Contextual Realization of the Universal Quantum Cloning Machine and of the Universal-NOT gate by Quantum Injected Optical Parametric Amplification

A simultaneous, contextual experimental demonstration of the two processes of cloning an input qubit and of flipping it into the orthogonal qubit is reported. The adopted experimental apparatus, a Quantum-Injected Optical Parametric Amplifier (QIOPA) is transformed simultaneously into a Universal Optimal Quantum Cloning Machine (UOQCM) and into a Universal NOT quantum-information gate. The two processes, indeed forbidden in their exact form for fundamental quantum limitations, will be found to be universal and optimal, i.e. the measured fidelity of both processes F<1 will be found close to the limit values evaluated by quantum theory. A contextual theoretical and experimental investigation of these processes, which may represent the basic difference between the classical and the quantum worlds, can reveal in a unifying manner the detailed structure of quantum information. It may also enlighten the yet little explored interconnections of fundamental axiomatic properties within the deep structure of quantum mechanics. PACS numbers: 03.67.-a, 03.65.Ta, 03.65.UdComment: 27 pages, 7 figure

Hidrologia do Saco da Fazenda, Itajaí, SC

The Saco da Fazenda (SF) is a semi-enclosed coastal water body artificially made and inserted in the urban scenario of Itajaí city. The SF was created from the enterprise of retification of the access channel to the Port of Itajaí. The last curvature of the lower estuary was isolated from the main channel, and then creating the SF. Nowadays it is a depositional basin for the sediments from the Itajaí-Açu River and from small streams which drains the Itajaí City downtown. These small streams flow to the SF with no treatment at all, and, consequently, the water quality is low. Applying basic morphological data and hydrographic data from the SF and the lower Itajaí-Açu estuary, it was estimated the flushing time of the SF and the exchange level between the SF and the lower estuary. The flushing time is basically function of the tidal prism exchange, and the half-live was estimated as of the order of ‘few days’, or specifically 0,8 to 2,6 days varying the tidal height of neap and spring tide, respectivelly. The salinity of the SF the same of the upper layer of the lower estuary, and varies inversely and non-linearly related to the Itajaí-Açu river discharge, indicating higher level of eschange between them.The Saco da Fazenda (SF) is a semi-enclosed coastal water body artificially made and inserted in the urban scenario of Itajaí city. The SF was created from the enterprise of retification of the access channel to the Port of Itajaí. The last curvature of the lower estuary was isolated from the main channel, and then creating the SF. Nowadays it is a depositional basin for the sediments from the Itajaí-Açu River and from small streams which drains the Itajaí City downtown. These small streams flow to the SF with no treatment at all, and, consequently, the water quality is low. Applying basic morphological data and hydrographic data from the SF and the lower Itajaí-Açu estuary, it was estimated the flushing time of the SF and the exchange level between the SF and the lower estuary. The flushing time is basically function of the tidal prism exchange, and the half-live was estimated as of the order of ‘few days’, or specifically 0,8 to 2,6 days varying the tidal height of neap and spring tide, respectivelly. The salinity of the SF the same of the upper layer of the lower estuary, and varies inversely and non-linearly related to the Itajaí-Açu river discharge, indicating higher level of eschange between them

BLUFF-BODIES VORTEX SHEDDING SUPRESSION BY DIRECT NUMERICAL SIMULATION

Vortex shedding is responsible for harmful vibrations on immersed structures and for increasing their drag coefficients. Thus vortex shedding suppression is highly interesting in order of decrease maintenance costs of standing structures and fuel costs on moving ones. Vortex shedding suppression is here achieved with the use of splitter plates by means of numerical simulations at a low Reynolds range, Re 100 and 160. For this purpose it has been used a high order finite difference method in association with a virtual boundary method, responsible for the obstacles representation. The use of this novel numerical method showed a great concordance with experimental results by means of low computational costs

The Use of a Plant-Based Biostimulant Improves Plant Performances and Fruit Quality in Tomato Plants Grown at Elevated Temperatures.

