329 research outputs found
Indeterminate-length quantum coding
The quantum analogues of classical variable-length codes are
indeterminate-length quantum codes, in which codewords may exist in
superpositions of different lengths. This paper explores some of their
properties. The length observable for such codes is governed by a quantum
version of the Kraft-McMillan inequality. Indeterminate-length quantum codes
also provide an alternate approach to quantum data compression.Comment: 32 page
On asymptotic continuity of functions of quantum states
A useful kind of continuity of quantum states functions in asymptotic regime
is so-called asymptotic continuity. In this paper we provide general tools for
checking if a function possesses this property. First we prove equivalence of
asymptotic continuity with so-called it robustness under admixture. This allows
us to show that relative entropy distance from a convex set including maximally
mixed state is asymptotically continuous. Subsequently, we consider it arrowing
- a way of building a new function out of a given one. The procedure originates
from constructions of intrinsic information and entanglement of formation. We
show that arrowing preserves asymptotic continuity for a class of functions
(so-called subextensive ones). The result is illustrated by means of several
examples.Comment: Minor corrections, version submitted for publicatio
Classical information deficit and monotonicity on local operations
We investigate classical information deficit: a candidate for measure of
classical correlations emerging from thermodynamical approach initiated in
[Phys. Rev. Lett 89, 180402]. It is defined as a difference between amount of
information that can be concentrated by use of LOCC and the information
contained in subsystems. We show nonintuitive fact, that one way version of
this quantity can increase under local operation, hence it does not possess
property required for a good measure of classical correlations. Recently it was
shown by Igor Devetak, that regularised version of this quantity is monotonic
under LO. In this context, our result implies that regularization plays a role
of "monotoniser".Comment: 6 pages, revte
Registrar wellness in Botswana: Measuring burnout and identifying ways to improve wellness
Background. Burnout during registrar training is high, especially in resource-limited settings where stressors are intensified. Burnout leads to decreased quality of life for doctors, poor job and patient satisfaction, and difficulty retaining doctors.Objectives. Primary: to measure burnout among registrars working at Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone, Botswana. Secondary: to determine factors contributing to burnout and identify potential wellness interventions.Methods. The validated Maslach Burnout Inventory was used to measure the degree of emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and personal accomplishment. Work-related difficulties and potential wellness interventions were explored through multiple-choice and open-ended questions.Results. Of 40 eligible registrars, 20 (50%) completed the survey. High levels of burnout were reported for emotional exhaustion in 65% (13/20), depersonalisation in 45% (9/20), and personal accomplishment in 35% (7/20) of registrars. A high degree of burnout was reported by 75% (15/20) of registrars in one or more domains. In the previous 7 days, registrars worked an average of 77 hours, took 1.5 overnight calls, slept 5.7 hours per night, and 53% (10/19) had ≥1 of their patients die. Five (25%) registrars considered leaving Botswana to work in another country, which correlated with those with the highest degree of burnout. The most common frustrations included insufficient salary and limited medical resources. Suggested interventions included improved mentorship and wellness lectures.Conclusions. There is a high degree of burnout, especially emotional exhaustion, among registrars. Encouragingly, most registrars have a desire to work in Botswana after training. Future research on improving registrar wellness in low-resource settings is urgently needed
Additivity and non-additivity of multipartite entanglement measures
We study the additivity property of three multipartite entanglement measures,
i.e. the geometric measure of entanglement (GM), the relative entropy of
entanglement and the logarithmic global robustness. First, we show the
additivity of GM of multipartite states with real and non-negative entries in
the computational basis. Many states of experimental and theoretical interests
have this property, e.g. Bell diagonal states, maximally correlated generalized
Bell diagonal states, generalized Dicke states, the Smolin state, and the
generalization of D\"{u}r's multipartite bound entangled states. We also prove
