Photon-mediated qubit interactions in one-dimensional discrete and continuous models

In this work we study numerically and analytically the interaction of two qubits in a one-dimensionalwaveguide, as mediated by the photons that propagate through the guide. We develop strategies to assert the Markovianity of the problem, the effective qubit-qubit interactions, and their individual and collective spontaneous emission. We prove the existence of collective Lamb shifts that affect the qubit-qubit interactions and the dependency of coherent and incoherent interactions on the qubit separation. We also develop the scattering theory associated with these models and prove single-photon spectroscopy does probe the renormalized resonances of the singleand multiqubit models, in sharp contrast to earlier toy models in which individual and collective Lamb shifts cancel

BCS theory for finite size superconductors

We study finite size effects in superconducting metallic grains and determine the BCS order parameter and the low energy excitation spectrum in terms of size, and shape of the grain. Our approach combines the BCS self-consistency condition, a semiclassical expansion for the spectral density and interaction matrix elements, and corrections to the BCS mean-field. In chaotic grains mesoscopic fluctuations of the matrix elements lead to a smooth dependence of the order parameter on the excitation energy. In the integrable case we observe shell effects when e.g. a small change in the electron number leads to large changes in the energy gap.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, journal versio

Demographic limitation processes

20 páginas, 2 figuras, 1 tabla, 3 cuadros.-- Editor: Valladares, F.[ES]: Procesos de limitación demográfica. Este capítulo ofrece una revisión de los factores que afectan a la regeneración natural de la vegetación, considerando la serie de etapas demográficas que determinan la dinámica demográfica de una pobla- ción. Son muy escasos los estudios disponibles que analizan toda la serie de eventos concatenados entre la producción de flores y frutos y el establecimiento exitoso de una planta adulta reproductiva. También son escasos los trabajos que permiten establecer los efectos aplazados que tienen las interacciones con animales a lo largo del ciclo de regeneración. La aproximación que proponemos cuantifica las pérdidas de propágulos en cada etapa demográfica e identifica “cuellos de botella” del reclutamiento que pue- den colapsar la regeneración natural de una especie. Revisamos una serie de casos de estudio que ilustran diversos procesos de limitación demográfica. El uso de técnicas explícitamente demográficas es fundamental para comprender la evolución de las especies forestales Mediterráneas y para diseñar actuaciones de preservación de sus poblaciones y de su extraordinaria diversidad.[EN]: We review the main factors influencing recruitment limitation in Mediterranean woody species by considering the sequential stages that determine the demographic cycle. Very few studies examine the whole set of demographic stages, from flower production to the successful establishment of adult reproductive plants, and their influence on recruitment. There are also few studies exploring the delayed effects of animal interactions throughout the regeneration cycle, but the information on stage-specific effects is more detailed. We propose an approach that quantifies the propagule losses at each sequential demographic stage and identifies demographic bottlenecks that might collapse population growth. We review a series of case studies illustrating different limitation processes. The use of explicit demographic techniques is central to understand the evolution of Mediterranean woody species and to design sound, ecologically-based, conservation plans to preserve their extraordinary diversity.Juan Arroyo agradece la financiación otorgada a los proyectos 4474-91 (National Geographic Society), PB 91-0894, PB95-0551, 1FD97-0743-CO3-03, PB98-1144, BOS200307924-CO2-01 (MECD, MCyT). Los trabajos de Pedro Jordano han sido financiados con proyectos MECD y MCyT (1FD97-0743-CO3-01, PB 96-0857, BOS2000-1366-C02-01 y REN2003-00273), así como la Junta de Andalucía (PAI). Juan Luis García-Castaño estuvo financiado durante su período pre-doctoral con una beca FPU, AP96-27318040. El trabajo de Fernando Pulido ha sido parcialmente financiado por una beca FPI de la Junta de Extremadura y los proyectos regional IPR-0A050 y estatal BOS2002- 12222-E del Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología. Los trabajos de Patricio García-Fayos han sido financiados con proyectos MCyT (1FD97-0551), de la Generalitat Valenciana (02-046) y de la Institució Alfons el Magnánim (02-046)Peer reviewe

