479 research outputs found
Quantum key distribution with finite resources: Taking advantage of quantum noise
We compare the effect of different noise scenarios on the achievable rate of
an epsilon-secure key for the BB84 and the six-state protocol. We study the
situation where quantum noise is added deliberately, and investigate the
remarkable benefit for the finite key rate. We compare our results to the known
case of added classical noise and the asymptotic key rate, i.e. in the limit of
infinitely many signals. As a complementary interpretation we show that under
the realistic assumption that the noise which is unavoidably introduced by a
real channel is not fully dedicated to the eavesdropper, the secret key rate
increases significantly.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figure
Quantum Sign Permutation Polytopes
Convex polytopes are convex hulls of point sets in the -dimensional space
\E^n that generalize 2-dimensional convex polygons and 3-dimensional convex
polyhedra. We concentrate on the class of -dimensional polytopes in \E^n
called sign permutation polytopes. We characterize sign permutation polytopes
before relating their construction to constructions over the space of quantum
density matrices. Finally, we consider the problem of state identification and
show how sign permutation polytopes may be useful in addressing issues of
robustness
Re-signification of the human in the context of the "ciborgzation": a look at the human being-machine relationship in intensive care
Se discuten relaciones humano-máquina del proceso denominado 'ciborguizaciĂłn de la enfermera' en la terapia intensiva, con base en los Estudios Culturales post-estructuralistas, destacándose el concepto de ciborgue de Haraway. Se examinan, como textos culturales, manuales utilizados por la enfermerĂa en las UCIs. Este análisis cultural procura tensionar sentidos de 'humano y máquina', con el objetivo de reconocer procesos que instituyen enfermeras como ciborgues. Se argumenta que las enfermeras intensivistas son insertadas en un proceso de corporificaciĂłn de tecnologĂa que transforma el cuerpo-profesional en un hĂbrido que permite descalificar, conco-mitantemente, nociones como máquina y cuerpo 'en sĂ' ya que es una hibridizaciĂłn entre 'uno y otro' que cuenta, allĂ. Como ciborgues, las enfermeras intensivistas aprenden a 'estar con' la máquina y esa conexiĂłn delimita la especificidad de sus acciones. Se sugiere que procesos de ciborguizaciĂłn como Ă©se son productivos para cuestionar - y lidiar de otros modos con los sentidos de 'humano' y 'humanidad' que sustentan gran parte del saber/hacer en salud.Discutem-se relações humano-máquina do processo denominado 'ciborguização da enfermeira' na terapia intensiva, com base nos Estudos Culturais pĂłs-estruturalistas, destacando-se o conceito de ciborgue de Haraway. Examinam-se, como textos culturais, manuais utilizados pela enfermagem nas UTI. Esta análise cultural procura tensionar sentidos de 'humano e máquina', com o objetivo de reconhecer processos que instituem enfermeiras como ciborgues. Argumenta-se que enfermeiras intensivistas sĂŁo inseridas em um processo de corporificação de tecnologia que transforma o corpo-profissional em um hĂbrido que permite desqualificar, concomitantemente, noções como máquina e corpo 'em si já que Ă© a hibridização entre 'um e outro' que conta, ali. Como ciborgues, enfermeiras intensivistas aprendem a 'estar com' a máquina e essa conexĂŁo delimita a especificidade de suas ações. Sugere-se que processos de ciborguização como esse sĂŁo produtivos para questionar - e lidar de outros modos com - os sentidos de 'humano' e 'humanidade' que sustentam grande parte do saber/fazer em saĂşde.This study discusses the human being-machine relationship in the process called "cyborgzation" of the nurse who works in intensive care, based on post-structuralist Cultural Studies and highlighting Haraway's concept of cyborg. In it, manuals used by nurses in Intensive Care Units have been examined as cultural texts. This cultural analysis tries to decode the various senses of "human" and "machine", with the aim of recognizing processes that turn nurses into cyborgs. The argument is that intensive care nur-ses fall into a process of "technology embodiment" that turns the body-professional into a hybrid that makes possible to disqualify, at the same time, notions such as machine and body "proper", since it is the hybridization between one and the other that counts there. Like cyborgs, intensive care nurses learn to "be with" the machine, and this connection limits the specificity of their actions. It is suggested that processes of "cyborgzation" such as this are useful for questioning - and to deal with in different ways - the senses of "human" and "humanity" that support a major part of knowledge/action in health
Educational intervention reduced family medicine residents’ intention to request diagnostic tests: results of a controlled trial
Re-significações de Vida e de Morte: delimitando modos de educar
