539 research outputs found
Tracking bacterial pathogens with genetically-encoded reporters
AbstractDuring the infectious process, bacterial pathogens are subject to changes in environmental conditions such as nutrient availability, immune response challenges, bacterial density and physical contacts with targeted host cells. These conditions occur in the colonized organs, in diverse regions within infected tissues or even at the subcellular level for intracellular pathogens. Integration of environmental cues leads to measurable biological responses in the bacterium required for adaptation. Recent progress in technology enabled the study of bacterial adaptation in situ using genetically encoded reporters that allow single cell analysis or whole body imaging based on fluorescent proteins, alternative fluorescent assays or luciferases. This review presents a historical perspective and technical details on the methods used to develop transcriptional reporters, protein–protein interaction assays and secretion detection assays to study pathogenic bacteria adaptation in situ. Finally, studies published in the last 5years on gram positive and gram negative bacterial adaptation to the host during infection are discussed. However, the methods described here could easily be extended to study complex microbial communities within host tissue and in the environment
Detection of positron-atom bound states through resonant annihilation
A method is proposed for detecting positron-atom bound states by observing
enhanced positron annihilation due to electronic Feshbach resonances at
electron-volt energies. The method is applicable to a range of open-shell
transition metal atoms which are likely to bind the positron: Fe, Co, Ni, Tc,
Ru, Rh, Sn, Sb, Ta, W, Os, Ir, and Pt. Estimates of their binding energies are
provided.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure; estimates of binding energies have been adde
Spin gaps and spin-flip energies in density-functional theory
Energy gaps are crucial aspects of the electronic structure of finite and
extended systems. Whereas much is known about how to define and calculate
charge gaps in density-functional theory (DFT), and about the relation between
these gaps and derivative discontinuities of the exchange-correlation
functional, much less is know about spin gaps. In this paper we give
density-functional definitions of spin-conserving gaps, spin-flip gaps and the
spin stiffness in terms of many-body energies and in terms of single-particle
(Kohn-Sham) energies. Our definitions are as analogous as possible to those
commonly made in the charge case, but important differences between spin and
charge gaps emerge already on the single-particle level because unlike the
fundamental charge gap spin gaps involve excited-state energies. Kohn-Sham and
many-body spin gaps are predicted to differ, and the difference is related to
derivative discontinuities that are similar to, but distinct from, those
usually considered in the case of charge gaps. Both ensemble DFT and
time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) can be used to calculate these spin discontinuities
from a suitable functional. We illustrate our findings by evaluating our
definitions for the Lithium atom, for which we calculate spin gaps and spin
discontinuities by making use of near-exact Kohn-Sham eigenvalues and,
independently, from the single-pole approximation to TDDFT. The many-body
corrections to the Kohn-Sham spin gaps are found to be negative, i.e., single
particle calculations tend to overestimate spin gaps while they underestimate
charge gaps.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figure, 3 table
Controlled spontaneous emission
The problem of spontaneous emission is studied by a direct computer
simulation of the dynamics of a combined system: atom + radiation field. The
parameters of the discrete finite model, including up to 20k field oscillators,
have been optimized by a comparison with the exact solution for the case when
the oscillators have equidistant frequencies and equal coupling constants.
Simulation of the effect of multi-pulse sequence of phase kicks and emission by
a pair of atoms shows that both the frequency and the linewidth of the emitted
spectrum could be controlled.Comment: 25 pages including 11 figure
HD 65949: Rosetta Stone or Red Herring
HD 65949 is a late B star with exceptionally strong Hg II at 3984[A], but it
is not a typical HgMn star. The Re II spectrum is of extraordinary strength.
Abundances, or upper limits are derived here for 58 elements based on a model
with Teff = 13100K, and log(g) = 4.0. Even-Z elements through nickel show minor
deviations from solar abundances. Anomalies among the odd-Z elements through
copper are mostly small. Beyond the iron peak, a huge scatter is found. The
abundance pattern of the heaviest elements resembles the N=126 r-process peak
of solar material, though not in detail. We find a significant correlation of
the abundance excesses with second ionization potentials for elements with Z >
30. This indicates the relevance of photospheric or near-photospheric
processes. We explore a model with mass accretion of exotic material followed
by the more commonly accepted differentiation by diffusion. That model leads to
a number of predictions which challenge future work.
