Using superlattice potentials to probe long-range magnetic correlations in optical lattices

In Pedersen et al. (2011) we proposed a method to utilize a temporally dependent superlattice potential to mediate spin-selective transport, and thereby probe long and short range magnetic correlations in optical lattices. Specifically this can be used for detecting antiferromagnetic ordering in repulsive fermionic optical lattice systems, but more generally it can serve as a means of directly probing correlations among the atoms by measuring the mean value of an observable, the number of double occupied sites. Here, we provide a detailed investigation of the physical processes which limit the effectiveness of this "conveyer belt method". Furthermore we propose a simple ways to improve the procedure, resulting in an essentially perfect (error-free) probing of the magnetic correlations. These results shows that suitably constructed superlattices constitute a promising way of manipulating atoms of different spin species as well as probing their interactions.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figure

An Interprofessional Curriculum on Antimicrobial Stewardship Improves Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Appropriate Antimicrobial Use and Collaboration.

BackgroundInappropriate antimicrobial use can threaten patient safety and is the focus of collaborative physician and pharmacist antimicrobial stewardship teams. However, antimicrobial stewardship is not comprehensively taught in medical or pharmacy school curricula. Addressing this deficiency can teach an important concept as well as model interprofessional healthcare.MethodsWe created an antimicrobial stewardship curriculum consisting of an online learning module and workshop session that combined medical and pharmacy students, with faculty from both professions. Learners worked through interactive, branched-logic clinical cases relating to appropriate antimicrobial use. We surveyed participants before and after the curriculum using validated questions to assess knowledge and attitudes regarding antimicrobial stewardship and interprofessional collaboration. Results were analyzed using paired χ2 and t tests and mixed-effects logistic regression.ResultsAnalysis was performed with the 745 students (425 medical students, 320 pharmacy students) who completed both pre- and postcurriculum surveys over 3 years. After completing the curriculum, significantly more students perceived that they were able to describe the role of each profession in appropriate antimicrobial use (34% vs 82%, P < .001), communicate in a manner that engaged the interprofessional team (75% vs 94%, P < .001), and describe collaborative approaches to appropriate antimicrobial use (49% vs 92%, P < .001). Student favorability ratings were high for the online learning module (85%) and small group workshop (93%).ConclusionsA curriculum on antimicrobial stewardship consisting of independent learning and an interprofessional workshop significantly increased knowledge and attitudes towards collaborative antimicrobial stewardship among preclinical medical and pharmacy students

Experimental test of contextuality in quantum and classical systems

Contextuality is considered as an intrinsic signature of non-classicality, and a crucial resource for achieving unique advantages of quantum information processing. However, recently there have been debates on whether classical fields may also demonstrate contextuality. Here we experimentally configure a contextuality test for optical fields, adopting various definitions of measurement events, and analyse how the definitions affect the emergence of non-classical correlations. The heralded single photon state, a typical non-classical light field, manifests contextuality in our setup, while contextuality for classical coherent fields strongly depends on the specific definition of measurement events which is equivalent to filtering the non-classical component of the input state. Our results highlight the importance of definition of measurement events to demonstrate contextuality, and link the contextual correlations to non-classicality defined by quasi-probabilities in phase space.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figure

Accurate Microwave Control and Real-Time Diagnostics of Neutral Atom Qubits

We demonstrate accurate single-qubit control in an ensemble of atomic qubits trapped in an optical lattice. The qubits are driven with microwave radiation, and their dynamics tracked by optical probe polarimetry. Real-time diagnostics is crucial to minimize systematic errors and optimize the performance of single-qubit gates, leading to fidelities of 0.99 for single-qubit pi rotations. We show that increased robustness to large, deliberately introduced errors can be achieved through the use of composite rotations. However, during normal operation the combination of very small intrinsic errors and additional decoherence during the longer pulse sequences precludes any significant performance gain in our current experiment.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

Conformal symmetry and light flavor baryon spectra

The degeneracy among parity pairs systematically observed in the N and Delta spectra is interpreted to hint on a possible conformal symmetry realization in the light flavor baryon sector in line with AdS_5/CFT_4. The case is made by showing that all the observed N and Delta resonances with masses below 2500 MeV distribute fairly well each over the first levels of a unitary representation of the conformal group, a representation that covers the spectrum of a quark-diquark system, placed directly on the AdS_5 cone, conformally compactified to R^1*S^3. The free geodesic motion on the S^3 manifold is described by means of the scalar conformal equation there, which is of the Klein-Gordon type. The equation is then gauged by the "curved" Coulomb potential that has the form of a cotangent function. Conformal symmetry is not exact, this because the gauge potential slightly modifies the conformal centrifugal barrier of the free geodesic motion. Thanks to this, the degeneracy between P11-S11 pairs from same level is relaxed, while the remaining states belonging to same level remain practically degenerate. The model describes the correct mass ordering in the P11-S11 pairs through the nucleon spectrum as a combined effect of the above conformal symmetry breaking, on the one side, and a parity change of the diquark from a scalar at low masses, to a pseudoscalar at higher masses, on the other. The quality of the wave functions is illustrated by calculations of realistic mean-square charge radii and electric charge form-factors on the examples of the proton, and the protonic P11(1440), and S11(1535) resonances. The scheme also allows for a prediction of the dressing function of an effective instantaneous gluon propagator from the Fourier transform of the gauge potential. We find a dressing function that is finite in the infrared and tends to zero at infinity.Comment: Latex, 5 figures, 2 tables; Paper upgraded in accord with the published version. Discussion on the meson sector include

