93 research outputs found
Measurement master equation
We derive a master equation describing the evolution of a quantum system
subjected to a sequence of observations. These measurements occur randomly at a
given rate and can be of a very general form. As an example, we analyse the
effects of these measurements on the evolution of a two-level atom driven by an
electromagnetic field. For the associated quantum trajectories we find Rabi
oscillations, Zeno-effect type behaviour and random telegraph evolution spawned
by mini quantum jumps as we change the rates and strengths of measurement.Comment: 14 pages and 8 figures, Optics Communications in pres
Noise-reduction in the nondegenerate parametric oscillator with direct detection feedback
A quantum analysis of the above-threshold intensity fluctuations in a nondegenerate parametric oscillator with direct-detection feedback onto the pump amplitude is presented. We derive a master equation for the signal (in-loop) and idler (out-of-loop) modes by adiabatically eliminating the pump mode and incorporating a feedback term, using the Wiseman-Milburn quantum feedback theroy [Phys. Rev. Lett. 70, 548 (1993)]. In the absence of feedback and far above threshold, we find that both beams are 50% intensity squeezed. For small negative (positive) feedback, the intensity fluctuations in the out-of-loop (in-loop) beam are reduced further. For larger values of feedback, the fluctuations grow, the fields eventually becoming unsqueezed
Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in pediatric patients: Uncovering a rural health challenge
BACKGROUND:
METHODS: To investigate factors influencing
RESULTS: Of 251 patients, 69 (27%) were from rural areas; 28 (11%) were initially admitted to an OSH. Treatment failure occurred in 39 (16%) patients. Patients from rural areas were more likely to be infected with methicillin-resistant
CONCLUSIONS: Children from rural areas face barriers to specialized health care. These challenges may contribute to severe illness and worse outcomes among children wit
Know The Star, Know the Planet. IV. A Stellar Companion to the Host star of the Eccentric Exoplanet HD 8673b
HD 8673 hosts a massive exoplanet in a highly eccentric orbit (e=0.723).
Based on two epochs of speckle interferometry a previous publication identified
a candidate stellar companion. We observed HD 8673 multiple times with the 10 m
Keck II telescope, the 5 m Hale telescope, the 3.63 m AEOS telescope and the
1.5m Palomar telescope in a variety of filters with the aim of confirming and
characterizing the stellar companion. We did not detect the candidate
companion, which we now conclude was a false detection, but we did detect a
fainter companion. We collected astrometry and photometry of the companion on
six epochs in a variety of filters. The measured differential photometry
enabled us to determine that the companion is an early M dwarf with a mass
estimate of 0.33-0.45 M?. The companion has a projected separation of 10 AU,
which is one of the smallest projected separations of an exoplanet host binary
system. Based on the limited astrometry collected, we are able to constrain the
orbit of the stellar companion to a semi-major axis of 35{60 AU, an
eccentricity ? 0.5 and an inclination of 75{85?. The stellar companion has
likely strongly in uenced the orbit of the exoplanet and quite possibly
explains its high eccentricity.Comment: Accepted to the Astronomical Journal, 6 Pages, 5 Figure
Elementary gates for quantum computation
We show that a set of gates that consists of all one-bit quantum gates (U(2))
and the two-bit exclusive-or gate (that maps Boolean values to ) is universal in the sense that all unitary operations on
arbitrarily many bits (U()) can be expressed as compositions of these
gates. We investigate the number of the above gates required to implement other
gates, such as generalized Deutsch-Toffoli gates, that apply a specific U(2)
transformation to one input bit if and only if the logical AND of all remaining
input bits is satisfied. These gates play a central role in many proposed
constructions of quantum computational networks. We derive upper and lower
bounds on the exact number of elementary gates required to build up a variety
of two-and three-bit quantum gates, the asymptotic number required for -bit
Deutsch-Toffoli gates, and make some observations about the number required for
arbitrary -bit unitary operations.Comment: 31 pages, plain latex, no separate figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
A. Related information on http://vesta.physics.ucla.edu:7777
Space-QUEST: Experiments with quantum entanglement in space
The European Space Agency (ESA) has supported a range of studies in the field
