Quantum discord and classical correlation can tighten the uncertainty principle in the presence of quantum memory

Uncertainty relations capture the essence of the inevitable randomness associated with the outcomes of two incompatible quantum measurements. Recently, Berta et al. have shown that the lower bound on the uncertainties of the measurement outcomes depends on the correlations between the observed system and an observer who possesses a quantum memory. If the system is maximally entangled with its memory, the outcomes of two incompatible measurements made on the system can be predicted precisely. Here, we obtain a new uncertainty relation that tightens the lower bound of Berta et al., by incorporating an additional term that depends on the quantum discord and the classical correlations of the joint state of the observed system and the quantum memory. We discuss several examples of states for which our new lower bound is tighter than the bound of Berta et al. On the application side, we discuss the relevance of our new inequality for the security of quantum key distribution and show that it can be used to provide bounds on the distillable common randomness and the entanglement of formation of bipartite quantum states.Comment: v1: Latex, 4 and half pages, one fig; v2: 9 pages including 4-page appendix; v3: accepted into Physical Review A with minor change

Point Contact Spectroscopy of Superconducting Gap Anisotropy in Nickel Borocarbide Compound LuNi2B2C

Point contacts are used to investigate the anisotropy of the superconducting energy gap in LuNi2B2C in the ab plane and along the c axis. It is shown that the experimental curves should be described assuming that the superconducting gap is non-uniformly distributed over the Fermi surface. The largest and the smallest gaps have been estimated by two-gap fitting models. It is found that the largest contribution to the point-contact conductivity in the c direction is made by a smaller gap and, in the ab plane by a larger gap. The deviation from the one-gap BCS model is pronounced in the temperature dependence of the gap in both directions. The temperature range, where the deviation occurs, is for the c direction approximately 1.5 times more than in the ab plane. The \Gamma parameter, allowing quantitatively estimate the gap anisotropy by one-gap fitting, in c direction is also about 1.5 times greater than in the ab plane. Since it is impossible to describe satisfactorily such gap distribution either by the one- or two-gap models, a continuous, dual-maxima model of gap distribution over the Fermi surface should be used to describe superconductivity in this material.Comment: 10 pages, 14 Figs, accepted in PR

Solid-state NMR spectroscopy of functional amyloid from a fungal hydrophobin: A well-ordered β-sheet core amidst structural heterogeneity.

GrEASy fibrils: Hydrophobins are fungal proteins that assemble into an amphipathic fibrillar monolayer with amyloid properties and a hydrophobic face as water-resistant as Teflon. Solid-state NMR studies on EAS hydrophobin fibrils reveal direct evidence of a partial molecular rearrangement on assembly and an ordered β-sheet-rich core in the context of a whole protein in this functional amyloid

Alles verändert sich, damit es bleibt wie es ist!:erste Ergebnisse aus dem Forschungsprojekt "Geschlechterverhältnisse in autoritären und hybriden Regimen" am Fallbeispiel Nicaragua

Trotz weltweiter Demokratisierungsprozesse gehören autokratische und hybride Regierungssysteme nach wie vor zur politischen Realität. So werden aktuell ein Viertel aller Staaten und ein Drittel der Weltbevölkerung in Form von Monarchien, Präsidialautokratien, Familienautokratien, Militärjuntas sowie semi-demokratischen Systemen entweder autoritär oder begrenzt bzw. defizitär demokratisch regiert. Die Rolle von Geschlechterverhältnissen und die Bedeutung dieser Entwicklungen für die politische, soziale und ökonomische Stellung von Frauen, ist bisher von den Sozialwissenschaften nicht systematisch in den Blick genommen worden. Diesem Forschungsdesiderat widmet sich das Projekt „Geschlechterverhältnisse in autoritären und hybriden Regimen“ des Zentrums für Europäische Geschlechterstudien (ZEUGS) der Universität Münster. Der Journalartikel „Alles verändert sich, damit es bleibt, wie es ist“ fasst die ersten vielversprechenden Forschungsergebnisse sowohl theoretisch als auch praktisch am Beispiel der Zivilgesellschaft in Nicaragua zusammen

The ethical challenge of Touraine's 'living together'

