Optimization of photon storage fidelity in ordered atomic arrays

A major application for atomic ensembles consists of a quantum memory for light, in which an optical state can be reversibly converted to a collective atomic excitation on demand. There exists a well-known fundamental bound on the storage error, when the ensemble is describable by a continuous medium governed by the Maxwell-Bloch equations. The validity of this model can break down, however, in systems such as dense, ordered atomic arrays, where strong interference in emission can give rise to phenomena such as subradiance and "selective" radiance. Here, we develop a general formalism that finds the maximum storage efficiency for a collection of atoms with discrete, known positions, and a given spatial mode in which an optical field is sent. As an example, we apply this technique to study a finite two-dimensional square array of atoms. We show that such a system enables a storage error that scales with atom number $N_\mathrm{a}$ like $\sim (\log N_\mathrm{a})^2/N_\mathrm{a}^2$, and that, remarkably, an array of just $4 \times 4$ atoms in principle allows for an efficiency comparable to a disordered ensemble with optical depth of around 600.Comment: paper is now identical to published versio

Effect of dietary sunflower hulls on nutrient digestibility, ileal morphology, and volatile fatty acid concentration in broilers and pullets fed a broiler diet from 1 to 21 days of age

The effects of sunflower hulls (SFH) inclusion on performance, TTAR of nutrients, ileal mucosa morphology, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration in the ceca were studied in birds from 1 to 21 d of age. There were 4 treatments organized as 2 × 2 factorial with 2 chicken lines (broilers vs. pullets) and 2 levels of SFH (0 vs. 3%). Each treatment was replicated 7 times (10 birds). The corn-soybean meal control diet contained 3,010 kcal AMEn/kg, 1.25% digestible Lys, and 8.7% NDF. In the experimental diet, SFH was included at the expense (wt:wt) of the control diet. Diets were offered in mash form. No interactions between main effects were detected for any trait. From 1 to 21 d of age, ADG was greater and FCR was better in broilers than in pullets (P < 0.001) but SFH inclusion did not affect bird performance. The TTAR of all nutrients was higher (P < 0.05) in broilers than in pullets. The inclusion of SFH improved AMEn of the diet (P < 0.05) at both ages and DM and N retention (P < 0.001) at 21 d. Broilers had larger villus and deeper crypt (P < 0.01) than pullets. Broilers tended to have higher (P = 0.077) cecal proportion of acetate than pullets but no effects were observed for the other VFA. SFH inclusion tended to increased villus height (P < 0.05) and cecal proportion of acetate and propionate (P < 0.01). In summary, broilers grew faster, were more efficient, had higher ileum absorptive capacity, TTAR of nutrients than pullets. The inclusion of 3% SFH in substitution (wt:wt) of the whole diet improved AMEn without showing any negative effect on growth performance of the bird

An investigation into the fabrication parameters of screen-printed capacitive sensors on e-textiles

