A quasi-pure Bose-Einstein condensate immersed in a Fermi sea

We report the observation of co-existing Bose-Einstein condensate and Fermi gas in a magnetic trap. With a very small fraction of thermal atoms, the 7Li condensate is quasi-pure and in thermal contact with a 6Li Fermi gas. The lowest common temperature is 0.28 muK = 0.2(1) T_C = 0.2(1) T_F where T_C is the BEC critical temperature and T_F the Fermi temperature. Behaving as an ideal gas in the radial trap dimension, the condensate is one-dimensional.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Production of Long-Lived Ultracold Li2 Molecules from a Fermi gas

We create weakly-bound Li2 molecules from a degenerate two component Fermi gas by sweeping a magnetic field across a Feshbach resonance. The atom-molecule transfer efficiency can reach 85% and is studied as a function of magnetic field and initial temperature. The bosonic molecules remain trapped for 0.5 s and their temperature is within a factor of 2 from the Bose-Einstein condensation temperature. A thermodynamical model reproduces qualitatively the experimental findings

Sexual orientation and mental health: a review [Orientation sexuelle et santé mentale : une revue de la littérature ]

International audienceBACKGROUND: The aim of this paper is to review available knowledge on sexual orientation and mental health, especially for women. METHODS: Papers published in English or French, between 1997 and 2007, were selected in PubMed using the following keywords "homosexuality/sexual orientation and mental health/depression/suicide". To be retained, papers had to contain findings from quantitative surveys comparing homosexual and heterosexual adults. In all, this review analyses 22 papers including two that are based on the same survey. RESULTS: This review found a general pattern of poorer mental health for homosexuals and even more so for bisexuals compared to heterosexuals. Results are especially consistent regarding elevated risk of suicide attempts

On the regulation, function, and localization of the DNA-dependent ATPase PICH

The putative chromatin remodeling enzyme Plk1-interacting checkpoint helicase (PICH) was discovered as an interaction partner and substrate of the mitotic kinase Plk1. During mitosis PICH associates with centromeres and kinetochores and, most interestingly, constitutes a robust marker for ultrafine DNA bridges (UFBs) that connect separating chromatids in anaphase cells. The precise roles of PICH remain to be clarified. Here, we have used antibody microinjection and siRNA-rescue experiments to study PICH function and localization during M phase progression, with particular emphasis on the role of the predicted ATPase domain and the regulation of PICH localization by Plk1. We show that interference with PICH function results in chromatin bridge formation and micronucleation and that ATPase activity is critical for PICH function. Interestingly, an intact ATPase domain of PICH is required for prevention of chromatin bridge formation but not for UFB resolution, and quantitative analyses of UFB and chromatin bridge frequencies suggest that these structures are of different etiologies. We also show that the ATPase activity of PICH is required for temporal and spatial control of PICH localization to chromatin and that Plk1 likely controls PICH localization through phosphorylation of proteins distinct from PICH itself. This work strengthens the view that PICH is an important, Plk1-regulated enzyme, whose ATPase activity is essential for maintenance of genome integrity. Although not required for the spindle assembly checkpoint, PICH is clearly important for faithful chromosome segregatio

Formation of a Matter-Wave Bright Soliton

We report the production of matter-wave solitons in an ultracold lithium 7 gas. The effective interaction between atoms in a Bose-Einstein condensate is tuned with a Feshbach resonance from repulsive to attractive before release in a one-dimensional optical waveguide. Propagation of the soliton without dispersion over a macroscopic distance of 1.1 mm is observed. A simple theoretical model explains the stability region of the soliton. These matter-wave solitons open fascinating possibilities for future applications in coherent atom optics, atom interferometry and atom transport.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

Donne vittime di violenza da parte del partner: quali strade per chidere aiuto?

