The craft settings in Kainua-Marzabotto: places and archaeological issues

Excavations in the Etruscan city of Marzabotto, the ancient Kainua, have brought to light a well-developed production structure over time which, especially for the Etruscan world, makes Marzabotto an especially favourable, paradigmatic context for the study of this particular aspect. Thanks to the contributions from the most recent investigations, together with the revision of older excavation data, this theme has in recent years benefitted from a series of updated considerations. The quality and variety of the data collected permits analyses from multiple points of view, not only on an architectural and urban planning level, but also on social, economic and political-institutional levels

Single-atom single-photon coupling facilitated by atomic-ensemble dark-state mechanisms

We propose to couple single atomic qubits to photons incident on a cavity containing an atomic ensemble of a different species that mediates the coupling via Rydberg interactions. Subject to a classical field and the cavity field, the ensemble forms a collective dark state which is resonant with the input photon, while excitation of a qubit atom leads to a secondary "dark" state that splits the cavity resonance. The two different dark state mechanisms yield zero and $\pi$ reflection phase shifts and can be used to implement quantum gates between atomic and optical qubits.Comment: Revised and published version, incorporating an appendix on the calculation of photon reflection amplitude

Did Neoliberalizing West African Forests Produce a New Niche for Ebola?

A recent study introduced a vaccine that controls Ebola Makona, the Zaire ebolavirus variant that has infected 28,000 people in West Africa. We propose that even such successful advances are insufficient for many emergent diseases. We review work hypothesizing that Makona, phenotypically similar to much smaller outbreaks, emerged out of shifts in land use brought about by neoliberal economics. The epidemiological consequences demand a new science that explicitly addresses the foundational processes underlying multispecies health, including the deep-time histories, cultural infrastructure, and global economic geographies driving disease emergence. The approach, for instance, reverses the standard public health practice of segregating emergency responses and the structural context from which outbreaks originate. In Ebola's case, regional neoliberalism may affix the stochastic "friction" of ecological relationships imposed by the forest across populations, which, when above a threshold, keeps the virus from lining up transmission above replacement. Export-led logging, mining, and intensive agriculture may depress such functional noise, permitting novel spillovers larger forces of infection. Mature outbreaks, meanwhile, can continue to circulate even in the face of efficient vaccines. More research on these integral explanations is required, but the narrow albeit welcome success of the vaccine may be used to limit support of such a program.SCOPUS: re.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Long-term tsetse and trypanosomiasis management options in West Africa

