Modulated light potentials for state manipulation of quasiparticles in ultra-cold Bose gases

Ensembles of ultra-cold atoms have been proven to be versatile tools for high precision sensing applications. Here, we present a method for the manipulation of the state of trapped clouds of ultra-cold bosonic atoms. In particular, we discuss the creation of coherent and squeezed states of quasiparticles and the coupling of quasiparticle modes through an external cavity field. This enables operations like state swapping and beam splitting which can be applied to realize a Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) in frequency space. We present two explicit example applications in sensing: the measurement of the healing length of the condensate with the MZI scheme, and the measurement of an oscillating force gradient. Furthermore, we calculate fundamental limitations based on parameters of state-of-the-art technology.H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actionshttps://doi.org/10.13039/100010665Peer Reviewe

Qualitätsmanagement in organisationsinternen Wikis am Beispiel des Wiki-Service der Bundeswehr

Obwohl die wenigen bisher erschienenen Studien zur Qualität von Inhalten in Wikis und besonders der Wikipedia ein hohes Potential für die Erstellung auch verlässlicher Inhalte vermuten lassen, existiert noch kein formales und anerkanntes Qualitätsmanagementsystem für partizipativ erstellte Inhalte im organisationsinternen Web 2.0. Im Rahmen der Erprobung eines Wiki-Services für das Intranet der Bundeswehr wird derzeit ein solches System entwickelt und im laufenden Experiment evaluiert

Inequalities that test locality in quantum mechanics

Quantum theory violates Bell's inequality, but not to the maximum extent that is logically possible. We derive inequalities (generalizations of Cirel'son's inequality) that quantify the upper bound of the violation, both for the standard formalism and the formalism of generalized observables (POVMs). These inequalities are quantum analogues of Bell inequalities, and they can be used to test the quantum version of locality. We discuss the nature of this kind of locality. We also go into the relation of our results to an argument by Popescu and Rohrlich (Found. Phys. 24, 379 (1994)) that there is no general connection between the existence of Cirel'son's bound and locality.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure; the argument has been made clearer in the revised version; 1 reference adde

Characterization and first results from LACIS-T: a moist-air wind tunnel to study aerosol-cloud-turbulence interactions

The interactions between turbulence and cloud microphysical processes have been investigated primarily through numerical simulation and field measurements over the last 10 years. However, only in the laboratory we can be confident in our knowledge of initial and boundary conditions and are able to measure under statistically stationary and repeatable conditions. In the scope of this paper, we present a unique turbulent moist-air wind tunnel, called the Turbulent Leipzig Aerosol Cloud Interaction Simulator (LACIS-T) which has been developed at TROPOS in order to study cloud physical processes in general and interactions between turbulence and cloud microphysical processes in particular. The investigations take place under well-defined and reproducible turbulent and thermodynamic conditions covering the temperature range of warm, mixed-phase and cold clouds (25 °C > T > −40 °C). The continuous-flow design of the facility allows for the investigation of processes occurring on small temporal (up to a few seconds) and spatial scales (micrometer to meter scale) and with a Lagrangian perspective. The here-presented experimental studies using LACIS-T are accompanied and complemented by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations which help us to design experiments as well as to interpret experimental results. In this paper, we will present the fundamental operating principle of LACIS-T, the numerical model, and results concerning the thermodynamic and flow conditions prevailing inside the wind tunnel, combining both characterization measurements and numerical simulations. Finally, the first results are depicted from deliquescence and hygroscopic growth as well as droplet activation and growth experiments. We observe clear indications of the effect of turbulence on the investigated microphysical processes

Characterization and first results from LACIS-T : a moist-air wind tunnel to study aerosol–cloud–turbulence interactions

The interactions between turbulence and cloud microphysical processes have been investigated primarily through numerical simulation and field measurements over the last 10 years. However, only in the laboratory we can be confident in our knowledge of initial and boundary conditions and are able to measure under statistically stationary and repeatable conditions. In the scope of this paper, we present a unique turbulent moist-air wind tunnel, called the Turbulent Leipzig Aerosol Cloud Interaction Simulator (LACIS-T) which has been developed at TROPOS in order to study cloud physical processes in general and interactions between turbulence and cloud microphysical processes in particular. The investigations take place under well-defined and reproducible turbulent and thermodynamic conditions covering the temperature range of warm, mixed-phase and cold clouds (25∘C>T>−40∘C ). The continuous-flow design of the facility allows for the investigation of processes occurring on small temporal (up to a few seconds) and spatial scales (micrometer to meter scale) and with a Lagrangian perspective. The here-presented experimental studies using LACIS-T are accompanied and complemented by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations which help us to design experiments as well as to interpret experimental results. In this paper, we will present the fundamental operating principle of LACIS-T, the numerical model, and results concerning the thermodynamic and flow conditions prevailing inside the wind tunnel, combining both characterization measurements and numerical simulations. Finally, the first results are depicted from deliquescence and hygroscopic growth as well as droplet activation and growth experiments. We observe clear indications of the effect of turbulence on the investigated microphysical processes

