Practical Quantum Bit Commitment Protocol

A quantum protocol for bit commitment the security of which is based on technological limitations on nondemolition measurements and long-term quantum memory is presented.Comment: Quantum Inf. Process. (2011

First Principles Calculation of Anomalous Hall Conductivity in Ferromagnetic bcc Fe

We perform a first principles calculation of the anomalous Hall effect in ferromagnetic bcc Fe. Our theory identifies an intrinsic contribution to the anomalous Hall conductivity and relates it to the k-space Berry phase of occupied Bloch states. The theory is able to account for both dc and magneto-optical Hall conductivities with no adjustable parameters.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, author list correcte

Smart subtitles for vocabulary learning

Language learners often use subtitled videos to help them learn. However, standard subtitles are geared more towards comprehension than vocabulary learning, as translations are nonliteral and are provided only for phrases, not vocabulary. This paper presents Smart Subtitles, which are interactive subtitles tailored towards vocabulary learning. Smart Subtitles can be automatically generated from common video sources such as subtitled DVDs. They provide features such as vocabulary definitions on hover, and dialog-based video navigation. In our pilot study with intermediate learners studying Chinese, participants correctly defined over twice as many new words in a post-viewing vocabulary test when they used Smart Subtitles, compared to dual Chinese-English subtitles. Learners spent the same amount of time watching clips with each tool, and enjoyed viewing videos with Smart Subtitles as much as with dual subtitles. Learners understood videos equally well using either tool, as indicated by self-assessments and independent evaluations of their summaries

Geodetic Strain Analysis Tool

A geodetic software analysis tool enables the user to analyze 2D crustal strain from geodetic ground motion, and create models of crustal deformation using a graphical interface. Users can use any geodetic measurements of ground motion and derive the 2D crustal strain interactively. This software also provides a forward-modeling tool that calculates a geodetic velocity and strain field for a given fault model, and lets the user compare the modeled strain field with the strain field obtained from the user s data. Users may change parameters on-the-fly and obtain a real-time recalculation of the resulting strain field. Four data products are computed: maximum shear, dilatation, shear angle, and principal components. The current view and data dependencies are processed first. The remaining data products and views are then computed in a round-robin fashion to anticipate view changes. When an analysis or display parameter is changed, the affected data products and views are invalidated and progressively re-displayed as available. This software is designed to facilitate the derivation of the strain fields from the GPS and strain meter data that sample it to facilitate the understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the strain field derivation from continuous GPS (CGPS) and other geodetic data from a variety of tectonic settings, to converge on the "best practices" strain derivation strategy for the Solid Earth Science ESDR System (SESES) project given the CGPS station distribution in the western U.S., and to provide SESES users with a scientific and educational tool to explore the strain field on their own with user-defined parameters

Submucosal Tunnel Endoscopic Resection of Gastric Lesion Before Obesity Surgery: a Case Series

Background: Submucosal tumors (SMTs) of the gastrointestinal tract are a rare pathological entity comprising a wide variety of neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions. Even if most SMTs are benign tumors (e.g., leiomyomas), a smaller portion may have a malignant potential (e.g., gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)). Preoperative diagnosis of SMT in bariatric patients may arise challenging clinical dilemmas. Long-term surveillance may be difficult after bariatric surgery. Moreover, according to SMT location, its presence may interfere with planned surgery. Submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER) has emerged as an effective approach for minimally invasive en bloc excision of SMTs. This is the first case series of STER for SMTs before bariatric surgery. Methods: Seven female patients underwent STER for removal of SMTs before bariatric surgery. All lesions were incidentally diagnosed at preoperative endoscopy. STER procedural steps comprised mucosal incision, submucosal tunneling, lesion enucleation, and closure of mucosal defect. Results: En bloc removal of SMT was achieved in all cases. Mean procedural time was of 45 min (SD 18.6). No adverse event occurred. Mean size of the lesions was 20.6 mm (SD 5.8). Histological diagnoses were 5 leyomiomas, 1 lipoma, and 1 low grade GIST. Bariatric procedure was performed after a mean period of 4.1 months (SD 1.6) from endoscopic resection. Conclusion: STER is a safe and effective treatment for the management of SMT even in bariatric patients awaiting surgery. Preoperative endoscopic resection of SMTs has the advantages of reducing the need for surveillance and removing lesions that could interfere with planned surgery. STER did not altered accomplishment of bariatric procedures

