107 research outputs found
Isotopic variation of parity violation in atomic ytterbium
We report on measurements of atomic parity violation, made on a chain of
ytterbium isotopes with mass numbers A=170, 172, 174, and 176. In the
experiment, we optically excite the 6s2 1S0 -> 5d6s 3D1 transition in a region
of crossed electric and magnetic fields, and observe the interference between
the Stark- and weak-interaction-induced transition amplitudes, by making field
reversals that change the handedness of the coordinate system. This allows us
to determine the ratio of the weak-interaction-induced electric-dipole (E1)
transition moment and the Stark-induced E1 moment. Our measurements, which are
at the 0.5% level of accuracy for three of the four isotopes measured, allow a
definitive observation of the isotopic variation of the weak-interaction
effects in an atom, which is found to be consistent with the prediction of the
Standard Model. In addition, our measurements provide information about an
additional Z' boson.Comment: 19 pages, 4 figures, 2 table
Protective vascular coagulation in response to bacterial infection of the kidney is regulated by bacterial lipid A and host CD147
Bacterial infection of the kidney leads to a rapid cascade of host protective responses, many of which are still poorly understood. We have previously shown that following kidney infection with uropathogenicEscherichia coli (UPEC), vascular coagulation is quickly initiated in local perivascular capillaries that protects the host from progressing from a local infection to systemic sepsis. The signaling mechanisms behind this response have not however been described. In this study, we use a number ofin vitro andin vivo techniques, including intravital microscopy, to identify two previously unrecognized components influencing this protective coagulation response. The acylation state of the Lipid A of UPEC lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is shown to alter the kinetics of local coagulation onsetin vivo. We also identify epithelial CD147 as a potential host factor influencing infection-mediated coagulation. CD147 is expressed by renal proximal epithelial cells infected with UPEC, contingent to bacterial expression of the α-hemolysin toxin. The epithelial CD147 subsequently can activate tissue factor on endothelial cells, a primary step in the coagulation cascade. This study emphasizes the rapid, multifaceted response of the kidney tissue to bacterial infection and the interplay between host and pathogen during the early hours of renal infection
Photoconductance Quantization in a Single-Photon Detector
We have made a single-photon detector that relies on photoconductive gain in
a narrow electron channel in an AlGaAs/GaAs 2-dimensional electron gas. Given
that the electron channel is 1-dimensional, the photo-induced conductance has
plateaus at multiples of the quantum conductance 2e/h. Super-imposed on
these broad conductance plateaus are many sharp, small, conductance steps
associated with single-photon absorption events that produce individual
photo-carriers. This type of photoconductive detector could measure a single
photon, while safely storing and protecting the spin degree of freedom of its
photo-carrier. This function is valuable for a quantum repeater that would
allow very long distance teleportation of quantum information.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Teleclinical Microbiology: An Innovative Approach to Providing Web-Enabled Diagnostic Laboratory Services in Syria
Objectives: Telemedicine can compensate for the lack of health care specialists in response to protracted humanitarian crises. We sought to assess the usability of a teleclinical microbiology (TCM) program to provide diagnostic services in a hard-to-reach region of Syria.
Methods: A semimobile station was equipped with conventional micrograph and macrograph digital imaging systems. An electronic platform (Telemicrobiology in Humanitarian Crises, TmHC) was created to facilitate sharing, interpreting, and storing the results. A pilot study was conducted to identify the bacterial species and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of 74 urinary clinical isolates. An experience survey was conducted to capture the feedback of 8 participants in the program.
Results: The TmHC platform (https://sdh.ngo/tmhc/) enabled systematic transmission of the laboratory records and co-interpretation of the results. The isolates were identified as Escherichia coli (n = 61), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 12), and Proteus mirabilis(n = 1). All the isolates were multidrug resistant. The performance of our TCM module was rated 4 (satisfying) and 5 (very satisfying) by 6 and 2 users, respectively. Data security of and cost-effectiveness were the main perceived concerns.
Conclusions: Although we encountered several context-related obstacles, our TCM program managed to reach a highly vulnerable population of 4 million people confined in the northwest region of Syria.publishedVersio
ASCR/HEP Exascale Requirements Review Report
This draft report summarizes and details the findings, results, and
recommendations derived from the ASCR/HEP Exascale Requirements Review meeting
held in June, 2015. The main conclusions are as follows. 1) Larger, more
capable computing and data facilities are needed to support HEP science goals
in all three frontiers: Energy, Intensity, and Cosmic. The expected scale of
the demand at the 2025 timescale is at least two orders of magnitude -- and in
some cases greater -- than that available currently. 2) The growth rate of data
produced by simulations is overwhelming the current ability, of both facilities
and researchers, to store and analyze it. Additional resources and new
techniques for data analysis are urgently needed. 3) Data rates and volumes
from HEP experimental facilities are also straining the ability to store and
analyze large and complex data volumes. Appropriately configured
leadership-class facilities can play a transformational role in enabling
scientific discovery from these datasets. 4) A close integration of HPC
simulation and data analysis will aid greatly in interpreting results from HEP
experiments. Such an integration will minimize data movement and facilitate
interdependent workflows. 5) Long-range planning between HEP and ASCR will be
required to meet HEP's research needs. To best use ASCR HPC resources the
experimental HEP program needs a) an established long-term plan for access to
ASCR computational and data resources, b) an ability to map workflows onto HPC
resources, c) the ability for ASCR facilities to accommodate workflows run by
collaborations that can have thousands of individual members, d) to transition
codes to the next-generation HPC platforms that will be available at ASCR
facilities, e) to build up and train a workforce capable of developing and
using simulations and analysis to support HEP scientific research on
next-generation systems.Comment: 77 pages, 13 Figures; draft report, subject to further revisio
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