of quantum physics and quantum information science in space for several years,
and consequently we have submitted the mission proposal Space-QUEST (Quantum
Entanglement for Space Experiments) to the European Life and Physical Sciences
in Space Program. We propose to perform space-to-ground quantum communication
tests from the International Space Station (ISS). We present the proposed
experiments in space as well as the design of a space based quantum
communication payload.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, accepted for the 59th International Astronautical
Congress (IAC) 200
Contrasting drought tolerance strategies in two desert annuals of hybrid origin
Woody plants native to mesic habitats tend to be more vulnerable to drought-induced cavitation than those in xeric habitats. Cavitation resistance in herbaceous plants, however, is rarely studied and whether or not annual plants in arid habitats conform to the trends observed in woody plants is unknown. This question is addressed by comparing the hydraulic properties of annual plants endemic to relatively mesic and seasonally xeric habitats in the Great Basin Desert, in both native and experimental settings. Vulnerability to cavitation between species differed as predicted when vulnerability curves of similar-sized native individuals were compared. Contrary to expectations, Helianthus anomalus from the relatively mesic dune sites, on average, exhibited higher native embolism, lower soil-to-leaf hydraulic conductance (kL) and lower transpiration rates, than its xeric analogue, H. deserticola. In transplant gardens, H. anomalus’ vulnerability to cavitation was unaffected by transplant location or watering treatment. In H. deserticola, however, vulnerability to cavitation varied significantly in response to watering in transplant gardens and varied as a function of stem water potential (Ψstem). H. deserticola largely avoided cavitation through its higher water status and generally more resistant xylem, traits consistent with a short life cycle and typical drought-escape strategy. By contrast, H. anomalus’ higher native embolism is likely to be adaptive by lowering plant conductance and transpiration rate, thus preventing the loss of root-to-soil hydraulic contact in the coarse sand dune soils. For H. anomalus this dehydration avoidance strategy is consistent with its relatively long 3–4 month life cycle and low-competition habitat. We conclude that variance of hydraulic parameters in herbaceous plants is a function of soil moisture heterogeneity and is consistent with the notion that trait plasticity to fine-grained environmental variation can be adaptive
PANC Study (Pancreatitis: A National Cohort Study): national cohort study examining the first 30 days from presentation of acute pancreatitis in the UK
Abstract
Background
Acute pancreatitis is a common, yet complex, emergency surgical presentation. Multiple guidelines exist and management can vary significantly. The aim of this first UK, multicentre, prospective cohort study was to assess the variation in management of acute pancreatitis to guide resource planning and optimize treatment.
Methods
All patients aged greater than or equal to 18 years presenting with acute pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria, from March to April 2021 were eligible for inclusion and followed up for 30 days. Anonymized data were uploaded to a secure electronic database in line with local governance approvals.
Results
A total of 113 hospitals contributed data on 2580 patients, with an equal sex distribution and a mean age of 57 years. The aetiology was gallstones in 50.6 per cent, with idiopathic the next most common (22.4 per cent). In addition to the 7.6 per cent with a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis, 20.1 per cent of patients had a previous episode of acute pancreatitis. One in 20 patients were classed as having severe pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria. The overall mortality rate was 2.3 per cent at 30 days, but rose to one in three in the severe group. Predictors of death included male sex, increased age, and frailty; previous acute pancreatitis and gallstones as aetiologies were protective. Smoking status and body mass index did not affect death.
Conclusion
Most patients presenting with acute pancreatitis have a mild, self-limiting disease. Rates of patients with idiopathic pancreatitis are high. Recurrent attacks of pancreatitis are common, but are likely to have reduced risk of death on subsequent admissions.
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Targeting embryonic transcription factors to affect cancer stem cells and systemic therapy.
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