Violation of local realism vs detection efficiency

We put bounds on the minimum detection efficiency necessary to violate local realism in Bell experiments. These bounds depends of simple parameters like the number of measurement settings or the dimensionality of the entangled quantum state. We derive them by constructing explicit local-hidden variable models which reproduce the quantum correlations for sufficiently small detectors efficiency.Comment: 6 pages, revtex. Modifications in the discussion for many parties in section 3, small erros and typos corrected, conclusions unchange

Embedding Quantum Mechanics Into a Broader Noncontextual Theory: A Conciliatory Result

The extended semantic realism (ESR) model embodies the mathematical formalism of standard (Hilbert space) quantum mechanics in a noncontextual framework, reinterpreting quantum probabilities as conditional instead of absolute. We provide here an improved version of this model and show that it predicts that, whenever idealized measurements are performed, a modified Bell-Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (BCHSH) inequality holds if one takes into account all individual systems that are prepared, standard quantum predictions hold if one considers only the individual systems that are detected, and a standard BCHSH inequality holds at a microscopic (purely theoretical) level. These results admit an intuitive explanation in terms of an unconventional kind of unfair sampling and constitute a first example of the unified perspective that can be attained by adopting the ESR model.Comment: 24 pages, standard Latex, Extensively revised versio

Cosmological Creation of D-branes and anti-D-branes

We argue that the early universe may be described by an initial state of space-filling branes and anti-branes. At high temperature this system is stable. At low temperature tachyons appear and lead to a phase transition, dynamics, and the creation of D-branes. These branes are cosmologically produced in a generic fashion by the Kibble mechanism. From an entropic point of view, the formation of lower dimensional branes is preferred and $D3$ brane-worlds are exponentially more likely to form than higher dimensional branes. Virtually any brane configuration can be created from such phase transitions by adjusting the tachyon profile. A lower bound on the number defects produced is: one D-brane per Hubble volume.Comment: 30 pages, 5 eps figures; v2 more references added; v3 section 4 slightly improve

Pharmacovigilance [Pharmacovigilance update].

The main pharmacovigilance updates in 2014 are reviewed. Ivabradine: increased risk of cardiovascular death and myocardial infarction in patients with symptomatic angina treated with high dosages. Clopidogrel: rare observations of acquired hemophilia. Orlistat: may reduce the absorption of HIV antiretrovirals. Ponatinib: increased risk of arteriopathy and thrombosis. Axitinib: significant risk of heart failure (class effect). Tocilizumab: possible causal relationship with the emergence or aggravation of psoriasis. Lithium: hypercalcemia and hyperparathyroidism commonly observed. Sildenalfil: suspected causal association with melanoma, so far not proven, Methylphenidate: rare observations of priapism. St John's wort (Hypericum): reduced effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives, including implants

Clinical Study of Aspirin and Zileuton on Biomarkers of Tobacco-Related Carcinogenesis in Current Smokers

The chemopreventive effect of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on lung cancer risk is supported by epidemiologic and preclinical studies. Zileuton, a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, has additive activity with NSAIDs against tobacco carcinogenesis in preclinical models. We hypothesized that cyclooxygenase plus 5-lipoxygenase inhibition would be more effective than a placebo in modulating the nasal epithelium gene signatures of tobacco exposure and lung cancer. We conducted a randomized, double-blinded study of low-dose aspirin plus zileuton vs. double placebo in current smokers to compare the modulating effects on nasal gene expression and arachidonic acid metabolism. In total, 63 participants took aspirin 81 mg daily plus zileuton (Zyflo CR) 600 mg BID or the placebo for 12 weeks. Nasal brushes from the baseline, end-of-intervention, and one-week post intervention were profiled via microarray. Aspirin plus zilueton had minimal effects on the modulation of the nasal or bronchial gene expression signatures of smoking, lung cancer, and COPD but favorably modulated a bronchial gene expression signature of squamous dysplasia. Aspirin plus zileuton suppressed urinary leukotriene but not prostaglandin E2, suggesting shunting through the cyclooxygenase pathway when combined with 5-lipoxygenase inhibition. Continued investigation of leukotriene inhibitors is needed to confirm these findings, understand the long-term effects on the airway epithelium, and identify the safest, optimally dosed agents. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]