The Dynamic Torque Calibration Unit: An instrument for the characterization of bearings used in gimbal applications

The Dynamic Torque Calibration Unit (DTCU), an instrument for the characterization of duplex ball bearing pairs used in gimbal applications, was designed and built. The design and operation of the unit are described. Preliminary data from the instrument are presented to illustrate the kinds of experiments that can be performed with the DTCU

Optical Fiber Tip wth Integrated Mach-Zehnder Interferometer for Sensor Applications

In this paper, we present design and preparation of novel Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) based structure for sensing applications. We present integration of this structure at the end of a single-mode optical fiber. Direct laser writing technology was used to prepare MZI-based structure with a hoop for tight connection to optical fiber facet. Details of the design, preparation process and connectorizing process are described and finally, transmission spectral characteristic of the prepared structure was measured using optical spectral analyze

A soft actuation system for segmented reflector articulation and isolation

Segmented reflectors have been proposed for space based applications such as optical communication and large diameter telescopes. An actuation system for mirrors in a space based segmented mirror array was developed as part of NASA's Precision Segmented Reflector program. The actuation system, called the Articulated Panel Module (APM), provides 3 degrees of freedom mirror articulation, gives isolation from structural motion, and simplifies space assembly of the mirrors to the reflector backup truss. A breadboard of the APM was built and is described

Mars Science Laboratory Sample Acquisition, Sample Processing and Handling: Subsystem Design and Test Challenges

The Sample Acquisition/Sample Processing and Handling subsystem for the Mars Science Laboratory is a highly-mechanized, Rover-based sampling system that acquires powdered rock and regolith samples from the Martian surface, sorts the samples into fine particles through sieving, and delivers small portions of the powder into two science instruments inside the Rover. SA/SPaH utilizes 17 actuated degrees-of-freedom to perform the functions needed to produce 5 sample pathways in support of the scientific investigation on Mars. Both hardware redundancy and functional redundancy are employed in configuring this sampling system so some functionality is retained even with the loss of a degree-of-freedom. Intentional dynamic environments are created to move sample while vibration isolators attenuate this environment at the sensitive instruments located near the dynamic sources. In addition to the typical flight hardware qualification test program, two additional types of testing are essential for this kind of sampling system: characterization of the intentionally-created dynamic environment and testing of the sample acquisition and processing hardware functions using Mars analog materials in a low pressure environment. The overall subsystem design and configuration are discussed along with some of the challenges, tradeoffs, and lessons learned in the areas of fault tolerance, intentional dynamic environments, and special testin

Greater Confusion in the Voter Market in Germany: Differences Between Subjective and Value-Based Categorization on the Left-Right Axis

In den letzten Jahren war häufig von einem Rechtsruck in der Gesellschaft die Rede (O. Decker et al., 2016). Bevölkerungsrepräsentative Umfragedaten belegen diese These jedoch nicht. Weder die Allgemeine Bevölkerungsumfrage der Sozialwissenschaften (ALLBUS) noch der European Social Survey zeigen für die letzten Jahrzehnte signifikante Veränderungen in der Selbstpositionierung der Befragten auf der Links-Rechts-Skala. Dies wirft die Frage auf, ob es sich bei dem behaupteten gesellschaftlichen Rechtsruck um ein soziologisches Wahrnehmungsphänomen handelt, das durch die intensive öffentliche Debatte verstärkt wird, oder ob Zweifel an der Validität der politischen Selbstpositionierung auf der Links-Rechts-Skala angebracht sind. Der vorliegende Artikel befasst sich mit der letzteren Frage. Unsere Analysen ergaben, dass bei 31 % der Befragten in unserer Stichprobe eine Divergenz zwischen der subjektiven Positionierung auf der Links-Rechts-Skala und einer wertbezogenen Positionierung besteht. Wir erörtern, welche Variablen diese Divergenz erklären können und welche Konsequenzen daraus für die kommunikationswissenschaftliche Forschung gezogen werden können.In recent years, there has been frequent talk of a shift to the right in society (O. Decker et al., 2016). However, population-representative survey data do not substantiate this thesis, with neither the Germ an General Social Survey (ALLBUS) nor the European Social Survey showing any significant changes in respondents’ self-positioning on the left-right axis over the past decades. This raises the question of whether the purported societal shift to the right is a sociological perceptual phenomenon that is magnified due to intense public debate, or whether doubts about the validity of the question on political self-positioning on the left-right scale are warranted. The present article addresses the latter issue. Our analyses revealed a divergence between subjective positioning on the left-right axis and value-based positioning for 31% of respondents in our sample. We further discuss which variables may explain this divergence and what consequences can be drawn for research in communication science