Reelin sets the pace of neocortical neurogenesis

12 p., 7 figures and references.Migration of neurons during cortical development is often assumed to rely on purely post-proliferative reelin signaling. However, Notch signaling, long known to regulate neural precursor formation and maintenance, is required for the effects of reelin on neuronal migration. Here, we show that reelin gain-of-function causes a higher expression of Notch target genes in radial glia and accelerates the production of both neurons and intermediate progenitor cells. Converse alterations correlate with reelin lossof-function, consistent with reelin controlling Notch signaling during neurogenesis. Ectopic expression of reelin in isolated clones of progenitors causes a severe reduction in neuronal differentiation. In mosaic cell cultures, reelin-primed progenitor cells respond to wild-type cells by further decreasing neuronal differentiation, consistent with an increased sensitivity to lateral inhibition. These results indicate that reelin and Notch signaling cooperate to set the pace of neocortical neurogenesis, a prerequisite for proper neuronal migration and cortical layering.This work was supported in part by grants from the Generalitat Valenciana-Prometeo [2008-134 to L.G.-A.]; the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation [SAF2004-07685 to J.M.L.]; and the Fundación Médica Mutua Madrileña [to J.M.L.]. J.L. holds a Junta para la Ampliación de Estudios (JAE) Programme/Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) pre-doctoral fellowship.Peer reviewe

Recommendations and guidelines for applied nutrition experiments in rabbits

[EN] The aim of this paper was to draw up a set of recommendations for applied nutrition and feeding trials with rabbits, in relation to certain aspects such as determining the nutritive value of raw materials or diets in growing or reproducing animals, studying digestive physiology and obtaining growth and reproduction parameters. We deal first with animals, size of the sample, housing conditions, diets, handling, measurements, and the data analyses relevant to the design of the experiment are described. Secondly, we give a list of recommended items and include some comments.This study was partly supported by the EUROPEAN COMMISSION (ERAFE program and the COST 848 Action).Fernández-Carmona, J.; Blas, E.; Pascual Amorós, JJ.; Maertens, L.; Gidenne, T.; Xiccato, G.; García, J. (2005). Recommendations and guidelines for applied nutrition experiments in rabbits. World Rabbit Science. 13. doi:10.4995/wrs.2005.516SWORD1

Design of asymmetrical directional couplers on ridge and strip SOI technology with high-dimensional variation tolerance