[EN] The design and development of textile-based capacitive sensors requires the implementation of textile capacitors with a determined capacitance. One of the main techniques to obtain these sensors is the screen-printing of conductive and dielectric inks on textiles. This paper investigates the fabrication parameters that have the most influence when designing and implementing a screen-printed capacitive sensor. In this work, a textile has been used directly as the dielectric part, influencing sensitively the value of the permittivity and the thickness of the dielectric of the capacitor. These are two fundamental parameters for the estimation of its capacitance. The choice of the conductive ink, its viscosity and solid content, as well as printing parameters, such as printing direction, also impact on the manner for obtaining the electrodes of the capacitive sensor. Although the resulting electrodes do not represent an important parameter for the estimation of the capacitance, it determines the selection of fabrics that can be printed. As a result of the investigation, the paper provides a guideline to choose the materials, such as fabrics or inks, as well as the printing parameters, to implement e-textile applications based on projected capacitive technologies. The experiments carried out on different fabrics and inks have provided results with capacities of less than 60 pF, the limit where the sensors based on capacitive technologies are located.The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Conselleria d'Economia Sostenible, Sectors Productius i Treball, through IVACE (Instituto Valenciano de Competitividad Empresarial) and cofounded by ERDF funding from the European Union (Application no. IMAMCI/2019/1). This work was also supported by the Spanish Government/FEDER funds (RTI2018-100910-B-C43) (MINECO/FEDER).Ferri, J.; Llinares Llopis, R.; Moreno, J.; Lidon-Roger, JV.; Garcia-Breijo, E. (2020). An investigation into the fabrication parameters of screen-printed capacitive sensors on e-textiles. Textile Research Journal. 90(15-16):1749-1769. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040517519901016S174917699015-16Gonçalves, C., Ferreira da Silva, A., Gomes, J., & Simoes, R. (2018). Wearable E-Textile Technologies: A Review on Sensors, Actuators and Control Elements. Inventions, 3(1), 14. doi:10.3390/inventions3010014Mostafalu, P., Tamayol, A., Rahimi, R., Ochoa, M., Khalilpour, A., Kiaee, G., … Khademhosseini, A. (2018). Smart Bandage for Monitoring and Treatment of Chronic Wounds. Small, 14(33), 1703509. doi:10.1002/smll.201703509Shi, H., Zhao, H., Liu, Y., Gao, W., & Dou, S.-C. (2019). Systematic Analysis of a Military Wearable Device Based on a Multi-Level Fusion Framework: Research Directions. Sensors, 19(12), 2651. doi:10.3390/s19122651Kim, K., Jung, M., Jeon, S., & Bae, J. (2019). Robust and scalable three-dimensional spacer textile pressure sensor for human motion detection. Smart Materials and Structures, 28(6), 065019. doi:10.1088/1361-665x/ab1adfFerri, J., Perez Fuster, C., Llinares Llopis, R., Moreno, J., & Garcia‑Breijo, E. (2018). Integration of a 2D Touch Sensor with an Electroluminescent Display by Using a Screen-Printing Technology on Textile Substrate. Sensors, 18(10), 3313. doi:10.3390/s18103313De Vos, M., Torah, R., Glanc-Gostkiewicz, M., & Tudor, J. (2016). A Complex Multilayer Screen-Printed Electroluminescent Watch Display on Fabric. Journal of Display Technology, 12(12), 1757-1763. doi:10.1109/jdt.2016.2613906Lin, X., & Seet, B.-C. (2017). Battery-Free Smart Sock for Abnormal Relative Plantar Pressure Monitoring. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Circuits and Systems, 11(2), 464-473. doi:10.1109/tbcas.2016.2615603Ejupi, A., & Menon, C. (2018). Detection of Talking in Respiratory Signals: A Feasibility Study Using Machine Learning and Wearable Textile-Based Sensors. Sensors, 18(8), 2474. doi:10.3390/s18082474Polanský, R., Soukup, R., Řeboun, J., Kalčík, J., Moravcová, D., Kupka, L., … Hamáček, A. (2017). A novel large-area embroidered temperature sensor based on an innovative hybrid resistive thread. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 265, 111-119. doi:10.1016/j.sna.2017.08.030Komazaki, Y., & Uemura, S. (2019). Stretchable, printable, and tunable PDMS-CaCl2 microcomposite for capacitive humidity sensors on textiles. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 297, 126711. doi:10.1016/j.snb.2019.126711Ng, C. L., & Reaz, M. B. I. (2019). Evolution of a capacitive electromyography contactless biosensor: Design and modelling techniques. Measurement, 145, 460-471. doi:10.1016/j.measurement.2019.05.031Ferri, J., Lidón-Roger, J., Moreno, J., Martinez, G., & Garcia-Breijo, E. (2017). A Wearable Textile 2D Touchpad Sensor Based on Screen-Printing Technology. Materials, 10(12), 1450. doi:10.3390/ma10121450Atalay, O. (2018). Textile-Based, Interdigital, Capacitive, Soft-Strain Sensor for Wearable Applications. Materials, 11(5), 768. doi:10.3390/ma11050768Yongsang Kim, Hyejung Kim, & Hoi-Jun Yoo. (2010). Electrical Characterization of Screen-Printed Circuits on the Fabric. IEEE Transactions on Advanced Packaging, 33(1), 196-205. doi:10.1109/tadvp.2009.2034536Lee, W. J., Park, J. Y., Nam, H. J., & Choa, S.-H. (2019). The development of a highly stretchable, durable, and printable textile electrode. Textile Research Journal, 89(19-20), 4104-4113. doi:10.1177/0040517519828992Chatterjee, K., Tabor, J., & Ghosh, T. K. (2019). Electrically Conductive Coatings for Fiber-Based E-Textiles. Fibers, 7(6), 51. doi:10.3390/fib7060051Gu, J. F., Gorgutsa, S., & Skorobogatiy, M. (2010). Soft capacitor fibers using conductive polymers for electronic textiles. Smart Materials and Structures, 19(11), 115006. doi:10.1088/0964-1726/19/11/115006Khan, S., Lorenzelli, L., & Dahiya, R. S. (2015). Technologies for Printing Sensors and Electronics Over Large Flexible Substrates: A Review. IEEE Sensors Journal, 15(6), 3164-3185. doi:10.1109/jsen.2014.2375203Zhang, Q., Wang, Y. L., Xia, Y., Zhang, P. F., Kirk, T. V., & Chen, X. D. (2019). Textile‐Only Capacitive Sensors for Facile Fabric Integration without Compromise of Wearability. Advanced Materials Technologies, 4(10), 1900485. doi:10.1002/admt.201900485Mukherjee, P. K. (2018). Dielectric properties in textile materials: a theoretical study. The Journal of The Textile Institute, 110(2), 211-214. doi:10.1080/00405000.2018.1473710Sadi, M. S., Yang, M., Luo, L., Cheng, D., Cai, G., & Wang, X. (2019). Direct screen printing of single-faced conductive cotton fabrics for strain sensing, electrical heating and color changing. Cellulose, 26(10), 6179-6188. doi:10.1007/s10570-019-02526-