First-Principles Dynamical Coherent-Potential Approximation Approach to the Ferromagnetism of Fe, Co, and Ni

Magnetic properties of Fe, Co, and Ni at finite temperatures have been investigated on the basis of the first-principles dynamical CPA (Coherent Potential Approximation) combined with the LDA (Local Density Approximation) + $U$ Hamiltonian in the Tight-Binding Linear Muffintin Orbital (TB-LMTO) representation. The Hamiltonian includes the transverse spin fluctuation terms. Numerical calculations have been performed within the harmonic approximation with 4th-order dynamical corrections. Calculated single-particle densities of states in the ferromagnetic state indicate that the dynamical effects reduce the exchange splitting, suppress the band width of the quasi-particle state, and causes incoherent excitations corresponding the 6 eV satellites. Results of the magnetization vs temperature curves, paramagnetic spin susceptibilities, and the amplitudes of local moments are presented. Calculated Curie temperatures ($T_{\rm C}$) are reported to be 1930K for Fe, 2550K for Co, and 620K for Ni; $T_{\rm C}$ for Fe and Co are overestimated by a factor of 1.8, while $T_{\rm C}$ in Ni agrees with the experimental result. Effective Bohr magneton numbers calculated from the inverse susceptibilities are 3.0 $\mu_{\rm B}$ (Fe), 3.0 $\mu_{\rm B}$ (Co), and 1.6 $\mu_{\rm B}$ (Ni), being in agreement with the experimental ones. Overestimate of $T_{\rm C}$ in Fe and Co is attributed to the neglects of the higher-order dynamical effects as well as the magnetic short range order.Comment: 10 pages, 13 figure

Quasiparticle dynamics in ferromagnetic compounds of the Co-Fe and Ni-Fe systems

We report a theoretical study of the quasiparticle lifetime and the quasiparticle mean free path caused by inelastic electron-electron scattering in ferromagnetic compounds of the Co-Fe and Ni-Fe systems. The study is based on spin-polarized calculations, which are performed within the $GW$ approximation for equiatomic and Co- and Ni-rich compounds, as well as for their constituents. We mainly focus on the spin asymmetry of the quasiparticle properties, which leads to the spin-filtering effect experimentally observed in spin-dependent transport of hot electrons and holes in the systems under study. By comparing with available experimental data on the attenuation length, we estimate the contribution of the inelastic mean free path to the latter.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figure

Severe cholestatic jaundice after a single administration of ajmaline; a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Ajmaline is a pharmaceutical agent now administered globally for a variety of indications, particularly investigation of suspected Brugada syndrome. There have been previous reports suggesting that repetitive use of this agent may cause severe liver injury, but little evidence exists demonstrating the same effect after only a single administration. CASE PRESENTATION: A 33-year-old man of Libyan origin with no significant past medical history underwent an ajmaline provocation test for investigation of suspected Brugada syndrome. Three weeks later, he presented with painless cholestatic jaundice which peaked in severity at eleven weeks after the test. Blood tests confirmed no evidence of autoimmune or viral liver disease, whilst imaging confirmed the absence of biliary tract obstruction. A liver biopsy demonstrated centrilobular cholestasis and focal rosetting of hepatocytes, consistent with a cholestatic drug reaction. Over the course of the next few months, he began to improve clinically and biochemically, with complete resolution by one year post-exposure. CONCLUSION: Whilst ajmaline-related hepatotoxicity was well-recognised in the era in which the drug was administered as a regular medication, clinicians should be aware that ajmaline may induce severe cholestatic jaundice even after a single dose administration