Local-dephasing-induced entanglement sudden death in two-component finite-dimensional systems

Entanglement sudden death (ESD), the complete loss of entanglement in finite time, is demonstrated to occur in a class of bipartite states of qu-d-it pairs of any finite dimension d > 2, when prepared in so-called `isotropic states' and subject to multi-local dephasing noise alone. This extends previous results for qubit pairs [T. Yu, J. H. Eberly, Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 140403 (2006)] to all qu-d-it pairs with d > 2.Comment: 8 pages, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Early gray dust formation in the type IIn SN 2005ip

The physical characteristics of dust formed in supernovae is poorly known. In this paper, we investigate the extinction properties of dust formed in the type IIn SN 2005ip. The observed light curves of SN 2005ip all exhibit a sudden drop around 50 days after discovery. This has been attributed to dust formation in the dense circumstellar medium. We modeled the intrinsic light curves in six optical bands, adopting a theoretical model for the luminosity evolution of supernovae interacting with their circumstellar material. From the difference between the observed and intrinsic light curves, we calculated extinction curves as a function of time. The total-to-selective extinction ratio, $R_V$, was determined from the extinction in the B and V bands. The resulting extinction, $A_V$, increases monotonically up to about 1 mag, 150 days after discovery. The inferred $R_V$ value also increases slightly with time, but appears constant in the range 4.5--8, beyond 100 days after discovery. The analysis confirms that dust is likely formed in SN 2005ip, starting about two months after explosion. The high value of $R_V$, that is, gray dust, suggests dust properties different from of the Milky Way. While this result hinges on the assumed theoretical intrinsic light curve evolution, it is encouraging that the fitted light curves are as expected for standard ejecta and circumstellar medium density structures.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&

Genetically Modified Rice Adoption: Implications for Welfare and Poverty Alleviation

The first generation of genetically modified (GM) crop varieties sought to increase farmer profitability through cost reductions or higher yields. The next generation of GM food research is focusing also on breeding for attributes of interest to consumers, beginning with ‘golden rice’, which has been genetically engineered to contain a higher level of vitamin A and thereby boost the health of poor people in developing countries. This paper analyses empirically the potential economic effects of adopting both types of innovation in Asia, including its impact on rice producers and other poor households. It does so using the global economy-wide computable general equilibrium model known as GTAP. The results suggest the very considerable farm productivity gains (even if extended beyond GM rice to include those from adopting other GM grains and oilseeds) could be exceeded by the welfare gains resulting from the potential health-enhancing attributes of golden rice, which would boost the productivity of unskilled workers among Asia’s poor.GMOs, golden rice, consumer preferences, nutritional attributes.

Genetically modified rice adoption : implications for welfare and poverty alleviation

The first generation of genetically modified (GM) crop varieties sought to increase producer profitability through cost reductions or higher yields, while the next generation of GM food research is focusing on breeding for attributes of interest to consumers. Golden Rice, for example, has been genetically engineered to contain a higher level of vitamin A and thereby boost the health of poor people in developing countries. This paper analyzes the potential economic effects of adopting both types of innovation in Asia, including its impact on rice producers and consumers. It does so using the global economy-wide computable general equilibrium model known as GTAP. The results suggest the farm productivity gains could be dwarfed by the welfare gains resulting from the potential health-enhancing attributes of golden rice, which would boost the productivity of unskilled workers among Asia's poor.Agricultural Research,Environmental Economics&Policies,Labor Policies,Crops&Crop Management Systems,Economic Theory&Research,Crops&Crop Management Systems,Environmental Economics&Policies,Agricultural Research,Economic Theory&Research,Drylands&Desertification

