Coherent driving and freezing of bosonic matter wave in an optical Lieb lattice

While kinetic energy of a massive particle generally has quadratic dependence on its momentum, a flat, dispersionless energy band is realized in crystals with specific lattice structures. Such macroscopic degeneracy causes the emergence of localized eigenstates and has been a key concept in the context of itinerant ferromagnetism. Here we report the realization of a "Lieb lattice" configuration with an optical lattice, which has a flat energy band as the first excited state. Our optical lattice potential possesses various degrees of freedom about its manipulation, which enables coherent transfer of a Bose-Einstein condensate into the flat band. In addition to measuring lifetime of the flat band population for different tight-binding parameters, we investigate the inter-sublattice dynamics of the system by projecting the sublattice population onto the band population. This measurement clearly shows the formation of the localized state with the specific sublattice decoupled in the flat band, and even detects the presence of flat-band breaking perturbations, resulting in the delocalization. Our results will open up the possibilities of exploring physics of flat band with a highly controllable quantum system.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures. v2: Title changed, 1 reference correcte

Lessons Learned From Operations Planning and Preparation for EQUULEUS Launched Toward the Moon by SLS Artemis-1

EQUULEUS (EQUilibriUm Lunar-Earth point 6U Spacecraft) will be the world\u27s smallest spacecraft to explore around the Earth–Moon Lagrange point, which was launched on November 16, 2022, by NASA\u27s SLS (Space Launch System) Artemis-1. The primary mission of spacecraft is a trajectory control experiment, and its objective is to develop and demonstrate trajectory control techniques within the Sun-Earth-Moon region by flying to a libration orbit around the Earth-Moon Lagrange point L2 (EML2) along a low-energy transfer. EQUULEUS must perform a maneuver before the lunar flyby to stay within the Sun-Earth-Moon region. To perform DV1, we need to calculate and optimize the trajectory from launch to EML2. In addition, it is necessary to optimize the operation plan until the first lunar flyby, which is less than a week after launch. The reason for this is that the EQUULEUS trajectory will be significantly changed by the first lunar flyby, so appropriate trajectory control must be performed by that time. This paper presents the lessons learned in the operational preparation of EQUULEUS and those that should be applied to future missions to explore deep space, including the Moon and planets, by small and micro-satellites

EQUULEUS: Initial Operation Results of an Artemis-1 CubeSat to the Earth—Moon Lagrange Point

EQUULEUS is a 6U CubeSat developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the University of Tokyo, aiming to reach the Earth-Moon second Lagrange point (EML2) and perform scientific observations there. After being inserted into a lunar transfer orbit by SLS Artemis-1 on November 16, 2022, the spacecraft completed checkout operations and successfully performed a delta-V maneuver and subsequent trajectory correction maneuver. This enabled a precise lunar flyby as planned and successful insertion into the orbit toward EML2, which will take advantage of multiple lunar gravity assists and the gravity of the Sun. EQUULEUS is equipped with a water propulsion system newly developed by the University of Tokyo, and became the first spacecraft in the world to successfully control its orbit beyond low Earth orbit using water propulsion. The successful precise orbit control in the Sun–Earth–Moon region by EQUULEUS, a 6U CubeSat weighing only 10kg, has opened the possibility of full-scale lunar and planetary exploration by CubeSats. This paper describes the early operational results of EQUULEUS during its flight to EML2, with special emphasis on its precise orbit determination, guidance, and control results

Convolutional neural network-based automatic heart segmentation and quantitation in 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine SPECT imaging

Background: Since three-dimensional segmentation of cardiac region in 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) study has not been established, this study aimed to achieve organ segmentation using a convolutional neural network (CNN) with 123I-MIBG single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging, to calculate heart counts and washout rates (WR) automatically and to compare with conventional quantitation based on planar imaging. Methods: We assessed 48 patients (aged 68.4 \ub1 11.7\ua0years) with heart and neurological diseases, including chronic heart failure, dementia with Lewy bodies, and Parkinson\u27s disease. All patients were assessed by early and late 123I-MIBG planar and SPECT imaging. The CNN was initially trained to individually segment the lungs and liver on early and late SPECT images. The segmentation masks were aligned, and then, the CNN was trained to directly segment the heart, and all models were evaluated using fourfold cross-validation. The CNN-based average heart counts and WR were calculated and compared with those determined using planar parameters. The CNN-based SPECT and conventional planar heart counts were corrected by physical time decay, injected dose of 123I-MIBG, and body weight. We also divided WR into normal and abnormal groups from linear regression lines determined by the relationship between planar WR and CNN-based WR and then analyzed agreement between them. Results: The CNN segmented the cardiac region in patients with normal and reduced uptake. The CNN-based SPECT heart counts significantly correlated with conventional planar heart counts with and without background correction and a planar heart-to-mediastinum ratio (R2 = 0.862, 0.827, and 0.729, p < 0.0001, respectively). The CNN-based and planar WRs also correlated with and without background correction and WR based on heart-to-mediastinum ratios of R2 = 0.584, 0.568 and 0.507, respectively (p < 0.0001). Contingency table findings of high and low WR (cutoffs: 34% and 30% for planar and SPECT studies, respectively) showed 87.2% agreement between CNN-based and planar methods. Conclusions: The CNN could create segmentation from SPECT images, and average heart counts and WR were reliably calculated three-dimensionally, which might be a novel approach to quantifying SPECT images of innervation

