Circuit quantum acoustodynamics with surface acoustic waves

The experimental investigation of quantum devices incorporating mechanical resonators has opened up new frontiers in the study of quantum mechanics at a macroscopic level$^{1,2}$. Superconducting microwave circuits have proven to be a powerful platform for the realisation of such quantum devices, both in cavity optomechanics$^{3,4}$, and circuit quantum electro-dynamics (QED)$^{5,6}$. While most experiments to date have involved localised nanomechanical resonators, it has recently been shown that propagating surface acoustic waves (SAWs) can be piezoelectrically coupled to superconducting qubits$^{7,8}$, and confined in high-quality Fabry-Perot cavities up to microwave frequencies in the quantum regime$^{9}$, indicating the possibility of realising coherent exchange of quantum information between the two systems. Here we present measurements of a device in which a superconducting qubit is embedded in, and interacts with, the acoustic field of a Fabry-Perot SAW cavity on quartz, realising a surface acoustic version of cavity quantum electrodynamics. This quantum acoustodynamics (QAD) architecture may be used to develop new quantum acoustic devices in which quantum information is stored in trapped on-chip surface acoustic wavepackets, and manipulated in ways that are impossible with purely electromagnetic signals, due to the $10^{5}$ times slower speed of travel of the mechanical waves.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, 1 tabl

Press and Dryer Roll Surfaces and Web Transfer Systems for Ultra High Paper Machine Speeds

Project Objective: The objective of the project is to provide fundamental knowledge and diagnostic tools needed to design new technologies that will allow ultrahigh speed web transfer from press rolls and dryer cylinders. Fundamental Questions: From a timdamental standpoint, we expect that roll surface performance depends on the composition of contaminants that deposit on those surfaces during use, as well as the materials and finishing techniques used in manufacturing these surfaces. We need to understand, the contamination process, the influence of contamination on work of adhesion, the roles of surface topology, film splitting, and process conditions on web transfer. 1. What is the status of the technical scope of work? Answers should be tailored to the tasks in the Statement of Work that are being performed. Task 1 -The techniques and procedures described under sub-tasks 1 and 2 were developed during the last quarter of FY 1998-99. These techniques were refined during the quarter covered by this progress reportls' quarter 1999-00. During the past two quarters four mills, comprising three different grades (coated, liner, and medium) were visited. Personnel ffom IPST collected dryer surface topology data using an epoxy replicate technique, measure dryer surface contamination density, and collected contamination samples. The contamination samples were subjected to chemical analysis at IPST. One of the most interesting tindings from this work is that all dryer cylinders have some form of contamination. While the samples collected provide a suitable database, one or more mills maybe visited in the coming quarter to widen the scope of the data base. This task will be completed by the end of the second quarter of this FY. Task 2 - During the last quarter, the shakedown process for the CTS began. There were several problems uncovered. The induction heater used to heat the roll, a requirement for dryer can simulation, had previously been returned to the manufacturer for reconditioning. Upon testing, it did not operate properly and had to be sent back to the manufacturer. It has since been returned, installed on the CTS, tested, and shown to operate properly. The contamination system was tested. It was found that lower than expected flow rates were needed to keep the felt wetted with the contamination solution. The flow loop is being modified to incorporate a higher resolution flow meter. Contamination studies will begin by March 1. The topology of the coupons, that will be used in both the contamination studies and the web adhesion studies, were compared to those obtained from the dryer cylinders examined as part of Task 1. There was a reasonable correlation between the two sets of data. Thus, the test coupons should provide a representative surface for the contamination work. The results were interpreted quantitative y through construction of numerical models that capture the many details of this hydrologic system and simultaneously consider hydraulic head and isotope ratio data. The model ing results reinforce the qualitative interpretation of the data and constrain the relative velocities of the fast and slow flow zones. The aims of the project deviated little from the initial plan. More effort was expended in qualitative data analysis and gathering of aquifer information than planned, but the overall goals of the project were attained. DISCLAIMER Results The first set of results consisted of Sr stable isotope ratio (s7Sr/86Sr)and dissolved element The results of the modeling work are publishable, but the post-doctoral researcher did not complete an acceptable manuscript. A revised and completed manuscript will be produced by the P.I. in the coming months. Future Work Prospects for application of this technique to other hydrologic systems and DOE sites were assessed, and it appears that groundwater Past paths related to karst at Oak Ridge National Laboratory could be identified. Reconnaissance 87Sr/86Sr data collected for the Bear Creek Valley area suggest that the waters entering karstic features in the massive carbonate rocks should have relatively high 87Sr/86Sr ratios. Increased residence time in the carbonate rocks should translate to lower 87 Sr/*6Sr ratios as Sr is acquired from rock dissolution. Contacts at the laboratory were made and this project should move forward soon, probably as a master's project for a UIUC graduate student. Additional work at the INEEL is warranted, in order to apply this technique to its fullest extent in that setting. Sampling on a more detailed scale than that planned in this first study is possible, because of the large numbers of groundwater monitoring wells in some areas. Also, additional samples from remote areas outside the INEEL could be collected to improve our understanding of the regional mixing of groundwater masses. Finally, work with the hydrologic details of the aquifer (e.g., the exact role of sedimentary interbeds, the composition of thermal water inputs, changes in chemistry with depth in the aquifer) cou]d also improve future use of these data and interpretations. Publications/ Manuscripts Johnson T. M., Roback R. C., McLing T. L., Bullen T. D., DePaolo D. J., Doughty C., Hunt R. ABSTRACT Groundwater '7Sr/8%r ratios reveal the locations of fast and slow flow zones in the Snake River Plain Aquifer. Slow flow zones are marked by lower '7Sr/%r ratios caused by interaction with the low-s7Sr/gGSr host basalts, whereas a major fast flow zone appears as a high-s7Sr/*GSr area in which the water chemistry evolves much less. The locations of these fast and slow flow zones are important in prediction of solute transport in and near the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. Radiogenic isotope ratios and they are especially useful in have highly useful characteristics as natural groundwater tracers, cases where waters are too old for tritium age dating and too young for radiocarbon dating. In systems with significant water-rock interaction, these isotope ratios are more easily interpreted than concentration data because they are influenced by fewer reactions and the equilibrium toward which the waters evolve is often predictable. This advantage is illustrated by the Snake River Plain '7Sr/8GSrresults and 'siU/zssU data from a companion study using the same samples

