3,760 research outputs found
Trading quantum for classical resources in quantum data compression
We study the visible compression of a source E of pure quantum signal states,
or, more formally, the minimal resources per signal required to represent
arbitrarily long strings of signals with arbitrarily high fidelity, when the
compressor is given the identity of the input state sequence as classical
information. According to the quantum source coding theorem, the optimal
quantum rate is the von Neumann entropy S(E) qubits per signal.
We develop a refinement of this theorem in order to analyze the situation in
which the states are coded into classical and quantum bits that are quantified
separately. This leads to a trade--off curve Q(R), where Q(R) qubits per signal
is the optimal quantum rate for a given classical rate of R bits per signal.
Our main result is an explicit characterization of this trade--off function
by a simple formula in terms of only single signal, perfect fidelity encodings
of the source. We give a thorough discussion of many further mathematical
properties of our formula, including an analysis of its behavior for group
covariant sources and a generalization to sources with continuously
parameterized states. We also show that our result leads to a number of
corollaries characterizing the trade--off between information gain and state
disturbance for quantum sources. In addition, we indicate how our techniques
also provide a solution to the so--called remote state preparation problem.
Finally, we develop a probability--free version of our main result which may be
interpreted as an answer to the question: ``How many classical bits does a
qubit cost?'' This theorem provides a type of dual to Holevo's theorem, insofar
as the latter characterizes the cost of coding classical bits into qubits.Comment: 51 pages, 7 figure
Dual mechanism of brain injury and novel treatment strategy in maple syrup urine disease
Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is an inherited disorder of branched-chain amino acid metabolism presenting with lifethreatening cerebral oedema and dysmyelination in affected individuals. Treatment requires life-long dietary restriction and monitoring of branched-chain amino acids to avoid brain injury. Despite careful management, children commonly suffer metabolic decompensation in the context of catabolic stress associated with non-specific illness. The mechanisms underlying this decompensation and brain injury are poorly understood. Using recently developed mouse models of classic and intermediate maple syrup urine disease, we assessed biochemical, behavioural and neuropathological changes that occurred during encephalopathy in these mice. Here, we show that rapid brain leucine accumulation displaces other essential amino acids resulting in neurotransmitter depletion and disruption of normal brain growth and development. A novel approach of administering norleucine to heterozygous mothers of classic maple syrup urine disease pups reduced branched-chain amino acid accumulation in milk as well as blood and brain of these pups to enhance survival. Similarly, norleucine substantially delayed encephalopathy in intermediate maple syrup urine disease mice placed on a high protein diet that mimics the catabolic stress shown to cause encephalopathy in human maple syrup urine disease. Current findings suggest two converging mechanisms of brain injury in maple syrup urine disease including: (i) neurotransmitter deficiencies and growth restriction associated with branchedchain amino acid accumulation and (ii) energy deprivation through Krebs cycle disruption associated with branched-chain ketoacid accumulation. Both classic and intermediate models appear to be useful to study the mechanism of brain injury and potential treatment strategies for maple syrup urine disease. Norleucine should be further tested as a potential treatment to prevent encephalopathy in children with maple syrup urine disease during catabolic stress
Simulation of electromechanical responses of ferroelectric ceramics driven by alternating compressive stress and static electric field
Endoscopic Suturing for the Prevention and Treatment of Complications Associated with Endoscopic Mucosal Resection of Large Duodenal Adenomas
Background/Aims Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is the primary treatment for duodenal adenomas; however, it is associated with a high risk of perforation and bleeding, especially with larger lesions. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility and safety of endoscopic suturing (ES) for the closure of mucosal defects after duodenal EMR. Methods Consecutive adult patients who underwent ES of large mucosal defects after EMR of large (>2 cm) duodenal adenomas were retrospectively enrolled. The OverStitch ES system was employed for closing mucosal defects after EMR. Clinical outcomes and complications, including delayed bleeding and perforation, were documented. Results During the study period, ES of mucosal defects was performed in seven patients in eight sessions (six for prophylaxis and two for the treatment of perforation). All ES sessions were technically successful. No early or delayed post-EMR bleeding was recorded. In addition, no clinically obvious duodenal stricture or recurrence was encountered on endoscopic follow-up evaluation, and no patients required subsequent surgical intervention. Conclusions ES for the prevention and treatment of duodenal perforation after EMR is technically feasible, safe, and effective. ES should be considered an option for preventing or treating perforations associated with EMR of large duodenal adenomas
Probabilistic instantaneous quantum computation
The principle of teleportation can be used to perform a quantum computation
even before its quantum input is defined. The basic idea is to perform the
quantum computation at some earlier time with qubits which are part of an
entangled state. At a later time a generalized Bell state measurement is