Abiotic stresses can cause a substantial decline in fruit quality due to negative impacts on plant growth, physiology and reproduction. The objective of this study was to verify if the use of a biostimulant based on plant and yeast extracts, rich in amino acids and that contains microelements (boron, zinc and manganese) can ensure good crop yield and quality in tomato plants grown at elevated temperatures (up to 42 C). We investigated physiological responses of four di↵erent tomato landraces that were cultivated under plastic tunnel and treated with the biostimulant CycoFlow. The application of the biostimulant stimulated growth (plants up to 48.5% taller) and number of fruits (up to 105.3%). In plants treated with the biostimulant, antioxidants contents were higher compared to non-treated plants, both in leaves and in fruits. In particular, the content of ascorbic acid increased after treatments with CycoFlow. For almost all the traits studied, the e↵ect of the biostimulant depended on the genotype it was applied on. Altogether, the use of the biostimulant on tomato plants led to better plant performances at elevated temperatures, that could be attributed also to a stronger antioxidant defence system, and to a better fruit nutritional quality

Influence of Sward Height, Concentrate Supplementation and Season on Grazing Activity of Beef Cows

The influence of sward height, concentrate supplementation and season on daily pattern of forage consumption of lactating beef cows grazing cool season pastures was determined. Cows (n=24; BW=535±10.8 kg) were randomly assigned to eight plots maintained at sward heights (SH) of either 4-8 cm or 8-12 cm and fed three levels of concentrate supplement: none = 0 kg/day, low = 3.12 kg/day or high = 6.24 kg/day. Cows on lower SH had greater (P \u3c .08) forage dry matter intake and spent an additional 1.2 hours/day (P \u3c .01) grazing compared to the higher SH. Cows on lower SH consumed 7.7 kg/day of forage dry matter and grazed 9.4 hours/day whereas those on higher SH consumed 7.1 kg/day and grazed 8.2 hours/day. Cows on lower SH grazed 0.7 hours/day (P \u3c .06) and 0.4 hours/day (P \u3c .08) longer at 06:00-10:00 hour and 11:00-13:00 hour, respectively, compared to the higher SH. Grazing efficiency (kg of forage consumed/hour of grazing) decreased (P \u3c .01) as season progressed. Season influenced duration of grazing activity (P \u3c .01). Cows grazed 0.5 hours longer (P \u3c .01) at 06:00-10:00 hour late in summer (August) compared to spring (May) and mid summer (June/July). Cows grazed 0.3 hours longer (P \u3c .08) at 11:00-13:00 hour during spring compared to late summer

