Formation of Ultracold Molecules by Merging Optical Tweezers

We demonstrate the formation of a single RbCs molecule during the merging of two optical tweezers, one containing a single Rb atom and the other a single Cs atom. Both atoms are initially predominantly in the motional ground states of their respective tweezers. We confirm molecule formation and establish the state of the molecule formed by measuring its binding energy. We find that the probability of molecule formation can be controlled by tuning the confinement of the traps during the merging process, in good agreement with coupled-channel calculations. We show that the conversion efficiency from atoms to molecules using this technique is comparable to magnetoassociation

Effects of kefir on coccidial oocysts excretion and performance of dairy goat kids following weaning

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of kefir, a traditional source of probiotic, on coccidial oocysts excretion and on the performance of dairy goat kids following weaning. Twin kids were randomly allocated to one of two groups at weaning. Kids of the first group received 20 ml of kefir daily for 6 weeks (KEF), while kids in the control group were given a placebo (CON). Individual faecal samples were regularly (n = 18 per kid) taken to quantify the number of coccidial oocysts per gram of faeces (OpG). There were no differences between the groups in terms of body weight development (P > 0.05) and feed consumption. Kids of both groups were not able to consume enough feed to meet their nutrient requirements during the first 3 weeks following weaning. KEF had a lower frequency of OpG positive samples than CON (P = 0.043). Kefir did not affect the maximum oocyst excretion and age of the kids at the highest oocyst excretion (P > 0.05). KEF shed numerically 35% lower coccidial oocysts than the controls, which corresponded to a statistical tendency (P = 0.074) in lowering Log-OpG in comparison to CON. While KEF had a lower frequency of OpG positive samples and tended to shed lower OPG by around one-third, the frequency of diarrhea, level of highest oocyst excretion, and performance of the kids remained unaffected. Therefore, it is concluded that overall effects of kefir do not have a significant impact on sub-clinical infection and performance in weaned kids under relatively high-hygienic farming conditions

Recruit & Retain - Making it Work. Den norske case-studien

Denne rapporten er skrevet som del av sluttrapporteringen av prosjektet Recruit & Retain – Making it Work. Prosjektet er støttet av EU-programmet The Northern Perifery and Arctic Program (http://www.interreg-npa.eu) og har gått over tre år fra februar 2016 til januar 2019. Hovedmålsettingen med prosjektet har vært å finne fram til modeller for å arbeide systematisk med rekruttering og stabilisering av nøkkelpersonell til velferdstjenester i distrikt. Det enkelte land har gjennomført sine egne delprosjekt. NSDM har i sitt delprosjekt jobbet med Meløy, Odda og Årdal, tre kommuner som over tid har hatt store rekrutterings- og stabiliseringsutfordringer i sin fastlegetjeneste, med mål om å bedre situasjonen. De øvrige partnerne i prosjektet har gjennomført liknende delprosjekt i sine land. Denne rapporten er skrevet med utgangspunkt i NSDMs perspektiv på prosjektet og gjennomføringen av det. Den norske case-studien i EU-prosjektet Recruit & Retain – Making it Work har hatt mål om å bidra til: 1) å forbedre rekruttering og stabilitet av fastleger i tre case-kommuner, 2) identifisere vellykkede strategier for rekruttering og stabilisering og 3) formidle disse strategiene til andre liknende kommuner

. Rearrangements of Water Dimer and Hexamer

Abstract. Rearrangement mechanisms of the water dimer and the cage form of the water hexamer are examined theoretically with particular reference to tunneling splittings and spectroscopy. The three lowest barrier rearrangements of the water dimer are characterized by ab initio methods and compared with the results of previous constrained calculations. The acceptor-tunneling pathway does not proceed via a direct rotation around the C2 axis of the acceptor, but rather via relatively asynchronous rotation of the donor about the hydrogen bond and an associated ‘wag’ of the acceptor. Rearrangements between different cage isomers of the water hexamer are studied for two empirical potentials. The experimentally observed triplet splittings may be the result of flip and bifurcation rearrangements of the two single-donor, single-acceptor monomers. Twodimensional quantum calculations of the nuclear dynamics suggest that delocalization over more than one cage isomer may occur, especially in excited states

Evolution of Multilevel Social Systems in Nonhuman Primates and Humans

Multilevel (or modular) societies are a distinct type of primate social system whose key features are single-male–multifemale, core units nested within larger social bands. They are not equivalent to fission–fusion societies, with the latter referring to routine variability in associations, either on an individual or subunit level. The purpose of this review is to characterize and operationalize multilevel societies and to outline their putative evolutionary origins. Multilevel societies are prevalent in three primate clades: papionins, Asian colobines, and hominins. For each clade, we portray the most parsimonious phylogenetic pathway leading to a modular system and then review and discuss likely socioecological conditions promoting the establishment and maintenance of these societies. The multilevel system in colobines (most notably Rhinopithecus and Nasalis) has likely evolved as single-male harem systems coalesced, whereas the multilevel system of papionins (Papio hamadryas, Theropithecus gelada) and hominins most likely arose as multimale–multifemale groups split into smaller units. We hypothesize that, although ecological conditions acted as preconditions for the origin of multilevel systems in all three clades, a potentially important catalyst was intraspecific social threat, predominantly bachelor threat in colobines and female coercion/infanticide in papionins and humans. We emphasize that female transfers within bands or genetic relationships among leader males help to maintain modular societies by facilitating interunit tolerance. We still lack a good or even basic understanding of many facets of multilevel sociality. Key remaining questions are how the genetic structure of a multilevel society matches the observed social effort of its members, to what degree cooperation of males of different units is manifest and contributes to band cohesion, and how group coordination, communication, and decision making are achieved. Affiliative and cooperative interunit relations are a hallmark of human societies, and studying the precursors of intergroup pacification in other multilevel primates may provide insights into the evolution of human uniqueness