Analysis of the entanglement between two individual atoms using global Raman rotations

Making use of the Rydberg blockade, we generate entanglement between two atoms individually trapped in two optical tweezers. In this paper we detail the analysis of the data and show that we can determine the amount of entanglement between the atoms in the presence of atom losses during the entangling sequence. Our model takes into account states outside the qubit basis and allows us to perform a partial reconstruction of the density matrix describing the two atom state. With this method we extract the amount of entanglement between pairs of atoms still trapped after the entangling sequence and measure the fidelity with respect to the expected Bell state. We find a fidelity $F_{\rm pairs} =0.74(7)$ for the 62% of atom pairs remaining in the traps at the end of the entangling sequence

Blueprint for fault-tolerant quantum computation with Rydberg atoms

We present a blueprint for building a fault-tolerant universal quantum computer with Rydberg atoms. Our scheme, which is based on the surface code, uses individually addressable, optically trapped atoms as qubits and exploits electromagnetically induced transparency to perform the multiqubit gates required for error correction and computation. We discuss the advantages and challenges of using Rydberg atoms to build such a quantum computer, and we perform error correction simulations to obtain an error threshold for our scheme. Our findings suggest that Rydberg atoms are a promising candidate for quantum computation, but gate fidelities need to improve before fault-tolerant universal quantum computation can be achieved

BRESEX: On board supervision, basic architecture and preliminary aspects for payload and space shuttle interface

Data relative to the on board supervision subsystem are presented which were considered in a conference between INPE and NASA personnel, with the purpose of initiating a joint effort leading to the implementation of the Brazilian remote sensing experiment - (BRESEX). The BRESEX should consist, basically, of a multispectral camera for Earth observation, to be tested in a future space shuttle flight

Multiaxial Mechanical Characterization of Interpenetrating Polymer Network Reinforced Acrylic Elastomer

The acrylic elastomer membrane VHB 4910 is a material widely used for applications as Dielectric Elastomer Actuators DEA. For suitable actuation performance however, it is necessary to pre-strain the very compliant membrane. This reduces the lifetime of DEA due to early failure of the tensioned membrane. Interpenetrating Polymer Network Reinforced Acrylic Elastomers (IPN) are produced by introducing a curable additive into the pre-strained acrylic elastomer membrane. While curing at elevated temperature, the additive forms a second polymeric network that supports part of the pre-strain in the acrylic membrane. This leads to a free standing material that combines the actuation performance of pre-strained VHB 4910 with an excellent long-term reliability. This work presents a detailed mechanical characterization of acrylic IPN membranes. To reduce the experimental effort required to characterize the nonlinear elastic behavior, we developed a unique specimen design that enables the assessment of uni- and biaxial stress states within one experiment. Slight changes in the material composition of IPN-membranes lead to substantial variations in their mechanical properties. The extraction of material behavior in different kinematic states within a single sample thus reduces the uncertainty on the determination of constitutive models. An extensive experimental campaign was carried out involving uniaxial and equibiaxial tension and relaxation. Image based local deformation measurements and iterative finite element calculations were applied to derive constitutive model parameters that describe the mechanical response in a wide range of planar strain and strain rat

Optimizing ensembles of small models for predicting the distribution of species with few occurrences

1. Ensembles of Small Models (ESM) represent a novel strategy for species distribution modelling with few observations. ESMs are built by calibrating many small models and then averaging them into an ensemble model where the small models are weighted by their cross-validated scores of predictive performance. In a previous paper (Breiner, Guisan, Bergamini, & Nobis, Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 6, 1210-1218, 2015), we reported two major findings. First, ESMs proved largely superior to standard models in terms of model performance and transferability. Second, ESMs including different modelling techniques did not clearly improve model performance compared to single-technique ESMs. However, ESMs often require a large computation effort, which can become problematic when modelling large numbers of species. Given the appealing new perspectives offered by ESMs, it is especially important to investigate if some techniques yield increased performance while saving computation time and thus could be predominantly used for building ESMs. 2. Here, we present results from a reanalysis of a subset of the data used in Breiner etal. (2015). More specifically, we ran ESMs: (1) fitted with 10 modelling techniques separately (in Breiner etal., 2015 we used only three techniques); and (2) using various parameter options for each modelling technique (i.e., model tuning). 3. We show that ESMs vary in model performance and computation time across techniques, and some techniques are advantageous in terms of optimizing model performance and computation time (i.e., GLM, CTA and ANN). Including one of these modelling techniques could thus optimize computation time compared to using more computing-intensive techniques like GBM. Next, we show that parameter tuning can improve performance and transferability of ESMs, but often at the cost of computation time. Parameter tuning could therefore be used when computing resources are not a limiting factor. 4. These findings help improve the applicability and performance of ESMs when applied to large numbers of species

Body center of mass trajectory and mechanical energy using inertial sensors: a feasible stride?

