400 research outputs found
Distinguishing genuine entangled two-photon-polarization states from independently generated pairs of entangled photons
A scheme to distinguish entangled two-photon-polarization states (ETP) from
two independent entangled one-photon-polarization states (EOP) is proposed.
Using this scheme, the experimental generation of ETP by parametric
down-conversion is confirmed through the anti-correlations between three
orthogonal two-photon-polarization states. The estimated fraction of ETP among
the correlated photon pairs is 37% in the present experimental setup.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure
Experiences regarding maternal age-specific risks and prenatal testing of women of advanced maternal age in Japan.
The number of pregnant women of advanced maternal age has increased worldwide. Women in this group have an increased chance of fetal abnormality. To explore Japanese women's experiences regarding maternal age-specific risks and prenatal testing, we conducted a descriptive qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 women aged 35 years or over who had given birth within the previous three months to a healthy, term infant. Thematic analysis of transcribed interview data was performed and three major themes were identified: inadequate understanding of genetic risks; insufficiently informed choice regarding prenatal testing; and need for more information from health professionals. Some participants were not aware of maternal age-specific risks to the fetus. Many took their cues from health professionals and did not raise the topic themselves, but would have considered prenatal testing if made aware of the risks. Nurses, midwives and other health professionals need to adequately inform pregnant women about the genetic risks to the fetus and offer testing at an appropriate stage early in the pregnancy
Empirical comparison of high gradient achievement for different metals in DC and pulsed mode
For the SwissFEL project, an advanced high gradient low emittance gun is
under development. Reliable operation with an electric field, preferably above
125 MV/m at a 4 mm gap, in the presence of an UV laser beam, has to be achieved
in a diode configuration in order to minimize the emittance dilution due to
space charge effects. In the first phase, a DC breakdown test stand was used to
test different metals with different preparation methods at voltages up to 100
kV. In addition high gradient stability tests were also carried out over
several days in order to prove reliable spark-free operation with a minimum
dark current. In the second phase, electrodes with selected materials were
installed in the 250 ns FWHM, 500 kV electron gun and tested for high gradient
breakdown and for quantum efficiency using an ultra-violet laser.Comment: 25 pages, 13 figures, 5 tables. Follow up from FEL 2008 conference
(Geyongju Korea 2008) New Title in JVST A (2010) : Vacuum breakdown limit and
quantum efficiency obtained for various technical metals using DC and pulsed
voltage source
Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen-like correlation on a coherent-state basis and inseparability of two-mode Gaussian states
The strange property of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) correlation between
two remote physical systems is a primitive object on the study of quantum
entanglement. In order to understand the entanglement in canonical
continuous-variable systems, a pair of the EPR-like uncertainties is an
essential tool. Here, we consider a normalized pair of the EPR-like
uncertainties and introduce a state-overlap to a classically correlated mixture
of coherent states. The separable condition associated with this state-overlap
determines the strength of the EPR-like correlation on a coherent-state basis
in order that the state is entangled. We show that the coherent-state-based
condition is capable of detecting the class of two-mode Gaussian entangled
states. We also present an experimental measurement scheme for estimation of
the state-overlap by a heterodyne measurement and a photon detection with a
feedforward operation.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures. A part of the materials in Sec. VI B of previous
versions was moved into another paper: Journal of Atomic, Molecular, and
Optical Physics, 2012, 854693 (2012).
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jamop/2012/854693
Density of States of Disordered Two-Dimensional Crystals with Half-Filled Band
A diagrammatic method is applied to study the effects of commensurability in
two-dimensional disordered crystalline metals by using the particle-hole
symmetry with respect to the nesting vector P_0={\pm{\pi}/a, {\pi}/a} for a
half-filled electronic band. The density of electronic states (DoS) is shown to
have nontrivial quantum corrections due to both nesting and elastic impurity
scattering processes, as a result the van Hove singularity is preserved in the
center of the band. However, the energy dependence of the DoS is strongly
changed. A small offset from the middle of the band gives rise to disappearence
of quantum corrections to the DoS .Comment: to be published in Physical Review Letter
Effects of growth rate, size, and light availability on tree survival across life stages: a demographic analysis accounting for missing values and small sample sizes.