the additivity of other two measures for some of these examples. Second, we
show the non-additivity of GM of all antisymmetric states of three or more
parties, and provide a unified explanation of the non-additivity of the three
measures of the antisymmetric projector states. In particular, we derive
analytical formulae of the three measures of one copy and two copies of the
antisymmetric projector states respectively. Third, we show, with a statistical
approach, that almost all multipartite pure states with sufficiently large
number of parties are nearly maximally entangled with respect to GM and
relative entropy of entanglement. However, their GM is not strong additive;
what's more surprising, for generic pure states with real entries in the
computational basis, GM of one copy and two copies, respectively, are almost
equal. Hence, more states may be suitable for universal quantum computation, if
measurements can be performed on two copies of the resource states. We also
show that almost all multipartite pure states cannot be produced reversibly
with the combination multipartite GHZ states under asymptotic LOCC, unless
relative entropy of entanglement is non-additive for generic multipartite pure
states.Comment: 45 pages, 4 figures. Proposition 23 and Theorem 24 are revised by
correcting a minor error from Eq. (A.2), (A.3) and (A.4) in the published
version. The abstract, introduction, and summary are also revised. All other
conclusions are unchange
Spin and Rotations in Galois Field Quantum Mechanics
We discuss the properties of Galois Field Quantum Mechanics constructed on a
vector space over the finite Galois field GF(q). In particular, we look at
2-level systems analogous to spin, and discuss how SO(3) rotations could be
embodied in such a system. We also consider two-particle `spin' correlations
and show that the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (CHSH) inequality is nonetheless
not violated in this model.Comment: 21 pages, 11 pdf figures, LaTeX. Uses iopart.cls. Revised
introduction. Additional reference
Analysis of health concerns not addressed by REACH for low tonnage chemicals and opportunities for new approach methodology
In Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) the criterion for deciding the studies that must be performed is the annual tonnage of the chemical manufactured or imported into the EU. The annual tonnage may be considered as a surrogate for levels of human exposure but this does not take into account the physico-chemical properties and use patterns that determine exposure. Chemicals are classified using data from REACH under areas of health concern covering effects on the skin and eye; sensitisation; acute, repeated and prolonged systemic exposure; effects on genetic material; carcinogenicity; and reproduction and development. We analysed the mandated study lists under REACH for each annual tonnage band in terms of the information they provide on each of the areas of health concern. Using the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) REACH Registration data base of over 20,000 registered substances, we found that only 19% of registered substances have datasets on all areas of health concern. Information limited to acute exposure, sensitisation and genotoxicity was found for 62%. The analysis highlighted the shortfall of information mandated for substances in the lower tonnage bands. Deploying New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) at this lower tonnage band to assess health concerns which are currently not covered by REACH, such as repeat and extended exposure and carcinogenicity, would provide additional information and would be a way for registrants and regulators to gain experience in the use of NAMs. There are currently projects in Europe aiming to develop NAM-based assessment frameworks and they could find their first use in assessing low tonnage chemicals once confidence has been gained by their evaluation with data rich chemicals
Cohesin Is Limiting for the Suppression of DNA Damage–Induced Recombination between Homologous Chromosomes
Double-strand break (DSB) repair through homologous recombination (HR) is an evolutionarily conserved process that is generally error-free. The risk to genome stability posed by nonallelic recombination or loss-of-heterozygosity could be reduced by confining HR to sister chromatids, thereby preventing recombination between homologous chromosomes. Here we show that the sister chromatid cohesion complex (cohesin) is a limiting factor in the control of DSB repair and genome stability and that it suppresses DNA damage–induced interactions between homologues. We developed a gene dosage system in tetraploid yeast to address limitations on various essential components in DSB repair and HR. Unlike RAD50 and RAD51, which play a direct role in HR, a 4-fold reduction