Control and measurement of three-qubit entangled states

We report the deterministic creation of maximally entangled three-qubit states-specifically the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) state and the W state-with a trapped-ion quantum computer. We read out one of the qubits selectively and show how GHZ and W states are affected by this local measurement. Additionally, we demonstrate conditional operations controlled by the results from reading out one qubit. Tripartite entanglement is deterministically transformed into bipartite entanglement by local operations only. These operations are the measurement of one qubit of a GHZ state in a rotated basis and, conditioned on this measurement result, the application of single-qubit rotations.     

Real-time observation of molecular motion on a surface

The laser-induced movement of CO molecules over a platinum surface was followed in real time by means of ultrafast vibrational spectroscopy. Because the CO molecules bound on different surface sites exhibit different C-O stretch vibrational frequencies, the site-to-site hopping, triggered by excitation with a laser pulse, can be determined from subpicosecond changes in the vibrational spectra. The unexpectedly fast motion--characterized by a 500-femtosecond time constant--reveals that a rotational motion of the CO molecules, rather than pure translation, is required for this diffusion process. This conclusion is corroborated by density functional theory calculations.     

Simultaneous measurement of phagocytosis and respiratory burst of leukocytes in whole blood from bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) utilizing flow cytometry

Phagocytic and respiratory burst activity was simultaneously measured by flow cytometry in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and monocytes in whole blood from bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Blood was collected from 16 adult dolphins, 12 males (6-34 years of age) and 4 females (11-30 years) and subsequently incubated with a bacteria-to-leukocyte ratio of 25:1 and 10 μl of 500 μM 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate for 70 min at 37°C. PMN (44.5 ± 3.2%) and monocytes (33.5 ± 3.0%) were positive for propidium iodide-labeled Staphylococcus aureus, indicating phagocytosis. Respiratory burst activity after 70 min as measured by the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) was 68.0 ± 14.4 in PMN and 47.0 ± 10.3 in monocytes. There were no significant differences in MFI or percentage of phagocytizing PMN (p > 0.094) or monocytes (p > 0.275) after storage at 4°C for 24h when compared to activity measured in fresh blood. Nor was there an effect of storage on respiratory burst activity (MFI or percentage) in PMN (p > 0.420) or monocytes (p > 0.301). This assay may be particularly useful to assess the ability of dolphins to effectively combat bacterial pathogen challenges with minimal amounts of blood.     

FISH CONSUMPTION AND FOOD SECURITY: A DISAGGREGATED ANALYSIS BY TYPES OF FISH AND CLASSES OF CONSUMERS IN SELECTED ASIAN COUNTRIES

ABSTRACT

This paper discusses fish consumption and preference patterns for fish species by income groups, and by urban/rural divide in Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. The analysis is based on primary data collected by the WorldFish Center and its partner institutes by means of a survey of 5,931 households in the selected countries. The FAO database and other published materials were also used to analyze trends in fish consumption. Freshwater fish species constitute a major share in total per capita fish consumption in most of these countries. Pelagic and demersal marine fish are the main contributor to per capita total fish consumption in the countries with longer coastal boundaries (such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand), and in the coastal regions within each country. Results suggest that fish contributes between 15% and 53% of the total animal protein intake in these countries. Fish consumption varies widely with economic position of the households, in terms of both per capita consumption and type of fish species. Per capita fish consumption increases with increase in income. The share of fish protein in total animal protein expenditure is higher for lower income groups, demonstrating their dependence on fish as a source of animal protein. Poor people consume mostly low-price fish and rich people spend a significant portion of their fish budget on expensive fish. Per capita fish consumption is substantially higher in rural areas than in urban areas.     

Effects of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) leaf protein concentrate as soybean protein replacement in white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) postlarvae diet

The potential of water hyacinth leaf protein concentrate (WHLPC) as an alternative protein source to soybean meal in formulated diets for the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) postlarvae, was assessed. Isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated containing 40% protein and 8% lipid. WHLPC replaced 0%, 25%, 50% and 75% of soybean meal protein in the formulated diets. Twenty postlarval Litopenaeus vannamei weighing 5.0 ± 0.00032 mg were randomly assigned to twelve 30‐L aquarium tanks and were fed experimental diets for 70 days. Results show that the overall biological performance of shrimp in terms of specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), feed efficiency (FE) and survival in treatment receiving the 25% WHLPC replacement is comparable to that of the control diet. Replacement levels beyond 25% exhibited significant depression in terms of growth performance of the shrimp. Collectively, these findings indicate that WHLPC can replace 25% of soybean meal protein in the formulated diets of L. vannamei.     

European Population Exposure to Airborne Pollutants Based on a Multivariate Spatio-Temporal Model

In this paper, we estimate the distribution of population by exposure to multiple airborne pollutants, taking into account the spatio-temporal variability of daily air quality and the high-resolution spatial spread of human population around Europe. In particular, we consider monitoring network data for five pollutants, namely carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, coarse and fine particulate matters. The spatial information contained in the large dataset of daily continental air quality is exploited using a multivariate spatio-temporal model capable to cover cross correlation among pollutants, covariates, and missing data as well as spatial and temporal variability and correlation. At the same time, the model is simple enough to be feasible for the large dataset of daily continental air quality over three years. Maximum likelihood estimation is performed using the EM algorithm, and kriging-like spatial estimates are used to compute high-resolution exposure distribution. Moreover, a novel semi-parametric bootstrap technique is used to assess the exposure distribution uncertainty. In this way, we compare the daily population exposure of 33 European countries and three important metropolitan areas in years 2009–2011 using a single flexible model. Extensive tabulations and graphs are reported in the supplementary material.     

Persistent bovine virus diarrhoea virus infection in a bull

Investigation of a sight defect in a pedigree bull, born as a result of artificial insemination and ovum transplantation, led to the finding that the animal was persistently infected with bovine virus diarrhoea virus. Virus was cultured from blood and from nasal and ocular swabs and was present in semen in high titre. At necropsy, virus was cultured from a wide range of tissues. The pathological findings are described and discussed as are the potential hazards of such infections.