Quantum dynamics of a model for two Josephson-coupled Bose--Einstein condensates

In this work we investigate the quantum dynamics of a model for two single-mode Bose--Einstein condensates which are coupled via Josephson tunneling. Using direct numerical diagonalisation of the Hamiltonian, we compute the time evolution of the expectation value for the relative particle number across a wide range of couplings. Our analysis shows that the system exhibits rich and complex behaviours varying between harmonic and non-harmonic oscillations, particularly around the threshold coupling between the delocalised and self-trapping phases. We show that these behaviours are dependent on both the initial state of the system as well as regime of the coupling. In addition, a study of the dynamics for the variance of the relative particle number expectation and the entanglement for different initial states is presented in detail.Comment: 15 pages, 8 eps figures, accepted in J. Phys.

Variation in Periodontal Diagnosis and Treatment Planning Among Clinical Instructors

Consistency in clinical decision making may be necessary for reliable assessment of student performance and teaching effectiveness, yet little has been done to examine variation in periodontal diagnosis and treatment planning among dental school faculty. The purpose of this investigation was to examine variation among faculty in diagnosis and management of common periodontal diseases. Twenty-seven clinical instructors (periodontists, general dentists, dental hygienists, and first- and second-year periodontal graduate students) reviewed three web-based cases and answered a brief questionnaire focusing on radiographic interpretation, periodontal diagnosis, and treatment planning. Response rates for the three cases ranged from 62 percent to 70 percent. Clinical instructors’ rating of percent bone loss in the majority of cases varied between three descriptive categories for the same tooth. Greater consistency in periodontal diagnosis was noted within the graduate student group as compared to periodontal and dental hygiene faculty groups. Diagnoses offered for one of the three patients varied between gingivitis and chronic and aggressive periodontitis. Six to nineteen different treatment plans (many with subtle differences) were submitted for each of the three cases. Inter-rater variation was qualitatively more prevalent than intra-rater variation. To our knowledge, this is the first study to document substantial variation among instructors in radiographic interpretation, diagnosis, and treatment planning for common periodontal diseases. Qualitative judgments speculating on the impact of variability among dental school faculty on student performance and patient care can be made but as yet remain unknown. Consistent use of accepted practice guidelines and greater consensus-building opportunities may decrease variation among faculty and enhance dental education

An educational training program for physicians for diagnosis and treatment of depression

OBJECTIVE: The American Regional Office of the WHO has launched a major initiative to reduce the prevalence of affective disorders region-wide that includes focusing on the primary health care system. This study evaluated the results of an educational training program for Brazilian primary care physicians that measured changes in knowledge, attitudes, and practice. METHODS: A total of 17 primary care physicians and 1,224 patients participated in the study. Physician's knowledge, attitudes, and clinical practice were assessed one-month prior and one-month following the training program. In addition, the patients that visited the clinic during a typical week completed depression symptom self-ratings, including the Zung and a DSM-IV/ICD-10 major depression checklist at both times. RESULTS: The training program showed limited benefits in this small sample of physicians. The program was unable to demonstrate benefit in improving knowledge about depression and in changing disorder-related attitudes. There were no changes in the diagnostic rates of major depression. There was some evidence to support improvement in psychopharmacological management. The physicians seemed more confident in treating patients, as there was a reduction of referrals to the specialists. Lack of statistical power prevented the latter two findings from reaching statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The inclusion of primary care physicians is a central component of any initiative to reduce the treatment gap and lag of depression. However, more effective methods of training Brazilian primary care physicians in the management of major depression need to be tested.OBJETIVO: Avaliar os resultados da aplicação de programa de treinamento da Organização Mundial de Saúde, voltado para diagnóstico e tratamento da depressão, dirigido a médicos clínicos gerais. MÉTODOS: Dezessete clínicos e 1.224 pacientes da cidade de Campinas, SP, participaram do estudo. Um mês antes e um após o treinamento, foram avaliados o conhecimento dos médicos, suas atitudes e o atendimento prestado aos pacientes; esses, por sua vez, completaram escalas de auto-avaliação de sintomas depressivos: Zung e um checklist para depressão maior do manual para diagnóstico e estatística em saúde mental (DSM-IV/CID-10). A mudança de conhecimento e atitude dos clínicos entre as fases 1 e 2 foi avaliada pelos testes t de Student. Mudanças com relação ao conhecimento de cada indivíduo foram mensuradas pelo teste de qui-quadrado de McNemar. As diferenças entre o modo de atender os pacientes entre as duas fases foram determinadas pelo teste de qui-quadrado de Pearson. A concordância diagnóstica foi analisada utilizando o Kappa, com o intuito de corrigir a concordância ao acaso. RESULTADOS: O programa mostrou benefícios limitados nessa amostra de clínicos gerais. Não foi capaz de mostrar aumento do conhecimento sobre a depressão e nem quanto à atitude dos médicos com relação a esse transtorno. Não houve modificação no número de casos diagnosticados antes ou após o programa. Existiram algumas evidências com relação à melhora no manejo psicofarmacológico. Aparentemente, o programa tornou os clínicos mais confiantes para o tratamento da depressão, diminuindo o número de encaminhamentos feitos aos profissionais da área de saúde mental. Porém, um baixo poder estatístico não permitiu que os dois últimos achados atingissem significância. CONCLUSÕES: A inclusão de clínicos gerais é um componente central de qualquer iniciativa para melhorar a detecção e o tratamento da depressão, porém faz-se necessário testar melhores métodos de treinamento dos clínicos brasileiros no manejo desta.Serviço de Saúde 'Dr. Cândido Ferreira'Ministério da SaúdeBrown University Providence Department of Psychiatry and Human BehaviorOrganização Mundial da Saúde Organização Panamericana de SaúdeUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESP, Departamento de PsiquiatriaSciEL

