Generation of Large Number-Path Entanglement Using Linear Optics and Feed-Forward

We show how an idealised measurement procedure can condense photons from two modes into one, and how, by feeding forward the results of the measurement, it is possible to generate efficiently superpositions of components for which only one mode is populated, commonly called ``N00N states''. For the basic procedure, sources of number states leak onto a beam splitter, and the output ports are monitored by photodetectors. We find that detecting a fixed fraction of the input at one output port suffices to direct the remainder to the same port with high probability, however large the initial state. When instead photons are detected at both ports, Schr\"{o}dinger cat states are produced. We describe a circuit for making the components of such a state orthogonal, and another for subsequent conversion to a N00N state. Our approach scales exponentially better than existing proposals. Important applications include quantum imaging and metrology

On Loop Quantum Gravity Phenomenology and the Issue of Lorentz Invariance

A simple model is constructed which allows to compute modified dispersion relations with effects from loop quantum gravity. Different quantization choices can be realized and their effects on the order of corrections studied explicitly. A comparison with more involved semiclassical techniques shows that there is agreement even at a quantitative level. Furthermore, by contrasting Hamiltonian and Lagrangian descriptions we show that possible Lorentz symmetry violations may be blurred as an artifact of the approximation scheme. Whether this is the case in a purely Hamiltonian analysis can be resolved by an improvement in the effective semiclassical analysis.Comment: 16 pages, RevTeX

Catalytic behavior of biosorbents supported in zeolites

The catalytic oxidation of 1,2-dichlorobenzene at 350 oC was investigated over a robust biosorption system consisting of a bacterial biofilm supported on NaY or NaX zeolites. The batch method has been employed using chromium concentrations in solution ranging from 50 to 250 mgCr/L. The results showed that the maximum removal efficiency was 20% for Cr in both systems based in NaY or NaX. The bacterial biofilm, Arthrobacter viscosus, supported on the zeolite reduces Cr(VI) to Cr(III). The Cr(III) is retained in the zeolite by ion exchange. The new biosorvents catalysts were characterized by spectroscopic methods (FTIR and ICP-AES), surface analysis (DRX) and thermal analysis (TGA). The various techniques of characterization used show that this biosorption process does not modify the morphology and structure of the FAUzeolites. These catalysts, Cr/FAU, prepared through this new procedure present good activity and selectivity for dichlorobenzene oxidation in wet air. The Cr50-Y was selected as the most active, selective and stable catalyst for oxidation of 1,2 dichlorobenzene in wet air.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)Departamento de Ciências da Terra of Universidade do MinhoAgence de l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Energie (ADEME) and the Région Poitou-Charente

Oxidation catalysts prepared from biosorbents supported on zeolites

The catalytic oxidation of 1,2-dichlorobenzene was investigated over NaYand NaX zeolites, loaded with chromiumthrough the action of a robust biosorption system consisting of a bacterial biofilm supported on the zeolites. The results of biosorption showed that the maximum metal removal efficiencywas 20%, in both systems based on NaYorNaX, starting fromsolutions with chromium(VI) concentrations ranging from 50 to 250 mgCr/L. The bacterial biofilm, Arthrobacter viscosus, supported on the zeolite reduces Cr(VI) to Cr(III). The Cr(III) is retained in the zeolite by ion exchange. The new catalysts were characterized by spectroscopic methods (FTIR ), chemical analyses (ICP-AES), surface analysis (XRD) and thermal analysis (TGA). The various techniques of characterization show that this biosorption process does not modify the morphology and structure of the FAUzeolites. These catalysts,Cr/FAU, prepared through this newprocedure present good activity and selectivity for dichlorobenzene oxidation in wet air at 350 ºC. The Cr50-Y was selected as the most active, selective and stable catalyst for oxidation of 1,2-dichlorobenzene in wet air.Departamento de Ciências da Terra of Universidade do Minho; Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) ; Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Energie (ADEME); Région Poitou-Charentes

Efecto del tiempo y temperatura en el color generado por el proceso de tostado del café evaluado con la metodología de superficie de respuesta

En promedio el 95% de la producción nacional cafetalera es destinada a la exportación y el resto al consumo interno, el café es una importante fuente generadora de empleo y demandante de insumos, bienes y servicios, a lo largo de toda la cadena de valor (productores, comerciantes, acopiadores, transportistas, distribuidores, tostadores, comerciantes grandes y pequeños, administradores, entidades financieras, exportadores, técnicos y profe- sionales en todos los sectores mencionados, tostadurias, cafeterías, así como la agroindustria, entre otros). Siendo fuente de empleo para 123 mil familias que equivalen a 1 millón peruanos. Desde el año 1992 hasta el año 2001 se apreció un mayor incremento de las áreas y de los volúmenes de producción nacional (Abad, 2003). Con respecto al café tostado se pretende conocer los factores que determinan su procesamiento como el tiempo y temperatura que dependen del café a tostar por lo cual se intenta estudiar la temperatura y el tiempo apropiados para este fin evaluando el cambio de coloración de los granos tostados mediante el análisis de las imágenes por computadora. A este análisis de imágenes se le denomina visión artificial que es una herramienta eficaz en el desarrollo de diferentes tareas, ya que la imágenes digitales permiten la extracción de características cuantitativas y cualitativas de los objetos tales como la forma, tamaño y color (Sandoval, 2003).Este trabajo pretende servir de referencia a todo aquel que desee investigar acerca de la aplicación de los sistemas de visión por computadora en el control mediante color de alimentos y en especial de café tostado

On the Path Integral Loop Representation of (2+1) Lattice Non-Abelian Theory

A gauge invariant Hamiltonian representation for SU(2) in terms of a spin network basis is introduced. The vectors of the spin network basis are independent and the electric part of the Hamiltonian is diagonal in this representation. The corresponding path integral for SU(2) lattice gauge theory is expressed as a sum over colored surfaces, i.e. only involving the $j_p$ attached to the lattice plaquettes. This surfaces may be interpreted as the world sheets of the spin networks In 2+1 dimensions, this can be accomplished by working in a lattice dual to a tetrahedral lattice constructed on a face centered cubic Bravais lattice. On such a lattice, the integral of gauge variables over boundaries or singular lines -- which now always bound three coloured surfaces -- only contributes when four singular lines intersect at one vertex and can be explicitly computed producing a 6-j or Racah symbol. We performed a strong coupling expansion for the free energy. The convergence of the series expansions is quite different from the series expansions which were performed in ordinary cubic lattices. In the case of ordinary cubic lattices the strong coupling expansions up to the considered truncation number of plaquettes have the great majority of their coefficients positive, while in our case we have almost equal number of contributions with both signs. Finally, it is discused the connection in the naive coupling limit between this action and that of the B-F topological field theory and also with the pure gravity action.Comment: 16 pages, REVTEX, 8 Encapsulated Postscript figures using psfig, minor changes in text and reference

Generalized Forward-Backward Splitting

This paper introduces the generalized forward-backward splitting algorithm for minimizing convex functions of the form $F + \sum_{i=1}^n G_i$, where $F$ has a Lipschitz-continuous gradient and the $G_i$'s are simple in the sense that their Moreau proximity operators are easy to compute. While the forward-backward algorithm cannot deal with more than $n = 1$ non-smooth function, our method generalizes it to the case of arbitrary $n$. Our method makes an explicit use of the regularity of $F$ in the forward step, and the proximity operators of the $G_i$'s are applied in parallel in the backward step. This allows the generalized forward backward to efficiently address an important class of convex problems. We prove its convergence in infinite dimension, and its robustness to errors on the computation of the proximity operators and of the gradient of $F$. Examples on inverse problems in imaging demonstrate the advantage of the proposed methods in comparison to other splitting algorithms.Comment: 24 pages, 4 figure

ChemT, an open-source software for building template-based chemical libraries

In computational chemistry vast quantities of compounds are generated, and there is a need for cheminformatic tools to efficiently build chemical compound libraries. Several software tools for drawing and editing compounds structures are available, but they lack options for automatic generation of chemical libraries. We have implemented ChemT, an easy-to-use open-source software tool that automates the process of preparing custom-made template-based chemical libraries. ChemT automatically generates three-dimensional chemical libraries by inputting a chemical template and the functional groups of interest. The graphical user interface of ChemT is self-explanatory, and a complete tutorial is provided. Several file formats are accepted by ChemT, and it is possible to filter the generated compounds according to different physicochemical properties. The compounds can be subject to force field minimization, and the resulting three-dimensional structures recorded on commonly used file formats. ChemT may be a valuable tool for investigators interested in using in silico virtual screening tools, like QSAR modelling or molecular docking, in order to prioritize compounds for further chemical synthesis. To demonstrate the usefulness of ChemT, we describe an example based on a thieno[3,2-b]pyridine template.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)COMPETE/QREN/E