Scanning electron microscopy of Rydberg-excited Bose-Einstein condensates

We report on the realization of high resolution electron microscopy of Rydberg-excited ultracold atomic samples. The implementation of an ultraviolet laser system allows us to excite the atom, with a single-photon transition, to Rydberg states. By using the electron microscopy technique during the Rydberg excitation of the atoms, we observe a giant enhancement in the production of ions. This is due to $l$-changing collisions, which broaden the Rydberg level and therefore increase the excitation rate of Rydberg atoms. Our results pave the way for the high resolution spatial detection of Rydberg atoms in an atomic sample

Who receives treatment for alcohol use disorders in the European Union? A cross-sectional representative study in primary and specialized health care

Background Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are highly prevalent in Europe, but only a minority of those affected receive treatment. It is therefore important to identify factors that predict treatment in order to reframe strategies aimed at improving treatment rates. Methods Representative cross-sectional study with patients aged 18\u201364 from primary health care (PC, six European countries, n = 8476, data collection 01/13\u201301/14) and from specialized health care (SC, eight European countries, n = 1762, data collection 01/13\u201303/14). For descriptive purposes, six groups were distinguished, based on type of DSM-IV AUD and treatment setting. Treatment status (yes/no) for any treatment (model 1), and for SC treatment (model 2) were main outcome measures in logistic regression models. Results AUDs were prevalent in PC (12-month prevalence: 11.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 11.2\u201312.5%), with 17.6% receiving current treatment (95%CI: 15.3\u201319.9%). There were clear differences between the six groups regarding key variables from all five predictor domains. Prediction of any treatment (model 1) or SC treatment (model 2) was successful with high overall accuracy (both models: 95%), sufficient sensitivity (model 1: 79%/model 2: 76%) and high specificity (both models: 98%). The most predictive single variables were daily drinking level, anxiety, severity of mental distress, and number of inpatient nights during the last 6 months. Conclusions Variables from four domains were highly predictive in identifying treatment for AUD, with SC treatment groups showing very high levels of social disintegration, drinking, comorbidity and functional losses. Earlier intervention and formal treatment for AUD in PC should be implemented to reduce these high levels of adverse outcomes

Generalized Totalizer Encoding for Pseudo-Boolean Constraints

Pseudo-Boolean constraints, also known as 0-1 Integer Linear Constraints, are used to model many real-world problems. A common approach to solve these constraints is to encode them into a SAT formula. The runtime of the SAT solver on such formula is sensitive to the manner in which the given pseudo-Boolean constraints are encoded. In this paper, we propose generalized Totalizer encoding (GTE), which is an arc-consistency preserving extension of the Totalizer encoding to pseudo-Boolean constraints. Unlike some other encodings, the number of auxiliary variables required for GTE does not depend on the magnitudes of the coefficients. Instead, it depends on the number of distinct combinations of these coefficients. We show the superiority of GTE with respect to other encodings when large pseudo-Boolean constraints have low number of distinct coefficients. Our experimental results also show that GTE remains competitive even when the pseudo-Boolean constraints do not have this characteristic.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables. To be published in 21st International Conference on Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming 201

MaxPre : An Extended MaxSAT Preprocessor

We describe MaxPre, an open-source preprocessor for (weighted partial) maximum satisfiability (MaxSAT). MaxPre implements both SAT-based and MaxSAT-specific preprocessing techniques, and offers solution reconstruction, cardinality constraint encoding, and an API for tight integration into SAT-based MaxSAT solvers.Peer reviewe

Wireless recording of the calls of Rousettus aegyptiacus and their reproduction using electrostatic transducers

Bats are capable of imaging their surroundings in great detail using echolocation. To apply similar methods to human engineering systems requires the capability to measure and recreate the signals used, and to understand the processing applied to returning echoes. In this work, the emitted and reflected echolocation signals of Rousettus aegyptiacus are recorded while the bat is in flight, using a wireless sensor mounted on the bat. The sensor is designed to replicate the acoustic gain control which bats are known to use, applying a gain to returning echoes that is dependent on the incurred time delay. Employing this technique allows emitted and reflected echolocation calls, which have a wide dynamic range, to be recorded. The recorded echoes demonstrate the complexity of environment reconstruction using echolocation. The sensor is also used to make accurate recordings of the emitted calls, and these calls are recreated in the laboratory using custom-built wideband electrostatic transducers, allied with a spectral equalization technique. This technique is further demonstrated by recreating multi-harmonic bioinspired FM chirps. The ability to record and accurately synthesize echolocation calls enables the exploitation of biological signals in human engineering systems for sonar, materials characterization and imaging

Computational reconstruction and analysis of structural models of avian cryptochrome 4

A recent study by Xu et al. (Nature,2021, 594, 535−540) provided strongevidence that cryptochrome 4 (Cry4) is a key protein to endow migratory birds with the magneticcompass sense. The investigation compared the magneticfield response of Cry4 from migratoryand nonmigratory bird species and suggested that a difference in magnetic sensitivity could exist.Thisfinding prompted an in-depth investigation into Cry4 protein differences on the structuraland dynamic levels. In the present study, the pigeon Cry4 (ClCry4) crystal structure was used toreconstruct the missing avian Cry4 protein structures via homology modeling for carefullyselected bird species. The reconstructed Cry4 structure from European robin, Eurasian blackcap,zebrafinch, chicken, and pigeon were subsequently simulated dynamically and analyzed. Thestudied avian Cry4 structures showflexibility in analogous regions pointing to similar activationmechanisms and/or signaling interaction partners. It can be concluded that the experimentallyrecorded difference in the magneticfield sensitivity of Cry4 from different birds is unlikely to bedue to solely intrinsic dynamics of the proteins but requires additional factors that have not yet been identified

Biofisch – Qualitätsvergleich zwischen konventionellen und ökologisch produzierten Forellen

Die Studie umfasste die Untersuchung der Aufzuchtsbedingungen sowie Futterversuche und vergleichende Untersuchungen zur Produktqualität an Portionsforellen. Es wurden 2 ökologisch zertifizierte und 3 konventionelle Forellenzuchtbetriebe verglichen. In dieser Arbeit werden nur die Ergebnisse der Qualitätsuntersuchungen wiedergegeben. Die Untersuchungen der Portionsforellen beinhalteten die Erfassung der biologischen Parameter, die mikrobiologische und sensorische Beurteilung der Ware, Farb- und Texturmessungen, die Bestimmung der chemischen Zusammensetzung einschließlich der Rückstände sowie bildverarbeitende Methoden und die Aufnahme des Aromaprofils. Insgesamt waren die Qualität und der mikrobiologische Status aller untersuchten Forellen sehr gut. In ihrer chemischen Zusammensetzung unterschieden sich die Fische vor allem im Fettgehalt. Alle ermittelten Rückstandsgehalte lagen weit unter den zulässigen Höchstwerten. Unterschiede zwischen den Aufzuchtsformen wurden nicht gefunden