Factors that influence the quality of metabolomics data in in vitro cell toxicity studies: a systematic survey

REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) is a global strategy and regulation policy of the EU that aims to improve the protection of human health and the environment through the better and earlier identification of the intrinsic properties of chemical substances. It entered into force on 1st June 2007 (EC 1907/2006). REACH and EU policies plead for the use of robust high-throughput 'omic' techniques for the in vitro investigation of the toxicity of chemicals that can provide an estimation of their hazards as well as information regarding the underlying mechanisms of toxicity. In agreement with the 3R's principles, cultured cells are nowadays widely used for this purpose, where metabolomics can provide a real-time picture of the metabolic effects caused by exposure of cells to xenobiotics, enabling the estimations about their toxicological hazards. High quality and robust metabolomics data sets are essential for precise and accurate hazard predictions. Currently, the acquisition of consistent and representative metabolomic data is hampered by experimental drawbacks that hinder reproducibility and difficult robust hazard interpretation. Using the differentiated human liver HepG2 cells as model system, and incubating with hepatotoxic (acetaminophen and valproic acid) and non-hepatotoxic compounds (citric acid), we evaluated in-depth the impact of several key experimental factors (namely, cell passage, processing day and storage time, and compound treatment) and instrumental factors (batch effect) on the outcome of an UPLC-MS metabolomic analysis data set. Results showed that processing day and storage time had a significant impact on the retrieved cell's metabolome, while the effect of cell passage was minor. Meta-analysis of results from pathway analysis showed that batch effect corrections and quality control (QC) measures are critical to enable consistent and meaningful estimations of the effects caused by compounds on cells. The quantitative analysis of the changes in metabolic pathways upon bioactive compound treatment remained consistent despite the concurrent causes of metabolomic data variation. Thus, upon appropriate data retrieval and correction and by an innovative metabolic pathway analysis, the metabolic alteration predictions remained conclusive despite the acknowledged sources of variability

Applications of the wave packet method to resonant transmission and reflection gratings

