All-Optical Production of a Degenerate Fermi Gas

We achieve degeneracy in a mixture of the two lowest hyperfine states of $^6$Li by direct evaporation in a CO$_2$ laser trap, yielding the first all-optically produced degenerate Fermi gas. More than $10^5$ atoms are confined at temperatures below $4 \mu$K at full trap depth, where the Fermi temperature for each state is $8 \mu$K. This degenerate two-component mixture is ideal for exploring mechanisms of superconductivity ranging from Cooper pairing to Bose condensation of strongly bound pairs.Comment: 4 pgs RevTeX with 2 eps figs, to be published in Phys. Rev. Let

Dealing with mobility: Understanding access anytime, anywhere

The rapid and accelerating move towards the adoption and use of mobile technologies has increasingly provided people and organisations with the ability to work away from the office and on the move. The new ways of working afforded by these technologies are often characterised in terms of access to information and people ‘anytime, anywhere’. This paper presents a study of mobile workers that highlights different facets of access to remote people and information, and different facets of anytime, anywhere. Four key factors in mobile work are identified from the study: the role of planning, working in ‘dead time’, accessing remote technological and informational resources, and monitoring the activities of remote colleagues. By reflecting on these issues, we can better understand the role of technology and artefact use in mobile work and identify the opportunities for the development of appropriate technological solutions to support mobile workers

The Cooperative Participatory Evaluation of Renewable Technologies on Ecosystem Services (CORPORATES)

Publisher PD

The bottom mixed layer depth as an indicator of subsurface Chlorophyll a distribution

Acknowledgements The authors thank Marine Scotland Science for providing the CTD data. Financial support This research has been supported by a MarCRF (Marine Collaboration Research Forum, jointly sponsored by the University of Aberdeen and Marine Scotland Science) PhD grant awarded to Arianna Zampollo.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Glucose and fructose hydrogel enhances running performance, exogenous carbohydrate oxidation, and gastrointestinal tolerance

Purpose Beneficial effects of carbohydrate (CHO) ingestion on exogenous CHO oxidation and endurance performance require a well-functioning gastrointestinal (GI) tract. However, GI complaints are common during endurance running. This study investigated the effect of a CHO solution-containing sodium alginate and pectin (hydrogel) on endurance running performance, exogenous and endogenous CHO oxidation, and GI symptoms. Methods Eleven trained male runners, using a randomized, double-blind design, completed three 120-min steady-state runs at 68% V˙O2max, followed by a 5-km time-trial. Participants ingested 90 g·h−1 of 2:1 glucose–fructose (13C enriched) as a CHO hydrogel, a standard CHO solution (nonhydrogel), or a CHO-free placebo during the 120 min. Fat oxidation, total and exogenous CHO oxidation, plasma glucose oxidation, and endogenous glucose oxidation from liver and muscle glycogen were calculated using indirect calorimetry and isotope ratio mass spectrometry. GI symptoms were recorded throughout the trial. Results Time-trial performance was 7.6% and 5.6% faster after hydrogel ([min:s] 19:29 ± 2:24, P < 0.001) and nonhydrogel (19:54 ± 2:23, P = 0.002), respectively, versus placebo (21:05 ± 2:34). Time-trial performance after hydrogel was 2.1% faster (P = 0.033) than nonhydrogel. Absolute and relative exogenous CHO oxidation was greater with hydrogel (68.6 ± 10.8 g, 31.9% ± 2.7%; P = 0.01) versus nonhydrogel (63.4 ± 8.1 g, 29.3% ± 2.0%; P = 0.003). Absolute and relative endogenous CHO oxidation was lower in both CHO conditions compared with placebo (P < 0.001), with no difference between CHO conditions. Absolute and relative liver glucose oxidation and muscle glycogen oxidation were not different between CHO conditions. Total GI symptoms were not different between hydrogel and placebo, but GI symptoms were higher in nonhydrogel compared with placebo and hydrogel (P < 0.001). Conclusion The ingestion of glucose and fructose in hydrogel form during running benefited endurance performance, exogenous CHO oxidation, and GI symptoms compared with a standard CHO solution

Liver and muscle glycogen oxidation and performance with dose variation of glucose-fructose ingestion during prolonged (3 h) exercise

