5,760 research outputs found
Optimal Cloning and Singlet Monogamy
The inability to produce two perfect copies of an unknown state is inherently
linked with the inability to produce maximal entanglement between multiple
spins. Despite this, there is no quantitative link between how much
entanglement can be generated between spins (known as monogamy), and how well
an unknown state can be cloned. This situation is remedied by giving a set of
sufficient conditions such that the optimal Completely Positive map can be
implemented as a teleportation operation into a standard, reference, state. The
case of arbitrary 1 to N asymmetric cloning of d-dimensional spins can then be
solved exactly, yielding the concept of `singlet monogamy'. The utility of this
relation is demonstrated by calculating properties of Heisenberg systems, and
contrasting them with the results from standard monogamy arguments.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure. v2: conjecture upgraded to proof and generalized
to arbitrary local hilbert space dimensions. v3: published versio
Stand-replacing wildfires increase nitrification for decades in southwestern ponderosa pine forests.
Stand-replacing wildfires are a novel disturbance within ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests of the southwestern United States, and they can convert forests to grasslands or shrublands for decades. While most research shows that soil inorganic N pools and fluxes return to pre-fire levels within a few years, we wondered if vegetation conversion (ponderosa pine to bunchgrass) following stand-replacing fires might be accompanied by a long-term shift in N cycling processes. Using a 34-year stand-replacing wildfire chronosequence with paired, adjacent unburned patches, we examined the long-term dynamics of net and gross nitrogen (N) transformations. We hypothesized that N availability in burned patches would become more similar to those in unburned patches over time after fire as these areas become re-vegetated. Burned patches had higher net and gross nitrification rates than unburned patches (P < 0.01 for both), and nitrification accounted for a greater proportion of N mineralization in burned patches for both net (P < 0.01) and gross (P < 0.04) N transformation measurements. However, trends with time-after-fire were not observed for any other variables. Our findings contrast with previous work, which suggested that high nitrification rates are a short-term response to disturbance. Furthermore, high nitrification rates at our site were not simply correlated with the presence of herbaceous vegetation. Instead, we suggest that stand-replacing wildfire triggers a shift in N cycling that is maintained for at least three decades by various factors, including a shift from a woody to an herbaceous ecosystem and the presence of fire-deposited charcoal
Liquid-like behaviour of gold nanowire bridges
A combination of Focused Ion Beam (FIB) and Reactive Ion Etch (RIE) was used to fabricate free standing gold nanowire bridges with radii of 30 nm and below. These were subjected to point loading to failure at their mid-points using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), providing strength and deformation data. The results demonstrate a dimensionally dependent transition from conventional solid metallic properties to liquid-like behaviour including the unexpected reformation of a fractured bridge. The work reveals mechanical and materials properties of nanowires which could have significant impact on nanofabrication processes and nanotechnology devices such as Nano Electro Mechanical Systems (NEMS)
Trends in stratospheric minor constituents
Photochemical models predict that increasing source gas concentrations are also expected to lead to changes in the concentrations of both catalytically active radical species (such as NO2, ClO, and OH) and inactive reservoir species (such as HNO3, HCl, and H2O). For simplicity, we will refer to all these as trace species. Those species that are expected to have increasing concentration levels are investigated. Additionally, the trace species concentration levels are monitored for unexpected changes on the basis of the measure increase in source gases. Carrying out these investigations is difficult due to the limited data base of measurements of stratospheric trace species. In situ measurements are made only infrequently, and there are few satelliteborne measurements, most over a time space insufficient for trend determination. Instead, ground-based measurements of column content must be used for many species, and interpretation is complicated by contributions from the troposphere or mesosphere or both. In this chapter, we examine existing measurements as published or tabulated
A Role for the Vacuolating Cytotoxin, VacA, in Colonization and Helicobacter pylori-Induced Metaplasia in the Stomach
Carriage of Helicobacter pylori strains producing more active (s1/i1) forms of VacA is strongly associated with gas-tric adenocarcinoma. To our knowledge, we are the
first to determine effects of different polymorphic forms of VacA on inflammation and metaplasia in the mouse stomach. Bacteria producing the less active s2/i2 form of VacA colonized mice more efficiently than mutants null for VacA or producing more active forms of it, providing the
