1,187 research outputs found
Weighted complex projective 2-designs from bases: optimal state determination by orthogonal measurements
We introduce the problem of constructing weighted complex projective
2-designs from the union of a family of orthonormal bases. If the weight
remains constant across elements of the same basis, then such designs can be
interpreted as generalizations of complete sets of mutually unbiased bases,
being equivalent whenever the design is composed of d+1 bases in dimension d.
We show that, for the purpose of quantum state determination, these designs
specify an optimal collection of orthogonal measurements. Using highly
nonlinear functions on abelian groups, we construct explicit examples from d+2
orthonormal bases whenever d+1 is a prime power, covering dimensions d=6, 10,
and 12, for example, where no complete sets of mutually unbiased bases have
thus far been found.Comment: 28 pages, to appear in J. Math. Phy
Amplitude analysis of reactions pi(-)p->etapi(-)p and pi(-)p->etapi(0)n on polarized target and the exotic 1-+ meson
Recently several experimental groups analysed data on and reactions with exotic -wave and
found a conflicting evidence for an exotic meson . High
statistics data on these reactions are presently analysed by BNL E852
Collaboration. All these analyses are based on the crucial assumption that the
production amplitudes do not depend on nucleon spin. This assumption is in
sharp conflict with the results of measurements of ,
and on polarized targets at
CERN which find a strong dependence of production amplitudes on nucleon spin.
To ascertain the existence of exotic meson , it is necessary to
perform a model-independent amplitude analysis of reactions and . We demonstrate that measurements of
these reactions on transversely polarized targets enable the required model
independent amplitude analysis without the assumption that production
amplitudes are independent on nucleon spin. We suggest that high statistics
measurements of reactions and be made on polarized targets at BNL and at Protvino IHEP, and that
model-independent amplitude analyses of this polarized data be performed to
advance hadron spectroscopy on the level of spin dependent production
amplitudes.Comment: 23 page
Transitions and Probes in Turbulent Helium
Previous analysis of a Paris turbulence experiment \cite{zoc94,tab95} shows a
transition at the Taylor Reynolds number \rel \approx 700. Here correlation
function data is analyzed which gives further evidence for this transition. It
is seen in both the power spectrum and in structure function measurements. Two
possible explanations may be offered for this observed transition: that it is
intrinsic to the turbulence flow in this closed box experiment or that it is an
effect of a change in the flow around the anemometer. We particularly examine a
pair of ``probe effects''. The first is a thermal boundary layer which does
exist about the probe and does limit the probe response, particularly at high
frequencies. Arguments based on simulations of the response and upon
observations of dissipation suggests that this effect is only crucial beyond
\rel\approx 2000. The second effect is produced by vortex shedding behind the
probe. This has been seen to produce a large modification in some of the power
spectra for large \rel. It might also complicate the interpretation of the
experimental results. However, there seems to be a remaining range of data for
\rel < 1300 uncomplicated by these effects, and which are thus suggestive of
an intrinsic transition.Comment: uuencoded .ps files. submitted to PRE. 12 figures are sent upon
request to jane wang ([email protected]
Evidence for Exotic J^{PC}=1^{-+} Meson Production in the Reaction pi- p --> eta pi- p at 18 GeV/c
Details of the analysis of the eta pi- system studied in the reaction pi^{-}
p --> eta pi^{-} p at 18 GeV/c are given. Separate analyses for the 2 gamma and
pi+ pi- pi0 decay modes of the eta are presented. An amplitude analysis of the
data indicates the presence of interference between the a(2)(1320)- and a
J^{PC}=1^{-+} wave between 1.2 and 1.6 GeV/c^2. The phase difference between
these waves shows phase motion not attributable solely to the a(2)(1320)-. The
data can be fitted by interference between the a(2)(1320)- and an exotic 1^{-+}
resonance with M = 1370 +-16 +50 -30} MeV/c^2 and Gamma = 385 +- 40 +65 -105
MeV/c^2. Our results are compared with those of other experiments.Comment: 50 pages of text and 34 figure
Identification of a cytokine network sustaining neutrophil and Th17 activation in untreated early rheumatoid arthritis
© 2010 Cascão et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by sustained
synovitis. Recently, several studies have proposed neutrophils and Th17 cells as key players in the onset and
perpetuation of this disease. The main goal of this work was to determine whether cytokines driving neutrophil
and Th17 activation are dysregulated in very early rheumatoid arthritis patients with less than 6 weeks of disease
duration and before treatment (VERA).
Methods: Cytokines related to neutrophil and Th17 activation were quantified in the serum of VERA and
established RA patients and compared with other very early arthritis (VEA) and healthy controls. Synovial fluid (SF)
from RA and osteoarthritis (OA) patients was also analyzed.
Results: VERA patients had increased serum levels of cytokines promoting Th17 polarization (IL-1b and IL-6), as
well as IL-8 and Th17-derived cytokines (IL-17A and IL-22) known to induce neutrophil-mediated inflammation. In
established RA this pattern is more evident within the SF. Early treatment with methotrexate or corticosteroids led
to clinical improvement but without an impact on the cytokine pattern.
Conclusions: VERA patients already display increased levels of cytokines related with Th17 polarization and
neutrophil recruitment and activation, a dysregulation also found in SF of established RA. 0 Thus, our data suggest
that a cytokine-milieu favoring Th17 and neutrophil activity is an early event in RA pathogenesis.This work was supported by a grant from Sociedade Portuguesa de Reumatologia/Schering-Plough 2005. RAM and RC were funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) SFRH/BD/30247/2006 and
SFRH/BD/40513/2007, respectively. MMS-C was funded by Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship PERG-2008-239422 and a EULAR Young Investigator Award
Molecular characterization of nodule worm in a community of Bornean primates
Strongyles are commonly reported parasites in studies of primate parasite biodiversity. Among them, nodule worm species are often overlooked as a serious concern despite having been observed to cause serious disease in nonhuman primates and humans. In this study, we investigated whether strongyles found in Bornean primates are the nodule worm Oesophagostomum spp., and to what extent these parasites are shared among members of the community. To test this, we propose two hypotheses that use the parasite genetic structure to infer transmission processes within the community. In the first scenario, the absence of parasite genetic substructuring would reflect high levels of parasite transmission among primate hosts, as primates’ home ranges overlap in the study area. In the second scenario, the presence of parasite substructuring would suggest cryptic diversity within the parasite genus and the existence of phylogenetic barriers to cross‐species transmission. By using molecular markers, we identify strongyles infecting this primate community as O. aculeatum, the only species of nodule worm currently known to infect Asian nonhuman primates. Furthermore, the little to no genetic substructuring supports a scenario with no phylogenetic barriers to transmission and where host movements across the landscape would enable gene flow between host populations. This work shows that the parasite's high adaptability could act as a buffer against local parasite extinctions. Surveys targeting human populations living in close proximity to nonhuman primates could help clarify whether this species of nodule worm presents the zoonotic potential found in the other two species infecting African nonhuman primate
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