Neste artigo discutimos a dimensĂŁo educativa de um processo que denominamos de "ciborguização da enfermeira" a partir da análise do deslocamento das fronteiras entre vida e morte na contemporaneidade. Com base nos Estudos Culturais e em autores como Michel Foucault e Donna Haraway, examinamos manuais e protocolos assistenciais que dĂŁo sustentação ao trabalho que as enfermeiras desenvolvem em terapia intensiva, para demonstrar que as práticas discursivas fazem mais do que simplesmente designar e descrever o "real": elas criam e legitimam o que passa a ser reconhecido como sendo "a realidade". O exercĂcio da análise permitiu problematizar a fragmentação do sujeito, a hibridização corpo-máquina no contexto da terapia intensiva e o deslocamento das fronteiras entre viver e morrer. Com essa análise procuramos argumentar que as lições de tecnologia no contexto de saĂşde, e a maneira como estas tĂŞm sido tratadas pelas/o estudiosas/os da área do intensivismo, contrastam com o consumo e a conversĂŁo desses/as profissionais em hĂbridos humanos-máquinas - ciborgues
The effect of a high-grain diet on the rumen microbiome of goats with a special focus on anaerobic fungi
This work investigated the changes of the rumen microbiome of goats switched from a forage to a concentrate diet with special attention to anaerobic fungi (AF). Female goats were fed an alfalfa hay (AH) diet (0% grain; n = 4) for 20 days and were then abruptly shifted to a high-grain (HG) diet (40% corn grain, 60% AH; n = 4) and treated for another 10 days. Rumen content samples were collected from the cannulated animals at the end of each diet period (day 20 and 30). The microbiome structure was studied using high-throughput sequencing for bacteria, archaea (16S rRNA gene) and fungi (ITS2), accompanied by qPCR for each group. To further elucidate unclassified AF, clone library analyses were performed on the ITS1 spacer region. Rumen pH was significantly lower in HG diet fed goats, but did not induce subacute ruminal acidosis. HG diet altered prokaryotic communities, with a significant increase of Bacteroidetes and a decrease of Firmicutes. On the genus level Prevotella 1 was significantly boosted. Methanobrevibacter and Methanosphaera were the most abundant archaea regardless of the diet and HG induced a significant augmentation of unclassified Thermoplasmatales. For anaerobic fungi, HG triggered a considerable rise in Feramyces observed with both ITS markers, while a decline of Tahromyces was detected by ITS2 and decrease of Joblinomyces by ITS1 only. The uncultured BlackRhino group revealed by ITS1 and further elucidated in one sample by LSU analysis, formed a considerable part of the AF community of goats fed both diets. Results strongly indicate that the rumen ecosystem still acts as a source for novel microorganisms and unexplored microbial interactions and that initial rumen microbiota of the host animal considerably influences the reaction pattern upon diet change.Fil: Fliegerova, Katerina O.. Czech Academy of Sciences; RepĂşblica ChecaFil: Podmirseg, Sabine M.. Universidad de Innsbruck; AustriaFil: Vinzelj, Julia. Universidad de Innsbruck; AustriaFil: Grilli, Diego Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - Mendoza; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Cs.mĂ©dicas. Departamento de PatologĂa. Area de MicrobiologĂa; ArgentinaFil: Kvasnová, Simona. Czech Academy of Sciences; RepĂşblica ChecaFil: Schierová, Dagmar. Czech Academy of Sciences; RepĂşblica ChecaFil: Sechovcová, Hana. Czech Academy of Sciences; RepĂşblica ChecaFil: Mrázek, Jakub. Czech Academy of Sciences; RepĂşblica ChecaFil: Siddi, Giuliana. UniversitĂ degli Studi di Sassari; ItaliaFil: Arenas, Graciela Nora. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Cs.mĂ©dicas. Departamento de PatologĂa. Area de MicrobiologĂa; ArgentinaFil: Moniello, Giuseppe. UniversitĂ degli Studi di Sassari; Itali
Surfactant-Free Peroxidase-Mediated Enzymatic Polymerization of a Biorenewable Butyrolactone Monomer via a Green Approach:Synthesis of Sustainable Biobased Latexes
A green surfactant-free one-pot horseradish peroxidase-mediated enzymatic polymerization is successfully applied to produce a sustainable and thermally stable biobased high average molar mass poly(α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone) (PMBL) at ambient conditions in water for the first time. The initiation step required only very low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and 2,4-pentanedione water-soluble initiator to generate the keto-enoxy radicals responsible for forming the primary latex particles. The polymer nanoparticles can be seen as monodisperse, and the biobased latexes are colloidally stable and likely stabilized by the adsorption of 2,4-pentanedione moieties on the particle surfaces. Polymerizations in air produced a 98% yield of PMBL after only 3 h, highlighting the relevance of molecular oxygen. An array of characterization techniques such as dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), 1H, 13C, and HSQC two-dimensional (2D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) are used to confirm the properties of the synthesized latexes. The PMBL exhibited high thermal stability, with only a 5% weight loss at 340 °C and a glass-transition temperature of 200 °C, which is double that of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). This research provides an interesting pathway for the synthesis of sustainable biobased latexes via enzymes in a green environment using just water at ambient conditions and the potential use of the polymer in high-temperature applications.</p
