Positivity in the presence of initial system-environment correlation

The constraints imposed by the initial system-environment correlation can lead to nonpositive Dynamical maps. We find the conditions for positivity and complete positivity of such dynamical maps by using the concept of an assignment map. Any initial system-environment correlations make the assignment map nonpositive, while the positivity of the dynamical map depends on the interplay between the assignment map and the system-environment coupling. We show how this interplay can reveal or hide the nonpositivity of the assignment map. We discuss the role of this interplay in Markovian models.Comment: close to the published version. 5 pages, 1 figur

Quantum discord bounds the amount of distributed entanglement

The ability to distribute quantum entanglement is a prerequisite for many fundamental tests of quantum theory and numerous quantum information protocols. Two distant parties can increase the amount of entanglement between them by means of quantum communication encoded in a carrier that is sent from one party to the other. Intriguingly, entanglement can be increased even when the exchanged carrier is not entangled with the parties. However, in light of the defining property of entanglement stating that it cannot increase under classical communication, the carrier must be quantum. Here we show that, in general, the increase of relative entropy of entanglement between two remote parties is bounded by the amount of non-classical correlations of the carrier with the parties as quantified by the relative entropy of discord. We study implications of this bound, provide new examples of entanglement distribution via unentangled states and put further limits on this phenomenon.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, RevTeX4; Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let

Farmakokinetika eprinomektina u ovaca nakon potkožne primjene.

The pharmacokinetics of eprinomectin was determined in lactating sheep following subcutaneous administration at a dose rate of 0.2 mg kg-1. The eprinomectin concentration in plasma was determined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with a fluorescence detector. The kinetics of plasma concentrations were analysed using the non-compartment model. The maximum plasma concentration of 24.44 ng/mL occurred 2 days post-administration. Following subcutaneous administration of eprinomectin in sheep, the value of plasma elimination half-life, the area under the plasma concentration time curve (AUC) and mean residence time (MRT) were 388.52 ± 0.25 h. 4282.10 ng.h/mL and 374.50 h, respectively. The values of V (area), Vd(ss) and Cl(B) were 20.50 mL/kg, 13.70 mL/kg and 0.04 mL/h/kg, respectively. This study demonstrates that subcutaneous administration of eprinomectin led to higher bioavailability and longer mean residence time with a lower dose than a pour-on application, and that an injectable formulation may be applied in lactating sheep with zero withdrawal period.Farmakokinetika eprinomektina određivana je u ovaca u laktaciji nakon potkožne primjene u dozi od 0,2 mg/kg. Njegova koncentracija u plazmi utvrđena je visoko učinkovitom tekućinskom kromatografijom s fluorescentnim detektorom. Kinetika koncentracija u plazmi analizirana je na osnovi modela bez odjeljaka. Najveća koncentracija u plazmi od 24,44 ng/mL dokazana je dva dana nakon primjene. Poluživot eliminacije iz plazme iznosio je 388,52 ± 0,25 sati, površina ispod krivulje koncentracije u plazmi (AUC) 4282,10 ng/h/mL, a prosječno vrijeme zadržavanja iznosilo je 374,50 sati. Vrijednost prividnog volumena raspodjele, Vd(area), iznosila je 20,50 mL/kg, prosječni vidljivi volumen raspodjele, Vd(ss), 13,70 mL/kg, a ukupni klirens 0,04 mL/sat/kg. Istraživanje je pokazalo da potkožna primjena eprinomektina pruža veću bioraspoloživost, duže vrijeme zadržavanja s manjom dozom u odnosu na veliku te da se injekcijska formulacija može primijeniti u ovaca u laktaciji

Foundations of Quantum Discord

This paper summarizes the basics of the notion of quantum discord and how it relates to other types of correlations in quantum physics. We take the fundamental information theoretic approach and illustrate our exposition with a number of simple examples.Comment: 3 pages, special issue edited by Diogo de Oliveira Soares Pinto et a

Quantum Correlations in Multipartite Quantum Systems

We review some concepts and properties of quantum correlations, in particular multipartite measures, geometric measures and monogamy relations. We also discuss the relation between classical and total correlationsComment: to be published as a chapter of the book "Lectures on general quantum correlations and their applications" edited by F. Fanchini, D. Soares-Pinto, and G. Adesso (Springer, 2017

Work and Quantum Phase Transitions: Is there Quantum Latency?

We study the physics of quantum phase transitions from the perspective of non-equilibrium thermodynamics. For first order quantum phase transitions, we find that the average work done per quench in crossing the critical point is discontinuous. This leads us to introduce the quantum latent work in analogy with the classical latent heat of first order classical phase transitions. For second order quantum phase transitions the irreversible work is closely related to the fidelity susceptibility for weak sudden quenches of the system Hamiltonian. We demonstrate our ideas with numerical simulations of first, second, and infinite order phase transitions in various spin chain models.Comment: accepted in PR

Operational interpretations of quantum discord

Quantum discord quantifies non-classical correlations going beyond the standard classification of quantum states into entangled and unentangled ones. Although it has received considerable attention, it still lacks any precise interpretation in terms of some protocol in which quantum features are relevant. Here we give quantum discord its first operational meaning in terms of entanglement consumption in an extended quantum state merging protocol. We further relate the asymmetry of quantum discord with the performance imbalance in quantum state merging and dense coding.Comment: v4: 5 pages, 1 fig. Refs added, text improved. Main results unchanged. See arXiv:1008.4135v2 for a related work. v5: close to the published versio

Diabetes in pregnancy and infant adiposity: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: Maternal glycaemia and anthropometry-derived newborn adiposity are strongly correlated. The children of mothers with diabetes are at greater risk of adverse metabolic health, and increased adiposity is a plausible mediator. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare adiposity in infants of mothers with (IDM) and without diabetes (NIDM). Design: We identified observational studies reporting adiposity in IDM and NIDM. We searched references, traced forward citations and contacted authors for additional data. We considered all body composition techniques and compared fat mass, fat-free mass, body fat % and skinfold thickness. We used random effects meta-analyses and performed subgroup analyses by maternal diabetes type (type 1, type 2, gestational) and infant sex. We examined the influence of pre-pregnancy BMI and conducted sensitivity analyses. Results: We included data from 35 papers and over 24,000 infants. IDM have greater fat mass than NIDM (mean difference [95% CI]); 83g [49, 117]. Fat mass is greater in infants of mothers with gestational diabetes; 62g [29, 94] and type 1 diabetes; 268g [139, 397]. Insufficient studies reported data for type 2 diabetes separately. Compared with NIDM, fat mass was greater in IDM boys; 87g [30, 145], but not significantly different in IDM girls; 42g [- 33, 116]. There was no attenuation after adjustment for maternal BMI. Conclusions: IDM have significantly greater adiposity in comparison to NIDM. These findings are justification for studies to determine whether measures to reduce infant adiposity will improve later health