The data set supporting the results of this article is available in the Dryad repository, http://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.6f4qs. Moustakas, A. and Evans, M. R. (2015) Effects of
growth rate, size, and light availability on tree survival across life stages: a demographic analysis accounting for missing values.Plant survival is a key factor in forest dynamics and survival probabilities often vary across life stages. Studies specifically aimed at assessing tree survival are unusual and so data initially designed for other purposes often need to be used; such data are more likely to contain errors than data collected for this specific purpose
Hypoglycaemia following upper gastrointestinal surgery: case report and review of the literature
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia is relatively recently recognized in persons undergoing bariatric surgery although knowledge and experience with this condition may not be commensurate with the number of such procedures being performed globally. This paper presents a novel case as an example of how such patients may present and how they may be investigated.</p> <p>Case Presentation</p> <p>A 69-year-old man was assessed 3 months post-fundoplication surgery for postprandial hypoglycaemia with neuroglycopenia that became progressively severe. A 72-h fast failed to show hypoglycaemia. During a clinic visit, the patient became confused and had a low plasma glucose, high plasma insulin, and high plasma C-peptide; symptoms were relieved with glucose. No tumours were visualized on CT, MRI, or endoscopic ultrasound. A total body Indium111-octreotide scan was negative. Selective arterial calcium stimulation showed a high insulin gradient in the splenic and superior mesenteric arteries, suggesting diffuse pancreatic beta cell hyperplasia. The patient declined pancreatic resection and recurrent symptomatic hypoglycaemia was successfully prevented with low dose octreotide.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although increasingly recognized following bariatric surgery, this is the first reported development of NIPHS (non-insulinoma pancreatogenous hypoglycemia syndrome) following fundoplication surgery, as well as the first documented use of octreotide in post-operative NIPHS. Medical management may be an alternative to surgery for patients with this rare condition.</p
Toll-like receptor signaling adapter proteins govern spread of neuropathic pain and recovery following nerve injury in male mice.
BackgroundSpinal Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and signaling intermediaries have been implicated in persistent pain states. We examined the roles of two major TLR signaling pathways and selected TLRs in a mononeuropathic allodynia.MethodsL5 spinal nerve ligation (SNL) was performed in wild type (WT, C57BL/6) male and female mice and in male Tlr2-/-Tlr3-/-, Tlr4-/-, Tlr5-/-, Myd88-/-, Triflps2, Myd88/Triflps2, Tnf-/-, and Ifnar1-/- mice. We also examined L5 ligation in Tlr4-/- female mice. We examined tactile allodynia using von Frey hairs. Iba-1 (microglia) and GFAP (astrocytes) were assessed in spinal cords by immunostaining. Tactile thresholds were analyzed by 1- and 2-way ANOVA and the Bonferroni post hoc test was used.ResultsIn WT male and female mice, SNL lesions resulted in a persistent and robust ipsilateral, tactile allodynia. In males with TLR2, 3, 4, or 5 deficiencies, tactile allodynia was significantly, but incompletely, reversed (approximately 50%) as compared to WT. This effect was not seen in female Tlr4-/- mice. Increases in ipsilateral lumbar Iba-1 and GFAP were seen in mutant and WT mice. Mice deficient in MyD88, or MyD88 and TRIF, showed an approximately 50% reduction in withdrawal thresholds and reduced ipsilateral Iba-1. In contrast, TRIF and interferon receptor null mice developed a profound ipsilateral and contralateral tactile allodynia. In lumbar sections of the spinal cords, we observed a greater increase in Iba-1 immunoreactivity in the TRIF-signaling deficient mice as compared to WT, but no significant increase in GFAP. Removing MyD88 abrogated the contralateral allodynia in the TRIF signaling-deficient mice. Conversely, IFNβ, released downstream to TRIF signaling, administered intrathecally, temporarily reversed the tactile allodynia.ConclusionsThese observations suggest a critical role for the MyD88 pathway in initiating neuropathic pain, but a distinct role for the TRIF pathway and interferon in regulating neuropathic pain phenotypes in male mice
Pain-related sensory innervation in monoiodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis in rat knees that gradually develops neuronal injury in addition to inflammatory pain
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