Sex differences in the timing of identification among children and adults with autism spectrum disorders

To examine differences by sex in the timing of identification of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), survey data were collected in the Netherlands from 2,275 males and females with autistic disorder, Asperger's syndrome and PDD-NOS. Among participants <18 years of age, females with Asperger's syndrome were identified later than males. Among participants ≥18 years of age, females with autistic disorder were identified later than males. In more recent years, girls with Asperger's syndrome are diagnosed later than boys, confirming earlier findings. In adults, the delayed timing of diagnosis in females with autistic disorder may be related to changing practices in diagnosis over time. Strategies for changing clinician behaviour to improve recognition of ASD in females are needed. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

A novel free-fall reactor for (catalytic) pyrolysis of biomass and plastics

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Ni-Based Catalysts for the Hydrotreatment of Fast Pyrolysis Oil

Catalytic hydrotreatment is an attractive technology to convert fast pyrolysis oil to stabilized oil products for co processing in conventional crude oil refinery units. We report here the use of novel bimetallic NiCu- and NiPd-based (Picula) catalysts characterized by a high Ni content (29-58 wt %) and prepared using a sol gel method with SiO2, La2O3, kaolin, ZrO2, and combinations thereof as the support, for the catalytic hydrotreatment of fast pyrolysis oil. The experiments were performed in a batch autoclave (1 h at 150 degrees C, 3 h at 350 degrees C, and 200 bar initial pressure at 350 degrees C). The catalyst with the highest nickel loading (58 wt % Ni) promoted with Pd (0.7 wt %) was the most active, yielding oil products with improved properties compared to the crude pyrolysis oil (lower oxygen content, higher solubility in hydrocarbons, and less tendency for coke formation). For all Picula catalysts, except the ZrO2-based catalysts, methane formation was considerably lower than for Ru/C, the benchmark catalyst in catalytic hydrotreatment of fast pyrolysis oil. To anticipate possible catalyst deactivation at very long times on stream, catalyst regeneration studies were performed using thermogravimetric analysis. Analyses of the regenerated catalysts (X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and Brunauer Emmett Teller surface area) showed the occurrence of active metal agglomeration.</p

Neutral atoms in tweezer arrays for hybrid quantum computing

Neutral atoms trapped in optical tweezers show promise as an implementationof quantum computation. For example, the number of qubits can bescaled naturally by increasing the tweezer laser power.In Eindhoven, we are constructing a tweezer machine that features strontium-88 atoms in an array of optical tweezers. The chosen qubit states are 1S0and 3P0, which are connected by the doubly forbidden clock transition. Siteselectivecontrol of the clock laser onto the qubits will be done with the helpof acousto-optic deflectors. Entanglement will be generated by coupling the3P0 state to a 3S1 Rydberg state using 317 nm laser pulses.The quantum processor will run hybrid variational type algorithms, forexample pulse-based optimization algorithms, whereby the quantum processorruns in tandem with a classical processor. On the poster, we will show recentprogress towards this goal: we elaborate on the design of the apparatus andshow experimental results on trapping ultra-cold strontium atoms in “blue”and “red” magneto-optical traps

Neutral Atoms in Tweezer Arrays for Hybrid Quantum Computing

Our project has the goal of building a quantum co-processor consisting of neutral atoms in tweezer arrays. This quantum co-processor will form part of an online-accessible hybrid quantum computer tailored for solving quantum chemistry problems.The quantum co-processor will consist of strontium-88 atoms trapped in 2-dimensional arrays of optical tweezers, with a single atom trapped per tweezer. Qubit states will be encoded on the 1S0 and 3P0 electronic states of the atoms. Laser driven site selective single qubit rotations will be performed on the doubly dipole forbidden 1S0 ↔ 3P0 optical clock transition. Global excitations to Rydberg states will be used to generate entanglement between the qubits.We report on our progress in the development of the 2nd generation strontium-based system in Eindhoven, whilst the existing 1st generation system is situated in Amsterdam. We also report on the status of our rubidium-based system in Eindhoven, which will be used to test various components before integration into the new strontium-based system

