Student Expectations and Preferences of Distance Course Delivery Methods

Students in five courses offered with a variety of distance and on-campus delivery methods were surveyed to determine student expectations and post-evaluation of courses; student demographics; and student experiences and preferences with technology and course delivery methods. The response group was primarily degree seeking upperclassmen, taking a required course, equally split by gender and by delivery location. All students preferred a live class delivery method but videotape delivery appeared to have a higher student satisfaction level than satellite. On-campus students found simultaneous satellite delivery distracting but not detrimental to their learning experience. Students consistently misjudged the content and workload of courses.Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Sculpting ultrastrong light-matter coupling through spatial matter structuring

The central theme of cavity quantum electrodynamics is the coupling of a single optical mode with a single matter excitation, leading to a doublet of cavity polaritons which govern the optical properties of the coupled structure. Especially in the ultrastrong coupling regime, where the ratio of the vacuum Rabi frequency and the quasi-resonant carrier frequency of light, $\Omega_{\mathrm R}/\omega_{\mathrm c}$, approaches unity, the polariton doublet bridges a large spectral bandwidth $2\Omega_{\mathrm R}$, and further interactions with off-resonant light and matter modes may occur. The resulting multi-mode coupling has recently attracted attention owing to the additional degrees of freedom for designing light-matter coupled resonances, despite added complexity. Here, we experimentally implement a novel strategy to sculpt ultrastrong multi-mode coupling by tailoring the spatial overlap of multiple modes of planar metallic THz resonators and the cyclotron resonances of Landau-quantized two-dimensional electrons, on subwavelength scales. We show that similarly to the selection rules of classical optics, this allows us to suppress or enhance certain coupling pathways and to control the number of light-matter coupled modes, their octave-spanning frequency spectra, and their response to magnetic tuning. This offers novel pathways for controlling dissipation, tailoring quantum light sources, nonlinearities, correlations as well as entanglement in quantum information processing

Sensing dot with high output swing for scalable baseband readout of spin qubits

A key requirement for quantum computing, in particular for a scalable quantum computing architecture, is a fast and high-fidelity qubit readout. For semiconductor based qubits, one limiting factor is the output swing of the charge sensor. We demonstrate GaAs and Si/SiGe asymmetric sensing dots (ASDs), which exceed the response of a conventional charge sensing dot by more than ten times, resulting in a boosted output swing of $3\,\text{mV}$. This substantially improved output signal is due to a device design with a strongly decoupled drain reservoir from the sensor dot, mitigating negative feedback effects of conventional sensors. The large output signal eases the use of very low-power readout amplifiers in close proximity to the qubit and will thus render true scalable qubit architectures with semiconductor based qubits possible in the future.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure

Tailoring potentials by simulation-aided design of gate layouts for spin qubit applications

Gate-layouts of spin qubit devices are commonly adapted from previous successful devices. As qubit numbers and the device complexity increase, modelling new device layouts and optimizing for yield and performance becomes necessary. Simulation tools from advanced semiconductor industry need to be adapted for smaller structure sizes and electron numbers. Here, we present a general approach for electrostatically modelling new spin qubit device layouts, considering gate voltages, heterostructures, reservoirs and an applied source-drain bias. Exemplified by a specific potential, we study the influence of each parameter. We verify our model by indirectly probing the potential landscape of two design implementations through transport measurements. We use the simulations to identify critical design areas and optimize for robustness with regard to influence and resolution limits of the fabrication process.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure

Evaluation and cost analysis of alternative residue management methods for Kentucky bluegrass seed production in the Grande Ronde Valley

The production of high quality grass seed is important to the agricultural economy of the Grande Ronde Valley (GRV) of eastern Oregon. The predominate grass seed crops grown in the area are Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescues. Historically, open-field burning has been an effective, economical means by which to remove residue and maintain seed yield and quality. The continued concern for air quality and public health have led to the adoption of alternative residue management methods that place less reliance on open-field burning of full straw residue loads

An economic comparison of alternative bluegrass residue management practices in Oregon's Grande Ronde Valley

Published February 2009. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalo

Endotoxaemia in Haemodialysis: A Novel Factor in Erythropoetin Resistance?

Background/Objectives Translocated endotoxin derived from intestinal bacteria is a driver of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. Severe endotoxaemia is an underappreciated, but characteristic finding in haemodialysis (HD) patients, and appears to be driven by acute repetitive dialysis induced circulatory stress. Resistance to erythropoietin (EPO) has been identified as a predictor of mortality risk, and associated with inflammation and malnutrition. This study aims to explore the potential link between previously unrecognised endotoxaemia and EPO Resistance Index (ERI) in HD patients. Methodology/Principal Findings 50 established HD patients were studied at a routine dialysis session. Data collection included weight, BMI, ultrafiltration volume, weekly EPO dose, and blood sampling pre and post HD. ERI was calculated as ratio of total weekly EPO dose to body weight (U/kg) to haemoglobin level (g/dL). Mean haemoglobin (Hb) was 11.3±1.3 g/dL with a median EPO dose of 10,000 [IQR 7,500–20,000] u/wk and ERI of 13.7 [IQR 6.9–23.3] ((U/Kg)/(g/dL)). Mean pre-HD serum ET levels were significantly elevated at 0.69±0.30 EU/ml. Natural logarithm (Ln) of ERI correlated to predialysis ET levels (r = 0.324, p = 0.03) with a trend towards association with hsCRP (r = 0.280, p = 0.07). Ln ERI correlated with ultrafiltration volume, a driver of circulatory stress (r = 0.295, p = 0.046), previously identified to be associated with increased intradialytic endotoxin translocation. Both serum ET and ultrafiltration volume corrected for body weight were independently associated with Ln ERI in multivariable analysis. Conclusions This study suggests that endotoxaemia is a significant factor in setting levels of EPO requirement. It raises the possibility that elevated EPO doses may in part merely be identifying patients subjected to significant circulatory stress and suffering the myriad of negative biological consequences arising from sustained systemic exposure to endotoxin

WSES guidelines for management of Clostridium difficile infection in surgical patients

In the last two decades there have been dramatic changes in the epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), with increases in incidence and severity of disease in many countries worldwide. The incidence of CDI has also increased in surgical patients. Optimization of management of C difficile, has therefore become increasingly urgent. An international multidisciplinary panel of experts prepared evidenced-based World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) guidelines for management of CDI in surgical patients.Peer reviewe

Student Expectations and Preferences of Distance Course Delivery Methods

Students in five courses offered with a variety of distance and on-campus delivery methods were surveyed to determine student expectations and post-evaluation of courses; student demographics; and student experiences and preferences with technology and course delivery methods. The response group was primarily degree seeking upperclassmen, taking a required course, equally split by gender and by delivery location. All students preferred a live class delivery method but videotape delivery appeared to have a higher student satisfaction level than satellite. On-campus students found simultaneous satellite delivery distracting but not detrimental to their learning experience. Students consistently misjudged the content and workload of courses