Bayesian quantum noise spectroscopy

© 2018 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd on behalf of Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. As commonly understood, the noise spectroscopy problem - characterizing the statistical properties of a noise process affecting a quantum system by measuring its response - is mathematically ill-posed, in the sense that no unique noise process leads to a set of responses unless extra assumptions are taken into account. Ad-hoc solutions assume an implicit structure, which is often never determined. Thus, it is unclear when the method will succeed or whether one should trust the solution obtained. Here, we propose to treat the problem from the point of view of statistical estimation theory. We develop a Bayesian solution to the problem which allows one to easily incorporate assumptions which render the problem solvable. We compare several numerical techniques for noise spectroscopy and find the Bayesian approach to be superior in many respects

Distributed design of product oriented manufacturing systems

Manufacturing leanness and agility are requirements of today’s manufacturing systems. Leanness call for a best fit of the manufacturing systems to products, therefore requiring product oriented manufacturing systems (POMS). Manufacturing agility can be achieved through easy systems reconfiguration to fit changing manufacturing requirements, which may mean dynamically configuring POMS. For this a suitable design system is required. Due to complexity of this design, and to the need for using suitable design methods, which may not be available locally, distributed sources of design services can be used. This paper presents and describes a prototype of a Distributed Design system for POMS based on a POMS design methodology and distributed suppliers of design services

The Paradox of High Performance Work Systems: An Empirical Investigation on Perceived High Performance Work Systems & Employees’ Negative Psychological Outcomes of Executives in Selected Licensed Commercial Banks in Sri Lanka

This study attempts to identify how perceived high performance work systems can result in negative psychological outcomes, specifically referring to job burnout, job anxiety, role stress and job insecurity among executives in the banking industry. Although there is increasing research on how HPWS can create a competitive advantage for organizations in terms of organization performance, many unanswered questions remain in this field such as the influence it has on employees. Hence, the research problem addressed in this study is to identify whether HPWS result in negative psychological outcomes among executives in selected licensed commercial in Sri Lanka. As the first phase of the study, the data were collected from a convenient sample of 150 executives in selected licensed commercial banks in Sri Lanka with a structured questionnaire, which consisted of 44 question statements in a five point Likert Scale.  Following that, in phase two, 06 interviews were conducted in order to variates the findings of the survey questionnaire. This ensures data triangulation of this research. According to the statistical findings of Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation and Regression Analysis, high performance work systems are having a strong positive relationship with employees’ negative psychological outcomes as a collective aspect. However when taking job burnout, job anxiety, role stress and job insecurity separately, the relationships are divergent and gives different results. Since high performance work systems will have a substantiate impact on employees’ negative psychological outcomes as a whole, an organization should more focused on mitigating such negative psychological aspects holistically, rather than just taking remedial actions to avoid individual psychological outcomes.Keywords: High Performance Work Systems, Employees’ Negative Psychological Outcomes, Job Burnout, Job Anxiety, Role Stress, Job Insecurity

Management of ibrutinib treatment in patients with B-cell malignancies: clinical practice in Portugal and multidisciplinary recommendations

Objectives: Ibrutinib, a potent inhibitor of the Bruton tyrosine kinase, has revolutionized the treatment of many B-cell malignancies. Ibrutinib has an established favorable toxicity profile with up to 8 years of experience in clinical trials; however, despite ibrutinib’s favorable toxicity profile, dose reductions and treatment discontinuations are becoming more evident in clinical practice, particularly in the setting of specific clinical contexts and patient characteristics. This manuscript is set to provide practical recommendations on the management of patients treated with this agent in daily practice. Methods: A group of multidisciplinary experts from Portugal met to discuss and highlight practical recommendations, supported on both literature and clinical insights, for the management of the treatment with ibrutinib. Results/discussion: Handling of both toxicities and drug–drug interactions during ibrutinib treatment poses several challenges to healthcare providers and can benefit from a multidisciplinary approach. The involvement of specialties, such as cardiology, infectiology and pharmacology, can bring an added value to patient care, not only in anticipating/managing safety issues and dose adjustments but also in enhancing adherence to treatment, ultimately improving the risk/benefit balance. Conclusion: By involving a multidisciplinary group of experts, this work provides a set of key recommendations to optimize care and outcomes for ibrutinib-treated patients. Despite not being a fully comprehensive review on the topic, it is intended as a framework to hematologists and other healthcare professionals who manage these patients in their daily clinical practice.The project received financial support from Janssen for logistics of expert meetings and editorial support. The sponsor had no influence on the opinions expressed here, which are those of the authors

Hybrid Multipixel Array X-Ray Detectors for Real-Time Direct Detection of Hard X-Rays

X-ray detectors currently employed in dosimetry suffer from a number of drawbacks including the inability to conform to curved surfaces and being limited to smaller dimensions due to available crystal sizes. In this study, a hybrid X-ray detector (HXD) has been developed which offers real-time response with added advantages of being highly sensitive over a broad energy range, mechanically flexible, relatively inexpensive, and able to be fabricated over large areas on the desired surface. The detector comprises an organic matrix embedded with high-atomic-number inorganic nanoparticles which increase the radiation attenuation and within the device allows for simultaneous transfer of electrons and holes. The HXD delivers a peak response of 14 nA cm −2 , which corresponds to a sensitivity of 30.8 μC Gy −1 cm −2 , under the exposure of 6-MV hard X-rays generated by a medical linear accelerator. The angular dependence of the HXD has been studied, which offers a maximum variation of 26% in the posterior versus lateral beam directions. The flexible HXD can be conformed to the human body shape and is expected to eliminate variations due to source-to-skin distance with reduced physical evaluation complexities

