Are collapse models testable with quantum oscillating systems? The case of neutrinos, kaons, chiral molecules

Collapse models provide a theoretical framework for understanding how classical world emerges from quantum mechanics. Their dynamics preserves (practically) quantum linearity for microscopic systems, while it becomes strongly nonlinear when moving towards macroscopic scale. The conventional approach to test collapse models is to create spatial superpositions of mesoscopic systems and then examine the loss of interference, while environmental noises are engineered carefully. Here we investigate a different approach: We study systems that naturally oscillate --creating quantum superpositions-- and thus represent a natural case-study for testing quantum linearity: neutrinos, neutral mesons, and chiral molecules. We will show how spontaneous collapses affect their oscillatory behavior, and will compare them with environmental decoherence effects. We will show that, contrary to what previously predicted, collapse models cannot be tested with neutrinos. The effect is stronger for neutral mesons, but still beyond experimental reach. Instead, chiral molecules can offer promising candidates for testing collapse models.Comment: accepted by NATURE Scientific Reports, 12 pages, 1 figures, 2 table

Interspecific somatic hybrids between Solanum bulbocastanum and S. tuberosum and their haploidization for potato breeding.

Protoplast fusion between incongruent Solanum bulbocastanum and S. tuberosum haploids was accomplished to produce hybrids combining elite traits from both parents. We identified 11 somatic hybrids out of 42 regenerants analyzed through ISSR markers. Some hybrids had loss or gain of fragments compared to the parents, likely due to rearrangements and deletions of chromosome segments after fusion, and/or to somaclonal variation during hybrid regeneration. Increased heterotic vigor for some traits as well as high diversity was observed as the effect of both ploidy and fusion combination. Microsporogenesis analysis indicated the occurrence of multivalent configurations and several meiotic abnormalities, such as chromosomes bridges and various spindle orientations. Since all hybrids were sterile, in vitro anther culture was employed for haploidization as a possible strategy to overcome barriers to hybridizations. Haploids were obtained from all the tetraploid S. bulbocastanum (+) S. tuberosum somatic hybrids tested, although with differences in both the number of embryos per 100 anthers cultured and the number of differentiated green plantlets. This is the first report on the successful production of haploid plants from S. bulbocastanum (+) S. tuberosum hybrids

Teachers’ Perspectives About Students’ Productive Textual Engagement in Social Studies

Because close reading and critical analysis of multiple sources is central to social studies, understanding teachers’ perspectives about productive textual engagement is imperative. This comparative study explored twelve 5ththrough 11th-grade social studies teachers’ perspectives about supporting students’ textual engagement via think-aloud interviews. Teacher-participants read hypothetical vignettes representing four paradigms of instruction with texts in social studies classrooms. Participants ranked the vignettes, provided reasoning about their value, and reflected on their own practices in relation to the paradigms. Participants placed higher value on fostering students’ historical literacies and civic literacies than on supporting students’ content-area literacies or traditional content acquisition. There were differences between how middle and high school teachers valued specific aspects of each paradigm and how they identified with each paradigm. The findings are discussed in relation to inferences and implications about how teachers interpret messages about productive textual engagement in the reform literature

A large sample study of spin relaxation and magnetometric sensitivity of paraffin-coated Cs vapor cells

We have manufactured more than 250 nominally identical paraffin-coated Cs vapor cells (30 mm diameter bulbs) for multi-channel atomic magnetometer applications. We describe our dedicated cell characterization apparatus. For each cell we have determined the intrinsic longitudinal, \sGamma{01}, and transverse, \sGamma{02}, relaxation rates. Our best cell shows \sGamma{01}/2\pi\approx 0.5 Hz, and \sGamma{02}/2\pi\approx 2 Hz. We find a strong correlation of both relaxation rates which we explain in terms of reservoir and spin exchange relaxation. For each cell we have determined the optimal combination of rf and laser powers which yield the highest sensitivity to magnetic field changes. Out of all produced cells, 90% are found to have magnetometric sensitivities in the range of 9 to 30 fTHz. Noise analysis shows that the magnetometers operated with such cells have a sensitivity close to the fundamental photon shot noise limit

Application of clinical indexes in ulcerative colitis patients in regular follow-up visit. correlation with endoscopic 'mucosal healing' and implication for management