The Loma de Hierro Ni-laterite deposit (Venezuela): Mineralogical and chemical composition

Nickel laterite deposits developed on ultramafic rocks have traditionally been a significant source of Ni and Co and recently of Sc. Although the Loma de Hierro deposit (Venezuela) has been in operation for more than 50 years, it lacks detailed studies on the mineralogical and geochemical composition of the lateritic profile. In this study, we present a geochemical and mineral description of the main carrier phases of Ni and Co in a complete profile of the deposit. The selected weathering profile has been developed from a partially serpentinized harzburgitic protolith and has a well-developed saprolitic horizon covered by a thin limonitic horizon. The geochemical signature of the profile is characterized by a significant Mg and Si decrease towards the top of the saprolite, with a clearly visible Mg discontinuity. The main Ni-bearing minerals are secondary serpentine (1-4 wt.% NiO) and kerolite-pimelite-dominated garnierite mixtures with serpentine (18-22 wt.% NiO). Limonite is rich in goethite (0-1.85 wt. % NiO), gibbsite, and Mn-oxy-hydroxides. The latter have intermediate compositions between lithiophorite and asbolane (2-13 wt.% CoO). The highest Sc grades (40-68 ppm) were observed in the limonite with amounts positively correlated with Fe content. Rare earth elements are mainly concentrated in the upper part of the saprolite horizon (60-80 ppm), while they have a lower content in the limonite (7-45 ppm). In this horizon, rare earth elements are clearly associated with Fe, indicating adsorption and/ or coprecipitation. This association was not observed in the saprolite, suggesting that other minerals (e.g., clay minerals) are controlling their concentration; more information is needed to identify the rare earth element-bearing minerals. The lateritic profile of Loma de Hierro can be classified as representative of hydrated Mg silicate deposits, and was formed in a context of continuous tectonic uplift and a low water table conditions favoring the development of a thick saprolitic horizon and the precipitation of kerolite-pimelite-dominated garnierites

Geology, geochemistry and mineralogy of the Loma de Hierro Ni-laterite deposit, Venezuela

Ni-laterite deposits host over 60% of the word land-based Ni resources (McRae, 2018). They formed from the weathering of Mg-rich ultramafic rocks exposed to the surface under favorable topography and climatic conditions. The typical Ni-laterite profile is characterized by a partially serpentinized parent rock (protolith) at the bottom followed by a saprolite horizon (dominated by secondary Si- and Mg-bearing minerals), and a limonitic horizon, dominated by goethite that evolves to hematite with time (e.g. Golightly, 2010). Ni originally liberated from olivine is concentrated in different secondary minerals such as goethite in the limonite and garnierites, secondary serpentines and/or smectite in the saprolite zone (Pelletier 1996; Villanova-de-Benavent et al. 2014). Ni-laterites are classified according to their dominant Ni-bearing ore in (a) hydrous-Mg-silicate, (b) clay and (c) oxide type deposits (Brand et al. 1998

Potential Health Impacts From Range Fires at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

This study uses atmospheric dispersion computer models to evaluate the potential for human health impacts from exposure to contaminants that could be dispersed by fires on the testing ranges at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. It was designed as a screening study and does not estimate actual human health risks. Considered are five contaminants possibly present in the soil and vegetation from past human activities at APG--lead, arsenic, trichloroethylene (TCE), depleted uranium (DU), and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT); and two chemical warfare agents that could be released from unexploded ordnance rounds heated in a range fire--mustard and phosgene. For comparison, dispersion of two naturally occurring compounds that could be released by burning of uncontaminated vegetation--vinyl acetate and 2-furaldehyde--is also examined. Data from previous studies on soil contamination at APG are used in conjunction with conservative estimates about plant uptake of contaminants, atmospheric conditions, and size and frequency of range fires at APG to estimate dispersion and possible human exposure. The results are compared with US Environmental Protection Agency action levels. The comparisons indicate that for all of the anthropogenic contaminants except arsenic and mustard, exposure levels would be at least an order of magnitude lower than the corresponding action levels. Because of the compoundingly conservative nature of the assumptions made, they conclude that the potential for significant human health risks from range fires is low. The authors recommend that future efforts be directed at fire management and control, rather than at conducting additional studies to more accurately estimate actual human health risk from range fires