Transvaginal ultrasonography and hysteroscopy in postmenopausal bleeding: a prospective study

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic value of transvaginal ultrasonography and hysteroscopy in patients with postmenopausal bleeding. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between January 1, 1998 and June 30, 1999, 88 outpatient women with postmenopausal bleeding were enrolled in a prospective study. They underwent transvaginal ultrasonography and hysteroscopy, and were submitted to directed biopsy during hysteroscopy. Findings were classified as normal endometrium, suggestive of atrophy, focal abnormality (benign or suspicious), and diffuse thickness (benign or suspicious). Data was compared with the final diagnosis, established by histological examination, as atrophy, benign pathology, atypical hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma. RESULTS: Among 88 women enrolled, 15 were excluded because hysteroscopy was impossible, and four had abandoned the study. The histological findings were scanty material in 12 (17.4%), atrophy in 24 (34.8%), cystic atrophy in one (1.4%), normal endometrium in five (7.2%), tuberculous endometritis in one (1.4%), polyps in 12 (17.4%), leiomyoma in one (1.4%), non-atypical hyperplasia in three (4.3%), atypical hyperplasia in one (1.4%) and endometrial carcinoma in nine cases (13.0%). For the assessment of endometrial carcinoma, ultrasonography revealed sensitivity 77.8%, specificity 93.3%, positive predictive value 63.6%, negative predictive value 96.6%; and hysteroscopy revealed sensitivity of 88.9%, specificity 98.3%, positive predictive value 88.9%, negative predictive value 98.3%. The combined use of both methods revealed sensitivity 100%, specificity 91.7%, positive predictive value 64.3%, negative predictive value 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Both imagiological methods were found to be useful screening tests for endometrial carcinoma. Hysteroscopy was a superior diagnostic procedure

GLUT1-mediated glucose uptake plays a crucial role during Plasmodium hepatic infection.

Intracellular pathogens have evolved mechanisms to ensure their survival and development inside their host cells. Here, we show that glucose is a pivotal modulator of hepatic infection by the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei and that glucose uptake via the GLUT1 transporter is specifically enhanced in P. berghei-infected cells. We further show that ATP levels of cells containing developing parasites are decreased, which is known to enhance membrane GLUT1 activity. In addition, GLUT1 molecules are translocated to the membrane of the hepatic cell, increasing glucose uptake at later stages of infection. Chemical inhibition of GLUT1 activity leads to a decrease in glucose uptake and the consequent impairment of hepatic infection, both in vitro and in vivo. Our results reveal that changes in GLUT1 conformation and cellular localization seem to be part of an adaptive host response to maintain adequate cellular nutrition and energy levels, ensuring host cell survival and supporting P. berghei hepatic development

Social capital theory: a cross-cutting analytic for teacher/therapist work in integrating children's services?

Reviewing relevant policy, this article argues that the current 'integration interlude' is concerned with reformation of work relations to create new forms of 'social capital'. The conceptual framework of social capital has been used by government policy-makers and academic researchers to examine different types, configurations and qualities of relationships, including professional relations, and how these may function as resources. Focusing on the co-work of teachers and speech and language therapists, this analysis introduces social capital as a means of understanding the impact of integrating children's services on professional practitioner groups and across agencies. Social capital theory is compared to alternative theoretical perspectives such as systems and discourse theories and explored as an analytic offering a multi-level typology and conceptual framework for understanding the effects of policy and governance on interprofessional working and relationships. A previous application of social capital theory in a literature review is introduced and analysed, and instances of the additionality provided by a social capital analysis is offered. The article concludes that amongst the effects of current policy to re-design children's services are the reconstruction of professionals' knowledge/s and practices, so it is essential that such policy processes that have complex and far-reaching effects are transparent and coherent. It is also important that new social capital relations in children's services are produced by groups representative of all involved, importantly including those practitioner groups charged in policy to work differently together in future integrated services

Selection criteria of Zebrafish male donors for sperm cryopreservation

Selection criteria for sperm cryopreservation are highly relevant in zebrafish since sperm quality is particularly variable in this species. Successful cryopreservation depends on high-quality sperm, which can only be ensured by the selection of breeders. Consequently, male selection and management are a priority to improve cryopreservation, and therefore, this study aimed to characterize optimal age and sperm collection frequency in zebrafish. For this purpose, males from wild type (AB) and from a transgenic line [Tg(runx2:eGFP)] were sampled at 6, 8, 12, and 14 months. For each age, sperm were collected at time 0 followed by samplings at 2, 7, and 14 days of rest. Sperm quality was assessed according to motility and membrane viability parameters. Quality assessment showed that Tg(runx2:eGFP) displayed significantly higher motility than AB and younger males showed higher motility in both lines. Sperm collection frequency affected membrane viability. While AB fish recovered sperm viability after 14 days of rest, Tg(runx2:eGFP) could not recover. Consequently, it may be important to study the sperm quality of each zebrafish line before sperm cryopreservation. Taking into consideration the results achieved in both lines, sperm collection should be performed between 6 and 8 months of age with a minimum collection interval of 14 days.N730984, EBB-EAPA_501/2016, PEst-C/MAR/LA0015/2011info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio