Learning fermionic correlations by evolving with random translationally invariant Hamiltonians

Schemes of classical shadows have been developed to facilitate the read-out of digital quantum devices, but similar tools for analog quantum simulators are scarce and experimentally impractical. In this work, we provide a measurement scheme for fermionic quantum devices that estimates second and fourth order correlation functions by means of free fermionic, translationally invariant evolutions - or quenches - and measurements in the mode occupation number basis. We precisely characterize what correlation functions can be recovered and equip the estimates with rigorous bounds on sample complexities, a particularly important feature in light of the difficulty of getting good statistics in reasonable experimental platforms, with measurements being slow. Finally, we demonstrate how our procedure can be approximately implemented with just nearest-neighbour, translationally invariant hopping quenches, a very plausible procedure under current experimental requirements, and requiring only random time-evolution with respect to a single native Hamiltonian. On a conceptual level, this work brings the idea of classical shadows to the realm of large scale analog quantum simulators.Comment: 27 pages, 10 figure

Mechanical Properties of Small Clear Specimens of Eucalyptus globulus Labill

Eucalyptus globulus Labill stands out as one of the hardwood species produced in Europe with prominent mechanical properties, which is undergoing a growing interest in extending added value. The development of engineered wood products with this species and its application in timber structures involving numerical finite element simulations requires knowledge of the mechanical properties for the different orthotropic material directions. The aim of the present study is to determine the main mechanical properties of E. globulus from small clear specimens, necessary for the development of finite element models. The work provides experimental results on the ultimate capacity and modulus of elasticity considering different stresses: tension parallel and perpendicular to the grain, compression parallel and perpendicular to the grain (in radial and tangential directions), shear and longitudinal static bending. The work is complemented with experimental data on timber-to-timber friction coefficients for 0°, 45°, and 90° orientation angles, which are useful in the modeling of traditional joints. Very high values of ultimate stress and modulus of elasticity for the different mechanical properties were obtained, highlighting the great potential of this species for structural applicationsThe work has been developed within the framework of the research project BIA2015-64491-P Analysis of the stress relaxation in curved members and new joints solutions for timber Gridshells made out of Eucalyptus globulus, co-financed by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain Government and ERDF fundsS

Enhanced surveillance of invasive listeriosis in the Lombardy region, Italy, in the years 2006-2010 reveals major clones and an increase in serotype 1/2a

BACKGROUND: Invasive listeriosis is a rare, life-threatening foodborne disease. Lombardy, an Italian region accounting for 16% of the total population, reported 55% of all listeriosis cases in the years 2006-2010. The aim of our study was to provide a snapshot of listeriosis epidemiology in this region after the implementation of a voluntary laboratory-based surveillance system. METHODS: We characterized by serotyping, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, multilocus sequence typing and detection of epidemic clone markers, 134 isolates from 132 listeriosis cases, including 15 pregnancy-related cases, occurring in the years 2006-2010 in Lombardy. Demographic and clinical characteristics of cases have also been described. RESULTS: The mean age of non pregnancy-associated cases was 64.7 years, with 55.9% of cases being older than 65 years. Cases having no underlying medical conditions accounted for 11.6%. The all-cause fatality rate of 83 cases with a known survival outcome was 25.3%. Serotypes 1/2a and 4b comprised 52.2% and 38.8% of isolates, respectively. Seventy-three AscI pulsotypes and 25 sequence types assigned to 23 clonal complexes were recognized. Moreover, 53 (39.5%) isolates tested positive for the epidemic clone markers. Twelve molecular subtype clusters including at least three isolates were detected, with cluster 11 (1/2a/ST38) including 31 isolates identified during the entire study period. No outbreaks were notified to public health authorities during this period. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of our study proved that epidemiology of listeriosis in Lombardy is characterized by a high prevalence of major clones and the increasing role of serotype 1/2a. Molecular subtyping is an essential tool in the epidemiology and surveillance of listeriosis. Rapid molecular cluster detection could alert about putative outbreaks, thus increasing the chance of detecting and inactivating routes of transmission

Altered immune system in frailty: Genetics and diet may influence inflammation.

