139 research outputs found
CNOT and Bell-state analysis in the weak-coupling cavity QED regime
We propose an interface between the spin of a photon and the spin of an
electron confined in a quantum dot embedded in a microcavity operating in the
weak coupling regime. This interface, based on spin selective photon reflection
from the cavity, can be used to construct a CNOT gate, a multi-photon entangler
and a photonic Bell-state analyzer. Finally, we analyze experimental
feasibility, concluding that the schemes can be implemented with current
technology.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
Experimental demonstration of fractional orbital angular momentum entanglement of two photons
The singular nature of a non-integer spiral phase plate allows easy
manipulation of spatial degrees of freedom of photon states. Using two such
devices, we have observed very high dimensional (D > 3700) spatial entanglement
of twin photons generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev. Let
Shannon dimensionality of quantum channels and its application to photon entanglement
We introduce the concept of Shannon dimensionality D as a new way to quantify
bipartite entanglement as measured in an experiment. This is applied to
orbital-angular-momentum entanglement of two photons, using two state analyzers
composed of a rotatable angular-sector phase plate that is lens-coupled to a
single-mode fiber. We can deduce the value of D directly from the observed
two-photon coincidence fringe. In our experiment, D varies between 2 and 6,
depending on the experimental conditions. We predict how the Shannon
dimensionality evolves when the number of angular sectors imprinted in the
phase plate is increased and anticipate that D = 50 is experimentally within
reach.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, accepted for Physical Review Letter
Detection of sub-shot-noise spatial correlation in high-gain parametric down-conversion
Using a 1GW-1ps pump laser pulse in high gain parametric down-conversion
allows us to detect sub-shot-noise spatial quantum correlation with up to one
hundred photoelectrons per mode, by means of a high efficiency CCD. The
statistics is performed in single-shot over independent spatial replica of the
system. The paper highlights the evidence of quantum correlation between
symmetrical signal and idler spatial areas in the far field, in the high gain
regime. In accordance with the predictions of numerical calculations the
observed transition from the quantum to the classical regime is interpreted as
a consequence of the narrowing of the down-converted beams in the very high
gain regime.Comment: 4,2 pages, 4 figure
Relation of Iron Status to Prognosis After Acute Coronary Syndrome
Iron deficiency has been extensively researched and is associated with adverse outcomes in heart failure. However, to our knowledge, the temporal evolution of iron status has not been previously investigated in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Therefore, we aimed to explore the temporal pattern of repeatedly measured iron, ferritin, transferrin, and transferrin saturation (TSAT) in relation to prognosis post-ACS. BIOMArCS (BIOMarker study to identify the Acute risk of a Coronary Syndrome) is a prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study conducted in The Netherlands between 2008 and 2015. A total of 844 patients with post-ACS were enrolled and underwent high-frequency (median 17) blood sampling during 1 year follow-up. Biomarkers of iron status were measured batchwise in a central laboratory. We analyzed 3 patient subsets, including the case-cohort (n = 187). The primary endpoint (PE) was a composite of cardiovascular mortality and repeat nonfatal ACS, including unstable angina pectoris requiring revascularization. The association between iron status and the PE was analyzed using multivariable joint models. Mean age was 63 years; 78% were men, and >50% had iron deficiency at first sample in the case-cohort. After adjustment for a broad range of clinical variables, 1 SD decrease in log-iron was associated with a 2.2-fold greater risk of the PE (hazard ratio 2.19, 95% confidence interval 1.34 to 3.54, p = 0.002). Similarly, 1 SD decrease in log-TSAT was associated with a 78% increased risk of the PE (hazard ratio 1.78, 95% confidence interval 1.17 to 2.65, p = 0.006). Ferritin and transferrin were not associated with the PE. Repeated measurements of iron and TSAT predict risk of adverse outcomes in patients with post-ACS during 1 year follow-up. Trial Registration: The Netherlands Trial Register. Unique identifiers: NTR1698 and NTR1106. Registered at https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/1614 and https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/1073
