The Majorization Arrow in Quantum Algorithm Design

We apply majorization theory to study the quantum algorithms known so far and find that there is a majorization principle underlying the way they operate. Grover's algorithm is a neat instance of this principle where majorization works step by step until the optimal target state is found. Extensions of this situation are also found in algorithms based in quantum adiabatic evolution and the family of quantum phase-estimation algorithms, including Shor's algorithm. We state that in quantum algorithms the time arrow is a majorization arrow.Comment: REVTEX4.b4 file, 4 color figures (typos corrected.

Phase Diagram of the 2-Leg Heisenberg Ladder with Alternating Dimerization

Using the Lanczos method we determine the phase diagram of the 2-leg AF-Heisenberg ladder with alternating dimerization. It consists of a resonating valence bond phase and a dimer phase separated by a critical line. Our results are in good agreement with previous conjectures obtained with the non linear sigma model.Comment: REVTEX file, 10 pages, 3 figures. To appear in PL

Magnetization plateaux in dimerized spin ladder arrays

We investigate the ground state magnetization plateaux appearing in spin 1/2 two-leg ladders built up from dimerized antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chains and dimerized zig-zag interchain couplings. Using both Abelian bosonization and Lanczos methods we find that the system yields rather unusual plateaux and exhibits massive and massless phases for specific choices or ``tuning'' of exchange interactions. The relevance of this behavior in the study of NH_4CuCl_3 is discussed.Comment: 9 pages, RevTeX, 11 postscript figure

The probiotic strain Shewanella putrefaciens Pdp11 strongly modulates gene expression of the fish pathogen Vibrio harveyi

In this work, the interaction between the fish probiotic Shewanella putrefaciens Pdp11 and the fish pathogen V. harveyi was studied by RNA-seq to understand how SpPdp11 interferes with the pathogen through bioinformatics analysis. Three types of cultures were performed: SpPdp11 alone, V. harveyi alone and SpPdp11 and V. harveyi together. RNA was extracted and sequenced (paired end, 2x75 bp) at the Ultrasequencing Service of the University of Málaga using the Illumina NextSeqTM 550 platform. Raw reads were processed using a bioinformatic pipeline and a network analysis was performed for the most relevant functional enrichment results. The results suggest that the presence of SpPdp11 affects V. harveyi to a greater extent than V. harveyi affects SpPdp11. Considering that V. harveyi is a pathogenic strain and SpPdp11 is a probiotic strain, this may be positive for its probiotic capacity, as it not only maintains its functionality almost intact, but also produces a huge imbalance in that of V. harveyiThis work was funded by project AG-2017-509 83370-C3-3-R (MINECO, Spain)

Non-perturbative effective field theory for two-leg antiferromagnetic spin ladders

We study the long wavelength limit of a spin 1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnetic two-leg ladder, treating the interchain coupling in a non-perturbative way. We perform a mean field analysis and then include exactly the fluctuations. This allows for a discussion of the phase diagram of the system and provides an effective field theory for the low energy excitations. The coset fermionic Lagrangian obtained corresponds to a perturbed SU(4)_1/U(1) Conformal Field Theory (CFT). This effective theory is naturally embedded in a SU(2)_2 x Z_2 CFT, where perturbations are easily identified in terms of conformal operators in the two sectors. Crossed and zig-zag ladders are also discussed using the same approach.Comment: 14 pages LaTeX, 5 PostScript figures included using epsfig.sty; minor corrections and a few references adde

Association of STAT4 with rheumatoid arthritis:A replication study in three European populations