Liaising the Catalog: Collaborating Across Library Departments to Promote Successful Discoverability through Enhanced Cataloging

Academic libraries are increasingly asked to articulate connections between the work of library staff and student success. This article discusses how a team of librarians participating in CARLI Counts, an immersive professional development program funded by a Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Grant through the Institute of Museum and Library Services, responded to the lack of research investigating the indirect impact of the work of technical services staff on student learning. An anonymous online survey distributed to library staff of the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI) member institutions explored the perceived value of enhanced cataloging in supporting student research. Survey results point to opportunities for communication and collaboration among technical services and public services librarians to improve understanding of enhanced catalog functionality and user needs

Polygenic risk heterogeneity among focal epilepsies

Focal epilepsy (FE) is clinically highly heterogeneous. It has been shown recently that not only rare but also a subset of common genetic variants confer risk for FE. The relatively modest power of genetic studies in FE suggests a high genetic heterogeneity of FE when grouped as one disorder. We hypothesize that the clinical heterogeneity of FE is correlated with genetic heterogeneity on a common risk variant level. To test the hypothesis, we used an FE polygenic risk score "FE-PRS" that combines small effect sizes of thousands of common variants from the largest FE-GWAS (genome-wide association study) into a single measure. We grouped 414 individuals with FE according to common clinical features into subgroups, either by one feature at a time or by all features combined in a cluster analysis. We examined their association with FE-PRS compared to 20 435 matched population controls and observed heterogeneous FE-PRS burden among the subgroups. The highest phenotypic variance explained by FE-PRS was identified in a cluster analysis-defined FE subgroup where all individuals had unknown etiologies and psychiatric comorbidities, and the majority had early onset seizures. Our results indicate that genetic factors associated with FE have differential burden among FE subtypes. Future studies using better-powered FE-PRS might have clinical utility.Peer reviewe

Neurological disorder-associated genetic variants in individuals with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are diagnosed in approximately 30% of patients referred to tertiary care epilepsy centers. Little is known about the molecular pathology of PNES, much less about possible underlying genetic factors. We generated whole-exome sequencing and whole-genome genotyping data to identify rare, pathogenic (P) or likely pathogenic (LP) variants in 102 individuals with PNES and 448 individuals with focal (FE) or generalized (GE) epilepsy. Variants were classified for all individuals based on the ACMG-AMP 2015 guidelines. For research purposes only, we considered genes associated with neurological or psychiatric disorders as candidate genes for PNES. We observe in this first genetic investigation of PNES that six (5.88%) individuals with PNES without coexistent epilepsy carry P/LP variants (deletions at 10q11.22-q11.23, 10q23.1-q23.2, distal 16p11.2, and 17p13.3, and nonsynonymous variants in NSD1 and GABRA5). Notably, the burden of P/LP variants among the individuals with PNES was similar and not significantly different to the burden observed in the individuals with FE (3.05%) or GE (1.82%) (PNES vs. FE vs. GE (3x2 chi (2)), P=0.30; PNES vs. epilepsy (2x2 chi (2)), P=0.14). The presence of variants in genes associated with monogenic forms of neurological and psychiatric disorders in individuals with PNES shows that genetic factors are likely to play a role in PNES or its comorbidities in a subset of individuals. Future large-scale genetic research studies are needed to further corroborate these interesting findings in PNES.Peer reviewe

Innovating carbon-capture biotechnologies through ecosystem-inspired solutions

Rising atmospheric carbon concentrations affect global health, the economy, and overall quality of life. We are fast approaching climate tipping points that must be addressed, not only by reducing emissions but also through new innovation and action toward carbon capture for sequestration and utilization (CCSU). In this perspective, we delineate next-generation biotechnologies for CCSU supported by engineering design principles derived from ecological processes inspired by three major biomes (plant-soil, deep biosphere, and marine). These are to interface with existing industrial infrastructure and, in some cases, tap into the carbon sink potential of nature. To develop ecosystem-inspired biotechnology, it is important to identify accessible control points of CO2 and CH4 within a given system as well as value-chain opportunities that drive innovation. In essence, we must supplement natural biogeochemical carbon sinks with new bioengineering solutions