Tsetse-transmitted animal trypanosomiasis is a complex disease that directly and indirectly has an impact on Africa's crop and livestock agriculture. Over the past decade awareness of this fact has generated a drive and political will towards solving the problem at the continental scale. In this paper the authors use state-of-the-art spatial tools to study how, for West Africa, the variety of agro-ecological settings may have an impact on decision support towards that goal. First, the authors describe an approach towards selecting priority areas for area-wide tsetse and trypanosomiasis (T&T) control, based on the mapping of: dominant livestock systems with particular emphasis on the integration of livestock and crop agriculture towards mixed farming practices; tsetse ecology bands linked to the geoclimatic settings prevailing in West Africa - a northern dry band with fragmented tsetse populations and a southern humid band where tsetse are widespread. Priority areas are identified in the northern band of the tsetse belt where: tsetse populations are fragmented (and therefore vulnerable) or confined only to suitable vegetation along main river courses; fly reinvasion risk is minimal due to land pressure and adverse climatic conditions for tsetse; mixed farming predominates and an improved integration of crop and livestock agriculture may yield the highest benefits. Second, three case studies are discussed: the Togo national study (FAO project GCP-TOG-013-BEL), and two studies in Burkina Faso - the Sideradougou pastoral area (Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement [CIRAD] - Centre International de Recherche-Développement sur l'Élevage en Zone Subhumide [CIRDES]) project) and the Mouhoun river basin (FAO project GCP-RAF-347-BEL). These three studies aimed at developing decision-support tools for the planning and implementation of integrated T&T control, based on holistic data sets on the spatial epidemiology of T&T (vectors, pathogens, hosts) and the impact of T&T on people, their environment and their livestock production systems. The studies are complementary, and therefore highly relevant to this paper, with regard to: the geoclimatic settings covered - in Togo a transect through humid to semi-humid West Africa, and in Burkina Faso from semi-humid to dry; the scale at which the studies were conducted - in Togo at the national level, and in Burkina Faso on the Mouhoun river at the river-basin level, and in the Sideradougou pastoral area at the village level. It is clear from the results of the case studies that any decision support towards T&T management in West Africa must consider the fact that the epidemiology of tsetse-transmitted trypanosomiasis varies with varying climatic settings and land-use patterns. Therefore, the sustainable management of this major threat to animal health will have to be systematic, stepwise and pragmatic. Based on the experience gained in Togo and Burkina Faso a list of the data inputs needed to achieve such a high level of integration is given in Figure 15 (page 45).It is concluded that an integrated T&T management approach relies on the quality of an extensive list of field data (vector, pathogen, host, livestock system, agro-ecological setting) and the detailed knowledge of geo-epidemiological patterns. We must remain cautious when making choices and avoid being lured into choosing overly simple solutions for complex problems. Although in West Africa elimination of the fly and the disease may be achievable in the drier parts at the northern limits of the tsetse belt, several crucial assumptions remain to be validated through field research. These include investigations on fly fragmentation, population isolation and fly dispersion (e.g. Mouhoun model).In the more humid parts, the most viable option remains an integrated approach combining: vector suppression in epidemiological hot spots (e.g. Sideradougou model), and disease management at the herd level through the strategic use of trypanocides and/or genetic improvement of local trypanotolerant breeds (e.g. Togo model). (Résumé d'auteur

Exploring the Expectations of Transport Professionals Concerning the Future Automobility System: Visions, challenges and transitions

A mixture of potentially significant changes in technology, commercial structures and social practices are currently entering the automobility system. These changes have the potential to combine together and lead to a substantial shift in the manner in which society fuels, owns and makes use of its cars. This paper reports a research project which made use of focus groups to examine the narratives of British transport professionals concerning forthcoming developments in the automobility system. Specific attention was given to what the expectations for future change in automobility are, if these changes will likely lead to a transition towards a more sustainable system and the manner in which a transition of this nature could be facilitated. The oral testimony offered during the focus groups has been assessed qualitatively using thematic analysis. The results suggest that there is a commonly held view that the automobility system is entering a stage of flux which may lead to considerable changes in system configuration. However, the attainment of a sustainable transition for the system will likely be inhibited by a series of institutional, societal and physical barriers which may restrict system developments

Deep-well ultrafast manipulation of a SQUID flux qubit

Superconducting devices based on the Josephson effect are effectively used for the implementation of qubits and quantum gates. The manipulation of superconducting qubits is generally performed by using microwave pulses with frequencies from 5 to 15 GHz, obtaining a typical operating clock from 100MHz to 1GHz. A manipulation based on simple pulses in the absence of microwaves is also possible. In our system a magnetic flux pulse modifies the potential of a double SQUID qubit from a symmetric double well to a single deep well condition. By using this scheme with a Nb/AlOx/Nb system we obtained coherent oscillations with sub-nanosecond period (tunable from 50ps to 200ps), very fast with respect to other manipulating procedures, and with a coherence time up to 10ns, of the order of what obtained with similar devices and technologies but using microwave manipulation. We introduce the ultrafast manipulation presenting experimental results, new issues related to this approach (such as the use of a feedback procedure for cancelling the effect of "slow" fluctuations), and open perspectives, such as the possible use of RSFQ logic for the qubit control.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

