Fermionic Quasi-free States and Maps in Information Theory

This paper and the results therein are geared towards building a basic toolbox for calculations in quantum information theory of quasi-free fermionic systems. Various entropy and relative entropy measures are discussed and the calculation of these reduced to evaluating functions on the one-particle component of quasi-free states. The set of quasi-free affine maps on the state space is determined and fully characterized in terms of operations on one-particle subspaces. For a subclass of trace preserving completely positive maps and for their duals, Choi matrices and Jamiolkowski states are discussed.Comment: 19 page

Differences in work environment for staff as an explanation for variation in central line bundle compliance in intensive care units.

BACKGROUND: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are a common and costly quality problem, and their prevention is a national priority. A decade ago, researchers identified an evidence-based bundle of practices that reduce CLABSIs. Compliance with this bundle remains low in many hospitals. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess whether differences in core aspects of work environments-workload, quality of relationships, and prioritization of quality-are associated with variation in maximal CLABSI bundle compliance, that is, compliance 95%-100% of the time in intensive care units (ICUs). METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A cross-sectional study of hospital medical-surgical ICUs in the United States was done. Data on work environment and bundle compliance were obtained from the Prevention of Nosocomial Infections and Cost-Effectiveness Refined Survey completed in 2011 by infection prevention directors, and data on ICU and hospital characteristics were obtained from the National Healthcare Safety Network. Factor and multilevel regression analyses were conducted. FINDINGS: Reasonable workload and prioritization of quality were positively associated with maximal CLABSI bundle compliance. High-quality relationships, although a significant predictor when evaluated apart from workload and prioritization of quality, had no significant effect after accounting for these two factors. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Aspects of the staff work environment are associated with maximal CLABSI bundle compliance in ICUs. Our results suggest that hospitals can foster improvement in ensuring maximal CLABSI bundle compliance-a crucial precursor to reducing CLABSI infection rates-by establishing reasonable workloads and prioritizing quality

Social Justice Adult EducationComparative Perspectives from Poland and the United States

This paper examines and compares how social justice adult education currently is situated within two nation statesPoland and United States. Vocabulary, conceptual frameworks, and several themes are compared. The discussion broadens our understanding of how social justice education is positioned within two, complex socio-cultural contexts and suggests implications for practice

Oxidation processes of Longissimus dorsi from pigs supplemented with linseed oil and antioxidants

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of pig fodder supplementation on lipid oxidation of Longissimus dorsi (L. dorsi ) after frozen storage at -20 °C ± 1 °C for nine months. Fodder additives included 3% linseed oil (L1) or 3% linseed oil and antioxidants containing 100 mg vitamin E/kg and 1 mg organic selenium/kg (L2). The oxidation processes were evaluated by measuring thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and analyses of a profile of volatile organic compounds (VOC). The VOC were determined using an electronic nose based on ultra-fast gas chromatography. The level of TBARS for diets was 1.88 ± 0.52 to 2.30 ± 1.10 mg malondialdehyde/kg of meat. The results indicated that the diet of pigs from L1 and L2 groups had no impact on the TBARS value of L. dorsi pork frozen for nine months. On the other hand, aldehydes, which are regarded as compounds characteristic of oxidation processes, were identified in all samples. Volatile aldehydes contributed approximately 10%, 12%, and 15% of total detected volatiles for L2, L1, and the control group, respectively. Moreover, the data showed that propanal and benzeneacetaldehyde were at the same level, regardless of the animal’s diet, which is in accordance with the TBARS level. These volatile aldehydes resulted from the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and may be considered indicators of lipid oxidation for meat enriched with PUFAs. The results show that supplementation of the pigs’ diet with linseed oil (L1 group), which is a source of PUFAs, is recommended for meat intended for long-term freezing storage. However, supplementation with antioxidants is unnecessary, because it has no effect on lipid oxidation of L. dorsi pork after long-term freezing storage.Keywords: Animal’s diet, frozen storage, lipid oxidation, volatile organic compound

Quality Traits of Meat from Young Limousin, Charolais and Hereford Bulls

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of beef cattle breed and muscle type on the proximate chemical composition and quality traits of meat, including processing suitability. The experimental materials comprised samples of musculus longissimus dorsi (LD muscle) and musculus semitendinosus (ST muscle) collected from the carcasses of young Limousin, Charolais and Hereford bulls. The chemical composition, texture, hydration and color parameters of LD and ST muscles were determined. Meat from Limousin and Charolais bulls, characterized by higher body mass at slaughter contained more protein than meat from Hereford bulls. Meat from Hereford bulls had a higher fat content, compared with the other two breeds. Texture parameters, including hardness, gumminess and chewiness, varied depending on muscle type and cattle breed. An analysis of the maximum shear force values showed that the mechanical properties of beef also varied depending on cattle breed and muscle type