Likely primary and secondary masses are near 3.3 and 1.6 M(solar), with a
separation of ca. 0.25 AU. New atomic structure calculations are presented in
two appendices.Comment: Accepted by MNRAS: 16 pages, 5 figure
Re II and Other Exotic Spectra in HD 65949
Powerful astronomical spectra reveal an urgent need for additional work on
atomic lines, levels, and oscillator strengths. The star HD 65949 provides some
excellent examples of species rarely identified in stellar spectra. For
example, the Re II spectrum is well developed, with 17 lines between 3731 and
4904 [A], attributed wholly or partially to Re II. Classifications and
oscillator strengths are lacking for a number of these lines. The spectrum of
Os II is well identified. Of 14 lines attributed wholly or partially to Os II,
only one has an entry in the VALD database. We find strong evidence that Te II
is present. There are NO Te II lines in the VALD database. Ru II is clearly
present, but oscillator strengths for lines in the visual are lacking. There is
excellent to marginal evidence for a number of less commonly identified
species, including Kr II, Nb II, Sb II, Xe II, Pr III, Ho III, Au II, and Pt II
(probably Pt-198), to be present in the spectrum of HD 65949. The line Hg II at
3984 [A] is of outstanding strength, and all three lines of Multiplet 1 of Hg I
are present, even though the surface temperature of HD 65949 is relatively
high. Finally, we present the case of an unidentified, 24 [mA], line at 3859.63
[A], which could be the same feature seen in magnetic CP stars. It is typically
blended with a putative U II line used in cosmochronology.Comment: ASOS9 Poster (Lund, Sweden, August 2007), to be published in Journal
of Physics: Conference Series (JPCS), 6 pages 1 figur
Counting Oceanians of Non-European, Non-Asian Descent (ONENA) in the South Pacific to make them count in global health
Several diseases and vulnerabilities associated with genetic or microbial factors are more frequent among populations of Oceanian, Non-European, Non-Asian descent (ONENA). ONENA are specific and have long been isolated geographically. To our knowledge, there are no published official, quantitative, aggregated data on the populations impacted by these excess vulnerabilities in Oceania. We searched official census reports for updated estimates of the total population for each of the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (including Australia) and the US State of Hawaii, privileging local official statistical or censual sources. We multiplied the most recent total population estimate by the cumulative percentage of the ONENA population as determined in official reports. Including Australia and the US State of Hawaii, Oceania counts 27 countries and territories, populated in 2016 by approximately 41 M inhabitants (17 M not counting Australia) among which approximately 12.5 M (11.6 M not counting Australia) consider themselves of entire or partial ONENA ancestry. Specific genetic and microbiome traits of ONENA may be unique and need further investigation to adjust risk estimates, risk prevention, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, to the benefit of populations in the Pacific and beyond
Electron affinity of Li: A state-selective measurement
We have investigated the threshold of photodetachment of Li^- leading to the
formation of the residual Li atom in the state. The excited residual
atom was selectively photoionized via an intermediate Rydberg state and the
resulting Li^+ ion was detected. A collinear laser-ion beam geometry enabled
both high resolution and sensitivity to be attained. We have demonstrated the
potential of this state selective photodetachment spectroscopic method by
improving the accuracy of Li electron affinity measurements an order of
magnitude. From a fit to the Wigner law in the threshold region, we obtained a
Li electron affinity of 0.618 049(20) eV.Comment: 5 pages,6 figures,22 reference
A layering model for superconductivity in the borocarbides
We propose a superlattice model to describe superconductivity in layered
materials, such as the borocarbide families with the chemical formul\ae\
BC and BC, with being (essentially) a rare earth, and a
transition metal. We assume a single band in which electrons feel a local
attractive interaction (negative Hubbard-) on sites representing the B
layers, while U=0 on sites representing the C layers; the multi-band
structure is taken into account minimally through a band offset . The
one-dimensional model is studied numerically through the calculation of the
charge gap, the Drude weight, and of the pairing correlation function. A
comparison with the available information on the nature of the electronic
ground state (metallic or superconducting) indicates that the model provides a
systematic parametrization of the whole borocarbide family.Comment: 4 figure
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