Quantum Key Distribution using Continuous-variable non-Gaussian States

In this work we present a quantum key distribution protocol using continuous-variable non-Gaussian states, homodyne detection and post-selection. The employed signal states are the Photon Added then Subtracted Coherent States (PASCS) in which one photon is added and subsequently one photon is subtracted. We analyze the performance of our protocol, compared to a coherent state based protocol, for two different attacks that could be carried out by the eavesdropper (Eve). We calculate the secret key rate transmission in a lossy line for a superior channel (beam-splitter) attack, and we show that we may increase the secret key generation rate by using the non-Gaussian PASCS rather than coherent states. We also consider the simultaneous quadrature measurement (intercept-resend) attack and we show that the efficiency of Eve's attack is substantially reduced if PASCS are used as signal states.Comment: We have included an analysis of the simultaneous quadrature measurement attack plus 2 figures; we have also clarified some point

Conceptual analysis: A Social neuroscience approach to interpersonal interaction in the context of disruption and disorganization of attachment (NAMDA)

Humans are strongly dependent upon social resources for allostasis and emotion regulation. This applies especially to early childhood because humans-as an altricial species-have a prolonged period of dependency on support and input from caregivers who typically act as sources of co-regulation. Accordingly, attachment theory proposes that the history and quality of early interactions with primary caregivers shape children's internal working models of attachment. In turn, these attachment models guide behavior, initially with the set goal of maintaining proximity to caregivers but eventually paving the way to more generalized mental representations of self and others. Mounting evidence in non-clinical populations suggests that these mental representations coincide with differential patterns of neural structure, function, and connectivity in a range of brain regions previously associated with emotional and cognitive capacities. What is currently lacking, however, is an evidence-based account of how early adverse attachment-related experiences and/or the emergence of attachment disorganization impact the developing brain. While work on early childhood adversities offers important insights, we propose that how these events become biologically embedded crucially hinges on the context of the child-caregiver attachment relationships in which the events take place. Our selective review distinguishes between direct social neuroscience research on disorganized attachment and indirect maltreatment-related research, converging on aberrant functioning in neurobiological systems subserving aversion, approach, emotion regulation, and mental state processing in the wake of severe attachment disruption. To account for heterogeneity of findings, we propose two distinct neurobiological phenotypes characterized by hyper- and hypo-arousal primarily deriving from the caregiver serving either as a threatening or as an insufficient source of co-regulation, respectively

Chiral Fermions on the Lattice through Gauge Fixing -- Perturbation Theory

We study the gauge-fixing approach to the construction of lattice chiral gauge theories in one-loop weak-coupling perturbation theory. We show how infrared properties of the gauge degrees of freedom determine the nature of the continuous phase transition at which we take the continuum limit. The fermion self-energy and the vacuum polarization are calculated, and confirm that, in the abelian case, this approach can be used to put chiral gauge theories on the lattice in four dimensions. We comment on the generalization to the nonabelian case.Comment: 31 pages, 5 figures, two refs. adde

Derivative expansion of quadratic operators in a general 't Hooft gauge

A derivative expansion technique is developed to compute functional determinants of quadratic operators, non diagonal in spacetime indices. This kind of operators arise in general 't Hooft gauge fixed Lagrangians. Elaborate applications of the developed derivative expansion are presented.Comment: 40 pages, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Activity of different desoximetasone preparations compared to other topical corticosteroids in the vasoconstriction assay

Introduction: We report on a double-blind, vehicle-controlled, single-center confirmatory study with random assignment. The purpose of the study was to investigate the topical bioavailability of different topical corticosteroid formulations in healthy human beings focussing on desoximetasone (DM). Materials and Methods: Two DM 0.25% formulations {[}ointment (DM-o) and fatty ointment (DM-fo, water-free); class III corticosteroids], the corresponding active ingredient-free vehicles and three comparators of different strength {[}clobetasol propionate 0.05% (CP 0.05%), fatty ointment, class IV; hydrocortisone (HC) 1%, fatty ointment, class I, and betamethasone (BM) 0.05%, fatty ointment, class III] were tested using the vasoconstriction assay. The degree of vasoconstriction (blanching) in the treatment field was compared to the one found in untreated control fields using chromametric measurements and clinical assessment. Results/Conclusion: DM-o 0.25%, DM-fo 0.25% and BM 0.05% showed similar vasoconstrictive potential, i.e., clear blanching. In fact, both DM preparations were proven to be non-inferior to BM 0.05%, while CP 0.05% was found a little less active. HC 1.0% and the DM vehicles showed no clear-cut vasoconstrictive effect. No adverse events related to the study medications were observed. Good topical bioavailability of both DM formulations was detected by chromametric measurement and clinical assessment. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

