Lectures on dynamical models for quantum measurements

In textbooks, ideal quantum measurements are described in terms of the tested system only by the collapse postulate and Born's rule. This level of description offers a rather flexible position for the interpretation of quantum mechanics. Here we analyse an ideal measurement as a process of interaction between the tested system S and an apparatus A, so as to derive the properties postulated in textbooks. We thus consider within standard quantum mechanics the measurement of a quantum spin component $\hat s_z$ by an apparatus A, being a magnet coupled to a bath. We first consider the evolution of the density operator of S+A describing a large set of runs of the measurement process. The approach describes the disappearance of the off-diagonal terms ("truncation") of the density matrix as a physical effect due to A, while the registration of the outcome has classical features due to the large size of the pointer variable, the magnetisation. A quantum ambiguity implies that the density matrix at the final time can be decomposed on many bases, not only the one of the measurement. This quantum oddity prevents to connect individual outcomes to measurements, a difficulty known as the "measurement problem". It is shown that it is circumvented by the apparatus as well, since the evolution in a small time interval erases all decompositions, except the one on the measurement basis. Once one can derive the outcome of individual events from quantum theory, the so-called "collapse of the wave function" or the "reduction of the state" appears as the result of a selection of runs among the original large set. Hence nothing more than standard quantum mechanics is needed to explain features of measurements. The employed statistical formulation is advocated for the teaching of quantum theory.Comment: 43 pages, 5 figures. Lectures given in the "Advanced School on Quantum Foundations and Open Quantum Systems", Joao Pessoa, Brazil, summer 2012. To appear in the proceedings and in IJMP

Up-scaling a Sol-Gel Process for the Production of a Multi-Component Xerogel Powder

A sol-gel process for the synthesis of a multi-component oxide material from the system SiO2-ZrO2-Al2O3underwent optimization and up-scaling. Initially, on a laboratory scale, components including precursors, catalysts, and additives were methodically evaluated to ensure a safe and efficient transition to larger volumes. Subsequently, the equipment for the whole setup of the sol-gel process was strategically selected. Leveraging insights from these optimizations, the process was successfully scaled-up to pilot-scale operation, conducting hydrolysis, condensation reactions, gelation, aging, and drying within a single, integrated conical dryer system for an 80 L batch. A visual test and FTIR spectroscopy were applied for process control and monitoring

Materials science at Swiss universities of applied sciences

Copyright ©Swiss Chemical Society: CHIMIA, Volume 73, Numbers 7-8, August 2019, pp. 645-655(11)In the Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences, several research institutes are involved in Materials Science, with different approaches and applications fields. A few examples of recent projects from different groups of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HES-SO), the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) are given

Bridge Building in Higher Education: Multi-Modal Mentoring Programs to Support Retention & Career Preparedness

Despite the limitations on time for career preparedness and shrinking professional development budgets, mentoring remains as important as ever due to the interconnectedness in a global society and the changing demographics of postsecondary education students. The traditional-age population in college that lives on campus and does not work has been declining for over three decades. The majorities of current students that are now non-traditional, and work at least part-time are first-generation, and are pursuing degrees via distance or online learning. The importance of providing a diverse mentoring strategy for this new population is borne out in research in order to improve retention, persistence, and completion rates, as well as future professional success. As such, this study sheds light on the need to develop a multi-modal mentoring program to support different student populations through a flexible combination of faculty-student, student-student, alumni-student, and supervisor-student mentoring programs applied in different contexts and modalities. While results indicate that overall faculty-initiated mentoring is preferred by both populations and the most impactful method for mentoring is face-to-face with a faculty member with non-academic experience in the field of their discipline, other approaches are more effective for populations, such as first-generation, minority, and online and graduate students

A High-Throughput Screen Targeting Malaria Transmission Stages Opens New Avenues for Drug Development

A major goal of the worldwide malaria eradication program is the reduction and eventual elimination of malaria transmission. All currently available antimalarial compounds were discovered on the basis of their activity against the asexually reproducing red blood cell stages of the parasite, which are responsible for the morbidity and mortality of human malaria. Resistance against these compounds is widespread, and there is an urgent need for novel approaches to reduce the emergence of resistance to new antimalarials as they are introduced. We have established and validated the first high-throughput assay targeting the red blood cell parasite stage required for transmission, the sexually reproducing gametocyte. This assay will permit identification of compounds specifically targeting the transmission stages in addition to the asexual stage parasites. Such stage-specific compounds may be used in a combination therapy, reducing the emergence of resistance by blocking transmission of resistant parasites that may be selected in a patient

Construction of a Peptide Microarray for Auto-anti- body Detection: FH - HES

Peptide and protein microarrays provide a multiplex approach to identification and quantification of protein–protein interactions (PPI), useful to study for instance antigen–antibody properties. Multivariate serology assays detecting multiple tumor auto-antibodies (TAA) is an emerging class of blood tests for cancer detection. Here we describe the efficient coupling of peptide baits derived from the BRCA1-associated RING domain protein 1 (BARD1) to a solid surface and detection of a commercially available anti-BARD1 antibody with this newly designed peptide microarray. Analytical sensitivity and specificity were shown to be comparable to a microtiter plate based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

The burden of long COVID: a multinational cohort analysis of Spanish and UK data including SARS-CoV-2 infections, reinfections, and matched contemporaneous test negative controls

As limited data was available on the effect of persisting COVID-19 symptoms, we characterised long COVID and identified key symptoms associated with persistent disease. Using primary care data from Spain and UK, we estimated incidence rates of long COVID in the population and among COVID-19 patients over time. Subsequently, we investigated which WHO-listed symptoms were particularly differential for long COVID by comparing their frequency in COVID-19 patients vs matched test-negative controls. Lastly, we compared persistent symptoms after first infections vs. reinfections. Fortunately, the proportion of COVID-19 cases resulting in long COVID declined over the study period. Risk for altered smell/taste, dyspnoea, and fatigue were consistently higher in long COVID patient vs controls [RR between 5.97-1.09]. All persistent symptoms were less common after reinfection than first infection. More research is needed into the definition of long COVID, and the effect of interventions to minimise the risk and impact of persistent symptoms