Developing a progressive control pathway for African animal trypanosomosis

Progressive control pathways (PCPs) are stepwise approaches for the reduction, elimination, and eradication of human and animal diseases. They provide systematic frameworks for planning and evaluating interventions. Here we outline a PCP for tsetse-transmitted animal trypanosomosis, the scourge of poor livestock keepers in tropical Africa. Initial PCP stages focus on the establishment of national coordination structures, engagement of stakeholders, development of technical capacities, data collection and management, and pilot field interventions. The intermediate stage aims at a sustainable and economically profitable reduction of disease burden, while higher stages target elimination. The mixed-record of success and failure in past efforts against African animal trypanosomosis (AAT) makes the development of this PCP a high priority. Trends: Whilst great strides are being made in the elimination of tsetse-transmitted human African trypanosomosis (HAT or sleeping sickness), progress in the control of African animal trypanosomosis (AAT or nagana) is patchy at best. Progressive pathways (or stepwise, staged approaches) are increasingly used for the control of a number of human and animal diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease, peste des petits ruminants, brucellosis, and rabies. A range of tools are coming of age, which enable an evidence-based prioritization, planning, and monitoring of interventions against AAT, including geographic information systems (GIS), species distribution models, and population genetics. Whilst the development of novel drugs against AAT lags behind, the array of techniques for vector control has broadened, and knowledge on their optimal field of application has improved. Among growing concerns on the capacity of sub-Saharan Africa to feed itself in the coming decades, removing the constraints posed by AAT appears more urgent than ever. (Résumé d'auteur

Indobufen versus Warfarin in the secondary prevention of major vascular events in nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation

..Background and Purpose The results of a large prospective randomized trial have shown the efficacy of oral anticoagulation in the secondary prevention of major vascular events in patients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation (NRAF); less well established is the role of antiplatelet agents. The present study compared the effects of indobufen, a reversible inhibitor of platelet cyclooxygenase, with those of warfarin in this setting. Methods A total of 916 patients with NRAF and a recent (≤15 days) cerebral ischemic episode were admitted to this multicenter, randomized study, during which they were treated with either indobufen (100 or 200 mg BID) or warfarin (to obtain an international normalized ratio of 2.0 to 3.5) for 12 months. The two groups (462 on indobufen and 454 on warfarin) were well balanced in terms of their main baseline characteristics. The primary outcome of the study was the combined incidence of nonfatal stroke (including intracerebral bleeding), pulmonary or systemic embolism, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and vascular death. Results At the end of follow-up, the incidence of primary outcome events was 10.6% in the indobufen group (95% confidence interval, 7.7% to 13.5%) and 9.0% in the warfarin group (95% confidence interval, 6.3% to 11.8%), with no statistically significant difference between treatments. The frequency of noncerebral major bleeding complications was low: only four cases (0.9%) of gastrointestinal bleeding were observed, all of them in the warfarin group. Conclusions We conclude that, within the limitations of its design, this study may help the medical community in devising appropriate antithrombotic strategies for NRAF patients for whom oral anticoagulants are contraindicated or do not represent a feasible approach to treatment

Superconducting nanowire photon number resolving detector at telecom wavelength

The optical-to-electrical conversion, which is the basis of optical detectors, can be linear or nonlinear. When high sensitivities are needed single-photon detectors (SPDs) are used, which operate in a strongly nonlinear mode, their response being independent of the photon number. Nevertheless, photon-number resolving (PNR) detectors are needed, particularly in quantum optics, where n-photon states are routinely produced. In quantum communication, the PNR functionality is key to many protocols for establishing, swapping and measuring entanglement, and can be used to detect photon-number-splitting attacks. A linear detector with single-photon sensitivity can also be used for measuring a temporal waveform at extremely low light levels, e.g. in long-distance optical communications, fluorescence spectroscopy, optical time-domain reflectometry. We demonstrate here a PNR detector based on parallel superconducting nanowires and capable of counting up to 4 photons at telecommunication wavelengths, with ultralow dark count rate and high counting frequency

Did Ebola emerge in West Africa by a policy-driven phase change in agroecology? Ebola's social context

SCOPUS: no.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe