Adiabatic quantum dynamics of a random Ising chain across its quantum critical point

We present here our study of the adiabatic quantum dynamics of a random Ising chain across its quantum critical point. The model investigated is an Ising chain in a transverse field with disorder present both in the exchange coupling and in the transverse field. The transverse field term is proportional to a function $\Gamma(t)$ which, as in the Kibble-Zurek mechanism, is linearly reduced to zero in time with a rate $\tau^{-1}$, $\Gamma(t)=-t/\tau$, starting at $t=-\infty$ from the quantum disordered phase ($\Gamma=\infty$) and ending at $t=0$ in the classical ferromagnetic phase ($\Gamma=0$). We first analyze the distribution of the gaps -- occurring at the critical point $\Gamma_c=1$ -- which are relevant for breaking the adiabaticity of the dynamics. We then present extensive numerical simulations for the residual energy $E_{\rm res}$ and density of defects $\rho_k$ at the end of the annealing, as a function of the annealing inverse rate $\tau$. %for different lenghts of the chain. Both the average $E_{\rm res}(\tau)$ and $\rho_k(\tau)$ are found to behave logarithmically for large $\tau$, but with different exponents, $[E_{\rm res}(\tau)/L]_{\rm av}\sim 1/\ln^{\zeta}(\tau)$ with $\zeta\approx 3.4$, and $[\rho_k(\tau)]_{\rm av}\sim 1/\ln^{2}(\tau)$. We propose a mechanism for $1/\ln^2{\tau}$-behavior of $[\rho_k]_{\rm av}$ based on the Landau-Zener tunneling theory and on a Fisher's type real-space renormalization group analysis of the relevant gaps. The model proposed shows therefore a paradigmatic example of how an adiabatic quantum computation can become very slow when disorder is at play, even in absence of any source of frustration.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures; v2: added references, published versio

Chopped random-basis quantum optimization

In this work we describe in detail the "Chopped RAndom Basis" (CRAB) optimal control technique recently introduced to optimize t-DMRG simulations [arXiv:1003.3750]. Here we study the efficiency of this control technique in optimizing different quantum processes and we show that in the considered cases we obtain results equivalent to those obtained via different optimal control methods while using less resources. We propose the CRAB optimization as a general and versatile optimal control technique.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figure

Cell Surface Changes of Hemopoietic Cells During Normal and Leukemic Differentiation: An Immuno-Scanning Electron Microscopy Study

Hemopoietic cells display a wide range of cell surface antigens which are either lineage specific or acquired during differentiation. Monoclonal antibodies can be used, in conjunction with colloidal gold markers, to identify under the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at the single cell level, specific lineage or maturation stages in the hemopoietic bone marrow. Normal bone marrow cells, either gradient separated or purified by immuno-magnetic methods and leukemic cell samples, which can be considered as frozen stages of hemopoietic differentiation, have been studied with this method. Typical cell surface morphologies, which characterize immature progenitor cells and cells committed or differentiated towards the lymphoid, myeloid, erythroid and megakaryocytic lineage have been identified. Correlations between cell surface features and some hemopoietic cells functions have been attempted on the basis of these findings

Suicide and suicides attempts in Italian prison epidemiological findings from the “Triveneto” area, 2010-2016

The aim of this observational study was to assess rates of suicide and suicide attempts, in relation to gender, age, place of birth and security levels, in north-eastern Italian prisons during 2010-2016, and investigate associations with prison overcrowding, offence type and prior self-harm and suicide attempts. The study was based on individual data on suicides and suicide attempts from 16 prisons, with an average yearly number of 3,900 inmates during the study period, for all prisons combined. Descriptive and binomial regression analyses were performed. Rates of suicide and suicide attempts in Triveneto prisons were 1and 15 per 1,000 inmates, respectively. More than 90% of suicides and suicide attempters were men aged between 21 and 49 years old, and most had committed violent offences. Only half the prisoners who died by suicide and 30% of those who made a suicide attempt in custody were Italians. ‘Cooperative witnesses’ had the highest mean suicide attempt rate (30/1,000 inmates). Fourteen per cent of suicides and 19% of attempters had a prior history of suicide attempts and self-injury. In binomial regression analyses, predictors of suicidal behaviour were being a male inmate in standard security conditions, with a mean age of 30 years. The study highlighted that there is a need for suicide prevention policies in Triveneto; these should take into account predictors of suicidal behaviours and individual characteristics of suicidal inmates. More research is warranted in order to both evaluate the effectiveness of prevention plans and better assess risk of suicide in specific groups, such as cooperative witnesses

Assessing habitat-related disturbance in bird communities: Applying hemeroby and generalism as indicators