Neutral atoms in tweezer arrays for hybrid quantum computing

Neutral atoms trapped in optical tweezers show promise as an implementationof quantum computation. For example, the number of qubits can bescaled naturally by increasing the tweezer laser power.In Eindhoven, we are constructing a tweezer machine that features strontium-88 atoms in an array of optical tweezers. The chosen qubit states are 1S0and 3P0, which are connected by the doubly forbidden clock transition. Siteselectivecontrol of the clock laser onto the qubits will be done with the helpof acousto-optic deflectors. Entanglement will be generated by coupling the3P0 state to a 3S1 Rydberg state using 317 nm laser pulses.The quantum processor will run hybrid variational type algorithms, forexample pulse-based optimization algorithms, whereby the quantum processorruns in tandem with a classical processor. On the poster, we will show recentprogress towards this goal: we elaborate on the design of the apparatus andshow experimental results on trapping ultra-cold strontium atoms in “blue”and “red” magneto-optical traps

Neutral Atoms in Tweezer Arrays for Hybrid Quantum Computing

Our project has the goal of building a quantum co-processor consisting of neutral atoms in tweezer arrays. This quantum co-processor will form part of an online-accessible hybrid quantum computer tailored for solving quantum chemistry problems.The quantum co-processor will consist of strontium-88 atoms trapped in 2-dimensional arrays of optical tweezers, with a single atom trapped per tweezer. Qubit states will be encoded on the 1S0 and 3P0 electronic states of the atoms. Laser driven site selective single qubit rotations will be performed on the doubly dipole forbidden 1S0 ↔ 3P0 optical clock transition. Global excitations to Rydberg states will be used to generate entanglement between the qubits.We report on our progress in the development of the 2nd generation strontium-based system in Eindhoven, whilst the existing 1st generation system is situated in Amsterdam. We also report on the status of our rubidium-based system in Eindhoven, which will be used to test various components before integration into the new strontium-based system

NISQy Business:A Full Stack Quantum Computer for Near-Term Quantum Chemistry

At the Eindhoven University of Technology, in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam, we are constructing a full-stack, web-addressable neutral-atom digital quantum computer with applications in quantum chemistry. Our experiment will utilise Strontium atoms in a re-configurable optical tweezer array as our qubit register, with the ground and clock states of the Sr atoms acting as the qubit states. Entangling gates are mediated by long-range Rydberg interactions.  <br/

NISQy Business:A Full Stack Quantum Computer for Near-Term Quantum Chemistry

At the Eindhoven University of Technology, in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam, we are constructing a full-stack, web-addressable neutral-atom digital quantum computer with applications in quantum chemistry. Our experiment will utilise Strontium atoms in a re-configurable optical tweezer array as our qubit register, with the ground and clock states of the Sr atoms acting as the qubit states. Entangling gates are mediated by long-range Rydberg interactions.  <br/

Reaction Chemistry and Kinetics of Corn Stalk Pyrolysis without and with Ga/HZSM-5

The bifunctional Ga/HZSM-5 catalyst has been proven having the capability to increase the selectivity of aromatics production during catalytic pyrolysis of furan and woody biomass. However, the reaction chemistry and kinetics of pyrolysis of herbaceous biomass promoted by Ga/HZSM-5 is rarely reported. Pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py–GC/MS) analysis and non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis at four heating rates were carried out to investigate the decomposition behavior and pyrolysis kinetics of corn stalk without and with Ga/HZSM-5. The effective activation energies for corn stalk pyrolysis were calculated by using the Friedman isoconversional method. The Py–GC/MS analysis results indicated that the Ga/HZSM-5 catalyst had a high selectivity toward producing the aromatic chemicals of xylene, toluene and benzene, whereas the major products from non-catalytic pyrolysis of corn stalk were oxygenated compounds. The presence of Ga/HZSM-5 could significantly reduce the effective activation energies of corn stalk pyrolysis from 159.9–352.4 kJ mol−1 to 41.6–99.8 kJ mol−1 in the conversion range of 0.10–0.85