13,899 research outputs found
Wave packet dynamics of potassium dimers attached to helium nanodroplets
The dynamics of vibrational wave packets excited in K dimers attached to
superfluid helium nanodroplets is investigated by means of femtosecond
pump-probe spectroscopy. The employed resonant three-photon-ionization scheme
is studied in a wide wavelength range and different pathways leading to
K-formation are identified. While the wave packet dynamics of the
electronic ground state is not influenced by the helium environment,
perturbations of the electronically excited states are observed. The latter
reveal a strong time dependence on the timescale 3-8 ps which directly reflects
the dynamics of desorption of K off the helium droplets
Disease associated with equine coronavirus infection and high case fatality rate.
BackgroundEquine coronavirus (ECoV) is associated with clinical disease in adult horses. Outbreaks are associated with a low case fatality rate and a small number of animals with signs of encephalopathic disease are described.ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to describe the epidemiological and clinical features of two outbreaks of ECoV infection that were associated with an high case fatality rate.Animals14 miniature horses and 1 miniature donkey testing fecal positive for ECoV from two related disease outbreaks.MethodsRetrospective study describing the epidemiological findings, clinicopathological findings, and fecal viral load from affected horses.ResultsIn EcoV positive horses, 27% (4/15) of the animals died or were euthanized. Severe hyperammonemia (677 Όmol/L, reference range †60 Όmol/L) was identified in one animal with signs of encephalopathic disease that subsequently died. Fecal viral load (ECoV genome equivalents per gram of feces) was significantly higher in the nonsurvivors compared to animals that survived (P = .02).Conclusions and clinical importanceEquine coronavirus had a higher case fatality rate in this group of miniature horses than previously reported in other outbreaks of varying breeds. Hyperammonemia could contribute to signs of encephalopathic disease, and the fecal viral load might be of prognostic value in affected horses
Evaluation of enzyme immunoassays in the diagnosis of camel (Camelus dromedarius) trypanosomiasis:a preliminary investigation
Three enzyme immunoassays were used for the serodiagnosis of Trypanosoma evansi in camels in the Sudan in order to evaluate their ability to discriminate between infected and non-infected animals. Two assays were used for the detection of trypanosomal antibodies, one using specific anti-camel IgG conjugate and another using a non-specific Protein A conjugate. The third assay detected the presence of trypanosomal antigens using anti-T. evansi antibodies in a double antibody sandwich assay. Inspection of the frequency distribution of assay results suggested that the ELISA for circulating trypanosomal antibodies using specific antisera and the ELISA for circulating antigens can distinguish between non-infected camels and infected camels exhibiting patent infections or not. The ELISA using Protein A conjugate to bind non-specifically to camel immunoglobulin did not appear to discriminate between infected and non-infected animals
Slow plasmon modes in polymeric salt solutions
The dynamics of polymeric salt solutions are presented. The salt consists of
chains and , which are chemically different and interact with a
Flory-interaction parameter , the chain ends carry a positive
charge whereas the chain ends are modified by negative charges. The
static structure factor shows a peak corresponding to a micro phase separation.
At low momentum transfer, the interdiffusion mode is driven by electrostatics
and is of the plasmon-type, but with an unusually low frequency, easily
accessible by experiments. This is due to the polymer connectivity that
introduces high friction and amplifies the charge scattering thus allowing for
low charge densities. The interdiffusion mode shows a minimum (critical slowing
down) at finite when the interaction parameter increases we find then a low
frequency quasi-plateau.Comment: accepted in Europhys. Let
Analytical Rebridging Monte Carlo: Application to cis/trans Isomerization in Proline-Containing, Cyclic Peptides
We present a new method, the analytical rebridging scheme, for Monte Carlo
simulation of proline-containing, cyclic peptides. The cis/trans isomerization
is accommodated by allowing for two states of the amide bond. We apply our
method to five peptides that have been previously characterized by NMR methods.
Our simulations achieve effective equilibration and agree well with
experimental data in all cases. We discuss the importance of effective
equilibration and the role of bond flexibility and solvent effects on the
predicted equilibrium properties.Comment: 29 pages, 8 PostScript figures, LaTeX source. to appear in J. Chem.
Phys., 199
Nongame Birds, Small Mammals, Reptiles, Fishes: Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge, 1995-1996
The goal of this study was to conduct a nongame vertebrate survey at SLNWR by primary habitat types, with emphasis placed on nongame breeding birds and small mammals . Specific objectives were to determine: 1) avian and mammalian species composition by primary habitat types with special emphasis on nongame/neotropical avian species and nongame small mammals, 2) the presence of other vertebrate species (amphibians, reptiles , and fishes) by primary habitat type, 3) present vertebrate biota occurrence, as compared to pre-1940 occurence as found in the literature and other records or sources, 4) significant changes in habitat and/ or vegetation on SLNWR, based on current and historical literature and refuge files, and 5) to make recommendations for preserving/ enhancing populations of nongame vertebrate species on SLNWR
An Annotated Bibliography: Published Articles (1861-1998) About the Wild Mammals of South Dakota
Our goal in compiling this bibliography was to locate every published article with a connection to any wild South Dakota mammal. However, we understood from the start that this goal would be unattainable. Consequently, this collection can provide only a point of origin to readers interested in obtaining published studies (popular and scientific) about the wild mammals of South Dakota
Scaling of Berry's Phase Close to the Dicke Quantum Phase Transition
We discuss the thermodynamic and finite size scaling properties of the
geometric phase in the adiabatic Dicke model, describing the super-radiant
phase transition for an qubit register coupled to a slow oscillator mode.
We show that, in the thermodynamic limit, a non zero Berry phase is obtained
only if a path in parameter space is followed that encircles the critical
point. Furthermore, we investigate the precursors of this critical behavior for
a system with finite size and obtain the leading order in the 1/N expansion of
the Berry phase and its critical exponent
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