Clock transition by continuous dynamical decoupling of a three-level system

We present a novel continuous dynamical decoupling scheme for the construction of a robust qubit in a three-level system. By means of a clock transition adjustment, we first show how robustness to environmental noise is achieved, while eliminating drive-noise, to first-order. We demonstrate this scheme with the spin sub-levels of the NV-centre's electronic ground state. By applying drive fields with moderate Rabi frequencies, the drive noise is eliminated and an improvement of 2 orders of magnitude in the coherence time is obtained compared to the pure dephasing time. We then show how the clock transition adjustment can be tuned to eliminate also the second-order effect of the environmental noise with moderate drive fields. A further improvement of more than 1 order of magnitude in the coherence time is expected and confirmed by simulations. Hence, our scheme prolongs the coherence time towards the lifetime-limit using a relatively simple experimental setup.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Why We Need Special Purpose Water Districts

This publication provides information on the five district acts to guide the solution of water problems in South Dakota. The state legislation permitted the formation of watershed districts, irrigation districts, soil conservation districts, drainage districts, and water conservancy subdistricts

Optimised frequency modulation for continuous-wave optical magnetic resonance sensing using nitrogen-vacancy ensembles

Magnetometers based on ensembles of nitrogen-vacancy centres are a promising platform for continuously sensing static and low-frequency magnetic fields. Their combination with phase-sensitive (lock-in) detection creates a highly versatile sensor with a sensitivity that is proportional to the derivative of the optical magnetic resonance lock-in spectrum, which is in turn dependant on the lock-in modulation parameters. Here we study the dependence of the lock-in spectral slope on the modulation of the spin-driving microwave field. Given the presence of the intrinsic nitrogen hyperfine spin transitions, we experimentally show that when the ratio between the hyperfine linewidth and their separation is $\gtrsim 1/4$, square-wave based frequency modulation generates the steepest slope at modulation depths exceeding the separation of the hyperfine lines, compared to sine-wave based modulation. We formulate a model for calculating lock-in spectra which shows excellent agreement with our experiments, and which shows that an optimum slope is achieved when the linewidth/separation ratio is $\lesssim 1/4$ and the modulation depth is less then the resonance linewidth, irrespective of the modulation function used.Comment: 13 pager and 6 figure

Financial conservatism, firm value and international business risk: Evidence from emerging economies around the global financial crisis

The increase in debt-free or under-levered firms (financial conservatism) is one of the most recent stylized puzzles that cannot be explained within the context of extant capital structure theories. In this paper, we exploit the 2008–09 contractions in credit supply in a quasi-natural experiment to examine whether financial conservatism affects firm value. Using a large sample of firms from seven African countries over the period 2003–2012, we find strong evidence that financial conservatism mitigates the adverse effect of contractions in credit supply on firm value for both local and international firms. Our results suggest that financial conservatism is an effective strategy for managing risks arising from contractions in credit supply and international business exposure. These findings provide novel empirical evidence on the value relevance of financial conservatism which shields firms from the adverse and far-reaching effects of contractions in credit supply

Erfaringer hos pasienter med stomi og finne mening i lidelsen

Sammendrag Bakgrunn: Det er mange personer som opplever å få utlagt tarm, noe som kan være en stor påkjenning både mentalt og fysisk. Stomi er enda et tabu tema i samfunnet, dermed er det mange som ikke vet eller har forståelse for hva stomi er. En sykepleier som er bevist hvilke utfordringer pasienter med stomi gjennomgår, vil være bedre forberedt når hun står som ansvarlig i møte med pasientgruppen. Hensikt: Hensikten med denne oppgaven er å utforske utfordringer pasienter med utlagt tarm erfarer og hvordan sykepleier kan hjelpe disse pasientene å finne mening i deres lidelse. Metode: Denne oppgaven har tatt for seg fem kvalitative artikler hvor vi etter Fribergs metode, har dannet oss en integrativ litteraturoversikt og analysert de ulike delene for å danne en ny helhet. Oppgavens besvarelse er basert på resultater fra de vitenskapelige artiklene, bakgrunnslitteraturen og våre refleksjoner. Resultater: Resultatene viste flere ulike utfordringer. Pasientene var takknemlige for å kunne leve videre, men de var også redde for tilbakefall. Utfordringer som lekkasje og å lære seg den praktiske håndteringen ble nevnt. Informasjon var viktig for kandidatene, men flere hadde utfordringer med å ta imot all informasjon på kort tid. Pasientene synes det var viktig med støtte fra familie og venner. De følte behov for å skjule stomien, noe som resulterte i isolasjon hos noen. Komplikasjoner vedrørende ernæring og smerte ble nevnt. Flere utrykte også problemer med seksualitet, akseptasjon av stomien og frykt for tilbakevending til jobb. Nøkkelord: Stomi, utlagt tarm, tykktarmskreft, utfordringer, erfaringer, sykepleier, lidels