[EN] The supermode analysis of asymmetrical directional couplers (ADC) based on SOI technology for strip and ridge structures at 1550 nm is herein reported, targeting to reduce ADC device fabrication requirements. The reported analysis based on supermodes permits us to assess the sensitivity of the ADC coupling efficiency by calculating the index difference between even and odd supermodes. Optimum designs have been found for 100 and 400 nm gaps, respectively, capable of converting and (de) multiplexing both TE0 and TE1 modes taking into account the width, gap, height, and slab thickness variations produced with respect to the nominal design. (C) 2018 Optical Society of AmericaMinisterio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO) (TEC2015-70858-C2-1-R, RTC-2014-2232-3).García-Rodríguez, D.; Corral, JL.; Llorente, R. (2018). Design of asymmetrical directional couplers on ridge and strip SOI technology with high-dimensional variation tolerance. Optics Letters. 43(11):2491-2494. https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.43.002491S249124944311Essiambre, R.-J., Kramer, G., Winzer, P. J., Foschini, G. J., & Goebel, B. (2010). Capacity Limits of Optical Fiber Networks. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 28(4), 662-701. doi:10.1109/jlt.2009.2039464Richardson, D. J. (2016). New optical fibres for high-capacity optical communications. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 374(2062), 20140441. doi:10.1098/rsta.2014.0441Mizuno, T., Takara, H., Sano, A., & Miyamoto, Y. (2016). Dense Space-Division Multiplexed Transmission Systems Using Multi-Core and Multi-Mode Fiber. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 34(2), 582-592. doi:10.1109/jlt.2015.2482901Winzer, P. J. (2014). Making spatial multiplexing a reality. Nature Photonics, 8(5), 345-348. doi:10.1038/nphoton.2014.58Melati, D., Alippi, A., Annoni, A., Peserico, N., & Melloni, A. (2017). Integrated all-optical MIMO demultiplexer for mode- and wavelength-division-multiplexed transmission. Optics Letters, 42(2), 342. doi:10.1364/ol.42.000342Garcia-Rodriguez, D., Corral, J. L., & Llorente, R. (2017). Mode Conversion for Mode Division Multiplexing at 850 nm in Standard SMF. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 29(11), 929-932. doi:10.1109/lpt.2017.2694605Garcia-Rodriguez, D., Corral, J. L., Griol, A., & Llorente, R. (2017). Dimensional variation tolerant mode converter/multiplexer fabricated in SOI technology for two-mode transmission at 1550  nm. Optics Letters, 42(7), 1221. doi:10.1364/ol.42.001221Le, Y.-S., Wang, Z., Li, Z.-Y., Li, Y., Li, Q., Cui, C., & Wu, C.-Q. (2018). Three-mode all-optical (de)multiplexing on a SOI chip. Optics Communications, 406, 173-176. doi:10.1016/j.optcom.2017.04.059Sun, C., Yu, Y., Ye, M., Chen, G., & Zhang, X. (2016). An ultra-low crosstalk and broadband two-mode (de)multiplexer based on adiabatic couplers. Scientific Reports, 6(1). doi:10.1038/srep38494Hanzawa, N., Saitoh, K., Sakamoto, T., Matsui, T., Tsujikawa, K., Uematsu, T., & Yamamoto, F. (2015). PLC-Based Four-Mode Multi/Demultiplexer With LP11 Mode Rotator on One Chip. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 33(6), 1161-1165. doi:10.1109/jlt.2014.2378281Yamashita, Y., Fujisawa, T., Makino, S., Hanzasa, N., Sakamoto, T., Matsui, T., … Saitoh, K. (2017). Design and Fabrication of Broadband PLC-Based Two-Mode Multi/Demultiplexer Using a Wavefront Matching Method. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 35(11), 2252-2258. doi:10.1109/jlt.2016.2641461Zanzi, A., Brimont, A., Griol, A., Sanchis, P., & Marti, J. (2016). Compact and low-loss asymmetrical multimode interference splitter for power monitoring applications. Optics Letters, 41(2), 227. doi:10.1364/ol.41.000227Hanzawa, N., Saitoh, K., Sakamoto, T., Matsui, T., Tsujikawa, K., Koshiba, M., & Yamamoto, F. (2014). Mode multi/demultiplexing with parallel waveguide for mode division multiplexed transmission. Optics Express, 22(24), 29321. doi:10.1364/oe.22.029321Wang, J., He, S., & Dai, D. (2014). On-chip silicon 8-channel hybrid (de)multiplexer enabling simultaneous mode- and polarization-division-multiplexing. Laser & Photonics Reviews, 8(2), L18-L22. doi:10.1002/lpor.201300157Pan, C., & Rahman, B. M. A. (2016). Accurate Analysis of the Mode (de)multiplexer Using Asymmetric Directional Coupler. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 34(9), 2288-2296. doi:10.1109/jlt.2016.2530852Mikkelsen, J. C., Sacher, W. D., & Poon, J. K. S. (2014). Dimensional variation tolerant silicon-on-insulator directional couplers. Optics Express, 22(3), 3145. doi:10.1364/oe.22.003145Xu, K. (2014). Corrections to «On the Design and Optimization of Three-Terminal Light-Emitting Device in Silicon CMOS Technology» [Jul/Aug 14 8201208]. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 20(4), 422-422. doi:10.1109/jstqe.2014.2318271Corral, J. L., Garcia-Rodriguez, D., & Llorente, R. (2016). Mode-Selective Couplers for Two-Mode Transmission at 850 nm in Standard SMF. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 28(4), 425-428. doi:10.1109/lpt.2015.249708

The PAU Survey and Euclid: Improving broadband photometric redshifts with multi-task learning

Artículo escrito por un elevado número de autores, solo se referencian el que aparece en primer lugar, los autores pertenecientes a la UAM y el nombre del grupo de colaboración, si lo hubiereCurrent and future imaging surveys require photometric redshifts (photo-zs) to be estimated for millions of galaxies. Improving the photo-z quality is a major challenge but is needed to advance our understanding of cosmology. In this paper we explore how the synergies between narrow-band photometric data and large imaging surveys can be exploited to improve broadband photometric redshifts. We used a multi-task learning (MTL) network to improve broadband photo-z estimates by simultaneously predicting the broadband photo-z and the narrow-band photometry from the broadband photometry. The narrow-band photometry is only required in the training field, which also enables better photo-z predictions for the galaxies without narrow-band photometry in the wide field. This technique was tested with data from the Physics of the Accelerating Universe Survey (PAUS) in the COSMOS field. We find that the method predicts photo-zs that are 13% more precise down to magnitude iAB 1. Applying this technique to deeper samples is crucial for future surveys such as Euclid or LSST. For simulated data, training on a sample with iAB < 23, the method reduces the photo-z scatter by 16% for all galaxies with iAB < 25. We also studied the effects of extending the training sample with photometric galaxies using PAUS high-precision photo-zs, which reduces the photo-z scatter by 20% in the COSMOS fieldThe PAU Survey is partially supported by MINECO under grants CSD2007-00060, AYA2015-71825, ESP2017-89838, PGC2018-094773, PGC2018-102021, SEV-2016-0588, SEV-2016-0597, MDM-2015-0509, PID2019-111317GB-C31 and Juan de la Cierva fellowship and LACEGAL and EWC Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant No 734374 and no.776247 with ERDF funds from the EU Horizon 2020 Programme, some of which include ERDF funds from the European Union. IEEC and IFAE are partially funded by the CERCA and Beatriu de Pinos program of the Generalitat de Catalunya. Funding for PAUS has also been provided by Durham University (via the ERC StG DEGAS-259586), ETH Zurich, Leiden University (via ERC StG ADULT279396 and Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) Vici grant 639.043.512), Bochum University (via a Heisenberg grant of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Hi 1495/5-1) as well as an ERC Consolidator Grant (No. 770935)), University College London, Portsmouth support through the Royal Society Wolfson fellowship and from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the grant agreement No 776247 EWC. The results published were also funded by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (Bekker grant BPN/BEK/2021/1/00298/DEC/1), the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Maria Skłodowska-Curie (grant agreement No 754510) and by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through Juan de la Cierva-formacion program (reference FJC2018-038792-I

