Implications of Local Friendliness Violation for Quantum Causality

We provide a new formulation of the Local Friendliness no-go theorem of Bong et al. [Nat. Phys. 16, 1199 (2020)] from fundamental causal principles, providing another perspective on how it puts strictly stronger bounds on quantum reality than Bell’s theorem. In particular, quantum causal models have been proposed as a way to maintain a peaceful coexistence between quantum mechanics and relativistic causality while respecting Leibniz’s methodological principle. This works for Bell’s theorem but does not work for the Local Friendliness no-go theorem, which considers an extended Wigner’s Friend scenario. More radical conceptual renewal is required; we suggest that cleaving to Leibniz’s principle requires extending relativity to events themselves.     

Real-time X-ray diffraction measurements of structural dynamics and polymorphism in diindenoperylene growth

We investigate the temperature-dependent polymorphs in diindenoperylene (DIP) thin films on sapphire and silicon oxide substrates using in situ X-ray scattering. On both substrates the DIP unit cell is very similar to the high-temperature phase of bulk crystals, with the substrate stabilising this structure well below the temperature where a phase transition to a low-temperature phase is observed in the bulk. Lowering the substrate temperature for DIP growth leads to a change in molecular orientation and an additional polymorph appears, with both these effects being more pronounced on sapphire as compared to silicon oxide. Using real-time reciprocal-space mapping we observe an expansion of the in-plane unit cell during DIP growth, which may be due to changes in molecular orientation as well as strain in the first monolayers. Electronic Supplementary Material  The online version of this article () contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Further investigation of mass dimension one fermionic duals

In this paper we proceed into the next step of formalization of a consistent dual theory for mass dimension one spinors. This task is developed approaching the two different and complementary aspects of such duals, clarifying its algebraic structure and the so called τ-deformation. The former regards the mathematical equivalence of the recent proposed Lorentz preserving dual with the duals of algebraic spinors, from Clifford algebras, showing the consistency and generality of the new dual. Moreover, by revealing its automorphism structure, the hole of the τ-deformation and contrasting the action group orbits with other Lorentz breaking scenarios, we argue that the new mass dimension one dual theory is placed over solid and consistent basis.     

Quantum correction to the entropy of noncommutative BTZ black hole

In this paper we consider the generalized uncertainty principle (GUP) in the tunneling formalism via Hamilton–Jacobi method to determine the quantum-corrected Hawking temperature and entropy for noncommutative BTZ black hole. In our results we obtain several types of corrections including the expected logarithmic correction to the area entropy associated with the noncommutative BTZ black holes. We also show that the area entropy product of the noncommutative BTZ black holes is dependent on mass and by analyzing the nature of the specific heat capacity we have observed that the noncommutative BTZ black hole is stable at some range of parameters.     

Karyotype differentiation patterns in species of the subfamily Scarabaeinae (Scarabaeidae, Coleoptera)

The aim of this study was to describe the karyotype of species belonging to the subfamily Scarabaeinae (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) and to compile the conventional cytogenetic data available in the literature for this group. The karyotypes of ten species belonging to the tribes Canthonini, Coprini, Onthophagini and Phanaeini were analyzed by conventional staining. Eight of these species were described for the first time (Canthon aff carbonarius, Canthon chalybaeus, Coprophanaeus dardanus, Deltochilum aff amazonicum, Dichotomius geminatus, Oxysternon silenus, Phanaeus chalcomelas and Malagoniella aff astyanax) and two were redescribed (Diabroctis mimas and Digitonthophagus gazella) since their karyotypes differed from those previously published in the literature. Four species studied showed a diploid number of 2n = 20 and a parachute type sex determining system and the karyotype was 2n = 20,Xy in two species and 2n = 18,Xy_p, 2n = 19,X0, 2n = 12,XY and 2n = 14,neoXY in one each. The chromosome morphology of the different species varied, with the observation of metacentric, submetacentric, subacrocentric and acrocentric chromosomes. The X chromosome was predominantly meta or submetacentric in the species analyzed, whereas the y chromosome presented two arms or was punctiform. In conclusion, the subfamily Scarabaeinae comprises 120 species analyzed cytogenetically, and are observed the occurrence of five chromosome rearrangements (autosome–autosome and X-autosome fusions, pericentric inversions, fissions and loss of the y chromosome) that are related to the chromosome variability and evolution in the group.     

Scaling laws for the decay of multiqubit entanglement

We investigate the decay of entanglement of generalized N-particle Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) states interacting with independent reservoirs. Scaling laws for the decay of entanglement and for its finite-time extinction (sudden death) are derived for different types of reservoirs. The latter is found to increase with N. However, entanglement becomes arbitrarily small, and therefore useless as a resource, much before it completely disappears, around a time which is inversely proportional to the number of particles. We also show that the decay of multiparticle GHZ states can generate bound entangled states.     

Hemocytes ultrastructure of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Mosquitoes have an efficient defence system against infection. Insect blood cells (hemocytes) play an essential role in defense against parasites and other pathogenic organisms that infect insects. We have identified by light and transmission electron microscopy six hemocytes cell types from the hemolymph of Aedes aegypti. They were: prohemocytes (20%), adipohemocytes (29%), granulocytes (16%), plasmatocytes (27%), oenocytoids (7%) and thrombocytoids (0.9%). The prohemocytes were the smallest hemocytes found in the hemolymph. Its cytoplasm occupies only a narrow area around the nucleus. The adipohemocytes were the most abundant cell type presented. These hemocytes exhibited a large lipid like vesicle and mitochondria. In electron micrographs, the granulocytes showed cytoplasm containing dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and a round or elongated mitochondria. Electron-dense granules with a proteinaceous material were also present. The plasmatocytes were polymorphic and exhibited plasma membrane with irregular processes, philopodia and pseudopodia. Ultrastructural investigation revealed that the reticular cytoplasm showed a well-developed RER, a Golgi and vacuoles. Oenocytoids showed homogeneous cytoplasm with many mitochondria and ribosomes are scattered throughout the cytoplasm, abundant RER and a small smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) present at the cell poles. Thrombocytoids were very fragile and few in number. Similar characteristics were found in oenocytoids, possessing a homogeneous cytoplasm with poorly developed organelles, few mitochondria and granules.     

New proton conducting hybrid membranes for HT-PEMFC systems based on polysiloxanes and SO3H-functionalized mesoporous Si-MCM-41 particles

For increased efficiency of high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFC), new types of membranes have to be developed. This approach has been realized by preparing hybrid membranes containing SO₃H-functionalized mesoporous Si-MCM-41 as hydrophilic inorganic modifier in a polysiloxane matrix exhibiting sulfonic acid groups and basic heterocyclic groups like benzimidazole. The proton conductivity of sulfonated particles was modelled on the atomic scale in order to understand the influence of the density of sulfonic acid groups and of the presence of water molecules. The different hybrid membranes are characterized concerning their thermal stability, water uptake, and proton conductivity. Whereas the proton conductivity of well-established, but expensive and at >120 °C not long-time stable Nafion membranes continuously decreases with increasing temperature, the polysiloxane membranes, which suffer from a low-proton conductivity at around 100 °C, recover at about 120 °C due to intrinsic proton transport. At 180 °C the pure polysiloxane shows a proton conductivity which is only one order of magnitude lower than that of Nafion. Moreover, if the polysiloxane membrane contains additionally 10 wt.% of an SO₃H-modified Si-MCM-41, the proton conductivity of such hybrid membrane at temperatures >180 °C and low relative humidity <10% is higher than that of Nafion membranes by a factor of 10.