TRANSIT TIME IN ITAJAÍ-AÇÚ RIVER ESTUARY

O Estuário do rio Itajaí-Açu é um estuário altamente estratificado, e apresenta durante a maior parte do ano uma proeminente cunha salina. Devido a esta característica foi possível aplicar o modelo de caixa, baseado no teorema hidrográfico de Knudsen, para se estimar o balanço salino e o tempo de trânsito das águas fluvial e marinha no estuário. Este modelo possibilita verificar o estado estático das condições de mistura no estuário e não deve ser confundido com as condições médias do estuário. Uma característica positiva deste modelo é o fato dele precisar de um numero pequeno de parâmetros, como perfil de salinidade, volume do estuário e dados de corrente, estes últimos estimados a partir de dados de descarga fluvial. Foram analisados sete dias de dados, compreendendo um ciclo completo de maré (sizígia-quadratura). Dados de velocidade vertical, estimados pelo modelo, mostraram que as condições de maré de sizígia causam um maior grau de mistura. Para confirmar isto foi definido um coeficiente de mistura dado pela razão do conteúdo de água fluvial pelo de água de mistura, o que comprovou tal padrão. Quanto ao tempo de transito, verificou-se que em situações de média descarga, cerca de 215 m3.s-1, o tempo de trânsito da água marinha foi três vezes maior do que o da água fluvial. Os valores estimados foram de 13.2 horas para a água fluvial e 50.7 horas para água marinha.The Itajaí-Açu estuary is classified as a highly stratified and presents most of the time a salt wedge. Considering this characteristic, it was used a box model, based on Knudsen hidrographic teorem, to estimate the salt balance and the transit time of fluvial and marine waters in this estuary. This model enables to verify the steady state of mixture conditions and should not be confused as the mean conditions of the estuary. A positive characteristic of this model is that it needs a small number of parameters such as salinity profiles, the estuary volume and currents data, being the latter estimated from river discharge. Seven days of data were assessed, comprising a half synodical cycle (spring-neap tide). Vertical velocities data, estimated by the model, showed that spring tide condition causes a more effective mixing. It was stated a ratio of content of fluvial water to the content of mixohaline water, which confirmed the early findings of intensification of mixing during spring tide period. The estimation of the transit time of fluvial and marine water in the estuary for medium discharge condition, ~ 215 m3.s-1, were 13.2 and 50.7 hours, respectively. It shows that the marine water spends 3 times more time in the estuary than the fluvial water

The circulation of the lower Capibaribe Estuary (Brazil) and its implications for the transport of scalars

The Capibaribe Estuary is a water body that crosses the Recife Metropolitan Area (RMA), one of the largest population centers in Brazil, and causes large pollutant loads and poor water quality. The fresh water inflow of wastewater from the RMA can account for three times the volume of the river discharge during the low discharge period. This article assesses the hydrodynamics and potential transport of particulate and dissolved scalars in this estuary. A field experiment was conducted to record the water level, current velocity, salinity, temperature and suspended particulate matter (SPM) contents during a full semi-diurnal tidal cycle. This experiment was performed during low river discharge and spring tide conditions. The estuary showed a partially mixed circulation pattern. The residual transport of water and salt were up estuary, while the SPM residual transport was down estuary. The former were understood as the effect of the residual circulation around the islands, while the latter was interpreted as a morphological factor inducing greater resuspension during the ebb, despite the symmetrical ebb and flood currents. This mechanism may transport SPM to the inner shelf, even under tide-dominated conditions when the opposite would be expected.O estuário do Rio Capibaribe é um corpo de água que atravessa a Região Metropolitana de Recife (RMR), um dos maiores centros populacionais do Brasil, o que causa grande quantidade de carga de poluentes e baixa qualidade da água. A entrada de água doce a partir das águas residuais da RMR pode contabilizar mais de três vezes a contribuição fluvial durante o período de baixa descarga. Este artigo investiga a hidrodinâmica e o potencial transporte de escalares particulados e dissolvidos neste estuário. Um experimento de campo foi realizado para registrar nível da água, velocidade de corrente, salinidade, temperatura e material particulado em suspensão (MPS) durante um ciclo de maré semidiurno completo. O experimento foi realizado em condições de baixa descarga e em condições de maré de sizígia. O estuário apresentou padrão de circulação parcialmente estratificado. O transporte residual de água e sal foi estuário acima, enquanto que o transporte residual de MPS foi estuário abaixo. Os primeiros são entendidos como o efeito da complexa circulação ao redor das ilhas que formam o baixo estuário, enquanto que o último foi interpretado como devido a efeitos morfológicos que induzem à ressuspensão durante a vazante, a despeito da simetria entre correntes de enchente e vazante. Este mecanismo pode produzir transporte para a plataforma adjacente, mesmo durante períodos dominados pela maré, quando o oposto seria esperado

High-throughput genotyping of resilient tomato landraces to detect candidate genes involved in the response to high temperatures