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to investigate the previously reported association of the STAT4 polymorphism rs7574865 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 3 different European populations from Spain, Sweden, and The Netherlands, comprising a total of 2,072 patients and 2,474 controls. METHODS: Three different cohorts were included in the study: 923 RA patients and 1,296 healthy controls from Spain, 273 RA patients and 285 healthy controls from Sweden, and 876 RA patients and 893 healthy controls from The Netherlands. DNA from patients and controls was obtained from peripheral blood. Samples were genotyped for the STAT4 single-nucleotide polymorphism rs7574865 using a TaqMan 5'-allele discrimination assay. The chi-square test was performed to compare allele and genotype distributions. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: We observed a significantly increased frequency of the minor T allele in RA patients compared with healthy controls in the Spanish population (24.8% versus 20.8%; P = 0.001, OR 1.26 [95% CI 1.09-1.45]). This association was confirmed in both the Swedish population (P = 0.03, OR 1.35 [95% CI 1.03-1.77]) and the Dutch population (P = 0.03, OR 1.45 [95% CI 1.21-1.73]). The overall P value for all 3 populations was 9.79 x 10(-6) (OR 1.25 [95% CI 1.13-1.37]). No association between rs7574865 and the presence of rheumatoid factor or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide autoantibodies was observed. A meta-analysis of all published STAT4 associations revealed an OR of 1.25 (95% CI 1.19-1.33) (P = 1 x 10(-5)). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate an association between the STAT4 polymorphism rs7574865 and RA in 3 different populations, from Spain, Sweden, and The Netherlands, thereby confirming previous data

Selberg Supertrace Formula for Super Riemann Surfaces III: Bordered Super Riemann Surfaces

This paper is the third in a sequel to develop a super-analogue of the classical Selberg trace formula, the Selberg supertrace formula. It deals with bordered super Riemann surfaces. The theory of bordered super Riemann surfaces is outlined, and the corresponding Selberg supertrace formula is developed. The analytic properties of the Selberg super zeta-functions on bordered super Riemann surfaces are discussed, and super-determinants of Dirac-Laplace operators on bordered super Riemann surfaces are calculated in terms of Selberg super zeta-functions.Comment: 43 pages, amste

Effectiveness, safety/tolerability of OBV/PTV/r ± DSV in patients with HCV genotype 1 or 4 with/without HIV-1 co-infection, chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage IIIb/V and dialysis in Spanish clinical practice – preliminary data Vie-KinD study

Poster presentatio

Variation in antiosteoporotic drug prescribing and spending across Spain. A population-based ecological cross-sectional study

Introduction: Evidence has shown that utilization of antiosteoporotic medications does not correspond with risk, and studies on other therapies have shown that adequacy of pharmaceutical prescribing might vary between regions. Nevertheless, very few studies have addressed the variability in osteoporotic drug consumption. We aimed to describe variations in pharmaceutical utilization and spending on osteoporotic drugs between Health Areas (HA) in Spain. Methods: Population-based cross-sectional ecological study of expenditure and utilization of the five therapeutic groups marketed for osteoporosis treatment in Spain in 2009. Small area variation analysis (SAVA) methods were used. The units of analysis were the 168 HA of 13 Spanish regions, including 7.2 million women aged 50 years and older. The main outcomes were the defined daily dose (DDD) per 1000 inhabitants and day (DDD/1000/Day) dispensed according to the pharmaceutical claims reimbursed, and the expenditure on antiosteoporotics at retail price per woman =50 years old and per year. Results: The average osteoporosis drug consumption was 116.8 DDD/1000W/Day, ranging from 78.5 to 158.7 DDD/1000W/Day between the HAs in the 5th and 95th percentiles. Seventy-five percent of the antiosteoporotics consumed was bisphosphonates, followed by raloxifene, strontium ranelate, calcitonins, and parathyroid hormones including teriparatide. Regarding variability by therapeutic groups, biphosphonates showed the lowest variation, while calcitonins and parathyroid hormones showed the highest variation. The annual expenditure on antiosteoporotics was €426.5 million, translating into an expenditure of €59.2 for each woman =50 years old and varying between €38.1 and €83.3 between HAs in the 5th and 95th percentiles. Biphosphonates, despite accounting for 79% of utilization, only represented 63% of total expenditure, while parathyroid hormones with only 1.6% of utilization accounted for 15% of the pharmaceutical spending. Conclusion: This study highlights a marked geographical variation in the prescription of antiosteoporotics, being more pronounced in the case of costly drugs such as parathyroid hormones. The differences in rates of prescribing explained almost all of the variance in drug spending, suggesting that the difference in prescription volume between territories, and not the price of the drugs, is the main source of variation in this setting. Data on geographical variation of prescription can help guide policy proposals for targeting areas with inadequate antiosteoporotic drug use