Random access quantum information processors

Qubit connectivity is an important property of a quantum processor, with an ideal processor having random access -- the ability of arbitrary qubit pairs to interact directly. Here, we implement a random access superconducting quantum information processor, demonstrating universal operations on a nine-bit quantum memory, with a single transmon serving as the central processor. The quantum memory uses the eigenmodes of a linear array of coupled superconducting resonators. The memory bits are superpositions of vacuum and single-photon states, controlled by a single superconducting transmon coupled to the edge of the array. We selectively stimulate single-photon vacuum Rabi oscillations between the transmon and individual eigenmodes through parametric flux modulation of the transmon frequency, producing sidebands resonant with the modes. Utilizing these oscillations for state transfer, we perform a universal set of single- and two-qubit gates between arbitrary pairs of modes, using only the charge and flux bias of the transmon. Further, we prepare multimode entangled Bell and GHZ states of arbitrary modes. The fast and flexible control, achieved with efficient use of cryogenic resources and control electronics, in a scalable architecture compatible with state-of-the-art quantum memories is promising for quantum computation and simulation.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, supplementary information ancillary file, 21 page

Flavor-Symmetry Restoration and Symanzik Improvement for Staggered Quarks

We resolve contradictions in the literature concerning the origins and size of unphysical flavor-changing strong interactions generated by the staggered-quark discretization of QCD. We show that the leading contributions are tree-level in \order(a^2) and that they can be removed by adding three correction terms to the link operator in the standard action. These corrections are part of the systematic Symanzik improvement of the staggered-quark action. We present a new improved action for staggered quarks that is accurate up to errors of \order(a^4,a^2\alpha_s) --- more accurate than most, if not all, other discretizations of light-quark dynamics.Comment: 7 page

Timing and spectral studies of the transient X-ray pulsar EXO 053109-6609.2 with ASCA and Beppo-SAX

We report timing and spectral properties of the transient Be X-ray pulsar EXO 053109--6609.2 studied using observations made with the ASCA and BeppoSAX observatories. Though there must have been at least one spin-down episode of the pulsar since its discovery, the new pulse period measurements show a monotonic spin-up trend since 1996. The pulse profile is found to have marginal energy dependence. There is also evidence for strong luminosity dependence of the pulse profile, a single peaked profile at low luminosity that changes to a double peaked profile at high luminosity. This suggests a change in the accretion pattern at certain luminosity level. The X-ray spectrum is found to consist of a simple power-law with photon index in the range of 0.4--0.8. At high intensity level the spectrum also shows presence of weak iron emission line.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, Accepted for publication in Ap

Fiscal and monetary policies: the cutting edge of advocacy and research on population health and climate change

This article outlines the likely mechanisms through which fiscal and monetary policies affect health and the environment, summarising innovative policies that may hold promise for planetary and population health

Flavor symmetry breaking and scaling for improved staggered actions in quenched QCD

We present a study of the flavor symmetry breaking in the pion spectrum for various improved staggered fermion actions. To study the effects of link fattening and tadpole improvement, we use three different variants of the p4 action - p4fat3, p4fat7, and p4fat7tad. These are compared to Asqtad and also to naive staggered. To study the pattern of symmetry breaking, we measure all 15 meson masses in the 4-flavor staggered theory. The measurements are done on a quenched gauge background, generated using a one-loop improved Symanzik action with $\beta=10/g^2 = 7.40, 7.75,$ and 8.00, corresponding to lattice spacings of approximately a = .31 fm., .21 fm., and .14 fm. We also study how the lattice scale set by the $\rho$ mass on each of these ensembles compares to one set by the static quark potential.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figure

Antifungal potential of Azotobacter species and its metabolites against Fusarium verticillioides and biodegradation of fumonisin

Abstract Aims In the study, seven Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) Azotobacter species were screened against three strains of Fusarium verticillioides to test its antifungal activity. Azotobacter strains were tested for the degradation of fumonisin produced by F. verticillioides. Secondary metabolites were isolated and characterized from the Azotobacter strains for the first time. Methods and Results Potential seven Azotobacter species antifungal activity was tested following the dual culture assay against three strains of Fusarium verticillioides namely FVM-42, FVM-86 and MTCC156 estimating the substantial zone of inhibition. Azotobacter species AZT-31 and AZT-50 strains significantly inhibited the growth of F. verticillioides recording drastic growth enhancement of maize under in-vitro conditions by calculating the infection incidence, vigour index and germination percentage. As confirmation, dereplication studies were conducted for the reconfirmation of Azotobacter strains by isolating from rhizoplane. Azotobacter strains played a key role in the degradation of fumonisin produced by F. verticillioides reporting 98% degradation at 2Â h of incubation with the pathogen. Furthermore, in the study first time, we have tried to isolate and characterize the secondary metabolites from the Azotobacter strains exhibiting six compounds from the species AZT-31 (2) and AZT-50 (4). Preliminary in-vitro experiments were carried out using the compounds extracted to check the reduction of infection incidence (90%) and increase in germination percentage upto 50 to 70% when compared to the test pathogen. Conclusion Azotobacter strains referred as PGPR on influencing the growth of plant by producing certain substances that act as stimulators on inhibiting the growth of the pathogen. Significance and Impact of the study The future perspective would be the production of an active combination of carboxamide compound and Azotobacter species for preventively controlling the phytopathogenic fungi of plants and crops and also towards the treatment of seeds

