Cavity-aided quantum parameter estimation in a bosonic double-well Josephson junction

We describe an apparatus designed to make non-demolition measurements on a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) trapped in a double-well optical cavity. This apparatus contains, as well as the bosonic gas and the trap, an optical cavity. We show how the interaction between the light and the atoms, under appropriate conditions, can allow for a weakly disturbing yet highly precise measurement of the population imbalance between the two wells and its variance. We show that the setting is well suited for the implementation of quantum-limited estimation strategies for the inference of the key parameters defining the evolution of the atomic system and based on measurements performed on the cavity field. This would enable {\it de facto} Hamiltonian diagnosis via a highly controllable quantum probe.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, RevTeX4; Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

SR-SCARLET 1: Peregrin

This report presents a reconnaissance aircraft with a lifting body configuration. The aircraft is capable of flying a distance of 6000 nmi at Mach 5 with a payload of 7500 pounds. The aircraft does not require a runway for takeoff for it is air launched from a carrier aircraft. Specifically this report addresses the areas of external aerodynamics, cost, thermal protection systems, propulsion, stability and control, and materials. Each area is represented by a separate section. This allows for selective reading

The Polysaccharide Capsule of Vibrio Vulnificus: Virulence, Transposon Mutagenesis, and the Identification of an Essential Gene.

The extracellular capsule polysaccharide (CPS) of Vibrio vulnificus is a primary virulence factor which allows survival of the bacteria in the human host. To study the genes involved in the production of the polysaccharide capsule, 23 mutants were generated that lost their ability to produce CPS due to the insertion of a mini-transposon into the genome of the encapsulated clinical strain V. vulnificus 1003 (O). The mutants were examined by Southern blot analysis to ensure the transposon had inserted only once in the chromosome. Exoenzymes, which are believed to contribute to the virulence of the organism, produced by all 23 transposon mutants, the encapsulated strain 1003 (O) and a spontaneously-derived translucent strain 1003 (T) were compared. The transposon mutants produced the same exoenzymes as did 1003 (O), but the translucent 1003 (T) varied in its ability to produce certain exoenzymes, suggesting that the mechanism responsible for the loss of capsule production in the environment may effect exoenzyme production. Using a probe complimentary to the genomic region disrupted by the transposon in one mutant, the putative capsule gene was located in the parent strain 1003 (O) and then cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis determined that the gene disrupted by the transposon matched a nucleotide-sugar epimerase of Vibrio cholerae O139 with 75% and 85% identity at the nucleotide and amino acid level, respectively. Numerous epimerases of various organisms were also recognized by computer analysis to be highly similar to the putative epimerase of V. vulnificus. PCR amplification and Southern blotting have shown that this epimerase is common to at least ten strains of V. vulnificus that each express a serologically distinct CPS, suggesting this gene product provides a precursor necessary for the production of CPS independent of capsule type. Finally, the nonencapsulated mutant was capable of reestablishing capsule formation upon introduction of the epimerase gene in trans, indicating that the loss of CPS was due to the disruption of the epimerase gene and not a polar effect on downstream genes. It may therefore be concluded that the nucleotide-sugar epimerase is essential for capsule production in Vibrio vulnificus

Entanglement gain in measurements with unknown results

We characterise non-selective global projective measurements capable of increasing quantum entanglement between two particles. We show that non-selective global projective measurements are capable of increasing entanglement between two particles, in particular, entanglement of any pure non-maximally entangled state can be improved in this way (but not of any mixed state) and we provide detailed analysis for two qubits. It is then shown that Markovian open system dynamics can only approximate such measurements, but this approximation converges exponentially fast as illustrated using Araki-Zurek model. We conclude with numerical evidence that macroscopic bodies in a random pure state do not gain entanglement in a random non-selective global measurement.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

EMOTIONAL-BEHAVIORAL PROFILE IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENT WITH DYSLEXIA

La dislexia es una dificultad de aprendizaje caracterizada por una lectura de palabras inexacta o lenta, déficits en decodificación, fluidez lectora y ortografía. Puede conllevar consecuencias emocionales y en el comportamiento, relacionadas con el fracaso escolar. Este trabajo examina estas variables de naturaleza emotivoconductual de niños y adolescentes con dislexia, en comparación con estudiantes sin problemas de aprendizaje. Treinta y cinco estudiantes (entre 8 y 18 años) fueron evaluados con tres test, TMA, CBCL y MASC, para examinar su perfil emotivo y conductual. Veinticinco tienen un diagnóstico de dislexia y disortografía (grupo dislexia) y 10 no presentan problemas de lectoescritura (grupo control). Los resultados indican una peor autoestima total y en diferentes áreas evaluadas, especialmente la escolar, en participantes con dislexia; además, también problemas de ansiedad social y de comportamiento, respecto a sus compañeros sin dificultades. Estos hallazgos apoyan la necesidad de considerar las habilidades emotivo-conductuales, junto con las de aprendizaje, en dislexia, buscando una mejora de su rendimiento escolar y su bienestar general. El estudio es un intervención sobre la lectoescritura que sea efectiva, de forma secundaria, para ayudar a solucionar problemas de autoestima, ansiedad y comportamiento en dislexia.Dyslexia is a learning disability characterized by slow and inaccurate reading, bad reading fluency and decoding and orthographic deficits. It could be accompanied by emotional and behavioral problems as a consequence of repeated academic failure. This paper examines emotional and behavioral features of children and adolescents with dyslexia, compared to students without learning disabilities. Thirty-five students (aged 8 to 18) were tested with TMA, CBCL and MASC, for studying their emotional-behavioral profile. Twenty- five participants with dyslexia and ten participants matched in age and academic level, but without any learning problems, were tested. Participants with dyslexia showed low self-esteem level, not only in the academic area, but all the other tested. Moreover, social anxiety and behavioral problems were found in a higher extent in dyslexia sample. These findings highlight the need for studying behavioral and emotional variables in population with dyslexia, aiming for improving their school performance and overall wellness. This study is a stepping stone in developing an intervention program which can intervene both academic and literacy problems in dyslexia, at the same time of helping overcoming these negative emotional and behavioral consequences

