New Phase Transitions in Optimal States for Memory Channels

We investigate the question of optimal input ensembles for memory channels and construct a rather large class of Pauli channels with correlated noise which can be studied analytically with regard to the entanglement of their optimal input ensembles. In a more detailed study of a subclass of these channels, the complete phase diagram of the two-qubit channel, which shows three distinct phases is obtained. While increasing the correlation generally changes the optimal state from separable to maximally entangled states, this is done via an intermediate region where both separable and maximally entangled states are optimal. A more concrete model, based on random rotations of the error operators which mimic the behavior of this subclass of channels is also presented.Comment: 13 pages, Late

Characterization of qutrit channels in terms of their covariance and symmetry properties

We characterize the completely positive trace-preserving maps on qutrits (qutrit channels) according to their covariance and symmetry properties. Both discrete and continuous groups are considered. It is shown how each symmetry group restricts arbitrariness in the parameters of the channel to a very small set. Although the explicit examples are related to qutrit channels, the formalism is sufficiently general to be applied to qudit channels

Transition behavior in the capacity of correlated-noisy channels in arbitrary dimensions

We construct a class of quantum channels in arbitrary dimensions for which entanglement improves the performance of the channel. The channels have correlated noise and when the level of correlation passes a critical value we see a sharp transition in the optimal input states (states which minimize the output entropy) from separable to maximally entangled states. We show that for a subclass of channels with some extra conditions, including the examples which we consider, the states which minimize the output entropy are the ones which maximize the mutual information.Comment: 11 pages, Latex, 4 figures, Accepted for publication in Physical Review

Single unconfined compression of cellular dense collagen scaffolds for cartilage and bone tissue engineering

Cell seeded collagen matrix scaffolds have been extensively evaluated recently as potential systems for de-novo tissue regeneration and repair for a variety of tissue types. While collagen gels are biologically excellent as starting point scaffold materials, their use is limited by the lack of cohesive structure and inherently weak mechanical properties due to a high liquid content (>99%). An ingenious method of combining unconfined plastic compression (PC) with capillary action has shown that these scaffolds can be rapidly processed into tissue like structures, which can be immediately implanted into the host[1]. It has been shown that the rapid increase in fibrillar collagen density dramatically enhanced the mechanical properties of such scaffolds thus potentially eliminating the need for long term cellular action. This simple project investigated the effect of single unconfined compression on cartilage-cell seeded collagen matrices in terms of cell viability, proliferation and oxygen consumption

The matrix product representations for all valence bond states

We introduce a simple representation for irreducible spherical tensor operators of the rotation group of arbitrary integer or half integer rank and use these tensor operators to construct matrix product states corresponding to all the variety of valence-bond states proposed in the Affleck-Kennedy-Lieb-Tasaki (AKLT) construction. These include the fully dimerized states of arbitrary spins, with uniform or alternating patterns of spins, which are ground states of Hamiltonians with nearest and next-nearest neighbor interactions, and the partially dimerized or AKLT/VBS (Valence Bond Solid) states, which are constructed from them by projection. The latter states are translation-invariant ground states of Hamiltonians with nearest-neighbor interactions.Comment: 24 pages, references added, the version which appears in the journa

Antibacterial effect of copper-bearing titanium alloy (Ti-Cu) against Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation (No. 81301329, No. 81271957 and No. 81530051), Joint foundation of Liaoning Province Natural Science Foundation and Shenyang National Laboratory for materials science (No. 2015021004), Youth Innovation Promotion Association, CAS (No. 2014168), and The Dunhill Medical Trust (R360/0514)

Photon losses depending on polarization mixedness

We introduce a quantum channel describing photon losses depending on the degree of polarization mixedness. This can be regarded as a model of quantum channel with correlated errors between discrete and continuous degrees of freedom. We consider classical information over a continuous alphabet encoded on weak coherent states as well as classical information over a discrete alphabet encoded on single photons using dual rail representation. In both cases we study the one-shot capacity of the channel and its behaviour in terms of correlation between losses and polarization mixedness

Necessary and sufficient conditions for local creation of quantum discord

We show that a local channel cannot create quantum discord (QD) for zero QD states of size $d\geq3$ if and only if either it is a completely decohering channel or it is a nontrivial isotropic channel. For the qubit case this propertiy is additionally characteristic to the completely decohering channel or the commutativity-preserving unital channel. In particular, the exact forms of the completely decohering channel and the commutativity-preserving unital qubit channel are proposed. Consequently, our results confirm and improve the conjecture proposed by X. Hu et al. for the case of $d\geq3$ and improve the result proposed by A. Streltsov et al. for the qubit case. Furthermore, it is shown that a local channel nullifies QD in any state if and only if it is a completely decohering channel. Based on our results, some protocols of quantum information processing issues associated with QD, especially for the qubit case, would be experimentally accessible.Comment: 8 page

Implementing Telemedicine in Medical Emergency Response: Concept of Operation for a Regional Telemedicine Hub

A regional telemedicine hub, providing linkage of a telemedicine command center with an extended network of clinical experts in the setting of a natural or intentional disaster, may facilitate future disaster response and improve patient outcomes. However, the health benefits derived from the use of telemedicine in disaster response have not been quantitatively analyzed. In this paper, we present a general model of the application of telemedicine to disaster response and evaluate a concept of operations for a regional telemedicine hub, which would create distributed surge capacity using regional telemedicine networks connecting available healthcare and telemedicine infrastructures to external expertise. Specifically, we investigate (1) the scope of potential use of telemedicine in disaster response; (2) the operational characteristics of a regional telemedicine hub using a new discrete-event simulation model of an earthquake scenario; and (3) the benefit that the affected population may gain from a coordinated regional telemedicine network

O-C Study of 545 Lunar Occultations from 13 Double Stars

International audienceIn this article, we have studied the reports of lunar occultations by this project observation's teams (named APTO) in comparison with other observations of the objects. Thirteen binary stars were selected for this study. All the previous observations of these stars were also collected. Finally, an analysis of O-C of all reports were performed