Factorizing numbers with classical interference: several implementations in optics

Truncated Fourier, Gauss, Kummer and exponential sums can be used to factorize numbers: for a factor these sums equal unity in absolute value, whereas they nearly vanish for any other number. We show how this factorization algorithm can emerge from superpositions of classical light waves and we present a number of simple implementations in optics

Developing Continuing Education for Ohio’s Local Boards of Health

Background: Public health functions at the county level and city level through the work of local health departments (LHDs). Local boards of health (LBoHs) work closely with LHDs as an administrative oversight body. In 2013, legislation was passed in the state of Ohio pertaining to the accreditation of LHDs, which included a provision requiring that Ohio’s LBoH members engage in 2 hours of continuing education (CE) per year. To assist LBoHs in fulfilling these requirements, a partnership was developed between the Ohio Association of Boards of Health (OABH) and the Kent State University College of Public Health (KSU-CPH) to deliver CE content. Methods: The process for developing the CE modules encompasses 3 steps: (1) needs assessment, (2) module development and delivery, and (3) evaluation. Feedback was solicited from Ohio’s LBoH members to determine topics of interest for CE modules. Taking this feedback, a curated set of 8 modules will be developed. Module content will be derived from graduate courses within KSU-CPH as well as from subject matter experts. The modules will be delivered online to LBoH members during their regularly scheduled meetings. Results: This program proposes to fulfill state requirements that LBoH members regularly engage in CE. Partner-ing with KSU-CPH allows for the use of academic content in these trainings. Conclusion: An adequately trained public health workforce is essential for a well-functioning public health system, which includes governing entities like LBoHs. There is limited understanding of how workforce development can be targeted specifically to LBoHs. This CE program contributes to current efforts to promote workforce development within the field of public health

Survival probability of the Grover walk on the ladder graph

We provide a detailed analysis of the survival probability of the Grover walk on the ladder graph with an absorbing sink. This model was discussed in Mare\v s et al., Phys. Rev. A 101, 032113 (2020), as an example of counter-intuitive behaviour in quantum transport where it was found that the survival probability decreases with the length of the ladder $L$, despite the fact that the number of dark states increases. An orthonormal basis in the dark subspace is constructed, which allows us to derive a closed formula for the survival probability. It is shown that the course of the survival probability as a function of $L$ can change from increasing and converging exponentially quickly to decreasing and converging like $L^{-1}$ simply by attaching a loop to one of the corners of the ladder. The interplay between the initial state and the graph configuration is investigated

Fractional recurrence in discrete-time quantum walk

Quantum recurrence theorem holds for quantum systems with discrete energy eigenvalues and fails to hold in general for systems with continuous energy. We show that during quantum walk process dominated by interference of amplitude corresponding to different paths fail to satisfy the complete quantum recurrence theorem. Due to the revival of the fractional wave packet, a fractional recurrence characterized using quantum P\'olya number can be seen.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figure : Accepted to appear in Central European Journal of Physic

Quantum walk on distinguishable non-interacting many-particles and indistinguishable two-particle

We present an investigation of many-particle quantum walks in systems of non-interacting distinguishable particles. Along with a redistribution of the many-particle density profile we show that the collective evolution of the many-particle system resembles the single-particle quantum walk evolution when the number of steps is greater than the number of particles in the system. For non-uniform initial states we show that the quantum walks can be effectively used to separate the basis states of the particle in position space and grouping like state together. We also discuss a two-particle quantum walk on a two- dimensional lattice and demonstrate an evolution leading to the localization of both particles at the center of the lattice. Finally we discuss the outcome of a quantum walk of two indistinguishable particles interacting at some point during the evolution.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, To appear in special issue: "quantum walks" to be published in Quantum Information Processin

Revivals of quantum wave-packets in graphene

We investigate the propagation of wave-packets on graphene in a perpendicular magnetic field and the appearance of collapses and revivals in the time-evolution of an initially localised wave-packet. The wave-packet evolution in graphene differs drastically from the one in an electron gas and shows a rich revival structure similar to the dynamics of highly excited Rydberg states. We present a novel numerical wave-packet propagation scheme in order to solve the effective single-particle Dirac-Hamiltonian of graphene and show how the collapse and revival dynamics is affected by the presence of disorder. Our effective numerical method is of general interest for the solution of the Dirac equation in the presence of potentials and magnetic fields.Comment: 22 pages, 10 figures, 3 movies, to appear in New Journal of Physic

An overview of ethical frameworks in public health: can they be supportive in the evaluation of programs to prevent overweight?

