Maximum observable correlation for a bipartite quantum system

The maximum observable correlation between the two components of a bipartite quantum system is a property of the joint density operator, and is achieved by making particular measurements on the respective components. For pure states it corresponds to making measurements diagonal in a corresponding Schmidt basis. More generally, it is shown that the maximum correlation may be characterised in terms of a `correlation basis' for the joint density operator, which defines the corresponding (nondegenerate) optimal measurements. The maximum coincidence rate for spin measurements on two-qubit systems is determined to be (1+s)/2, where s is the spectral norm of the spin correlation matrix, and upper bounds are obtained for n-valued measurements on general bipartite systems. It is shown that the maximum coincidence rate is never greater than the computable cross norm measure of entanglement, and a much tighter upper bound is conjectured. Connections with optimal state discrimination and entanglement bounds are briefly discussed.Comment: Revtex, no figure

Active Transport, Public Transportation, and Obesity in Metropolitan Areas of the United States.

There is a well established relationship between exercise and weight in individuals. Recently, relationships between less urban sprawl and more leisure exercise and between certain urban characteristics usually associated with less sprawl and exercise for transportation have been found. This paper completes the less-sprawl-more exercise for transportation-lower weight sequence by finding that counties in metropolitan areas where more people complete their journey to work by walking, biking, or taking public transportation have fewer people who are overweight.

The Emotional Labor of Special Educators: A Mixed Methods Study

This mixed methods study specifically answered the questions (1) How much and what kind of emotional labor do special educators do? and (2) What are the lived experiences of special education teachers as they relate to emotional labor, mental health, wellbeing, and retention? I used the Brotheridge and Lee Emotional Labor Scale to survey 55 special education teachers employed in public education in a mid-Atlantic County and conducted semi-structured interviews with four of the survey participants. Prior literature had found that teachers reported engaging in emotional labor with students; while true of survey respondents, through the qualitative interviews, I found that the greatest emotional labor for special education teachers-leading to increased emotional dissonance and stress- was from interactions with administrators and parents. All interview participants indicated that they had considered leaving their classrooms and/or schools due to the emotional strain and stress from their jobs specific to the emotional regulation required by administrators and parents, but not due to their interactions with students. This study adds to the body of literature on emotional labor strategies as well as efforts to retain special education teachers

Recognition of the transgender self: an examination of the apologia of the \u27pregnant man\u27

In 2008, Thomas Beatie, a legally recognized male, transgender man, became pregnant with his first child and approached the American mass media to tell his story and defend his decisions. Shortly thereafter, the public fought against his image, attempting to normalize his body and gender. Beatie\u27s unique gender blurring, his choice for exposure and social recognition, and the resulting public controversy surrounding the incident makes for an important test case to understand Beatie\u27s discursive and visual strategies directed toward the American public. This study, a rhetorical examination of the discourse and iconic visual image used by Beatie while his pregnant body received coverage by the mass media, seeks specifically to address the shortcomings in the study of discursive strategies for recognition of trans individuals. It uses the framing and theory of apologia rhetoric to understand Beatie\u27s rhetorical choices. This project classifies and analyzes Beatie\u27s messages, specifically looking for ways Beatie creates agency, identification and blurs his sex/gender identity. In exploring Beatie\u27s discourse, this dissertation assesses the following fundamental questions about his discourse: to what degree does his apologia rhetoric operate as recognition? How well is he able to construct persuasive messages of apologia that allow him to be recognized in codes of pregnancy and masculinity at the same time? In interrogating these questions, this project evaluates Beatie\u27s strategies and determines how they inform conclusions about apologia rhetoric, performatives, and the current American ideologies on sex and gender. I demonstrate the fundamental impossibility of being recognized as both an intelligible pregnant man and explain why Beatie cannot defend certain choices or aspects of his life because his recognition is always incomplete and impossible. It concludes that Beatie acquires a sense of control at the same time that he asks for recognition of a body that is unintelligible to the public. His demand for recognition and its inevitable failure confounds the present system and makes him an individual that is difficult to tack down according to the contemporary sex/gender binary. Most importantly, his partial success and partial failed recognition may be necessary to disrupt long-standing sex/gender norms and cultural assumptions about bodies

Physical aggression, compromised social support, and 10-year marital outcomes: Testing a relational spillover model

The purpose of the present study was to test a relational spillover model of physical aggression whereby physical aggression affects marital outcomes due to its effects on how spouses ask for and provide support to one another. Newlywed couples (n = 172) reported levels of physical aggression over the past year and engaged in interactions designed to elicit social support; marital adjustment, and stability were assessed periodically over the first 10 years of marriage. Multilevel modeling revealed that negative support behavior mediated the relationship between physical aggression and 10-year marital adjustment levels whereas positive support behavior mediated the relationship between physical aggression and divorce status. These findings emphasize the need to look beyond conflict when explaining how aggression affects relationships and when working with couples with a history of physical aggression who are seeking to improve their relationships

Requiring Individuals to Obtain Health Insurance: A Constitutional Analysis

[Excerpt] This report analyzes certain constitutional issues raised by requiring individuals to purchase health insurance under Congress’s authority under its taxing power or its power to regulate interstate commerce. It also addresses whether the exceptions to the minimum coverage provision to purchase health insurance satisfy First Amendment freedom of religion protections. Finally, this report discusses some of the more publicized legal challenges to ACA, as well additional issues that are currently before the Court

Are Fruit Juice Categories Separable?

Supermarket shelves are saturated with numerous varieties and brands of juice beverages. This high level of assortment has dramatically changed beverage consumption patterns and trends throughout the United States. In fact, during 2004-2005, energy and sport drinks experienced significant increases in sales, 65.9% and 20.6 %, respectively. During the same period of time, refrigerated juice sales increased a mere 2.2%, shelved non-fruit drinks decreased 0.9%, bottled juices and cocktails both decreased 1.5 % and frozen juice decreased by 12.8% (Food Industry Review 2006). The beverage industry has undergone many transformations, but consumer theory states that a shift in demand for one good has to be compensated by a shift in the opposite directions in the demand for the other good. Thus, with more brands competing for consumers’ dollars, it is important for brand managers, retailers, and other industry officials to understand demand interrelationships among various beverages. This study examines the competitiveness and structure of the beverage industry. Existing research suggests the demand for fruit beverages is independent from other food and non-food groups (Heien 1982; Lee 1984); therefore, information pertaining to other goods can be omitted without compromising the validity of the study. Our study will allow us to better understand how consumers make decisions concerning purchases patterns of beverage expenditures.Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Industrial Organization,