Classical and Quantum Fluctuation Theorems for Heat Exchange

The statistics of heat exchange between two classical or quantum finite systems initially prepared at different temperatures are shown to obey a fluctuation theorem.Comment: 4 pages, 1 included figure, to appear in Phys Rev Let

Numerical Simulations of Torsional Alfv\'en Waves in Axisymmetric Solar Magnetic Flux Tubes

We investigate numerically Alfv\'en waves propagating along an axisymmetric and non-isothermal solar flux tube embedded in the solar atmosphere. The tube magnetic field is current-free and diverges with height, and the waves are excited by a periodic driver along the tube magnetic field lines. The main results are that the two wave variables, the velocity and magnetic field perturbations in the azimuthal direction, behave differently as a result of gradients of physical parameters along the tube. To explain these differences in the wave behavior, the time evolution of the wave variables and the resulting cutoff period for each wave variable are calculated, and used to determine regions in the solar chromosphere where strong wave reflection may occur.Comment: Submitted to Solar Physics (accepted

Gentisic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Total Phenolic Content and Cholinesterase Inhibitory Activities of Red Wines Made from Various Grape Varieties

Alzheimer’s disease is characterised by a decrease in acetylcholine (ACh) levels in the brain due to the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). As a result, disorders in cholinergic transmission are observed, leading to cognitive impairment. In this work, the inhibition of AChE and BChE activities by red wines made of various grape varieties was determined for the first time.  There was no significant difference in the polyphenol content between the grape varieties; nevertheless, there were significant differences in the content of gentisic acid and salicylic acid, and in the inhibition of AChE and BChE between the wine samples. A statistically significant correlation between AChE inhibitory activity and salicylic acid, as well as between BChE inhibitory activity and total phenolic content, was recorded. In model solution studies, it was shown that salicylic acid effectively inhibited BChE activity at concentrations similar to the maximum concentrations found in the test wines. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) revealed that the wines could be divided into three groups. Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah wines had the highest content of salicylic acid and AChE inhibitory activity, as well as low BChE inhibitory activity. Pinot noir, Tempranillo, Regent and Rondo wines showed the lowest content of salicylic acid and low AChE inhibitory activity. Garnacha tinta, Merlot, Montepulciano and Negroamaro wines had a medium content of salicylic acid, and the highest or medium BChE inhibitory activity. This work is important for both the wine industry and for health protection

Sudden cardiac event on a sea-going ship and recognition of a work-related accident

Objectives. Evaluation of the effect of selected work environment factors on a sea-going ship on the occurrence of a sudden cardiac event and its recognition as a work-related accident. Background. Sudden cardiac events, myocardial infarction in particular, among crews of seagoing ships are the most frequent reasons for fatal morbid events. In more than 20% of such cases, conditions and organization of work at sea are found to be of essential importance. Problems with certification are related with the assessment of the significance and impact of specific work environment factors overlapping with classic genetic and environmental factors of diseases of atherosclerotic origin. Material and methods. The analysis embraced medical documentation on the state of health and working conditions at sea concerning 30 crewmembers of Polish sea-going vessels, who had suffered from sudden cardiac events in the years 1998–2009. The impact of selected work environment factors on the legitimacy of legal recognition of the event as a work-related accident was analysed by Fisher’s test and multi-factorial regression. Results. The presence of classic genetic and environmental risk factors of cardiovascular events was confirmed in all persons examined. A significant effect on destabilization of the disease, deterioration of health, and the occurrence of a sudden circulation event was shown to be strictly related with isometric and dynamic effort, particularly with heat discomfort in the maritime work environment. This satisfied the legal criteria for recognition of a work-related accident in half of the cases examined. Conclusions. Isometric and dynamic effort associated with work under heat stress conditions may be regarded as a decisive causative factor for a sudden cardiac event and the recognition of a work-related accident at sea. (Int Marit Health 2011; 62, 2: 110–115

Distribution of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-immunoreactive elements in the rabbit piriform cortex

The piriform cortex (PC), the primary olfactory cortex, is involved in the processes of learning and stress response and possibly plays an important role in epileptogenic activity. The results of several recent studies suggest that those PC neurons that contain neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) may play a key role during spatial learning and in the modulation of initiation, propagation and generalisation of seizures in various experimental models and may influence neuronal vulnerability after epileptic insults. The aim of this study was to characterise the pattern of distribution and morphology of nNOS-immunoreactive elements in PC of the adult rabbit. The co-localisation of nNOS and calretinin (CR) was also studied. The pattern of nNOS-ir within the rabbit PC is similar to that described previously in other mammals. The morphology of nNOS-ir elements, namely varicose fibres and Cajal-Retzius cells, suggest that NO has an important influence on PC function. Surprisingly, in the rabbit PC nNOS-ir elements show a very low level of co-localisation with CR-ir

Linear optics implementation of general two-photon projective measurement

We will present a method of implementation of general projective measurement of two-photon polarization state with the use of linear optics elements only. The scheme presented succeeds with a probability of at least 1/16. For some specific measurements, (e.g. parity measurement) this probability reaches 1/4.Comment: 8 page

Fractal Noise in Quantum Ballistic and Diffusive Lattice Systems

We demonstrate fractal noise in the quantum evolution of wave packets moving either ballistically or diffusively in periodic and quasiperiodic tight-binding lattices, respectively. For the ballistic case with various initial superpositions we obtain a space-time self-affine fractal $\Psi(x,t)$ which verify the predictions by Berry for "a particle in a box", in addition to quantum revivals. For the diffusive case self-similar fractal evolution is also obtained. These universal fractal features of quantum theory might be useful in the field of quantum information, for creating efficient quantum algorithms, and can possibly be detectable in scattering from nanostructures.Comment: 9 pages, 8 postscript figure