Progress in Atomic Fountains at LNE-SYRTE

We give an overview of the work done with the Laboratoire National de M\'etrologie et d'Essais-Syst\`emes de R\'ef\'erence Temps-Espace (LNE-SYRTE) fountain ensemble during the last five years. After a description of the clock ensemble, comprising three fountains, FO1, FO2, and FOM, and the newest developments, we review recent studies of several systematic frequency shifts. This includes the distributed cavity phase shift, which we evaluate for the FO1 and FOM fountains, applying the techniques of our recent work on FO2. We also report calculations of the microwave lensing frequency shift for the three fountains, review the status of the blackbody radiation shift, and summarize recent experimental work to control microwave leakage and spurious phase perturbations. We give current accuracy budgets. We also describe several applications in time and frequency metrology: fountain comparisons, calibrations of the international atomic time, secondary representation of the SI second based on the 87Rb hyperfine frequency, absolute measurements of optical frequencies, tests of the T2L2 satellite laser link, and review fundamental physics applications of the LNE-SYRTE fountain ensemble. Finally, we give a summary of the tests of the PHARAO cold atom space clock performed using the FOM transportable fountain.Comment: 19 pages, 12 figures, 5 tables, 126 reference

Consumer Complaints and Company Market Value

Consumer complaints affect company market value and common sense suggests that a negative impact is expected. However, do complaints always negatively impact company market value? We hypothesize in this study that complaints may have a non-linear effect on market value. Positive (e.g. avoiding high costs to solve complaints) and negative (e.g. speedy and intense diffusion) tradeoffs may occur given the level of complaints. To test our non-linear hypothesis, a panel data was collected from cell phone service providers from 2005 to 2013. The results supported our tradeoff rationale. Low levels of complaints allow for companies to increase market value, while high levels of complaints cause increasing harm to market value. The sample, model and period considered in this study, indicates a level of 0.49 complaints per thousand consumers as the threshold for a shift in tradeoffs. The effects on market value become increasingly negative when trying to make reductions to move below this level, due to negative tradeoffs

The governance of social science and everyday epistemology

Research on the governance of publicly funded research does not recognize that social science and ‘science’ are distinct activities. Neither does it recognize that regulating research policy in purely science and technology terms has undesirable consequences for the social sciences – intended or otherwise. This paper seeks to correct these omissions and considers the governance of social science through the example of regulating ‘everyday epistemology’ at the science policy level. The British research council system is used in order to demonstrate how social science has been politically constructed as a legitimate enterprise for public funding. We find that social science is in fact regulated by non‐social scientists. The result is that social science, seen as a square peg, is forced into the round hole of natural scientific thinking. When this policy is translated into governance structures it creates a ‘slave social science’ and subverts the role of social science as social science

Accurate and timely diagnosis of Eosinophilic Esophagitis improves over time in Europe. An analysis of the EoE CONNECT Registry

BACKGROUND: Poor adherence to clinical practice guidelines for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) has been described and the diagnostic delay of the disease continues to be unacceptable in many settings. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of improved knowledge provided by the successive international clinical practice guidelines on reducing diagnostic delay and improving the diagnostic process for European patients with EoE. METHODS: Cross‐sectional analysis of the EoE CONNECT registry based on clinical practice. Time periods defined by the publication dates of four major sets of guidelines over 10 years were considered. Patients were grouped per time period according to date of symptom onset. RESULTS: Data from 1,132 patients was analyzed and median (IQR) diagnostic delay in the whole series was 2.1 (0.7‐6.2) years. This gradually decreased over time with subsequent release of new guidelines (p < 0.001), from 12.7 years up to 2007 to 0.7 years after 2017. The proportion of patients with stricturing of mixed phenotypes at the point of EoE diagnosis also decreased over time (41.3% vs. 16%; p < 0.001), as did EREFS scores. The fibrotic sub‐score decreased from a median (IQR) of 2 (1‐2) to 0 (0‐1) when patients whose symptoms started up to 2007 and after 2017 were compared (p < 0.001). In parallel, symptoms measured with the Dysphagia Symptoms Score reduced significantly when patients with symptoms starting before 2007 and after 2012 were compared. A reduction in the number of endoscopies patients underwent before the one that achieved an EoE diagnosis, and the use of allergy testing as part of the diagnostic workout of EoE, also reduced significantly over time (p = 0.010 and p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: The diagnostic work‐up of EoE patients improved substantially over time at the European sites contributing to EoE CONNECT, with a dramatic reduction in diagnostic delay

EoE CONNECT, the European Registry of Clinical, Environmental, and Genetic Determinants in Eosinophilic Esophagitis: rationale, design, and study protocol of a large-scale epidemiological study in Europe

