Studies in relativity and quantum information theory

This thesis explores a broad range of topics in the foundations of relativity and quantum information theory. The first and main topic of this thesis is on relativistic quantum information theory. Here we construct a reformulation of quantum information, which is consistent with relativity theory. We will see that by providing a rigorous formulation starting with the field equations for a massive fermion and a photon we can construct a theory for relativistic quantum information. In particular we provide a measurement formalism, a transport equation which describes the unitary evolution of a state through spacetime as well as how to extend this to multipartite systems. The second topic concerns the nature of time, duration and clocks in current physical theories and in particular for Newtonian mechanics. We analyse the relationship between the readings of clocks in Newtonian mechanics with absolute time. We will see that in order to answer this question we must provide not only a model for a clock but also solve what is referred to as Newton’s Scholium problem. We then compare this with other dynamical theories in particular quantum mechanics and general relativity where the treatment of time is quite different from Newtonian mechanics. The final topic is rather different from the first two. In this chapter we investigate a range of methods to perform tomography in a solid-state qubit device, for which a priori initialization and measurement of the qubit is restricted to a single basis of the Bloch sphere. We explore and compare several methods to acquire precise descriptions of additional states and measurements, quantifying both stochastic and systematic errors, ultimately leading to a tomographically-complete set that can be subsequently used in process tomography. We focus in detail on the example of a spin qubit formed by the singlet-triplet subspace of two electron spins in a GaAs double quantum dot, although our approach is quite general

Contactless mass transfer for intra-droplet extraction

This study demonstrates the possibility of “contactless” mass transfer between two aqueous slugs (droplets) separated by an oil slug in Taylor flow inside milli-channels. Separation of the alternating aqueous slugs at the outlet was performed by switching a couple of solenoid valves at branched outlets according to signals obtained by an optical sensor at the branch. Transfer of bromothymol blue (BTB) from acidic to basic aqueous slugs was performed for demonstration. In some cases, aqueous slugs separated by oil, merged catching on each other due to the velocity difference. Interfacial tension which was affected by the solute concentration was responsible for the velocity difference. Position-specific mass transfer activity at the rear end of the aqueous slugs was found on the course of the experiment. A meandering channel decreased the velocity difference and enhanced mass transfer. Almost complete (93%) transfer of BTB was achieved within a short residence time of several minutes under optimized conditions. The presented system opens a way for advanced separation using minimum amounts of the oil phase and allows concentrating the solute by altering relative lengths of the sender and receiver slugs

Essential Role of Thioredoxin 2 in Mitigating Oxidative Stress in Retinal Epithelial Cells

The retina is constantly subjected to oxidative stress, which is countered by potent antioxidative systems present in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Disruption of these systems leads to the development of age-related macular degeneration. Thioredoxin 2 (Trx2) is a potent antioxidant, which acts directly on mitochondria. In the present study, oxidative stress was induced in the human RPE cell line (ARPE-19) using 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) or C2-ceramide. The protective effect of Trx2 against oxidative stress was investigated by assessing cell viability, the kinetics of cell death, mitochondrial metabolic activity, and expression of heat shock proteins (Hsps) in Trx2-overexpressing cell lines generated by transfecting ARPE cells with an adeno-associated virus vector encoding Trx2. We show that overexpression of Trx2 reduced cell death induced by both agents when they were present in low concentrations. Moreover, early after the induction of oxidative stress Trx2 played a key role in the maintenance of the cell viability through upregulation of mitochondrial metabolic activity and inhibition of Hsp70 expression

99mTc generator using molybdenum nanoparticles

The version of record of this article, first published in Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, is available online at Publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-09173-

Obesity and Cardiovascular Risk After Quitting Smoking: The Latest Evidence

Smoking cessation is one of the most effective ways to reduce cardiovascular risk. However, weight gain and abdominal obesity generally occur after quitting smoking, as a result of nicotine withdrawal. Obesity increases various inflammatory markers, and weight gain after smoking cessation temporarily increases the risk of diabetes and reduces the benefit gained by smoking abstinence. The benefits of smoking cessation may be minimised by obesity in those who have stopped smoking. Pharmacological treatment with medications such as nicotine patches and varenicline is useful to suppress weight gain during smoking cessation. Supporting patients to continue smoking cessation and to gradually decrease their weight will be crucial

Relationship between the position of the maxillary molars and the infrazygomatic crest morphology

This study aimed to evaluate the morphological characteristics of the infrazygomatic crest with various jaw morphologies, occlusal forces, and maxillary first molar position in three dimensions to explore various factors that affect the morphology of the infrazygomatic crest, and to obtain knowledge regarding the ideal maxillary first molar position. Seventy-three Japanese subjects （32males with a mean age of 22.50±6.23 years and 41 females with a mean age of 25.17±6.78 years） had their occlusal force measured and underwent cone-beam CT for orthodontic treatment. The subjects were categorized into the following three groups based on the mandibular plane angle （Mp）: hypodivergent group （Mp＜23°）, normodivergent group （Mp 23°‒30°）, and hyperdivergent group （Mp≥30°）. Subjects were also divided into two groups based on the maxillary first molar positions: mesial and distal. The thickness of the infrazygomatic crest was evaluated using cross-sectional cone-beam CT images obtained in the coronal and axial planes. The thickness of the infrazygomatic crest in the coronal plane significantly differed among the hypodivergent, normodivergent, and hyperdivergent groups and between the mesial and distal groups. The thickness of the infrazygomatic crest in the axial plane significantly differed among the hypodivergent, normodivergent, and hyperdivergent groups. In conclusion, differences in the maxillary first molar position and the vertical skeletal pattern may affect the morphology of the infrazygomatic crest

Resolution of pulmonary multiplanar reconstruction images from 0.5-mm theoretical isotropic data: a fundamental study using an inflated and fixed lung specimen.

The aim of the present study was to define the resolution of multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) of the lung from &#34;theoretical isotropic data.&#34; Using inflated and fixed lung specimens of the pig placed in the chest wall phantom, 0.5-mm isotropic data were obtained with 2 different helical pitches: 1:7 (high-quality mode) or 1:13, (high-speed mode), and 2 different tube currents: 250 mAs (high-tube-current mode) or 100 mAs (low-tube-current mode), with or without overlapping reconstruction. MPRs were created from these axial data. The diameter of the smallest visible pulmonary artery and bronchi of these CT images were measured on the corresponding slices of the specimen. The high-speed and low-tube-current mode significantly degraded the image quality due to increased noise. The smallest visible pulmonary artery and bronchus resolved on MPRs from axial-spiral data with 0.5-mm collimation were approximately 100 micrometer and 1,000 micrometer in diameter, respectively. In conclusion, helical pitch and tube current influence the resolution of MPR of the lung.</p

The Nutritional Status of Japanese Black Breeding Cows Grazed in a Larger Abandoned Paddy Field

Because rice consumption has decreased in Japan, the number of abandoned paddy fields has increased. Some of the abandoned paddy fields are being used for livestock grazing, effectively using the abandoned fields and reducing the production costs on livestock farms. Such grazing may use an integrated grazing system of scattered small pastures where each of the small abandoned paddy fields scattered in a given agriculture area is defined as one grazing yard, and a herd consisting of two or three head of cattle is moved from one grazing yard to another. However, because the number of abandoned paddy fields has increased, it may be possible to have cattle grazing in larger fields made by combining multiple abandoned paddy fields (Shindo and Tejima 2006). Here we examined the nutritional status of Japanese Black breeding cows that stayed in larger-sized abandoned paddy fields to graze from spring to autumn