High-frequency metabolite profiling and the incidence of recurrent cardiac events in patients with post-acute coronary syndrome
Purpose: The aim of this study was to study temporal changes in metabolite profiles in patients with post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS), in particular prior to the development of recurrent ACS (reACS). Methods: BIOMArCS (BIOMarker study to identify the Acute risk of a Coronary Syndrome) is a prospective study including patients admitted for ACS, who underwent high-frequency blood sampling during 1-year follow-up. Within BIOMArCS, we performed a nested case-cohort analysis of 158 patients (28 cases of reACS). We determined 151 metabolites by nuclear magnetic resonance in seven (median) blood samples per patient. Temporal evolution of the metabolites and their relation with reACS was assessed by joint modelling. Results are reported as adjusted (for clinical factors) hazard ratios (aHRs). Results: Median age was 64 (25th–75th percentiles; 56–72) years and 78% were men. After multiple testing correction (p < 0.001), high concentrations of extremely large very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles (aHR 1.60/SD increase; 95%CI 1.25–2.08), very large VLDL particles (aHR 1.60/SD increase; 95%CI 1.25–2.08) and large VLDL particles (aHR 1.56/SD increase; 95%CI 1.22–2.05) were significantly associated with reACS. Moreover, these longitudinal particle concentrations showed a steady increase over time prior to reACS. Among the other metabolites, no significant associations were observed. Conclusion: Post-ACS patients with persistent high concentrations of extremely large, very large and large VLDL particles have increased risk of reACS within 1 year
Temporal Evolution of Serum Concentrations of High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin During 1 Year After Acute Coronary Syndrome Admission
BACKGROUND: Detailed insights in temporal evolution of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin following acute coronary syndrome
(ACS) are currently missing. We aimed to describe and compare the post-ACS kinetics of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I
(hs-cTnI) and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT), and to determine their intra- and interindividual variation in clinically
stable patients.
METHODS AND RESULTS: We determined hs-cTnI (Abbott) and hs-cTnT (Roche) in 1507 repeated blood samples, derived from 191
patients with ACS (median, 8/patient) who remained free from adverse cardiac events during 1-year follow-up. Post-ACS kinetics
were studied by linear mixed-effect models. Using the samples collected in the 6- to 12-month post-ACS time frame, patients
were then considered to have chronic coronary syndrome. We determined (differences between) the average hs-cTnI and average
hs-cTnT concentration, and the intra- and interindividual variation for both biomarkers. Compared with hs-cTnT, hs-cTnI peaked
higher (median 3506 ng/L versus 494 ng/L; P<0.001) and was quicker below the biomarker-specific upper reference limit (16 versus 19 days; P<0.001). In the post–6-month samples, hs-cTnI and hs-cTnT showed modest correlation (rspearman=0.60), whereas
the average hs-cTnT concentration was 5 times more likely to be above the upper reference limit than hs-cTnI. The intraindividual
variations of hs-cTnI and hs-cTnT were 14.0% and 18.1%, while the interindividual variations were 94.1% and 75.9%.
CONCLUSIONS: Hs-cTnI peaked higher after ACS and was quicker below the upper reference limit. In the post–6-month samples, hs-cTnI and hs-cTnT were clearly not interchangeable, and average hs-cTnT concentrations were much more often above
the upper reference limit than hs-cTnI. For both markers, the within-patient variation fell largely below beween-patient variation.
REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.trialregister.nl; unique identifiers: NTR1698 and NTR1106
Details on high frequency blood collection, data analysis, available material and patient characteristics in BIOMArCS
The Biomarker Study to Identify the Acute Risk of a Coronary
Syndrome (BIOMArCS) is a prospective, observational study that
has been designed to study the evolution of blood biomarkers in
post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. In our recently
published study “Temporal evolution of Myeloperoxidase and
Galec
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