167 research outputs found

    Espaços Abertos em Instituições para Idosos

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    Resumo: O presente artigo apresenta uma série de discussões a cerca da importância da presença de espaços abertos junto a instituições para idosos, tomando por base os resultados de uma pesquisa de mestrado centrada neste tema e desenvolvida a partir do estudo da realidade vigente no município de Porto Alegre-RS. A referida pesquisa foi desenvolvida, basicamente a partir de dois estudos de campo: o primeiro, um levantamento preliminar onde foram analisadas características físicas dos espaços abertos de uma amostra de 12 instituições; e, o segundo, um estudo de casos comparativo envolvendo duas instituições com diferentes condições de disponibilidade e qualidade de espaços abertos. Os resultados do primeiro estudo demonstraram um panorama predominantemente negativo quanto à presença e qualidade dos espaços abertos disponíveis nas instituições, com espaços demasiadamente restritos, pouco funcionais e esteticamente pouco interessantes. O segundo estudo, por outro lado, demonstrou, entre outros resultados não abordados neste artigo, uma influência da qualidade do pátio sobre a satisfação dos idosos em relação à instituição e sobre o tempo de permanência dos idosos nas áreas externas. Este estudo revelou ainda que, de forma geral, os idosos utilizam muito pouco outros espaços abertos fora da instituição como parques e praças, o que reforça a importância da presença de locais desta natureza junto à instituição. Palavras-chave: Instituições para Idosos. Espaços Abertos. Qualidade de Vida. Abstract: This article presents several aspects related to the importance of outdoor spaces in institutions for the elderly. It is based on the results of a master’s degree research project on this topic, which was developed according to the analysis of the actual situation of institutions in the city of Porto Alegre-RS. Two field studies were the basic sources of data for this research: the first one analyzed the physical characteristics of outdoor spaces in a sample of 12 institutions; the second one was a comparative study including two institutions with different conditions regarding the availability and quality of outdoor spaces. The results of the first study showed an overall negative situation of availability and quality of outdoor spaces in the institutions. The spaces presented restricted availability and functionality and little aesthetic interest. The second study, on the other hand, showed the influence of the quality of outdoor spaces on the satisfaction of the elderly regarding the institution and their length of stay in the outdoor. This study also revealed that elderly people usually do not use the other open areas outside the institution, such as parks and squares, very frequently. This aspect highlights the importance of outdoor spaces in institutions for the elderly. Keywords: Institutions for the Elderly. Open Spaces. Quality of Living

    Entanglement dynamics of three-qubit states in noisy channels

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    We study entanglement dynamics of the three-qubit system which is initially prepared in pure Greenberger-Horne- Zeilinger (GHZ) or W state and transmitted through one of the Pauli channels σz,σx,σy\sigma_z, \, \sigma_x, \, \sigma_y or the depolarizing channel. With the help of the lower bound for three-qubit concurrence we show that the W state preserves more entanglement than the GHZ state in transmission through the Pauli channel σz\sigma_z. For the Pauli channels σx,σy\sigma_x, \, \sigma_y and the depolarizing channel, however, the entanglement of the GHZ state is more resistant against decoherence than the W-type entanglement. We also briefly discuss how the accuracy of the lower bound approximation depends on the rank of the density matrix under consideration.Comment: 2 figures, 32 reference

    Experimental realization of a low-noise heralded single photon source

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    We present a heralded single-photon source with a much lower level of unwanted background photons in the output channel by using the herald photon to control a shutter in the heralded channel. The shutter is implemented using a simple field programable gate array controlled optical switch.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

    Toward Global Quantum Communication: Beam Wandering Preserves Nonclassicality

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    Tap-proof long-distance quantum communication requires a deep understanding of the strong losses in transmission channels. Here we provide a rigorous treatment of the effects of beam wandering, one of the leading disturbances in atmospheric channels, on the quantum properties of light. From first principles we derive the probability distribution of the beam transmissivity, with the aim to completely characterize the quantum state of light. It turns out that beam wandering may preserve nonclassical effects, such as entanglement, quadrature and photon number squeezing, much better than a standard attenuating channel of the same losses.Comment: published versio

