Fast multipole networks

Two prerequisites for robotic multiagent systems are mobility and communication. Fast multipole networks (FMNs) enable both ends within a unified framework. FMNs can be organized very efficiently in a distributed way from local information and are ideally suited for motion planning using artificial potentials. We compare FMNs to conventional communication topologies, and find that FMNs offer competitive communication performance (including higher network efficiency per edge at marginal energy cost) in addition to advantages for mobility

Estimation of Spin-Spin Interaction by Weak Measurement Scheme

Precisely knowing an interaction Hamiltonian is crucial to realize quantum information tasks, especially to experimentally demonstrate a quantum computer and a quantum memory. We propose a scheme to experimentally evaluate the spin-spin interaction for a two-qubit system by the weak measurement technique initiated by Yakir Aharonov and his colleagues. Furthermore, we numerically confirm our proposed scheme in a specific system of a nitrogen vacancy center in diamond. This means that the weak measurement can also be taken as a concrete example of the quantum process tomography.Comment: 4 pages, 1 table, 2 figures, to appear in Europhysics Letter

Residual Energies after Slow Quantum Annealing

Features of the residual energy after the quantum annealing are investigated. The quantum annealing method exploits quantum fluctuations to search the ground state of classical disordered Hamiltonian. If the quantum fluctuation is reduced sufficiently slowly and linearly by the time, the residual energy after the quantum annealing falls as the inverse square of the annealing time. We show this feature of the residual energy by numerical calculations for small-sized systems and derive it on the basis of the quantum adiabatic theorem.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Characterization of lyophilized liposomes produced with non-purified soy lecithin: a case study of casein hydrolysate microencapsulation

A commercial casein hydrolysate was microencapsulated in liposomes produced with non-purified soy lecithin, cryoprotected with two different disaccharides and lyophilized. The encapsulation efficiency of casein hydrolysate ranged from 30 to 40%. The powders were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron micrography (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). DSC data revealed the presence of an exothermal transition in empty lyophilized liposomes, which was ascribed to the presence of a quasicrystalline lamellar phase (intermediary characteristics between the Lβ and Lc phases). The addition of peptides to the liposomal system caused the disappearance of this exothermic phenomenon, as they were located in the polar headgroup portion of the bilayer, causing disorder and preventing the formation of the quasicrystalline phase. Infrared data indicated the presence of the peptides in the lyophilized formulations and showed that the cryoprotectants interacted effectively with the polar heads of phospholipids in the bilayer

Standing Assistance That Considers User Posture Tolerance

This paper proposes a novel standing assistance robot, which considers the posture tolerance of its user. In previous studies, conventional assistive robots did not require patients to use their own physical strength to stand, which leads to decreased strength in the elderly. Therefore, an assistive robot that allows patients to maximally use the physical strength they possess is required. To realize this objective, it is important that a robot assists patients according to their body movement and by their intentions. However, in previous studies, general assistive robots helped patients by using a xed motion reference path- way in spite of their original intention, and as a result, these robots failed to use the physical strength of the patients. Therefore, we propose a novel standing assistance robot, which allows its user to move their body within a prescribed degree of posture tolerance during the process of moving from a sitting to a standing position. Our key ndings cover two fundamental research topics. One is the investigation into posture tolerance during a standing motion. The other topic is a novel assistance control algorithm that considers the investigated posture tolerance by combining position control and force control. A prototype assistive robot, based on the proposed idea was fabricated to help patients stand up safely using the maximum of their remaining physical strength

Weak Values with Decoherence

The weak value of an observable is experimentally accessible by weak measurements as theoretically analyzed by Aharonov et al. and recently experimentally demonstrated. We introduce a weak operator associated with the weak values and give a general framework of quantum operations to the W operator in parallel with the Kraus representation of the completely positive map for the density operator. The decoherence effect is also investigated in terms of the weak measurement by a shift of a probe wave function of continuous variable. As an application, we demonstrate how the geometric phase is affected by the bit flip noise.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figure

HPV-associated lung cancers: an international pooled analysis

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the etiologic risk factor for cervical cancer. Some studies have suggested an association with a subset of lung tumors, but the etiologic link has not been firmly established. We performed an international pooled analysis of cross-sectional studies (27 datasets, n = 3249 patients) to evaluate HPV DNA prevalence in lung cancer and to investigate viral presence according to clinical and demographic characteristics. HPV16/18 were the most commonly detected, but with substantial variation in viral prevalence between geographic regions. The highest prevalence of HPV16/18 was observed in South and Central America, followed by Asia, North America and Europe (adjusted prevalence rates = 22, 5, 4 and 3%, respectively). Higher HPV16 prevalence was noted in each geographic region compared with HPV18, except in North America. HPV16/18-positive lung cancer was less likely observed among White race (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.12-0.90), whereas no associations were observed with gender, smoking history, age, histology or stage. Comparisons between tumor and normal lung tissue show that HPV was more likely to be present in lung cancer rather than normal lung tissues (OR = 3.86, 95% CI = 2.87-5.19). Among a subset of patients with HPV16-positive tumors, integration was primarily among female patients (93%, 13/14), while the physical status in male cases (N = 14) was inconsistent. Our findings confirm that HPV DNA is present in a small fraction of lung tumors, with large geographic variations. Further comprehensive analysis is needed to assess whether this association reflects a causal relationship

Impact of Appropriate Antimicrobial Therapy for Patients with Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock – A Quality Improvement Study

Background There is ample literature available on the association between both time to antibiotics and appropriateness of antibiotics and clinical outcomes from sepsis. In fact, the current state of debate surrounds the balance to be struck between prompt empirical therapy and care in the choice of appropriate antibiotics (both in terms of the susceptibility of infecting organism and minimizing resistance arising from use of broad-spectrum agents). The objective of this study is to determine sepsis bundle compliance and the appropriateness of antimicrobial therapy in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock and its impact on outcomes. Material This study was conducted in the ICU of a tertiary care, private hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. A retrospective cohort study was conducted from July 2005 to December 2012 in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. Results A total of 1,279 patients were identified with severe sepsis and septic shock, of which 358 (32.1%) had bloodstream infection (BSI). The inpatient mortality rate was 29%. In evaluation of the sepsis bundle, over time there was a progressive increase in serum arterial lactate collection, obtaining blood cultures prior to antibiotic administration, administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics within 1 hour, and administration of appropriate antimicrobials, with statistically significant differences in the later years of the study. We also observed a significant decrease in mortality. In patients with bloodstream infection, after adjustment for other covariates the administration of appropriate antimicrobial therapy was associated with a decrease in mortality in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock (p = 0.023). Conclusions The administration of appropriate antimicrobial therapy was independently associated with a decline in mortality in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock due to bloodstream infection. As protocol adherence increased over time, the crude mortality rate decreased, which reinforces the need to implement institutional guidelines and monitor appropriate antimicrobial therapy compliance

Magneto infra-red absorption in high electronic density GaAs quantum wells

Magneto infra-red absorption measurements have been performed in a highly doped GaAs quantum well which has been lifted off and bonded to a silicon substrate, in order to study the resonant polaron interaction. It is found that the pinning of the cyclotron energy occurs at an energy close to that of the transverse optical phonon of GaAs. This unexpected result is explained by a model taking into account the full dielectric constant of the quantum well.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. Let