Hybrid III-V diamond photonic platform for quantum nodes based on neutral silicon vacancy centers in diamond

Integrating atomic quantum memories based on color centers in diamond with on-chip photonic devices would enable entanglement distribution over long distances. However, efforts towards integration have been challenging because color centers can be highly sensitive to their environment, and their properties degrade in nanofabricated structures. Here, we describe a heterogeneously integrated, on-chip, III-V diamond platform designed for neutral silicon vacancy (SiV0) centers in diamond that circumvents the need for etching the diamond substrate. Through evanescent coupling to SiV0 centers near the surface of diamond, the platform will enable Purcell enhancement of SiV0 emission and efficient frequency conversion to the telecommunication C-band. The proposed structures can be realized with readily available fabrication techniques

Effects of IGSS\u27 job aids-assisted Balanced Counseling Algorithms on quality of care and client outcomes

This study identified a need to improve the quality of care at the main maternity hospital of the Social Security Institute (IGSS) in Guatemala. Problems included very short counseling sessions, counseling not focused on clients’ needs, redundancy in the role of physicians and social workers as providers, skewed method mix, and low client return rate for method resupply. The intervention, using Balanced Counseling Algorithms, changed the counseling behavior of physicians and social workers and enhanced the quality of family planning care. The report includes recommendations for continuing these improvements: monitoring provider implementation of the job aids–assisted Balanced Counseling Algorithms, monitoring provider output, adjusting institutional policy and goals to the reality of client preferences, testing reformulated post-choice strategy, and paying particular attention to clients who choose oral contraceptives or condoms

Quantitative phosphoproteomics to unravel the cellular response to chemical stressors with different modes of action

Damage to cellular macromolecules and organelles by chemical exposure evokes activation of various stress response pathways. To what extent different chemical stressors activate common and stressor-specific pathways is largely unknown. Here, we used quantitative phosphoproteomics to compare the signaling events induced by four stressors with different modes of action: the DNA damaging agent: cisplatin (CDDP), the topoisomerase II inhibitor: etoposide (ETO), the pro-oxidant: diethyl maleate (DEM) and the immunosuppressant: cyclosporine A (CsA) administered at an equitoxic dose to mouse embryonic stem cells. We observed major differences between the stressors in the number and identity of responsive phosphosites and the amplitude of phosphorylation. Kinase motif and pathway analyses indicated that the DNA damage response (DDR) activation by CDDP occurs predominantly through the replication-stress-related Atr kinase, whereas ETO triggers the DDR through Atr as well as the DNA double-strand-break-associated Atm kinase. CsA shares with ETO activation of CK2 kinase. Congruent with their known modes of action, CsA-mediated signaling is related to down-regulation of pathways that control hematopoietic differentiation and immunity, whereas oxidative stress is the most prominent initiator of DEM-modulated stress signaling. This study shows that even at equitoxic doses, different stressors induce distinctive and complex phosphorylation signaling cascades.Toxicolog

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This project was developed in response to the following challenge: create messaging to promote a more welcoming and inclusive climate on campus while branding the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center

Hybrid Integration of GaP Photonic Crystal Cavities with Silicon-Vacancy Centers in Diamond by Stamp-Transfer

Optically addressable solid-state defects are emerging as one of the most promising qubit platforms for quantum networks. Maximizing photon-defect interaction by nanophotonic cavity coupling is key to network efficiency. We demonstrate fabrication of gallium phosphide 1-D photonic crystal waveguide cavities on a silicon oxide carrier and subsequent integration with implanted silicon-vacancy (SiV) centers in diamond using a stamp-transfer technique. The stamping process avoids diamond etching and allows fine-tuning of the cavities prior to integration. After transfer to diamond, we measure cavity quality factors ($Q$) of up to 8900 and perform resonant excitation of single SiV centers coupled to these cavities. For a cavity with $Q$ of 4100, we observe a three-fold lifetime reduction on-resonance, corresponding to a maximum potential cooperativity of $C = 2$. These results indicate promise for high photon-defect interaction in a platform which avoids fabrication of the quantum defect host crystal

