Optical implementability of the two-dimensional quantum walk

We propose an optical cavity implementation of the two-dimensional coined quantum walk on the line. The implementation makes use of only classical resources, and is tunable in the sense that a large number of different unitary transformations can be implemented by tuning some parameters of the device.     

Deficient expression of adhesion molecules by human CD5- B lymphocytes both after bone marrow transplantation and during normal ontogeny

Despite the relatively early reconstitution of blood B-lymphocyte counts observed in patients treated with bone marrow transplantation (BMT), these patients undergo a prolonged phase of humoral immunodeficiency. Adhesion molecules perform relevant functions in many cell types. The present study examines the expression of several adhesion molecules on human B lymphocytes newly formed after BMT. Blood B cells from 38 patients were studied by flow cytometry and three-color analysis. Blood CD5- B lymphocytes obtained at an early stage after BMT (2 to 4 months) showed a markedly low expression of the adhesion molecules CD54, CD44, CD11a, and CD62L. However, these cells exhibited a normal expression of other molecules including CD29, CD19, CD20, and DR. This deficiency was progressively corrected, reaching normal levels in the late post-BMT period (12 to 15 months). In contrast, CD54, CD44, CD11a, and CD62L expression on the patients' CD5+ B lymphocytes was found to be consistently normal. Deficient adhesion molecule expression on CD5- B cells in the early post-BMT period was similarly observed in patients treated with either an allo-BMT (n = 24) or an auto-BMT (n = 14). Because the post-BMT period mimics normal ontogeny, adhesion molecule expression was also investigated in cord-blood B lymphocytes. Cord-blood CD5- B lymphocytes, in contrast to CD5+, also expressed CD54, CD44, CD11a, and CD62L at levels much lower than those found in normal adults. Present data suggest that progressive expression of CD54, CD44, CD11a, and CD62L seems to be a part of the maturational program of CD5- B lymphocytes during both post-BMT and normal development periods. This observation may help to explain the humoral immunodeficiency observed in both conditions.     

Water Delivery System Planning Considering Irrigation Simultaneity

Time should be considered in carrying out the design and management of demand irrigation distribution systems. In this paper, a method to characterize the pumping flow in demand pressurized systems throughout the day and irrigation season is presented. This method considers the temporal evolution of water requirements during the irrigation season and water demand concentration in certain periods of the irrigation day due to different electrical energy charges. The model was established based on data from an actual water distribution network of an irrigation district in southern Spain. The results differed significantly from those obtained using approaches based on establishing a uniform working probability for the outlets of the water distribution network at all hours of the irrigation day, which underestimated the circulating flows or system capacity. The most probable pumping flow with uniform probability was 3.1 m3/s, a smaller value than those obtained in the off-peak and average energy tariff times (4 and 3.4 m3/s, respectively). The total energy head required at the booster pumping in each period of the irrigation season was simulated. 10,000 randomly chosen scenarios were simulated for each irrigation day and each energy tariff time. The heterogeneous vertical stratification between 50 and 103 m of the required piezometric head was obtained as a function of the demanded flow for the water distribution system. This paper includes a pump selection algorithm for recommending least cost or optimum pump combinations in the distribution network and to evaluate the system’s energy cost. The pump recommendations show that the optimal solution could have saved 41% of the pumping cost of the Fuente Palmera irrigation district.     

Design and optimization of an electromagnetic servo braking system combining finite element analysis and weight-based multi-objective genetic algorithms

The purpose of this paper is to show the design and optimization of a novel electromagnetic servo brake incorporating an Antilock brake system (ABS) function by Multi-objective genetic algorithms. To consider different design requirements, three types of Axisymmetric Finite element (FE) models were initially formulated parametrically to determine the braking force and position of the pusher at each instant during operation of the proposed device. Using a combination of the FE models and Weight-based multi-objective genetic algorithms (WBMOGA), the optimal geometry and dimensions of the proposed FE models were determined while maximizing the braking force of the device and minimizing both the current supplied by the battery and the weight of the assembly. Once an optimal configuration for each type of servo brake designed had been achieved, three prototypes were built and validated experimentally on a conventional test bench. Finally, the prototype that performed best of the three prototypes was mounted and tested on a hybrid test bench with a realistic ABS device. The good agreement between the results obtained from the simulations and those measured experimentally, suggests that the combination of FE models and WBMOGA may be used successfully to design and optimize any complex electromechanical device.     

Toward a fast, easy, and versatile immobilization of biomolecules into carbon nanotube/polysulfone-based biosensors for the detection of hCG hormone

The aim of this study was the fabrication and characterization of biomembranes by the phase inversion (PI) method followed by their subsequent casting onto screen-printed electrodes (SPE) for biomedical applications. The combination of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) as a transducer with polysulfone (PSf) polymer enables easy incorporation of biological moieties (hormones or antibodies), providing a 3D composite with high electrochemical response to corresponding analytes. Antibody/MWCNT/PSf biosensors were characterized by confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electrochemical methods. For biomedical purposes, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone was tested by competitive immunoassay. The detection limit was determined to be 14.6 mIU/mL with a linear range up to 600 mIU/mL. We concluded that the easy and fast incorporation of biomolecules by the PI method, as well as their stability and distribution throughout the 3D polysulfone composite, are testament to the utility for the versatile fabrication of biosensors for clinical diagnosis.     

Regional investment under uncertain costs of location

Due to political and economic integration, firms face increasing opportunities for locating their activities in countries, regions and cities that provide the best business environment for their specific needs. In our study, we focus on the impact of economic risk and risk preferences upon regional allocation of capital investments. The source of risk stems from the difference in costs of location and the business cycle across regions. Firms are seeking ways to reduce their exposure of regional shocks. As a result, regional concentration of investment of capital is endogenous. A comparative static analysis shows that regional capital allocation depends upon the firm’s risk preferences. Our findings demonstrate the suitability of the two-moment approach with multiple risks as an alternative to the expected utility approach. The impact of changes in distribution parameters, such as the expected costs of location, the variance of costs of location and the correlation between locational costs (or the business cycle), can be fully characterized by the elasticity of risk aversion. Elements of risk preferences beyond risk aversion prove to be important to evaluate regional policies. This insight is of interest for empirical research in regional economics.