Quantum Gaussian Channels with Additive Correlated Classical Noise

We provide a model to study memory effects in quantum Gaussian channels with additive classical noise over an arbitrary number of uses. The correlation among different uses is introduced by contiguous two-mode interactions. Numerical results for few modes are presented. They confirm the possibility to enhance the classical information rate with the aid of entangled inputs, and show a likely asymptotic behavior that should lead to the full capacity of the channel

History of Art and Art Criticism: A System in Crisis

This article aims to reconstruct the critical debate regarding the examination of the crisis in the disciplines of art history and criticism with a particular focus on the proposal formulated by U.S. theorists who contributed to October journal. The discrediting of many modernist critical methods, particularly that of Clement Greenberg – the formalist diktat – marked the birth of the journal and gave rise to proposals set forth by critics committed to a new approach. Their divergent positions, nonetheless, have contributed to undermining the traditional concepts of the autonomy of art and criticism. The proposals discussed over the course of publication were the result of a reappraisal of the disciplinary instruments of art history and criticism pursuant to the crucial cultural changes which took place in the 1980s.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Fundação Millennium bc

Achiral dye/surfactant heteroaggregates for chiral sensing of phosphocholines

An investigation, based on absorption and circular dichroism spectroscopy, was carried out on assemblies formed in water upon the interaction of heteroaggregates, composed of dyes (Congo Red or Evans Blue) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), with four enantiopure phopshocholines (DMPC, DPPC, DOPC, and POPC) characterized by the same po- lar head and different hydrophobic tails. The results show that the nature of the lipid as well as the concentration ratios influence sensitively the absorption and chiroptical properties of the su- pramolecular structure. Intriguingly, the transfer of chirality from the lipid to the assembly may be triggered or not, depending on the nature of the lipid hydrophobic chain. These findings con- firm the fundamental role of hydrophobic interactions in the transcription of chirality from mol- ecules to complex architectures

Effect of dietary Curcuma longa L. powder on lipid oxidation of frozen pork

Introduction - Modification of the eating habits incremented the consumption of ready-to-eat, ready-to-cook and frozen foods. Meat can be store up as frozen for different time in relation to the animal species, to the cut or to a previous processing. Several researches were conducted to evaluate the use of antioxidant products as dietary supplementation in order to produce modification in chemical composition of meat and lead to a positive influence on the length of shelf life of the products. Aim - The aim of this research was to study the effect of the supplementation with Curcuma longa L. powder in pig diet on the lipid oxidation after common frozen storage (-18 °C) of meat for long time (up to 135 days). Materials and methods - Pigs were fed with two different diets, control and turmeric, for 30 days before been slaughtered. Longissimus lumborum chops were frozen at -18 °C and lipid oxidation was evaluated with the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) method after 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120 and 135 days of storage. Results and discussion - The addition of the natural antioxidant did not modify the meat quality of the evaluated samples (P > 0.05). Nor the time of storage increased the TBARS value of the meat (P > 0.05). Our results are in accordance with other similar research studies on antioxidant dietary supplementations. Conclusion - Pigs, as large animal, probably need a bigger amount of antioxidant supplementation in order to modified meat characteristics. Thus, the lack of difference in lipid oxidation of frozen meat showed by Control and Turmeric diets could be associated both to the small dose of dietary turmeric powder and to the length of the diet period

Entangled light pulses from single cold atoms

The coherent interaction between a laser-driven single trapped atom and an optical high-finesse resonator allows to produce entangled multi-photon light pulses on demand. The mechanism is based on the mechanical effect of light. The degree of entanglement can be controlled through the parameters of the laser excitation. Experimental realization of the scheme is within reach of current technology. A variation of the technique allows for controlled generation of entangled subsequent pulses, with the atomic motion serving as intermediate memory of the quantum state.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, revised version (new scheme for generation of subsequent pairs of entangled pulses included). Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let

Vernacular earthen architecture. Construction techniques and restoration. From the international setting to some specific Italian regional cases

[EN] The research focuses on vernacular architecture, in particular earth buildings, highlighting the different geographic areas involved, building types and construction techniques. In Italy, despite theoretical progress, some cultural and technical problems are still evident in earth architecture conservation. This is also due to the prevalence, among earth buildings, of vernacular architecture, that, in general, has no artistic value and with historical value yet to be fully appreciated. The characteristics of some regional areas are also considered, with particular attention to the Marche and Sardinia Regions, where earthen constructions have existed since ancient times. Knowledge of construction techniques that are the result of age-old experience is the basis for a good conservation and for the design of new ones. Today, some public administrations, on the regional and local levels, have developed operating manuals for the conservation of earth constructions, but there is still no real legislative protection for earth buildings and their material authenticity.Petrucci, E.; Mancini, R.; Putzu, MG. (2022). Vernacular earthen architecture. Construction techniques and restoration. From the international setting to some specific Italian regional cases. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 897-904. https://doi.org/10.4995/HERITAGE2022.2022.1524989790