Fungicidresistens og resistensdynamikk i Botrytis-populasjoner i Norge

Grey mould, caused by Botrytis spp., causes serious losses in agriculturally and economically important crops worldwide. Growers in Norway have experienced grey mould control problems, and fungicide resistance in the pathogen was suspected. Botrytis is notorious for developing fungicide resistance, and growers’ main control method is application of single-site fungicides which are inherently at risk for resistance development. The aim of this work was to quantify resistance in the grey mould pathogen, identify Botrytis species, and gain a better understanding of resistance dynamics of Botrytis in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa), raspberry (Rubus idaeus), and Norway spruce (Picea abies). Results from in vitro resistance testing revealed high levels of resistance to boscalid, fenhexamid, and pyraclostrobin in Botrytis isolates obtained from strawberry fields in Agder, Norway in 2016. Detection of mutations in the respective target-genes (sdhB, erg27, and cytb) corroborated results from resistance testing. Results also showed mutations leading to the N230I and P225F substitutions in SdhB were present, indicating the genetic potential for resistance to the SDHI fluopyram existed in Botrytis in strawberry field populations before the fungicide was approved for use in Norway. In vitro resistance testing of Botrytis isolates from Norway spruce showed a moderate level of resistance to fenhexamid and high resistance to thiophanatemethyl, both commonly used fungicides for grey mould control in forest nurseries. Detection of mutations in the erg27 and tubA genes largely corroborated these results. Testing of Botrytis from both imported and domestically produced strawberry transplant samples revealed a trend for higher levels of resistance in Botrytis from imported samples, but there were several examples of high resistance from domestic sources as well. Our results confirmed transplants as an important source of fungicide-resistant inoculum in strawberry production. Fungicide-resistant Botrytis was obtained from the air, surfaces, and weeds at forest nursery facilities. Weeds in particular can serve as reservoirs where Botrytis can continue to produce inoculum and infect new rounds of production if not removed. The majority of Botrytis isolates from strawberry, Norway spruce, and forest nursery facilities were Botrytis cinerea. Only a few isolates obtained from strawberry were Botrytis pseudocinerea, a known member of the Botrytis species complex in this host. Botrytis pseudocinerea was also isolated from Norway spruce, which has not previously been documented, and a pathogenicity test confirmed its ability to infect Norway spruce seedlings. Botrytis prunorum was identified for the first time in northern Europe in samples obtained from the air in a forest nursery. Results from an experimental strawberry field gave a strong indication of potential fitness cost associated with fungicide resistance. Monitoring results from commercial raspberry fields, however, detected overall minimal changes in fenhexamid resistance frequencies when growers discontinued use. This was likely due to other fungicides selecting for multiple fungicide resistance genotypes. Multiple fungicide resistance was observed often in resistance testing results in this study and represents a serious threat to the viability of chemical control as an effective grey mould disease control method in the future. The technique of using steam thermotherapy to reduce Botrytis infections in strawberry transplants was effective and has potential applications in other production systems. Cultural and other nonchemical methods will be important for future grey mould control. Examples of strawberry fields where low grey mould problems were reported despite high resistance show control of grey mould is possible.Gråskimmel, forårsaket av sopper innen slekten Botrytis, er kjent for å forårsake betydelige avlingstap i viktige plantekulturer verden over. Dyrkere i Norge har hatt utfordringer med å bekjempe gråskimmel, og det har vært pekt på at fungicidresistens hos patogenet kan være en årsak. Botrytis er kjent for å utvikle resistens mot fungicider. Dyrkere er avhengige av fungicider med god virkning mot soppen. Målet med dette arbeidet var å undersøke resistens hos gråskimmelsoppen, identifisere Botrytis-arter, og utforske resistensdynamikk hos Botrytis i jordbær (Fragaria × ananassa), bringebær (Rubus idaeus), og gran (Picea abies). Resultater fra in vitro resistenstesting viste høye nivåer a resistens mot virkestoffene boskalid, fenheksamid, og pyraklostrobin hos Botrytis i prøver fra jordbærfelt i Agder, Norge, i 2016. Det ble også påvist mutasjoner i mål-genene til virkestoffene (sdhB, erg27, og cytb) som var i samsvar med resultatene fra in vitro testingen. Testene viste også at N230I- og P225-substitusjonene i SdhB proteinet var til stede allerede da, noe som betyr at det genetiske bakgrunnen for resistens mot fluopyram var til stede i feltpopulasjoner i jordbær allerede før dette virkestoffet ble godkjent for bruk i Norge. Et moderat nivå av resistens og høyt nivå av resistens mot henholdsvis fenheksamid og tiofanatmetyl ble påvist hos gråskimmel fra gran. Påvisning av mutasjoner i erg27 og tubA genene var for det meste i samsvar med resistenstestresultater. Testing av gråskimmel fra importerte og norskproduserte småplanteprøver av jordbær viste en tendens til mer resistens i gråskimmel fra importerte prøver, men det var flere eksempler på høy resistens i gråskimmel fra norsk-produserte planter også. Undersøkelsene våre bekrefter at småplanter er en viktig kilde til fungicidresistent smitte i jordbærproduksjon. Det ble også påvist fungicidresistens hos gråskimmel fra luft, overflater, og ugras i planteskoler. Spesielt ugras kan være en vertsplante der Botrytis kan overleve og fortsette å produsere smitte som kan infisere nye hold dersom den ikke blir fjernet. De fleste isolatene fra jordbær, gran, og planteskoler var Botrytis cinerea. Noen få isolater fra jordbær var Botrytis pseudocinerea, som er kjent for å være en del av Botrytis-artskomplekset i jordbær. Botrytis pseudocinerea ble også isolert fra gran, noe som er ikke dokumentert før. I smitteforsøk viste denne soppen evne til å infisere frøplanter av gran. Botrytis prunorum ble identifisert for første gang i Norden, fra luft i en planteskole. Resultater fra et forsøksfelt med jordbær ga en sterk indikasjon at det er mulig «fitness cost» tilknyttet fungicidresistens. Resultater fra overvåkning av kommersielle bringebærfelt, derimot, viste generelt lite endring i resistens mot fenheksamid etter at dyrkerne sluttet å bruke fungicidet. Dette kan trolig knyttes til seleksjon av multiresistente genotyper som følge av bruk av andre fungicider. Multiresistens ble observert ofte i dette arbeidet med testing av resistens, og representerer en trussel mot effektiv bekjemping av gråskimmel ved hjelp av kjemiske midler. Behandling med vanndamp for å redusere Botrytis i småplanter av jordbær hadde god effekt og det finnes muligheter for å anvende denne metoden også i andre produksjonssystemer. Kulturtiltak og andre ikke-kjemiske metoder er viktig for fremtidig bekjempelse av gråskimmel. Eksempler fra jordbærfelt der dyrker rapporterte liten grad av gråskimmelangrep til tross for stor grad av fungicidresistens viser at kontroll av gråskimmel er mulig

