1,482 research outputs found
Ultralong-Range Rydberg Molecules in a Divalent-Atomic System
We report the creation of ultralong-range Sr molecules comprising one
ground-state atom and one atom in a Rydberg state
for ranging from 29 to 36. Molecules are created in a trapped ultracold
atomic gas using two-photon excitation near resonant with the
intermediate state, and their formation is detected through ground-state atom
loss from the trap. The observed molecular binding energies are fit with the
aid of first-order perturbation theory that utilizes a Fermi pseudopotential
with effective -wave and -wave scattering lengths to describe the
interaction between an excited Rydberg electron and a ground-state Sr atom.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure
High-intensity two-frequency photoassociation spectroscopy of a weakly bound molecular state: theory and experiment
We investigate two-frequency photoassociation of a weakly bound molecular
state, focusing on a regime where the ac Stark shift is comparable to the
halo-state energy. In this "high-intensity" regime, we observe features absent
in low-intensity two-frequency photoassociation. We experimentally measure the
spectra of Sr atoms coupled to the least bound state of the
Sr ground electronic channel through an intermediate electronically
excited molecular state. We compare the spectra to a simple three-level model
that includes a two-frequency drive on each leg of the transition. With
numerical solution of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation, we show that
this model accurately captures (1) the existence of experimentally observed
satellite peaks that arise from nonlinear processes, (2) the locations of the
two-photon peak in the spectrum, including ac Stark shifts, and (3) in some
cases, spectral lineshapes. To better understand these numerical results, we
develop an approximate treatment of this model, based on Floquet and
perturbation theory, that gives simple formulas that accurately capture the
halo-state energies. We expect these expressions to be valuable tools to
analyze and guide future two-frequency photoassociation experiments.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure
Recent advances in pulmonary arterial hypertension [version 1; referees: 2 approved]
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disorder with a high mortality rate. Treatment options have improved in the last 20 years, but patients still die prematurely of right heart failure. Though rare, it is heterogeneous at the genetic and molecular level, and understanding and exploiting this is key to the development of more effective treatments. BMPR2 , encoding bone morphogenetic receptor type 2, is the most commonly affected gene in both familial and non-familial PAH, but rare mutations have been identified in other genes. Transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic studies looking for endophenotypes are under way. There is no shortage of candidate new drug targets for PAH, but the selection and prioritisation of these are challenges for the research community
Impacts of artisanal and small-scale gold mining on soils in northern regions of CĂŽte dâIvoire: cases of Boundiali, Korhogo and Tengrela
The development artisanal and small-scale gold mining in recent years in CĂŽte d'Ivoire could pose a risk to soils and health of local communities. This study aimed at assessing the impacts of artisanal and small-scale gold mining on the soils in the areas in the northen localities (Boundiali, Korhogo and Tengrela) of CĂŽte dâIvoire, where those activities are accentuated. Field observation and physico-chemical parameters analysis (potential hydrogen (pH), cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic matter (OM)) and pollutants (mercury (Hg), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As) and cyanide (CN)) in soil samples were carried out. The results indicate that artisanal gold mining create soils erosion and consequently, soil structure destruction. Trace metals concentrations were 0.0001-0.0051 mg/kg (Hg), 0.002-0.32 mg/kg (CN), 18.90-73.10 mg/kg (Cu), 16.40-50.1 mg/kg (As) and 10.20-26.60 mg/kg (Zn). Geoaccumulation index (Igeo) in soils showed uncontamination for Hg and Zn, uncontamination to moderate contamination for Cu and moderate to strong contamination for As. According to ecological risk index (Eri), As could pose considerable to high risks to biota in study area. This study highlights serious risks to soil biota and human health, from artisanal gold mining activities. Thus, it is necessary to clean-up arsenic-contaminated soils
Identification, Genotyping and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Brucella spp. Isolated from Livestock in Egypt
Brucellosis is a highly contagious zoonosis worldwide with economic and public health impacts. The aim of the present study was to identify Brucella (B.) spp. isolated from animal populations located in different districts of Egypt and to determine their antimicrobial resistance. In total, 34-suspected Brucella isolates were recovered from lymph nodes, milk, and fetal abomasal contents of infected cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats from nine districts in Egypt. The isolates were identified by microbiological methods and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Differentiation and genotyping were confirmed using multiplex PCR for B. abortus, Brucella melitensis, Brucella ovis, and Brucella suis (AMOS) and Bruce-ladder PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing against clinically used antimicrobial agents (chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, gentamicin, imipenem, rifampicin, streptomycin, and tetracycline) was performed using E-Test. The antimicrobial resistance-associated genes and mutations in Brucella isolates were confirmed using molecular tools. In total, 29 Brucella isolates (eight B. abortus biovar 1 and 21 B. melitensis biovar 3) were identified and typed. The resistance of B. melitensis to ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, imipenem, rifampicin, and streptomycin were 76.2%, 19.0%, 76.2%, 66.7%, and 4.8%, respectively. Whereas, 25.0%, 87.5%, 25.0%, and 37.5% of B. abortus were resistant to ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, imipenem, and rifampicin, respectively. Mutations in the rpoB gene associated with rifampicin resistance were identified in all phenotypically resistant isolates. Mutations in gyrA and gyrB genes associated with ciprofloxacin resistance were identified in four phenotypically resistant isolates of B. melitensis. This is the first study highlighting the antimicrobial resistance in Brucella isolated from different animal species in Egypt. Mutations detected in genes associated with antimicrobial resistance unravel the molecular mechanisms of resistance in Brucella isolates from Egypt. The mutations in the rpoB gene in phenotypically resistant B. abortus isolates in this study were reported for the first time in Egypt
Comment on "Geometrothermodynamics of a Charged Black Hole of String Theory"
We comment on the conclusions found by Larra\~naga and Mojica regarding the
consistency of the Geoemtrothermodynamics programme to describe the critical
behaviour of a Gibbons-Maeda-Garfinkle-Horowitz-Strominger charged black hole.
We argue that making the appropriate choice of metric for the thermodynamic
phase space and, most importantly, considering the homogeneity of the
thermodynamic potential we obtain consistent results for such a black hole.Comment: Comment on arXiv:1012.207
Doing Public Sociology: Student perspectives of international placements
Here nine Bournemouth University undergraduate sociology students reflect on the international placements they undertook in January 2016 in welfare settings in Penang, Malaysia under the auspices of our partner, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Placed in selected NGOs working at the âcoalfaceâ of need, the agencies gave aptitude-testing demands of the students to rapidly adjust and cope with very different work expectations in an unfamiliar socio-cultural context, as described below
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