed.
Results: The highest rate of urinary symptom improvement occurred in the combined intervention group (66% vs 11% of the control group, prevalence difference 55%, 95% CI 43% to 67%, intracluster correlation 0). 30% versus 6% of participants reported significant improvement respectively (prevalence difference 23%, 95% CI 10% to 36%, intracluster correlation 0). The number-needed-to-treat was 2 to achieve any improvement in incontinence symptoms, and 5 to attain significant improvement. Compared to controls, participants in the combined intervention reported an adjusted mean 2.05 point (95% CI 0.87 to 3.24) greater improvement on the ICIQ from baseline to 3-month follow-up. Changes in knowledge and self-reported risk-reduction behaviours paralleled rates of improvement in all intervention arms.
Conclusions: Continence education combined with evidence-based self-management improves symptoms of incontinence among untreated older women. Community organisations represent an untapped vector for delivering effective continence promotion interventions.Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Institute on
Aging and the Economic and Social Research Council (UK
Statistical evaluation of the critical distance in the finite life fatigue regime
The procedure to evaluate the critical distance with an optimized V-notched specimen is initially reviewed in the paper. This procedure was devised by the authors, and another numerical methodology was recently proposed to evaluate the uncertainty of the critical distance assessment. The input of the analysis is the combination of the statistical distribution of the fatigue properties from which the critical distance is deduced. After assuming the specimen fatigue strengths as Gaussian (normal) distributions, the critical distance turns out to be well represented by a Skew-normal distribution. This statistical assessment is extended to the finite fatigue life, in the present paper, showing experimental results for the aluminium alloy 7075-T6 at two load ratios. The fatigue strength of other specimens are finally evaluated, reconsidering the critical distance deviation, thus providing a complete uncertainty analysis of the critical distance assessment, and a successful comparison with the experimental scatter is obtained
Combinatorial Hopf algebra of superclass functions of type
We provide a Hopf algebra structure on the space of superclass functions on
the unipotent upper triangular group of type D over a finite field based on a
supercharacter theory constructed by Andr\'e and Neto. Also, we make further
comments with respect to types B and C. Type A was explores by M. Aguiar et. al
(2010), thus this paper is a contribution to understand combinatorially the
supercharacter theory of the other classical Lie types.Comment: Last section modified. Recent development added and correction with
respect to previous version state
Geometry and observables in (2+1)-gravity
We review the geometrical properties of vacuum spacetimes in (2+1)-gravity
with vanishing cosmological constant. We explain how these spacetimes are
characterised as quotients of their universal cover by holonomies. We explain
how this description can be used to clarify the geometrical interpretation of
the fundamental physical variables of the theory, holonomies and Wilson loops.
In particular, we discuss the role of Wilson loop observables as the generators
of the two fundamental transformations that change the geometry of
(2+1)-spacetimes, grafting and earthquake. We explain how these variables can
be determined from realistic measurements by an observer in the spacetime.Comment: Talk given at 2nd School and Workshop on Quantum Gravity and Quantum
Geometry (Corfu, September 13-20 2009); 10 pages, 13 eps figure
Laser-heater assisted plasma channel formation in capillary discharge waveguides
A method of creating plasma channels with controllable depth and transverse
profile for the guiding of short, high power laser pulses for efficient
electron acceleration is proposed. The plasma channel produced by the
hydrogen-filled capillary discharge waveguide is modified by a ns-scale laser
pulse, which heats the electrons near the capillary axis. This interaction
creates a deeper plasma channel within the capillary discharge that evolves on
a ns-time scale, allowing laser beams with smaller spot sizes than would
otherwise be possible in the unmodified capillary discharge.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Spatial structures and dynamics of kinetically constrained models for glasses
Kob and Andersen's simple lattice models for the dynamics of structural
glasses are analyzed. Although the particles have only hard core interactions,
the imposed constraint that they cannot move if surrounded by too many others
causes slow dynamics. On Bethe lattices a dynamical transition to a partially
frozen phase occurs. In finite dimensions there exist rare mobile elements that
destroy the transition. At low vacancy density, , the spacing, ,
between mobile elements diverges exponentially or faster in . Within the
mobile elements, the dynamics is intrinsically cooperative and the
characteristic time scale diverges faster than any power of (although
slower than ). The tagged-particle diffusion coefficient vanishes roughly
as .Comment: 4 pages. Accepted for pub. in Phys. Rev. Let
Photoacoustic detection of circular dichroism in a square array of nano-helices
A novel nano-structured material has been assembled by means of a focused ion beam technique. This artificial material is composed of a square array of nano-helices built upon a multilayered substrate. Optical measurements of circular dichroism of a sample are confirmed by photo-acoustic investigations, which allow to directly study the helix-field interaction apart from the dielectric substrate. The study is consistent with 3D numerical simulations, and demonstrates to be an efficient tool of investigation for the entire class of these novel structured materials
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