Structure of 10N in 9C+p resonance scattering

The structure of exotic nucleus 10N was studied using 9C+p resonance scattering. Two L=0 resonances were found to be the lowest states in 10N. The ground state of 10N is unbound with respect to proton decay by 2.2(2) or 1.9(2) MeV depending on the 2- or 1- spin-parity assignment, and the first excited state is unbound by 2.8(2) MeV.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, submitted to Phys. Lett.

Interferometry with Photon-Subtracted Thermal Light

We propose and implement a quantum procedure for enhancing the sensitivity with which one can determine the phase shift experienced by a weak light beam possessing thermal statistics in passing through an interferometer. Our procedure entails subtracting exactly one (which can be generalized to m) photons from the light field exiting an interferometer containing a phase-shifting element in one of its arms. As a consequence of the process of photon subtraction, and somewhat surprisingly, the mean photon number and signal-to-noise ratio of the resulting light field are thereby increased, leading to enhanced interferometry. This method can be used to increase measurement sensitivity in a variety of practical applications, including that of forming the image of an object illuminated only by weak thermal light

Utilizing optical transition edge sensors and superconducting nanowire single photon detectors in quantum optics

We present the current state-of-the art of single-photon detection in quantum optics using high-efficiency superconducting single photon detectors, the implementation of highefficiency sources and the measurement of large photon number squeezing in waveguides

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis after Pemetrexed and Cisplatin for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in a Patient with Sharp Syndrome

Background: Pemetrexed is an antifolate drug approved for maintenance and second-line therapy, and, in combination with cisplatin, for first-line treatment of advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer. The side-effect profile includes fatigue, hematological and gastrointestinal toxicity, an increase in hepatic enzymes, sensory neuropathy, and pulmonary and cutaneous toxicity in various degrees. Case Report: We present the case of a 58-year-old woman with history of Sharp's syndrome and adenocarcinoma of the lung, who developed toxic epidermal necrolysis after the first cycle of pemetrexed, including erythema, bullae, extensive skin denudation, subsequent systemic inflammation and severe deterioration in general condition. The generalized skin lesions occurred primarily in the previous radiation field and responded to immunosuppressive treatment with prednisone. Conclusion: Although skin toxicity is a well-known side effect of pemetrexed, severe skin reactions after pemetrexed administration are rare. Caution should be applied in cases in which pemetrexed is given subsequent to radiation therapy, especially in patients with pre-existing skin diseases

Modelling non-dust fluids in cosmology

Currently, most of the numerical simulations of structure formation use Newtonian gravity. When modelling pressureless dark matter, or `dust', this approach gives the correct results for scales much smaller than the cosmological horizon, but for scenarios in which the fluid has pressure this is no longer the case. In this article, we present the correspondence of perturbations in Newtonian and cosmological perturbation theory, showing exact mathematical equivalence for pressureless matter, and giving the relativistic corrections for matter with pressure. As an example, we study the case of scalar field dark matter which features non-zero pressure perturbations. We discuss some problems which may arise when evolving the perturbations in this model with Newtonian numerical simulations and with CMB Boltzmann codes.Comment: 5 pages; v2: typos corrected and refs added, submitted version; v3: version to appear in JCA

The implementation of ISO 9001:2015 to improve quality service : a descriptive study on a South African service organization

Abstract: The study emphasizes on the execution of ISO 9001: 2015; within a South African service origination that provides learning programs in engineering industries. This study analyses the implementation of ISO 9001:2015 within the service organization. The rationale behind the study is to aid management to understand ISO 9001:2015 and align it with the organization’s mission to attain optimum performance while providing the stakeholders with pinnacle quality. A descriptive approach using both quantitative and qualitative methods were utilized to analyze the data gathered from respondents (70 customers). The data was collected within the organization based on the business experience of the respondents. The analysis showed that many complaints from customers on the quality of the service delivered were recorded highlighting that the service company needs improvement in the central administration department and improves the efficiency of the learner’s registration. The complaints management graph highlights that the organization needs improvement in the communication process with learners. Nevertheless, it was concluded that some learners are also satisfied with the call center personnel and the service they receive from them

Consistent reduction of charged D3-D7 systems

We provide a consistent reduction to five dimensions of the system of D3-branes at Calabi-Yau singularities coupled to D7-branes with world-volume gauge flux. The D3-branes source the dual to would-be conformal quiver theories. The D7-branes, which are homogeneously distributed in their transverse directions, are dual to massless matter in the fundamental representation at finite (baryon) density. We provide the five-dimensional action and equations of motion, and discuss a few sub-truncations. The reduction can be used in the study of transport properties and stability of D3-D7 charged systems.Comment: 23 pages. v2: references added and minor change

Effects of habitat and livestock on nest productivity of the Asian houbara Chlamydotis macqueenii in Bukhara Province, Uzbekistan

To inform population support measures for the unsustainably hunted Asian houbara Chlamydotis macqueenii (IUCN Vulnerable) we examined potential habitat and land-use effects on nest productivity in the Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan. We monitored 177 nests across different semi-arid shrub assemblages (clay-sand and salinity gradients) and a range of livestock densities (0–80 km-2). Nest success (mean 51.4%, 95% CI 42.4–60.4%) was similar across four years; predation caused 85% of those failures for which the cause was known, and only three nests were trampled by livestock. Nesting begins within a few weeks of arrival when food appears scarce, but later nests were more likely to fail owing to the emergence of a key predator, suggesting foraging conditions on wintering and passage sites may be important for nest productivity. Nest success was similar across three shrub assemblages and was unrelated to landscape rugosity, shrub frequency or livestock density, but was greater with taller mean shrub height (range 13–67 cm) within 50 m. Clutch size (mean = 3.2 eggs) and per-egg hatchability in successful nests (87.5%) did not differ with laying date, shrub assemblage or livestock density. We therefore found no evidence that livestock density reduced nest productivity across the range examined, while differing shrub assemblages appeared to offer similar habitat quality. Asian houbara appear well-adapted to a range of semi-desert habitats and tolerate moderate disturbance by pastoralism. No obvious in situ mitigation measures arise from these findings, leaving regulation and control as the key requirement to render hunting sustainable

Predictors of psychological morbidity in parents of children with intellectual disabilities

peer-reviewedThis study examined predictors of excess psychological morbidity in parents of children with intellectual disabilities.ACCEPTEDpeer-reviewe

Preparação de nanoemulsões contendo óleo de pracaxi (Pentaclethra macroloba) - uma importante matéria-prima da Amazônia.

O óleo de semente de pracaxi é uma grande fonte de fitosteróis. Além disso, possui um alto teor de ácido oleico, sendo assim uma matéria-prima importante para o desenvolvimento de nutracêuticos. Atualmente, a nanotecnologia é utilizada como estratégia útil para o desenvolvimento de produtos inovadores. Nesse contexto, a preparação de nanoemulsões óleo em água contendo óleos naturais tem sido considerada muito promissora para alimentos funcionais. Elas permitem uma melhor dispersão de substâncias pouco solúveis em água, além de melhorar a estabilidade físico-química, entre outras vantagens. Neste contexto, o objetivo desse trabalho foi obter nanoemulsões contendo óleo de pracaxi extraído de sementes secas sob temperaturas diferentes (40ºC - OP1 ou 70ºC - OP2), potencialmente útil para nutracêuticos