Does universality of free-fall apply to the motion of quantum probes?

Can quantum-mechanical particles propagating on a fixed spacetime background be approximated as test bodies satisfying the weak equivalence principle? We ultimately answer the question in the negative but find that, when universality of free-fall is assessed locally, a nontrivial agreement between quantum mechanics and the weak equivalence principle exists. Implications for mass sensing by quantum probes are discussed in some details

ADVANCES IN QUANTUM PARAMETER ESTIMATION AND OTHER TOPICS

The first half of this thesis deals with the problem of parameter estimation in a quantum system. In quantum parameter estimation theory, the quantum Fisher information is usually considered as the ultimate precision limit, beyond which no further improvement is possible due to the inherent stochasticity of quantum measurements. On the other hand, in this thesis we will show that a better precision is achievable than predicted by a quantum Fisher information analysis. This is true if some regularity assumptions about the underlying quantum parametric model are relaxed. In such situations, the quantum Fisher information does not completely capture the best possible performance of quantum measurements, and a different approach must be followed. In the second part of the thesis, we will focus on some applications of orthogonal array theory to two notable quantum information problems: the problem of multipartite entanglement classification and the quantum marginal problem. Introduced by Rao in 1947, orthogonal arrays have been usefully applied to different fields, from cryptography and coding theory to the statistical design of experiments, software testing and quality control. Remarkably, orthogonal arrays have also found application in quantum information and, in particular, in the study of quantum entanglement. We will employ tools from orthogonal array theory to study a toy version of the multipartite entanglement classification problem. Finally, we will show how orthogonal arrays can be employed to build constructive solutions to low-dimensional quantum marginal problems

On the discontinuity of the quantum Fisher information for quantum statistical models with parameter dependent rank

We address the discontinuities of the quantum Fisher information (QFI) that may arise when the parameter of interest takes values that change the rank of the quantum statistical model. We revisit the classical and the quantum Cram\ue9r-Rao theorems, show that they do not hold in these limiting cases, and discuss how this impacts on the relationship between the QFI and the Bures metric. In order to illustrate the metrological implications of our findings, we present two paradigmatic examples, where we discuss in detail the role of the discontinuities. We show that the usual equivalence between the variance of the maximum likelihood estimator and the inverse of the QFI breaks down

Morpho-molecular traits of Indo-Pacific and Caribbean <i>Halofolliculina </i>ciliate infections

Coral diseases are emerging as a major threat to coral reefs worldwide, and although many of them have been described, knowledge on their epizootiology is still limited. This is the case of the Halofolliculina ciliate infections, recognized as the skeletal eroding band (SEB) and Caribbean ciliate infection (CCI), two diseases caused by ciliates belonging to the genus Halofolliculina (Class Heterotrichea). Despite their similar macroscopic appearance, the two diseases are considered different and their pathogens have been hypothesized to belong to different Halofolliculina species. In this work, we analysed the morphology and genetic diversity of Halofolliculina ciliates collected in the Caribbean Sea, Red Sea and Indo-Pacific Ocean. Our analyses showed a strong macroscopic similarity of the lesions and similar settlement patterns of the halofolliculinids from the collection localities. In particular, the unique erosion patterns typical of the SEB were observed also in the Caribbean corals. Fine-scale morphological and morphometric examinations revealed a common phenotype in all analysed ciliates, unequivocally identified as Halofolliculina corallasia. Phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear and mitochondrial (COI) molecular markers consistently found all samples as monophyletic. However, although the nuclear marker displayed an extremely low intra-specific diversity, consistent with the morphological recognition of a single species, the analyses based on COI showed a certain level of divergence between samples from different localities. Genetic distances between localities fall within the intra-specific range found in other heterotrich ciliates, but they may also suggest the presence of a H. corallasia species complex. In conclusion, the presented morpho-molecular characterization of Halofolliculina reveals strong similarities between the pathogens causing SEB and CCI and call for further detailed studies about the distinction of these two coral diseases