Optimizing Rydberg Gates for Logical Qubit Performance

Robust gate sequences are widely used to reduce the sensitivity of gate operations to experimental imperfections. Typically, the optimization minimizes the average gate error, however, recent work in quantum error correction has demonstrated that the performance of encoded logical qubits is sensitive to not only the average error rate, but also the type of errors that occur. Here, we present a family of Rydberg blockade gates for neutral atom qubits that are robust against two common, major imperfections: intensity inhomogeneity and Doppler shifts. These gates outperform existing gates for moderate or large imperfections. We also consider the logical performance of these gates in the context of an erasure-biased qubit based on metastable $~^{171}$Yb. In this case, we observe that the robust gates outperform existing gates for even very small values of the imperfections, because they maintain the native large bias towards erasure errors for these qubits. These results significantly reduce the laser stability and atomic temperature requirements to achieve fault-tolerant quantum computing with neutral atoms. The approach of optimizing gates for logical qubit performance may be applied to other qubit platforms.Comment: v3: Added discussion of AC-Stark shifts; v2: Updated reference

De Finetti Theorems for Quantum Conditional Probability Distributions with Symmetry

The aim of device-independent quantum key distribution (DIQKD) is to study protocols that allow the generation of a secret shared key between two parties under minimal assumptions on the devices that produce the key. These devices are merely modeled as black boxes and mathematically described as conditional probability distributions. A major obstacle in the analysis of DIQKD protocols is the huge space of possible black box behaviors. De Finetti theorems can help to overcome this problem by reducing the analysis to black boxes that have an iid structure. Here we show two new de Finetti theorems that relate conditional probability distributions in the quantum set to de Finetti distributions (convex combinations of iid distributions), that are themselves in the quantum set. We also show how one of these de Finetti theorems can be used to enforce some restrictions onto the attacker of a DIQKD protocol. Finally we observe that some desirable strengthenings of this restriction, for instance to collective attacks only, are not straightforwardly possible.Comment: v2: Published version; v1: 30 pages. Ann. Henri Poincar\'e (2023

In vitro cultivation of tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta - 2

Charles University in Prague Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology Student: Dominik Jandura Supervisor: PharmDr. Ivan Vokřál, Ph.D. Title of diploma thesis: In vitro cultivation of tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta - 2 Aim of this diploma thesis was to obtain cycticercoids of the rat tapeworm (Hymenolepis diminuta), excyst them and find out the conditions for the maximal in vitro incubation period. As the intermediate host mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor) infected by the rat feces containing tapeworm eggs was used. Excystment was done using L-cystein and sodium tauroglycocholate. Excysted larvae were cultured in vitro (37 řC, 5 % CO2) in RPMI 1640 medium enriched with other substances chosen according previously published methods. Mainly sheep, mouse or rat liver extracts eventually in combination with yeast extract and sheep bile were used. The effect of tested substances on the cultivation was evaluated by measuring of the tapeworm's growth. The best effect on the grow of the tapeworms was observed using medium containing serum, yeast extract and sheep liver extract where tapeworms achieved length of 1561 µm after 16 days of incubation. The further growth was limited by appearance of pathologic formations.Univerzita Karlova v Praze Farmaceutická fakulta v Hradci Králové Katedra farmakologie a toxikologie Student: Dominik Jandura Školitel: PharmDr. Ivan Vokřál, Ph.D. Název diplomové práce: In vitro kultivace tasemnice Hymenolepis diminuta - 2 Náplní této diplomové práce bylo získat cysticerkoidy tasemnice krysí (Hymenolepis diminuta), excystovat je a najít podmínky pro maximální dobu inkubace in vitro. Jako mezihostitel byl užit potemník moučný (Tenebrio molitor) infikován potkaním trusem obsahujícím vajíčka tasemnice. Excystace byla prováděna prostřednictvím L-cysteinu a tauroglykocholátu sodného. Excystované larvy byly in vitro kultivovány (37 řC, 5 % CO2) v médiu RPMI 1640 obohaceném o další látky vybrané na základě předchozích metod. Jednalo se zejména o extrakty z potkaních, myších a ovčích jater, případně v kombinaci s kvasnicovým extraktem a ovčí žlučí. Vliv testovaných látek na kultivaci byl hodnocen měřením nárůstu tasemnic. Nejlepší vliv mělo médium obsahující sérum, kvasnicový extrakt a extrakt z ovčích jater, kde tasemnice k 16. dni dosahovaly velikosti 1561 µm. Další růst byl limitován výskytem patologických útvarů.Department of Pharmacology and ToxicologyKatedra farmakologie a toxikologieFarmaceutická fakulta v Hradci KrálovéFaculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králov