High mortality associated with an outbreak of hepatitis E among displaced persons in Darfur, Sudan

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes acute onset of jaundice and a high case-fatality ratio in pregnant women. We provide a clinical description of hospitalized case patients and assess the specific impact on pregnant women during a large epidemic of HEV infection in a displaced population in Mornay camp (78,800 inhabitants), western Darfur, Sudan. METHODS: We reviewed hospital records. A sample of 20 clinical cases underwent laboratory confirmation. These patients were tested for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody to HEV (serum) and for amplification of the HEV genome (serum and stool). We performed a cross-sectional survey in the community to determine the attack rate and case-fatality ratio in pregnant women. RESULTS: Over 6 months, 253 HEV cases were recorded at the hospital, of which 61 (24.1%) were in pregnant women. A total of 72 cases (39.1% of those for whom clinical records were available) had a diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy. Of the 45 who died (case-fatality ratio, 17.8%), 19 were pregnant women (specific case-fatality ratio, 31.1%). Acute hepatitis E was confirmed in 95% (19/20) of cases sampled; 18 case-patients were positive for IgG (optical density ratio > or =3), for IgM (optical density ratio >2 ), or for both, whereas 1 was negative for IgG and IgM but positive for HEV RNA in serum. The survey identified 220 jaundiced women among the 1133 pregnant women recorded over 3 months (attack rate, 19.4%). A total of 18 deaths were recorded among these jaundiced pregnant women (specific case-fatality ratio, 8.2%). CONCLUSIONS: This large epidemic of HEV infection illustrates the dramatic impact of this disease on pregnant women. Timely interventions and a vaccine are urgently needed to prevent mortality in this special group

Effect of pre harvest foliar spray of growth regulators on pre and post harvest parameters in ornamental sunflower genotype M-17R

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of pre harvest foliar application of growth regulators on the pre and post harvest flower quality in ornamental sunflower during the year 2012-13, at College of Horticulture, GKVK campus, UHS, Bagalkot. At 60 DAS highest plant height was with GA3 @ 150 ppm (154.73 cm) followed by GA3 @ 200 ppm (146.20 cm) and GA3 @ 250 ppm (145.53 cm). Sodium silicate @ 250 ppm (4508.77 cm2) registered maximum plant spread at 60 DAS. Foliar application of GA3 @ 150 ppm (25.00) produced highest number of leaves which was at par with Sodium silicate @ 250 ppm, GA3 @ 200 ppm and GA3 @ 250 ppm recording 24.87, 24.80 and 24.67 leaves respectively. Calcium sulphate @ 200 ppm registered highest leaf area of (4930.30 cm2) which was at par with Sodium silicate @ 250 ppm, Calcium sulphate @ 300 ppm, Chlormequat chloride @ 500 ppm, Sodium silicate @ 350 ppm, and Chlormequat chloride @ 1000 ppm with 4792.64, 4735.04, 4721.75, 4503.05 and 4430.02 cm2 respectively

Testing improved actions for dynamical Kogut-Susskind quarks

We extend tests of "Naik" and "fat link" improvements of the Kogut-Susskind quark action to full QCD simulations, and verify that the improvements previously demonstrated in the quenched approximation apply also to dynamical quark simulations. We extend the study of flavor symmetry improvement to the complete set of pions, and find that the nonlocal pions are significantly heavier than the local non-Goldstone pion. These results can be used to estimate the lattice spacing necessary for realistic simulations with this action.Comment: 16 pages, LaTeX, PostScript figures include

Standardisation of agro-techniques for flower quality parameters in ornamental sunflower (Helianthus annus L.)

An experiment was carried out on standardisation of agro-techniques for flower quality parameters in ornamental sunflower during 2012-13 at GKVK, campus, College of Horticulture, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot. In three way interaction effect longest stalk length (36.33) was in the treatment combination of mulching i.e M1 (with mulch) with a spacing of S1 (60 cm x 40 cm) at the fertilizer rate F1 (40:60:40 NPK kg ha-1). Stalk girth was maximum with mulching treatment of M1 (with mulch) at a spacing of S1 (60 cm x 40 cm) with the fertilizer rate of F3 (80:90:80 NPK kg ha-1) and without mulch at the spacing of S1 (60 cm x 40 cm) with fertilizer rate of F3 (80:90:80 NPK kg ha- 1) recording 0.49 and 0.46 cm respectively. Mulching i.e M1 (with mulch) at spacing S1 (60 cm x 40 cm) with fertilizer rate if F3 (80:90:80 NPK kg ha-1) produced plants with largest flower head diameter (13.24 cm). The treatment combinations of M1 (with mulch) + S1 (60 cm x 40 cm) + F3 (80:90:80 NPK kg ha-1) 4.65 cm recorded broadest flower disc diameter. Considering the results ornamental sunflower can be grown best without mulching, at a spacing of 60 x 30 cm or 60 x 40 cm with optimum to higher fertilizer dose to give best flower quality in ornamental sunflower