Scattering of femtosecond laser pulses on resonant transmission and reflection gratings made of dispersive (Drude metals) and dielectric materials is studied by a time-domain numerical algorithm for Maxwell's theory of linear passive (dispersive and absorbing) media. The algorithm is based on the Hamiltonian formalism in the framework of which Maxwell's equations for passive media are shown to be equivalent to the first-order equation, $\partial \Psi/\partial t = {\cal H}\Psi$, where ${\cal H}$ is a linear differential operator (Hamiltonian) acting on a multi-dimensional vector $\Psi$ built of the electromagnetic inductions and auxiliary matter fields describing the medium response. The initial value problem is then solved by means of a modified time leapfrog method in combination with the Fourier pseudospectral method applied on a non-uniform grid that is constructed by a change of variables and designed to enhance the sampling efficiency near medium interfaces. The algorithm is shown to be highly accurate at relatively low computational costs. An excellent agreement with previous theoretical and experimental studies of the gratings is demonstrated by numerical simulations using our algorithm. In addition, our algorithm allows one to see real time dynamics of long leaving resonant excitations of electromagnetic fields in the gratings in the entire frequency range of the initial wide band wave packet as well as formation of the reflected and transmitted wave fronts.Comment: 23 pages; 8 figures in the png forma

Update on the effects of antioxidants on diabetic retinopathy : In vitro experiments, animal studies and clinical trials

Current therapies for diabetic retinopathy (DR) incorporate blood glucose and blood pressure control, vitrectomy, photocoagulation, and intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors or corticosteroids. Nonetheless, these techniques have not been demonstrated to completely stop the evolution of this disorder. The pathophysiology of DR is not fully known, but there is more and more evidence indicating that oxidative stress is an important mechanism in the progression of DR. In this sense, antioxidants have been suggested as a possible therapy to reduce the complications of DR. In this review we aim to assemble updated information in relation to in vitro experiments, animal studies and clinical trials dealing with the effect of the antioxidants on DR

Selección de proveedores con enfoque multicriterio y ecológico

La cadena de suministro inicia con la adquisición de materia prima, la cual es abastecida por proveedores. Sin embargo, en la actualidad, las empresas generalmente tienen varias opciones de compra, lo que dificulta el proceso de compra y adquisiciones ya que debe realizarse una selección de dichos proveedores, pero también, los componentes y servicios ofertados por éstos presentan distintas características o atributos, por lo que este proceso de selección se convierte en un problema multiatributo. De la misma manera, las regulaciones ambientales impuestas por los gobiernos hoy en día, hacen que se incluyan características de tipo ecológico, con lo cual se garantiza que a lo largo de todo el proceso de producción existan sistemas limpios. En este trabajo se reporta un caso de selección de proveedores en el que se analizan cinco atributos tomados de la literatura y se asocian con los atributos más frecuentemente utilizados, pero también aquellos de tipo ecológico. Para la evaluación de un conjunto de cuatro proveedores se utilizó la técnica de Proceso Jerárquico Analítico (AHP) para la ponderación de cinco atributos. Finalmente se ha utilizado la Técnica de Preferencias Ordenadas por Similitud a una Solución Ideal (TOPSIS), la cual estima la distancia que existe de una solución idealizada a todas y cada una de las alternativas. El modelo presentado es completamente teórico y representa una alternativa de solución propuesta a una empresa local

Novel sampling strategy for alive animal volatolome extraction combined with GC-MS based untargeted metabolomics: Identifying mouse pup pheromones

In this study, we identify 11 mouse pup volatiles putatively involved in maternal care induction in adult females. For this purpose, we have adapted the dynamic headspace methodology to extract the volatolome of whole alive animals. Untargeted metabolomic methodology was used to compare the volatolome of neonatal (4–6 days) with elder pups until the age of weaning (21–23 days old). Pup volatolome was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) coupled to single quadrupole mass spectrometry (MS) using automated thermal desorption for sample introduction. After data processing and multivariate statistical analysis, comparison with NIST spectral library allowed identifying compounds secreted preferentially by neonatal pups: di(propylen glycol) methyl ether, 4-nonenal, di(ethylene glycol) monobutyl ether, 2-phenoxyethanol, isomethyl ionone, tridecanal, 1,3-diethylbenzene, 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene, 2-ethyl-p-xylene and tri(propylene glycol) methyl ether. Palmitic acid was enriched in the volatolome of fourth week youngsters compared to neonatal pups. The results demonstrated the great potential of the new sampling procedure combined with GC-MS based untargeted volatolomics to identify volatile pheromones in mammals.Funding for open access charge: CRUE-Universitat Jaume