Treinamento de clínicos para o diagnóstico e tratamento da depressão

OBJECTIVE: The American Regional Office of the WHO has launched a major initiative to reduce the prevalence of affective disorders region-wide that includes focusing on the primary health care system. This study evaluated the results of an educational training program for Brazilian primary care physicians that measured changes in knowledge, attitudes, and practice. METHODS: A total of 17 primary care physicians and 1,224 patients participated in the study. Physician's knowledge, attitudes, and clinical practice were assessed one-month prior and one-month following the training program. In addition, the patients that visited the clinic during a typical week completed depression symptom self-ratings, including the Zung and a DSM-IV/ICD-10 major depression checklist at both times. RESULTS: The training program showed limited benefits in this small sample of physicians. The program was unable to demonstrate benefit in improving knowledge about depression and in changing disorder-related attitudes. There were no changes in the diagnostic rates of major depression. There was some evidence to support improvement in psychopharmacological management. The physicians seemed more confident in treating patients, as there was a reduction of referrals to the specialists. Lack of statistical power prevented the latter two findings from reaching statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The inclusion of primary care physicians is a central component of any initiative to reduce the treatment gap and lag of depression. However, more effective methods of training Brazilian primary care physicians in the management of major depression need to be tested.OBJETIVO: Avaliar os resultados da aplicação de programa de treinamento da Organização Mundial de Saúde, voltado para diagnóstico e tratamento da depressão, dirigido a médicos clínicos gerais. MÉTODOS: Dezessete clínicos e 1.224 pacientes da cidade de Campinas, SP, participaram do estudo. Um mês antes e um após o treinamento, foram avaliados o conhecimento dos médicos, suas atitudes e o atendimento prestado aos pacientes; esses, por sua vez, completaram escalas de auto-avaliação de sintomas depressivos: Zung e um "checklist" para depressão maior do manual para diagnóstico e estatística em saúde mental (DSM-IV/CID-10). A mudança de conhecimento e atitude dos clínicos entre as fases 1 e 2 foi avaliada pelos testes t de Student. Mudanças com relação ao conhecimento de cada indivíduo foram mensuradas pelo teste de qui-quadrado de McNemar. As diferenças entre o modo de atender os pacientes entre as duas fases foram determinadas pelo teste de qui-quadrado de Pearson. A concordância diagnóstica foi analisada utilizando o Kappa, com o intuito de corrigir a concordância ao acaso. RESULTADOS: O programa mostrou benefícios limitados nessa amostra de clínicos gerais. Não foi capaz de mostrar aumento do conhecimento sobre a depressão e nem quanto à atitude dos médicos com relação a esse transtorno. Não houve modificação no número de casos diagnosticados antes ou após o programa. Existiram algumas evidências com relação à melhora no manejo psicofarmacológico. Aparentemente, o programa tornou os clínicos mais confiantes para o tratamento da depressão, diminuindo o número de encaminhamentos feitos aos profissionais da área de saúde mental. Porém, um baixo poder estatístico não permitiu que os dois últimos achados atingissem significância. CONCLUSÕES: A inclusão de clínicos gerais é um componente central de qualquer iniciativa para melhorar a detecção e o tratamento da depressão, porém faz-se necessário testar melhores métodos de treinamento dos clínicos brasileiros no manejo desta

Xylella fastidiosa gene expression analysis by DNA microarrays

Xylella fastidiosa genome sequencing has generated valuable data by identifying genes acting either on metabolic pathways or in associated pathogenicity and virulence. Based on available information on these genes, new strategies for studying their expression patterns, such as microarray technology, were employed. A total of 2,600 primer pairs were synthesized and then used to generate fragments using the PCR technique. The arrays were hybridized against cDNAs labeled during reverse transcription reactions and which were obtained from bacteria grown under two different conditions (liquid XDM2 and liquid BCYE). All data were statistically analyzed to verify which genes were differentially expressed. In addition to exploring conditions for X. fastidiosa genome-wide transcriptome analysis, the present work observed the differential expression of several classes of genes (energy, protein, amino acid and nucleotide metabolism, transport, degradation of substances, toxins and hypothetical proteins, among others). The understanding of expressed genes in these two different media will be useful in comprehending the metabolic characteristics of X. fastidiosa, and in evaluating how important certain genes are for the functioning and survival of these bacteria in plants