How well does NLO pQCD describe strangeness in p+pp+p collisions at s\sqrt{s}= 200 GeV in STAR?

We present measurements of the transverse momentum spectra for $\mathrm{K^{0}_{S}}$, $\Lambda$, $\Xi$ and their antiparticles in p+p collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200 GeV$. The extracted mid-rapidity yields and $$ are in agreement with previous $p+\bar{p}$ experiments while they have smaller statistical errors. We compare the measured spectra for $\mathrm{K^{0}_{S}}$ and $\Lambda$ to the latest available calculations from NLO pQCD and see good agreement for the $\mathrm{K^{0}_{S}}$ above 1.5 GeV/c.Comment: conference proceedings, Strangeness in Quark Matter 2004, 5 pages, submitted to Journal Physics G, final version submitted to journal incl. modifications requested by edito

Vanadium-rich Muscovite from Austria: Crystal Structure, Chemical Analysis, and Spectroscopic Investigations

The crystal structure of a green, transparent, vanadium-rich muscovite-2M_1 (V_2O_3 = 11.35 wt.%, one of the highest amounts reported to date in muscovite) with the optimized formula (K_(0.94)Na_(0.06))M2(Al_(1.20)V^(3+)_(0.61)Mg_(0.12)Cr^(3+)_(0.07))T1(Si^(1.54)Al_(0.46))T2(Si_(1.54)Al_(0.46))O_(10)(OH)_2 and space group C2/c, a 5.2255(6), b 9.0704(10), c 20.0321(21) Å, β 95.773(2)°, Z = 4 has been refined to R = 6.97% for 1070 unique reflections (MoKα). This muscovite, which occurs in small quartz veins in graphite schist from Weinberg mountain, near the village of Amstall, Lower Austria, is distinctly low in Cr (Cr_2O_3 ∼1.4 wt.%) and Mg (MgO ∼1.1 wt.%); Fe, Mn, and Ti are below detection limit. All octahedral cations occupy the M2 site, and the average octahedral bond (M2–O) distance is 1.953 Å. Structural distortions include α = 8.89° and Δz = 0.193 Å, resulting in an interlayer spacing of 3.35 Å. The optical absorption spectrum of this V-rich muscovite shows absorption features at 427 and 609 nm that define a transmission window centered at 523 nm. These absorption features are consistent with those expected for V^(3+) in mica, but the 609 nm band has a slightly longer wavelength than in low-V micas

Strange particle production in p+pp+p collisions at s\sqrt{s}= 200 GeV

We present measurements of the transverse momentum spectra, yield and systematics for K0short, Lambda and Anti-Lambda in $p+p$ collisions at sqrt{s}=200 GeV. We show a dependence of the with event multiplicity and infer that this is consistent with a mini-jet dominated particle production mechanism. These observations are compared to available data from p+bar{p} experiments as well as to pQCD theoretical predictions.Comment: Hotquarks 2004 conference proceedings, 7 pages, submitted to Journal of Physics

Genotoxicity of 3-nitrobenzanthrone and 3-aminobenzanthrone in Muta™Mouse and lung epithelial cells derived from Muta™Mouse

FE1 lung epithelial cells derived from Muta (TM) Mouse are a new model system to provide in vitro mutagenicity data with the potential to predict the outcome of an in vivo Muta (TM) Mouse test. 3-Nitrobenzanthrone (3-NBA) is a potent mutagen and suspected human carcinogen identified in diesel exhaust and urban air pollution. We investigated the mutagenicity and DNA binding of 3-NBA and its main metabolite 3-aminobenzanthrone (3-ABA) in vitro and in vivo in the Muta (TM) Mouse assay. Mice were treated with 3-NBA or 3-ABA (0, 2 or 5 mg/kg body weight/day) by gavage for 28 days and 28 days later lacZ mutant frequency (MF) was determined in liver, lung and bone marrow. For both compounds, dose-related increases in MF were seen in liver and bone marrow, but not in lung; mutagenic activity was similar to 2-fold lower for 3-ABA than for 3-NBA. With 3-NBA, highest DNA adduct levels (measured by P-32-post-labelling) were found in liver (similar to 230 adducts per 10(8) nucleotides) with levels 20- to 40-fold lower in bone marrow and lung. With 3-ABA, DNA adduct levels were again highest in the liver, but similar to 4-fold lower than for 3-NBA. FE1 cells were exposed to up to 10 mu g/ml 3-NBA or 3-ABA for 6 h with or without exogenous activation (S9) and harvested after 3 days. For 3-NBA, there was a dose-related increase in MF both with and without S9 mix, which was > 10 times higher than observed in vivo. At the highest concentration of 3-ABA (10 mu g/ml), we found only around a 2-fold increase in MF relative to controls. DNA adduct formation in FE1 cells was dose-dependent for both compounds, but 10- to 20-fold higher for 3-NBA compared to 3-ABA. Collectively, our data indicate that Muta (TM) Mouse FE1 cells are well suited for cost-effective testing of suspected mutagens with different metabolic activation pathways as a guide for subsequent in vivo Muta (TM) Mouse testing