Purpose This study investigated the effect of small manipulations in carbohydrate (CHO) dose on exogenous and endogenous (liver and muscle) fuel selection during exercise. Method Eleven trained males cycled in a double-blind randomised order on 4 occasions at 60% V˙O2max for 3 h, followed by a 30-min time-trial whilst ingesting either 80 g h−1 or 90 g h−1 or 100 g h−1 13C-glucose-13C-fructose [2:1] or placebo. CHO doses met, were marginally lower, or above previously reported intestinal saturation for glucose–fructose (90 g h−1). Indirect calorimetry and stable mass isotope [13C] techniques were utilised to determine fuel use. Result Time-trial performance was 86.5 to 93%, ‘likely, probable’ improved with 90 g h−1 compared 80 and 100 g h−1. Exogenous CHO oxidation in the final hour was 9.8–10.0% higher with 100 g h−1 compared with 80 and 90 g h−1 (ES = 0.64–0.70, 95% CI 9.6, 1.4 to 17.7 and 8.2, 2.1 to 18.6). However, increasing CHO dose (100 g h−1) increased muscle glycogen use (101.6 ± 16.6 g, ES = 0.60, 16.1, 0.9 to 31.4) and its relative contribution to energy expenditure (5.6 ± 8.4%, ES = 0.72, 5.6, 1.5 to 9.8 g) compared with 90 g h−1. Absolute and relative muscle glycogen oxidation between 80 and 90 g h−1 were similar (ES = 0.23 and 0.38) though a small absolute (85.4 ± 29.3 g, 6.2, − 23.5 to 11.1) and relative (34.9 ± 9.1 g, − 3.5, − 9.6 to 2.6) reduction was seen in 90 g h−1 compared with 100 g h−1. Liver glycogen oxidation was not significantly different between conditions (ES < 0.42). Total fat oxidation during the 3-h ride was similar in CHO conditions (ES < 0.28) but suppressed compared with placebo (ES = 1.05–1.51). Conclusion ‘Overdosing’ intestinal transport for glucose–fructose appears to increase muscle glycogen reliance and negatively impact subsequent TT performance

Degradation of polymer banknotes through handling, and effect on fingermark visualisation

The surface structure of mint (as-issued) and handled polymer five pounds sterling banknotes was studied by atomic force microscopy and laser scanning confocal microscopy. A total of 1856 fingermarks on mint and handled banknotes from four different issuing banks (Bank of England, Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland and Clydesdale Bank) were visualised with Vacuum Metal Deposition (VMD), Cyanoacrylate Fuming (CAF) and, on Clydesdale Bank notes, magnetic fluorescent powder. VMD was significantly more effective in developing fingermarks on handled banknotes, across all the banks studied, although effectiveness varied with issuing bank. For example, on handled Bank of England notes 45% of marks showed ridge detail with VMD development and 28% with CAF; for Bank of Scotland handled notes success rates were 17% with VMD and 1% with CAF. Microscopy of degraded banknotes showed the loss of intaglio printing and the formation of a cracked surface structure in the handled notes. These features can lead to the trapping of powder, or contaminants, increasing quantity of development agent in fingermark background between the ridges, decreasing contrast and decreasing performance of powder-based fingermark development techniques. These same features can restrict the migration of components of the fingermark, preventing fingermarks degrading through spread of material and thus reducing potential formation of empty prints, so that VMD development is not adversely affected

Usefulness and limitation of dobutamine stress echocardiography to predict acute response to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

peer reviewedBackground: It has been hypothesized that a long-term response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) could correlate with myocardial viability in patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Contractile reserve and viability in the region of the pacing lead have not been investigated in regard to acute response after CRT. Methods: Fifty-one consecutive patients with advanced heart failure, LV ejection fraction ≤ 35%, QRS duration > 120 ms, and intraventricular asynchronism ≥ 50 ms were prospectively included. The week before CRT implantation, the presence of viability was evaluated using dobutamine stress echocardiography. Acute responders were defined as a ≥15% increase in LV stroke volume. Results: The average of viable segments was 5.8 ± 1.9 in responders and 3.9 ± 3 in nonresponders (P = 0.03). Viability in the region of the pacing lead had an excellent sensitivity (96%), but a low specificity (56%) to predict acute response to CRT. Mitral regurgitation (MR) was reduced in 21 patients (84%) with acute response. The presence of MR was a poor predictor of response (sensibility 93% and specificity 17%). However, combining the presence of MR and viability in the region of the pacing lead yields a sensibility (89%) and a specificity (70%) to predict acute response to CRT. Conclusion: Myocardial viability is an important factor influencing acute hemodynamic response to CRT. In acute responders, significant MR reduction is frequent. The combined presence of MR and viability in the region of the pacing lead predicts acute response to CRT with the best accuracy