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Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a cutting-edge communication method that enables secure communication between two parties. Continuous-variable QKD (CV-QKD) is a promising approach to QKD that has several advantages over traditional discrete-variable systems. Despite its potential, CV-QKD systems are highly sensitive to optical and electronic component impairments, which can significantly reduce the secret key rate. In this research, we address this challenge by modeling a CV-QKD system to simulate the impact of individual impairments on the secret key rate. The results show that laser frequency drifts and small imperfections in electro-optical devices such as the beam splitter and the balanced detector have a negative impact on the secret key rate. This provides valuable insights into strategies for optimizing the performance of CV-QKD systems and overcome limitations caused by component impairments. By offering a method to analyze them, the study enables the establishment of quality standards for the components of CV-QKD systems, driving the development of advanced technologies for secure communication in the future.

UCAmI 2022: Proceedings of the International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing & Ambient Intelligence, Regarding the security concerns arising from the threat that quantum computing algorithms pose on some today’s most efficient and widely implemented public-key cryptographic systems, it has become necessary to find alternative cryptographic techniques to support private (or symmetric) key cryptographic schemes by means of key distribution. In this article we survey the emerging technology of quantum key distribution (QKD), which enables two separate parties to distill a random secret key only known by them and whose security relies on the principles of quantum physics, with the advantage of also enabling the detection of potential eavesdroppers. Among the different existing approaches to QKD, a distinction is made between discrete and continuous variable protocols. We focus here on continuous variable (CV-QKD) protocols, which consist of encoding information in optical coherent states that can be transmitted by fiber by means of off-the-shelf devices widely used in today’s telecommunications industry. An important advantage is that these components have a significantly lower cost in comparison to those used in other QKD protocols. The present study highlights some information-theoretic aspects of CV-QKD while putting special efforts into the security analysis of these protocols (such as parameter estimation or error correction techniques) derived from the practical implementation, as well as the challenges this technology faces in its still ongoing development., This work had the support of Grant PID2020-118178RB-C22 funded by AEI/10.13039/501100011033, and by the Community of Madrid (Spain) under the CYNAMON project (P2018/TCS-4566), co-financed with European Social Fund and EU FEDER funds. We also acknowledge the support of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), project 202050E232, and CSIC’s Interdisciplinary Thematic Platform (PTI+) on Quantum Technologies (PTI-QTEP+). This study was supported by CSIC’s program for the Spanish Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility of the European Union, established by the Regulation (EU) 2020/2094; and MCIN with funding from European Union NextGenerationEU (PRTR-C17.I1).

‘Industry 5.0’ has been used as a term to describe alternative visions of the future of industry. Recently, a European Union Research and Innovation Policy Brief used the label Industry 5.0 to define a vision which is not driven by a new technology, but by a changed perception of value founded on human-centricity, sustainability and resilience. Transdisciplinary Engineering (TE) seeks to integrate knowledge and understanding to reduce the negative effect of engineering innovation on the environment and society, thus there likely exists a natural synergy between Industry 5.0 and TE. Consequently, in this paper we seek to understand what the opportunities and challenges of the emergence of Industry 5.0 might be for the field of TE now and in the future. A workshop involving multidisciplinary experts was convened to brainstorm and then explore perceptions. Opportunities include new research areas and potential access to funding. Challenges center on the extent that TE could, or should, align itself with Industry 5.0, and the lack of consensus around definitions of TE. Conclusions find that to attract funding, the community should clearly articulate how TE differs from complimentary and overlapping fields such as interdisciplinarity and systems engineering.

Knockout mice for human disease-causing genes provide valuable models in which new therapeutic approaches can be tested. Electroporation of genome editing tools into zygotes