Quantum trimer models and topological SU(3) spin liquids on the kagome lattice

We construct and study quantum trimer models and resonating SU(3)-singlet models on the kagome lattice, which generalize quantum dimer models and the Resonating Valence Bond wavefunctions to a trimer and SU(3) setting. We demonstrate that these models carry a Z_3 symmetry which originates in the structure of trimers and the SU(3) representation theory, and which becomes the only symmetry under renormalization. Based on this, we construct simple and exact parent Hamiltonians for the model which exhibit a topological 9-fold degenerate ground space. A combination of analytical reasoning and numerical analysis reveals that the quantum order ultimately displayed by the model depends on the relative weight assigned to different types of trimers -- it can display either Z_3 topological order or form a symmetry-broken trimer crystal, and in addition possesses a point with an enhanced U(1) symmetry and critical behavior. Our results accordingly hold for the SU(3) model, where the two natural choices for trimer weights give rise to either a topological spin liquid or a system with symmetry-broken order, respectively. Our work thus demonstrates the suitability of resonating trimer and SU(3)-singlet ansatzes to model SU(3) topological spin liquids on the kagome lattice

Monitoring and Comparison of the Therapeutic Effect of the Three Miniinvasive Low Back Pain Treatment Methods (Pulsed Radiofrequency Modulation, Oxygen-ozone Therapy and Periradicular Therapy) in Patients with Algic Radicular Syndrome L5 or S1 over a Period of One Year after Procedure

Aim: To compare the therapeutic efficacy of the three minimally invasive methods (PRF, KOT, PRT) in patients with chronic (more than 3 months lasting) unilateral radicular syndrome L5 or S1. The hypothesis: PRF and KOT are more effective than PRT in the treatment of chronic radicular pain. Material and methods: Prospective, randomized, unilaterally blinded, monocentric study. All patients underwent one of the procedures, navigated by CT. Two questionnaires: PainDETECT and Oswestry disability questionnaire were used to measure of the outcome - before treatment, immediately after and at the of 3th, 6th and 12th month after. Evaluated parameters: quantity of pain (VAS), neuropathic component of pain (NB), disability (ODI), character of pain (CHB), analgesic consumption (an), physiotherapy (re). Results: Group of 178 patients (115 women, 63 men, median age 56, BMI 27,5). (PRF 57, KOT 69, PRT 52). VAS was immediately reduced after procedures, mainly in PRT group with statistic significance in comparison - KOT to PRT (p = 0,0152). By the end of 3rd and 6th month after, the VAS values in all methods were similar, still lower than before treatment. PRT showed the best analgesic effect on NB, with statistical significance between PRT and PRF after 3rd and 6th month (p = 0,0457 and 0,0108, respectively)....Souhrn Cíl práce: Porovnat terapeutickou účinnost tří miinvazivních metod (PRF, KOT, PRT) u nemocných s chronickým (déle než 3 měsíce trvajícím) unilaterálním radikulárním syndromem L5 nebo S1. Pracovní hypotéza je, že metody PRF a KOT jsou v léčbě chronické radikulární bolesti účinnější než PRT. Materiál a metody: Prospektivní, randomizovaná, unilaterálně zaslepená, monocentrická studie. Každý nemocný byl ošetřen jednou z metod (PRF, KOT, PRT) s CT navigací. Účinek léčby byl zjišťován dotazníky: PainDETECT a Oswestry disability questionnaire (2. verze) - před léčbou, ihned po výkonu a za 3, 6 a 12 měsíců poté. Hodnocené parametry: kvantita bolesti v průměru (VAS), neuropatická složka bolesti (NB), funkční výstup (ODI), charakter bolesti (CHB), vliv na spotřebu analgetik (an) a rehabilitaci (re). Výsledky: Soubor čítá 178 nemocných (115 žen, 63 mužů, medián věku 56 let, BMI 27,5). Skupiny (PRF 57, KOT 69, PRT 52). Ve všech skupinách došlo k redukci VAS ihned po výkonu, nejvíce u PRT se statisticky významným rozdílem proti KOT (p = 0,0152). V období 3. a 6. měsíce byly již hodnoty VAS u všech metod obdobné, stále nižší než vstupní. PRT měla největší vliv na NB, významný rozdíl byl za 3 měsíce (p = 0,0457) a za 6 měsíců (p = 0,0108) po výkonu mezi PRF od PRT. Statisticky významný rozdíl byl v účinku léčby...Department of Diagnostic RadiologyRadiologická klinikaLékařská fakulta v Hradci KrálovéFaculty of Medicine in Hradec Králov