Locking of accessible information and implications for the security of quantum cryptography

The unconditional security of a quantum key distribution protocol is often defined in terms of the accessible information, that is, the maximum mutual information between the distributed key S and the outcome of an optimal measurement on the adversary's (quantum) system. We show that, even if this quantity is small, certain parts of the key S might still be completely insecure when S is used in applications, such as for one-time pad encryption. This flaw is due to a locking property of the accessible information: one additional (physical) bit of information might increase the accessible information by more than one bit.Comment: 5 pages; minor change

Climate change, population ageing and public spending: Evidence on individual preferences

Economic theory, as well as empirical research, suggest that elderly people prefer public spending on policies yielding short-term benefits. This might be bad news for policies aimed at combating climate change: while the unavoidable costs of these policies arise today, the expected benefits occur in the distant future. Drawing on data from over 12,000 households and using the ordered logit and the generalized ordered logit model, we analyze whether attitudes towards climate change and climate policies, as well as public spending preferences, differ with respect to age. Our estimates show that elderly people are less concerned about climate change, but more concerned about other global challenges. Furthermore, they are less likely to support climate-friendly policies, such as the subsidization of renewables, and allocate less public resources to environmental policies. Thus, our results suggest that the ongoing demographic change in industrialized countries may undermine climate policies

Energiesparen in privaten Haushalten: Ein Randomized Controlled Trial zur Wirkungsevaluierung einer Endverbrauchersensibilisierung

[Kurzzusammenfassung] Zahlreiche Studien haben nachgewiesen, dass Energiesparbriefe in den USA eine kosteneffektive nicht-preisbasierte Intervention zur Reduktion von Haushaltsstromverbräuchen darstellen. Basierend auf diesen Erkenntnissen geht dieses Forschungsprojekt der Frage nach, ob die Versendung von Energiesparbriefen auch in Deutschland ein geeignetes nicht-preisbasiertes Politikinstrument sein könnte. Basierend auf Daten von rund 140.000 Haushalten werden anhand eines Randomized Controlled Trials zwei Ausgestaltungen von Energiesparbriefen untersucht: Infobriefe, die den Wissensstand und die Aufmerksamkeit der Haushalte zum Thema Energiesparen erhöhen sollen, und Briefe, die zusätzlich soziale Vergleiche enthalten. Zudem untersucht diese Studie, ob die angesprochene Motivation zum Energiesparen (das „Framing“) eine Auswirkung auf die Einspareffekte hat. Um die Eignung als Politikinstrument zu beurteilen, wird auf Basis der durchschnittlichen Stromeinsparungen die Kosteneffektivität der Maßnahmen zur Reduktion von CO2-Emissionen geschätzt. Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie zeigen, dass sowohl die Informationsbriefe als auch die Briefe mit sozialem Vergleich im Durchschnitt relativ geringe Einspareffekte aufweisen. Auch die Variation der angesprochenen Motivation zum Energiesparen führt nicht zu höheren Einspareffekten. Selbst unter vorteilhaften Annahmen liegen die geschätzten CO2-Vermeidungskosten der Briefe im Durchschnitt sehr hoch, sodass die Intervention eine geringe Kosteneffektivität aufweist. Im Resultat ist daher von einer flächendeckenden Einführung von Energiesparbriefen in Deutschland abzuraten. Obwohl die Ergebnisse dieser Studie auch zeigen, dass die Versendung von Energiesparbriefen an ausgewählte Kundengruppen durchaus kosteneffektiv sein kann, ist insgesamt selbst bei einer zielgerichteten Anwendung durch Energiesparbriefe kein erheblicher aggregierter Stromeinspareffekt für Deutschland zu erwarten. Wichtige Gründe für die geringe Kosteneffektivität der Maßnahme liegen in dem deutlich geringeren durchschnittlichen Verbrauch deutscher Haushalte im Vergleich zu US-amerikanischen Haushalten. Darüber hinaus kann davon ausgegangen werden, dass Haushalte in den USA höhere Einsparpotenziale aufweisen. Zudem begünstigen die Rahmenbedingungen in den USA die Effektivität von Energiesparbriefen. Dieses Forschungsprojekt stellt ein weiteres Beispiel dafür dar, wie mit Hilfe moderner Evaluationsmethoden robuste Ergebnisse über tatsächliche Effekte von Maßnahmen ermittelt werden können, auf deren Basis politische Entscheidungsträger informiert Entscheidungen treffen können. Eine systematische Evaluation von Maßnahmen erscheint in vielen Anwendungsfällen, insbesondere im Bereich des Energiesparens, praktikabel und sinnvoll, damit am Ende dort Ressourcen investiert werden, wo sie den größten Nutzen (in diesem Fall für den Klimaschutz) stiften.Endbericht - Februar 2017. Forschungsprojekt gefördert durch die Stiftung Mercator