The Standard Model from a New Phase Transition on the Lattice

Several years ago it was conjectured in the so-called Roma Approach, that gauge fixing is an essential ingredient in the lattice formulation of chiral gauge theories. In this paper we discuss in detail how the gauge-fixing approach may be realized. As in the usual (gauge invariant) lattice formulation, the continuum limit corresponds to a gaussian fixed point, that now controls both the transversal and the longitudinal modes of the gauge field. A key role is played by a new phase transition separating a conventional Higgs or Higgs-confinement phase, from a phase with broken rotational invariance. In the continuum limit we expect to find a scaling region, where the lattice correlators reproduce the euclidean correlation functions of the target (chiral) gauge theory, in the corresponding continuum gauge.Comment: 16 pages, revtex, one figure. Clarifications made, mainly in sections 3 and 6 that deal with the fermion action, to appear in Phys Rev

The Phase Diagram and Spectrum of Gauge-Fixed Abelian Lattice Gauge Theory

We consider a lattice discretization of a covariantly gauge-fixed abelian gauge theory. The gauge fixing is part of the action defining the theory, and we study the phase diagram in detail. As there is no BRST symmetry on the lattice, counterterms are needed, and we construct those explicitly. We show that the proper adjustment of these counterterms drives the theory to a new type of phase transition, at which we recover a continuum theory of (free) photons. We present both numerical and (one-loop) perturbative results, and show that they are in good agreement near this phase transition. Since perturbation theory plays an important role, it is important to choose a discretization of the gauge-fixing action such that lattice perturbation theory is valid. Indeed, we find numerical evidence that lattice actions not satisfying this requirement do not lead to the desired continuum limit. While we do not consider fermions here, we argue that our results, in combination with previous work, provide very strong evidence that this new phase transition can be used to define abelian lattice chiral gauge theories.Comment: 42 pages, 30 figure

Inicio de pubertad y caracteres reproductivos en toritos Braford del nordeste argentino

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar la edad de inicio de pubertad en toritos Braford 3/8, por medio de la evaluación del semen, junto a mediciones de circunferencia escrotal y características zoométricas. Para tal fin, durante 120 días se trabajó con 34 animales, que fueron identificados por medio de caravana y destetados el 1° de marzo del año 2010, entre los 6 y 8 meses de edad. Los toritos fueron mantenidos a campo con pasturas implantadas, con amplio predominio de avena (Avena sativa), trébol blanco (Trifolium repens) y alfalfa (Medicago sativa), además de la administración de alimento balanceado a razón del 1 al 2% de su peso vivo. En forma seriada, cada 14 días a partir del mes de junio, se evaluaron parámetros como circunferencia escrotal, consistencia testicular (por palpación bimanual), altura a la cruz y al sacro, así como perímetro torácico y peso corporal individual. El semen extraído por medio de un electroeyaculador fue evaluado macro y microscópicamente. Se concluye que, en promedio, los toritos alcanzan la pubertad a la edad de 13,1 meses, con un peso promedio de 333 kg y una circunferencia escrotal de 27,5 cm.

Best practices in research mentoring in clinical science.

The growth of clinical science as a field depends on the work of engaged mentors nurturing future generations of scientists. Effective research mentoring has been shown to predict positive outcomes, including greater scholarly productivity, reduced attrition, and increased satisfaction with training and/or employment, which ultimately may enhance the quality of the clinical-science research enterprise. Barriers to effective research mentoring, however, pose significant challenges for both mentees and mentors, as well as for labs, training programs, and/or departments. We discuss some key issues as they apply to clinical-science mentoring and note how they are affected across different developmental levels (undergraduate, postbaccalaureate, doctoral, internship, postdoctoral associates, and early career faculty). Although we do not proclaim expertise on these issues-and have struggled with them in our own careers-we believe an open discussion around best mentoring practices will enhance our collective effectiveness and help mentees and our field to flourish. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)

The Higgs resonance in vector boson scattering

A heavy Higgs resonance is described in a representation-independent way which is valid for the whole energy range of 2 -> 2 scattering processes, including the asymptotic behavior at low and high energies. The low-energy theorems which follow from to the custodial SU_2 symmetry of the Higgs sector restrict the possible parameterizations of the lineshape that are consistent in perturbation theory. Matching conditions are specified which are necessary and sufficient to relate the parameters arising in different expansions. The construction is performed explicitly up to next-to-leading order.Comment: 25 pages, revtex, uses epsf, amssym