High coherence hybrid superconducting qubit

We measure the coherence of a new superconducting qubit, the {\em low-impedance flux qubit}, finding $T_2^* \sim T_1 \sim 1.5\mu$s. It is a three-junction flux qubit, but the ratio of junction critical currents is chosen to make the qubit's potential have a single well form. The low impedance of its large shunting capacitance protects it from decoherence. This qubit has a moderate anharmonicity, whose sign is reversed compared with all other popular qubit designs. The qubit is capacitively coupled to a high-Q resonator in a $\lambda/2$ configuration, which permits the qubit's state to be read out dispersively

Adapting Game Mechanics with Micro-Machinations

In early game development phases game designers adjust game rules in a rapid, iterative and flexible way. In later phases, when software prototypes are available, play testing provides more detailed feedback about player experience. More often than not, the realized and the intended gameplay emerging from game software differ. Unfortunately, adjusting it is hard because designers lack a means for efficiently defining, fine-tuning and balancing game mechanics. The language Machinations provides a graphical notation for expressing the rules of game economies that fits with a designer’s understanding and vocabulary, but is limited to design itself. Micro-Mach

Hiding the Higgs at the LHC

We study a simple extension of the standard model where scalar singlets that mix with the Higgs doublet are added. This modification to the standard model could have a significant impact on Higgs searches at the LHC. The Higgs doublet is not a mass eigenstate and therefore the expected nice peak of the standard model Higgs disappears. We analyze this scenario finding the required properties of the singlets in order to make the Higgs "invisible" at the LHC. In some part of the parameter space even one singlet could make the discovery of the SM Higgs problematic. In other parts, the Higgs can be discovered even in the presence of many singlets.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure. V2- References added. V3- Several examples and one fig. adde

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci from two inbreeding bark beetle species (Coccotrypes)

We developed 14 microsatellite markers in Coccotrypes carpophagus and 14 in C. dactyliperda. These loci will be used for studying genetic structure and the level of inbreeding in populations in the Canary Islands and Madeira. As a result of long-term inbreeding, genetic variability is relatively low in these bark beetle species. We found one to five alleles per locus in 29 C. carpophagus and 41 C. dactyliperda from various localities. Eleven of the markers developed for C. carpophagus amplified in C. dactyliperda and seven of the markers developed for C. dactyliperda amplified in C. carpophagus

Top Paper Panel

Panel Chair: Kerry Byrnes-Loinette Papers presented: Quantifying apoptosis induced by the fusion of EWS-FLI1 by means of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) dUTP Nick-End Lableing (TUNEL) using the zebrafish model by Rozen Gilerman How Economic Indicators Influence Mexican Immigration, and Mexican Immigration Success, in the United States by Daisy Jaimez The Electric Spacecraft Propulsion System by Alexander J. Harper Abstract: Spacecraft propulsion systems play a pivotal role in the modern Aerospace Industry as they are responsible for allowing craft to move and navigate and therefore operate as they are intended to. While chemical systems are more well known, electric propulsion systems stand as the next step in the journey to the stars and are seeing more widespread use on spacecraft than ever before. An exploration of the properties and inner workings of electric ion drives demonstrates how they operate at a greater efficiency than chemical rockets and therefore the most sustainable and economically feasible option for extra-atmospheric maneuvers. An exploration of non-ionic drives demonstrates how engineers and scientists are taking the next step to develop creative and resourceful new methods of propulsion, and that these methods are the future of spacecraft propulsion. Biblical Allusions in the Brothers Karamazov by Lindy Winter Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, written in 1880 in the Russian language (although translated to English in 1912), is the last book that Dostoyevsky wrote. This passionate novel covers a multitude of significant themes that reflect Dostoyevsky’s own religious and philosophical views such as free will, the existence of God, and ethics. Throughout the novel, however, these themes could not be expressed without the use of biblical allusions, which are indirect references to the bible. Therefore, in order to fully comprehend Dostoyevsky’s purpose for this final novel, this essay will examine the question: to what extent and why does Fyodor Dostoyevsky implement biblical allusions in his novel, The Brothers Karamazov? Answering this question requires a complete and thorough investigation of reviews and criticisms on Dostoyevsky’s novel, background of the author’s life, context of the time period, and an exploration of religious texts that relate to the book. Primary sources, such as scriptural accounts in The Bible, are used to prove the existence of biblical allusions as well as discover a relationship between the novel and biblical text. Furthermore, secondary sources such as literary analyses are critically observed in order to understand the reasoning for Dostoyevsky’s use of biblical allusions. The research primarily focuses on the overall implementation of biblical references in the novel and why they are used. Thorough analysis and investigation of the previously mentioned strategies shows that Dostoyevsky ultimately implemented biblical allusions in a highly profuse and distinctive manner, allowing his readers to understand character relationships on a deeper level, realize his personal religious and philosophical views, and further appreciate the role of faith in the entire novel

Preventie en bestrijding van slakken

Veel biologische telers proberen grondbewerking tegenwoordig tot een minimum te beperken. Dit is goed voor de bodemstructuur en het bodemleven. Maar minimale grondbewerking lijkt schade door slakken juist te bevorderen. Ook de brede inzet van groenbemesters kan de slakkenpopulatie bevorderen. Dit kan leiden tot aanzienlijke schade als gevolg van verontreiniging en vraat. In dit biokennisbericht een aantal handreikingen om opbrengstderving door slakken te beperken

Reasoning with comparative moral judgements: an argument for Moral Bayesianism

The paper discusses the notion of reasoning with comparative moral judgements (i.e judgements of the form “act a is morally superior to act b”) from the point of view of several meta-ethical positions. Using a simple formal result, it is argued that only a version of moral cognitivism that is committed to the claim that moral beliefs come in degrees can give a normatively plausible account of such reasoning. Some implications of accepting such a version of moral cognitivism are discussed

A simple all-microwave entangling gate for fixed-frequency superconducting qubits

We demonstrate an all-microwave two-qubit gate on superconducting qubits which are fixed in frequency at optimal bias points. The gate requires no additional subcircuitry and is tunable via the amplitude of microwave irradiation on one qubit at the transition frequency of the other. We use the gate to generate entangled states with a maximal extracted concurrence of 0.88 and quantum process tomography reveals a gate fidelity of 81%