OBJECTIVE: Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon of unknown etiology. Several clinical indexes have been proposed for UC disease activity evaluation, but none have been properly validated. Moreover, the reference parameter for the scores and their prognostic value is not clear. Mucosal healing has been recently proposed as an important end-point. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the correlation of four clinical indexes with objective diagnostic tools for UC evaluation, the discriminative ability in identifying patients with endoscopic mucosal healing, and to analyze the possible prognostic indication for disease course in 1 year of follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed data of 75 patients recorded in regular follow-up visit in IBD clinic at S. Andrea Hospital, Rome, between 2007-2011. We recorded clinical data and lab tests at the time of the visit, and endoscopic/ histological repor ts performed within 1 month. Clinical indexes (Seo' activity index, Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index, partial Mayo score and Endoscopic-Clinical Correlation Index) were calculated and correlation to endoscopic and histologic activity, and to C-reactive protein increment, was assessed by mean of Spearman's rank correlation. Discriminative ability of the indexes for patients with and without endoscopic mucosal healing was tested by calculation of area under ROC curve (AUC). Patients with low and high clinical scores were compared for number of flares and increment of therapy during 1 year of follow-up. RESULTS: Clinical indexes had a good correlation with endoscopic activity (mean r = 0.73 ± 0.06), a fair correlation with CRP-increment (mean r = 0.55 ± 0.01) and a poor one with histologic activity (mean r = 0.35 ± 0.01). The discriminatory ability of the indexes for endoscopic mucosal healing was good for all the indexes (mean AUC = 0.87 ± 0.05). Patients with high clinical score had more flares and required more frequently increase of therapy at 1 year of follow up compared with patients with low score. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical indexes have a good correlation with endoscopic activity and can discriminate patients with and without mucosal healing. Patients with low and high score have different risk of disease flare and of need to increase therapy at 1 year. Clinical indexes may represent a useful tool for disease assessment in clinical practice in UC outpatients with mildmoderate disease

Effects of clinical and laboratory variables and of pretreatment with cardiovascular drugs in acute ischaemic stroke: a retrospective chart review from the GIFA study.

Background: Few studies have examined the role of cardiovascular drugs on acute ischaemic stroke prognosis. Aims: To evaluate the relationship between a favourable outcome in patients with acute ischaemic stroke and specific demographic, clinical and laboratory variables and cardiovascular drug pretreatment. Methods: The 1096 patients enrolled in the GIFA study (who had a main discharge diagnosis of ischaemic stroke) represent the final patient sample used in this analysis. Drugs considered in the analysis included angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, statins, calcium channel blockers, anti-platelet drugs, vitamin K antagonists and heparins. The outcomes analyzed included in-hospital mortality, cognitive function evaluated by the Hodkinson Abbreviated Mental Test (HAMT), and functional status evaluated by activities of daily living (ADL). The definition of a good outcome was no in-hospital mortality, a HAMT score of >= 6 and no ADL impairment. Results: Patients with no in-hospital mortality, a HAMT score of >6 and no ADL impairment were more likely to be younger at baseline and have a lower blood glucose level and a systolic blood pressure (SBP) between 120 and 180 mmHg, a higher plasma total cholesterol level, a lower white blood cell count, and a lower Charlson Index (CI) score, a higher rate of pretreatment with ACE-inhibitors, calcium channel blockers and a lower rate of pretreatment with heparin. Conclusions: Predictors of good outcome, in terms of in-hospital mortality and cognitive and functional performance at discharge, included higher SBP at admission between 120 and 180 mmHg, a SBP plasma total cholesterol levels, a lower CI score, and pretreatment with ACE-inhibitors, calcium channel blockers and anti-platelets. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Are Collapse Models Testable via Flavor Oscillations?

Collapse models predict the spontaneous collapse of the wave function, in order to avoid the emergence of macroscopic superpositions. In their mass-dependent formulation they claim that the collapse of any system's wave function depends on its mass. Neutral K, D, B mesons are oscillating systems that are given by Nature as superposition of different mass eigenstates. Thus they are unique and interesting systems to look at, for analyzing the experimental implications of such models, so far in agreement with all known experiments. In this paper we derive - for the single mesons and bipartite entangled mesons - the effect of the mass-proportional CSL collapse model on the dynamics on neutral mesons, including the relativistic effects. We compare the theoretical prediction with experimental data from different accelerator facilities.Comment: 20 pages, RevTe

Effects of ACE-inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers on inflammation.

The role of inflammation in cardiovascular disease and in hypertensive disease above all, is complex. Several studies confirm that activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), through increase in the production of angiotensin II (Ang II), is closely related to local vascular inflammation. Over the BP lowering effects of anti-hypertensive treatments, several ancillary effects for every class may be found, distinguishing the various drugs from one another. Given the pro-inflammatory effects of Ang II and aldosterone, agents that interfere with the components of RAAS, such as ACE inhibitors, Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs), and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (spironolactone or the more selective eplerenone), represent logical therapeutic tools to reduce vascular inflammation and cardiovascular risk, as suggested in large clinical trials in patients with hypertension and diabetes. Regarding ACE inhibitors, actually there is no convincing evidence indicating that ACEi's reduce plasma levels of major inflammatory markers in hypertension models. Lack of evidence concerns especially these inflammation markers, such as fibrinogen of CRP, which are less closely related to atherosclerotic disease and vascular damage and conversely are affected by several more aspecific factors. Results obtained by trials accomplished using ARBs seem to be more univocal to confirm, although to great extent, these is an anti-inflammatory effect of drugs blocking AT1 receptor. In order to strictly study the effects of blockage of RAAS on inflammation, future studies may explore different strategies by, for example, simultaneously acting on the ACE and the AT1 angiotensin receptors