in the number of essential MCD1 sister chromatid cohesion subunit genes affected survival of gamma-irradiated G2/M cells. The decreased survival reflected a reduction in DSB repair. Importantly, HR between homologous chromosomes was strongly increased by ionizing radiation in G2/M cells with a single copy of MCD1 or SMC3 even at radiation doses where survival was high and DSB repair was efficient. The increased recombination also extended to nonlethal doses of UV, which did not induce DSBs. The DNA damage–induced recombinants in G2/M cells included crossovers. Thus, the cohesin complex has a dual role in protecting chromosome integrity: it promotes DSB repair and recombination between sister chromatids, and it suppresses damage-induced recombination between homologues. The effects of limited amounts of Mcd1and Smc3 indicate that small changes in cohesin levels may increase the risk of genome instability, which may lead to genetic diseases and cancer
Remifentanil-propofol analgo-sedation shortens duration of ventilation and length of ICU stay compared to a conventional regimen: A centre randomised, cross-over, open-label study in the Netherlands
Objective: Compare duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), weaning time, ICU-LOS (ICU-LOS), efficacy and safety of remifentanil-based regimen with conventional sedation and analgesia. Design: Centre randomised, open-label, crossover, 'real-life' study. Setting: 15 Dutch hospitals. Patients: Adult medical and post-surgical ICU patients with anticipated short-term (2-3 days) MV. Interventions: Patient cohorts were randomised to remifentanil-based regimen (n = 96) with propofol as required, for a maximum of 10 days, or to conventional regimens (n = 109) of propofol, midazolam or lorazepam combined with fentanyl or morphine. Measurements and main results: Outcomes were weaning time, duration of MV, ICU-LOS, sedation- and analgesia levels, intensivist/ICU nurse satisfaction, adverse events, mean arterial pressure, heart rate. Median duration of ventilation (MV) was 5.1 days with conventional treatment versus 3.9 days with remifentanil (NS). The remifentanil-based regimen reduced median weaning time by 18.9 h (P = 0.0001). Median ICU-LOS was 7.9 days versus 5.9 days, respectively (NS). However, the treatment effects on duration of MV and ICU stay were time-dependent: patients were almost twice as likely to be extubated (P = 0.018) and discharged from the ICU (P = 0.05) on day 1-3. Propofol doses were reduced by 20% (P = 0.05). Remifentanil also improved sedation-agitation scores (P < 0.0001) and intensivist/ICU nurse satisfaction (P < 0.0001). All other outcomes were comparable. Conclusions: In patients with an expected short-term duration of MV, remifentanil significantly improves sedation and agitation levels and reduces weaning time. This contributes to a shorter duration of MV and ICU-LOS
Integrin-Blocking Antibodies Delay Keratinocyte Re-Epithelialization in a Human Three-Dimensional Wound Healing Model
The α6β4 integrin plays a significant role in tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis through modulation of growth factor signaling, and is a potentially important therapeutic target. However, α6β4-mediated cell-matrix adhesion is critical in normal keratinocyte attachment, signaling and anchorage to the basement membrane through its interaction with laminin-5, raising potential risks for targeted therapy. Bioengineered Human Skin Equivalent (HSE), which have been shown to mimic their normal and wounded counterparts, have been used here to investigate the consequences of targeting β4 to establish toxic effects on normal tissue homeostasis and epithelial wound repair. We tested two antibodies directed to different β4 epitopes, one adhesion-blocking (ASC-8) and one non-adhesion blocking (ASC-3), and determined that these antibodies were appropriately localized to the basal surface of keratinocytes at the basement membrane interface where β4 is expressed. While normal tissue architecture was not altered, ASC-8 induced a sub-basal split at the basement membrane in non-wounded tissue. In addition, wound closure was significantly inhibited by ASC-8, but not by ASC-3, as the epithelial tongue only covered 40 percent of the wound area at 120 hours post-wounding. These results demonstrate β4 adhesion-blocking antibodies may have adverse effects on normal tissue, whereas antibodies directed to other epitopes may provide safer alternatives for therapy. Taken together, we conclude that these three-dimensional tissue models provide a biologically relevant platform to identify toxic effects induced by candidate therapeutics, which will allow generation of findings that are more predictive of in vivo responses early in the drug development process
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