Frailty is a complex geriatric syndrome associated with biological vulnerability to stressors and decreased physiological reserve. Its etiology and pathogenesis are not completely understood, although various causes and complex pathways have been proposed. Immune system alterations (immunosenescence and "InflammAging") have been suggested to contribute to frailty, but a precise causative role of such alterations remains to be determined. Genetic studies support the suggestion of immune system involvement in frailty: genetic variants in genes involved in immune system function have been associated with the syndrome. Interestingly, nutritional status, through its effects on cellular metabolism, may also influence the immune system, i.e. hormone and cytokine (mainly adipocytokine) levels, and immune cell populations and function, increasing inflammation and contributing to frailty. This review aims to discuss the role of immune system alterations in frailty, analyzing the role of genetic factors in frailty onset and the impact of diet on inflammation and, in turn, on frailty

An analysis of the stability of rural tourism as a desired condition for sustainable tourism

Tourism is a key sector in the sustainable development of rural environments. Its ability to create stable employment and an acceptable level of profits is conditioned by the stability of tourist activity throughout the year. This paper compares the level of seasonality of a group of rural destinations to that of coastal and urban destinations. By doing so, we intend to determine whether seasonality-related problems exist in the rural environment or not. The second aim is related to the first one: the proposal of a new, more comprehensive and objective methodology that can measure the intensity of seasonality based on a DP2 synthetic indicator. The DP2 indicator groups information about different representative variables of seasonality. The study takes the main tourist spots in Spain as a reference. The analysis concludes that the annual level of stability of rural tourism is not far from the stability of urban tourism, which is the most stable, as seasonality is much higher in coastal destinations. The methodology that provides the framework to build the DP2 indicator has allowed us to identify which variables explain the differences in the level of seasonality of each destination to a large extent. The results showed that the variables that do so are related to the internalization of the destination and changes in the availability of bed places

La dependencia energética en España por sectores y su impacto económico

[ES] Este artículo describe la situación histórica de España frente a la dependencia energética y la evolución en los últimos años. Se analiza la dependencia energética en función de los diferentes sectores, en concreto el sector industrial, el transporte y el de usos diversos donde estarán incluidos la Agricultura, Pesca, Comercio, Servicios y Administraciones Públicas, el Residencial y otros. A partir del análisis del mix de consumo energético de cada uno de los tres sectores objeto del estudio, se realizarán una serie de propuestas para reducir la dependencia energética en los mismos, comprobando los importantes beneficios económicos directos que tendrán para la economía española. Este estudio permite concluirde que con una correcta planificación a medio y largo plazo, se pueden poner en marcha medidas encaminadas a la reducción de la dependencia energética y que a su vez sean menos contaminantes, sin que ello tenga un coste adicional en nuestra economía. En este estudio solo se han considerado los beneficios directos por el ahorro de los intereses para financiar las importaciones de energía que se evitan, sin tener en cuenta el ahorro en los bonos de emisión de CO2, los beneficios medioambientales, o la generación inducida de empleo y riqueza que se desprenderían de la puesta en marcha de las acciones propuestas y de una mayor utilización de fuentes de energía propias.Este trabajo ha sido parcialmente financiado por la Generalitat valenciana en el marco del proyecto Prometeus 2014/044.Galdón-Ruiz, JA.; Marí, B.; Guaita Pradas, I. (2016). La dependencia energética en España por sectores y su impacto económico. Técnica Industrial. (314):46-55. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/84250S465531

Análisis del sistema eléctrico español

[EN] An electrical efficient system should present a balance between the principal factors that it has to fulfil. They are the reliability and guarantee of supply, it must also be clean and low in emissions, and cost-efficient and with a high index of self-supply. In this article the four factors indicated for the electrical Spanish system will be analised, and we will be able to verify the enormous imbalance that it presents. It is an oversized and very trustworthy system, which has improved very much with regard to emissions and the energetic dependence, but it is very expensive and unviable at present. This fact has to take to us to the deep reflection on the changes needed to obtain the objectives pursued, which, without any doubt, will have to suffer a medium-long term planning.[ES] Un sistema eléctrico eficiente debería presentar un equilibrio entre los factores principales que ha de cumplir, que son la fiabilidad y garantía de suministro, que sea limpio y bajo en emisiones, que sea económico y que tenga un alto índice de autoabastecimiento. En este artículo se analizarán los cuatro factores indicados para el sistema eléctrico español, y podremos comprobar el enorme desiquilibrio que presenta, dado que tenemos un sistema sobredimensionado y muy fiable, que ha mejorado mucho respecto a las emisiones y la dependencia energética, pero que es muy caro e inviable en la actualidad. Este hecho nos ha de llevar a la reflexión profunda sobre los cambios que han de producirse en el mismo, para conseguir los objetivos perseguidos, y que indudablemente tendrán que pasar por una planificación a medio-largo plazo.Galdón-Ruiz, JA.; Guaita-Pradas, I.; Marí, B. (2017). Análisis del sistema eléctrico español. Tecnica Industrial. (316):50-63. doi:10.23800/8866S506331

Proposal for balance for the Spanish electrical system for 2030 and its global impact

