313 research outputs found
From Simplicity to Complexity via Subcomponent Self-Assembly
Subcomponent self-assembly allows the construction of complex architectures from simple building blocks via the formation of covalent bonds around metal templates. Since both covalent and coordinative bonds are formed reversibly, a wealth of rearrangement reactions are possible
involving substitution at both intraligand and metal–ligand bonds. If the possibilities latent within a set of subcomponents and metal ions are understood, one may also select specific structures from among dynamic libraries of products. The parallel preparation of structures from mixtures
of subcomponents is also possible, as is the direction of subcomponents to specific sites within product structures
A CMOS silicon spin qubit
Silicon, the main constituent of microprocessor chips, is emerging as a
promising material for the realization of future quantum processors. Leveraging
its well-established complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology
would be a clear asset to the development of scalable quantum computing
architectures and to their co-integration with classical control hardware. Here
we report a silicon quantum bit (qubit) device made with an industry-standard
fabrication process. The device consists of a two-gate, p-type transistor with
an undoped channel. At low temperature, the first gate defines a quantum dot
(QD) encoding a hole spin qubit, the second one a QD used for the qubit
readout. All electrical, two-axis control of the spin qubit is achieved by
applying a phase-tunable microwave modulation to the first gate. Our result
opens a viable path to qubit up-scaling through a readily exploitable CMOS
platform.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure
Pauli spin blockade in CMOS double quantum dot devices
Silicon quantum dots are attractive candidates for the development of
scalable, spin-based qubits. Pauli spin blockade in double quantum dots
provides an efficient, temperature independent mechanism for qubit readout.
Here we report on transport experiments in double gate nanowire transistors
issued from a CMOS process on 300 mm silicon-on-insulator wafers. At low
temperature the devices behave as two few-electron quantum dots in series. We
observe signatures of Pauli spin blockade with a singlet-triplet splitting
ranging from 0.3 to 1.3 meV. Magneto-transport measurements show that
transitions which conserve spin are shown to be magnetic-field independent up
to B = 6 T.Comment: 5 pages , 4 figure
Five Pond-centred Outbreaks of Cholera in Villages of West Bengal, India: Evidence for Focused Interventions
In rural West Bengal, outbreaks of cholera are often centred around ponds that is a feature of the environment. Five investigations of laboratory-confirmed, pond-centred outbreaks of cholera were reviewed. Case-control odds ratios were approximated with relative risks (RRs) as the incidence was low. The environment was investigated to understand how the pond(s) could have become contaminated and could have infected villagers. The five outbreaks of cholera in 2004-2008 led to 277 cases and three deaths (median attack rate: 51/1,000 people; case fatality: 1.1%; median age of case-patients: 22 years; median duration: 13 days, range: 6-15 days). Factors significantly (p<0.05) associated with cholera in the case-control (n=4) and cohort investigations (n=1) included washing utensils in ponds (4 outbreaks of cholera, RR range: 6-12), bathing (3 outbreaks of cholera, RR range: 3.5-9.3), and exposure to pond water, including drinking (2 outbreaks of cholera, RR range: 2.1-3.2), mouth washing (1 outbreak of cholera, RR: 4.8), and cooking (1 outbreak of cholera, RR: 3.0). Initial case-patients contaminated ponds through washing soiled clothes (n=4) or defaecation (n=1). Ubiquitous ponds used for many purposes transmit cholera in West Bengal. Focused health education, hygiene, and sanitation must protect villagers, particularly following the occurrence of an index case in a village that has ponds
The global prevalence of hepatitis D virus infection:systematic review and metaanalysis
Background and Aims There are uncertainties about the epidemic patterns of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection and its contribution to the burden of liver disease. We estimated the global prevalence of HDV infection and explored its contribution to the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive people. Methods We searched Pubmed, EMBASE and Scopus for studies reporting on total or IgG anti-HDV among HBsAg-positive people. Anti-HDV prevalence was estimated using a binomial mixed model, weighting for study quality and population size. The population attributable fraction (PAF) of HDV to cirrhosis and HCC among HBsAg-positive people was estimated using random-effects models. Results We included 282 studies, comprising 376 population samples from 95 countries, which together tested 120,293 HBsAg-positive people for anti-HDV. The estimated anti-HDV prevalence was 4.5% (95% CI 3.6, 5.7) among all HBsAg-positive people and 16.4% (14.6, 18.6) among those attending hepatology clinics. Worldwide, 0.16% (0.11, 0.25) of the general population, totalling 12.0 (8.7, 18.7) million people, were estimated to be anti-HDV positive. Prevalence among HBsAg-positive people was highest in Mongolia, the Republic of Moldova and countries in Western and Middle Africa, and was higher in injecting drug users, haemodialysis recipients, men who have sex with men, commercial sex workers, and those with hepatitis C virus or HIV. Among HBsAg-positive people, preliminary PAF estimates of HDV were 18% (10, 26) for cirrhosis and 20% (8, 33) for HCC. Conclusions An estimated 12 million people worldwide have experienced HDV infection, with higher prevalence in certain geographic areas and populations. HDV is a significant contributor to HBV-associated liver disease. More quality data are needed to improve the precisions of burden estimates
Five Pond-centred Outbreaks of Cholera in Villages of West Bengal, India: Evidence for Focused Interventions
In rural West Bengal, outbreaks of cholera are often centred around
ponds that is a feature of the environment. Five investigations of
laboratory-confirmed, pond-centred outbreaks of cholera were reviewed.
Case-control odds ratios were approximated with relative risks (RRs) as
the incidence was low. The environment was investigated to understand
how the pond(s) could have become contaminated and could have infected
villagers. The five outbreaks of cholera in 2004-2008 led to 277 cases
and three deaths (median attack rate: 51/1,000 people; case fatality:
1.1%; median age of case-patients: 22 years; median duration: 13 days,
range: 6-15 days). Factors significantly (p<0.05) associated with
cholera in the case-control (n=4) and cohort investigations (n=1)
included washing utensils in ponds (4 outbreaks of cholera, RR range:
6-12), bathing (3 outbreaks of cholera, RR range: 3.5-9.3), and
exposure to pond water, including drinking (2 outbreaks of cholera, RR
range: 2.1-3.2), mouth washing (1 outbreak of cholera, RR: 4.8), and
cooking (1 outbreak of cholera, RR: 3.0). Initial case-patients
contaminated ponds through washing soiled clothes (n=4) or defaecation
(n=1). Ubiquitous ponds used for many purposes transmit cholera in West
Bengal. Focused health education, hygiene, and sanitation must protect
villagers, particularly following the occurrence of an index case in a
village that has ponds
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