756 research outputs found
Experimental assessment of predation risk for juvenile green sturgeon, Acipenser medirostris, by two predatory fishes
Deep-well ultrafast manipulation of a SQUID flux qubit
Superconducting devices based on the Josephson effect are effectively used
for the implementation of qubits and quantum gates. The manipulation of
superconducting qubits is generally performed by using microwave pulses with
frequencies from 5 to 15 GHz, obtaining a typical operating clock from 100MHz
to 1GHz. A manipulation based on simple pulses in the absence of microwaves is
also possible. In our system a magnetic flux pulse modifies the potential of a
double SQUID qubit from a symmetric double well to a single deep well
condition. By using this scheme with a Nb/AlOx/Nb system we obtained coherent
oscillations with sub-nanosecond period (tunable from 50ps to 200ps), very fast
with respect to other manipulating procedures, and with a coherence time up to
10ns, of the order of what obtained with similar devices and technologies but
using microwave manipulation. We introduce the ultrafast manipulation
presenting experimental results, new issues related to this approach (such as
the use of a feedback procedure for cancelling the effect of "slow"
fluctuations), and open perspectives, such as the possible use of RSFQ logic
for the qubit control.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure
Efficacy of a sensory deterrent and pipe modifications in decreasing entrainment of juvenile green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) at unscreened water diversions.
Water projects designed to extract fresh water for local urban, industrial and agricultural use throughout rivers and estuaries worldwide have contributed to the fragmentation and degradation of suitable habitat for native fishes. The number of water diversions located throughout the Sacramento-San Joaquin watershed in California's Central Valley exceeds 3300, and the majority of these are unscreened. Many anadromous fish species are susceptible to entrainment into these diversions, potentially impacting population numbers. In the laboratory, juvenile green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) have been shown to have high entrainment rates into unscreened diversions compared with those of other native California fish species, which may act as a significant source of mortality for this already-threatened species. Therefore, we tested the efficacy of a sensory deterrent (strobe light) and two structural pipe modifications (terminal pipe plate and upturned pipe configuration) in decreasing the entrainment of juvenile green sturgeon (mean mass ± SEM = 162.9 ± 4.0 g; mean fork length = 39.4 ± 0.3 cm) in a large (>500 kl) outdoor flume fitted with a water-diversion pipe 0.46 m in diameter. While the presence of the strobe light did not affect fish entrainment rates, the terminal pipe plate and upturned pipe modifications significantly decreased the proportion of fish entrained out of the total number tested relative to control conditions (0.13 ± 0.02 and 0.03 ± 0.02 vs. 0.44 ± 0.04, respectively). These data suggest that sensory deterrents using visual stimuli are not an effective means to reduce diversion pipe interactions for green sturgeon, but that structural alterations to diversions can successfully reduce entrainment for this species. Our results are informative for the development of effective management strategies to mitigate the impacts of water diversions on sturgeon populations and suggest that effective restoration strategies that balance agricultural needs with conservation programmes are possible
A tunable macroscopic quantum system based on two fractional vortices
We propose a tunable macroscopic quantum system based on two fractional
vortices. Our analysis shows that two coupled fractional vortices pinned at two
artificially created \kappa\ discontinuities of the Josephson phase in a long
Josephson junction can reach the quantum regime where coherent quantum
oscillations arise. For this purpose we map the dynamics of this system to that
of a single particle in a double-well potential. By tuning the \kappa\
discontinuities with injector currents we are able to control the parameters of
the effective double-well potential as well as to prepare a desired state of
the fractional vortex molecule. The values of the parameters derived from this
model suggest that an experimental realisation of this tunable macroscopic
quantum system is possible with today's technology.Comment: We updated our manuscript due to a change of the focus from qubit to
macroscopic quantum effect
Role of extracellular matrix in gastrointestinal cancer-associated angiogenesis
Gastrointestinal tumors are responsible for more cancer-related fatalities than any other type of tumors, and colorectal and gastric malignancies account for a large part of these diseases. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic approaches to improve the patients\u2019 outcome and the tumor microenvironment is a promising arena for the development of such treatments. In fact, the nature of the microenvironment in the different gastrointestinal tracts may significantly influence not only tumor development but also the therapy response. In particular, an important microenvironmental component and a potential therapeutic target is the vasculature. In this context, the extracellular matrix is a key component exerting an active effect in all the hallmarks of cancer, including angiogenesis. Here, we summarized the current knowledge on the role of extracellular matrix in affecting endothelial cell function and intratumoral vascularization in the context of colorectal and gastric cancer. The extracellular matrix acts both directly on endothelial cells and indirectly through its remodeling and the consequent release of growth factors. We envision that a deeper understanding of the role of extracellular matrix and of its remodeling during cancer progression is of chief importance for the development of new, more efficacious, targeted therapies
Superconducting qubit manipulated by fast pulses: experimental observation of distinct decoherence regimes
A particular superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID)qubit,
indicated as double SQUID qubit, can be manipulated by rapidly modifying its
potential with the application of fast flux pulses. In this system we observe
coherent oscillations exhibiting non-exponential decay, indicating a non
trivial decoherence mechanism. Moreover, by tuning the qubit in different
conditions (different oscillation frequencies) by changing the pulse height, we
observe a crossover between two distinct decoherence regimes and the existence
of an "optimal" point where the qubit is only weakly sensitive to intrinsic
noise. We find that this behaviour is in agreement with a model considering the
decoherence caused essentially by low frequency noise contributions, and
discuss the experimental results and possible issues.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figure
Morphology, dynamics and plasma parameters of plumes and inter-plume regions in solar coronal holes
Coronal plumes, which extend from solar coronal holes (CH) into the high
corona and - possibly - into the solar wind (SW), can now continuously be
studied with modern telescopes and spectrometers on spacecraft, in addition to
investigations from the ground, in particular, during total eclipses. Despite
the large amount of data available on these prominent features and related
phenomena, many questions remained unanswered as to their generation and
relative contributions to the high-speed streams emanating from CHs. An
understanding of the processes of plume formation and evolution requires a
better knowledge of the physical conditions at the base of CHs, in plumes and
in the surrounding inter-plume regions (IPR). More specifically, information is
needed on the magnetic field configuration, the electron densities and
temperatures, effective ion temperatures, non-thermal motions, plume
cross-sections relative to the size of a CH, the plasma bulk speeds, as well as
any plume signatures in the SW. In spring 2007, the authors proposed a study on
"Structure and dynamics of coronal plumes and inter-plume regions in solar
coronal holes" to the International Space Science Institute (ISSI) in Bern to
clarify some of these aspects by considering relevant observations and the
extensive literature. This review summarizes the results and conclusions of the
study. Stereoscopic observations allowed us to include three-dimensional
reconstructions of plumes. Multi-instrument investigations carried out during
several campaigns led to progress in some areas, such as plasma densities,
temperatures, plume structure and the relation to other solar phenomena, but
not all questions could be answered concerning the details of plume generation
process(es) and interaction with the SW.Comment: To appear on: The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review. 72 pages, 30
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