Comparison of effectiveness of cefovecin, doxycycline, and amoxicillin for the treatment of experimentally induced early Lyme borreliosis in dogs

Background While Koch’s postulates have been fulfilled for Lyme disease; causing transient fever, anorexia and arthritis in young dogs; treatment of sero-positive dogs, especially asymptomatic animals, remains a topic of debate. To complicate this matter the currently recommended antibiotic treatments of Lyme Disease in dogs caused by Borrelia burgdorferi require daily oral administrations for 31 days or longer, which makes non-compliance a concern. Additionally, there is no approved veterinary antimicrobial for the treatment of Lyme Disease in dogs in the USA and few recommended treatments have been robustly tested. In vitro testing of cefovecin, a novel extended-spectrum cephalosporin, demonstrated inhibition of spirochete growth. A small pilot study in dogs indicated that two cefovecin injections two weeks apart would be as efficacious against B. burgdorferi sensu stricto as the recommended treatments using doxycycline or amoxicillin daily for 31 days. This hypothesis was tested in 17–18 week old Beagle dogs, experimentally infected with B. burgdorferisensu stricto, using wild caught ticks, 75 days prior to antimicrobial administration. Results Clinical observations for lameness were performed daily but were inconclusive as this characteristic sign of Lyme Disease rarely develops in the standard laboratory models of experimentally induced infection. However, each antibiotic tested was efficacious against B. burgdorferi as measured by a rapid elimination of spirochetes from the skin and reduced levels of circulating antibodies to B. burgdorferi. In addition, significantly less cefovecin treated animals had Lyme Disease associated histopathological changes compared to untreated dogs. Conclusions Convenia was efficacious against B. burgdorferi sensu stricto infection in dogs as determined by serological testing, PCR and histopathology results. Convenia provides an additional and effective treatment option for Lyme Disease in dogs

Vanadium-rich Muscovite from Austria: Crystal Structure, Chemical Analysis, and Spectroscopic Investigations

The crystal structure of a green, transparent, vanadium-rich muscovite-2M_1 (V_2O_3 = 11.35 wt.%, one of the highest amounts reported to date in muscovite) with the optimized formula (K_(0.94)Na_(0.06))M2(Al_(1.20)V^(3+)_(0.61)Mg_(0.12)Cr^(3+)_(0.07))T1(Si^(1.54)Al_(0.46))T2(Si_(1.54)Al_(0.46))O_(10)(OH)_2 and space group C2/c, a 5.2255(6), b 9.0704(10), c 20.0321(21) Å, β 95.773(2)°, Z = 4 has been refined to R = 6.97% for 1070 unique reflections (MoKα). This muscovite, which occurs in small quartz veins in graphite schist from Weinberg mountain, near the village of Amstall, Lower Austria, is distinctly low in Cr (Cr_2O_3 ∼1.4 wt.%) and Mg (MgO ∼1.1 wt.%); Fe, Mn, and Ti are below detection limit. All octahedral cations occupy the M2 site, and the average octahedral bond (M2–O) distance is 1.953 Å. Structural distortions include α = 8.89° and Δz = 0.193 Å, resulting in an interlayer spacing of 3.35 Å. The optical absorption spectrum of this V-rich muscovite shows absorption features at 427 and 609 nm that define a transmission window centered at 523 nm. These absorption features are consistent with those expected for V^(3+) in mica, but the 609 nm band has a slightly longer wavelength than in low-V micas