Single shot parameter estimation via continuous quantum measurement

We present filtering equations for single shot parameter estimation using continuous quantum measurement. By embedding parameter estimation in the standard quantum filtering formalism, we derive the optimal Bayesian filter for cases when the parameter takes on a finite range of values. Leveraging recent convergence results [van Handel, arXiv:0709.2216 (2008)], we give a condition which determines the asymptotic convergence of the estimator. For cases when the parameter is continuous valued, we develop quantum particle filters as a practical computational method for quantum parameter estimation.Comment: 9 pages, 5 image

Publishing Ethics

As all of our readers and authors know, there have been increasing problems with non-ethical behavior when publishing research. These problems range from not mentioning corresponding work by others, to publishing results that have not been sufficiently researched, to different degrees of plagiarism and fraud. So far, it appears that our journal has been spared the most serious infractions. However, there are subtle unethical aspects that have occurred with increasing frequency. Most notable is the publication of overlapping information in different journals; another issue is the resubmittal of articles that have been rejected by another journal. Both, the publication of overlapping material and resubmittal, are often justified. What is absolutely essential, however, is to inform the editors and thus the reviewers. This means that the overlapping material needs to be clearly identified or the rejection by another journal mentioned. This is not only the ethical standard that we, the editors, expect of our authors, but it is also in the authors’ interest to be associated with publications that follow these standards

Manuscripts Using Numerical Discrete Element Methods

The creation of numerical discrete element methods was a breakthrough in modeling discontinuous media and thus in modeling of rock masses. Recent developments in this domain, as also shown in a Special Issue of our Journal (Volume 45, Issue 5, September 2012), make it possible to simulate rock on any scale from intact rock composed of several particles to rock masse

Los mitos sociales chilenos

El ritmo de los cambios revolucionarios en los países subdesarrollados, apreciado sólo en términos políticos, ha sido, en la última década, realmente impresionante. Lo que fuera denominado, con toda propiedad, “explosión de la cultura occidental”, se ha puesto de manifiesto con sus frenéticos deseos de nacionalismo, industrialización, urbanización, elevación del nivel de vida, etc. Este aspecto de la historia presente es indiscutible. Y al mismo tiempo que presenciamos innegables cambios revolucionarios en partes muy distintas del mundo, hay observadores que comentan con displicencia: La naturaleza humana no cambia. Yo no comparto esta opinión; pero a veces es preciso confesar que esgrimen argumentos que no resulta fácil rebatir. Lo que ocurre, al examina] la cuestión, es que el cambio social debe ser considerado de manera global, sin limitar el planteo a un análisis en términos económicos, políticos o institucionales y extendiéndolo a las pautas de creencia de un pueblo dado. Por ejemplo, podemos decir que los rasgos de una ciudad cambian como resultado de la industrialización. Sin embargo, ¿queremos significar con ello que todas las ciudades industriales son iguales? Sin duda son iguales respecto de ciertos problemas, aunque también son distintas con respecto a otros, como horas de trabajo y descanso, tipos de diversiones, parques, uso de las calles, etc. Por ello, las actitudes colectivas con que una determinada cultura enfrenta el mundo, deben ser tenidas en cuenta cuando se discute la naturaleza del cambio revolucionario en las distintas esferas de la vida social.Universidad Nacional de La Plat