Background. The prevention of overweight sometimes raises complex ethical questions. Ethical public health frameworks may be helpful in evaluating programs or policy for overweight prevention. We give an overview of the purpose, form and contents of such public health frameworks and investigate to which extent they are useful for evaluating programs to prevent overweight and/or obesity. Methods. Our search for frameworks consisted of three steps. Firstly, we asked experts in the field of ethics and public health for the frameworks they were aware of. Secondly, we performed a search in Pubmed. Thirdly, we checked literature references in the articles on frameworks we found. In total, we thus found six ethical frameworks. We assessed the area on which the available ethical frameworks focus, the users they target at, the type of policy or intervention they propose to address, and their aim. Further, we looked at their structure and content, that is, tools for guiding the analytic process, the main ethical principles or values, possible criteria for dealing with ethical conflicts, and the concrete policy issues they are applied to. Results. All frameworks aim to support public health professionals or policymakers. Most of them provide a set of values or principles that serve as a standard for evaluating policy. Most frameworks articulate both the positive ethical foundations for public health and ethical constraints or concerns. Some frameworks offer analytic tools for guiding the evaluative process. Procedural guidelines and concrete criteria for solving important ethical conflicts in the particular area of the prevention of overweight or obesity are mostly lacking. Conclusions. Public health ethical frameworks may be supportive in the evaluation of overweight prevention programs or policy, but seem to lack practical guidance to address ethical conflicts in this particular area

lmmunohistochemical expression of p53, p2l/wafl, Rb, p16, cyclin D1, p27, Ki67, cyclin A, cyclin 61, bc12, bax and bak proteins and apoptotic index in normal thymus

The immunohistochemical expression of p53, p21, Rb, p16, cyclin D1, Ki67, cyclin A, cyclin B1, p27, bc12, bax, and bak proteins and the apoptotic index (AI) were investigated in 20 normal thymuses (8 adults, 3 adolescents, 5 infants and 4 newborns). The expressions of Rb, Ki67, cyclin A and cyclin B1 were overlapping, being high in the cortex with a tendency for decreased expression toward the medulla. Apoptotic cells were mainly detected in the cortex and the corticomedullary junction, rarely being present in Hassall's corpuscles. The mean values of Ki67, cyclin A, and cyclin B1 expression in thymuses were 77.2%, 32.2% and 21.4% (newborns), 62.4%, 33.7% and 18.5% (infants), 56.9%, 23.4% and 18.9% (adolescents) and 38.7%, 21.7% and 14.6% (adults), respectively. The mean values of AI in thymuses from newborns, infants, adolescents and adults were 1.4%, 2.9%, 2.7% and 3.8%, respectively. This decrease in proliferation and increase in apoptosis may account for the process of thymic involution. P16 expression was widespread with most of Hassall's corpuscles being pl6-positive. P16- positive cells and Hassall's corpuscles increased with the increase in age, in keeping with the suggested role of p16 in cellular senescence. P27 expression was undetectable in subcapsular thymocytes with a tendency for increased expression toward the medulla. The expressions of Ki67, cyclin A and cyclin R1 were inversly related with that of p27, consistent with previous evidence that p27 concentration is reduced when the cell-cycle progresses. P21 and much less frequently p53 proteins were mainly detected in a part of the subcapsular cortical epithelial cells. These findings suggest that a) in thymocytes, the apoptotic pathway is mostly p53-independent and the function of p21 as a negative regulator of the cell cycle must be redundant to other negative regulators, such as p16 and p27 which were abundantly detected in thymocytes and b) in some thymic epithelial cells, the p21 expression may be induced by p53, but in most of them seems to be p53- independent. Most of Hassall's corpuscles were p21- positive, consistent with previous evidence that these structures represent end stages of maturation of thymic medullary epithelium and that p21 protein is involved in the process of terminal differentiation. Cyclin D1 positivity was found in some macrophages. Rc12 expression was mainly seen in medullary thymocytes, reflecting the surviving thymocytes in this region. The expressions of Bax and bak were more widespread in both the medulla and cortex, suggesting that these proteins play a broader role than bc12 in the regulation of thymic apoptosis