Erfaringer hos pasienter med stomi og å finne mening i lidelsen.

Sammendrag Bakgrunn: Det er mange personer som opplever å få utlagt tarm, noe som kan være en stor påkjenning både mentalt og fysisk. Stomi er enda et tabu tema i samfunnet, dermed er det mange som ikke vet eller har forståelse for hva stomi er. En sykepleier som er bevist hvilke utfordringer pasienter med stomi gjennomgår, vil være bedre forberedt når hun står som ansvarlig i møte med pasientgruppen. Hensikt: Hensikten med denne oppgaven er å utforske utfordringer pasienter med utlagt tarm erfarer og hvordan sykepleier kan hjelpe disse pasientene å finne mening i deres lidelse. Metode: Denne oppgaven har tatt for seg fem kvalitative artikler hvor vi etter Fribergs metode, har dannet oss en integrativ litteraturoversikt og analysert de ulike delene for å danne en ny helhet. Oppgavens besvarelse er basert på resultater fra de vitenskapelige artiklene, bakgrunnslitteraturen og våre refleksjoner. Resultater: Resultatene viste flere ulike utfordringer. Pasientene var takknemlige for å kunne leve videre, men de var også redde for tilbakefall. Utfordringer som lekkasje og å lære seg den praktiske håndteringen ble nevnt. Informasjon var viktig for kandidatene, men flere hadde utfordringer med å ta imot all informasjon på kort tid. Pasientene synes det var viktig med støtte fra familie og venner. De følte behov for å skjule stomien, noe som resulterte i isolasjon hos noen. Komplikasjoner vedrørende ernæring og smerte ble nevnt. Flere utrykte også problemer med seksualitet, akseptasjon av stomien og frykt for tilbakevending til jobb. Nøkkelord: Stomi, utlagt tarm, tykktarmskreft, utfordringer, erfaringer, sykepleier, lidels

Coordinated and tailored work rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial with economic evaluation undertaken with workers on sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders

Introduction In Denmark, the magnitude and impact of work disability on the individual worker and society has prompted the development of a new "coordinated and tailored work rehabilitation" (CTWR) approach. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of CTWR with conventional case management (CCM) on return-to-work of workers on sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Methods The study was a randomized controlled trial with economic evaluation undertaken with workers on sick leave for 4-12 weeks due to MSDs. CTWR consists of a work disability screening by an interdisciplinary team followed by the collaborative development of a RTW plan. The primary outcome variable was registered cumulative sickness absence hours during 12 months follow-up. Secondary outcomes were work status as well as pain intensity and functional disability, measured at baseline, 3 and 12 months follow-up. The economic evaluation (intervention costs, productivity loss, and health care utilization costs) was based on administrative data derived from national registries. Results For the time intervals 0-6 months, 6-12 months, and the entire follow-up period, the number of sickness absence hours was significantly lower in the CTWR group as compared to the control group. The total costs saved in CTWR participants compared to controls were estimated at US $1,366 per person at 6 months follow-up and US$ 10,666 per person at 12 months follow-up. Conclusions Workers on sick leave for 4-12 weeks due to MSD who underwent "CTWR" by an interdisciplinary team had fewer sickness absence hours than controls. The economic evaluation showed that-in terms of productivity loss-CTWR seems to be cost saving for the society