Environmental legislation as a driver of design

and other research output

Ultracold atomic Bose and Fermi spinor gases in optical lattices

We investigate magnetic properties of Mott-insulating phases of ultracold Bose and Fermi spinor gases in optical lattices. We consider in particular the F=2 Bose gas, and the F=3/2 and F=5/2 Fermi gases. We derive effective spin Hamiltonians for one and two atoms per site and discuss the possibilities of manipulating the magnetic properties of the system using optical Feshbach resonances. We discuss low temperature quantum phases of a 87Rb gas in the F=2 hyperfine state, as well as possible realizations of high spin Fermi gases with either 6Li or 132Cs atoms in the F=3/2 state, and with 173Yb atoms in the F=5/2 state.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures; a completely new and substantially expanded version with several errors correcte

An improved test system for PCR-based specific detection of Echinococcus multilocularis eggs

For the sensitive detection of eggs of Echinococcus multilocularis in fox faeces by PCR we have evaluated a method based on the previous concentration of helminth eggs by a combination of sequential sieving of faecal samples and flotation of the eggs in zinc chloride solution. The eggs were microscopically detected in the fractions retained in 40 and 20µm mesh sieves. DNA of the taeniid eggs retained in the 20 µm sieve was obtained after alkaline lysis and PCR was performed using E. multilocularis species-specific primers. Compared to the parasitological findings after examination of the small intestines of the foxes, the specificity of the PCR was 100% (no false-positive result with 20 foxes free of E. multilocularis) and the sensitivity was 94% (33 positive results from total 35 foxes proven to be infected with E. multilocularis). Both false-negative results were obtained with faeces from foxes harbouring immature worms. Using faecal volumes between 2 and 20 ml, no inhibition of PCR was observed as was demonstrated by the amplification of size-modified target in parallel reactions. The tests were undertaken with fresh faeces stored in 70% ethanol, but egg detection by PCR was also possible after inactivation of eggs by freezing the faeces at −80°C for one week or by incubation at +70°C for 2

ECO and RESOLVE: Galaxy Disk Growth in Environmental Context

We study the relationships between galaxy environments and galaxy properties related to disk (re)growth, considering two highly complete samples that are approximately baryonic mass limited into the high-mass dwarf galaxy regime, the Environmental COntext (ECO) catalog (data release herein) and the B-semester region of the REsolved Spectroscopy Of a Local VolumE (RESOLVE) survey. We quantify galaxy environments using both group identification and smoothed galaxy density field methods. We use by-eye and quantitative morphological classifications plus atomic gas content measurements and estimates. We find that blue early-type (E/S0) galaxies, gas-dominated galaxies, and UV-bright disk host galaxies all become distinctly more common below group halo mass ~10^11.5 Msun, implying that this low group halo mass regime may be a preferred regime for significant disk growth activity. We also find that blue early-type and blue late-type galaxies inhabit environments of similar group halo mass at fixed baryonic mass, consistent with a scenario in which blue early types can regrow late-type disks. In fact, we find that the only significant difference in the typical group halo mass inhabited by different galaxy classes is for satellite galaxies with different colors, where at fixed baryonic mass red early and late types have higher typical group halo masses than blue early and late types. More generally, we argue that the traditional morphology-environment relation (i.e., that denser environments tend to have more early types) can be largely attributed to the morphology-galaxy mass relation for centrals and the color-environment relation for satellites.Comment: 26 pages and 28 figures; v2 contains minor figure and text updates to match final published version in ApJ; ECO data table release now available at http://resolve.astro.unc.edu/pages/data.ph

Assessment of the Calibration of Periodontal Diagnosis and Treatment Planning Among Dental Students at Three Dental Schools

Calibration in diagnosis and treatment planning is difficult to achieve due to variations that exist in clinical interpretation. To determine if dental faculty members are consistent in teaching how to diagnose and treat periodontal disease, variations among dental students can be evaluated. A previous study reported high variability in diagnoses and treatment plans of periodontal cases at Indiana University School of Dentistry. This study aimed to build on that one by extending the research to two additional schools: Marquette University School of Dentistry and West Virginia University School of Dentistry. Diagnosis and treatment planning by 40 third- and fourth-year dental students were assessed at each of the schools. Students were asked to select the diagnosis and treatment plans on a questionnaire pertaining to 11 cases. Their responses were compared using chi-square tests, and multirater kappa statistics were used to assess agreement between classes and between schools. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the effects of school, class year, prior experience, and GPA/class rank on correct responses. One case had a statistically significant difference in responses between third- and fourth-year dental students. Kappas for school agreement and class agreement were low. The students from Indiana University had higher diagnosis and treatment agreements than the Marquette University students, and the Marquette students fared better than the West Virginia University students. This study can help restructure future periodontal courses for a better understanding of periodontal diagnosis and treatment planning

The Influence of Distance on Radiant Exposure and Degree of Conversion Using Different Light-Emitting-Diode Curing Units

Objectives: To investigate the influence of curing distance on the degree of conversion (DC) of a resin-based composite (RBC) when similar radiant exposure was achieved using six different light-curing units (LCUs) and to explore the correlation among irradiance, radiant exposure, and DC. Methods and Materials: A managing accurate resin curing-resin calibrator system was used to collect irradiance data for both top and bottom specimen surfaces with a curing distance of 2 mm and 8 mm while targeting a consistent top surface radiant exposure. Square nanohybrid-dual-photoinitiator RBC specimens (5 × 5 × 2 mm) were cured at each distance (n=6/LCU/distance). Irradiance and DC (micro-Raman spectroscopy) were determined for the top and bottom surfaces. The effect of distance and LCU on irradiance, radiant exposure, and DC as well as their linear associations were analyzed using analysis of variance and Pearson correlation coefficients, respectively (α=0.05). Results: While maintaining a similar radiant exposure, each LCU exhibited distinctive patterns in decreased irradiance and increased curing time. No significant differences in DC values (63.21%-70.28%) were observed between the 2- and 8-mm distances, except for a multiple-emission peak LCU. Significant differences in DC were detected among the LCUs. As expected, irradiance and radiant exposure were significantly lower on the bottom surfaces. However, a strong correlation between irradiance and radiant exposure did not necessarily result in a strong correlation with DC. Conclusions: The RBC exhibited DC values >63% when the top surface radiant exposure was maintained, although the same values were not reached for all lights. A moderate-strong correlation existed among irradiance, radiant exposure, and DC