La ricerca di sostegno sociale ha un ruolo centrale nell’uscita dalla violenza; avere figli (nel testo verrà utilizzato il sostantivo “figli” per indicare l’insieme dei figli e delle figlie delle donne) e divenire consapevoli degli effetti che la violenza ha su di loro è spesso l’elemento chiave che spinge le donne a ricercare aiuto. Questo studio ha l’obiettivo di indagare quali fonti di aiuto le donne contattano prima di rivolgersi ad un Centro Antiviolenza (CAV) e di analizzare le circostanze in cui lo fanno. A tal fine è stato condotto uno studio trasversale in cinque CAV del Nord Italia. Centocinquantuno donne hanno compilato autonomamente un questionario anonimo. Le donne hanno riportato elevati livelli di tutte le tipologie di violenza; i figli erano, nella maggior parte dei casi, direttamente coinvolti nelle violenze. Il 33% delle donne ha riferito di aver contattato 4 o più fonti di aiuto prima di arrivare al CAV. Il coinvolgimento dei figli nelle violenze ha portato le donne a rivolgersi a più fonti di aiuto rispetto alle situazioni in cui i figli non erano coinvolti. I risultati sottolineano l’importanza di formare tutti i professionisti e le professioniste che potrebbero incontrare nel loro percorso professionale delle donne che hanno subito o che stanno subendo violenza. La demande d’aide et de soutien joue un rôle central pour mettre fin à la violence du partenaire et pour marquer le tournant dans le processus concernant la prise de conscience des effets de la violence sur les enfants. Cette étude vise à examiner les sources d’assistance que les femmes ont contactées avant d’arriver au centre anti-violence et à analyser les circonstances concrètes des cas de figure. Une étude transversale a été menée sur les femmes qui se sont adressées à un centre antiviolence en Italie. Cent cinquante et une femmes ont rempli un questionnaire auto-administré. Elles ont signalé des niveaux élevés de toutes les typologies de violence entre partenaires intimes ; les enfants étaient étroitement associés à la violence. Avant d’arriver au centre anti-violence, 33,1 % de l’échantillon a contacté au moins quatre sources d’assistance. Lorsque les enfants étaient impliqués dans la violence, les sources activées étaient plus nombreuses que si les enfants ne l’étaient pas. L’étude rappelle toute l’importance d’améliorer la capacité des professionnels à reconnaître la violence et à soutenir les victimes. Looking for help and support has a central role in the process of putting an end to partner violence and an important turning-point in the process of deciding to seek help is having children and becoming aware of the effects of the violence on them. This study aims to investigate which sources of help women contacted before arriving at an Anti-violence Centre(AVC), and to analyse the circumstances in which they contacted them. A cross-sectional study was conducted among women arriving at an Anti-violence Centre in Italy. One hundred and fifty-one women filled in a self-administered questionnaire. The women reported high levels of all typologies of IPV (Intimate Partner Violence); the children were closely involved in the violence. Before arriving to the AVC, 33.1% of the sample contacted four or more sources. When children were involved in violence, more sources were activated, than in cases in which children were not involved. This study points to the importance of improving practitioners’ ability to recognize violence and support the victims

Dielectrophoretic separation of blood pathogens ou Bacterial extraction from biological samples using DEP forces

International audienceWe report here a method based on DEP separation to concentrate pathogens out of a biological sample by combining positive and negative DEP to separate pathogens from the sample matrix. In this approach, we take advantage from the large tolerance of micro-organisms towards osmotic shock to perform dielectrophoretic separation in a low electric conductivity medium. This condition enables to collect micro-organisms by positive DEP, while lysed blood cells are repelled from the electrodes by negative DEP. Our microfluidic device is designed based on numerical simulation. This approach is validated on a large range of microorganisms, since it has been tested with different species of bacteria (S. epidermidis (Gram +) and E. coli (Gram -)) and yeasts (C. albicans)

Disordered Eating Behaviors and Sexual Harassment in Italian Male and Female University Students

The aim of this study is to describe sexual harassment among Italian university students and analyze the relationship between harassment and disordered eating behaviors. An observational survey was conducted among university students at Trieste University (Italy) in spring 2014. Students answered an anonymous self-administered questionnaire about sexual harassment, including three domains\u2014sexual harassment, unwanted comments on physical appearance, cyber-harassment\u2014and disordered eating behaviors. The global sexual harassment index was computed with three levels: Level 0, no harassment; Level 1, harassment in at least one of the three domains; and Level 2, harassment in two or three domains. Disordered eating behaviors were classified by at least one of the following: (a) eating without being able to stop or vomiting at least once or twice a month, (b) using laxatives or diuretics at least once or twice a week, (c) monitoring weight every day, and (d) dieting at least very often. The sample included 759 students (347 men and 412 women; 18-29 years old). Experiencing sexual harassment was related to eating disorder symptoms for both genders with a regular gradient: the higher the harassment score, the more frequent the disordered eating behavior symptoms, even after adjusting for age and previous sexual violence. The association was stronger for males than females. Sexual harassment and disordered eating behaviors have long been considered mainly a female problem. Men are not exempt from these problems and in some cases may be more affected than women. The topics should be assessed in men and women