Experimental linear-optical implementation of a multifunctional optimal qubit cloner

We present the first experimental implementation of a multifunctional device for the optimal cloning of one to two qubits. Previous implementations have always been designed to optimize the cloning procedure with respect to one single type of a priori information about the cloned state. In contrast, our "all-in-one" implementation is optimal for several prominent regimes such as universal cloning, phase-covariant cloning, and also the first ever realized mirror phase-covariant cloning, when the square of the expected value of Pauli's Z operator is known in advance. In all these regimes the experimental device yields clones with almost maximum achievable average fidelity (97.5% of theoretical limit). Our device has a wide range of possible applications in quantum information processing, especially in quantum communication. For instance, one can use it for incoherent and coherent attacks against a variety of cryptographic protocols, including the Bennett-Brassard 1984 protocol of quantum key distribution through the Pauli damping channels. It can be also applied as a state-dependent photon multiplier in practical quantum networks.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, accepted to Phys. Rev. A (Rapid Communications

Neonatal pain management: still in search for the Holy Grail.

Inadequate pain management but also inappropriate use of analgesics in early infancy has negative effects on neurodevelopmental outcome. As a consequence, neonatal pain management is still in search for the Holy Grail. At best, effective pain management is based on prevention, assessment, and treatment followed by a re-assessment of the pain to determine if additional treatment is still necessary. Unfortunately, epidemiological observations suggest that neonates are undergoing painful procedures very frequently, unveiling the need for effective preventive, non-pharmacological strategies. In addition, assessment is still based on validated, multimodal, but subjective pain assessment tools. Finally, in neonatal intensive care units, there is a shift in clinical practices (e.g., shorter intubation and ventilation), and this necessitates the development and validation of new pharmacological treatment modalities. To illustrate this, a shift in the use of opioids to paracetamol has occurred and short-acting agents (remifentanil, propofol) are more commonly administered to neonates. In addition to these new modalities and as part of a more advanced approach of the developmental pharmacology of analgesics, pharmacogenetics also emerged as a tool for precision medicine in neonates. To assure further improvement of neonatal pain management the integration of pharmacogenetics with the usual covariates like weight, age and/or disease characteristics is needed

PANORAMA IMAGE SETS FOR TERRESTRIAL PHOTOGRAMMETRIC SURVEYS

High resolution 3D models produced from photographs acquired with consumer-grade cameras are becoming increasingly common in the fields of geosciences. However, the quality of an image-based 3D model depends on the planning of the photogrammetric surveys. This means that the geometric configuration of the multi-view camera network and the control data have to be designed in accordance with the required accuracy, resolution and completeness. From a practical application point of view, a proper planning (of both photos and control data) of the photogrammetric survey especially for terrestrial acquisition, is not always ensured due to limited accessibility of the target object and the presence of occlusions. To solve these problems, we propose a different image acquisition strategy and we test different geo-referencing scenarios to deal with the practical issues of a terrestrial photogrammetric survey. The proposed photogrammetric survey procedure is based on the acquisition of a sequence of images in panorama mode by rotating the camera on a standard tripod. The offset of the pivot point from the projection center prevents the stitching of these images into a panorama. We demonstrate how to still take advantage of this capturing mode. The geo-referencing investigation consists of testing the use of directly observed coordinates of the camera positions, different ground control point (GCP) configurations, and GCPs with different accuracies, i.e. artificial targets vs. natural features. Images of the test field in a low-slope hill were acquired from the ground using an SLR camera. To validate the photogrammetric results a terrestrial laser scanner survey is used as benchmark

Thermodynamics of interacting systems: the role of the topology and collective effects

We will study a class of system composed of interacting quantum dots (QDs) placed in contact with a hot and cold thermal baths subjected to a non-conservative driving worksource. Despite their simplicity, these models showcase an intricate array of phenomena, including pump and heat engine regimes as well as a discontinuous phase transition. We will look at three distinctive topologies: a minimal and beyond minimal (homogeneous and heterogeneous interaction structures). The former case is represented by stark different networks ("all-to-all" interactions and only a central interacting to its neighbors) and present exact solutions, whereas homogeneous and heterogeneous structures have been analyzed by numerical simulations. We find that the topology plays a major role on the thermodynamic performance if the individual energies of the quantum dots are small, in part due to the presence of first-order phase-transitions. If the individual energies are large, the topology is not important and results are well-described by a system with all-to-all interactions.Comment: 11 pages, 12 figures (comments are welcome

1-(2-Meth­oxy­phen­yl)-2-{[2-(2-meth­oxy­phen­yl)hydrazinyl­idene](nitro)­meth­yl}diazene

In the title compound, C15H15N5O4, a nitro­formazan derivative, the formazan unit is essentially planar with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.0204 (6) Å and adopts a closed syn,s-cis configuration with an intra­molecular N—H⋯N hydrogen bond. The formazan plane makes dihedral angles of 4.32 (5) and 24.35 (5)° with the benzene rings. The dihedral angle between the formazan plane and the nitro group is 12.58 (8)°. In the crystal, C—H⋯O inter­actions connect the mol­ecules into an inversion dimer

Gambaran Faktor Resiko Pasien Diabetes Melitus Tipe II Di Poliklinik Endokrin Bagian/smf Fk-unsrat RSU Prof. Dr. R.d Kandou Manado Periode Mei 2011 - Oktober 2011

