Production of photon states from Λ-atoms in a cavity

We analyse the system of Λ-atoms in a cavity QED of semi-transparent mirror and driven by laser fields. We derive effective models and connect concepts (photonic flux, input-output operators, photonic state) characterizing the propagation of the resulting leaking photons. We propose an atom-cavity non-resonant scheme for single-and 2-photons generation. The pulse shapes of outgoing single photons are tailored using a specifically designed driving field envelope. For the production of 2-photon states, two trapped atoms are used with two driving pulses. Their pulse shapes are characterized and it is shown that the multiphoton outgoing photonic states cannot be Fock states, since the photons are not generated strictly simultaneously

Prevalence study of yaws in the Democratic Republic of Congo using the lot quality assurance sampling method.

BACKGROUND: Until the 1970s the prevalence of non-venereal trepanomatosis, including yaws, was greatly reduced after worldwide mass treatment. In 2005, cases were again reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We carried out a survey to estimate the village-level prevalence of yaws in the region of Equator in the north of the country in order to define appropriate strategies to effectively treat the affected population. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We designed a community-based survey using the Lot Quality Assurance Sampling method to classify the prevalence of active yaws in 14 groups of villages (lots). The classification into high, moderate, or low yaws prevalence corresponded to World Health Organization prevalence thresholds for identifying appropriate operational treatment strategies. Active yaws cases were defined by suggestive clinical signs and positive rapid plasma reagin and Treponema pallidum hemagglutination serological tests. The overall prevalence in the study area was 4.7% (95% confidence interval: 3.4-6.0). Two of 14 lots had high prevalence (>10%), three moderate prevalence (5-10%) and nine low prevalence (<5%.). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Although yaws is no longer a World Health Organization priority disease, the presence of yaws in a region where it was supposed to be eradicated demonstrates the importance of continued surveillance and control efforts. Yaws should remain a public health priority in countries where previously it was known to be endemic. The integration of sensitive surveillance systems together with free access to effective treatment is recommended. As a consequence of our study results, more than 16,000 people received free treatment against yaws

I023 Modulation de la dysfonction endothelium dependente par la maladie artérielle liée aux pathologies associées chez l’hémodialysé

ObjectifsLa fonction endothéliale (vasodilatation flux dépendante, FMD) est réduite chez l’hémodialysé. Nous avons étudié le rôle des atteintes artérielles reflétant les pathologies cardiovasculaires associées, dans l’altération de la FMD en fonction de la contrainte de cisaillement mesurée localement.MéthodologieChez 35 patients avec insuffisance rénale dialysés (ESRD), 16 avec un antécédent de maladie cardio-vasculaire (CV+), 19 indemnes (CV-) et chez 22 contrôles appariés, nous avons évalué la géométrie de l’artère humérale (diamètre : D et épaisseur : IMT, Wall Track System) et ses changements (FMD) en réponse aux modifications du taux de cisaillement et de la contrainte de cisaillement (SS), calculée avec mesure de viscosité sanguine (viscosimètre Brookfield), pendant une hyperhémie induite par chauffage de la main dans un bain thermostaté (paliers de 35 à 44°C). Les comparaisons multiples ont été faites par ANOVA et analyses post Hoc par test de Bonferonni.RésultatsESRD CV+ étaient plus agés avec pressions systolique et pulsée, D, IMT et module élastique plus élevés alors que SS étaient significativement réduit en baseline versus les deux autres groupes. Avec chauffage, les ESRD CV- et contrôles avaient une augmentation similaire de la pente D vs SS pour les températures faibles mais la pente devenait significativement plus faible pour ESRD à 44°. Les ESRD CV+ ont présenté une altération de la relation D vs SS pour toute la gamme de température. La réponse à la TNT était réduite pour ESRD CV+ versus les deux autres groupes.ConclusionLes altérations artérielles des ESRD avec pathologies cardio-vasculaires associées sont structurales, mais également fonctionnelles. Par contre en absence de maladie vasculaire les ESRD ont un comportement non différent des contrôles pour des stimulations non maximales mais ont une réduction de la réserve de dilatation altérée lors de stimulations soutenues et maximales

