Quantum Griffiths phase in CePd(1-x)Rh(x) with x ~ 0.8

The magnetic field dependence of the magnetisation ($M$) and the temperature dependence of the ac susceptibility ($\chi' = dM/dH$) of CePd(1-x)Rh(x) single crystals with $0.80 \leq x \leq 0.86$ are analysed within the frame of the quantum Griffiths phase scenario, which predicts $M \propto H^{\lambda}$ and $\chi' \propto T^{\lambda-1}$ with $0 \leq \lambda \leq 1$. All $M$ vs $H$ and $\chi'$ vs $T$ data follow the predicted power-law behaviour. The parameter $\lambda$, extracted from $\chi'(T)$, is very sensitive to the Rh content $x$ and varies systematically with $x$ from -0.1 to 0.4. The value of $\lambda$, derived from $M(H)$ measurements on a \cpr single crystal, seems to be rather constant, $\lambda \approx 0.2$, in a broad range of temperatures between 0.05 and 2 K and fields up to about 10 T. All observed signatures and the $\lambda$ values are thus compatible with the quantum Griffiths scenario.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Do CBCT scans alter surgical treatment plans? Comparison of preoperative surgical diagnosis using panoramic versus cone-beam CT images

Cone beam CT and/or panoramic images are often required for a successful diagnosis in oral and maxillofacial surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate if 3D diagnostic imaging information had a significant impact on the decision process in six different classes of surgical indications. Material and methods: Records of all patients who had undergone both panoramic X-ray and CBCT imaging due to surgical indications between January 2008 and December 2012 were examined retrospectively. In February 2013, all surgically relevant diagnoses of both conventional panoramic radiographs and CBCT scans were retrieved from the patient's charts. It was recorded whether (1) 3D imaging presented additional surgically relevant information and (2) if the final decision of surgical therapy had been based on 2D or 3D imaging. Results: A total of 253 consecutive patients with both panoramic radiographs and CBCT analysis were eligible for the study. 3D imaging provided significantly more surgically relevant information in cases of implant dentistry, maxillary sinus diagnosis and in oral and maxillofacial traumatology. However, surgical strategies had not been influenced to any significant extent by 3D imaging. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study it may be concluded that CBCT imaging results in significantly more surgically relevant information in implant dentistry, maxillary sinus diagnosis and in cases of oral and maxillofacial trauma. However, 3D imaging information did not alter significantly the surgical plan that was based on 2D panoramic radiography. Further studies are necessary to define indications for CBCT in detail

Scanning a photonic crystal slab nanocavity by condensation of xenon

Allowing xenon or nitrogen gas to condense onto a photonic crystal slab nanocavity maintained at 10–20 K results in shifts of the nanocavity mode wavelength by as much as 5 nm (~=4 meV). This occurs in spite of the fact that the mode defect is achieved by omitting three holes to form the spacer. This technique should be useful in changing the detuning between a single quantum dot transition and the nanocavity mode for cavity quantum electrodynamics experiments, such as mapping out a strong coupling anticrossing curve. Compared with temperature scanning, it has a much larger scan range and avoids phonon broadening

Absence of correlation between built-in electric dipole moment and quantum Stark effect in InAs/GaAs self-assembled quantum dots

We report significant deviations from the usual quadratic dependence of the ground state interband transition energy on applied electric fields in InAs/GaAs self-assembled quantum dots. In particular, we show that conventional second-order perturbation theory fails to correctly describe the Stark shift for electric field below $F = 10$ kV/cm in high dots. Eight-band ${\bf k}\cdot{\bf p}$ calculations demonstrate this effect is predominantly due to the three-dimensional strain field distribution which for various dot shapes and stoichiometric compositions drastically affects the hole ground state. Our conclusions are supported by two independent experiments.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Health Literacy and Medication Adherence Among Patients Treated in a Free Health Clinic: A Pilot Study

Background: A patient’s health literacy is not routinely assessed during visits with a health care provider. Since low health literacy is a risk factor for poor health outcomes, assessing health literacy should be considered as part of the standard medical workup. Objectives: To evaluate the health literacy levels and medication adherence of patients treated by pharmacists in both the general medicine and the chronic care clinics at an urban free health clinic. Methods: Eligible patients from the free health clinic completed the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM), a health literacy measurement tool, during their clinic visit in 2011. Medication adherence was self-reported by the patients. Results: A total of 100 patients participated (mean age = 48). The majority of participants were female (56%) and white (55%). Most (64%) of the patients scored at a high school reading level according to REALM. Only 21% of participants read at a seventh- to eighth-grade level. Overall medication adherence rate was 73%. Forgetting to take medication was the most popular reason given for nonadherence. Conclusion: Disease state and adherence were significantly related in patients with HIV/AIDS and hypertension. Patient’s ethnicity was significantly associated with literacy levels (P < .05). Although patients’ literacy levels were not significantly associated with self-reported adherence in this population, availability of a patient’s baseline health literacy level as a part of the medical record may help clinicians to individualize their interaction based on the patient’s health literacy level in order to achieve better health outcomes, including improved medication adherence, especially for underserved populations

Phase-Coherent Dynamics of a Superconducting Flux Qubit with Capacitive-Bias Readout

We present a systematic study of the phase-coherent dynamics of a superconducting three-Josephson-junction flux qubit. The qubit state is detected with the integrated-pulse method, which is a variant of the pulsed switching DC SQUID method. In this scheme the DC SQUID bias current pulse is applied via a capacitor instead of a resistor, giving rise to a narrow band-pass instead of a pure low-pass filter configuration of the electromagnetic environment. Measuring one and the same qubit with both setups allows a direct comparison. With the capacitive method about four times faster switching pulses and an increased visibility are achieved. Furthermore, the deliberate engineering of the electromagnetic environment, which minimizes the noise due to the bias circuit, is facilitated. Right at the degeneracy point the qubit coherence is limited by energy relaxation. We find two main noise contributions. White noise is limiting the energy relaxation and contributing to the dephasing far from the degeneracy point. 1/f-noise is the dominant source of dephasing in the direct vicinity of the optimal point. The influence of 1/f-noise is also supported by non-random beatings in the Ramsey and spin echo decay traces. Numeric simulations of a coupled qubit-oscillator system indicate that these beatings are due to the resonant interaction of the qubit with at least one point-like fluctuator, coupled especially strongly to the qubit.Comment: Minor changes. 21 pages, 15 figure

Beyond the Jaynes-Cummings model: circuit QED in the ultrastrong coupling regime

In cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED), light-matter interaction is probed at its most fundamental level, where individual atoms are coupled to single photons stored in three-dimensional cavities. This unique possibility to experimentally explore the foundations of quantum physics has greatly evolved with the advent of circuit QED, where on-chip superconducting qubits and oscillators play the roles of two-level atoms and cavities, respectively. In the strong coupling limit, atom and cavity can exchange a photon frequently before coherence is lost. This important regime has been reached both in cavity and circuit QED, but the design flexibility and engineering potential of the latter allowed for increasing the ratio between the atom-cavity coupling rate and the cavity transition frequency above the percent level. While these experiments are well described by the renowned Jaynes-Cummings model, novel physics is expected in the ultrastrong coupling limit. Here, we report on the first experimental realization of a superconducting circuit QED system in the ultrastrong coupling limit and present direct evidence for the breakdown of the Jaynes-Cummings model.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure