Detecting an Itinerant Optical Photon Twice without Destroying It

Nondestructive quantum measurements are central for quantum physics applications ranging from quantum sensing to quantum computing and quantum communication. Employing the toolbox of cavity quantum electrodynamics, we here concatenate two identical nondestructive photon detectors to repeatedly detect and track a single photon propagating through a $60\,\mathrm{m}$ long optical fiber. By demonstrating that the combined signal-to-noise ratio of the two detectors surpasses each single one by about two orders of magnitude, we experimentally verify a key practical benefit of cascaded non-demolition detectors compared to conventional absorbing devices.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

Continuing Legal Education - Ambition and Reality

The education of lawyers does not end with the law degree. Continuing legal education is of central importance for legal professionals and the whole of legal industry. Both the education sector and the legal sector are undergoing profound change due to new business models and information technology. Providers of continuing legal education and universities in particular are therefore confronted with various questions and challenges. The Faculty of Law at the University of Zurich, as the leading provider in Switzerland, therefore held a conference on February 15 and 16, on the occasion of which these questions and challenges were discussed. The conference featured speakers from universities, law firms and associations as well as companies from Switzerland, Germany, the UK and the US. The individual presentations provided insight into the state of continuing legal education in the respective countries and addressed topics such as legal innovation, digitization, the role of law schools, and expectations from legal practice regarding continuing legal education

Clinical implications of serum neurofilament in newly diagnosed MS patients: a longitudinal multicentre cohort study

BACKGROUND: We aim to evaluate serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL), indicating neuroaxonal damage, as a biomarker at diagnosis in a large cohort of early multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. METHODS: In a multicentre prospective longitudinal observational cohort, patients with newly diagnosed relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) were recruited between August 2010 and November 2015 in 22 centers. Clinical parameters, MRI, and sNfL levels (measured by single molecule array) were assessed at baseline and up to four-year follow-up. FINDINGS: Of 814 patients, 54.7% (445) were diagnosed with RRMS and 45.3% (369) with CIS when applying 2010 McDonald criteria (RRMS[2010] and CIS[2010]). After reclassification of CIS[2010] patients with existing CSF analysis, according to 2017 criteria, sNfL levels were lower in CIS[2017] than RRMS[2017] patients (9.1 pg/ml, IQR 6.2-13.7 pg/ml, n = 45; 10.8 pg/ml, IQR 7.4-20.1 pg/ml, n = 213; p = 0.036). sNfL levels correlated with number of T2 and Gd+ lesions at baseline and future clinical relapses. Patients receiving disease-modifying therapy (DMT) during the first four years had higher baseline sNfL levels than DMT-naïve patients (11.8 pg/ml, IQR 7.5-20.7 pg/ml, n = 726; 9.7 pg/ml, IQR 6.4-15.3 pg/ml, n = 88). Therapy escalation decisions within this period were reflected by longitudinal changes in sNfL levels. INTERPRETATION: Assessment of sNfL increases diagnostic accuracy, is associated with disease course prognosis and may, particularly when measured longitudinally, facilitate therapeutic decisions

Sunlight exposure exerts immunomodulatory effects to reduce multiple sclerosis severity

Multiple sclerosis (MS) disease risk is associated with reduced sun-exposure. This study assessed the relationship between measures of sun exposure (vitamin D [vitD], latitude) and MS severity in the setting of two multicenter cohort studies (n(NationMS) = 946, n(BIONAT) = 990). Additionally, effect-modification by medication and photosensitivity-associated MC1R variants was assessed. High serum vitD was associated with a reduced MS severity score (MSSS), reduced risk for relapses, and lower disability accumulation over time. Low latitude was associated with higher vitD, lower MSSS, fewer gadolinium-enhancing lesions, and lower disability accumulation. The association of latitude with disability was lacking in IFN-β-treated patients. In carriers of MC1R:rs1805008(T), who reported increased sensitivity toward sunlight, lower latitude was associated with higher MRI activity, whereas for noncarriers there was less MRI activity at lower latitudes. In a further exploratory approach, the effect of ultraviolet (UV)-phototherapy on the transcriptome of immune cells of MS patients was assessed using samples from an earlier study. Phototherapy induced a vitD and type I IFN signature that was most apparent in monocytes but that could also be detected in B and T cells. In summary, our study suggests beneficial effects of sun exposure on established MS, as demonstrated by a correlative network between the three factors: Latitude, vitD, and disease severity. However, sun exposure might be detrimental for photosensitive patients. Furthermore, a direct induction of type I IFNs through sun exposure could be another mechanism of UV-mediated immune-modulation in MS

Attitude Control on TET-1 and BIROS - Experiences from the FireBird Mission and End of Life Operations

The satellite TET-1 (Technologie-Erprobungsträger 1) was launched in 2012 as part of the DLR On-Orbit Verification program (OOV). Together with the second satellite BIROS (Bi-spectral InfraRed Optical System), which was launched in 2016, they represented the space segment of the scientific FireBird mission. The primary goal of the mission was to perform Earth observations in the infrared spectrum for high-energy events such as forest fires and to contribute valuable data to the scientific community and the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters. After seven years of successful operations, the FireBird project ended in December 2020. Both satellites are now monitored and operated by a significantly reduced operations team until their re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. The AOCS subsystem, like the satellite as a whole in project Phase E, has only two physical interfaces to the ground segment: telemetry and telecommands. Safety, reliability and efficiency in ongoing mission operations depend on these two interfaces. It must be assured at all times that the AOCS subsystem can be safely transitioned from one defined state to another. This paper shows on selected examples of TET-1 and BIROS, different aspects of the performance of the attitude control system as well as the operational challenges over the years in Phase E. The long-term impact of a permanent reaction wheel failure which occurred at an early stage of the TET-1 mission is discussed. In order to estimate the general degradation of the AOCS units, the amount and distribution of autonomous unit power cycles as part of the FDIR system with respect to the geographical location, space weather and operational as well as non-operational uptime is analyzed. Following this, the interdependency between the orbit and the operational temperature of the star tracker heads with respect to the amount of valid measurements is outlined. The operational effects and limitations due to the loss of the main Inertial Measurement Unit in 2019 as well as the degradation of the backup unit is described and the resulting consequences are discussed. Finally, the performance of the GPS receivers and the long-term degradation is shown based on the ability to provide a valid solution. In a subsequent section, the flyby and communication experiments performed in 2019 and 2020 between BIROS and the pico-satellite BEESAT-4 are described and the commanding approach for achieving the pointing accuracy and results are presented. In the final section, a brief conclusion and outlook for the remaining years are given

Preparing single SiV − center in nanodiamonds for external, optical coupling with access to all degrees of freedom

International audienc

High-throughput field phenotyping reveals that selection in breeding has affected the phenology and temperature response of wheat in the stem elongation phase

Crop growth and phenology are driven by seasonal changes in environmental variables, with temperature as one important factor. However, knowledge about genotype-specific temperature response and its influence on phenology is limited. Such information is fundamental to improve crop models and adapt selection strategies. We measured the increase in height of 352 European winter wheat varieties in 4 years to quantify phenology, and fitted an asymptotic temperature response model. The model used hourly fluctuations in temperature to parameterize the base temperature (Tₘᵢₙ), the temperature optimum (rₘₐₓ), and the steepness (lrc) of growth responses. Our results show that higher Tₘᵢₙ and lrc relate to an earlier start and end of stem elongation. A higher rₘₐₓ relates to an increased final height. Both final height and rₘₐₓ decreased for varieties originating from the continental east of Europe towards the maritime west. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) indicated a quantitative inheritance and a large degree of independence among loci. Nevertheless, genomic prediction accuracies (GBLUPs) for Tₘᵢₙ and lrc were low (r≤0.32) compared with other traits (r≥0.59). As well as known, major genes related to vernalization, photoperiod, or dwarfing, the GWAS indicated additional, as yet unknown loci that dominate the temperature response.ISSN:1460-2431ISSN:0022-095

Flexible Electrochromic Device on Polycarbonate Substrate with PEDOT:PSS and Color-Neutral TiO2 as Ion Storage Layer

Gefördert durch den Publikationsfonds der Universität Kasse

Flexible Electrochromic Device on Polycarbonate Substrate with PEDOT:PSS and Color-Neutral TiO₂ as Ion Storage Layer

Electrochromic (EC) windows on glass for thermal and glare protection in buildings, often referred to as smart (dimmable) windows, are commercially available, along with rearview mirrors or windows in aircraft cabins. Plastic-based applications, such as ski goggles, visors and car windows, that require lightweight, three-dimensional (3D) geometry and high-throughput manufacturing are still under development. To produce such EC devices (ECDs), a flexible EC film could be integrated into a back injection molding process, where the films are processed into compact 3D geometries in a single automized step at a low processing time. Polycarbonate (PC) as a substrate is a lightweight and robust alternative to glass due to its outstanding optical and mechanical properties. In this study, an EC film on a PC substrate was fabricated and characterized for the first time. To achieve a highly transmissive and colorless bright state, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) was used as the working electrode, while titanium dioxide (TiO2) was used as the counter electrode material. They were deposited onto ITO-coated PC films using dip- and slot-die coating, respectively. The electrodes were optically and electrochemically characterized. An ECD with a polyurethane containing gel electrolyte was investigated with regard to optical properties, switching speed and cycling behavior. The ECD exhibits a color-neutral and highly transmissive bright state with a visible light transmittance of 74% and a bluish-colored state of 64%, a fast switching speed (7 s/4 s for bleaching/coloring) and a moderately stable cycling behavior over 500 cycles with a decrease in transmittance change from 10%to 7%

Retinal pathology in idiopathic moyamoya angiopathy detected by optical coherence tomography

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether patients with moyamoya angiopathy without obvious retinal pathologies such as retinal infarctions or the congenital morning glory anomaly may have subtle subclinical retinal changes. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, spectral domain optical coherence tomography was used to analyze the retinal morphology of 25 patients with idiopathic moyamoya angiopathy and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. We analyzed the retinal vasculature with blue laser autofluorescence, lipofuscin deposits with MultiColor confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, and the optic nerve head (ONH) volume with a custom postprocessing algorithm. In addition to the total retinal thickness, semiautomated segmentation was used for segmentation of retinal layers in macular cross scans, macular volume scans, and peripapillary ring scans. RESULTS: The main finding was a pronounced reduction of the ONH volume in moyamoya angiopathy compared with controls (0.76 +/- 0.45 mm3 and 1.47 +/- 0.50 mm3, respectively; p < 0.0001), which was associated with a less pronounced reduction of the retinal nerve fiber layer in macular volume scans (0.97 +/- 0.11 mm3 and 1.10 +/- 0.10 mm3, respectively; p < 0.001). Autofluorescence and MultiColor confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy images revealed no pathologies except for one branch retinal artery occlusion. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that even patients with moyamoya angiopathy who do not have obvious retinal abnormalities have retinal abnormalities. These can be detected by spectral domain optical coherence tomography, and the association of ONH abnormalities with the vascular changes may suggest that idiopathic moyamoya angiography is a systemic disease involving abnormalities of the early mesodermal development