[EN] The energetic system and, moreover, the electrical sector need a correct planning in time to obtain the balance between the main factors that it has to achieve. They are reliability and security of supply, it has to be clean and low in emissions, and it has to be unexpensive and with a high index of self-supply. To implement it, it is necessary to introduce a number of proposals that will affect our model of energetic global consumption and, especially, the electrical system. In this article a series of proposals will be explained focused on maximasing the value of the electrical system proposing a major consumption versus other sources of energy. This will decrease the price of the part regulated since it will share it in a higher consumption. Besides, the resulting excess of electric power will be made mainly through renewable energy sources and, therefore, self-supplied. Through this simulation it will be possible to verify that it is possible to obtain a balance in the electrical system in a first planning until 2030, and in turn, the global energy balance will be improved, reducing our energetic dependence and therefore our energy bill. In consequence, we will manage to reduce the price of the electrical energy for the consumer, and it will also be cleaner and the level of self-supply will be higher. Therefore, the benefits will also be global both for the economy of the country and for the sustainability.[ES] El sistema energético y, concretamente, el sector eléctrico requieren una correcta planificación en el tiempo que permita conseguir el equilibrio entre los factores principales que ha de cumplir, que son la fiabilidad y garantía de suministro, que sea limpio y bajo en emisiones, que sea económico y que tenga un alto índice de autoabastecimiento. Para su consecución es necesario introducir una serie de reformas que afectarán a nuestro modelo de consumo energético global y al sistema eléctrico en particular. En este artículo se realizarán una serie de propuestas encaminadas a rentabilizar al máximo el sistema eléctrico proponiendo un mayor consumo frente a otras fuentes de energía, lo que disminuirá el precio de la parte regulada al repartirlo entre un mayor consumo y, a su vez, el exceso de energía eléctrica que se ha de producir se realice en su mayor parte a través de las fuentes de energía renovables y por tanto autoabastecidas. A través de la simulación realizada se podrá comprobar que es posible conseguir un equilibrio en el sistema eléctrico en una primera planificación hasta 2030 y, a su vez, se mejorará el balance energético global, reduciendo nuestra dependencia energética y, por tanto, nuestra factura energética exterior. Con todo ello, conseguiremos disminuir el precio de la energía eléctrica para el consumidor, consiguiendo, además, que sea más limpia y aumentando el grado de autoabastecimiento, por lo que los beneficios serán también globales tanto para la economía del país como para la sostenibilidad.Galdón-Ruiz, JA.; Guaita-Pradas, I.; Marí, B. (2017). Propuesta de equilibrio del sistema eléctrico español para 2030 y su impacto global. Tecnica Industrial. (316):64-73. doi:10.23800/8867S647331

Reversible Holmes Tremor due to Middle Cerebral Artery Giant Aneurysm

A 40-year-old man presented with a 6-month history of mild but worsening tremor of variable intensity. The patient had a focal, irregular, rest and action tremor of middle amplitude and low frequency (about 4 Hz), limited to his right arm with oscillatory motion around the elbow. It was present inconsistently at rest, particularly during emotional activation, and enhanced by posture maintenance. It was evoked by various positions and tasks. Particularly, the tremor was present during fine motor skills such as writing, and it was increased by drinking and shaving, showing a minimal intentional component. The patient also reported slight loss in manual dexterity in his right hand

Influence of socio-demographic features and apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 expression on the prevalence of dementia and cognitive impairment in a population of 70-74-year olds: The InveCe.Ab study

Abstract The age-specific prevalence rates of dementia vary widely. Studies focusing on specific age groups are needed to provide reliable estimates for healthcare providers and policy makers. We estimated the prevalence of dementia, dementia subtypes and cognitive impairment in "InveCe.Ab" (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01345110 ), a single-step multidimensional population-based study of 70–74-year olds living in Abbiategrasso (Milan, Italy). We also looked for associations with socio-demographic factors and the presence of the apolipoprotein E-ɛ4 allele. The overall dementia prevalence was 3% (95%CI: 2.1–4.1%) [Alzheimer's disease (AD): 1.2% (95%CI 0.6–1.9%); vascular dementia (VD): 1.4% (95%CI: 0.8–2.2%)]. Being single was found to be a risk factor for vascular dementia; subjects born in southern Italy were shown to be at greater risk both of overall dementia and of vascular dementia. The prevalence of cognitive impairment, with or without subjective cognitive complaints (cognitive impairment, no dementia, CIND) was 7.8% (95%CI: 6.4–9.4%). As regards the CIND subgroups, the prevalence of subjects with subjective cognitive complaints (mild cognitive impairment, MCI) was 5.0% (95%CI 3.9–6.3%), while the prevalence of those without MCI (CIND-other) was 2.8% (95%CI: 1.9–3.8). The males had a higher risk of MCI and CIND-other; the older subjects were more likely to have MCI, and those born in north-eastern Italy to have CIND-other. The prevalence of AD was higher among the apolipoprotein E-ɛ4 carriers. Our data highlight the importance of dementia and cognitive impairment in the transitional period from adulthood to old age, and reveal the presence of different associations with socio-demographic and genetic factors