Single plane minimal tomography of double slit qubits

The determination of the density matrix of an ensemble of identically prepared quantum systems by performing a series of measurements, known as quantum tomography, is minimal when the number of outcomes is minimal. The most accurate minimal quantum tomography of qubits, sometimes called a tetrahedron measurement, corresponds to projections over four states which can be represented on the Bloch sphere as the vertices of a regular tetrahedron. We investigate whether it is possible to implement the tetrahedron measurement of double slit qubits of light, using measurements performed on a single plane. Assuming Gaussian slits and free propagation, we demonstrate that a judicious choice of the detection plane and the double slit geometry allows the implementation of a tetrahedron measurement. Finally, we consider possible sets of values which could be used in actual experiments.Comment: 23 pages, 4 figure

Neighbourhood deprivation and biomarkers of health in Britain: the mediating role of the physical environment

Background: Neighborhood deprivation has been consistently linked to poor individual health outcomes; however, studies exploring the mechanisms involved in this association are scarce. The objective of this study was to investigate whether objective measures of the physical environment mediate the association between neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation and biomarkers of health in Britain. Methods: We linked individual-level biomarker data from Understanding Society: The UK Household Longitudinal Survey (2010–2012) to neighborhood-level data from different governmental sources. Our outcome variables were forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1%; n=16,347), systolic blood pressure (SBP; n=16,846), body mass index (BMI; n=19,417), and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP; n=11,825). Our measure of neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation was the Carstairs index, and the neighborhood-level mediators were levels of air pollutants (sulphur dioxide [SO2], particulate matter [PM10], nitrogen dioxide [NO2], and carbon monoxide [CO]), green space, and proximity to waste and industrial facilities. We fitted a multilevel mediation model following a multilevel structural equation framework in MPlus v7.4, adjusting for age, gender, and income. Results: Residents of poor neighborhoods and those exposed to higher pollution and less green space had worse health outcomes. However, only SO2 exposure significantly and partially mediated the association between neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation and SBP, BMI, and CRP. Conclusion: Reducing air pollution exposure and increasing access to green space may improve population health but may not decrease health inequalities in Britain

Elastic properties of carbon nanotubes and their heterojunctions

Comprehensive studies on the modelling and numerical simulation of the mechanical behaviour under tension, bending and torsion of single-walled carbon nanotubes and their heterojunctions are performed. It is proposed to deduce the mechanical properties of the carbon nanotubes heterojunctions from the knowledge of the mechanical properties of the single-walled carbon nanotubes, which are their constituent key unit

Diagnosis and outcome of oesophageal Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Crohn's disease (CD) can involve any part of the gastrointestinal tract. We aimed to characterize clinical, endoscopic, histologic features and treatment outcomes of CD patients with oesophageal involvement. METHODS: We collected cases through a retrospective multicentre European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation CONFER [COllaborative Network For Exceptionally Rare case reports] project. Clinical data were recorded in a standardized case report form. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients were reported [22 males, mean (±SD, range) age at oesophageal CD diagnosis: 25 (±13.3, 10-71) years and mean time of follow-up: 67 (±68.1, 3-240) months]. Oesophageal involvement was established at CD diagnosis in 26 patients (65%) and during follow-up in 14. CD was exclusively located in the oesophagus in 2 patients. Thirteen patients (32.2%) were asymptomatic at oesophageal disease diagnosis. Oesophageal strictures were present in 5 patients and fistulizing oesophageal disease in one. Eight patients exhibited granulomas on biopsies. Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) were administered in 37 patients (92.5%). Three patients underwent endoscopic dilation for symptomatic strictures and none oesophageal-related surgery. Diagnosis in pre-established CD resulted in treatment modifications in 9/14 patients. Clinical remission of oesophageal disease was seen in 33/40 patients (82.5%) after a mean time of 7 (±5.6, 1-18) months. Follow-up endoscopy was performed in 29/40 patients and 26/29 (89.7%) achieved mucosal healing. CONCLUSION: In this case series the endoscopic and histologic characteristics of isolated oesophageal CD were similar to those reported in other sites of involvement. Treatment was primarily conservative, with PPIs administered in the majority of patients and modifications in pre-existing IBD-related therapy occurring in two thirds of them. Clinical and endoscopic remission was achieved in more than 80% of the patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A new approach for reverse analyses in depth-sensing indentation using numerical simulation