Combinatorial synthesis and screening of chalcogenide materials for data storage

For more than 15 years researchers at the Optoelectronics Research Centre at the University of Southampton have been developing novel compositions of chalcogenide glasses for a wide range of optical applications. Recently this expertise has been combined with those of Ilika Technologies Ltd and the School of Chemistry to focus on the development of enhanced chalcogenide materials for OUM and optical data storage applications. In our talk, we report on our high throughput methodology which allows rapid, reproducible and comprehensive mapping of phase diagrams and screening of optical, thermal and electrical properties. These procedures were initially applied to Ge:Sb:Te compositions where we were able to synthesis and analyse over 4000 sample points spanning the entire ternary system. In order to process such large volumes of compositions, novel screening techniques and strategies have been employed. We are applying this methodology to other novel compositions and our findings are reported

The dynamics of measles in sub-Saharan Africa.

Although vaccination has almost eliminated measles in parts of the world, the disease remains a major killer in some high birth rate countries of the Sahel. On the basis of measles dynamics for industrialized countries, high birth rate regions should experience regular annual epidemics. Here, however, we show that measles epidemics in Niger are highly episodic, particularly in the capital Niamey. Models demonstrate that this variability arises from powerful seasonality in transmission-generating high amplitude epidemics-within the chaotic domain of deterministic dynamics. In practice, this leads to frequent stochastic fadeouts, interspersed with irregular, large epidemics. A metapopulation model illustrates how increased vaccine coverage, but still below the local elimination threshold, could lead to increasingly variable major outbreaks in highly seasonally forced contexts. Such erratic dynamics emphasize the importance both of control strategies that address build-up of susceptible individuals and efforts to mitigate the impact of large outbreaks when they occur

Effectiveness of ready-to-use therapeutic food compared to a corn/soy-blend-based pre-mix for the treatment of childhood moderate acute malnutrition in Niger.

Standard nutritional treatment of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) relies on fortified blended flours though their importance to treat this condition is a matter of discussion. With the newly introduced World Health Organization growth standards, more children at an early stage of malnutrition will be treated following the dietary protocols as for severe acute malnutrition, including ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF). We compared the effectiveness of RUTF and a corn/soy-blend (CSB)-based pre-mix for the treatment of MAM in the supplementary feeding programmes (SFPs) supported by Médecins Sans Frontières, located in the Zinder region (south of Niger). Children measuring 65 to <110 cm, newly admitted with MAM [weight-for-height (WHM%) between 70% and <80% of the NCHS median] were randomly allocated to receive either RUTF (Plumpy'Nut®, 1000 kcal day(-1)) or a CSB pre-mix (1231 kcal day(-1)). Other interventions were similar in both groups (e.g. weekly family ration and ration at discharge). Children were followed weekly up to recovery (WHM% ≥ 85% for 2 consecutive weeks). In total, 215 children were recruited in the RUTF group and 236 children in the CSB pre-mix group with an overall recovery rate of 79.1 and 64.4%, respectively (p < 0.001). There was no evidence for a difference between death, defaulter and non-responder rates. More transfers to the inpatient Therapeutic Feeding Centre (I-TFC) were observed in the CSB pre-mix group (19.1%) compared to the RUTF group (9.3%) (p = 0.003). The average weight gain up to discharge was 1.08 g kg(-1) day(-1) higher in the RUTF group [95% confidence interval: 0.46-1.70] and the length of stay was 2 weeks shorter in the RUTF group (p < 0.001). For the treatment of childhood MAM in Niger, RUTF resulted in a higher weight gain, a higher recovery rate, a shorter length of stay and a lower transfer rate to the I-TFC compared to a CSB pre-mix. This might have important implications on the efficacy and the quality of SFPs

Doctoral supervisor development in Australian universities: Preparing research supervisors to teach writing