Delimitando el perfil emotivo-conductual en niños y adolescentes con dislexia

Dyslexia is a learning disability characterized by slow and inaccurate reading, bad reading fluency and decoding and orthographic deficits. It could be accompanied by emotional and behavioral problems as a consequence of repeated academic failure. This paper examines emotional and behavioral features of children and adolescents with dyslexia, compared to students without learning disabilities. Thirty-five students (aged 8 to 18) were tested with TMA, CBCL and MASC, for studying their emotional-behavioral profile. Twenty- five participants with dyslexia and ten participants matched in age and academic level, but without any learning problems, were tested. Participants with dyslexia showed low self-esteem level, not only in the academic area, but all the other tested. Moreover, social anxiety and behavioral problems were found in a higher extent in dyslexia sample. These findings highlight the need for studying behavioral and emotional variables in population with dyslexia, aiming for improving their school performance and overall wellness. This study is a stepping stone in developing an intervention program which can intervene both academic and literacy problems in dyslexia, at the same time of helping overcoming these negative emotional and behavioral consequences.La dislexia es una dificultad de aprendizaje caracterizada por una lectura de palabras inexacta o lenta, déficits en decodificación, fluidez lectora y ortografía. Puede conllevar consecuencias emocionales y en el comportamiento, relacionadas con el fracaso escolar. Este trabajo examina estas variables de naturaleza emotivo- conductual de niños y adolescentes con dislexia, en comparación con estudiantes sin problemas de aprendizaje. Treinta y cinco estudiantes (entre 8 y 18 años) fueron evaluados con tres test, TMA, CBCL y MASC, para examinar su perfil emotivo y conductual. Veinticinco tienen un diagnóstico de dislexia y disortografía (grupo dislexia) y 10 no presentan problemas de lectoescritura (grupo control). Los resultados indican  una peor autoestima total y en diferentes áreas evaluadas, especialmente la escolar, en participantes con dislexia; además, también problemas de ansiedad social y de comportamiento, respecto a sus compañeros sin dificultades. Estos hallazgos apoyan la necesidad de considerar las habilidades emotivo-conductuales, junto con las de aprendizaje, en dislexia, buscando una mejora de su rendimiento escolar y su bienestar   general.     El   estudio   es un intervención sobre la lectoescritura que sea efectiva, de forma secundaria, para ayudar a solucionar problemas de autoestima, ansiedad   y comportamiento en dislexia

Experimental distribution of entanglement with separable carriers

The key requirement for quantum networking is the distribution of entanglement between nodes. Surprisingly, entanglement can be generated across a network without direct transfer-or communication-of entanglement. In contrast to information gain, which cannot exceed the communicated information, the entanglement gain is bounded by the communicated quantum discord, a more general measure of quantum correlation that includes but is not limited to entanglement. Here, we experimentally entangle two communicating parties sharing three initially separable photonic qubits by exchange of a carrier photon that is unentangled with either party at all times. We show that distributing entanglement with separable carriers is resilient to noise and in some cases becomes the only way of distributing entanglement through noisy environments