Social retrieval of music content in multi-user performance

An emerging trend in interactive music performance consists of the audience directly participating in the performance by means of mobile devices. This is a step forward with respect to concepts like active listening and collaborative music making: non-expert members of an audience are enabled to directly participate in a creative activity such as the performance. This requires the availability of technologies for capturing and analysing in real-time the natural behaviour of the users/performers, with particular reference to non- verbal expressive and social behaviour. This paper presents a prototype of a non-verbal expressive and social search engine and active listening system, enabling two teams of non-expert users to act as performers. The performance consists of real-time sonic manipulation and mixing of music pieces selected according to features characterising performers\u2019 movements captured by mobile devices. The system is described with specific reference to the SIEMPRE Podium Performance, a non-verbal socio-mobile music performance presented at the Art & ICT Exhibition that took place in Vilnius (LI) in November 2013

Ripensare l'archivio nell'era dei Big Data

The increasing use of ICT is radically changing research methodologies in art history. In such a rapidly evolving context, predictably, art history shall increasingly benefit from Knowledge Representation & Automated Reasoning methodologies related to several aspects, namely data classification and integration, interoperability between different data sources, and semantically driven response to archival queries. In particular, the Semantic Web and interoperable archives seem to embody the universalist dream of some 20th century visionary projects. In the light of the challenges posed by new technologies, the archive remains a significant space that calls for reflection on conceptual models for the representation of knowledge and on the effects that the logic of computation will have on the way we experience cultural heritage.The increasing use of ICT is radically changing research methodologies in art history. In such a rapidly evolving context, predictably, art history shall increasingly benefit from Knowledge Representation & Automated Reasoning methodologies related to several aspects, namely data classification and integration, interoperability between different data sources, and semantically driven response to archival queries. In particular, the Semantic Web and interoperable archives seem to embody the universalist dream of some 20th century visionary projects. In the light of the challenges posed by new technologies, the archive remains a significant space that calls for reflection on conceptual models for the representation of knowledge and on the effects that the logic of computation will have on the way we experience cultural heritage

Role of the hydrophobic effect in the transfer of chirality from molecules to complex systems. From chiral surfactants to porphyrin/surfactant aggregates

The interaction between the achiral sulfonated porphyrin 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrin, H2TPPS4, and two chiral cationic surfactants has been studied by optical absorption, fluorescence, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopies. At surfactant concentrations above the critical micellar concentration (cmc) the porphyrin is included in the micellar aggregates, but it is CD silent. Below the cmc at a definite porphyrin/surfactant stoichiometry the formation of heteroaggregates with transfer of chirality to the porphyrin chromophore occurs. The preferred surfactant/porphyrin stoichiometry is 3:1, which suggests a structure driven by electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between porphyrin and surfactant and dipolar and ionic interactions with the water solution. At surfactant concentrations above the cmc, depending on the protocol of preparation of the samples, the formation of the two kinds of aggregates can be observed, reversible for the simple surfactant micelles incorporating the porphyrin, but irreversible for the heteroaggregates

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) powder as dietary supplementation in rabbit: life performances, carcass characteristics and meat quality

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary Zingiber officinale Roscoe (ginger) powder on rabbit productive performances, meat quality and shelf-life of raw and cooked meat. Ninety hybrid rabbits of 60 days old were fed three different diets: basal diet (control, C), basal diet supplemented by 4 g of ginger powder on 100 g of feed (G4) and basal diet supplemented by 8 g of ginger powder on 100 g of feed (G8) (3.6 and 7.2 g/100 g of dry matter for G4 and G8, respectively). Live weight, average daily gain and feed intake were recorded. Ten rabbits of each group were slaughtered at 90 days of age and meat quality was assessed during seven days of storage at 4 °C. Live performance and slaughter traits did not show any significant differences. Dietary ginger powder induced modification in pH of raw samples and in colour indexes of both raw and cooked meat. Lipid oxidation of raw samples was delayed in time by ginger feed addition even if no modification was highlighted in antioxidant capacity. Ginger powder could be a potential supplementation in diet of rabbits for increasing meat shelf-life