Feshbach resonances in 3He*-4He* mixtures

We discuss the stability of homonuclear and heteronuclear mixtures of 3He and 4He atoms in the metastable 2^3S_1 state (He*) and predict positions and widths of Feshbach resonances by using the Asymptotic Bound-state Model (ABM). All calculations are performed without fit parameters, using \emph{ab-initio} calculations of molecular potentials. One promising very broad Feshbach resonance (\Delta B=72.9^{+18.3}_{-19.3} mT) is found that allows for tuning of the inter-isotope scattering length.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure

Asymptotic Bound-state Model for Feshbach Resonances

We present an Asymptotic Bound-state Model which can be used to accurately describe all Feshbach resonance positions and widths in a two-body system. With this model we determine the coupled bound states of a particular two-body system. The model is based on analytic properties of the two-body Hamiltonian, and on asymptotic properties of uncoupled bound states in the interaction potentials. In its most simple version, the only necessary parameters are the least bound state energies and actual potentials are not used. The complexity of the model can be stepwise increased by introducing threshold effects, multiple vibrational levels and additional potential parameters. The model is extensively tested on the 6Li-40K system and additional calculations on the 40K-87Rb system are presented.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figure

Broad Feshbach resonance in the 6Li-40K mixture

We study the widths of interspecies Feshbach resonances in a mixture of the fermionic quantum gases 6Li and 40K. We develop a model to calculate the width and position of all available Feshbach resonances for a system. Using the model we select the optimal resonance to study the 6Li/40K mixture. Experimentally, we obtain the asymmetric Fano lineshape of the interspecies elastic cross section by measuring the distillation rate of 6Li atoms from a potassium-rich 6Li/40K mixture as a function of magnetic field. This provides us with the first experimental determination of the width of a resonance in this mixture, Delta B=1.5(5) G. Our results offer good perspectives for the observation of universal crossover physics using this mass-imbalanced fermionic mixture.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Feshbach spectroscopy and scattering properties of ultracold Li+Na mixtures

We have observed 26 interspecies Feshbach resonances at fields up to 2050 G in ultracold $^6$Li+$^{23}$Na mixtures for different spin-state combinations. Applying the asymptotic bound-state model to assign the resonances, we have found that most resonances have d-wave character. This analysis serves as guidance for a coupled-channel calculation, which uses modified interaction potentials to describe the positions of the Feshbach resonances well within the experimental uncertainty and to calculate their widths. The scattering length derived from the improved interaction potentials is experimentally confirmed and deviates from previously reported values in sign and magnitude. We give prospects for $^7$Li+$^{23}$Na and predict broad Feshbach resonances suitable for tuning.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, version as published in PR

Targeted Precise Quantification of 12 Human Recombinant Uridine-Diphosphate Glucuronosyl Transferase 1A and 2B Isoforms Using Nano-Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry with Selected Reaction Monitoring

Quantification methods employing stable isotope-labeled peptide standards and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry are increasingly being used to measure enzyme amounts in biologic samples. Isoform concentrations, combined with catalytic information, can be used in absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion studies to improve accuracy of in vitro/in vivo predictions. We quantified isoforms of uridine-diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A and 2B in 12 commercially available recombinant UGTs (recUGTs) (n = 49 samples) using nano-ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry with selected reaction monitoring). Samples were trypsin-digested and analyzed using our previously published method. Two MRMs were collected per peptide and averaged. Where available, at least two peptides were measured per UGT isoform. The assay could detect UGTs in all recombinant preparations: recUGTs 1A1, 1A3, 1A4, 1A6, 1A7, 1A8, 1A9, 1A10, 2B4, 2B7, 2B15, and 2B17, with limit of detection below 1.0 pmol/mg protein for all isoforms. The assay had excellent linearity in the range observed (2–15.5 pmol/mg, after dilution). Examples of concentrations determined were 1465, 537, 538, 944, 865, 698, 604, 791, 382, 1149, 307, and 740 pmol/mg protein for the respective isoforms. There was a 6.9-fold difference between the maximum and minimum recUGT concentrations. The range of concentrations determined indicates that catalytic rates per mg total protein in vitro will not accurately reflect isoform inherent specific activity for a particular drug candidate. This is the first report of a targeted precise quantification of commercially available recUGTs. The assay has potential for use in comparing UGT amounts with catalytic activity determined using probe substrates, thus allowing representation of catalysis as per pmol of UGT isoform

Tuberculosis research in South Africa over the past 30 years: From bench to bedside

The South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research has a rich history of high-impact research that has influenced our understating of this hyper-epidemic which is further exacerbated by the emergence and spread of drug-resistant forms of the disease. This review aims to summarise the past 30 years of research conducted in the Centre which has influenced the way that tuberculosis (TB) is diagnosed and treated. The review includes the development of new technologies for rapid screening of people with probable TB and the repurposing of human diagnostics for wildlife conservation

Symbiotic properties of rhizobia containing a flavonoid-independent hybrid nodD product

A hybrid nodD gene consisting of 75% of the nodD1 gene of Rhizobium meliloti at the 5' end and 27% of the nodD gene of Rhizobium trifolii at the 3' end activates the six tested inducible nod promoters of Rhizobium leguminosarum, R. trifolii, or R. meliloti to maximal levels, even in the absence of flavonoids. In strains containing such a constitutive activating nodD gene, transcription of nod genes started at the same site as in flavonoid-induced strains containing a wild-type nodD gene. In contrast to heterologous wild-type nodD products, the constitutive activating nodD gene does not cause a limitation of the host range. Furthermore, R. leguminosarum, R. trifolii, and R. meliloti strains containing the constitutive activating nodD gene induce (pseudo) nodules on tropical leguminous plants. Comparison of the symbiotic properties of rhizobia containing the constitutive nodD hybrid gene with those of rhizobia containing various wild-type nodD genes indicates that the activation of the nodD product by flavonoids is of crucial importance during the process of infection thread formation and, surprisingly, also during nitrogen fixation.Microbial Biotechnolog