first evidence of a positive role for the minimally active s2/i2 toxin. Strains producing more active toxin forms induced more severe and extensive metaplasia and in flammation in the mouse stomach than strains producing weakly active (s2/i2) toxin. We also examined the association in humans, controlling for cag PAI status. In human gastric biopsy specimens, the vacA i1 allele was strongly associated with precancerous intestinal metaplasia, with almost complete absence of intestinal metaplasia in subjects infected with i2-type strains, even in a vacA s1, cagA+ background
Assessing the Privacy Risks of Data Sharing in Genomics
The protection of identity of participants in medical research has traditionally been guaranteed by the maintenance of the confidentiality of health information through mechanisms such as only releasing data in an aggregated form or after identifying variables have been removed. This protection of privacy is regarded as a fundamental principle of research ethics, through which the support of research participants and the public is maintained. Whilst this traditional model was adopted for genetics and genomics research, and was generally considered broadly fit for purpose, we argue that this approach is increasingly untenable in genomics. Privacy risk assessments need to have regard to the whole data environment, not merely the quality of the dataset to be released in isolation. As sources of data proliferate, issues of privacy protection are increasingly problematic in relation to the release of genomic data. However, we conclude that, by paying careful attention to potential pitfalls, scientific funders and researchers can take an important part in attempts to safeguard the public and ensure the continuation of potentially important scientific research
The Formal Dynamism of Categories: Stops vs. Fricatives, Primitivity vs. Simplicity
Minimalist Phonology (MP; Pöchtrager 2006) constructs its theory based on the phonological epistemological principle (Kaye 2001) and exposes the arbitrary nature of standard Government Phonology (sGP) and strict-CV (sCV), particularly with reference to their confusion of melody and structure.
For Pöchtrager, these are crucially different, concluding that place of articulation is melodic (expressed with elements), while manner of articulation is structural. In this model, the heads (xN and xO) can license and incorporate the length of the other into their own interpretation, that is xN influences xO projections as well as its own and vice versa. This dynamism is an aspect of the whole framework and this paper in particular will show that stops and fricatives evidence a plasticity of category and that, although fricatives are simpler in structure, stops are the more primitive of the two.
This will be achieved phonologically through simply unifying the environment of application of the licensing forces within Pöchtrager's otherwise sound onset structure. In doing so, we automatically make several predictions about language acquisition and typology and show how lenition in Qiang (Sino-Tibetan) can be more elegantly explained
Light scattering and phase behavior of Lysozyme-PEG mixtures
Measurements of liquid-liquid phase transition temperatures (cloud points) of
mixtures of a protein (lysozyme) and a polymer, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)
show that the addition of low molecular weight PEG stabilizes the mixture
whereas high molecular weight PEG was destabilizing. We demonstrate that this
behavior is inconsistent with an entropic depletion interaction between
lysozyme and PEG and suggest that an energetic attraction between lysozyme and
PEG is responsible. In order to independently characterize the lysozyme/PEG
interactions, light scattering experiments on the same mixtures were performed
to measure second and third virial coefficients. These measurements indicate
that PEG induces repulsion between lysozyme molecules, contrary to the
depletion prediction. Furthermore, it is shown that third virial terms must be
included in the mixture's free energy in order to qualitatively capture our
cloud point and light scattering data. The light scattering results were
consistent with the cloud point measurements and indicate that attractions do
exist between lysozyme and PEG.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, 1 tabl
Spectroscopic Pulsational Frequency Identification and Mode Determination of Gamma Doradus Star HD135825
We present the mode identification of frequencies found in spectroscopic
observations of the Gamma Doradus star HD135825. Four frequencies were
successfully identified: 1.3150 +/- 0.0003 1/d; 0.2902 +/- 0.0004 1/d; 1.4045
+/- 0.0005 1/d; and 1.8829 +/- 0.0005 1/d. These correspond to (l, m) modes of
(1,1), (2,-2), (4,0) and (1,1) respectively. Additional frequencies were found
but they were below the signal-to-noise limit of the Fourier spectrum and not
suitable for mode identification. The rotational axis inclination and vsini of
the star were determined to be 87 degrees (nearly edge-on) and 39.7 km/s
(moderate for Gamma Doradus stars) respectively. A simultaneous fit of these
four modes to the line profile variations in the data gives a reduced chi
square of 12.7. We confirm, based on the frequencies found, that HD135825 is a
bona fide Gamma Doradus star.Comment: Accepted to MNRAS 2012 March
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