In recent years, Australian doctoral education has diversified and expanded, with concomitant shifts in the format and purpose of the PhD. While there is now a considerable body of research into what constitutes good quality, effective supervision of PhD projects within this environment, there is surprisingly little about the training or professional development supervisors receive in or-der to succeed in this demanding task. Even less is reported on how supervisors learn to develop their students’ writing. This paper reports on an Australia-wide study that sought to find out how institutions support their research supervisors through centrally provisioned professional development, with a particular focus on elements of those programs related to doctoral student writing. We mapped the current supervisor development offerings in Australian universities through a study of publicly available websites and interviews with key personnel involved in organising those programs. Our research reveals the enormous diversity of the preparation that research supervisors receive, and points to the opportunities this might afford for Academic Language and Learning specialists to play an important role in the professional development of supervisors.Cally Guerin, Ruth Walker, Claire Aitchison, Madeleine Mattarozzi Laming, Meeta Chatterjee Padmanabhan and Bronwyn Jame

Frustrated pretransitional phenomena in aperiodic composites

Citation: Mariette, C., Frantsuzov, I., Wang, B., Guerin, L., Rabiller, P., Hollingsworth, M. D., & Toudic, B. (2016). Frustrated pretransitional phenomena in aperiodic composites. Physical Review B, 94(18), 9. doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.94.184105This paper reports on symmetry breaking in the aperiodic inclusion compound n-octadecane/urea and its isotopomer n-octadecane/urea-d(4). The high-symmetry phase is described by a hexagonal rank-4 superspace group. Pretransitional phenomena in this crystallographic superspace reveal competing short-range-ordering phenomena within the high-symmetry phase. Very high-resolution diffraction data show that critical scattering appears at inequivalent points within the four-dimensional Brillouin zone, although the first phase transition at T-c1 near 158 K implies the condensation at only one of those points. The resulting superspace group remains of dimension 4. Two other phase transitions are reported at T-c2 = 152.8(4) K and T-c3 = 109(4) K in n-octadecane/urea-d(4). The two low-symmetry phases that arise are described by rank-5 superspace groups

What works in changing energy-using behaviours in the home? A rapid evidence assessment

RAND Europe was commissioned by the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) to undertake a Rapid Evidence Assessment* to understand “What works in changing energy-using behaviours in the home?”. The main objective was to answer this question by systematically reviewing the evidence around domestic behaviour change, with a particular focus on international evidence.In order to identify relevant studies, and avoid overlap with other previous evidence reviews, a set of search criteria was established. For inclusion, studies must:• Target energy-using behaviours in the home.• Consider at least one intervention.**• Go beyond the use of direct feedback on past energy use and pricing strategies to shift or reduce demand; and consider behaviour beyond one-off purchasing decisions (such as the installation of insulation or the purchase of energy-efficient appliances).• Measure a behaviour change in a real-world setting, either observed or self-reported.• Make a comparison between groups (e.g. between treatment and control groups), or across different time periods.No restrictions were applied regarding sample size; and both quantitative and qualitative studies were included.This report draws on 48 behaviour change programmes identified and selected through a systemic search process. These programmes involve a wide range of innovative approaches (such as the provision of Home Energy Reports that compare households’ consumption with their neighbours’) as well as more traditional approaches (including advertising campaigns)

Molecular techniques for Dicistrovirus detection without RNA extraction and purification

Dicistroviridae is a new family of small, nonenveloped, and +ssRNA viruses pathogenic to both beneficial arthropods and insect pests as well. Triatoma virus (TrV), a dicistrovirus, is a pathogen of Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), one of the main vectors of Chagas disease. In this work, we report a single-step method to identify TrV, a dicistrovirus, isolated from fecal samples of triatomines.The identification method proved to be quite sensitive, even without the extraction and purification of RNA virus.Fil: Querido, Jailson F. B.. Universidade Nova de Lisboa; PortugalFil: Agirre, Jon. Universidad del Pais Vasco; EspañaFil: Marti, Gerardo Anibal. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico la Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Guerin, Diego M. A.. Universidad del Pais Vasco; EspañaFil: Silva, Marcelo Sousa . Universidade Nova de Lisboa; Portuga