Linear dynamical entropy and free-independence for quantized maps on the torus

We study the relations between the averaged linear entropy production in periodically measured quantum systems and ergodic properties of their classical counterparts. Quantized linear automorphisms of the torus, both classically chaotic and regular ones, are used as examples. Numerical calculations show different entropy production regimes depending on the relation between the Kolmogorov-Sinai entropy and the measurement entropy. The hypothesis of free independence relations between the dynamics and measurement proposed to explain the initial constant and maximal entropy production is tested numerically for those models.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Optimization of the cosmetic appearance of skin scar after caesarean section — part I: obstetric practice

Caesarean section (CS) is a surgical way of child delivery by cutting the abdomen and uterus. Although compared to natural childbirth, it carries a greater risk of complications, the percentage of performed cuts is still increasing. The consequence of this procedure is the surgical skin scar. The appearance of this scar depends on many factors, including appropriate pre- and intraoperative procedure, operator skills and experience. The aim of the work is to present actions aimed at increasing the aesthetics of the skin scar after CS including pre-, intra- and postoperative procedures

Carcass characteristics and meat quality of Holstein-Friesian × Hereford cattle of different sex categories and slaughter ages

When dairy cattle production predominates, the quantity and quality of beef can be increased through commercial crossing of beef bulls with dairy cows and creating herds for the purpose of beef production. This experiment was conducted to compare carcass traits in young bulls and steers, produced by crossing Holstein-Friesian (HF) cows with Hereford (HH) bulls and slaughtered at 15 and 18 months of age. One half of 32 young bulls were castrated at 2 or 3 weeks of age. Starting at 7 months of age, they received grass silage supplemented with concentrates. At the end of the fattening period, the animals were slaughtered, carcass quality and the quality of meat from m. longissimus thoracis were evaluated. It was found that unlike steers, bulls can be slaughtered at a later age because their carcass traits improved over time and carcass fat content increased only insignificantly. Meat from steers had higher intramuscular fat content (1.20 and 2.35 % in bulls and steers slaughtered at 15 months of age, respectively; 1.89 and 3.79 % in bulls and steers slaughtered at 18 months of age, respectively), it was tenderer and juicier than meat from bulls, and its sensory quality improved with age. The intramuscular fat (IMF) of steers was characterized by a more desirable n-6 ∕ n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio, whereas the IMF of bulls had higher concentrations of conjugated linoleic acid and n-3 PUFAs. Beef from steers is a good choice for consumers who appreciate high-quality meat. The results of this study may encourage producers to raise steers for beef

Quantum Generalized Subsystems

We propose a new formalism of quantum subsystems which allows to unify the existing and new methods of reduced description of quantum systems. The main mathematical ingredients are completely positive maps and correlation functions. In this formalism generalized quantum systems can be composed and there is a notion of generalized entanglement. Models of fermionic and bosonic systems and also quantum systems described by the SU(2) symmetry are studied.Comment: 21 page

Genetic polymorphism of the iron-regulatory protein-1 and -2 genes in age-related macular degeneration

Iron can be involved in the pathogenesis of AMD through the oxidative stress because it may catalyze the Haber–Weiss and Fenton reactions converting hydrogen peroxide to free radicals, which can induce cellular damage. We hypothesized that genetic polymorphism in genes related to iron metabolism may predispose individuals to the development of AMD and therefore we checked for an association between the g.32373708 G>A polymorphism (rs867469) of the IRP1 gene and the g.49520870 G>A (rs17483548) polymorphism of the IRP2 gene and AMD risk as well as the modulation of this association by some environmental and life-style factors. Genotypes were determined in DNA from blood of 269 AMD patients and 116 controls by the allele-specific oligonucleotide-restriction fragment length polymorphism and the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. An association between AMD, dry and wet forms of AMD and the G/G genotype of the g.32373708 G>A-IRP1 polymorphism was found (OR 3.40, 4.15, and 2.75). On the other hand, the G/A genotype reduced the risk of AMD as well as its dry or wet form (OR 0.23, 0.21, 0.26). Moreover, the G allele of the g.49520870 G>A-IRP2 polymorphism increased the risk of the dry form of the disease (OR 1.51) and the A/A genotype and the A allele decreased such risk (OR 0.43 and 0.66). Our data suggest that the g.32373708 G>A-IRP1 and g.49520870 G>A-IRP2 polymorphisms may be associated with increased risk for AMD