Surfactant-Free Peroxidase-Mediated Enzymatic Polymerization of a Biorenewable Butyrolactone Monomer via a Green Approach:Synthesis of Sustainable Biobased Latexes
A green surfactant-free one-pot horseradish peroxidase-mediated enzymatic polymerization is successfully applied to produce a sustainable and thermally stable biobased high average molar mass poly(α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone) (PMBL) at ambient conditions in water for the first time. The initiation step required only very low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and 2,4-pentanedione water-soluble initiator to generate the keto-enoxy radicals responsible for forming the primary latex particles. The polymer nanoparticles can be seen as monodisperse, and the biobased latexes are colloidally stable and likely stabilized by the adsorption of 2,4-pentanedione moieties on the particle surfaces. Polymerizations in air produced a 98% yield of PMBL after only 3 h, highlighting the relevance of molecular oxygen. An array of characterization techniques such as dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), 1H, 13C, and HSQC two-dimensional (2D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) are used to confirm the properties of the synthesized latexes. The PMBL exhibited high thermal stability, with only a 5% weight loss at 340 °C and a glass-transition temperature of 200 °C, which is double that of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). This research provides an interesting pathway for the synthesis of sustainable biobased latexes via enzymes in a green environment using just water at ambient conditions and the potential use of the polymer in high-temperature applications.</p
Surfactant-Free Peroxidase-Mediated Enzymatic Polymerization of a Biorenewable Butyrolactone Monomer via a Green Approach:Synthesis of Sustainable Biobased Latexes
A green surfactant-free one-pot horseradish peroxidase-mediated enzymatic polymerization is successfully applied to produce a sustainable and thermally stable biobased high average molar mass poly(α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone) (PMBL) at ambient conditions in water for the first time. The initiation step required only very low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and 2,4-pentanedione water-soluble initiator to generate the keto-enoxy radicals responsible for forming the primary latex particles. The polymer nanoparticles can be seen as monodisperse, and the biobased latexes are colloidally stable and likely stabilized by the adsorption of 2,4-pentanedione moieties on the particle surfaces. Polymerizations in air produced a 98% yield of PMBL after only 3 h, highlighting the relevance of molecular oxygen. An array of characterization techniques such as dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), 1H, 13C, and HSQC two-dimensional (2D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) are used to confirm the properties of the synthesized latexes. The PMBL exhibited high thermal stability, with only a 5% weight loss at 340 °C and a glass-transition temperature of 200 °C, which is double that of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). This research provides an interesting pathway for the synthesis of sustainable biobased latexes via enzymes in a green environment using just water at ambient conditions and the potential use of the polymer in high-temperature applications.</p
A case report of COVID-19 monitoring in the Austrian professional football league
Since the beginning of the COVID -19 pandemic, many contact sport teams are facing major challenges to safely continue training and competition. We present the design and implementation of a structured monitoring concept for the Austrian national football league. 146 professional players from five clubs of the professional Austrian football league were monitored for a period of 12 weeks. Subjective health parameters, PCR- test results and data obtained from a geo-tracking app were collected. Simulations modelling the consequences of a COVID-19 case with increasing reproduction number were computed. No COVID -19 infection occurred during the observation period in the players. Infections in the nearer surroundings lead to increased perceived risk of infection. Geo tracking was particularly hindered due to technical problems and reluctance of users. Simulation models suggested a hypothetical shut-down of all training and competition activities. A structured monitoring concept can help to continue contact sports safely in times of a pandemic. Cooperation of all involved is essential. Trial registration: ID: DRKS00022166 15/6/2020 https://www.who.int/ictrp/search/en/
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