Characterizing Operations Preserving Separability Measures via Linear Preserver Problems

We use classical results from the theory of linear preserver problems to characterize operators that send the set of pure states with Schmidt rank no greater than k back into itself, extending known results characterizing operators that send separable pure states to separable pure states. We also provide a new proof of an analogous statement in the multipartite setting. We use these results to develop a bipartite version of a classical result about the structure of maps that preserve rank-1 operators and then characterize the isometries for two families of norms that have recently been studied in quantum information theory. We see in particular that for k at least 2 the operator norms induced by states with Schmidt rank k are invariant only under local unitaries, the swap operator and the transpose map. However, in the k = 1 case there is an additional isometry: the partial transpose map.Comment: 16 pages, typos corrected, references added, proof of Theorem 4.3 simplified and clarifie

Imaging features and safety and efficacy of endovascular stroke treatment: a meta-analysis of individual patient-level data

Background: Evidence regarding whether imaging can be used effectively to select patients for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is scarce. We aimed to investigate the association between baseline imaging features and safety and efficacy of EVT in acute ischaemic stroke caused by anterior large-vessel occlusion. Methods: In this meta-analysis of individual patient-level data, the HERMES collaboration identified in PubMed seven randomised trials in endovascular stroke that compared EVT with standard medical therapy, published between Jan 1, 2010, and Oct 31, 2017. Only trials that required vessel imaging to identify patients with proximal anterior circulation ischaemic stroke and that used predominantly stent retrievers or second-generation neurothrombectomy devices in the EVT group were included. Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane handbook methodology. Central investigators, masked to clinical information other than stroke side, categorised baseline imaging features of ischaemic change with the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) or according to involvement of more than 33% of middle cerebral artery territory, and by thrombus volume, hyperdensity, and collateral status. The primary endpoint was neurological functional disability scored on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 90 days after randomisation. Safety outcomes included symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage, parenchymal haematoma type 2 within 5 days of randomisation, and mortality within 90 days. For the primary analysis, we used mixed-methods ordinal logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission, intravenous alteplase, and time from onset to randomisation, and we used interaction terms to test whether imaging categorisation at baseline modifies the association between treatment and outcome. This meta-analysis was prospectively designed by the HERMES executive committee but has not been registered. Findings: Among 1764 pooled patients, 871 were allocated to the EVT group and 893 to the control group. Risk of bias was low except in the THRACE study, which used unblinded assessment of outcomes 90 days after randomisation and MRI predominantly as the primary baseline imaging tool. The overall treatment effect favoured EVT (adjusted common odds ratio [cOR] for a shift towards better outcome on the mRS 2·00, 95% CI 1·69–2·38; p<0·0001). EVT achieved better outcomes at 90 days than standard medical therapy alone across a broad range of baseline imaging categories. Mortality at 90 days (14·7% vs 17·3%, p=0·15), symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (3·8% vs 3·5%, p=0·90), and parenchymal haematoma type 2 (5·6% vs 4·8%, p=0·52) did not differ between the EVT and control groups. No treatment effect modification by baseline imaging features was noted for mortality at 90 days and parenchymal haematoma type 2. Among patients with ASPECTS 0–4, symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage was seen in ten (19%) of 52 patients in the EVT group versus three (5%) of 66 patients in the control group (adjusted cOR 3·94, 95% CI 0·94–16·49; pinteraction=0·025), and among patients with more than 33% involvement of middle cerebral artery territory, symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage was observed in 15 (14%) of 108 patients in the EVT group versus four (4%) of 113 patients in the control group (4·17, 1·30–13·44, pinteraction=0·012). Interpretation: EVT achieves better outcomes at 90 days than standard medical therapy across a broad range of baseline imaging categories, including infarcts affecting more than 33% of middle cerebral artery territory or ASPECTS less than 6, although in these patients the risk of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage was higher in the EVT group than the control group. This analysis provides preliminary evidence for potential use of EVT in patients with large infarcts at baseline. Funding: Medtronic

Exploring and Analyzing the Potential of Sustainable Control Strategies of Fusarium Wilt in Northeastern Egypt

<p>Fusarium oxysporum, one of the most soil- borne fungi causes damage to a wide range of  economical crops worldwide. This research was conducted as a complimentary part of the first report for detecting the presence of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis (Foa) in North Sinai and to compare the alternative eco-friendly control procedures with commercial products to keep the environment at a minimal level of pollution. F. oxysporum isolates were collected from the four main coastline regions in North Sinai from clearly symptomatic date trees with wilt, drying, chlorosis, and progressive dieback. The study was applied based on the previous molecular characterization by specific primers test for detecting Foa (FOA1-BIO3 & FOA28-TL3). There were only 13 isolates amplified with the primer (FOA28-TL3) had been chosen to apply the study. The efficacy of three tested fungicides (Rizolex-T, Tachigaren, and Dithane M-45) varied in decreasing the hyphal growth rate. Tachigaren at concentration 500 and 1000 ppm showed high inhibited growth 65 % and 51 % respectively of the Fusarium tested isolates in vitro than other fungicides. The biological agents: Trichoderma album was the significant inhibitor for the Fusarium oxysporum isolates, it showed highly competitive and suppressive growth against all Fusarium isolates, the range of mycelial inhibition percentage (PGI) was about 75% on average followed by T. Harzianum was 73% on average, moreover, T. strigosum was 71.5% on average. Bacillus subtilis showed significant inhibition for the growth of Fusarium isolates in range of 40% on average but the Bacillus megaterium did not show any significant action against most isolates.</p><p>Keywords:- Bayoud, Biological Agents, Fusarium, Environment, Phylogenetic, Fungicides, Sinai.</p&gt

First Survey and Characterization Report of Fusarium oxysporum Isolates in North Sinai for Bayoud Disease Presence

<p>One of the most severe and challenging plant pathogens is the Fusarium genre because of its ability to the complex fermentation and fermentation process of plant cell walls by its unique and fatal enzyme system that stimulates fungi to infect, adapt, and survive anaerobically or aerobically worldwide, especially, in the middle east region due to the importance of the date fruit for the natives. A total of 625 Fusarium sp. isolates were collected for the first time from four different geographic regions in North Sinai. Trees and offshoots of varieties Hayany, Samany, Bent Easha, and Medjhool showed foliar disease symptoms e.g., wilt, drying, chlorosis, and progressive dieback. Root samples showed internal red dye, fermentation, and ethanol scent. Symptoms were comparable with those caused by F. oxysporum Schl. f.sp. albedinis (Foa). Pathogen isolates were characterized macroscopically, microscopically, and molecularly with specific primers for detecting Foa. Most of them were F. oxysporum isolates. After being tested primer pairs (FOA1-BIO3 and FOA28-TL3) on regions representative samples as described were specific to a long terminal repeat (LTR, i.e., terminals of the transposable element Fot1) which was previously detected in the Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. albedinis, only the primer FOA28 & TL3 was successful in amplifying from the genomic DNA of 13 isolates.</p><p>Keywords:- Fusarium, Bayoud Disease, Date Palm, Dieback, Molecular Characterization, Phylogenetic, Necrosis, Sinai.</p&gt