Klima- und Energiepolitik in Deutschland: Dissens und Konsens

Öffentlichkeit und Politik müssen häufig den Eindruck gewinnen, dass Wirtschaftswissenschaftler bei zentralen wirtschaftspolitischen Fragen keine Einigkeit erzielen können. Dies gilt nicht zuletzt für die Umsetzung der Energiewende. Dieser Beitrag nutzt die öff entlich zugänglichen Stellungnahmen einschlägiger Forschungsinstitute, um durch die Identifikation von Bereichen des Konsens und Dissens unter Energieökonomen einen Kontrapunkt zu setzen. Wider Erwarten wird offenbar, dass auf wesentlichen Handlungsfeldern weitgehende Einigkeit besteht und somit klare Handlungsempfehlungen ausgesprochen werden können

Can FDG-PET/CT replace blind bone marrow biopsy of the posterior iliac crest in Ewing sarcoma?

OBJECTIVE: To determine and compare the value of (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) to blind bone marrow biopsy (BMB) of the posterior iliac crest in detecting metastatic bone marrow involvement in newly diagnosed Ewing sarcoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 20 patients with newly diagnosed Ewing sarcoma who underwent pretreatment FDG-PET/CT and a total of 38 blind BMBs (two unilateral and 18 bilateral) of the posterior iliac crest. FDG-PET/CT scans were evaluated for bone marrow involvement, both in the posterior iliac crest and other sites, and compared to blind BMB results. RESULTS: FDG-PET/CT was positive for bone marrow involvement in 7/38 posterior iliac crests, whereas BMB was positive in 5/38 posterior iliac crests. FDG-PET/CT and BMB results in the posterior iliac crest agreed in 36/38 cases (94.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 82.7-98.5%). On a patient level, FDG-PET/CT was positive for bone marrow involvement in 4/20 patients, whereas BMB of the posterior iliac crest was positive in 3/20 patients. On a patient level, FDG-PET/CT and BMB results agreed in 19/20 patients (95.0%, 95% CI: 76.4-99.1%). The only discrepancies between FDG-PET/CT and BMB were observed in two BMBs of one patient. Both BMBs in this patient were negative, whereas FDG-PET/CT indicated bilateral posterior iliac crest involvement and also extensive bone marrow involvement elsewhere. CONCLUSIONS: FDG-PET/CT appears to be a valuable method for metastatic bone marrow assessment in newly diagnosed Ewing sarcoma. The routine use of blind BMB of the posterior iliac crest should be reconsidered when FDG-PET/CT is available

Children's spatial analysis of simple and complex Hierarchical Patterns in a Drawing Task