Background: The description of the three-dimensional (3D) trajectory of the body center of mass (BCoM) provides useful insights on the mechanics of locomotion. The BCoM trajectory can be estimated from ground reaction forces, recorded by force platforms (GRF, gold standard), or from marker trajectories recorded by stereophotogrammetric systems (MKR). However, both instruments do not allow for monitoring locomotion in the real-life environment. In this perspective, magneto-inertial measurement units (MIMUs) are particularly attractive being wearable, thus enabling to collect movement data out of the laboratory. Research questions: To investigate the feasibility and accuracy of a recent marketed full-body MIMU-based method for the estimation of the 3D BCoM trajectory and energetics during walking. Methods: Twelve subjects walked at self-selected and slow speed along a 12 m long walkway. GRF and MKR were acquired using three force platforms and a stereophotogrammetric system. MIMU data were collected using a full-body MIMU-based motion capture system (Xsens MTw Awinda). The 3D BCoM trajectory, external mechanical work and energy recovery were extracted from the data acquired by the three measurement systems, using state-of-the-art methods. The accuracy of both MKR- and MIMU-based estimates compared with GRF was assessed for the BCoM trajectory (maximum, minimum, range, and RMSD), as well as for mechanical work and energy recovery. Results: A total number of 108 strides were analyzed. MIMU-based BCoM trajectory displayed larger errors in comparison with GRF (and MKR) for the trajectory ranges: 89 ± 47(93 ± 44)% in antero-posterior, 46 ± 25(40 ± 79)% medio-lateral and -13 ± 23(-5 ± 25)% vertical directions, leading to a 3D RMSD of 17 ± 5(12 ± 5) mm (mean ± SD). These discrepancies largely affected the estimation of both mechanical work and energy recovery (+115 ± 85% and -28 ± 21%, respectively). Significance: Preliminary findings highlighted that the tested MIMU-based method for BCoM trajectory estimation still lacks accuracy and that the quantification of energetics in real-life situations remains an open challenge

Knowledge of preventive measures against occupational risks and spread of healthcare-associated infections among nursing students. An epidemiological prevalence study from Ferrara, Italy

Introduction. Exposure to biological agents is the most common occupational risk for nursing staff. This study verified changes in attitudes and knowledge occurred in the nursing students after the first year of degree. Methods. The survey was conducted in academic year 2006/07 among the students of the Professional Nursing Course at University of Ferrara (Italy) using a structured questionnaire. Students were 85 at the beginning and 80 at the end of the courses. Results. The rate of subjects using gloves for intramuscular injections and fingertip puncture was unsatisfactory. A high percentage of students performed recap of needles. The use of gloves in case of washing of surgical instruments was high. The compliance in the use of gloves in handling test tubes remained low. Only 2/3 of the students washes their hands coming in ward. Incorrect attitudes have been observed in changing or wearing gloves. The students considered vaccination against hepatitis-B necessary, vaccination against flu unnecessary. A high percentage of students had not performed any prophylaxis for tuberculosis. Discussion. Students intend the use of gloves mainly to perform self-protection. The concept of self-protection is contradicted by the large percentage of students that recap used needles. A significant percentage of students have not yet gained the criti- cal thinking necessary to consider the importance of universal precautions as a means not only of self-protection but also of prevention of hospital infections. Conclusions. Students consider the basic standard measures for the control of infectious diseases only like self-protection and not to prevent hospital infections

Coherent imaging of extended objects

When used with coherent light, optical imaging systems, even diffraction-limited, are inherently unable to reproduce both the amplitude and the phase of a two-dimensional field distribution because their impulse response function varies slowly from point to point (a property known as non-isoplanatism). For sufficiently small objects, this usually results in a phase distortion and has no impact on the measured intensity. Here, we show that the intensity distribution can also be dramatically distorted when objects of large extension or of special shapes are imaged. We illustrate the problem using two simple examples: the pinhole camera and the aberration-free thin lens. The effects predicted by our theorical analysis are also confirmed by experimental observations.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, submitted to Optics Communication

Vitis vinifera L. germplasm diversity: a genetic and ampelometric study in ancient vineyards in the South of Basilicata region (Italy)

The evaluation of the existing grapevines biodiversity in several areas still unexplored in Basilicata region has been carried out. A four years survey in ancient vineyards of Potenza was performed to investigate grapevine biodiversity. 85 collected accessions were subjected to genetic characterization through nine microsatellite markers. A total of 42 genotypes were obtained. The comparison with national and international databases allowed the identification of 26 accessions corresponded to new autochthonous genotypes and minor/local cultivars, in addition 16 international and national cultivars commonly cultivated in several Italian regions were found (data not shown in this work). Results indicated that minor/local cultivars were mainly cultivated in the near regions. The genetic profile of 9 new autochthonous grapevines was described here for the first time. Comparison of the genotypes, allelic frequencies, allelic sizes and ampelometric traits on mature leaves are highlighted. Conservation of new autochthonous and minor/local cultivars in germoplasm collections has been carried out including them in the germoplasm collection of CREA-VE in Arezzo in order to save grapevine biodiversity and allows further agronomical and enological evaluation