Applications of squeezed states: Bogoliubov transformations and wavelets to the statistical mechanics of water and its bubbles

The squeezed states or Bogoliubov transformations and wavelets are applied to two problems in nonrelativistic statistical mechanics: the dielectric response of liquid water, epsilon(q-vector,w), and the bubble formation in water during insonnification. The wavelets are special phase-space windows which cover the domain and range of L(exp 1) intersection of L(exp 2) of classical causal, finite energy solutions. The multiresolution of discrete wavelets in phase space gives a decomposition into regions of time and scales of frequency thereby allowing the renormalization group to be applied to new systems in addition to the tired 'usual suspects' of the Ising models and lattice gasses. The Bogoliubov transformation: squeeze transformation is applied to the dipolaron collective mode in water and to the gas produced by the explosive cavitation process in bubble formation

Treatment of patients with chronic pruritus of unknown origin with dupilumab

BACKGROUND: Chronic pruritus of unknown origin (CPUO) is a highly debilitating disease that lacks effective treatments. This study explores a new therapeutic strategy with dupilumab. OBJECTIVES: To examine whether patients with CPUO demonstrate clinical response to dupilumab. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective case series examining all patients with CPUO who were treated with dupilumab from March 2017 to December 2019 at a tertiary referral clinic at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO. Numerical rating scale (NRS) itch score changes over time were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (67% women; mean [SD] age, 68.7 [12.6] years [range, 42-88 years]) were included in the analysis. All patients had a diagnosis of CPUO for a mean [SD] 2.6 [2.8] years. The median [IQR] pruritus NRS itch score before dupilumab injection was 8 [8-10] and the final median [IQR] NRS itch score was 1 [0-2.5]. The mean [SD] reduction in the NRS itch score was 7.0 [1.9]. Dupilumab was well tolerated with one report of mild injection site reaction that was self-resolving. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that dupilumab may be an effective treatment for patients with CPUO and supports the design of future randomized placebo-controlled trials to prove its efficacy

Demographics and the Marketing of Asian Ethnic Produce in the Mid-Atlantic States

Marketing,

Beyond somatosensation: Mrgprs in mucosal tissues

Mas-related G coupled receptors (Mrgprs) are a superfamily of receptors expressed in sensory neurons that are known to transmit somatic sensations from the skin to the central nervous system. Interestingly, Mrgprs have recently been implicated in sensory and motor functions of mucosal-associated neuronal circuits. The gastrointestinal and pulmonary tracts are constantly exposed to noxious stimuli. Therefore, it is likely that neuronal Mrgpr signaling pathways in mucosal tissues, akin to their family members expressed in the skin, might relay messages that alert the host when mucosal tissues are affected by damaging signals. Further, Mrgprs have been proposed to mediate the cross-talk between sensory neurons and immune cells that promotes host-protective functions at barrier sites. Although the mechanisms by which Mrgprs are activated in mucosal tissues are not completely understood, these exciting studies implicate Mrgprs as potential therapeutic targets for conditions affecting the intestinal and airway mucosa. This review will highlight the central role of Mrgpr signaling pathways in the regulation of homeostasis at mucosal tissues

Effects of ruxolitinib cream on pruritus and quality of life in atopic dermatitis: Results from a phase 2, randomized, dose-ranging, vehicle- and active-controlled study

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic, highly pruritic skin disorder, impairs quality of life (QoL). Janus kinase inhibitors suppress inflammatory and pruritus-associated cytokine signaling in AD. OBJECTIVE: To report the effects of ruxolitinib (RUX) cream on itch and QoL in AD. METHODS: A total of 307 adult patients with an Investigator\u27s Global Assessment (score of 2 or 3) and 3% to 20% affected body surface area were randomly assigned for 8 weeks to receive double-blind treatment with RUX (1.5% twice daily, 1.5% once daily, 0.5% once daily, or 0.15% once daily), vehicle twice daily, or triamcinolone cream (0.1% twice daily for 4 weeks then vehicle for 4 weeks). Itch was measured by using the numerical rating scale, and patient QoL was assessed with Skindex-16. RESULTS: Improvements in itch numerical rating scale and Skindex-16 were observed with RUX cream. Overall, 42.5% of patients who applied 1.5% RUX twice daily experienced minimal clinically important difference in itch within 36 hours of treatment (vehicle, 13.6%; P \u3c .01); near-maximal improvement was observed by week 4. Itch reduction was associated with improved QoL burden (Pearson correlation, 0.67; P \u3c .001). Significant improvements in Skindex-16 overall scores were noted at week 2. LIMITATIONS: Facial AD lesions were not treated. CONCLUSION: RUX cream provides a clinically meaningful reduction in itch and QoL burden