132 research outputs found
Information gain versus state disturbance for a single qubit
The trade-off between the information gain and the state disturbance is
derived for quantum operations on a single qubit prepared in a uniformly
distributed pure state. The derivation is valid for a class of measures
quantifying the state disturbance and the information gain which satisfy
certain invariance conditions. This class includes in particular the Shannon
entropy versus the operation fidelity. The central role in the derivation is
played by efficient quantum operations, which leave the system in a pure output
state for any measurement outcome. It is pointed out that the optimality of
efficient quantum operations among those inducing a given operator-valued
measure is related to Davies' characterization of convex invariant functions on
hermitian operators.Comment: 17 pages, LaTeX, osid.sty. Substantially expanded and generalize
Opening dialogue and fostering collaboration: different ways of knowing in fisheries research
We set out to explore some of the impediments which hinder effective communication among fishers, fisheries researchers and managers using detailed ethnographic research amongst commercial handline fishers from two sites- one on the southern Cape coast and the other on the west coast of South Africa. Rather than assuming that the knowledge of fishers and scientists is inherently divergent and incompatible, we discuss an emerging relational approach to working with multiple ways of knowing and suggest that this approach might benefit future collaborative endeavours. Three major themes arising from the ethnographic fieldwork findings are explored: different classifications of species and things; bringing enumerative approaches into dialogue with relational approaches; and the challenge of articulating embodied ways of relating to fish and the sea. Although disconcertments arise when apparently incommensurable approaches are brought into dialogue, we suggest that working with multiple ways of knowing is both productive and indeed necessary in the current South African fisheries research and management contexts. The research findings and discussion on opening dialogue offered in this work suggest a need to rethink contemporary approaches to fisheries research in order to mobilise otherwise stagnant conversations, bringing different ways of knowing into productive conversation
A sequential quadratic penalty method for nonlinear semidefinite programming
2003-2004 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journa
Granular spirals on erodible sand bed submitted to a circular fluid motion
An experimental study of a granular surface submitted to a circular fluid
motion is presented. The appearance of an instability along the sand-water
interface is observed beyond a critical radius . This creates ripples with
a spiral shape on the granular surface. A phase diagram of such patterns is
constructed and discussed as a function of the rotation speed of the
flow and as a function of the height of water above the surface. The study
of as a function of , and parameters is reported.
Thereafter, is shown to depend on the rotation speed according to a power
law. The ripple wavelength is found to decrease when the rotation speed
increases and is proportional to the radial distance . The azimuthal angle
\az of the spiral arms is studied. It is found that \az scales with . This lead to the conclusion that \az depends on the fluid momentum.
Comparison with experiments performed with fluids allows us to state that the
spiral patterns are not the signature of an instability of the boundary layer.Comment: 7 pages, 10 figures, 1 table, using RevTeX4, submitted for
publication (2002
'Thinking like a fish': adaptive strategies for coping with vulnerability and variability emerging from a relational engagement with kob
Based on ethnographic fieldwork amongst a group of commercial handline fishers in the town of Stilbaai in South Africa's southern Cape region, this paper presents a range of flexible, adaptive and evolving strategies through which fishers negotiate constantly shifting variability in weather patterns, fish stocks, fisheries policies, and economic conditions. These variabilities constitute a diverse set of vulnerabilities to which fishers must respond in order to sustain their livelihoods. In this context, the act of 'thinking like a fish' on the part of the fishers provides them with an effective means of adapting to variability and uncertainty. Findings of ethnographic research in 2010-11 suggest that a number of the fishers who participated in the research actively work towards achieving a balance between profit and sustainability. 'Thinking like a fish' is an embodied, interactive way of knowing that emerges from interactions between fishers and fish, offering an ethical and ecological outlook which is a valuable resource for fisheries and conservation management in the region. We suggest that the deeply embodied interactional component of 'thinking like a fish' results from a desire to understand the life world of fish and to think from their perspective in order to more effectively target them while sustaining the species and ecosystem
Reviewing evidence of marine ecosystem change off South Africa
Recent changes have been observed in South African marine ecosystems. The main pressures on these
ecosystems are fishing, climate change, pollution, ocean acidification and mining. The best long-term datasets are
for trends in fishing pressures but there are many gaps, especially for non-commercial species. Fishing pressures
have varied over time, depending on the species being caught. Little information exists for trends in other
anthropogenic pressures. Field observations of environmental variables are limited in time and space. Remotely
sensed satellite data have improved spatial and temporal coverage but the time-series are still too short to
distinguish long-term trends from interannual and decadal variability. There are indications of recent cooling on the
West and South coasts and warming on the East Coast over a period of 20 - 30 years. Oxygen concentrations on the
West Coast have decreased over this period. Observed changes in offshore marine communities include southward
and eastward changes in species distributions, changes in abundance of species, and probable alterations in
foodweb dynamics. Causes of observed changes are difficult to attribute. Full understanding of marine ecosystem
change requires ongoing and effective data collection, management and archiving, and coordination in carrying out
ecosystem research.DHE
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