High-dimensional decoy-state quantum key distribution over 0.3 km of multicore telecommunication optical fibers

Multiplexing is a strategy to augment the transmission capacity of a communication system. It consists of combining multiple signals over the same data channel and it has been very successful in classical communications. However, the use of enhanced channels has only reached limited practicality in quantum communications (QC) as it requires the complex manipulation of quantum systems of higher dimensions. Considerable effort is being made towards QC using high-dimensional quantum systems encoded into the transverse momentum of single photons but, so far, no approach has been proven to be fully compatible with the existing telecommunication infrastructure. Here, we overcome such a technological challenge and demonstrate a stable and secure high-dimensional decoy-state quantum key distribution session over a 0.3 km long multicore optical fiber. The high-dimensional quantum states are defined in terms of the multiple core modes available for the photon transmission over the fiber, and the decoy-state analysis demonstrates that our technique enables a positive secret key generation rate up to 25 km of fiber propagation. Finally, we show how our results build up towards a high-dimensional quantum network composed of free-space and fiber based linksComment: Please see the complementary work arXiv:1610.01812 (2016

Fricke and polymer gel 2D dosimetry validation using Monte Carlo simulation

Complexity in modern radiotherapy treatments demands advanced dosimetry systems for quality control. These systems must have several characteristics, such as high spatial resolution, tissue equivalence, three-dimensional resolution, and dose-integrating capabilities. In this scenario, gel dosimetry has proved to be a very promising option for quality assurance. In this study, the feasibility of Fricke and polymer gel dosimeters suitably shaped in form of thin layers and optically analyzed by visible light transmission imaging has been investigated for quality assurance in external radiotherapy. Dosimeter irradiation was carried out with a 6-MV photon beam (CLINAC 600C). The analysis of the irradiated dosimeters was done using two-dimensional optical transmission images. These dosimeters were compared with a treatment plan system using Monte Carlo simulations as a reference by means of a gamma test with parameters of 1 mm and 2%. Results show very good agreement between the different dosimetric systems: in the worst-case scenario, 98% of the analyzed points meet the test quality requirements. Therefore, gel dosimetry may be considered as a potential tool for the validation of other dosimetric systems.Fil: Vedelago, José Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Chacón Obando, D.. Universidad Nacional. Physics Department; Costa Rica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Malano, Francisco Mauricio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Conejeros, R.. Servicio de Radioterapia, Icos. Temuco, Chile;Fil: Figueroa, R.. Universidad de la Frontera; ChileFil: Garcia, D.. Servicio de Imagenes por Resonancia Magnética; ChileFil: González, G.. Servicio de Imagenes por Resonancia Magnética; ChileFil: Romero, Marcelo Ricardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Santibañez, M.. Servicio de Imagenes por Resonancia Magnética; ChileFil: Strumia, Miriam Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Velásquez, J.. Servicio de Radioterapia; ChileFil: Mattea, Facundo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Química Orgánica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Valente, M.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola; Argentina. Universidad de La Frontera. Departamento de Ciencias Físicas; Chil

FOOTHILL COLOMBIAN PLAIN, HYDRODYNAMIC AND HYDROGEOCHEMICAL PATHWAY HYPOTHESIS, HYDROGEOLOGIC METHODS.

  La nueva información de presión de formación, fisicoquímica e isotopía ambiental, permitieron la elaboración de hipótesis preeliminares sobre el origen y movimiento del agua de formación asociada a hidrocarburos en Piedemonte y parte central de los Llanos Orientales. En Piedemonte, se sugiere la presencia de sistemas hidráulicos individuales sobrepresionados, asociados a cada estilo estructural; encontrándose un sistema levemente subpresionado al sur de Cupiagua. El origen de las aguas de formación es confuso, encontrándose aguas connatas con bajas salinidades, aguas empobrecidas isotópicamente con altas salinidades y aguas con desviaciones en las trayectorias isotópicas, sugiriendo la acción de procesos de mezcla y/o interacción roca-fluido. Se determinó flujo SW, con una anomalía de flujo W-SW (Cusiana), favorecida por canales permeables originados por la yuxtaposición de litologías permeables.   En Llanos, se sugieren sistemas hidráulicos levemente sobrepresionados (menos que en Piedemonte), con zonas de subpresión para campos paralelos y adyacentes al frente de deformación. La isotopía sugiere la acción de procesos de mezcla y/o interacción roca fluido. Anomalías de presión y fisicoquímica, sugieren mezcla de fluidos en forma ascendente, con plumas dispuestas paralelamente y adyacentemente al frente de deformación. El flujo es N-NW desde el SE, hacia zonas subpresionadas al centro de la cuenca.   Palabras Claves: Hidrodinámica, Hidrogeoquímica, Migración, Piedemonte, Llanos Orientales      New information of formation pressure, groundwater physicochemical and environmental isotopes, allowed to carry out hypothesis on the origin and movement of formation water associated to hydrocarbons in Foothill and central part of the Llanos Orientales basin. In Piedemonte, overpressured individual hydraulic systems are suggested, associated to each structural style; founding a slightly subpressured system to the south of Cupiagua. The formation water origin in not clear, founding cognate waters with low salinities, waters with isotopic impoverishment and high salinities, and waters with deviations in the isotopic trajectories, that suggest action of mixture processes and/or interaction rock-fluid. It has been established a SW flow, with a W-SW anomaly (Cusiana), which is favoured by permeable channels originated by juxtaposition of permeable lythologies.   In Llanos, slightly overpressured hydraulic systems are suggested (less than in Piedemonte), with subpressured zones for field parallel and adjacent to the deformation front. Isotopic analysis suggests the action of mixture processes and/or interaction fluid-rock. Pressure and physicochemical anomalies, suggest mixture of fluid in ascending form, with plumes parallel and adjacent to the deformation front. The flow is N-NW from SE, towards subpressured zones in the basin.   Key words: Hydrodynamic, Hidrogeochemical, Migration, Piedemonte, Llanos Orientale