Coarse-grained entanglement classification through orthogonal arrays

Classification of entanglement in multipartite quantum systems is an open problem solved so far only for bipartite systems and for systems composed of three and four qubits. We propose here a coarse-grained classification of entanglement in systems consisting of $N$ subsystems with an arbitrary number of internal levels each, based on properties of orthogonal arrays with $N$ columns. In particular, we investigate in detail a subset of highly entangled pure states which contains all states defining maximum distance separable codes. To illustrate the methods presented, we analyze systems of four and five qubits, as well as heterogeneous tripartite systems consisting of two qubits and one qutrit or one qubit and two qutrits.Comment: 38 pages, 1 figur

Diversity, host specificity and biogeography in the Cladocorynidae (Hydrozoa, Capitata), with description of a new genus

The hydrozoan family Cladocorynidae inhabits tropical to temperate waters and comprises the two genera Pteroclava and Cladocoryne. Pteroclava lives in association with some octocorals and hydrozoans, whereas Cladocoryne is more generalist in terms of substrate choice. This work provides a thorough morpho-molecular reassessment of the Cladocorynidae by presenting the first well-supported phylogeny of the family based on the analyses of three mitochondrial and four nuclear markers. Notably, the two nominal genera were confirmed to be monophyletic and both morphological and genetic data led to the formal description of a new genus exclusively associated with octocorals, Pseudozanclea gen. nov. Maggioni & Montano. Accordingly, the diagnosis of the family was updated. The ancestral state reconstruction of selected characters revealed that the symbiosis with octocorals likely appeared in the most recent common ancestor of Pteroclava and Pseudozanclea. Additionally, the presence of euryteles aggregation in the polyp stage and the exumbrellar nematocyst pouches with euryteles represent synapomorphies of all cladocorynid taxa and probably emerged in their most recent common ancestor. The analysis of several Pteroclava krempfi colonies from Indo-Pacific and Caribbean localities associated with several host octocorals revealed a high intra-specific genetic variability. Single- and multi-locus species delimitations resulted in three to five species hypotheses, but the statistical analysis of morphometric data showed only limited distinction among the clades of P. krempfi. However, P. krempfi clades showed differences in both host specificity, mostly at the octocoral family level, and geographic distribution, with one clade found exclusively in the Caribbean Sea and the others found in the Indo-Pacific.Fil: Maggioni, Davide. Università degli Studi di Milano; ItaliaFil: Garese, Agustin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Danwei Huang. National University Of Singapore; SingapurFil: Hoeksema, Bert W.. University of Groningen; Países BajosFil: Arrigoni, Roberto. Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn; ItaliaFil: Seveso, Davide. Università degli Studi di Milano; ItaliaFil: Galli, Paolo. Università degli Studi di Milano; ItaliaFil: Berumen, Michael L.. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; Arabia SauditaFil: Montalbetti, Enrico. Università degli Studi di Milano; ItaliaFil: Pica, Daniela. Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare; ItaliaFil: Torsani, Fabrizio. Università Politecnica Delle Marche; ItaliaFil: Montano, Simone. Università degli Studi di Milano; Itali

polyphyly of the genus zanclea and family zancleidae hydrozoa capitata revealed by the integrative analysis of two bryozoan associated species

The Zancleidae is a hydrozoan family that currently comprises three genera and 42 nominal species. The validity of numerous taxa in this family still needs to be assessed with integrative analyses and complete life cycle descriptions. The vast majority of its species live symbiotically with other organisms, among which cheilostomate bryozoans are the most common hosts. These bryozoan-associated zancleids are host-specific and encompass all species of the genera Halocoryne and Zanclella, as well as several species in the genus Zanclea. Zancleids show variable morphologies, including highly reduced polyps and medusae. Their phylogenetic history is uncertain due to the often intergrading morphologies and the shortage of molecular data. In the present study, two species of Zanclea from the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea are analysed, using morphological and DNA-based approaches. Morphological analyses of the polyp and medusa stages show that, despite a general resemblance with each other and with Zanclella diabolica, the two species differ in some characters, and this is supported also by molecular investigations. The DNA analyses show that the two species are monophyletic and closely related, but divergent from other Zanclea lineages. This newly recovered clade may correspond with the genus Zanclella or with a cryptic genus. The lack of both morphological and molecular data for several zancleid species did not allow to address this issue. Additionally, the single-and multi-locus phylogeny reconstructions reveal that both the family Zancleidae and the genus Zanclea are polyphyletic taxa, since they are composed of at least three divergent lineages. Most zancleid species have polyps and medusae similar to other closely related taxa, and this conserved general morphology poses a challenge in the delimitation of species, genera and even families in this group. Consequently, further conjunct morphological and molecular efforts are strongly needed to clarify the diversity and evolution of the family Zancleida as a whole

