A PCR Assay for Specific Detection of the Pandemic \u3cem\u3eVibrio parahaemolyticus\u3c/em\u3e O3:K6 Clone from Shellfish

The current standard method for identifying Vibrio parahaemolyticus serotype O3:K6, an emerging pathogen with apparent enhanced virulence characteristics, typically takes 4 to 6 d to complete and requires serotyping. To provide a more rapid strategy, we optimized a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay for specific detection of V. parahaemolyticus O3:K6. Of 78 V. parahaemolyticus isolates and other related species; only strains classified into the V. parahaemolyticus O3:K6 clonal group (n = 39) showed positive results in the PCR assay. The assay detected 2.3 cells/PCR reaction and 310 cells/g using bacterial cultures and inoculated oyster samples, respectively. Sensitive and specific detection of V. parahaemolyticus O3:K6 was possible following a 6-h enrichment

Ion-lithium collision dynamics studied with an in-ring MOTReMi

We present a novel experimental tool allowing for kinematically complete studies of break-up processes of laser-cooled atoms. This apparatus, the 'MOTReMi', is a combination of a magneto-optical trap (MOT) and a Reaction Microscope (ReMi). Operated in an ion-storage ring, the new setup enables to study the dynamics in swift ion-atom collisions on an unprecedented level of precision and detail. In first experiments on collisions with 1.5 MeV/amu O$^{8+}$-Li the pure ionization of the valence electron as well as ionization-excitation of the lithium target has been investigated

Model-Independent Measurement of the Excited Fraction In a Magneto-Optical Trap

In many experiments involving a magneto-optical trap (MOT) it is of great importance to know the fraction of atoms placed in an excited state due to the trapping process. Generally speaking, researchers have had to use overly simplistic and untested models to estimate this fraction. In this work, the excited fractions of 87Rb atoms in a MOT are directly measured using a charge transfer technique, for a range of MOT parameters. Simple models are then fit to the measured fractions. Using the results of this work, the excited fraction of 87Rb atoms trapped in a MOT can be accurately estimated with knowledge of only the trapping laser intensity and detuning. The results are, at most, only weakly dependent on other MOT parameters

Measurement of Population Dynamics In Stimulated Raman Adiabatic Passage

The temporal evolution of populations has been directly measured for a three-level ladder system undergoing coherent excitation by stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP). The measurement technique makes use of charge transfer as diagnostic. The method is model independent and has a temporal resolution of a few nanoseconds. The temporal evolution is measured for several values of the delay between the pump and Stokes laser pulses that are part of the STIRAP excitation scheme. The corresponding quantum Liouville equations are solved and the results of the calculations are compared with experiment

Program Design Considerations for Leadership Training for Dental and Dental Hygiene Students

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153631/1/jddj002203372012762tb05246x.pd

A pair production telescope for medium-energy gamma-ray polarimetry

We describe the science motivation and development of a pair production telescope for medium-energy (∼5–200 MeV) gamma-ray polarimetry. Our instrument concept, the Advanced Energetic Pair Telescope (AdEPT), takes advantage of the Three-Dimensional Track Imager, a low-density gaseous time projection chamber, to achieve angular resolution within a factor of two of the pair production kinematics limit (∼0.6° at 70 MeV), continuum sensitivity comparable with the Fermi-LAT front detector (<3 × 10−6 MeV cm−2 s−1 at 70 MeV), and minimum detectable polarization less than 10% for a 10 mCrab source in 106 s.submittedVersionFil: Hunter, Stanley D. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Goddard Space Flight Center; Estados Unidos de América.Fil: Bloser, Peter F. University of New Hampshire. Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space. Space Science Center; Estados Unidos de América.Fil: Depaola, Gerardo Osvaldo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía y Física; Argentina.Fil: Dion, Michael P. Department of Energy. Office of Science. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Estados Unidos de América.Fil: DeNolfo, Georgia A. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Goddard Space Flight Center; Estados Unidos de América.Fil: Hanu, Andrei. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Goddard Space Flight Center; Estados Unidos de América.Fil: Iparraguirre, Lorenzo Marcos. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía y Física; Argentina.Fil: Legere, Jason. University of New Hampshire. Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space. Space Science Center; Estados Unidos de América.Fil: Longo, Francesco. Università Degli Studi de Trieste. Dipartimento di fisica; Italia.Fil: McConnell, Mark L. University of New Hampshire. Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space. Space Science Center; Estados Unidos de América.Fil: Nowicki, Suzanne F. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Goddard Space Flight Center; Estados Unidos de América.Fil: Nowicki, Suzanne F. University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Department of Physics; Estados Unidos de América.Fil: Ryan, James M. University of New Hampshire. Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space. Space Science Center; Estados Unidos de América.Fil: Son, Seunghee. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Goddard Space Flight Center; Estados Unidos de América.Fil: Son, Seunghee. University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Department of Physics; Estados Unidos de América.Fil: Stecker, Floyd W. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Goddard Space Flight Center; Estados Unidos de América.Física de Partículas y Campo

GEANT4 : a simulation toolkit

Abstract Geant4 is a toolkit for simulating the passage of particles through matter. It includes a complete range of functionality including tracking, geometry, physics models and hits. The physics processes offered cover a comprehensive range, including electromagnetic, hadronic and optical processes, a large set of long-lived particles, materials and elements, over a wide energy range starting, in some cases, from 250 eV and extending in others to the TeV energy range. It has been designed and constructed to expose the physics models utilised, to handle complex geometries, and to enable its easy adaptation for optimal use in different sets of applications. The toolkit is the result of a worldwide collaboration of physicists and software engineers. It has been created exploiting software engineering and object-oriented technology and implemented in the C++ programming language. It has been used in applications in particle physics, nuclear physics, accelerator design, space engineering and medical physics. PACS: 07.05.Tp; 13; 2

Impacts of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the microbial landscape of the New Orleans area

Author Posting. © The Author(s), 2007. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of National Academy of Sciences of the USA for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104 (2007): 9029-9034, doi:10.1073/pnas.0610552104.Floodwaters in New Orleans from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were observed to contain high levels of fecal indicator bacteria and microbial pathogens, generating concern about long-term impacts of these floodwaters on the sediment and water quality of the New Orleans area and Lake Pontchartrain. We show here that fecal indicator microbe concentrations in offshore waters from Lake Pontchartrain returned to prehurricane concentrations within 2 months of the flooding induced by these hurricanes. Vibrio and Legionella species within the lake were more abundant in samples collected shortly after the floodwaters had receded compared with samples taken within the subsequent 3 months; no evidence of a long-term hurricane-induced algal bloom was observed. Giardia and Cryptosporidium were detected in canal waters. Elevated levels of fecal indicator bacteria observed in sediment could not be solely attributed to impacts from floodwaters, as both flooded and nonflooded areas exhibited elevated levels of fecal indicator bacteria. Evidence from measurements of Bifidobacterium and bacterial diversity analysis suggest that the fecal indicator bacteria observed in the sediment were from human fecal sources. Epidemiologic studies are highly recommended to evaluate the human health effects of the sediments deposited by the floodwaters.This work was funded by NSF-NIEHS Oceans and Human Health Program (NSF OCE0432368, OCE0432479, OCE0430724 and NIEHS P50 ES12736, ES012740, ES012742), the NSF-SGER Program (OCE 0554402, OCE 0554674, OCE 0554850, OCE0600130), the NSF-REU Program, and by the Georgia Sea Grant College Program (NA04OAR170033)