Enhancing quality for clients: The balanced counseling strategy

A central focus of high-quality family-planning care is the interaction between clients and the providers who serve them. In the ideal client-provider interaction, the provider treats all clients respectfully, responds to their reproductive needs and intentions, helps in the selection of the most appropriate family planning method, and offers sufficient information to use the method safely and effectively. To improve the quality of the client-provider interaction, Population Council staff developed a “Balanced Counseling Strategy,” a type of algorithm or decision tree, to be used in combination with several job aids, or visual memory aids. The Balanced Counseling Strategy structures the client-provider interaction to focus on the client’s needs and support the client’s choice of an appropriate method, and leads to improvements in the client-provider interaction when providers use the strategy along with job aids. This brief describes the Balanced Counseling Strategy as an ongoing approach to improving quality of care. It outlines the origin and rationale for developing the strategy and details its subsequent adaptation for use in other contexts

School hierarchies: performance and popularity

Este artigo apresenta os resultados de uma investigação que teve como objetivo caracterizar a presença de uma dupla estrutura hierárquica na escola: a oficial e a não oficial. A hierarquia oficial se caracteriza pelo bom desempenho dos alunos nas disciplinas escolares. Por meio dela, o conhecimento é transmitido aos estudantes e são desenvolvidas habilidades/competências para o convívio social, inserção no mundo do trabalho e para o progresso. O sistema educacional, no entanto, também contribui para o surgimento e manutenção de uma hierarquia não oficial, a qual é representada pelos alunos considerados mais fortes, astutos e populares e por aqueles considerados mais frágeis, menos astutos e impopulares. Essa dupla hierarquia indica formas de competição desenvolvidas durante o período escolar, lastreada na competição própria a uma sociedade capitalista. A pesquisa buscou verificar a existência dessas hierarquias e a manutenção ou não da posição dos alunos nelas ao longo da trajetória escolar da educação básica ao ensino superior. A hierarquia oficial foi aferida por meio do desempenho escolar, e a não oficial pelo desempenho nos esportes coletivos, namoros e popularidade. Foi aplicada uma escala em 135 estudantes de universidades públicas que classificaram seus desempenhos por meio de autoavaliação. A autoavaliação sobre o desempenho nos esportes se mantém nos três níveis de ensino; já o desempenho escolar é referido de modo distinto entre o ensino fundamental e o superior. O mesmo ocorre com o desempenho afetivo e a popularidade, que parecem alterar seus atributos ao longo da escolarização. Fundamentalmente, os resultados corroboram a existência das duas hierarquias escolares, o que traz consequências para a formação individual e para a sociedade, no que tange, sobretudo, a desempenhos a serem valorizados e desvalorizados em ambas as hierarquias.This article presents the results of a research that aimed at identifying the presence of a double hierarchical structure in school, the official and unofficial hierarchies. The official hierarchy is characterized by good performance of students in academic subjects. Through it, knowledge is transmitted to students and they develop skills for social interactions, insertion in the labor market and overall progress. However, the educational system contributes to the creation and maintenance of an unofficial hierarchy. Students considered physically stronger, shrewd and popular and those considered physically fragile, less shrewd and unpopular represent this type of hierarchy. Based on a competitive capitalist society, this double hierarchical structure indicates forms of competition during the schooling period. The research sought to verify the existence of these hierarchies and if they are maintained by the students along their schooling period, from middle school to higher education. The official hierarchy was identified by school performance; the unofficial hierarchy was identified by performance in team sports, dating and popularity. A scale was applied to 135 students from public universities who rated their performance through self-assessment. Self-assessment of the performance in sports remains the same in the three levels of education; academic performance is distinguished between middle and high school and higher education. Social skills and popularity receive the same treatment as academic performance, since they seem to change their attributes throughout schooling. Fundamentally, the results confirm the existence of the two school hierarchies, which has consequences for society and for the development of the individual regarding, especially, what kind of performances are valued and devalued in both hierarchies