Superconducting Qubits Coupled to Nanoelectromechanical Resonators: An Architecture for Solid-State Quantum Information Processing

We describe the design for a scalable, solid-state quantum-information-processing architecture based on the integration of GHz-frequency nanomechanical resonators with Josephson tunnel junctions, which has the potential for demonstrating a variety of single- and multi-qubit operations critical to quantum computation. The computational qubits are eigenstates of large-area, current-biased Josephson junctions, manipulated and measured using strobed external circuitry. Two or more of these phase qubits are capacitively coupled to a high-quality-factor piezoelectric nanoelectromechanical disk resonator, which forms the backbone of our architecture, and which enables coherent coupling of the qubits. The integrated system is analogous to one or more few-level atoms (the Josephson junction qubits) in an electromagnetic cavity (the nanomechanical resonator). However, unlike existing approaches using atoms in electromagnetic cavities, here we can individually tune the level spacing of the ``atoms'' and control their ``electromagnetic'' interaction strength. We show theoretically that quantum states prepared in a Josephson junction can be passed to the nanomechanical resonator and stored there, and then can be passed back to the original junction or transferred to another with high fidelity. The resonator can also be used to produce maximally entangled Bell states between a pair of Josephson junctions. Many such junction-resonator complexes can assembled in a hub-and-spoke layout, resulting in a large-scale quantum circuit. Our proposed architecture combines desirable features of both solid-state and cavity quantum electrodynamics approaches, and could make quantum information processing possible in a scalable, solid-state environment.Comment: 20 pages, 14 separate low-resolution jpeg figure

Kajian Keberlanjutan Universitas Negeri Semarang (Unnes) sebagai Kampus Konservasi (Studi Kasus: Unnes Sekaran, Semarang)

Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) sebagai salah satu universitas negeri ternama di Semarang telah dikenal secara luas dengan deklarasi pada Maret 2010 sebagai kampus konservasi. UNNES bertekad menjunjung tinggi prinsip perlindungan, pengawetan, pemanfaatan, dan pengembangan secara lestari terhadap sumber daya alam dan budaya luhur bangsa. Hal ini tidak jauh dari konsep pembangunan berkelanjutan yang diterapkan pada level kawasan kampus. Maka perlu dikaji kembali mengenai pemenuhan kriteria-kriteria kampus berkelanjutan yang sudah dipenuhi oleh UNNES. Berdasarkan Perumusan masalah di atas, maka dapat disimpulkan pada sebuah pertanyaan penelitian, yaitu “Bagaimana perwujudan pendekatan keberlanjutan dalam pembangunan dan pengembangan UNNES sebagai kampus konservasi?”. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk dapat mengkaji dan menilai upaya perwujudan pendekatan keberlanjutan dalam pembangunan dan pengembangan kampus konservasi. Kajian akan dilakukan terhadap konsep kampus konservasi UNNES, implementasi program kampus konservasi yang telah dilaksanakan serta capaian UNNES dalam mewujudkan kampus konservasi sebagai bentuk dari sustainable campus. Pendekatan penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif. Variabel yang diteliti antara lain meliputi konsep kampus konservasi, kualitas lingkungan alam, manajemen kawasan kampus, kesehatan warga kampus, estetika kawasan, partisipasi warga kampus dan kualitas SDM, riset dan kurikulum, serta rencana kebijakan di masa mendatang. Analisis yang digunakan adalah analisis mengenai konsep kampus konservasi UNNES terhadap konsep kampus berkelanjutan, analisis implementasi program kampus konservasi UNNES, dan analisis capaian UNNES dalam mewujudkan konsep kampus konservasi dengan keberlanjutannya. Hasil yang didapat setelah melakukan analisis yaitu bahwa UNNES belum berkelanjutan karena masih terfokus pada satu pilar, yaitu lingkungan.. Rekomendasi berdasarkan hasil dari penelitian ini yaitu pengoptimalan dan pemberdayaan mahasiswa selain sebagai kader konservasi juga dapat dilibatkan dalam proses perencanaan dan pembangunan hingga sampai tahap monitoring dan evaluasi program-programnya

Single-inhaler fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol versus fluticasone furoate/vilanterol plus umeclidinium using two inhalers for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A randomized non-inferiority study

