Entropy and Exact Matrix Product Representation of the Laughlin Wave Function

An analytical expression for the von Neumann entropy of the Laughlin wave function is obtained for any possible bipartition between the particles described by this wave function, for filling fraction nu=1. Also, for filling fraction nu=1/m, where m is an odd integer, an upper bound on this entropy is exhibited. These results yield a bound on the smallest possible size of the matrices for an exact representation of the Laughlin ansatz in terms of a matrix product state. An analytical matrix product state representation of this state is proposed in terms of representations of the Clifford algebra. For nu=1, this representation is shown to be asymptotically optimal in the limit of a large number of particles

Self-Monitoring of Blood Pressure in Hypertension: A UK Primary Care Survey

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Self-Monitoring Blood Pressure amongst people with hypertension using a cross-sectional survey. Of the 955 who replied (53%), 293 (31%) reported that they self-monitored blood pressure. Nearly 60% (198/331) self-monitored at least monthly. Diabetic patients monitoring their blood glucose were five times more likely than those not monitoring to monitor their blood pressure. Self-monitoring is less common in the UK than internationally, but is practiced by enough people to warrant greater integration into clinical practice

Racial Differences in the Use of Most Commonly Performed Medical Procedures in the United States

Objective: This study investigates racial disparities in the use of commonly performed medical procedures in U.S. hospitals. Methods: To examine racial disparities, we calculated age-adjusted rate of procedures used by all Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians or Pacific Islanders and Native Americans and calculated corresponding Relative Risks(RRs) of White vs. all other races based on procedure utilizations and insurance types using 20% random sample of Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data between 2001 and2003. Results: Whites were significantly more likely to receive 3 of the study procedures than Blacks, 3 of the procedures than Hispanics, 2 of the procedures than Asians or Pacific Islanders and 4 of the procedures than Native Americans (p\u3c0.05). We also found racial disparities to receive medical procedures based on patients’ insurance status.However, only in a few cases were these differences substantial. Conclusion: Race plays a significantly important role in the use of commonly performed medical procedures in U.S. hospitals

Analysis of a fully packed loop model arising in a magnetic Coulomb phase

The Coulomb phase of spin ice, and indeed the Ic phase of water ice, naturally realise a fully-packed two-colour loop model in three dimensions. We present a detailed analysis of the statistics of these loops, which avoid themselves and other loops of the same colour, and contrast their behaviour to an analogous two-dimensional model. The properties of another extended degree of freedom are also addressed, flux lines of the emergent gauge field of the Coulomb phase, which appear as "Dirac strings" in spin ice. We mention implications of these results for related models, and experiments.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

The impact of work autonomy on job satisfaction of academic staff: an empirical examination of government universities in Sri Lanka

This study intends to examine whether work autonomy impacts academic staff members’ job satisfaction of state universities in Sri Lanka. As the research approach, a quantitative approach was employed. In collecting data, a structured questionnaire was used to collect responses from fifteen government universities in Sri Lanka. The multi-stage stratified random sampling method was applied to select a representative sample; and 423 usable questionnaires deemed appropriate for analysis were selected. The validity and reliability tests indicated that the measurement scales met the acceptable standards. The t-test and One-way ANOVA results indicated that depending on the selected demographic factors, current working status, gender, age, and highest level of education the perception on work autonomy of the academic staff members in state universities in Sri Lanka differs. Nevertheless, it was found that marital status and number of children had no impact on the perception of work autonomy. In terms of the regression analysis conducted, it was found out that the work autonomy was a highly significant factor affecting the academic staff members’ overall job satisfaction of state universities in Sri Lanka. This finding is expected to have significant policy implications

A pragmatic randomised controlled trial of healing therapy in a gastroenterology outpatient setting

Introduction: To determine the benefits of healing therapy (spiritual healing) as an adjunct to conventional management in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods: 200 outpatients with IBS or IBD were randomised to either conventional treatment (control) or conventional plus five sessions of healing therapy (intervention). After 12 weeks controls also had healing therapy. Outcomes used were, the Measure Yourself Medical Outcomes Profile (MYMOP). IBS-QOL, IBDQ, and symptom measures. Results: There was a significant improvement in the MYMOP score at week 6 (p < 0.001) which was maintained to week 12 (p < 0.001) and 24 (p < 0.001). Improvements in MYMOP were significantly greater in the intervention group at both 6 (p < 0.001) and 12 weeks (p < 0.001) with effect sizes of 0.7 (95% CI: 0.4–1.1) and 0.8 (95% CI: 0.4–1.2). Condition-specific data for IBS showed that most QoL dimensions had a significant minimum 10-point score improvement at 6 and 12 weeks. The overall score improvement was 12.9 units at week 6 (p < 0.001), 12.4 units at week 12 (p < 0.001) and 13.8 units at week 24 (p < 0.001). In IBD there was also similar score improvement, but only up to week 12 were there associations of improved social and bowel functions (p < 0.001, respectively). Between group differences were identified for QoL scores in IBS at both week 6 (p < 0.001) and 12 (p < 0.001) but only for week 12 (p < 0.001) in the IBD group. Conclusions: The addition of healing therapy to conventional treatment was associated with improvement in symptoms and QoL in IBS, and to a lesser extent in IBD

Effect of cuscuta reflexa stem and calotropis procera leaf extracts on glucose tolerance in glucose-induced hyperglycemic rats and mice

Cuscuta reflexa (whole plant) and Calotropis procera (leaves) are used in folk medicine of Bangladesh to control blood sugar in patients suffering from diabetes mellitus. The hypoglycemic effects of methanol and chloroform extracts of whole plants of Cuscuta reflexa, and methanol extract of leaves of Calotropis procera were investigated in oral glucose tolerance tests in Long Evans rats and Swiss albino mice, respectively. Both methanol and chloroform extracts of Cuscuta reflexa whole plant demonstrated significant oral hypoglycemic activity in glucose-loaded rats at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight. The methanol extract of leaves of Calotropis procera, when tested at doses of 100 and 250 mg/kg body weight did not demonstrate any oral hypoglycemic effect when tested in glucose-loaded mice.Key words: Cuscuta reflexa, Calotropis procera, hypoglycemic activity, oral glucose tolerance test

Fresnel-Floquet theory of light-induced terahertz reflectivity amplification in Ta₂NiSe₅

We theoretically investigate a new pathway for terahertz parametric amplification, initiated by above-gap optical excitation in the candidate excitonic insulator Ta2NiSe5. We show that after electron photoexcitation, electron-phonon coupling can lead to THz parametric amplification, mediated by squeezed oscillations of the strongly coupled phonon. The developed theory is supported by experimental results on Ta2NiSe5 where photoexcitation with short pulses leads to enhanced terahertz reflectivity. We explain the key mechanism leading to parametric amplification in terms of a simplified Hamiltonian and demonstrate the validity of the simplified model in Ta2NiSe5 using DFT ab-initio calculations. We identify a unique 4.7 THz infrared active phonon that is preferentially coupled to the electronic bandstructure, providing a dominant contribution to the low frequency terahertz amplification. Moreover, we show that the electron-phonon coupling is strongly dependent on the order parameter. Our theory suggests that the pumped Ta2NiSe5 is a gain medium which can be used to create THz amplifiers in THz communication applications