Journals
2014 EN
Clarice D. Aiello · Michele Allegra · Boerge Hemmerling
+2 more
We present an algebraic framework to study the time-optimal synthesis ofarbitrary unitaries in SU(2), when the control set is restricted to rotationsaround two non-parallel axes in the Bloch sphere. Our method bypasses commonlyused control-theoretical techniques, and easily imposes necessary conditions ontime-optimal sequences. In a straightforward fashion, we prove thattime-optimal sequences are solely parametrized by three rotation angles andderive general bounds on those angles as a function of the relative rotationspeed of each control and the angle between the axes. Results are substantiallydifferent whether both clockwise and counterclockwise rotations about the givenaxes are allowed, or only clockwise rotations. In the first case, we prove thatany finite time-optimal sequence is composed at most of five controlconcatenations, while for the more restrictive case, we present scaling laws onthe maximum length of any finite time-optimal sequence. The bounds we find forboth cases are stricter than previously published ones and severely constrainthe structure of time-optimal sequences, allowing for an efficient numericalsearch of the time-optimal solution. Our results can be used to find thetime-optimal evolution of qubit systems under the action of the consideredcontrol set, and thus potentially increase the number of realizable unitariesbefore decoherence.
Springer Science+Business Media
Journals
2014 EN
Michele Pezzoni · Francesco Lissoni · Gianluca Tarasconi
International audienc
Springer Nature (Netherlands)
Journals
2014 EN
Michele S. Moses · Lauren P. Saenz · Amy N. Farley
The project we highlight in this article stems from our philosophical work on moral disagreements that appear to be—and sometimes are—intractable. Deliberative democratic theorists tout the merits of dialogue as an effective way to bridge differences of values and opinion, ideally resulting in agreement, or perhaps more often resulting in greater mutual understanding. Could dialogue mitigate disagreements about a controversial education policy such as affirmative action? Could it foster greater understanding? We conceived of a project that would simultaneously fulfill two goals that we had as philosophers, education researchers, and aspiring public intellectuals. First, it would allow us to use philosophy in research, grounding our mixed methods research in a philosophically informed framework. The tools and analytic techniques that are particular to philosophers felt uniquely suited for an empirical study concerning political theory. Second, we aimed to use philosophy in the community. We were able to put our own expertise in philosophy and race-conscious education policy to good use by purposefully creating opportunities for diverse community members in our larger metropolitan area to engage in dialogue and deliberation with each other over the issue of affirmative action.
Journals
2014 EN
Hussain Yusuf · W. Craig Hooper · Michele G. Beckman
+3 more
Previous research has suggested autoimmune diseases are risk factors for developing venous thromboembolism (VTE). We assessed whether having diagnoses of selected autoimmune diseases associated with antiphospholipid antibodies--autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)--were associated with having a VTE diagnosis among US adult hospitalizations. A cross-sectional study was conducted using the 2010 Nationwide Inpatient Sample of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. VTE and autoimmune diseases were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification coded diagnoses information. The percentages of hospitalizations with a VTE diagnosis among all non-maternal adult hospitalizations without any of the four autoimmune diseases of interest and among those with AIHA, ITP, RA, and SLE diagnoses were 2.28, 4.46, 3.35, 2.65 and 2.77%, respectively. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) for having a diagnosis of VTE among non-maternal adult hospitalizations with diagnoses of AIHA, ITP, RA, and SLE were 1.25 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.49], 1.20 (95% CI 1.07-1.34), 1.17 (95% CI 1.13-1.21), and 1.23 (95% CI 1.15-1.32), respectively, when compared to those without the corresponding conditions. The adjusted OR for a diagnosis of VTE associated with a diagnosis of any of the four autoimmune diseases was 1.20 (95% CI 1.16-1.24). The presence of a diagnosis of AIHA, ITP, RA, and SLE was associated with an increased likelihood of having a VTE diagnosis among the group of all non-maternal adult hospitalizations.
