189 research outputs found
Information and entropy in quantum Brownian motion: Thermodynamic entropy versus von Neumann entropy
We compare the thermodynamic entropy of a quantum Brownian oscillator derived
from the partition function of the subsystem with the von Neumann entropy of
its reduced density matrix. At low temperatures we find deviations between
these two entropies which are due to the fact that the Brownian particle and
its environment are entangled. We give an explanation for these findings and
point out that these deviations become important in cases where statements
about the information capacity of the subsystem are associated with
thermodynamic properties, as it is the case for the Landauer principle.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure
Electroencephalography (EEG) for neurological prognostication after cardiac arrest and targeted temperature management; rationale and study design.
BACKGROUND: Electroencephalography (EEG) is widely used to assess neurological prognosis in patients who are comatose after cardiac arrest, but its value is limited by varying definitions of pathological patterns and by inter-rater variability. The American Clinical Neurophysiology Society (ACNS) has recently proposed a standardized EEG-terminology for critical care to address these limitations.
METHODS/DESIGN: In the TTM-trial, 399 post cardiac arrest patients who remained comatose after rewarming underwent a routine EEG. The presence of clinical seizures, use of sedatives and antiepileptic drugs during the EEG-registration were prospectively documented.
DISCUSSION: A well-defined terminology for interpreting post cardiac arrest EEGs is critical for the use of EEG as a prognostic tool.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: The TTM-trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01020916)
A Survey of Finite Algebraic Geometrical Structures Underlying Mutually Unbiased Quantum Measurements
The basic methods of constructing the sets of mutually unbiased bases in the
Hilbert space of an arbitrary finite dimension are discussed and an emerging
link between them is outlined. It is shown that these methods employ a wide
range of important mathematical concepts like, e.g., Fourier transforms, Galois
fields and rings, finite and related projective geometries, and entanglement,
to mention a few. Some applications of the theory to quantum information tasks
are also mentioned.Comment: 20 pages, 1 figure to appear in Foundations of Physics, Nov. 2006 two
more references adde
Efimov Trimers near the Zero-crossing of a Feshbach Resonance
Near a Feshbach resonance, the two-body scattering length can assume any
value. When it approaches zero, the next-order term given by the effective
range is known to diverge. We consider the question of whether this divergence
(and the vanishing of the scattering length) is accompanied by an anomalous
solution of the three-boson Schr\"odinger equation similar to the one found at
infinite scattering length by Efimov. Within a simple zero-range model, we find
no such solutions, and conclude that higher-order terms do not support Efimov
physics.Comment: 8 pages, no figures, final versio
Entanglement Dynamics in Two-Qubit Open System Interacting with a Squeezed Thermal Bath via Quantum Nondemolition interaction
We analyze the dynamics of entanglement in a two-qubit system interacting
with an initially squeezed thermal environment via a quantum nondemolition
system-reservoir interaction, with the system and reservoir assumed to be
initially separable. We compare and contrast the decoherence of the two-qubit
system in the case where the qubits are mutually close-by (`collective regime')
or distant (`localized regime') with respect to the spatial variation of the
environment. Sudden death of entanglement (as quantified by concurrence) is
shown to occur in the localized case rather than in the collective case, where
entanglement tends to `ring down'. A consequence of the QND character of the
interaction is that the time-evolved fidelity of a Bell state never falls below
, a fact that is useful for quantum communication applications like
a quantum repeater. Using a novel quantification of mixed state entanglement,
we show that there are noise regimes where even though entanglement vanishes,
the state is still available for applications like NMR quantum computation,
because of the presence of a pseudo-pure component.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures, REVTeX
Performance assessment and microbial diversity of two pilot scale multi-stage sub-surface flow constructed wetland systems
This study assessed the performance and diversity of microbial communities in multi-stage sub-surface flow constructed wetland systems (CWs). Our aim was to assess the impact of configuration on treatment performance and microbial diversity in the systems. Results indicate that at loading rates up to 100g-BOD5/m2.day, similar treatment performances can be achieved using either a 3 or 4 stage configuration. In the case of phosphorus (P), the impact of configuration was less obvious and a minimum of 80% P removal can be expected for loadings up to 10g–P/m2.day based on the performance results obtained within the first 16 months of operation. Microbial analysis showed an increased bacterial diversity in stage four compared to the first stage. These results indicate that the design and configuration of multi-stage constructed wetland systems may have an impact on the treatment performance and the composition of the microbial community in the systems, and such knowledge can be used to improve their design and performance
Narrow genetic base in forest restoration with holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) in Sicily
In order to empirically assess the effect of actual seed sampling strategy on
genetic diversity of holm oak (Quercus ilex) forestations in Sicily, we have
analysed the genetic composition of two seedling lots (nursery stock and
plantation) and their known natural seed origin stand by means of six nuclear
microsatellite loci. Significant reduction in genetic diversity and significant
difference in genetic composition of the seedling lots compared to the seed
origin stand were detected. The female and the total effective number of
parents were quantified by means of maternity assignment of seedlings and
temporal changes in allele frequencies. Extremely low effective maternity
numbers were estimated (Nfe 2-4) and estimates accounting for both
seed and pollen donors gave also low values (Ne 35-50). These values
can be explained by an inappropriate forestry seed harvest strategy limited to
a small number of spatially close trees
The Finite Temperature SU(2) Savvidy Model with a Non-trivial Polyakov Loop
We calculate the complete one-loop effective potential for SU(2) gauge bosons
at temperature T as a function of two variables: phi, the angle associated with
a non-trivial Polyakov loop, and H, a constant background chromomagnetic field.