Disentanglement and decoherence in two-spin and three-spin systems under dephasing

We compare disentanglement and decoherence rates within two-spin and three-spin entangled systems subjected to all possible combinations of local and collective pure dephasing noise combinations. In all cases, the bipartite entanglement decay rate is found to be greater than or equal to the dephasing-decoherence rates and often significantly greater. This sharpens previous results for two-spin systems [T. Yu and J. H. Eberly Phys. Rev. B 68, 165322 (2003)] and extends them to the three-spin context.Comment: 17 page

The low luminosity behaviour of the 4U 0115+63 Be/X-ray transient

The Be/X-ray transient 4U 0115+63 exhibited a giant, type-II outburst in October 2015. The source did not decay to its quiescent state but settled in a meta-stable plateau state (a factor ~10 brighter than quiescence) in which its luminosity slowly decayed. We used XMM-Newton to observe the system during this phase and we found that its spectrum can be well described using a black-body model with a small emitting radius. This suggests emission from hot spots on the surface, which is confirmed by the detection of pulsations. In addition, we obtained a relatively long (~7.9 ksec) Swift/XRT observation ~35 days after our XMM-Newton one. We found that the source luminosity was significantly higher and, although the spectrum could be fitted with a black-body model the temperature was higher and the emitting radius smaller. Several weeks later the system started a sequence of type-I accretion outbursts. In between those outbursts, the source was marginally detected with a luminosity consistent with its quiescent level. We discuss our results in the context of the three proposed scenarios (accretion down to the magnestospheric boundary, direct accretion onto neutron star magnetic poles or cooling of the neutron star crust) to explain the plateau phase.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA

Leading by Metaphors –A Case Study of a Mega IT Project in a Danish Bank

Contrary to the existing literature and studies of large-scale IT projects, empirical data from a mega IT project in mid-sized Danish Bank, Jyske Bank, demonstrates a successful implementation of a highly complex IT platform transition. Linguistic representations and especially extensive use of metaphors by executive management to form and shape the megaproject appeared to have significant impact on guidance of individual and collective action, and thereby presumably one of the important factors for the successful implementation. To learn from this case study, we investigate the metaphorical use in the megaproject and discuss how leading by metaphors are enacted. Our findings are that (1) metaphorical storytelling can act as backbone for communication, (2) metaphors can set direction for technical capabilities, and finally (3) metaphors can be used to emphasize emotional intelligence

Editorial Foreword: Challenging Academic Participation

This issue contributes to the growing criticisms of and challenges to participatory methods and cultural participation by focusing on ‘academic participation’. By academic participation, we refer to the use of participatory methodologies in academic research, but we also aim to expand the term by including reflections on the modes and conditions of taking part — willingly and unwillingly — in academic systems and institutions as such. The articles of this issue invite the reader to reconsider what and how participation looks like in the academy. Taken together, they suggest that we might need to broaden how we understand, apply and critique participation in academic research: from the participatory methods applied in specific research projects, to how we might foster a more participatory academic system that rejects the current individualization, financialization, and exploitation at play