Splitting a critical spin chain

We study a quench protocol that conserves the entanglement spectrum of a bipartition of a quantum system. As an example we consider the splitting of a critical Ising chain into two chains and compare it with the well-known case of the joining of two chains. We show that both the out-of-equilibrium time evolution of global properties and the equilibrium regime after the quench of local properties are different in the two scenarios. Since the two quenches only differ in the presence/absence of the conservation of the entanglement spectrum, our results suggest that this conservation plays a fundamental role in both the out-of-equilibrium dynamics and the subsequent equilibration mechanism. We discuss the relevance of our results to the next generation of quantum simulators.We acknowledge financial support from the Marie Curie project FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IIF ENGAGES 273524, TOQATA (FIS2008-00784), ERC QUAGATUA OSYRIS, EU IP SIQS and the Spanish government grant FIS2012-33642

Extended-spectrum β-lactamases, transferable quinolone resistance, and virulotyping in extra-intestinal E. coli in Uruguay

Introduction: To characterize extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes in Escherichia coli isolates obtained from extra-intestinal samples in three Uruguayan hospitals. Methodology: Fifty-five ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were studied. Virulence genes, ESBLs, and PMQR genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction. ESBL-producing isolates were compared by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Multi-locus sequence typing was also performed on 13 selected isolates. Results: Thirty-seven isolates harbored blaCTX-M-15 (67.3%), eight blaCTX-M-2 (14.6%), five blaCTX-M-14 (9.1%), three carried both blaCTX-M-2 and blaCTX-M-14, one blaCTX-M-9, and one blaCTX-M-8. Among the CTX-M-15 producers, 92% belonged to sequence types ST131 and ST405, and carried aac(6’)Ib-cr as well. Isolates harboring blaCTX-M-2, blaCTX-M-14, blaCTX-M-9, or blaCTX-M-8 were found to be genetically unrelated. Conclusions: The successful dissemination of CTX-M-15-producing E.coli isolates seems to be linked to the spreading of high-risk clones and horizontal gene transfer. A trade-off between carrying more antibiotic resistance and less virulence-related genes could partially account for the evolutionary advantages featured by successful clones.Fil: Vignoli, Rafael. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: García Fulgueiras, Virginia. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Cordeiro, Nicolás F.. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Bado, Inés. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Seija, Verónica. Universidad de la República; Uruguay. Hospital Pasteur de Montevideo; UruguayFil: Aguerrebere, Paula. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Laguna, Gabriel. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Araújo, Lucía. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Bazet, Cristina. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Gutkind, Gabriel Osvaldo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Chabalgoity Rodríguez, José Alejandro. Universidad de la República; Urugua

Omnipolar EGM Voltage Mapping for Atrial Fibrosis Identification Evaluated with an Electrophysiological Model

[EN] Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most spread heart arrhythmia, whose mechanisms are not completely clear yet. Catheter ablation is a standard treatment, which isolates the area involved in the arrhythmia. Intracardiac electrograms (EGMs) are used to better understand the AF mechanisms and to find appropriate ablation sites. Bipolar EGMs (b-EGMs) are often employed, but their amplitude and shape depend on catheter orientation, limiting reliability. To avoid this uncertainty, an approach insensitive to catheter orientation, referred as Omnipolar EGM (OP-EGM) method, has been introduced, which uses an estimation of the electric field within a group of electrodes, referred as clique. In this work, we compare different mapping approaches based on b-EGMs and OPEGM signals in simulation including fibrosis, so to evaluate their ability to detect fibrosis and reproduce the spatial distribution of the voltage. Maps have been computed using two clique configurations (square and triangular), introducing or not a previous time alignment of the bEGMs. OP-EGM signals have been obtained by projecting the electric field along directions of its maximal excursion and its principal components. Results show that both cliques configurations present good performance, in terms of fibrosis detection and correlation with the reference voltage maps. In addition, the proposed alignment of b-EGMS improves maps based on OP-EGM signals, especially when square cliques are used.This work is part of a project that has received funding from the European Union¿s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sk¿odowska-Curie grant agreement No 766082 (MY-ATRIA).Riccio, J.; Alcaine, A.; Rocher-Ventura, S.; Laguna, P.; Saiz Rodríguez, FJ.; Martínez, JP. (2021). Omnipolar EGM Voltage Mapping for Atrial Fibrosis Identification Evaluated with an Electrophysiological Model. IEEE. 920-924. https://doi.org/10.23919/Eusipco47968.2020.9287670S92092