BACKGROUND: Primary tumor volume is as an important and independent prognostic factor in Ewing sarcoma. However, the observer variability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based primary tumor volume measurements in newly diagnosed Ewing sarcoma has never been investigated. Furthermore, it is unclear how MRI-based volume measurements compare to (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)-based volume measurements. This study aimed to determine the observer variability of simplified MRI-based primary tumor volume measurements in newly diagnosed treatment-naive Ewing sarcoma and to compare them to the actual primary tumor volume at MRI and the FDG-PET-based metabolically active tumor volume (MATV). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-nine newly diagnosed Ewing sarcoma patients with pretreatment MRI (of whom 11 also underwent FDG-PET) were included. Both exact and dichotomized (according to the proposed threshold of 200 mL) primary tumor volume measurements were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean inter- and intraobserver differences of MRI-based simplified tumor volume ± limits of agreement varied between 15-42 ± 155-204 mL and between 9-16 ± 64-250 mL, respectively. Inter- and intraobserver agreements of dichotomized MRI-based simplified tumor volume measurements was very good (κ = 0.827-1.000). Mean difference between simplified and actual tumor volumes at MRI ± limits of agreement was 60 ± 381 mL. Agreement between dichotomized simplified and actual tumor volumes at MRI was very good (κ = 0.839). Mean difference between MRI-based simplified tumor volume and MATV ± limits of agreement was 181 ± 549 mL and almost significantly different (p = .0581). Agreement between dichotomized MRI-based simplified tumor volume and MATV was moderate (κ = 0.560). CONCLUSIONS: Exact MRI-based simplified primary tumor volume measurements in Ewing sarcoma suffer from considerable observer variability, but observer agreement of dichotomized measurements (≤200 mL vs. >200 mL) is very good and generally matches MRI-based actual volume measurements. MRI-based primary tumor volume measurements poorly-moderately agree with and tend to be lower than the MATV

Atlantic salmon papillomatosis in Russia and molecular characterization of the associated herpesvirus.

Papillomatosis of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar has been reported for decades in Russia, Scandinavia and Scotland. The disease is typically benign although heavy losses have occasionally been reported. A herpesviral etiology has been suggested based on ultrastructural evidence; however, the virus has not been isolated or genetically characterized. In this study, we provide the first viral sequences detected in the papillomas from diseased Russian Atlantic salmon. Phylogenetic analyses, based on the partial sequences of the herpesviral polymerase and terminase genes, supported the virus as a novel member of the genus Salmonivirus within the family Alloherpesviridae. The sequences of the Atlantic salmon papillomatosis virus differ markedly from those of the 3 known salmoniviruses; therefore, the authors propose the species designation Salmonid herpesvirus 4 to be considered for approval by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses

Positron emission tomography of tumour [18F]fluoroestradiol uptake in patients with acquired hormone-resistant metastatic breast cancer prior to oestradiol therapy

Purpose Whereas anti-oestrogen therapy is widely applied to treat oestrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer, paradoxically, oestrogens can also induce tumour regression. Upregulation of ER expression is a marker for oestrogen hypersensitivity. We, therefore, performed an exploratory study to evaluate positron emission tomography (PET) with the tracer 16 alpha-[F-18] fluoro-17 beta-oestradiol (F-18-FES) as potential marker to select breast cancer patients for oestradiol therapy. Methods Eligible patients had acquired endocrine-resistant metastatic breast cancer that progressed after >= 2 lines of endocrine therapy. All patients had prior ER-positive histology. Treatment consisted of oestradiol 2 mg, three times daily, orally. Patients underwent F-18-FES-PET/CT imaging at baseline. Tumour F-18-FES-uptake was quantified for a maximum of 20 lesions and expressed as maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax). CT-scan was repeated every 3 months to evaluate treatment response. Clinical benefit was defined as time to radiologic or clinical progression >= 24 weeks. Results F-18-FES uptake, quantified for 255 lesions in 19 patients, varied greatly between lesions (median 2.8; range 0.6-24.3) and between patients (median 2.5; range 1.1-15.5). Seven (37 %) patients experienced clinical benefit of oestrogen therapy, eight progressed (PD), and four were non-evaluable due to side effects. The positive and negative predictive value PPV/NPV) of F-18-FES-PET for response to treatment were 60 % (95 % CI: 31-83 %) and 80 % (95 % CI: 38-96 %), respectively, using SUVmax >1.5. Conclusion F-18-FES-PET may aid identification of patients with acquired antihormone resistant breast cancer that are unlikely to benefit from oestradiol therapy