Springer Science+Business Media
Journals
2014 EN
Hail Z. Rihan · Mohammed Al-Issawi · Magda Al Shamari
+3 more
Molybdenum (Mo) was used to improve the cold tolerance of cauliflower microshoots/artificial seeds. The optimal stage to introduce Mo to the micropropagation system was found to be the microshoots liquid culture stage, since its use within artificial seed capsules or conversion media had negative effects on conversion rate and viability. Mo was found to improve the cold tolerance of both acclimated and non-acclimated microshoots/artificial seeds. The capacity of Mo to up-regulate CBF/DREB1 in cauliflower microshoots was confirmed. Moreover, this study is the first to confirm the ability of this element to upregulate CBF/DREB1 without any low temperature treatment. Mo significantly increased the accumulation of 23 kDa polypeptide when it was used at 15 ppm concentration. However, Mo had a negative effect on the accumulation of dehydrin proteins which suggest that this group of proteins have no significant role in the cold tolerance of cauliflower microshoots. The study could help in improving the understanding of the abiotic stress network in plants and in improving the quality and efficiency of cauliflower artificial seed production systems
Springer Science+Business Media
Journals
2014 EN
Meriem Fatnassi · Barbara Padalino · Davide Monaco
+4 more
Camel management has been changing in recent years from an extensive to a semi-intensive or intensive system, particularly for breeding bulls and dairy dromedary camels. Captivity may affect animal welfare, and low libido is the major complaint for housed breeding bulls. Since welfare status could also affect reproductive performance, the aim of this study was to evaluate different management practices on behavior, particularly on sexual behavior, and to identify some behavioral needs of male dromedary camels reared for semen collection. The effects of the following management systems on their behavior were compared: (i) traditional: housing in a single stall for 24 h (H24), (ii) housing in a single stall for 23 h with 1 h free in the paddock (H23), and (iii) housing in a single stall for 22 h and 30 min with 1 h paddock time and 30 min exposure to a female camel herd (ExF). During the trial, blood cortisol concentrations were assessed and camels were filmed daily for 30 min in the mornings and during a female passage in the evenings. Videos were analyzed in order to fill out a focal sampling ethogram and to score sexual behavior. As a result, there were no differences between the H24 and H23 systems, whereas ExF had a significant positive impact on their sexual behavior score and behavioral repertoire, further reducing cortisol levels. Overall, it seems that male dromedary camel welfare status improves when their behavioral needs for social interaction and movement are satisfied.
Springer Science+Business Media
Journals
2014 EN
Jayabalan Nirmal · Amanda WolfJohnston · M. Chancellor
+4 more
To study the protection offered by empty liposomes (LPs) alone against acrolein-induced changes in urothelial cell viability and explored uptake of LPs by primary (rat) urothelial cells.
Springer Science+Business Media
Journals
2014 EN
Kenneth M. Peters · Deborah Hasenau · Kim A. Killinger
+3 more
Intravesical instillation of liposomes is a potentially new therapeutic option for subjects with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). The aim of this study was to explore the safety and clinical outcomes of 4 weekly instillations of sphingomyelin liposomes in an open-label cohort of subjects with IC/BPS.
Springer Science+Business Media
Journals
2014 EN
Michele D’Amico · Michele Freppaz · Giovanni Leonelli
+2 more
Climate change is driving strong variations in mountain habitats, such as glacier retreat, which is releasing large surfaces soon colonized by vegetation and attacked by weathering and pedogenesis. Many proglacial soil chronosequences have been studied in different parts of the world, but no study is available on early soil development and pedogenesis on serpentinite.
Springer Science+Business Media
Journals
2014 EN
Amy Herrick · Ron Stall · James E. Egan
+2 more
Research shows that young men who have sex with men (YMSM) engage in higher rates of health risk behaviors and experience higher rates of negative health outcomes than their peers. The purpose of this study is to determine if the effects of adversity on HIV risk are mediated by syndemics (co-occurring health problems). Participants were 470 ethnically diverse YMSM ages 18 to 24 recruited between 2005 and 2006 and surveyed every 6 months for 24 months. Regression analyses examined the impact of adversity on syndemics (emotional distress, substance use, and problematic alcohol use) and the effects of both adversity and syndemics on HIV risk behaviors over time. Gay-related discrimination and victimization-among other adversity variables-were significantly associated with syndemics and condomless sex (CS). Syndemics mediated the effects of adversity on CS in all models. Adverse events impact HIV risk taking among YMSM through syndemics. These findings suggest that prevention programs aimed at reducing adversity may reduce both the synergistic effect of multiple psychosocial health problems and HIV risk taking.
Springer Science+Business Media