: Given the high prevalence in patients with type 2 diabetes where the incidence of 650.000 new cases each year. In type-2, the pancreas does not make enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels remain normal, often because the body does not respond well to insulin. Most people do not realize had been suffering from type 2 diabetes, although the situation has become very serious. Type 2 diabetes has become a commonly experienced in the world and in Indonesia, and the numbers continue to grow due to unhealthy lifestyles, obesity and lazy to exercise. Purpose: To determine how the image of risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes in the clinic Endocrine and Metabolic Section / SMF FK-UNSRAT BLU RSU Prof. Dr. R.D. Manado Kandou the period of May-October2011. Methods: This type of research is a descriptive study using secondary data. Population of type 2 DM patients who come for treatment at the Polyclinic Endocrine and Metabolic Section / SMF FK-UNSRAT BLU RSU Prof.Dr. R.D. Kandou Manado the period of May - October 2011. The number of samples of 138 patients comprising 60 men and 78 women. Result: The case of DM Tiipe 2 in Endocrine and Metabolic Clinic ever found in women than in men. Acquired risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus is a BMI> 23 ever found in an obese BMI groups 1 (25-29,9) of 37 patients, patients with stage 1 hypertension (130-159/80-99 mmHg) obtained by 80 patients , patients with dyslipidaemia as many as 22 patients, patients with a family history of as many as 45 patients, patients with age> 40 years as many as 130 patients, and patients who have risk factors for most of the patients with 3 risk factors as many as 74 patients. Conclusion: Risk factors affecting the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Endocrine and Metabolic Clinic is a BMI> 23, hypertension> 140/90 mmHg, family history,age> 40 years, dyslipidemia

NKCC1 downregulation induces hyperpolarizing shift of GABA responsiveness at near term fetal stages in rat cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons

GABA A receptor-mediated neurotransmission is greatly influenced by cation-chloride cotransporter activity during developmental stages. In embryonic neurons Na–K–2Cl (NKCC1) cotransporters mediate active chloride uptake, thus increasing the intracellular chloride concentration associated with GABA-induced depolarization. At fetal stages near term, oxytocin-induced NKCC1 downregulation has been implicated in the developmental shift from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing GABA action. Mature dorsal root ganglion neurons (DRGN), however, express high NKCC1 levels and maintain high intracellular chloride levels with consequent GABA-induced depolarization.Results: Gramicidin-perforated patch-clamp recordings were used to assess the developmental change in chloride homeostasis in rat cultured small DRGN at the embryonic day 16 (E16) and 19 (E19). The results were compared to data previously obtained in fetal DRGN at E14 and in mature cells. A significant NKCC1 downregulation, leading to reduction in excitatory GABAergic transmission, was observed at E16 and E19.Conclusion: These results indicate that NKCC1 activity transiently decreases in DRGN at fetal stages near term. This developmental shift in GABAergic transmission may contribute to fetal analgesia and neuroprotection at birth

Compactifications of conformal gravity

We study conformal theories of gravity, i.e. those whose action is invariant under the local transformation g_{\mu\nu} -> \omega^2 (x) g_{\mu\nu}. As is well known, in order to obtain Einstein gravity in 4D it is necessary to introduce a scalar compensator with a VEV that spontaneously breaks the conformal invariance and generates the Planck mass. We show that the compactification of extra dimensions in a higher dimensional conformal theory of gravity also yields Einstein gravity in lower dimensions, without the need to introduce the scalar compensator. It is the field associated with the size of the extra dimensions (the radion) who takes the role of the scalar compensator in 4D. The radion has in this case no physical excitations since they are gauged away in the Einstein frame for the metric. In these models the stabilization of the size of the extra dimensions is therefore automatic.Comment: 13 page

MK-801 Impairs Cognitive Coordination on a Rotating Arena (Carousel) and Contextual Specificity of Hippocampal Immediate-Early Gene Expression in a Rat Model of Psychosis

Flexible behavior in dynamic, real-world environments requires more than static spatial learning and memory. Discordant and unstable cues must be organized in coherent subsets to give rise to meaningful spatial representations. We model this form of cognitive coordination on a rotating arena – Carousel where arena- and room-bound spatial cues are dissociated. Hippocampal neuronal ensemble activity can repeatedly switch between multiple representations of such an environment. Injection of tetrodotoxin into one hippocampus prevents cognitive coordination during avoidance of a stationary room-defined place on the Carousel and increases coactivity of previously unrelated neurons in the uninjected hippocampus. Place avoidance on the Carousel is impaired after systemic administration of non-competitive NMDAr blockers (MK-801) used to model schizophrenia in animals and people. We tested if this effect is due to cognitive disorganization or other effect of NMDAr antagonism such as hyperlocomotion, spatial memory impairment, or general learning deficit. We also examined if the same dose of MK-801 alters patterns of immediate-early gene (IEG) expression in the hippocampus. IEG expression is triggered in neuronal nuclei in a context-specific manner after behavioral exploration and it is used to map activity in neuronal populations. IEG expression is critical for maintenance of synaptic plasticity and memory consolidation. We show that the same dose of MK-801 that impairs spatial coordination of rats on the Carousel also eliminates contextual specificity of IEG expression in hippocampal CA1 ensembles. This effect is due to increased similarity between ensembles activated in different environments, consistent with the idea that it is caused by increased coactivity between neurons, which did not previously fire together. Our data support the proposition of the Hypersynchrony theory that cognitive disorganization in psychosis is due to increased coactivity between unrelated neurons