In Can We Live Together? Alain Touraine combines a consummate analysis of crucial social tensions in contemporary societies with a strong normative appeal for a new emancipatory 'Subject' capable of overcoming the twin threats of atomisation or authoritarianism. He calls for a move from 'politics to ethics' and then from ethics back to politics to enable the new Subject to make a reality out of the goals of democracy and solidarity. However, he has little to say about the nature of such an ethics. This article argues that this lacuna could usefully be filled by adopting a form of radical humanism found in the work of Erich Fromm. It defies convention in the social sciences by operating from an explicit view of the 'is' and the 'ought' of common human nature, specifying reason, love and productive work as the qualities to be realised if we are to move closer to human solidarity. Although there remain significant philosophical and political differences between the two positions, particularly on the role to be played by 'the nation', their juxtaposition opens new lines of inquiry in the field of cosmopolitan ethics

Trunk Control And Standing Tolerance Of A Patient With Paraparesis As A Result Of Transverse Myelitis And Mycotic Aneurysm Rupture: A Case Report

Background and Purpose: Transverse myelitis (TM) is a rare condition in which the spinal cord becomes inflamed resulting in pain, paraparesis or paraplegia, impaired sensation, and/or impaired autonomic function. Approximately two-thirds recover with mild to moderate symptoms, but one-third are left with severe and disabling symptoms. Cerebral mycotic aneurysm (CMA) rupture is a brain injury due to a burst artery resulting in diminished blood supply to the brain. There is literature on beneficial physical therapy (PT) intervention progressions following brain injury, such as bed mobility strategies and pre-gait activities, but there is little published on PT for impairments as a result of concurrent TM and CMA ruptures. The purpose of this case report was to describe the PT interventions provided to a patient with paraparesis as a result of TM and multiple CMA ruptures to progress toward achieving his goals of standing and ambulating with a standard walker and bilateral knee-ankle-foot-orthoses (KAFOs). Case Description: The 28-year-old male patient had been seen for two years at an outpatient clinic with an accredited brain injury program. The patient encountered several barriers throughout his rehabilitation, such as repairs to his KAFOs and low bone mineral density, which resulted in a decrease in standing tolerance over time. Outcomes: The Brain Injury Assessment Tool (BIAT) and manual muscle testing were used to document changes throughout the patient’s period of care. No significant changes were observed. Discussion: This patient, despite minimal improvements over a two-year period, may have the potential to increase his trunk control and standing tolerance if he has an extended period of time with no barriers to his rehabilitation

An occupational therapy intervention for residents with stroke related disabilities in UK care homes (OTCH): cluster randomised controlled trial

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of an established programme of occupational therapy in maintaining functional activity and reducing further health risks from inactivity in care home residents living with stroke sequelae. Design Pragmatic, parallel group, cluster randomised controlled trial. Setting 228 care homes (>10 beds each), both with and without the provision of nursing care, local to 11 trial administrative centres across the United Kingdom. Participants 1042 care home residents with a history of stroke or transient ischaemic attack, including those with language and cognitive impairments, not receiving end of life care. 114 homes (n=568 residents, 64% from homes providing nursing care) were allocated to the intervention arm and 114 homes (n=474 residents, 65% from homes providing nursing care) to standard care (control arm). Participating care homes were randomised between May 2010 and March 2012. Intervention Targeted three month programme of occupational therapy, delivered by qualified occupational therapists and assistants, involving patient centred goal setting, education of care home staff, and adaptations to the environment. Main outcome measures Primary outcome at the participant level: scores on the Barthel index of activities of daily living at three months post-randomisation. Secondary outcome measures at the participant level: Barthel index scores at six and 12 months post-randomisation, and scores on the Rivermead mobility index, geriatric depression scale-15, and EuroQol EQ-5D-3L questionnaire, at all time points. Results 64% of the participants were women and 93% were white, with a mean age of 82.9 years. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups for all measures, personal characteristics, and diagnostic tests. Overall, 2538 occupational therapy visits were made to 498 participants in the intervention arm (mean 5.1 visits per participant). No adverse events attributable to the intervention were recorded. 162 (11%) died before the primary outcome time point, and 313 (30%) died over the 12 months of the trial. The primary outcome measure did not differ significantly between the treatment arms. The adjusted mean difference in Barthel index score at three months was 0.19 points higher in the intervention arm (95% confidence interval −0.33 to 0.70, P=0.48). Secondary outcome measures also showed no significant differences at all time points. Conclusions This large phase III study provided no evidence of benefit for the provision of a routine occupational therapy service, including staff training, for care home residents living with stroke related disabilities. The established three month individualised course of occupational therapy targeting stroke related disabilities did not have an impact on measures of functional activity, mobility, mood, or health related quality of life, at all observational time points. Providing and targeting ameliorative care in this clinically complex population requires alternative strategies