The Formation of a Cross-Selling Initiative Climate and its Interplay with Service Climate

Purpose— This study explores the formation and consequences of a cross-selling initiative climate, as well as how a service climate, which provides an important boundary condition, affects both its formation and its ultimate impact on service–sales performance. This article identifies two important predictors of a cross-selling initiative climate: frontline employees’ perceptions of supervisors’ bottom-line mentality and their own sense of accountability. Design/methodology/approach— The multilevel data set includes 180 frontline staff and supervisors (team leaders) from 31 teams employed by a spa/beauty salon chain. Hierarchical linear modelling and partial least squares methods serve to analyse the data. Findings— Supervisors’ bottom-line mentality disrupts a cross-selling initiative climate; a sense of accountability exerts a positive impact, at both individual and team levels. A service climate at the team level weakens the impact of a sense of accountability on a cross-selling initiative climate. A cross-selling initiative climate has a positive effect on team-level service–sales performance, but this effect is weakened by the service climate. Originality/value— This study conceptualises an important frontline work unit attribute as a climate. It offers an initial argument that a cross-selling initiative climate is a central factor driving a work unit’s service–sales performance, which can increase firms’ productivity and competitive advantages. With this initial attempt to explore the antecedents and consequences of a cross-selling initiative climate, the study also offers novel insights into the interplay between a service and a cross-selling initiative climate

Influence of GABA and GABA-producing Lactobacillus brevis DPC 6108 on the development of diabetes in a streptozotocin rat model