Los mitos sociales chilenos

El ritmo de los cambios revolucionarios en los países subdesarrollados, apreciado sólo en términos políticos, ha sido, en la última década, realmente impresionante. Lo que fuera denominado, con toda propiedad, “explosión de la cultura occidental”, se ha puesto de manifiesto con sus frenéticos deseos de nacionalismo, industrialización, urbanización, elevación del nivel de vida, etc. Este aspecto de la historia presente es indiscutible. Y al mismo tiempo que presenciamos innegables cambios revolucionarios en partes muy distintas del mundo, hay observadores que comentan con displicencia: La naturaleza humana no cambia. Yo no comparto esta opinión; pero a veces es preciso confesar que esgrimen argumentos que no resulta fácil rebatir. Lo que ocurre, al examina] la cuestión, es que el cambio social debe ser considerado de manera global, sin limitar el planteo a un análisis en términos económicos, políticos o institucionales y extendiéndolo a las pautas de creencia de un pueblo dado. Por ejemplo, podemos decir que los rasgos de una ciudad cambian como resultado de la industrialización. Sin embargo, ¿queremos significar con ello que todas las ciudades industriales son iguales? Sin duda son iguales respecto de ciertos problemas, aunque también son distintas con respecto a otros, como horas de trabajo y descanso, tipos de diversiones, parques, uso de las calles, etc. Por ello, las actitudes colectivas con que una determinada cultura enfrenta el mundo, deben ser tenidas en cuenta cuando se discute la naturaleza del cambio revolucionario en las distintas esferas de la vida social.Universidad Nacional de La Plat

Creatinine, diet, micronutrients, and arsenic methylation in West Bengal, India.

BackgroundIngested inorganic arsenic (InAs) is methylated to monomethylated (MMA) and dimethylated metabolites (DMA). Methylation may have an important role in arsenic toxicity, because the monomethylated trivalent metabolite [MMA(III)] is highly toxic.ObjectivesWe assessed the relationship of creatinine and nutrition--using dietary intake and blood concentrations of micronutrients--with arsenic metabolism, as reflected in the proportions of InAS, MMA, and DMA in urine, in the first study that incorporated both dietary and micronutrient data.MethodsWe studied methylation patterns and nutritional factors in 405 persons who were selected from a cross-sectional survey of 7,638 people in an arsenic-exposed population in West Bengal, India. We assessed associations of urine creatinine and nutritional factors (19 dietary intake variables and 16 blood micronutrients) with arsenic metabolites in urine.ResultsUrinary creatinine had the strongest relationship with overall arsenic methylation to DMA. Those with the highest urinary creatinine concentrations had 7.2% more arsenic as DMA compared with those with low creatinine (p < 0.001). Animal fat intake had the strongest relationship with MMA% (highest tertile animal fat intake had 2.3% more arsenic as MMA, p < 0.001). Low serum selenium and low folate were also associated with increased MMA%.ConclusionsUrine creatinine concentration was the strongest biological marker of arsenic methylation efficiency, and therefore should not be used to adjust for urine concentration in arsenic studies. The new finding that animal fat intake has a positive relationship with MMA% warrants further assessment in other studies. Increased MMA% was also associated, to a lesser extent, with low serum selenium and folate

The Critical Role of IL-34 in Osteoclastogenesis

It has been widely believed that the cytokines required for osteoclast formation are M-CSF (also known as CSF-1) and RANKL. Recently, a novel cytokine, designated IL-34, has been identified as another ligand of CSF1R. This study was to explore the biological function, specifically osteoclastogenesis and bone metabolism, of the new cytokine. We produced recombinant mouse IL-34 and found that together with RANKL it induces the formation of osteoclasts both from splenocytes as well as dose-dependently from bone marrow cells in mouse and these cells also revealed bone resorption activity. It also promotes osteoclast differentiation from human peripheral blood mononucleated cells. Finally, we show that systemic administration of IL-34 to mice increases the proportion of CD11b+ cells and reduces trabecular bone mass. Our data indicate that IL-34 is another important player in osteoclastogenesis and thus may have a role in bone diseases. Strategies of targeting CSF1/CSF1R have been developed and some of them are already in preclinical and clinical studies for treatment of inflammatory diseases. Our results strongly suggest the need to revisit these strategies as they may provide a new potential pharmaceutical target for the regulation of bone metabolism in addition to their role in the treatment of inflammatory diseases

Controllability and controller-observer design for a class of linear time-varying systems

“The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10852-012-9212-6"In this paper a class of linear time-varying control systems is considered. The time variation consists of a scalar time-varying coefficient multiplying the state matrix of an otherwise time-invariant system. Under very weak assumptions of this coefficient, we show that the controllability can be assessed by an algebraic rank condition, Kalman canonical decomposition is possible, and we give a method for designing a linear state-feedback controller and Luenberger observer