Flight Model Design and Development Status of the Earth - Moon Lagrange Point Exploration CubeSat EQUULEUS Onboard SLS EM-1

EQUULEUS (EQUilibriUm Lunar-Earth point 6U Spacecraft) will be the world’s smallest spacecraft to explore the Earth―Moon Lagrange point. The spacecraft is being jointly developed by JAXA and the University of Tokyo and will be launched by NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) EM-1 (Exploration Mission-1). The spacecraft will fly to a libration orbit around the Earth―Moon Lagrange point L2 (EML2) and demonstrate trajectory control techniques within the Sun-Earth-Moon region for the first time by a nano spacecraft. This spacecraft also carries several scientific observation missions which will be conducted during and after the flight to EML2; imaging of the entire Earth’s plasmasphere by extreme UV wavelength, observation of the space dust flux in the cis-lunar region, and observation of the lunar meteor impact flashes at the far side of the moon from EML2. The development of the spacecraft started in the summer of 2016 and the engineering model integration and testing was completed by the end of 2017. The design of the flight model was completed based on the engineering model test results. The integration and testing of the flight model will be completed by the end of 2018, to be ready for the launch by SLS’ first flight in 2019

Solar System Exploration Sciences by EQUULEUS on SLS EM-1 and Science Instruments Development Status

EQUULEUS is a spacecraft to explore the cislunar region including the Earth-Moon Lagrange point L2 (EML2) and will be launched by NASA’s SLS EM-1 rocket. Although the size of EQUULEUS is only 6U, the spacecraft carries three different science instruments. By using these instruments, the spacecraft will demonstrate three missions for solar system exploration science during and after the flight to EML2; imaging of the plasmasphere around the earth, observation of space dust flux in the cislunar region, and observation of lunar impact flashes at the far side of the moon. The developments and verifications of the flight models of these science instruments were completed by the end of 2018, and we started flight model integration and testing. This paper introduces the details of the scientific objectives, design results and development statuses of the instruments. In addition, results of the integration and pre-flight tests are also described

Prevention of hypoglycemia by intermittent-scanning continuous glucose monitoring device combined with structured education in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus : A randomized, crossover trial

Aims: We conducted a randomized, crossover trial to compare intermittent-scanning continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) device with structured education (Intervention) to self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) (Control) in the reduction of time below range. Methods: This crossover trial involved 104 adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) using multiple daily injections. Participants were randomly allocated to either sequence Intervention/Control or sequence Control/Intervention. During the Intervention period which lasted 84 days, participants used the first-generation FreeStyle Libre (Abbott Diabetes Care, Alameda, CA, USA) and received structured education on how to prevent hypoglycemia based on the trend arrow and by frequent sensor scanning (≥10 times a day). Confirmatory SMBG was conducted before dosing insulin. The Control period lasted 84 days. The primary endpoint was the decrease in the time below range (TBR; <70 mg/dL). Results: The time below range was significantly reduced in the Intervention arm compared to the Control arm (2.42 ± 1.68 h/day [10.1 %±7.0 %] vs 3.10 ± 2.28 h/day [12.9 %±9.5 %], P = 0.012). The ratio of high-risk participants with low blood glucose index >5 was significantly reduced (8.6 % vs 23.7 %, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The use of isCGM combined with structured education significantly reduced the time below range in patients with T1DM

The Comet Interceptor Mission

Here we describe the novel, multi-point Comet Interceptor mission. It is dedicated to the exploration of a little-processed long-period comet, possibly entering the inner Solar System for the first time, or to encounter an interstellar object originating at another star. The objectives of the mission are to address the following questions: What are the surface composition, shape, morphology, and structure of the target object? What is the composition of the gas and dust in the coma, its connection to the nucleus, and the nature of its interaction with the solar wind? The mission was proposed to the European Space Agency in 2018, and formally adopted by the agency in June 2022, for launch in 2029 together with the Ariel mission. Comet Interceptor will take advantage of the opportunity presented by ESA’s F-Class call for fast, flexible, low-cost missions to which it was proposed. The call required a launch to a halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L2 point. The mission can take advantage of this placement to wait for the discovery of a suitable comet reachable with its minimum ΔV capability of 600 ms−1. Comet Interceptor will be unique in encountering and studying, at a nominal closest approach distance of 1000 km, a comet that represents a near-pristine sample of material from the formation of the Solar System. It will also add a capability that no previous cometary mission has had, which is to deploy two sub-probes – B1, provided by the Japanese space agency, JAXA, and B2 – that will follow different trajectories through the coma. While the main probe passes at a nominal 1000 km distance, probes B1 and B2 will follow different chords through the coma at distances of 850 km and 400 km, respectively. The result will be unique, simultaneous, spatially resolved information of the 3-dimensional properties of the target comet and its interaction with the space environment. We present the mission’s science background leading to these objectives, as well as an overview of the scientific instruments, mission design, and schedule