peer-reviewedThe aim of this study was to investigate if dietary administration of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-producing Lactobacillus brevis DPC 6108 and pure GABA exert protective effects against the development of diabetes in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Sprague Dawley rats. In a first experiment, healthy rats were divided in 3 groups (n=10/group) receiving placebo, 2.6 mg/kg body weight (bw) pure GABA or L. brevis DPC 6108 (~109microorganisms). In a second experiment, rats (n=15/group) were randomised to five groups and four of these received an injection of STZ to induce type 1 diabetes. Diabetic and non-diabetic controls received placebo [4% (w/v) yeast extract in dH2O], while the other three diabetic groups received one of the following dietary supplements: 2.6 mg/kg bw GABA (low GABA), 200 mg/kg bw GABA (high GABA) or ~109 L. brevis DPC 6108. L. brevis DPC 6108 supplementation was associated with increased serum insulin levels (P0.05), compared with non-diabetic controls while all other diabetic groups displayed reduced diversity (P<0.05). L. brevis DPC 6108 attenuated hyperglycaemia induced by diabetes but additional studies are needed to understand the mechanisms involved in this reduction.The authors and their work were supported by the APC Microbiome Institute. The APC Microbiome Institute is funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI). This publication has emanated from research supported by a research grant from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) under Grant Number SFI/12/RC/2273

The Dwarf Novae of Shortest Period

We present observations of the dwarf novae GW Lib, V844 Her, and DI UMa. Radial velocities of H-alph yield orbital periods of 0.05332 +- 0.00002 d (= 76.78 m) for GW Lib and and 0.054643 +- 0.000007 d (= 78.69 m) for V844 Her. Recently, the orbital period of DI UMa was found to be only 0.054564 +- 0.000002 d (= 78.57 m) by Fried et al. (1999), so these are the three shortest orbital periods among dwarf novae with normal-abundance secondaries. GW Lib has attracted attention as a cataclysmic binary showing apparent ZZ Ceti-type pulsations of the white dwarf primary. Its spectrum shows sharp Balmer emission flanked by strong, broad Balmer absorption, indicating a dominant contribution by white-dwarf light. Analysis of the Balmer absorption profiles is complicated by the unknown residual accretion luminosity and lack of coverage of the high Balmer lines. Our best-fit model atmospheres are marginally hotter than the ZZ Ceti instability strip, in rough agreement with recent ultraviolet results from HST. The spectrum and outburst behavior of GW Lib make it a near twin of WZ Sge, and we estimate it to have a quiescent V absolute magnitude 12. Comparison with archival data reveals proper motion of 65 +- 12 mas/yr. The mean spectrum of V844 Her is typical of SU UMa dwarf novae. We detected superhumps in the 1997 May superoutburst with superhump period = 0.05597 +- 0.00005 d. The spectrum of DI UMa appears normal for a dwarf nova near minimum light. These three dwarf novae have nearly identical short periods but completely dissimilar outburst characteristics. We discuss possible implications.Comment: Accepted for publication in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific; 16 pages, 6 figure

The epidemiology of pseudallescheriasis complicating transplantation: Nosocomial and community‐acquired infection

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141586/1/myc1990336296.pd

The X-ray eclipse of the dwarf nova HT CAS observed by the XMM-Newton satellite: spectral and timing analysis

A cataclysmic variable is a binary system consisting of a white dwarf that accretes material from a secondary object via the Roche-lobe mechanism. In the case of long enough observation, a detailed temporal analysis can be performed, allowing the physical properties of the binary system to be determined. We present an XMM-Newton observation of the dwarf nova HT Cas acquired to resolve the binary system eclipses and constrain the origin of the X-rays observed. We also compare our results with previous ROSAT and ASCA data. After the spectral analysis of the three EPIC camera signals, the observed X-ray light curve was studied with well known techniques and the eclipse contact points obtained. The X-ray spectrum can be described by thermal bremsstrahlung of temperature $kT_1=6.89 \pm 0.23$ keV plus a black-body component (upper limit) with temperature $kT_2=30_{-6}^{+8}$ eV. Neglecting the black-body, the bolometric absorption corrected flux is $F^{\rm{Bol}}=(6.5\pm 0.1)\times10^{-12}$ erg s$^{-1}$ cm$^{-2}$, which, for a distance of HT Cas of 131 pc, corresponds to a bolometric luminosity of $(1.33\pm 0.02)\times10^{31}$ erg s$^{-1}$. The study of the eclipse in the EPIC light curve permits us to constrain the size and location of the X-ray emitting region, which turns out to be close to the white dwarf radius. We measure an X-ray eclipse somewhat smaller (but only at a level of $\simeq 1.5 \sigma$) than the corresponding optical one. If this is the case, we have possibly identified the signature of either high latitude emission or a layer of X-ray emitting material partially obscured by an accretion disk.Comment: Accepted for publication on Astronomy and Astrophysics, 200