Using techniques broadly applicable to finite temperature field theories, we
develop both low and high temperature expansions. At low temperatures, the real
part of the effective potential V_R indicates a rich phase structure, with a
discontinuous alternation between confined (phi=pi) and deconfined phases
(phi=0). The background field H moves slowly upward from its zero-temperature
value as T increases, in such a way that sqrt(gH)/(pi T) is approximately an
integer. Beyond a certain temperature on the order of sqrt(gH), the deconfined
phase is always preferred. At high temperatures, where asymptotic freedom
applies, the deconfined phase phi=0 is always preferred, and sqrt(gH) is of
order g^2(T)T. The imaginary part of the effective potential is non-zero at the
global minimum of V_R for all temperatures. A non-perturbative magnetic
screening mass of the form M_m = cg^2(T)T with a sufficiently large coefficient
c removes this instability at high temperature, leading to a stable
high-temperature phase with phi=0 and H=0, characteristic of a
weakly-interacting gas of gauge particles. The value of M_m obtained is
comparable with lattice estimates.Comment: 28 pages, 5 eps figures; RevTeX 3 with graphic
Standardized EEG interpretation accurately predicts prognosis after cardiac arrest.
OBJECTIVE: To identify reliable predictors of outcome in comatose patients after cardiac arrest using a single routine EEG and standardized interpretation according to the terminology proposed by the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society.
METHODS: In this cohort study, 4 EEG specialists, blinded to outcome, evaluated prospectively recorded EEGs in the Target Temperature Management trial (TTM trial) that randomized patients to 33°C vs 36°C. Routine EEG was performed in patients still comatose after rewarming. EEGs were classified into highly malignant (suppression, suppression with periodic discharges, burst-suppression), malignant (periodic or rhythmic patterns, pathological or nonreactive background), and benign EEG (absence of malignant features). Poor outcome was defined as best Cerebral Performance Category score 3-5 until 180 days.
RESULTS: Eight TTM sites randomized 202 patients. EEGs were recorded in 103 patients at a median 77 hours after cardiac arrest; 37% had a highly malignant EEG and all had a poor outcome (specificity 100%, sensitivity 50%). Any malignant EEG feature had a low specificity to predict poor prognosis (48%) but if 2 malignant EEG features were present specificity increased to 96% (p < 0.001). Specificity and sensitivity were not significantly affected by targeted temperature or sedation. A benign EEG was found in 1% of the patients with a poor outcome.
CONCLUSIONS: Highly malignant EEG after rewarming reliably predicted poor outcome in half of patients without false predictions. An isolated finding of a single malignant feature did not predict poor outcome whereas a benign EEG was highly predictive of a good outcome
Atomistic characterization of the active-site solvation dynamics of a model photocatalyst
The interactions between the reactive excited state of molecular photocatalysts and surrounding solvent dictate reaction mechanisms and pathways, but are not readily accessible to conventional optical spectroscopic techniques. Here we report an investigation of the structural and solvation dynamics following excitation of a model photocatalytic molecular system [Ir 2 (dimen) 4 ] 2+, where dimen is para-diisocyanomenthane. The time-dependent structural changes in this model photocatalyst, as well as the changes in the solvation shell structure, have been measured with ultrafast diffuse X-ray scattering and simulated with Born-Oppenheimer Molecular Dynamics. Both methods provide direct access to the solute-solvent pair distribution function, enabling the solvation dynamics around the catalytically active iridium sites to be robustly characterized. Our results provide evidence for the coordination of the iridium atoms by the acetonitrile solvent and demonstrate the viability of using diffuse X-ray scattering at free-electron laser sources for studying the dynamics of photocatalysis. © The Author(s) 201617111sciescopu
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