Background: The growing prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) represents a considerable burden to patients and health care systems. Optimizing cost-effective management and identifying mechanisms for disease onset and progression are required. However, the paucity of large patient cohorts and heterogeneity of practice hinder the defining of optimal management of EoE. Methods: EoE CONNECT is an ongoing, prospective registry study initiated in 2016 and currently managed by EUREOS, the European Consortium for Eosinophilic Diseases of the Gastrointestinal Tract. Patients are managed and treated by their responsible specialists independently. Data recorded using a web-based system include demographic and clinical variables; patient allergies; environmental, intrapartum, and early life exposures; and family background. Symptoms are structurally assessed at every visit; endoscopic features and histological findings are recorded for each examination. Prospective treatment data are registered sequentially, with new sequences created each time a different treatment (active principle, formulation, or dose) is administered to a patient. EoE CONNECT database is actively monitored to ensure the highest data accuracy and the highest scientific and ethical standards. Results: EoE CONNECT is currently being conducted at 39 centers in Europe and enrolls patients of all ages with EoE. In its aim to increase knowledge, to date EoE CONNECT has provided evidence on the effectiveness of first- and second-line therapies for EoE in clinical practice, the ability of proton pump inhibitors to induce disease remission, and factors associated with improved response. Drug effects to reverse fibrous remodeling and endoscopic features of fibrosis in EoE have also been assessed. Conclusion: This prospective registry study will provide important information on the epidemiological and clinical aspects of EoE and evidence as to the real-world and long-term effectiveness and safety of therapy. These data will potentially be a vital benchmark for planning future EoE health care services in Europe

Erratum - The E2 6S-7S amplitude in Cesium and its importance in a precise calibration of EPV 1.

No abstract availabl

Atomic parity violation measurements in the highly forbidden 6S1/2-7S 1/2 caesium transition. II. Analysis and control of systematic effects

The parity-violating signal is discriminated by its specific behaviour when the handedness of the experiment is reversed Yet conspiracy of experimental imperfections can generate false parity signals. We establish a model of systematic effects, whose parameters are the imperfections in the handedness reversals realized experimentally. We describe how their actual values are measured and minimized, mostly by continuous control of atomic signals during data acquisition. This allows estimation and reduction of possible systematic effects. These remain finally at or below a few percent of the PV effect. We estimate possible limitations in the real-time controls, or in the model itself (e.g. due to spatial correlations in the imperfections). These limitations, together with statistical uncertainties in the controls, will be included in the final systematic uncertainty (Part III).Le signal de violation de parité est discriminé par son comportement spécifique dans une inversion de la chiralité de l'expérience. Néanmoins, la conspiration d'imperfections expérimentales peut engendrer de faux signaux de parité. Nous établissons un modèle d'effets systématiques, dont les paramètres sont les imperfections dans les renversements de chiralité réalisés expérimentalement. Nous décrivons comment leurs valeurs réelles sont mesurées et minimisées, pour la plupart au moyen de contrôles continus de signaux atomiques pendant l'acquisition des données. Cela permet l'estimation et la réduction des effets systématiques possibles. Ceux-ci demeurent finalement au niveau ou en dessous de quelques pour cent de l'effet VP. Nous estimons des limitations possibles dans les contrôles en temps réel, ou dans le modèle lui-même (par exemple à cause de corrélations spatiales dans les imperfections). Ces limitations, ainsi que les incertitudes statistiques dans les contrôles, seront incluses dans l'incertitude systématique finale (Partie III)

Absolute polarization measurements and natural lifetime in the 7 S 1/2 state of Cs

We report Hanle effect measurements of the relaxation in the 7 S1/2 state of cesium by collisions with cesium or buffer gas (helium) atoms in an electric field. The results show the relaxation of the spin polarization to remain isotropic in the adopted configuration, and justify the calibration procedure used in our recent measurements of parity violation in the 6 S-7 S transition of cesium. We also obtain the lifetime of the 7 S1/2 state : τ7 S = 48.5 ± 0.5 ns (and the depolarization cross-section σCsHe = (1.10 ± 0.05) x 10-15 cm2). Accordingly the semi-empirical value of the scalar polarizability of the 6 S-7 S transition becomes α = - (265.1 ± 2.5) a30.Nous présentons des mesures par effet Hanle de la relaxation dans l'état 7 S1/2 du césium induite par collisions avec des atomes de césium ou des atomes de gaz tampon (hélium), en présence d'un champ électrique. Les résultats montrent que la relaxation de la polarisation électronique reste isotrope dans la configuration adoptée et justifient le procédé de calibration utilisé dans nos récentes mesures de violation de la parité sur la transition 6 S-7 S du césium. Nous obtenons aussi la durée de vie de l'état 7 S 1/2 : τ7S = 48,5 ± 0,5 ns (et la section efficace de dépolarisation σCsHe = (1,10 ± 0,05) x 10-15 cm 2). Par suite la valeur semi-empirique de la polarisabilité scalaire de la transition 6 S-7 S devient α = -(265,1 ± 2,5) a3 0