215 research outputs found
Decoherence and Dissipation for a Quantum System Coupled to a Local Environment
Decoherence and dissipation in quantum systems has been studied extensively
in the context of Quantum Brownian Motion. Effective decoherence in coarse
grained quantum systems has been a central issue in recent efforts by Zurek and
by Hartle and Gell-Mann to address the Quantum Measurement Problem. Although
these models can yield very general classical phenomenology, they are incapable
of reproducing relevant characteristics expected of a local environment on a
quantum system, such as the characteristic dependence of decoherence on
environment spatial correlations. I discuss the characteristics of Quantum
Brownian Motion in a local environment by examining aspects of first
principle calculations and by the construction of phenomenological models.
Effective quantum Langevin equations and master equations are presented in a
variety of representations. Comparisons are made with standard results such as
the Caldeira-Leggett master equation.Comment: 6 Pages (LaTeX), to appear in the Proceedings of the Third
International Workshop on Squeezed States and Uncertainty Relation
Models for local ohmic quantum dissipation
We construct model master equations for local quantum dissipation. The master
equations are in the form of Lindblad generators, with imposed constraints that
the dissipations be strictly linear (i.e. ohmic), isotropic and translationally
invariant. A particular form for is chosen to satisfy the constraints. The
resulting master equations are given in both the Schr\"odinger and Heisenberg
forms. We obtain fluctuation-dissipation relations, and discuss the relaxation
of average kinetic energy to effective thermal equilibrium values. We compare
our results to the Dekker and the Caldeira-Leggett master equations. These
master equations allow a more general approach to quantum dissipation and the
dynamics of quantum coherence to account for the nontrivial system-environment
coupling in a local environment.Comment: 19 pages, REVTEX, PSU/TH/12
Comparison of Francisella tularensis genomes reveals evolutionary events associated with the emergence of human pathogenic strains
.Sequencing of the non-pathogenic Francisella tularensis sub-species novicida U112, and comparison with two pathogenic sub-species, provides insights into the evolution of pathogenicity in these species
Sterol 14α-demethylase mutation leads to amphotericin B resistance in Leishmania mexicana
Amphotericin B has emerged as the therapy of choice for use against the leishmaniases. Administration of the drug in its liposomal formulation as a single injection is being promoted in a campaign to bring the leishmaniases under control. Understanding the risks and mechanisms of resistance is therefore of great importance. Here we select amphotericin B-resistant Leishmania mexicana parasites with relative ease. Metabolomic analysis demonstrated that ergosterol, the sterol known to bind the drug, is prevalent in wild-type cells, but diminished in the resistant line, where alternative sterols become prevalent. This indicates that the resistance phenotype is related to loss of drug binding. Comparing sequences of the parasites’ genomes revealed a plethora of single nucleotide polymorphisms that distinguish wild-type and resistant cells, but only one of these was found to be homozygous and associated with a gene encoding an enzyme in the sterol biosynthetic pathway, sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51). The mutation, N176I, is found outside of the enzyme’s active site, consistent with the fact that the resistant line continues to produce the enzyme’s product. Expression of wild-type sterol 14α-demethylase in the resistant cells caused reversion to drug sensitivity and a restoration of ergosterol synthesis, showing that the mutation is indeed responsible for resistance. The amphotericin B resistant parasites become hypersensitive to pentamidine and also agents that induce oxidative stress. This work reveals the power of combining polyomics approaches, to discover the mechanism underlying drug resistance as well as offering novel insights into the selection of resistance to amphotericin B itself
Investigation of hospital discharge cases and SARS-CoV-2 introduction into Lothian care homes
Background
The first epidemic wave of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Scotland resulted in high case numbers and mortality in care homes. In Lothian, over one-third of care homes reported an outbreak, while there was limited testing of hospital patients discharged to care homes.
Aim
To investigate patients discharged from hospitals as a source of SARS-CoV-2 introduction into care homes during the first epidemic wave.
Methods
A clinical review was performed for all patients discharges from hospitals to care homes from 1st March 2020 to 31st May 2020. Episodes were ruled out based on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test history, clinical assessment at discharge, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data and an infectious period of 14 days. Clinical samples were processed for WGS, and consensus genomes generated were used for analysis using Cluster Investigation and Virus Epidemiological Tool software. Patient timelines were obtained using electronic hospital records.
Findings
In total, 787 patients discharged from hospitals to care homes were identified. Of these, 776 (99%) were ruled out for subsequent introduction of SARS-CoV-2 into care homes. However, for 10 episodes, the results were inconclusive as there was low genomic diversity in consensus genomes or no sequencing data were available. Only one discharge episode had a genomic, time and location link to positive cases during hospital admission, leading to 10 positive cases in their care home.
Conclusion
The majority of patients discharged from hospitals were ruled out for introduction of SARS-CoV-2 into care homes, highlighting the importance of screening all new admissions when faced with a novel emerging virus and no available vaccine
Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in a UK university identifies dynamics of transmission
AbstractUnderstanding SARS-CoV-2 transmission in higher education settings is important to limit spread between students, and into at-risk populations. In this study, we sequenced 482 SARS-CoV-2 isolates from the University of Cambridge from 5 October to 6 December 2020. We perform a detailed phylogenetic comparison with 972 isolates from the surrounding community, complemented with epidemiological and contact tracing data, to determine transmission dynamics. We observe limited viral introductions into the university; the majority of student cases were linked to a single genetic cluster, likely following social gatherings at a venue outside the university. We identify considerable onward transmission associated with student accommodation and courses; this was effectively contained using local infection control measures and following a national lockdown. Transmission clusters were largely segregated within the university or the community. Our study highlights key determinants of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and effective interventions in a higher education setting that will inform public health policy during pandemics.</jats:p
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