FOOTHILL COLOMBIAN PLAIN, HYDRODYNAMIC AND HYDROGEOCHEMICAL PATHWAY HYPOTHESIS, HYDROGEOLOGIC METHODS.

  La nueva información de presión de formación, fisicoquímica e isotopía ambiental, permitieron la elaboración de hipótesis preeliminares sobre el origen y movimiento del agua de formación asociada a hidrocarburos en Piedemonte y parte central de los Llanos Orientales. En Piedemonte, se sugiere la presencia de sistemas hidráulicos individuales sobrepresionados, asociados a cada estilo estructural; encontrándose un sistema levemente subpresionado al sur de Cupiagua. El origen de las aguas de formación es confuso, encontrándose aguas connatas con bajas salinidades, aguas empobrecidas isotópicamente con altas salinidades y aguas con desviaciones en las trayectorias isotópicas, sugiriendo la acción de procesos de mezcla y/o interacción roca-fluido. Se determinó flujo SW, con una anomalía de flujo W-SW (Cusiana), favorecida por canales permeables originados por la yuxtaposición de litologías permeables.   En Llanos, se sugieren sistemas hidráulicos levemente sobrepresionados (menos que en Piedemonte), con zonas de subpresión para campos paralelos y adyacentes al frente de deformación. La isotopía sugiere la acción de procesos de mezcla y/o interacción roca fluido. Anomalías de presión y fisicoquímica, sugieren mezcla de fluidos en forma ascendente, con plumas dispuestas paralelamente y adyacentemente al frente de deformación. El flujo es N-NW desde el SE, hacia zonas subpresionadas al centro de la cuenca.   Palabras Claves: Hidrodinámica, Hidrogeoquímica, Migración, Piedemonte, Llanos Orientales      New information of formation pressure, groundwater physicochemical and environmental isotopes, allowed to carry out hypothesis on the origin and movement of formation water associated to hydrocarbons in Foothill and central part of the Llanos Orientales basin. In Piedemonte, overpressured individual hydraulic systems are suggested, associated to each structural style; founding a slightly subpressured system to the south of Cupiagua. The formation water origin in not clear, founding cognate waters with low salinities, waters with isotopic impoverishment and high salinities, and waters with deviations in the isotopic trajectories, that suggest action of mixture processes and/or interaction rock-fluid. It has been established a SW flow, with a W-SW anomaly (Cusiana), which is favoured by permeable channels originated by juxtaposition of permeable lythologies.   In Llanos, slightly overpressured hydraulic systems are suggested (less than in Piedemonte), with subpressured zones for field parallel and adjacent to the deformation front. Isotopic analysis suggests the action of mixture processes and/or interaction fluid-rock. Pressure and physicochemical anomalies, suggest mixture of fluid in ascending form, with plumes parallel and adjacent to the deformation front. The flow is N-NW from SE, towards subpressured zones in the basin.   Key words: Hydrodynamic, Hidrogeochemical, Migration, Piedemonte, Llanos Orientale

Senescence-associated proteolysis induced by abiotic and biotic stresses in barley leaves

Leaf senescence is a recycling process characterized by a massive degradation of macromolecules to relocalize nutrients from leaves to growing or storage tissues. Our aim is to identify and analyze the C1A Cysteine ‐Protease (CysProt) family members from barley (35 cathepsin L‐,3B‐,1Hand3F‐like) involved in leaf senescence, to study their modulation by their specific inhibitors (cystatins) and to determine their roles mediated by abiotic (darkness and N starvation) and biotic (pathogens and pest) stresses

Lactic Acid Yield Using Different Bacterial Strains, Its Purification, and Polymerization through Ring-Opening Reactions