The selection of tolerant varieties is a powerful strategy to ensure highly stable yield under elevated temperatures. In this paper, we report the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of 10 tomato landraces to identify the best performing under high temperatures. The phenotyping of five yield-related traits allowed us to select one genotype that exhibits highly stable yield performances in different environmental conditions. Moreover, a Genotyping-by-Sequencing approach allowed us to explore the genetic variability of the tested genotypes. The high and stable yielding landrace E42 was the most polymorphic one, with ~49% and ~47% private SNPs and InDels, respectively. The effect of 26,113 mutations on proteins’ structure was investigated and it was discovered that 37 had a high impact on the structure of 34 proteins of which some are putatively involved in responses to high temperatures. Additionally, 129 polymorphic sequences aligned against tomato wild species genomes revealed the presence in the genotype E42 of several introgressed regions deriving from S. pimpinellifolium. The position on the tomato map of genes affected by moderate and high impact mutations was also compared with that of known markers/QTLs (Quantitative Trait Loci) associated with reproductive and yield-related traits. The candidate genes/QTLs regulating heat tolerance in the selected landrace E42 could be further investigated to better understand the genetic mechanisms controlling traits for high and stable yield trait under high temperatures

Pacientes com transtornos relacionados ao uso de substâncias psicoativas atendidos em uma unidade de emergência psiquiátrica

Study type: Prevalence study. Objective: To describe the socio demographic and clinical profile of patients with mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance (PAS) use, evaluated by the Psychiatric team of the Referenced Emergency Unit (REU) at the State University Clinical Hospital of Campinas (UNICAMP-HC). Methods and casuistic: This is a descriptive and quantitative study, which analyzed patients with mental and behavioral disorders due to PAS use, evaluated by the Psychiatric team of the REU-HC-UNICAMP during a period of 12 months, starting on May 2010. Results: There were evaluated 350 patients with PAS related disorders, representing 23.8% of those who sought psychiatric care. Most were males and younger than other patients of the emergency unit. The main reason for seeking help was psychiatric complaint other than PAS related disorders (23.1%), followed by desire to be treated oneself/being admitted to inpatient psychiatric treatment (20.8%) and intoxication (12.5%); 38.5% had a diagnosis of multiple PAS dependence and 34.8% were diagnosed with isolated alcohol dependence; 36% had psychiatric comorbidities and, when compared to other patients, they received more medications during attendance and were less directed to primary care units. Conclusion: There is a high rate of consultations of patients with PAS related problems in the psychiatric emergency unit. Data on the profile of the evaluated these patients can contribute to the improvement of care to this populationModelo do Estudo: Estudo de prevalência. Objetivo: Descrever o perfil sócio demográfico e clínico de pacientes com transtornos relacionados ao uso de substâncias psicoativas (SPA) atendidos pela Psiquiatria da Unidade de Emergência Referenciada (UER) do Hospital de Clínicas (HC) da UNICAMP. Métodos e casuística: Estudo descritivo e quantitativo, que avaliou os pacientes com transtornos relacionados ao uso de SPA atendidos pela Psiquiatria da UER do HC-UNICAMP no período de 12 meses a partir de maio de 2010. Resultados: Foram avaliados 350 pacientes com transtornos por uso de SPA, representando 23.8% do total dos que procuraram atendimento psiquiátrico. Maioria do sexo masculino e mais jovens do que os demais pacientes. O principal motivo de atendimento foi queixa psiquiátrica outra que não o uso de SPA (23,1%), seguido do desejo de se tratar/internar (20,8%) e intoxicação (12,5%). 38,5% tinham diagnóstico de dependência de múltiplas SPA e 34,8% dependência exclusiva de álcool; 36% apresentavam comorbidade psiquiátrica. Quando comparados com os demais pacientes avaliados pela Psiquiatria, receberam mais medicações no atendimento e foram menos encaminhados à atenção primária. Conclusão: Há elevada taxa de atendimento de pessoas com problemas relacionados ao uso de SPA na emergência psiquiátrica. Dados sobre o perfil dos atendidos podem contribuir para a melhoria da assistência a esta populaçã