Background: Single-inhaler fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI) 100/62.5/25 μg has been shown to improve lung function and health status, and reduce exacerbations, versus budesonide/formoterol in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We evaluated the non-inferiority of single-inhaler FF/UMEC/VI versus FF/VI + UMEC using two inhalers. Methods: Eligible patients with COPD (aged ≥40 years; ≥1 moderate/severe exacerbation in the 12 months before screening) were randomized (1:1; stratified by the number of long-acting bronchodilators [0, 1 or 2] per day during run-in) to receive 24-week FF/UMEC/VI 100/62.5/25 μg and placebo or FF/VI 100/25 μg + UMEC 62.5 μg; all treatments/placebo were delivered using the ELLIPTA inhaler once-daily in the morning. Primary endpoint: change from baseline in trough forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) at Week 24. The non-inferiority margin for the lower 95% confidence limit was set at − 50 mL. Results: A total of 1055 patients (844 [80%] of whom were enrolled on combination maintenance therapy) were randomized to receive FF/UMEC/VI (n = 527) or FF/VI + UMEC (n = 528). Mean change from baseline in trough FEV1 at Week 24 was 113 mL (95% CI 91, 135) for FF/UMEC/VI and 95 mL (95% CI 72, 117) for FF/VI + UMEC; the between-treatment difference of 18 mL (95% CI -13, 50) confirmed FF/UMEC/VI’s was considered non-inferior to FF/ VI + UMEC. At Week 24, the proportion of responders based on St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire Total score was 50% (FF/UMEC/VI) and 51% (FF/VI + UMEC); the proportion of responders based on the Transitional Dyspnea Index focal score was similar (56% both groups). A similar proportion of patients experienced a moderate/severe exacerbation in the FF/UMEC/VI (24%) and FF/VI + UMEC (27%) groups; the hazard ratio for time to first moderate/ severe exacerbation with FF/UMEC/VI versus FF/VI + UMEC was 0.87 (95% CI 0.68, 1.12). The incidence of adverse events was comparable in both groups (48%); the incidence of serious adverse events was 10% (FF/UMEC/VI) and 11% (FF/VI + UMEC). Conclusions: Single-inhaler triple therapy (FF/UMEC/VI) is non-inferior to two inhalers (FF/VI + UMEC) on trough FEV1 change from baseline at 24 weeks. Results were similar on all other measures of efficacy, health-related quality of life, and safety. Trial registration: GSK study CTT200812; ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02729051 (submitted 31 March 2016)

OPTIMAL STRUCTURE OF AN AGRIBUSINESS FIRM CONSIDERING THE ECONOMICS OF MAJOR, LINKED COMPONENTS

An optimization model is used to evaluate the economics of various components of a large agribusiness. The benefits of using interger programming are contrasted to traditional linear programming analysis in conjunction with outside-the-model budgeting analysis.Agribusiness, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

Finding the Center of Mass of a Soft Spring

This article shows how to use calculus to find the center of mass position of a soft cylindrical helical spring that is suspended vertically. The spring is non-uniformly stretched by the action of gravity. A general expression for the vertical position of the center of mass is obtained.Comment: LaTeX, 7 pages, 2 figures. Minor changes to agree with published versio

Global warming-induced upper-ocean freshening and the intensification of super typhoons

Super typhoons (STYs), intense tropical cyclones of the western North Pacific, rank among the most destructive natural hazards globally. The violent winds of these storms induce deep mixing of the upper ocean, resulting in strong sea surface cooling and making STYs highly sensitive to ocean density stratification. Although a few studies examined the potential impacts of changes in ocean thermal structure on future tropical cyclones, they did not take into account changes in near-surface salinity. Here, using a combination of observations and coupled climate model simulations, we show that freshening of the upper ocean, caused by greater rainfall in places where typhoons form, tends to intensify STYs by reducing their ability to cool the upper ocean. We further demonstrate that the strengthening effect of this freshening over the period 1961–2008 is ∼53% stronger than the suppressive effect of temperature, whereas under twenty-first century projections, the positive effect of salinity is about half of the negative effect of ocean temperature changes.United States. Dept. of Energy. Regional & Global Climate Modeling Progra