Sotfware Lectoescritores contra la Dislexia y Disortografía

Specific learning disabilities comprise dyslexia, referring to difficulties in reading skills, and Dysorthographia, referring to difficulties in spelling and writing skills. These difficulties require intensive and extensive educational attention specifically focussed in the learning areas affected. That treatment pursues improving the learning progress, which is slow and very costly, as well as alleviate negative effects on academic or personal areas of the people affected. This paper exposes some educational software which have proved to be effective for improving learning skills: reading and writing. Their benefits go beyond the specific academic skills reaching improvements in other areas like psycho-affective or socioemotional factors as: self-esteem, self-concept, anxiety and behavioural problems. Therefore, a well design tool for specific intervention on reading and writing skills can generalize to improvements in other related areas that have been found affected as secondary symptoms of learning disabilities. All together can contribute to the enhancement of the general well-being and health of children and adolescents with learning disabilities. Considering their relevance regarding language and communication competence as well as personal development and well-being, the use of these type of intervention program is advised. Dentro de las Dificultades Específicas de Aprendizaje se encuentran la Dislexia, referida a la lectura, y la Disortografía, referida a la escritura. Requieren un intenso y extenso tratamiento educativo específico en las áreas afectadas para lograr su progreso, a menudo lento y costoso, y mitigar efectos en otras facetas académicas y personales del alumnado que las padece. El contenido que sigue presenta la combinación de varios programas informáticos de tratamiento lecto-escritor que ha resultado eficaz con alumnos que presentan las dificultades anteriores. Han sido aplicados a una muestra de alumnos con Dislexia y Disortografía durante el tiempo marcado por su ritmo propio de su aprendizaje. Sus beneficios han traspasado las facetas de comunicación escrita para afectar la autoestima, el autoconcepto, la ansiedad y el comportamiento. Cabe concluir que mejorar la lectura y escritura de niños con dislexia y disortografía supone un beneficio inesperado para los niños, no solo en la lectoescritura, sino en su desarrollo integral, o quizás, más acertadamente, evita otros problemas adicionales como consecuencia de su percepción como lectores y escritores deficientes. Dada la importancia per se de la competencia comunicativa y del desarrollo personal se aconseja el programa e implementación que describe este artículo. 

SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS, FOOD HABITS AND PHOSPHORUS LEVELS IN PATIENTS ON HEMODIALYSIS

Background: Hyperphosphoremia is one of the most important risk factors for morbidity and mortality for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, and also, for the general population. Excessive dietary intake of phosphate (P) is one of the key factors. In particular, P in its inorganic form, which is contained in food additives, is more readily absorbed. Unfortunately, these food additives are mostly present in convenience so called "fast foods" (pre-cooked), soft drinks, which represent the typical food consumed by our hemodialysis (HD) population, composed by elderly people, mostly low-socio economic class, who often live alone. Objectives: We performed an observational retrospective multicenter study to find any association between social, cultural and economic situation, as well as food habits, and P levels in a cohort of patients on HD. Secondarily; we also examined the association between the fast food consumption and increased P levels, as well as patient compliance for P binding products. Patients and Methods: To explore the association between socio-economic factors and serum P levels, we enrolled 100 patients on periodic HD treatment from three different units. Information on social, cultural, economic, diet habits, therapy for hyperphosphoremia and hematological and clinical parameters had been collected through specific questionnaires, administered by a physician. Results: Results showed serum P level was reduced in patients who live alone compared to patients in family (P = 0.04), in self-sufficient (P = 0.05) and in patients belonging to middle-upper class, versus low-class (P = 0.003). Fast foods intake correlates with increase in P serum levels (P = 0.002), whilst the same correlation was not found for cheese intake. Our data show that socio-economic status and food habits are useful predictors of P serum levels. Conclusions: In conclusion, dietary counseling of patients on HD is mandatory. Interventions that consider the socio-economic situation allow delivering important messages on foods with the least amount of P and adequate protein content, and they may be a successful strategy in targeting patients at a higher risk of hyperphosphoremia

Pilot Model of the Rehabilitating Treatment for Self-Esteem and Behavior in Adolescents with Dyslexia and Dysorthography by Improving their Literacy

La investigación clínica y educativa ha puesto en evidencia los factores emocionales y motivacionales que caracterizan las dificultades de aprendizaje. El objetivo principal de este artículo es proponer un modo de valorar los efectos de un tratamiento rehabilitador en lectoescritura sobre la autoestima y sobre el comportamiento en un grupo de pacientes con diagnóstico de dislexia y disortografía. A un grupo de 60 estudiantes con diagnóstico de dislexia, en un primer momento, será suministrada una batería de test para valorar el perfil emotivo y conductual. Después, se dividirán a mitades un grupo control y otro grupo experimental que será sometido a un tratamiento rehabilitador para potenciar la lectura y la escritura. En síntesis, los resultados pretenden comprobar la hipótesis de investigación de que tras un adecuado tratamiento lectoescritor, con soporte de instrumentos y programas adecuados, los pacientes disléxicos pueden conseguir una mayor confianza en sí mismos y una consiguiente mayor autoestima, y no solo un desarrollo de la competencia comunicativa escrita.Clinical and educational research has shown the emotional and motivational factors involved in learning difficulties. The main objective of this research is to propose a way to assess the effects of a rehabilitating treatment for self-esteem and behavior through improving literacy in a group of patients diagnosed with dyslexia and dysorthography. Sixty students diagnosed with dyslexia will be given a test battery to assess the emotional and behavioral profile. Afterwards, they will be divided into a control group and experimental group, which will undergo a rehabilitating treatment to enhance reading and writing. In short, the results try to prove the hypothesis of research through an appropriate literacy treatment using appropriate instruments and programs. Patients with dyslexia can achieve greater self-esteem and not only a developed communication-writing competenc