    Entanglement distribution and quantum discord

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    Establishing entanglement between distant parties is one of the most important problems of quantum technology, since long-distance entanglement is an essential part of such fundamental tasks as quantum cryptography or quantum teleportation. In this lecture we review basic properties of entanglement and quantum discord, and discuss recent results on entanglement distribution and the role of quantum discord therein. We also review entanglement distribution with separable states, and discuss important problems which still remain open. One such open problem is a possible advantage of indirect entanglement distribution, when compared to direct distribution protocols.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, contribution to "Lectures on general quantum correlations and their applications", edited by Felipe Fanchini, Diogo Soares-Pinto, and Gerardo Adess

    Testing foundations of quantum mechanics with photons

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    The foundational ideas of quantum mechanics continue to give rise to counterintuitive theories and physical effects that are in conflict with a classical description of Nature. Experiments with light at the single photon level have historically been at the forefront of tests of fundamental quantum theory and new developments in photonics engineering continue to enable new experiments. Here we review recent photonic experiments to test two foundational themes in quantum mechanics: wave-particle duality, central to recent complementarity and delayed-choice experiments; and Bell nonlocality where recent theoretical and technological advances have allowed all controversial loopholes to be separately addressed in different photonics experiments.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, published as a Nature Physics Insight review articl

    Can One Trust Quantum Simulators?

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    Various fundamental phenomena of strongly-correlated quantum systems such as high-TcT_c superconductivity, the fractional quantum-Hall effect, and quark confinement are still awaiting a universally accepted explanation. The main obstacle is the computational complexity of solving even the most simplified theoretical models that are designed to capture the relevant quantum correlations of the many-body system of interest. In his seminal 1982 paper [Int. J. Theor. Phys. 21, 467], Richard Feynman suggested that such models might be solved by "simulation" with a new type of computer whose constituent parts are effectively governed by a desired quantum many-body dynamics. Measurements on this engineered machine, now known as a "quantum simulator," would reveal some unknown or difficult to compute properties of a model of interest. We argue that a useful quantum simulator must satisfy four conditions: relevance, controllability, reliability, and efficiency. We review the current state of the art of digital and analog quantum simulators. Whereas so far the majority of the focus, both theoretically and experimentally, has been on controllability of relevant models, we emphasize here the need for a careful analysis of reliability and efficiency in the presence of imperfections. We discuss how disorder and noise can impact these conditions, and illustrate our concerns with novel numerical simulations of a paradigmatic example: a disordered quantum spin chain governed by the Ising model in a transverse magnetic field. We find that disorder can decrease the reliability of an analog quantum simulator of this model, although large errors in local observables are introduced only for strong levels of disorder. We conclude that the answer to the question "Can we trust quantum simulators?" is... to some extent.Comment: 20 pages. Minor changes with respect to version 2 (some additional explanations, added references...

    Cognition and bimanual performance in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: Protocol for a multicentre, cross-sectional study

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    © 2018 The Author(s). Background: Motor outcomes of children with unilateral cerebral palsy are clearly documented and well understood, yet few studies describe the cognitive functioning in this population, and the associations between the two is poorly understood. Using two hands together in daily life involves complex motor and cognitive processes. Impairment in either domain may contribute to difficulties with bimanual performance. Research is yet to derive whether, and how, cognition affects a child's ability to use their two hands to perform bimanual tasks. Methods/Design: This study will use a prospective, cross-sectional multi-centre observational design. Children (aged 6-12 years) with unilateral cerebral palsy will be recruited from one of five Australian treatment centres. We will examine associations between cognition, bimanual performance and brain neuropathology (lesion type and severity) in a sample of 131 children. The primary outcomes are: Motor - the Assisting Hand Assessment; Cognitive - Executive Function; and Brain - lesion location on structural MRI. Secondary data collected will include: Motor - Box and Blocks, ABILHAND- Kids, Sword Test; Cognitive - standard neuropsychological measures of intelligence. We will use generalized linear modelling and structural equation modelling techniques to investigate relationships between bimanual performance, executive function and brain lesion location. Discussion: This large multi-centre study will examine how cognition affects bimanual performance in children with unilateral cerebral palsy. First, it is anticipated that distinct relationships between bimanual performance and cognition (executive function) will be identified. Second, it is anticipated that interrelationships between bimanual performance and cognition will be associated with common underlying neuropathology. Findings have the potential to improve the specificity of existing upper limb interventions by providing more targeted treatments and influence the development of novel methods to improve both cognitive and motor outcomes in children with unilateral cerebral palsy

    Bioinorganic Chemistry of Alzheimer’s Disease

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