Integrative systematics illuminates the relationships in two sponge-associated hydrozoan families (Capitata : Sphaerocorynidae and Zancleopsidae)

An integrated approach using morphological and genetic data is needed to disentangle taxonomic uncertainties affecting the hydrozoan families Sphaerocorynidae and Zancleopsidae. Here we used this approach to accurately characterise species in these families, identify the previously unknown polyp stages of the genera Euphysilla and Zancleopsis, which were originally described exclusively based on the medusa stages, describe a new sphaerocorynid genus and species, and assess the phylogenetic position of the two families within the Capitata. The monotypic genus Astrocoryne was found to be a synonym of Zancleopsis. Astrocoryne cabela was therefore transferred to the genus Zancleopsis as Zancleopsis cabela comb. nov. The new polyp-based genus and species Kudacoryne diaphana gen. nov. sp. nov. was erected within the Sphaerocorynidae. Both taxa are primarily based on genetic data, but the introduction of this new genus was made necessary by the fact that it clustered with the genera Heterocoryne and Euphysilla, despite showing Sphaerocoryne-like polyps. Interestingly, the species analysed in this work showed contrasting biogeographical patterns. Based on our data and literature records, some species appear to have a wide circumtropical range, whereas others are limited to few localities. Overall, these results lay the ground for future investigations aimed at resolving the taxonomy and systematics of these two enigmatic families.Peer reviewe

Evolution and biogeography of the <i>Zanclea</i>-Scleractinia symbiosis

Scleractinian corals provide habitats for a broad variety of cryptofauna, which in turn may contribute to the overall functioning of coral symbiomes. Among these invertebrates, hydrozoans belonging to the genus Zanclea represent an increasingly known and ecologically important group of coral symbionts. In this study, we analysed 321 Zanclea colonies associated with 31 coral genera collected from 11 localities across the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean regions, and used a multi-disciplinary approach to shed light on the evolution and biogeography of the group. Overall, we found high genetic diversity of hydrozoans that spans nine clades corresponding to cryptic or pseudo-cryptic species. All but two clades are associated with one or two coral genera belonging to the Complex clade, whereas the remaining ones are generalists associated with both Complex and Robust corals. Despite the observed specificity patterns, no congruence between Zanclea and coral phylogenies was observed, suggesting a lack of coevolutionary events. Most Zanclea clades have a wide distribution across the Indo-Pacific, including a generalist group extending also into the Caribbean, while two host-specific clades are possibly found exclusively in the Red Sea, confirming the importance of this peripheral region as an endemicity hotspot. Ancestral state reconstruction suggests that the most recent common ancestor of all extant coral-associated Zanclea was a specialist species with a perisarc, occurring in what is now known as the Indo-Pacific. Ultimately, a mixture of geography- and host-related diversification processes is likely responsible for the observed enigmatic phylogenetic structure of coral-associated Zanclea

Anales del III Congreso Internacional de Vivienda y Ciudad "Debate en torno a la nueva agenda urbana"

Acta de congresoEl III Congreso Internacional de Vivienda y Ciudad “Debates en torno a la NUEVa Agenda Urbana”, ha sido una apuesta de alto compromiso por acercar los debates centrales y urgentes que tensionan el pleno ejercicio del derecho a la ciudad. Para ello las instituciones organizadoras (INVIHAB –Instituto de Investigación de Vivienda y Hábitat y MGyDH-Maestría en Gestión y Desarrollo Habitacional-1), hemos convidado un espacio que se concretó con potencia en un debate transdisciplinario. Convocó a intelectuales de prestigio internacional, investigadores, académicos y gestores estatales, y en una metodología de innovación articuló las voces académicas con las de las organizaciones sociales y/o barriales en el Foro de las Organizaciones Sociales que tuvo su espacio propio para dar voz a quienes están trabajando en los desafíos para garantizar los derechos a la vivienda y los bienes urbanos en nuestras ciudades del Siglo XXI