Unipolar Electrogram Eigenvalue Distribution Analysis for the Identification of Atrial Fibrosis

[EN] Atrial fibrosis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). Low bipolar electrograms (b-EGMs) peak-to-peak voltage areas indicate scar tissue and are considered targets for AF substrate ablation. However, this approach ignores the spatiotemporal information embedded in the signal and the dependence of b-EGMs on catheter orientation. This work proposes an approach to detect fibrosis based on the eigenvalue dominance ratio (EIGDR) in an ensemble (clique) of unipolar electrograms (u-EGMs). A 2-D tissue with a central circular patch of fibrosis has been simulated using the Courtemanche cellular model. Maps of EIGDR have been computed using two sizes of electrode cliques, from the original u-EGMs within the ensemble or after a time alignment of these signals. Performance of each map in detecting fibrosis has been evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves and detection accuracy. Best results achieve an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.98 and an accuracy (ACC) of 1 when we use as marker the gain in eigenvalue dominance produced by the ensemble alignmentFunding comes from EU Programme H2020 under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant No 766082 (MY-ATRIA), Gobierno de Aragon (BSICoS Group T39-20R) cofunded by FEDER 2014-2020 "Building Europe from Aragon", fellowship ACIF/2018/174 from Generalitat Valenciana, and PID2019-104881RB-I00 from MICINN, SpainRiccio, J.; Rocher-Ventura, S.; Martínez-Mateu, L.; Alcaine, A.; Saiz Rodríguez, FJ.; Martínez, JP.; Laguna, P. (2020). Unipolar Electrogram Eigenvalue Distribution Analysis for the Identification of Atrial Fibrosis. IEEE. 1-4. https://doi.org/10.22489/CinC.2020.434S1

Digital Gene Expression approach over multiple RNA-Seq data sets to detect neoblast transcriptional changes in Schmidtea mediterranea

The freshwater planarian Schmidtea mediterranea is recognised as a valuable model for research into adult stem cells and regeneration. With the advent of the high-throughput sequencing technologies, it has become feasible to undertake detailed transcriptional analysis of its unique stem cell population, the neoblasts. Nonetheless, a reliable reference for this type of studies is still lacking. Taking advantage of digital gene expression (DGE) sequencing technology we compare all the available transcriptomes for S. mediterranea and improve their annotation. These results are accessible via web for the community of researchers. Using the quantitative nature of DGE, we describe the transcriptional profile of neoblasts and present 42 new neoblast genes, including several cancer-related genes and transcription factors. Furthermore, we describe in detail the Smed-meis-like gene and the three Nuclear Factor Y subunits Smed-nf-YA, Smed-nf-YB-2 and Smed-nf-YC. DGE is a valuable tool for gene discovery, quantification and annotation. The application of DGE in S. mediterranea confirms the planarian stem cells or neoblasts as a complex population of pluripotent and multipotent cells regulated by a mixture of transcription factors and cancer-related genes

Avaliação da eficiência energética do cuesco de Cacay (Caryodendron orinocense)