performed jointly on the then defined actual input qubits and the rest of the
entangled state. This projects the output state onto the correct one with a
certain exponentially small probability. The sufficient conditions are found
under which the scheme is of benefit.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur
Selective Over-Expression of Endothelin-1 in Endothelial Cells Exacerbates Inner Retinal Edema and Neuronal Death in Ischemic Retina
The level of endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor, was associated with retinopathy under ischemia. The effects of endothelial endothelin-1 (ET-1) over-expression in a transgenic mouse model using Tie-1 promoter (TET-1 mice) on pathophysiological changes of retinal ischemia were investigated by intraluminal insertion of a microfilament up to middle cerebral artery (MCA) to transiently block the ophthalmic artery. Two-hour occlusion and twenty-two-hour reperfusion were performed in homozygous (Hm) TET-1 mice and their non-transgenic (NTg) littermates. Presence of pyknotic nuclei in ganglion cell layer (GCL) was investigated in paraffin sections of ipsilateral (ischemic) and contralateral (non-ischemic) retinae, followed by measurement of the thickness of inner retinal layer. Moreover, immunocytochemistry of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), glutamine synthetase (GS) and aquaporin-4 (AQP4) peptides on retinal sections were performed to study glial cell reactivity, glutamate metabolism and water accumulation, respectively after retinal ischemia. Similar morphology was observed in the contralateral retinae of NTg and Hm TET-1 mice, whereas ipsilateral retina of NTg mice showed slight structural and cellular changes compared with the corresponding contralateral retina. Ipsilateral retinae of Hm TET-1 mice showed more significant changes when compared with ipsilateral retina of NTg mice, including more prominent cell death in GCL characterized by the presence of pyknotic nuclei, elevated GS immunoreactivity in Müller cell bodies and processes, increased AQP-4 immunoreactivity in Müller cell processes, and increased inner retinal thickness. Thus, over-expression of endothelial ET-1 in TET-1 mice may contribute to increased glutamate-induced neurotoxicity on neuronal cells and water accumulation in inner retina leading to edema
Antiviral activity of gliotoxin, gentian violet and brilliant green against Nipah and Hendra virus in vitro
Background: Using a recently described monolayer assay amenable to high throughput screening format for the identification of potential Nipah virus and Hendra virus antivirals, we have partially screened a low molecular weight compound library (8,000 compounds) directly against live virus infection and identified twenty eight promising lead molecules. Initial single blind screens were conducted with 10 M compound in triplicate with a minimum efficacy of 90% required for lead selection. Lead compounds were then further characterised to determine the median efficacy (IC), cytotoxicity (CC) and the in vitro therapeutic index in live virus and pseudotype assay formats. Results: While a number of leads were identified, the current work describes three commercially available compounds: brilliant green, gentian violet and gliotoxin, identified as having potent antiviral activity against Nipah and Hendra virus. Similar efficacy was observed against pseudotyped Nipah and Hendra virus, vesicular stomatitis virus and human parainfluenza virus type 3 while only gliotoxin inhibited an influenza A virus suggesting a non-specific, broad spectrum activity for this compound. Conclusion: All three of these compounds have been used previously for various aspects of anti-bacterial and anti-fungal therapy and the current results suggest that while unsuitable for internal administration, they may be amenable to topical antiviral applications, or as disinfectants and provide excellent positive controls for future studies
Optimal Non-Universally Covariant Cloning
We consider non-universal cloning maps, namely cloning transformations which
are covariant under a proper subgroup G of the universal unitary group U(d),
where d is the dimension of the Hilbert space H of the system to be cloned. We
give a general method for optimizing cloning for any cost-function. Examples of
applications are given for the phase-covariant cloning (cloning of equatorial
qubits) and for the Weyl-Heisenberg group (cloning of "continuous variables").Comment: 6 page
Using entanglement improves precision of quantum measurements
We show how entanglement can be used to improve the estimation of an unknown
transformation. Using entanglement is always of benefit, in improving either
the precision or the stability of the measurement. Examples relevant for
applications are illustrated, for either qubits and continuous variable
The Antarctic Submillimeter Telescope and Remote Observatory (AST/RO)
AST/RO, a 1.7 m diameter telescope for astronomy and aeronomy studies at
wavelengths between 200 and 2000 microns, was installed at the South Pole
during the 1994-1995 Austral summer. The telescope operates continuously
through the Austral winter, and is being used primarily for spectroscopic
studies of neutral atomic carbon and carbon monoxide in the interstellar medium
of the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds. The South Pole environment is
unique among observatory sites for unusually low wind speeds, low absolute
humidity, and the consistent clarity of the submillimeter sky. Four heterodyne
receivers, an array receiver, three acousto-optical spectrometers, and an array
spectrometer are installed. A Fabry-Perot spectrometer using a bolometric array
and a Terahertz receiver are in development. Telescope pointing, focus, and
calibration methods as well as the unique working environment and logistical
requirements of the South Pole are described.Comment: 57 pages, 15 figures. Submitted to PAS
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