Laboratory-scale anaerobic fermentation was performed to obtain lactic acid from lactose, using five lactic acid bacteria: Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, L. delbrueckii, L. plantarum, and L. delbrueckii lactis. A yield of 0.99 g lactic acid/g lactose was obtained with L. delbrueckii, from which a final concentration of 80.95 g/L aqueous solution was obtained through microfiltration, nanofiltration, and inverse osmosis membranes. The lactic acid was polymerized by means of ring-opening reactions (ROP) to obtain poly-DL-lactic acid (PDLLA), with a viscosity average molecular weight (Mv) of 19,264 g/mol

Limits of JT gravity

We construct various limits of JT gravity, including Newton-Cartan and Carrollian versions of dilaton gravity in two dimensions as well as a theory on the three-dimensional light cone. In the BF formulation our boundary conditions relate boundary connection with boundary scalar, yielding as boundary action the particle action on a group manifold or some Hamiltonian reduction thereof. After recovering in our formulation the Schwarzian for JT, we show that AdS-Carroll gravity yields a twisted warped boundary action. We comment on numerous applications and generalizations.Comment: 41 pages, 3 figures, 1 table; v2: Matches published version + Footnote 11; v3: Corrected typo in Carrollian/Galilean generalized dilaton potentia

Role of targeted therapies in rheumatic patients on COVID-19 outcomes: Results from the COVIDSER study

Objectives To analyse the effect of targeted therapies, either biological (b) disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), targeted synthetic (ts) DMARDs and other factors (demographics, comorbidities or COVID-19 symptoms) on the risk of COVID-19 related hospitalisation in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Methods The COVIDSER study is an observational cohort including 7782 patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate ORs and 95% CIs of hospitalisation. Antirheumatic medication taken immediately prior to infection, demographic characteristics, rheumatic disease diagnosis, comorbidities and COVID-19 symptoms were analysed. Results A total of 426 cases of symptomatic COVID-19 from 1 March 2020 to 13 April 2021 were included in the analyses: 106 (24.9%) were hospitalised and 19 (4.4%) died. In multivariate-adjusted models, bDMARDs and tsDMARDs in combination were not associated with hospitalisation compared with conventional synthetic DMARDs (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.24 to 1.25 of b/tsDMARDs, p=0.15). Tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNF-i) were associated with a reduced likelihood of hospitalisation (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.82, p=0.018), whereas rituximab showed a tendency to an increased risk of hospitalisation (OR 4.85, 95% CI 0.86 to 27.2). Glucocorticoid use was not associated with hospitalisation (OR 1.69, 95% CI 0.81 to 3.55). A mix of sociodemographic factors, comorbidities and COVID-19 symptoms contribute to patients'' hospitalisation. Conclusions The use of targeted therapies as a group is not associated with COVID-19 severity, except for rituximab, which shows a trend towards an increased risk of hospitalisation, while TNF-i was associated with decreased odds of hospitalisation in patients with rheumatic disease. Other factors like age, male gender, comorbidities and COVID-19 symptoms do play a role.

A network analysis to identify mediators of germline-driven differences in breast cancer prognosis.

Identifying the underlying genetic drivers of the heritability of breast cancer prognosis remains elusive. We adapt a network-based approach to handle underpowered complex datasets to provide new insights into the potential function of germline variants in breast cancer prognosis. This network-based analysis studies ~7.3 million variants in 84,457 breast cancer patients in relation to breast cancer survival and confirms the results on 12,381 independent patients. Aggregating the prognostic effects of genetic variants across multiple genes, we identify four gene modules associated with survival in estrogen receptor (ER)-negative and one in ER-positive disease. The modules show biological enrichment for cancer-related processes such as G-alpha signaling, circadian clock, angiogenesis, and Rho-GTPases in apoptosis

The disproportionate burden of HIV and STIs among male sex workers in Mexico City and the rationale for economic incentives to reduce risks

Introduction: The objective of this article is to present the rationale and baseline results for a randomized controlled pilot trial using economic incentives to reduce HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk among male sex workers (MSWs) in Mexico City. Methods: Participants (n=267) were tested and treated for STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV) and viral hepatitis (hepatitis B and C), received HIV and STI prevention education and were randomized into four groups: (1) control, (2) medium conditional incentive ($50/six months), (3) high conditional incentive ($75/six months) and (4) unconditional incentive ($50/six months). In the conditional arms, incentives were contingent upon testing free of new curable STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis) at follow-up assessments. Results: Participants’ mean age was 25 years; 8$25 with a 35% higher payment for condomless sex. Conclusions: The findings suggest that economic incentives are a relevant approach for HIV prevention among MSWs, given the market-based inducements for unprotected sex. This type of targeted intervention seems to be justified and should continue to be explored in the context of combination prevention efforts