In the present project, the calorific value of the cacay shell (Caryodendron orinocense) from the municipality of Villavicencio was evaluated, determining the calorific power of the cacay shell to different samples that were put through to two types of drying and taken to two particle sizes. To do this, cacay shell was collected from a company dedicated to the extraction of the oil from its nut; the impurities were removed, ground and sieved. Then, they were dried by two methods, some samples were exposed to drying by oven for 12 hours and at 102°C, and other samples were dried in the sun for two days with temperatures close to 32°C, natural conditions of the city of Villavicencio, once the samples were prepared, their calorific value was determined by means of a calorimetric pump. Likewise, the energy consumption of each of the pretreatments to which the samples were subjected was estimated in order to establish an energy balance, thus determining which pretreatments are justifiable to optimize their energy performance, having as a result higher calorific value values included between 4189 and 4629 kcal/kg, with significant energy differences between all the treatments compared to the target, finding that the big size particle and oven drying was presented as having the greatest significant difference according to the analysis of the variances (ANOVA), however, it was determined that the big size particle and sun drying, has the most efficient pretreatments, in terms of energy consumption, indicating that a higher calorific value can be reached than other residual biomass.En el presente proyecto se evaluó el poder calorífico del cuesco de Cacay (Caryodendron orinocense) proveniente del municipio de Villavicencio, determinando el poder calorífico del cuesco de cacay a diferentes muestras que fueron sometidas a dos tipos de secado y llevadas a dos tamaños de partícula. Para esto se recolectaron cuescos de cacay provenientes de una empresa dedicada a la extracción del aceite de su nuez, se les retiraron las impurezas, se molieron y se tamizaron. A continuación, se sometieron a los tipos de secado, unas muestras se expusieron a secado por horno durante 12 horas y a 102°C, y otras muestras se secaron al sol durante dos días con temperaturas cercanas a los 32°C, condiciones naturales de la ciudad de Villavicencio, una vez preparadas las muestras se determinó su poder calorífico por medio de una bomba calorimétrica. Así mismo, se estimó el consumo energético de cada uno de los pretratamientos a los que fueron sometidas las muestras con el fin de establecer un balance energético, determinando así cuales pretratamientos son justificables para optimizar su desempeño energético, teniendo como resultados valores de poder calorífico superiores comprendidos entre los 4189 y 4629 kcal/kg, con diferencias energéticas significativas entre todos los tratamientos frente al blanco, encontrando que la muestra con mayor tamaño de partícula y secado artificial se presentó como la de mayor diferencia significativa de acuerdo al análisis de las varianzas (ANOVA), sin embargo se determinó que la muestra con mayor tamaño de partícula y secado solar, posee los pretratamientos más eficientes, en cuanto a consumo de energía, indicando que se puede alcanzar un poder calorífico superior al de otras biomasas residuales.No presente projeto, avaliou-se o poder calorífico da casca de cacay (Caryodendron orinocense) do município de Villavicencio, determinando o poder calorífico da casca de cacay para diferentes amostras que foram submetidas a dois tipos de secagem e levadas para dois tamanhos de partículas. Para fazer isso, a concha cacay foi coletada de uma empresa dedicada à extração do óleo de sua castanha; as impurezas foram removidas, moídas e peneiradas. Em seguida, eles foram secados por dois métodos, algumas amostras foram expostas a secagem por estufa por 12 horas e a 102°C, e outras amostras foram secas ao sol por dois dias com temperaturas próximas a 32°C, condições naturais da cidade. de Villavicencio, uma vez preparadas as amostras, seu poder calorífico foi determinado por meio de uma bomba calorimétrica. Da mesma forma, o consumo de energia de cada um dos pré-tratamentos aos quais as amostras foram submetidas foi estimado para estabelecer um balanço energético, determinando quais tratamentos prévios são justificáveis para otimizar seu desempenho energético, tendo como resultado valores de poder calorífico superior incluídos entre 4189 e 4629 kcal/kg, com diferenças significativas de energia entre todos os tratamentos em relação à meta, constatando que a partícula de grande tamanho e a secagem em estufa apresentaram a maior diferença significativa de acordo com a análise das variâncias (ANOVA), entretanto, foi determinado que a partícula de grande tamanho e a secagem ao sol têm os pré-tratamentos mais eficientes, em termos de consumo de energia, indicando que um valor calórico mais alto pode ser alcançado do que outras biomassas residuais

Importancia de las cadenas hoteleras en Tenerife

Ante la inexistencia de estudios previos sobre la presencia y peso de cadenas hoteleras en Canarias, este trabajo tiene el objetivo de realizar un análisissobre el caso de la Isla de Tenerife. Se investigarán diferentes aspectos a escala de microdestino; las cadenas hoteleras en el territorio, el origen de sus sedes centrales, las plazas alojativas ofertadas por cadena y por establecimiento, las diferentes categorías, además de otras variables. Mediante la información analizada llegamos a diferentes conclusiones, desde la importancia de las cadenas hoteleras en la oferta alojativa de la isla, hasta los posibles impactos en la economía local e, incluso, la segmentación de la demanda derivada de la ordenación de las diferentes cadenas hoteleras en los microdestinos

Implementation of intensity modulated radiotherapy for prostate cancer in a private radiotherapy service in Mexico

Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) allows physicians to deliver higher conformal doses to the tumour, while avoiding adjacent structures. As a result the probability of tumour control is higher and toxicity may be reduced. However, implementation of IMRT is highly complex and requires a rigorous quality assurance (QA) program both before and during treatment. The present article describes the process of implementing IMRT for localized prostate cancer in a radiation therapy department. In our experience, IMRT implementation requires careful planning due to the need to simultaneously implement specialized software, multifaceted QA programs, and training of the multidisciplinary team. Establishing standardized protocols and ensuring close collaboration between a multidisciplinary team is challenging but essential