The variable phase method used to calculate and correct scattering lengths

It is shown that the scattering length can be obtained by solving a Riccati equation derived from variable phase theory. Two methods of solving it are presented. The equation is used to predict how long-range interactions influence the scattering length, and upper and lower bounds on the scattering length are determined. The predictions are compared with others and it is shown how they may be obtained from secular perturbation theory.Comment: 7 pages including 3 figure

Quantum Simulations of Extended Hubbard Models with Dipolar Crystals

In this paper we study the realization of lattice models in mixtures of atomic and dipolar molecular quantum gases. We consider a situation where polar molecules form a self-assembled dipolar lattice, in which atoms or molecules of a second species can move and scatter. We describe the system dynamics in a master equation approach in the Brownian motion limit of slow particles and fast phonons, which we find appropriate for our system. In a wide regime of parameters, the reduced dynamics of the particles leads to physical realizations of extended Hubbard models with tuneable long-range interactions mediated by crystal phonons. This extends the notion of quantum simulation of strongly correlated systems with cold atoms and molecules to include phonon-dynamics, where all coupling parameters can be controlled by external fields.Comment: 44 pages, 14 figure

CD56, HLA-DR, and CD45 recognize a subtype of childhood AML harboring CBFA2T3-GLIS2 fusion transcript

The presence of CBFA2T3‐GLIS2 fusion gene has been identified in childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). In view of the genomic studies indicating a distinct gene expression profile, we evaluated the role of immunophenotyping in characterizing a rare subtype of AML‐CBFA2T3‐GLIS2 rearranged. Immunophenotypic data were obtained by studying a cohort of 20 pediatric CBFA2T3‐GLIS2‐AML and 77 AML patients not carrying the fusion transcript. Enrolled cases were included in the Associazione Italiana di Ematologia Oncologia Pediatrica (AIEOP) AML trials and immunophenotypes were compared using different statistical approaches. By multiple computational procedures, we identified two main core antigens responsible for the identification of the CBFA2T3‐GLIS2‐AML. CD56 showed the highest performance in single marker evaluation (AUC = 0.89) and granted the most accurate prediction when used in combination with HLA‐DR (AUC = 0.97) displaying a 93% sensitivity and 99% specificity. We also observed a weak‐to‐negative CD45 expression, being exceptional in AML. We here provide evidence that the combination of HLA‐DR negativity and intense bright CD56 expression detects a rare and aggressive pediatric AML genetic lesion improving the diagnosis performance

Addressing Women's Non-Maternal Healthcare Financing in Developing Countries: What Can We Learn from the Experiences of Rural Indian Women?

Background and Objectives: This paper focuses on the inadequate attention on women’s non-maternal healthcare in lowand middle-income countries. The study assessed the purchase of and financial access to non-maternal healthcare. It also scoped for mainstreaming household financial resources in this regard to suggest for alternatives. Methods: A household survey through multi-stage stratified sampling in the state of Orissa interviewed rural women above 15 years who were neither pregnant nor had any pregnancy-related outcome six weeks preceding the survey. The questions explored on the processes, determinants and outcomes of health seeking for non-maternal ailments. The outcome measures were healthcare access, cost of care and financial access. The independent variables for bivariate and multivariate analyses were contextual factors, health seeking and financing pattern. Results: The survey obtained a response rate of 98.64 % and among 800 women, 43.8 % had no schooling and 51 % were above 60 years. Each woman reported at least one episode of non-maternal ailment; financial constraints prevented 68% from receiving timely and complete care. Distress coping measures (e.g. borrowings) dominated the financing source (67.9%) followed by community–based measures (32.1%). Only 6 % had financial risk-protection; financial risk of not obtaining care doubled for women aged over 60 years (OR 2.00, 95 % CI 0.84–4.80), seeking outpatient consultation (OR 2.01, 95 % CI 0.89–4.81), facing unfavourable household response (OR 2.04, 95 % CI 1.09–3.83), and lacking other financia

Cold and Ultracold Molecules: Science, Technology, and Applications

This article presents a review of the current state of the art in the research field of cold and ultracold molecules. It serves as an introduction to the Special Issue of the New Journal of Physics on Cold and Ultracold Molecules and describes new prospects for fundamental research and technological development. Cold and ultracold molecules may revolutionize physical chemistry and few body physics, provide techniques for probing new states of quantum matter, allow for precision measurements of both fundamental and applied interest, and enable quantum simulations of condensed-matter phenomena. Ultracold molecules offer promising applications such as new platforms for quantum computing, precise control of molecular dynamics, nanolithography, and Bose-enhanced chemistry. The discussion is based on recent experimental and theoretical work and concludes with a summary of anticipated future directions and open questions in this rapidly expanding research field.Comment: 82 pages, 9 figures, review article to appear in New Journal of Physics Special Issue on Cold and Ultracold Molecule

Combined optical and X-ray interferometry for high-precision dimensional metrology

The requirement for calibrating transducers having subnanometre displacement sensitivities stimulated the development of an instrument in which the displacement is measured by a combination of optical and X-ray interferometry. The need to combine both types of interferometry arises from the fact that optical interferometry enables displacements corresponding to whole numbers of optical fringes to be measured very precisely, but subdivision of an optical fringe may give rise to errors that are significant at the subnanometre level. The X-ray interferometer is used to subdivide the optical fringes. Traceability to the meter is achieved via traceable calibrations of the lattice parameter of silicon and of the laser frequency. Polarization encoding and phase modulation allow the optical interferometer to be precisely set on a specific position of the interference fringe-the null point setting. The null point settings in the interference fringe field correspond to dark or bright hinges. Null measurement ensures maximum possible noise rejection. However, polarization encoding makes the interferometer nonlinear, but all nonlinearity effects are effectively zero at the fringe set point. The X-ray interferometer provides the means for linear subdivision of optical fringes. Each X-ray fringe corresponds to a displacement that is equal to the lattice parameter of silicon, which is ca. 0.19 nm for the (220) lattice planes. For displacements up to 1 mu m the measurement uncertainties at 95% confidence level are +/-30 pm, and for displacements up to 100 mu m and 1 mm the uncertainties are +/-35 and +/-170 pm, respectively. Important features of the instrument, which is located at the National Physical Laboratory, are the silicon monolith interferometer that both diffracts X-rays and forms part of the optical interferometer, a totally reflecting parabolic collimator for enhancing the usable X-ray flux and the servo-control for the interferometers