Orientador: Shusaburo Motoyama Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Eletrica e de Computação Resumo: Neste estudo, o desempenho do enlace direto do sistema I xEV -DV é analisado através de simulações e o tempo médio de atraso dos pacotes. a vazão de dados e a utilização de enlace são avaliados em função do carregamento de tráfego do sistema. Para a realização das simulações foi desenvolvido. na ferramenta de software /v/atlab, um modelo que representa o processamento e escalonamento da estação rádIo base do sistema IxEV-DV. antes da transmissão na interface aérea. bem como os modelos baseados em tráfego real de dados WAP, HTTP e FTP. O enlace direto do sistema I xEV -DV é analisado em cenários que consideram o escalonamento FIFO e o escalonamento baseado em prioridade de taxas, mostrando a redução do tempo médio de atraso dos pacotes no sistema com prioridade. Além disto. é possível verificar e quantificar a eficiência da 1111plementação da multiplexação por divisão em código (COM) além da multiplexação por divisão no tempo (TOM) no enlace direto. Os resultados do sistema 1 xEV -DV com tráfego W AP, HTTP e FTP são também comparados aos resultados obtidos com tráfego poissoniano, mostrando as diferenças e a importância da utilização de modelos de tráfego de dados reais Abstract: In this study, the forward link performance 01' the I xEV -DV system is analyzed through simulations. and the average packet delay, the data throughput and the link utilization are evaluated in function of the system traffic load. For the simulations, it was developed in Matlab software tool, a model that represents the I xEV -DV radio base station processing and scheduling, before the aerial interfaee transmission. and the mode1s based in real data traffic WAP, HTTP and FTP. The forward link 01' the I xEV -DV system is analyzed in scenarios that consider FIFO scheduling and data rate priority scheduling, showing the average packet delay reduction in the system with priority. Besides, it is possible to verify and quantify the efficiency of the code division multiplexing (CDM) implementation besides the time division muItiplexing (TDM) in the forward link. The results of IxEV-OV system with WAP, HTTP and FTP traffic are also compared with the results obtained with Poisson traffic, showing the differences and the importance of the real data traffic models utilization Mestrado Telecomunicações e Telemática Mestre em Engenharia Elétrica

This paper revisits the discussion of the determinants of the declining labour share in industrialised countries. We select a panel of 20 OECD countries with the most advanced industrial capabilities and explore the effects of technological progress on the labour income share. We incorporate a full range of variables to cover the fundamental determinants. Our analysis extends previous studies by examining various proxies for technology which are significant drivers of the labour share. The paper expands the assessment by testing the labour share by skill level and shows that among the leading drivers of the declining labour share are the capital prices and ICT capital, driven by the effect of these variables on the labour share of low-skilled workers. Capital intensity, financial integration and trade globalisation shrink the aggregate labour share.

We develop a multi-country general equilibrium model featuring (i) migration flows across borders; (ii) explicit supply chain networks both across sectors and across countries; (iii) services sector with a significant role in both production and trade; and (iv) a separate banking sector. We then carefully calibrate this model to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, guided by the terms specified in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), signed in December 2020. We find that supply networks aggravate the losses from trade disintegration significantly, raising the cost of Brexit, even in the absence of tariffs. We also quantify the effects of trade liberalisation between the UK and the third countries, revealing gains, yet, only at a fraction of the losses from the new frictions to the UK-EU trade. Importantly, losses from the UK's exit from the EU are not shared equally and fall disproportionately on low-skilled households.

Efficient methodologies for recreating cancer-associated chromosome translocations are in high demand as tools for investigating how such events initiate cancer. The CRISPR/Cas9 system has been used to reconstruct the genetics of these complex rearrangements at native loci while maintaining the architecture and regulatory elements. However, the CRISPR system remains inefficient in human stem cells. Here, we compared three strategies aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the CRISPR-mediated t(11;22) translocation in human stem cells, including mesenchymal and induced pluripotent stem cells: (1) using end-joining DNA processing factors involved in repair mechanisms, or (2) ssODNs to guide the ligation of the double-strand break ends generated by CRISPR/Cas9; and (3) all-in-one plasmid or ribonucleoprotein complex-based approaches. We report that the generation of targeted t(11;22) is significantly increased by using a combination of ribonucleoprotein complexes and ssODNs. The CRISPR/Cas9-mediated generation of targeted t(11;22) in human stem cells opens up new avenues in modeling Ewing sarcoma. This work was supported by funds from the Spanish National Research and Development Plan, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, and FEDER (PI14/01884 to S.R.-P. and PI12/00425 to J.C.C.). R.T.-R. was supported by an international fellowship from Lady Tata Memorial Trust during 2016–2017. Sí

Biologically based wastewater treatment systems are considered a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to conventional wastewater treatment systems. These systems have been used and studied for the treatment of urban sewage from small communities, and recently, it has been reported that they can also effectively remove emerging organic contaminants (EOCs). EOCs are a new group of unregulated contaminants which include pharmaceutical and personal care products, some pesticides, veterinary products, and industrial compounds among others that are thought to have long-term adverse effects on human health and ecosystems. This review is focused on reporting the ability of biologically based wastewater treatment systems to remove EOCs and the main elimination mechanisms and degradation processes (i.e., biodegradation, photodegradation, phytoremediation, and sorption) taking place in constructed wetlands, ponds, and Daphnia and fungal reactors.

This study investigated the formation of eight N-nitrosamines (N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosomethylethylamine (NMEA), N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine (NDPA), N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR), 1-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR), 1-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP), and N-nitrosodibutylamine (NDBA)) after the chlorination (with NaOCl) of wastewater effluents from two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in North East Spain. Two different WWTPs, one with nitrification-denitrification process (CB1) and the other without (CB2) have been chosen. The concentrations of individual N-nitrosamines in non-chlorinated tertiary treated wastewater effluents ranged from

Summary Efficient methodologies for recreating cancer-associated chromosome translocations are in high demand as tools for investigating how such events initiate cancer. The CRISPR/Cas9 system has been used to reconstruct the genetics of these complex rearrangements at native loci while maintaining the architecture and regulatory elements. However, the CRISPR system remains inefficient in human stem cells. Here, we compared three strategies aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the CRISPR-mediated t(11;22) translocation in human stem cells, including mesenchymal and induced pluripotent stem cells: (1) using end-joining DNA processing factors involved in repair mechanisms, or (2) ssODNs to guide the ligation of the double-strand break ends generated by CRISPR/Cas9; and (3) all-in-one plasmid or ribonucleoprotein complex-based approaches. We report that the generation of targeted t(11;22) is significantly increased by using a combination of ribonucleoprotein complexes and ssODNs. The CRISPR/Cas9-mediated generation of targeted t(11;22) in human stem cells opens up new avenues in modeling Ewing sarcoma., Graphical Abstract, Highlights • T All-in-one vector has improved function by an extra NLS and coexpression of elements • Usage of RNP and ssODN recreates efficiently human chromosomal translocations • The Ewing sarcoma t(11;22) translocation is unstable in hMSCs, In this article, Rodriguez-Perales and colleagues show an efficient CRISPR approach for recreating cancer-associated chromosome translocations in human stem cells. They generate the Ewing sarcoma t(11;22) translocation in human mesenchymal and induced pluripotent stem cells using RNPs and ssODNs. The generation of targeted translocations in human stem cells opens up new avenues in modeling Ewing sarcoma and human neoplasias.

This study explored sociodemographic variables, childhood characteristics, and family factors in the Puerto Rican homeless. The study is a secondary analysis in which a Puerto Rican homeless sample ( N = 113) is compared with a Puerto Rican primary care patient group ( N = 102). Discriminant function analysis was employed to determine if family and childhood risk factors accurately distinguish the primary care and homeless samples. The results indicated that the homeless sample was significantly more likely to endorse living in foster care, χ2 (1, N = 207) = 7.057, p = .008; being abandoned by their family χ2(1, N = 192) = 32.522, p < .001; experiencing the death of both parents χ2(1, N = 191) = 9.0, p < .05; and having no family support χ2(1, N = 194) = 6.094, p = .014, than the primary care population. The model of childhood and family risk factors correctly classified 84% of the sample, suggesting that combinations of factors are more predictive of risk for homelessness than any one variable. Among assessed factors, the death of a close family member, being abandoned by family, and the death of both parents were the best sample discriminators.

The presence of pharmaceuticals and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in wastewater treatment plant effluents is an issue of great concern due to the negative effects that these compounds may have on human health and ecosystems. The present study aims to assess the capacity of two aquatic plants (Lemna sp. and Spirogyra sp.), commonly found in polishing ponds, for removing six pharmaceutical compounds (diclofenac, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, carbamazepine, clofibric acid, and propranolol), two EDCs (17α-ethinylestradiol and bisphenol A), and one stimulant (caffeine) under laboratory-scale conditions. Planted and unplanted reactors fed with secondary-treated wastewater or ultrapure water in both covered and uncovered conditions were studied. The highest removal efficiencies, which ranged from 31 to 100 %, were achieved in uncovered planted systems containing secondary-treated wastewater after 20 days of incubation. The results demonstrated that non-charged compounds with a log Kow between 2 and 4 were affected by the presence of vegetation, probably due to their plant uptake, whereas negatively charged compounds were not. This highlights that the presence of plants in polishing ponds plays an important role in the removal of pharmaceuticals and EDCs The financial support of the Ministerio de Ciencia e Inovacion through project CTM2011-28765-C02-02 is gratefully acknowledged. Aida Garcia-Rodriguez thanks the University of Girona for research Grant BR2011/27

Antibiotics belong to the so called group of emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) and their presence in natural waters is of considerable environmental concern. Due to the need of their determination in natural waters at trace levels, we have developed a polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) capable of transporting six frequently used antibiotics (four sulfonamides, SAs, and two tetracyclines, TCs). Cellulose triacetate (CTA) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) based membranes have been tested in transport experiments, with the former membranes exhibiting better permeability for the antibiotics studied. The addition of a plasticizer further improved the permeability of the CTA-based membranes. A PIM containing 30 wt% ETA, 26 wt% Aliquat 336, and 44 wt% 2-nitrophenyloctyl ether, provided the highest percentage of transport over a 24 h period, varying from 75% (sulfathiazole, STZ) to 100% (tetracycline, TC and oxytetracycline, OTC), except for sulfapyridine, (SPY) (55%). The feed solution in these transport experiments was at pH 9 while the stripping solution contained 1.0 M NaCl. A PIM-based device was constructed for the preconcentration of the antibiotics studied in its stripping solution and it was successfully applied to the preconcentration of these antibiotics in environmental water samples The financial support of the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad through project CTM2013-48967-C2-2-P is gratefully acknowledged. Aida Garcia-Rodriguez would like to thank the University of Girona for a research fellowship (BR2011/27)

A wireless body area network (WBAN) is a network of compact low power devices that are either wearable or implantable. A compact antenna with suitable radiation pattern and polarization is useful for WBAN applications. Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology can be used in WBAN applications that require high data rates. This paper present a small wearable (15x17x17 mm) UWB antenna designed and optimized in a FDTD full wave simulator. The simulated -10 dB impedance bandwidth is from 4.8 GHz to 29.8 GHz in free space. The lower -10 dB cut-off frequency shifts down to 3.5~GHz when placed on the body. The antenna is vertically polarized with respect to the body which makes it a suitable candidate for on-body to on-body UWB WBAN applications. The antenna was fabricated by 3D printing technology. The measured lower cut-off frequency for an on-body case was found to be 3.6 GHz and the antenna was well-matched in rest of the UWB band. (Less)

Purpose To address the null hypothesis that surgeons shown radiographs of little finger metacarpal neck fractures with measured fracture angulation would recommend surgery as often as surgeons shown unmarked radiographs. Methods Members of the Science of Variation Group, an international collaboration of fully trained orthopedic and trauma surgeons, were asked to review 20 little finger metacarpal neck fracture cases, which included a vignette and 3 high-quality radiographs. Members were then randomized to review radiographs with or without measured fracture angulation on the lateral view and select operative or nonoperative management. Results Surgeons shown radiographs with measured angulation were more likely to recommend surgery, and there was less variability among these surgeons, particularly for fractures with less angular deformity. Conclusions Measured fracture angulation has a small but significant influence on treatment recommendations for little finger metacarpal neck fractures. Copyright (C) 2014 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. All rights reserved

An analytical method for the simultaneous determination of eight pharmaceutical compounds in biosolids from urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) was developed and validated. The compounds evaluated were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (naproxen, diclofenac, and ibuprofen), lipid regulators (clofibric acid), and antibiotics (sulfathiazole, sulfapyridine, sulfamethazine, and sulfamethoxazole). Ultrasound assisted extraction with a water–methanol solvent mixture (1:1, v:v) was performed and the compounds were then determined by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The design of the method was based on the application of the standard addition calibration methodology to reduce matrix interferences. Validation procedures were conducted with rabbit excrements as blank samples. Recoveries of the target analytes ranged from 76 to 131% in spiked samples at 50, 200 or 1000 ng g−1 dry weight (dw). The relative standard deviations were in the range of 5–15% and the method detection limits ranged from 2 to 12 ng g−1dw. The method was applied to monitor pharmaceutical concentrations in biosolids from different WWTPs over an eight-month period (May to December 2011). Diclofenac, sulfapyridine and ibuprofen were detected in most of the samples whereas sulfamethazine and ibuprofen were the pharmaceuticals found in the highest concentrations (>200 ng g−1 dw on average) The financial support of the Ministerio de Ciencia e Inovación through projects CTM2008-0647-C02-02/TECNO, CTM2011-28765-C02-02 and CGL2010-22168-C03-03 is gratefully acknowledged

