5,044 research outputs found
Synthetic Quantum Systems
So far proposed quantum computers use fragile and environmentally sensitive
natural quantum systems. Here we explore the new notion that synthetic quantum
systems suitable for quantum computation may be fabricated from smart
nanostructures using topological excitations of a stochastic neural-type
network that can mimic natural quantum systems. These developments are a
technological application of process physics which is an information theory of
reality in which space and quantum phenomena are emergent, and so indicates the
deep origins of quantum phenomena. Analogous complex stochastic dynamical
systems have recently been proposed within neurobiology to deal with the
emergent complexity of biosystems, particularly the biodynamics of higher brain
function. The reasons for analogous discoveries in fundamental physics and
neurobiology are discussed.Comment: 16 pages, Latex, 1 eps figure fil
The VOICE Study: Valuing Opinions, Individual Communication and Experience: Building the evidence base for undertaking patient-centred family meetings in palliative care - a mixed methods study
Background: Despite family meetings being widely used to facilitate discussion among patients, families, and clinicians in palliative care, there is limited evidence to support their use. This study aims to assess the acceptability and feasibility of Patient-Centred Family Meetings in specialist inpatient palliative care units for patients, families, and clinicians and determine the suitability and feasibility of validated outcome measures from the patient and family perspectives.
Methods: The study is a mixed-methods quasi-experimental design with pre-planned Patient-Centred Family Meetings at the intervention site. The patient will set the meeting agenda a priori allowing an opportunity for their issues to be prioritised and addressed. At the control site, usual care will be maintained which may include a family meeting. Each site will recruit 20 dyads comprising a terminally ill inpatient and their nominated family member. Pre- and post-test administration of the Distress Thermometer, QUAL-EC, QUAL-E, and Patient Health Questionnaire-4 will assess patient and family distress and satisfaction with quality of life. Patient, family, and clinician interviews post-meeting will provide insights into the meeting feasibility and outcome measures. Recruitment percentages and outcome measure completion will also inform feasibility. Descriptive statistics will summarise pre- and post-meeting data generated by the outcome measures. SPSS will analyse the quantitative data. Grounded theory will guide the qualitative data analysis.
Discussion: This study will determine whether planned Patient-Centred Family Meetings are feasible and acceptable and assess the suitability and feasibility of the outcome measures. It will inform a future phase III randomised controlled trial.
Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12616001083482 on 11 August 201
Squeezed gluon vacuum and the global colour model of QCD
We discuss how the vacuum model of Celenza and Shakin with a squeezed gluon
condensate can explain the existence of an infrared singular gluon propagator
frequently used in calculations within the global colour model. In particular,
it reproduces a recently proposed QCD-motivated model where low energy chiral
parameters were computed as a function of a dynamically generated gluon mass.
We show how the strength of the confining interaction of this gluon propagator
and the value of the physical gluon condensate may be connected.Comment: 13 pages, LaTe
Three-dimensional power Doppler evaluation of cerebral vascular blood flow: A novel tool in the assessment of fetal growth restriction
The Calculation of Vacuum Properties from the Global Color Symmetry Model
A modified method for calculating the non-perturbative quark vacuum
condensates from the global color symmetry model is derived. Within this
approach it is shown that the vacuum condensates are free of ultraviolet
divergence which is different from previous studies. As a special, the
two-quark condensate and the mixed quark-gluon condensate are calculated. A
comparision with the results of the other nonperturbative QCD approaches is
given.Comment: 17 page
Diquarks: condensation without bound states
We employ a bispinor gap equation to study superfluidity at nonzero chemical
potential: mu .neq. 0, in two- and three-colour QCD. The two-colour theory,
QC2D, is an excellent exemplar: the order of truncation of the quark-quark
scattering kernel: K, has no qualitative impact, which allows a straightforward
elucidation of the effects of mu when the coupling is strong. In rainbow-ladder
truncation, diquark bound states appear in the spectrum of the three-colour
theory, a defect that is eliminated by an improvement of K. The corrected gap
equation describes a superfluid phase that is semi-quantitatively similar to
that obtained using the rainbow truncation. A model study suggests that the
width of the superfluid gap and the transition point in QC2D provide reliable
quantitative estimates of those quantities in QCD.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, REVTEX, epsfi
On Nucleon Electromagnetic Form Factors: A Pre'cis
Electron scattering at large Q^2 probes a nucleon's quark core. This core's
contribution to electromagnetic form factors may be calculated using Poincare'
covariant Faddeev amplitudes combined with a nucleon-photon vertex that
automatically fulfills a Ward-Takahashi identity for on-shell nucleons. The
calculated behaviour of G_E^p(Q^2)/G_M^p(Q^2) on 2<Q^2(GeV^2)<6 agrees with
that inferred from polarisation transfer data, and exhibits a zero at
Q^2\approx 6.5 GeV^2. There is some evidence that F_2(Q^2)/F_1(Q^2) \propto
[\ln(Q^2/\Lambda^2)]^2/Q^2 for Q^2>6 GeV^2.Comment: Contribution to the proceedings of "Baryons 04," the 10th
International Conference on the Structure of Baryons, 25-29/Oct./04, Ecole
Polytechnique, Palaiseau; 5 pages, 3 figure
Influence in investor-state dispute settlement: a dynamic concept
Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) plays an increasingly important role in international trade resolution. The decisions have significant financial and in many cases policy implications, yet little is known about the formation of the ad-hoc panels and the decision-making process. Drawing on empirical evidence from interviews with key actors in the ISDS system, this paper argues that influence plays a central role in both processes. The analysis further develops the framework for understanding influence in international decision-making to accommodate external factors (those visible to those appointing the decision-makers) and internal factors (those factors that become visible in the decision-making room). It draws our attention to the nuanced relationship and distinction between the characterisation of influence in both contexts and poses a challenge to the traditional focus of appointments based on power and prestige which neglects the group decision-making context and the multifaceted construction of influence in this increasingly important method of adjudication
Separability of Two-Party Gaussian States
We investigate the separability properties of quantum two-party Gaussian
states in the framework of the operator formalism for the density operator.
Such states arise as natural generalizations of the entangled state originally
introduced by Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen. We present explicit forms of
separable and nonseparable Gaussian states.Comment: Brief Report submitted to Physical Review A, 4 pages, 1 figur
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