9,090 research outputs found
Minimum Detection Efficiencies for a Loophole-Free Bell-type Test
We discuss the problem of finding the most favorable conditions for closing
the detection loophole in a test of local realism with a Bell inequality. For a
generic non-maximally entangled two-qubit state and two alternative measurement
bases we apply Hardy's proof of non-locality without inequality and derive an
Eberhard-like inequality. For an infinity of non-maximally entangled states we
find that it is possible to refute local realism by requiring perfect detection
efficiency for only one of the two measurements: the test is free from the
detection loophole for any value of the detection efficiency corresponding to
the other measurement. The maximum tolerable noise in a loophole-free test is
also evaluated.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
Plants for predators - a participatory experiment
Encouraging natural enemies by growing attractant plants is a highly effective method of pest control in organic systems. However, it is important to establish which plants are most effective at attracting benefi cial insects. Experiments were carried out by 179 HDRA members, who grew four plant species (Coriander, Corn Marigold, Fennel and Phacelia) in their gardens and allotments. Over the course of the growing season, assessments were made on the growth and flowering of the plants and the presence of four key groups of beneficial insect (ladybirds, hoverflies, lacewings and parasitic wasps). Phacelia established quickly and its long flowering period meant it attracted insects throughout the summer. However, Phacelia was only the most attractive plant at the end of the season and insects preferred the other trial plants when they were in flower. Results highlight the importance of growing a range of flowering plants to provide resources for beneficials throughout their activity period
Dimensional crossover of the fundamental-measure functional for parallel hard cubes
We present a regularization of the recently proposed fundamental-measure
functional for a mixture of parallel hard cubes. The regularized functional is
shown to have right dimensional crossovers to any smaller dimension, thus
allowing to use it to study highly inhomogeneous phases (such as the solid
phase). Furthermore, it is shown how the functional of the slightly more
general model of parallel hard parallelepipeds can be obtained using the
zero-dimensional functional as a generating functional. The multicomponent
version of the latter system is also given, and it is suggested how to
reformulate it as a restricted-orientation model for liquid crystals. Finally,
the method is further extended to build a functional for a mixture of parallel
hard cylinders.Comment: 4 pages, no figures, uses revtex style files and multicol.sty, for a
PostScript version see http://dulcinea.uc3m.es/users/cuesta/cross.p
Mid-infrared quantum optics in silicon
Applied quantum optics stands to revolutionise many aspects of information
technology, provided performance can be maintained when scaled up. Silicon
quantum photonics satisfies the scaling requirements of miniaturisation and
manufacturability, but at 1.55 m it suffers from unacceptable linear and
nonlinear loss. Here we show that, by translating silicon quantum photonics to
the mid-infrared, a new quantum optics platform is created which can
simultaneously maximise manufacturability and miniaturisation, while minimising
loss. We demonstrate the necessary platform components: photon-pair generation,
single-photon detection, and high-visibility quantum interference, all at
wavelengths beyond 2 m. Across various regimes, we observe a maximum net
coincidence rate of 448 12 Hz, a coincidence-to-accidental ratio of 25.7
1.1, and, a net two photon quantum interference visibility of 0.993
0.017. Mid-infrared silicon quantum photonics will bring new quantum
applications within reach.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures; revised figures, updated discussion in section 3,
typos corrected, added referenc
Tyrosine dephosphorylation of H2AX modulates apoptosis and survival decisions.
Life and death fate decisions allow cells to avoid massive apoptotic death in response to genotoxic stress. Although the regulatory mechanisms and signalling pathways controlling DNA repair and apoptosis are well characterized, the precise molecular strategies that determine the ultimate choice of DNA repair and survival or apoptotic cell death remain incompletely understood. Here we report that a protein tyrosine phosphatase, EYA, is involved in promoting efficient DNA repair rather than apoptosis in response to genotoxic stress in mammalian embryonic kidney cells by executing a damage-signal-dependent dephosphorylation of an H2AX carboxy-terminal tyrosine phosphate (Y142). This post-translational modification determines the relative recruitment of either DNA repair or pro-apoptotic factors to the tail of serine phosphorylated histone H2AX (gamma-H2AX) and allows it to function as an active determinant of repair/survival versus apoptotic responses to DNA damage, revealing an additional phosphorylation-dependent mechanism that modulates survival/apoptotic decisions during mammalian organogenesis
Epigenomic Regulation of Androgen Receptor Signaling: Potential Role in Prostate Cancer Therapy.
Androgen receptor (AR) signaling remains the major oncogenic pathway in prostate cancer (PCa). Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) is the principle treatment for locally advanced and metastatic disease. However, a significant number of patients acquire treatment resistance leading to castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Epigenetics, the study of heritable and reversible changes in gene expression without alterations in DNA sequences, is a crucial regulatory step in AR signaling. We and others, recently described the technological advance Chem-seq, a method to identify the interaction between a drug and the genome. This has permitted better understanding of the underlying regulatory mechanisms of AR during carcinogenesis and revealed the importance of epigenetic modifiers. In screening for new epigenomic modifiying drugs, we identified SD-70, and found that this demethylase inhibitor is effective in CRPC cells in combination with current therapies. The aim of this review is to explore the role of epigenetic modifications as biomarkers for detection, prognosis, and risk evaluation of PCa. Furthermore, we also provide an update of the recent findings on the epigenetic key processes (DNA methylation, chromatin modifications and alterations in noncoding RNA profiles) involved in AR expression and their possible role as therapeutic targets
The quantum efficiency of HgCdTe photodiodes in relation to the direction of illumination and to their geometry
A theoretical study of the effect of the direction of the incident light on the quantum efficiency of homogeneous HgCdTe photodiodes suitable for sensing infrared radiation in the 8-12 microns atmospheric window is presented. The probability of an excess minority carrier to reach the junction is derived as a function of its distance from the edge of the depletion region. Accordingly, the quantum efficiency of photodiodes is presented for two geometries. In the first, the light is introduced directly to the area in which it is absorbed (opaque region), while in the second, the light passes through a transparent region before it reaches the opaque region. Finally, the performance of the two types of diodes is analyzed with the objective of finding the optimal width of the absorption area. The quantum efficiency depends strongly on the way in which the light is introduced. The structure in which the radiation is absorbed following its crossing the transparent region is associated with both higher quantum efficiency and homogeneity. In addition, for absorption region widths higher than a certain minimum, the quantum efficiency in this case is insensitive to the width of the absorption region
Selective-pivot sampling of radial distribution functions in asymmetric liquid mixtures
We present a Monte Carlo algorithm for selectively sampling radial
distribution functions and effective interaction potentials in asymmetric
liquid mixtures. We demonstrate its efficiency for hard-sphere mixtures, and
for model systems with more general interactions, and compare our simulations
with several analytical approximations. For interaction potentials containing a
hard-sphere contribution, the algorithm yields the contact value of the radial
distribution function.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure
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