Purpose This study tested the null hypothesis that there are no differences between the preferences of hand surgeons and those patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) facing decisions about management of CTS (ie, the preferred content of a decision aid). Methods One hundred three hand surgeons of the Science of Variation Group and 79 patients with CTS completed a survey about their priorities and preferences in decision making regarding the management of CTS. The questionnaire was structured according the Ottawa Decision Support Framework for the development of a decision aid. Results Important areas on which patient and hand surgeon interests differed included a preference for nonpainful, nonoperative treatment and confirmation of the diagnosis with electrodiagnostic testing. For patients, the main disadvantage of nonoperative treatment was that it was likely to be only palliative and temporary. Patients preferred, on average, to take the lead in decision making, whereas physicians preferred shared decision making. Patients and physicians agreed on the value of support from family and other physicians in the decision-making process. Conclusions There were some differences between patient and surgeon priorities and preferences regarding decision making for CTS, particularly the risks and benefits of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Clinical relevance Information that helps inform patients of their options based on current best evidence might help patients understand their own preferences and values, reduce decisional conflict, limit surgeon-to-surgeon variations, and improve health.

The effect of aquatic vegetation (Spyrogira sp. and Zannichellia palustris), light exposure and water quality (secondary-treated wastewater vs. ultrapure water) on the removal efficiency of six antibiotics (sulfonamides and tetracyclines) is studied in laboratory-scale reactors. After 20d of treatment, 3-59% of sulfonamides were eliminated in the reactors exposed to light. Removal was about 10% in unplanted reactors in darkness. The elimination of tetracycline (TC) and oxytetracycline (OTC) ranged between 83% and 97% in both planted and unplanted reactors. However, in dark unplanted reactors, OTC was largely removed (88%) while only 15% of TC was eliminated. These results suggest that TC was mainly removed by photodegradation whereas biodegradation or hydrolysis process seems to be significant processes for OTC. Sulfonamides were mainly eliminated by biodegradation or indirect photodegradation processes. Pseudo-first order kinetics removal rates ranged from 0.003 and 0.007d-1 for Sulfamethazine and TC in the covered control reactors to 0.13 and 0.21d-1 for TC and OTC in the uncovered control reactors, with half-lives from 3 to 350d. A TC photodegradation product was tentatively identified in uncovered reactors. This study highlights the important role played by light exposure in the elimination of antibiotics in polishing ponds This study has been financed by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, project CTM2011-28765-C02-02. AG acknowledges a BR2011/27 research grant from the University of Girona

Purpose: Multiple techniques exist as part of the armamentarium for the management of Proximal Interphalangeal (PIP) joint fracture-dislocations. Of these, unstable lesions with hard reduction are the most complicated to handle. This study aims to compare the biomechanical results obtained with volar plate arthroplasty (VPA) and the hemihamate arthroplasty (HHA). Materials and Methods: We used 20 fingers from 8 cadaveric hands. We created a 50% defect on the base of the middle phalanges to simulate an unstable fracture-dislocation. The 2 techniques were assigned randomly to the different fingers (10 for each technique). A biomechanical harness was used to carry all PIP joints from extension to complete flexion. The amount of dorsal translation of the subluxation was recorded digitally at full extension. We recorded the angle at which subluxation occurred for each specimen. Results: The average of dorsal displacement of the middle phalanx did not show statistical significant difference (0.02 mm for the HHA and 0.01 mm for the VPA). All the fingers with VPA coursed with flexion contracture as opposed to the HHA. Conclusions: The VPA and the HHA are current techniques used for the management of unstable PIP fracture-dislocations. The 2 procedures manage to maintain reduction throughout the range of flexo-extension. Surgeons must choose between a little more invasive technique with double incision, hamate block bone graft with potential discomfort in the donor area and screw fixation on the recipient middle phalanx not leading to flexion contracture (HHA); versus a single surgical approach technique -dorsal or ventral- which provides stability but may course with certain flexion contracture.