Estudio preliminar sobre el efecto del ultrasonido en las propiedades fisicoquímicas del vino tinto

Ultrasound is regarded as a potential alternative method for improving the quality of some wines. This study was initiated with the objective of evaluating the effects of ultrasound on some important physicochemical properties of red wine such as chromatic characteristics (CC), electrical conductivity (EC), pH, titratable acidity (TA), total phenolic compounds (TPCs) and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl) free radical scavenging activity (DFRSA). The operational parameters assessed were ultrasound power, ultrasound frequency, exposure time and bath temperature. Results illustrated that there were significant changes in CC, EC and TPC while pH and TA hardly changed except for samples treated at high temperatures. DFRSA was correlated to TPC during ultrasonic treatment. Application of principal component analysis to the experimental data suggested that exposure time was the factor with the greatest ability to induce changes on wine. Results suggested that ultrasound may be applied to improve some physicochemical properties of red wine.El ultrasonido se considera uno de los métodos alternativos potenciales para mejorar la calidad de algunos vinos. Se comenzó este estudio con el objetivo de evaluar los efectos del ultrasonido en algunas de la propiedades fisicoquímicas importantes del vino tinto como son: las características cromáticas (CC), la conductividad eléctrica (EC), el pH, la acidez (TA), los compuestos fenólicos totales (TPC) y el DPPH (1,1-difenil-2-picrilhidrazil) de actividad de eliminación de radicales libres (DFRSA). Los parámetros operacionales examinados fueron: la potencia de ultrasonido, la frecuencia de ultrasonido, el tiempo de exposición y la temperatura de baño. Los resultados ilustraron la existencia de cambios significativos en CC, EC y TPC, mientras que el pH y TA prácticamente no cambiaron excepto en las muestras tratadas con altas temperaturas. DFRSA tuvo correlación con TPC durante el tratamiento con ultrasonido. La aplicación de análisis de componentes principales a los datos experimentales sugirió que el tiempo de exposición era el factor con mayor habilidad para inducir cambios en el vino. Los resultados sugirieron que el ultrasonido podría aplicarse para mejorar algunas de las propiedades fisicoquímicas del vino tinto.National Natural Science Foundation of China [No. 31101324]Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province, China [No. 2015JM3097]Technology Transfer Promotion Project of Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China [No.CXY1434(5)]Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China [Nos. GK201302039, GK201404006

Synthesis of type A zeolites from natural kaolinite for their application in CO2 capture processes

Climate change is the greatest environmental threat of the 21st century, with major economic, social and environmental consequences. The level of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions has increased by 31%, therefore, both governments and the scientific community are taking steps to mitigate emissions into the atmosphere. The most economically sustainable method is the use of low cost adsorbents that perform a selective adsorption of CO2 with respect to other inert gases such as N2. Clay minerals are highly available materials on the planet, are a low cost raw material and have great versatility for various processes in the field of adsorption and catalysis. The present work describes the synthesis of type A zeolite from a hydrothermal process in basic medium using metacaolinite as a starting material. Several parameters such as temperature and time were modified to evaluate the relationship between the formation conditions of the zeolite and its CO2 adsorption capacity. Synthesized catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption-desorption at -196 ºC, nuclear magnetic resonance of solids (NMR) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). In addition, the absorption capacity of CO2 with type A zeolites has been evaluated, and all the results were compared with the commercial zeolites. With respect to the results obtained, it can be said that the bands obtained by IR for the synthesized Zeolites are similar to those of the commercial Zeolite. On the other hand, the NMR results show that the synthesized and commercial zeolite present the same chemical environment. Finally, the textural parameters corroborate that in all cases the surface area is low from 12 m2g-1 for kaolinite to 7 m2g-1 for commercial zeolite AUniversidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech