Aspects of mutually unbiased bases in odd prime power dimensions

We rephrase the Wootters-Fields construction [Ann. Phys., {\bf 191}, 363 (1989)] of a full set of mutually unbiased bases in a complex vector space of dimensions $N=p^r$, where $p$ is an odd prime, in terms of the character vectors of the cyclic group $G$ of order $p$. This form may be useful in explicitly writing down mutually unbiased bases for $N=p^r$.Comment: 3 pages, latex, no figure

Holocene lowering of the Laurentide ice sheet affects North Atlantic gyre circulation and climate

The Laurentide ice sheet, which covered Canada during glacial periods, had a major influence on atmospheric circulation and surface climate, but its role in climate during the early Holocene (9–7 ka), when it was thinner and confined around Hudson Bay, is unclear. It has been suggested that the demise of the ice sheet played a role in the 8.2 ka event (an abrupt 1–3 °C Northern Hemisphere cooling lasting ~ 160 years) through the influence of changing topography on atmospheric circulation. To test this hypothesis, and to investigate the broader implications of changing ice sheet topography for climate, we analyse a set of equilibrium climate simulations with ice sheet topographies taken at 500 year intervals from 9.5 to 8.0 ka. Between 9.5 and 8.0 ka, our simulations show a 2 °C cooling south of Iceland and a 1 °C warming between 40° and 50°N in the North Atlantic. These surface temperature changes are associated with a weakening of the subtropical and subpolar gyres caused by a decreasing wind stress curl over the mid-North Atlantic as the ice sheet lowers. The climate response is strongest during the period of peak ice volume change (9.5–8.5 ka), but becomes negligible after 8.5 ka. The climatic effects of the Laurentide ice sheet lowering during the Holocene are restricted to the North Atlantic sector. Thus, topographic forcing is unlikely to have played a major role in the 8.2 ka event and had only a small effect on Holocene climate change compared to the effects of changes in greenhouse gases, insolation and ice sheet meltwater

Clozapine-Induced Pericarditis

Objective: To report a case of a patient treated with clozapine who developed pericarditis with pericardial effusion that resolved when the drug was discontinued. Method: Case report of a 21-year-old man with psychotic disorder that had been stable on clozapine therapy for five months (after failure of atypical antipsyhotic agents) presented to the emergency department complaining of chest pain and progressive shortness of breath that had lasted for a few days. Echocardiography showed a pericardial effusion suggestive of a cardiac tamponade, and the fluid was removed by pericardiocentesis. All other possible causes of the pericardial effusion were ruled out and clozapine was suspected as the most likely explanation. Clozapine was discontinued and the patient’s symptoms improved markedly. Discussion: According to the Naranjo probability scale, clozapine is a probable cause of pericarditis. Although clozapine is a known cause of myocarditis and cardiomyopathy, there are only several reports in the literature describing clozapine-induced pericarditis and pericardial effusion. In our patient, the pericardial effusion cleared within several days following clozapine discontinuation. Conclusion: There have been only a few cases of clozapine-induced pericarditis reported in the literature, however this adverse effect of clozapine can occur, as this case report clearly  demonstrates. Cardiac adverse effects of clozapine are potentially life threatening, hence early recognition is essential to prevent serious outcomes.Key words: Clozapine; Pericarditis; Pericardial effusion; Adverse reactio

Evaluation of bicycle sharing scheme data as a proxy for cycling mobility – How COVID-19 measures influenced cycling in Paris

The use of bicycles can provide myriad benefits to society, especially in crowded urban centres where other modes of transport are at or near capacity. However, integrating cycling into policy and planning requires more comprehensive data about their use in space and time. Current approaches, using sparse networks of counters provide one possible route to more comprehensive data. In this paper we investigate another, using data collected from Paris’ bicycle sharing system to explore use during 2020. We chose 2020 as a test year because the use of bicycles was strongly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing us to explore how bicycle use adapted to both legal and environmental influences. We used interactive visualization to allow hypothesis generation and data exploration, before analysing bicycle use as a function of weather and COVID-19 restrictions. Our results show that bicycle sharing system data and Paris’ counters both capture very similar behaviour patterns, and therefore bicycle sharing system data are a reliable proxy for overall cycling behaviour, providing finer spatial granularity than existing sparse counter networks. Seasonally, precipitation influenced bicycle use more strongly in 2020 than COVID-19 measures

GC-MS-based metabolomics for the detection of adulteration in oregano samples

Oregano is one of the most used culinary herb and it is often adulterated with cheaper plants. In this study, GC-MS was used for identification and quantification of metabolites from 104 samples of oregano (Origanum vulgare and O. onites) adulterated with olive (Olea europaea), venetian sumac (Cotinus coggygria) and myrtle (Myrtus communis) leaves, at five different concentration levels. The metabolomics profiles obtained after the two-step derivatization, involving methoxyamination and silanization, were subjected to multivariate data analysis to reveal markers of adulteration and to build the regression models on the basis of the oregano-to-adulterants mixing ratio. Orthogonal partial least squares enabled detection of oregano adulterations with olive, Venetian sumac and myrtle leaves. Sorbitol levels distinguished oregano samples adulterated with olive leaves, while shikimic and quinic acids were recognized as discrimination factor for adulteration of oregano with venetian sumac. Fructose and quinic acid levels correlated with oregano adulteration with myrtle. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis enabled discrimination of O. vulgare and O. onites samples, where catechollactate was found to be discriminating metabolite

Structural stability and local electronic properties of some EC synthesized magnetite nanopowders

Structural and electronic properties, oxidation and aging effect of electrochemically (EC) synthesized magnetite nanopowders (NPs) are studied by means of X–ray diffraction (XRD), X–ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and X–ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). The obtained results enabled to get a direct insight into the structure and electronic properties of Fe immediate surrounding and to elucidate the influence of preparation conditions on stoichiometry of NPs and their stability in ambient conditions. All investigated NPs are produced as non–stoichiometric Fe$_{3−δ}$O$_4$ oxide phases, with the lattice constant and the Fe$^{2+}$/Fe$^{3+}$ ratio both in–between the values for bulk maghemite and magnetite. NPs synthesized under smaller current density (J = 200 mA/dm$^2$) are more magnetite–alike, whereas larger current density (J = 1000 mA/dm$^2$) has led to formation of NPs closer to maghemite. Oxidation of magnetite–like NPs is slower, although in the course of time particles agglomerate and oxide penetrates into the core. Maghemite–like NPs oxidize much faster and the oxide layer which is confined close to the particles' surface protects the core from further oxidation. In all NPs the fist coordination around Fe is pretty stable against both temperature and oxidation process. The temperature change from 293 K to 20 K considerably affects the second coordination around Fe, which is most likely a consequence of the Verwey transition present in all investigated samples