We tested the application of the concept of hemeroby and generalism at community level, on a set of birds occurring in various habitats of central Italy characterized by different level of disturbance. In each habitat-related bird community, we applied the recently published species-specific score in hemeroby (a proxy of habitat-related disturbance; HSi) and hemerobiotic diversity (a proxy of generalism; H’Hi) to local species frequency, obtaining weighted values at community level (HStot and H’Htot). The relationship between HStot vs. H’Htot showed an increasing trend moving from reed beds through forests and mosaics to urban communities. Quadratic model (best fit) evidenced a significant correlation between these variables and a tendency toward a hump-shaped curve, corroborating results already observed at species level (intermediate generalism hypothesis). The co-inertia analysis discriminated four groups of habitat-related communities, characterized by species with different levels of disturbance-sensitivity (expressed by HSi) and generalism (expressed by hemerobiotic diversity; H’Hi): (i) forest type-related, where mature wood communities were separated from a coppiced wood one; (ii) communities of moderately disturbed agricultural habitats; (iii) communities embedded in highly disturbed mosaics, and (iv) a group including either a highly disturbed urban habitat or a low disturbed wetland reed bed, with highly specialized species (respectively, synanthropic species and water-related species). Total scores in hemeroby and hemerobiotic diversity, expressing the composition in species with different disturbance preference and generalism, might act as good community-based indicators of degree of naturalness, especially for forest habitat types

Flat Spectrum Radio Quasars through the MAGIC glasses

The detection of Flat Spectrum Radio Quasars (FSRQs) in the Very High Energy (VHE, E > 100 GeV) range is challenging, mainly because of their steep spectra in this energy band. Up to now, only five FSRQs are known to be VHE γ-ray emitters, all of them have been detected by the MAGIC telescopes, that discovered four of them in the VHE band. The observations in the VHE band are crucial to understand their emission, specially to constrain the location of the emitting region within the jet due to the absorption from their broad line region (BLR). Typically, FSRQs are detected during high flux states, enhancing the probability of detection with the current instruments sensitivities. However, the last observation campaigns performed with the MAGIC telescopes show emission during moderate states, thus challenging our understanding of the emission mechanisms in FSRQs. In this contribution, we give an overview and present the most recent results of the three FSRQs 3C279, PKS1222+21 and PKS1510-089 in a multi-wavelength context with special focus on MAGIC and Fermi-LAT simultaneous observations

Geomagnetic survey of Italy. Repeat station network and magnetic maps: a short report

Starting in 1977, two geomagnetic project were undertaken in the frame of the >of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche(Project>of the National Research Council);1)a new national network of repeat stations for total field F, horizontal component H, vertical component Z, declination D.2)a 2nd order network of stations for F,Z,H to produce geomagnetic maps of Italy. The two projects were carried out by a > made up of Operating Units from Institutions to which the authors belong. The field work ended in 1981. The Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica coordinated the operations for both projects. This paper is intended to give a short report to the international scientific community on this work which has so far only appeared in the Italian literature.Published365-3681A. Geomagnetismo e PaleomagnetismoN/A or not JC

Dermatological remedies in the traditional pharmacopoeia of Vulture-Alto Bradano, inland southern Italy

Dermatological remedies make up at least one-third of the traditional pharmacopoeia in southern Italy. The identification of folk remedies for the skin is important both for the preservation of traditional medical knowledge and in the search for novel antimicrobial agents in the treatment of skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI). Our goal is to document traditional remedies from botanical, animal, mineral and industrial sources for the topical treatment of skin ailments. In addition to SSTI remedies for humans, we also discuss certain ethnoveterinary applications. Field research was conducted in ten communities in the Vulture-Alto Bradano area of the Basilicata province, southern Italy. We randomly sampled 112 interviewees, stratified by age and gender. After obtaining prior informed consent, we collected data through semi-structured interviews, participant-observation, and small focus groups techniques. Voucher specimens of all cited botanic species were deposited at FTG and HLUC herbaria located in the US and Italy. We report the preparation and topical application of 116 remedies derived from 38 plant species. Remedies are used to treat laceration, burn wound, wart, inflammation, rash, dental abscess, furuncle, dermatitis, and other conditions. The pharmacopoeia also includes 49 animal remedies derived from sources such as pigs, slugs, and humans. Ethnoveterinary medicine, which incorporates both animal and plant derived remedies, is addressed. We also examine the recent decline in knowledge regarding the dermatological pharmacopoeia. The traditional dermatological pharmacopoeia of Vulture-Alto Bradano is based on a dynamic folk medical construct of natural and spiritual illness and healing. Remedies are used to treat more than 45 skin and soft tissue conditions of both humans and animals. Of the total 165 remedies reported, 110 have never before been published in the mainland southern Italian ethnomedical literature

Dynamics of a Quantum Phase Transition and Relaxation to a Steady State

We review recent theoretical work on two closely related issues: excitation of an isolated quantum condensed matter system driven adiabatically across a continuous quantum phase transition or a gapless phase, and apparent relaxation of an excited system after a sudden quench of a parameter in its Hamiltonian. Accordingly the review is divided into two parts. The first part revolves around a quantum version of the Kibble-Zurek mechanism including also phenomena that go beyond this simple paradigm. What they have in common is that excitation of a gapless many-body system scales with a power of the driving rate. The second part attempts a systematic presentation of recent results and conjectures on apparent relaxation of a pure state of an isolated quantum many-body system after its excitation by a sudden quench. This research is motivated in part by recent experimental developments in the physics of ultracold atoms with potential applications in the adiabatic quantum state preparation and quantum computation.Comment: 117 pages; review accepted in Advances in Physic