This paper seeks to present a new approach to reverse analysis in depth-sensing indentation which makes use of numerical simulation. This methodology allows the results of experimental hardness tests acquired with single indenter geometry to be used to determine the plastic properties of materials. Forward and reverse analyses of high deformation three-dimensional numerical simulations of Vickers indentation tests are used to determine different mechanical properties of materials: Young's modulus, yield stress and strain-hardening exponent. The Vickers indenter used in the numerical simulations is formulated as a rigid body and takes into account the presence of the most common imperfection of the tip, so-called offset. The contact friction between the Vickers indenter and the deformable body is also considered. The forward analysis uses materials with Young's modulus values from 50 to 600 GPa, yield stress values from 0.3 to 10 GPa and strain-hardening exponents from 0 to 0.6; the Poisson ratio did not vary from 0.3. The representative plastic strain [epsilon]r and the correspondent stress [sigma]r, as previously defined by other authors [Dao M, Chollacoop N, Vliet KJ, Venkatesh TA, Suresh S. Acta Mater 2001;49:3899], were identified by an independent numerical method. The values of the representative plastic strain [epsilon]r obtained for the Vickers indenter confirm those of the above-mentioned authors, despite showing a slight influence from the Young's modulus values. The forward study enables the production of a unique plot of the hardness HIT vs. representative stress [sigma]r, where both are normalized by the Young's modulus E. The proposed reverse analysis provides a unique solution to the representative stress [sigma]r and the strain-hardening exponent, n, given that the Young's modulus is predetermined from the experimental hardness test. Depending on the material properties, the value of n can be more or less sensitive to the scatter of the experimental results obtained using the depth-sensing equipment, particularly the stiffness of the unloading curve. The validity of the proposed reverse analysis method is checked using three real materials: stamping quality steel (DC 06), stainless AISI 304 steel and BK7 glass.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TW8-4M69JXG-1/1/ffe1726f3b7df73e4e01c941d6c4cbe

Reactive transport modelling of cement-groundwater-rock interaction at the Grimsel Test Site

An in situ experiment at the Grimsel Test Site (Switzerland) to study water-cement-rock interaction in fractured granite was modelled. It consisted of a hardened cement source in a borehole intersecting a water conducting fracture. Grimsel groundwater was injected into this borehole. Two other boreholes at about 0.56 m and 1.12 m from the emplacement borehole were used to monitor the evolution of water composition for 5 years. The modelling approach was based on a 1D radial model for the emplacement borehole and a small volume of rock (fault gouge) around it, and a 2D model for the rest of the domain. The results of the 1D model were used as input for the 2D model. Both models showed dissolution of the fault gouge minerals. Results from the 1D model showed dissolution of portlandite in the cement with an increase in porosity. The 2D model showed a reduction in porosity in the fault gouge due to mineral precipitation. Near the emplacement borehole ettringite precipitated. At the centre of the plume there was precipitation of C-A-S-H and hydrotalcite. At the edge of the hyperalkaline plume calcite, hydrotalcite and illite precipitated.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Reactive transport modelling of a high-pH infiltration test in concrete

A laboratory-scale tracer test was carried out to characterize the transport properties of concrete from the Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility at El Cabril (Spain). A hyperalkaline solution (K-Ca-OH, pH = 13.2) was injected into a concrete sample under a high entry pressure in order to perform the experiment within a reasonable time span, obtaining a decrease of permeability by a factor of 1000. The concentrations of the tracers, major elements (Ca2+, SO42-, K+ and Na+) and pH were measured at the outlet of the concrete sample. A reactive transport model was built based on a double porosity conceptual model, which considers diffusion between a mobile zone, where water can flow, and an immobile zone without any advective transport. The numerical model assumed that all reactions took place in the immobile zone. The cement paste consists of C-S-H gel, portlandite, ettringite, calcite and gypsum, together with residual alite and belite. Two different models were compared, one with portlandite in equilibrium (high initial surface area) and another one with portlandite reaction controlled by kinetics (low initial surface area). Overall the results show dissolution of alite, belite, gypsum, quartz, C-S-H gel and ettringite and precipitation of portlandite and calcite. Permeability could have decreased due to mineral precipitation.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft