Stability of Magneto-optical Traps with Large Field Gradients: Limits on the Tight Confinement of Single Atoms

We report measurements of the stability of magneto-optical traps (MOTs) for neutral atoms in the limit of tight confinement of a single atom. For quadrupole magnetic field gradients at the trap center greater than ∼1 kG/cm, we find that stochastic diffusion of atoms out of the trapping volume becomes the dominant particle loss mechanism, ultimately limiting the MOT size to greater than ∼5 μm. We measured and modeled the diffusive loss rate as a function of laser power, detuning, and field gradient for trapped cesium atoms. In addition, for as few as two atoms, the collisional loss rates become very high for tightly confined traps, allowing the direct observation of isolated two-body atomic collisions in a MOT

Corn Silage and Alfalfa Hay for Beef Production

SUMMARY. 1. A ration of corn and alfalfa hay produced the cheapest gains of any ration used. Furthermore, the steers fed corn and alfalfa hay made as rapid gains as did the steers on any other ration. 2. Had the alfalfa hay used in the first experiment cost $20 per ton, the average profit on the three lots receiving alfalfa would have been 15 per cent greater than the profit on the best one of the three lots not receiving alfalfa. 3. Cold pressed cottonseed cake did not give as good results, as regards either rate of gain or economy of gain, as did alfalfa hay in a ration for fattening steers. 4. The addition of cold pressed cottonseed cake to a ration of corn, silage, and alfalfa increased the cost of gain and lowered the profits on the steers. 5. The steers receiving silage without exception shed their coats early in the spring and at all times presented a sleek and sappy appearance. 6. Contrary to preceding experiments, a heavy feed of silage with alfalfa hay and corn gave as rapid gains as did either a medium or a light feed of silage with alfalfa hay and corn. The amount of silage which can best be fed to fattening steers apparently must be regarded as unsettled. 7. The steers fed silage in connection with corn and alfalfa suffered a very light shrinkage when shipped to market. Different amounts of silage seemingly had no effect upon the number of pounds shrinkage. 8. Where prairie hay was used in place of alfalfa, small and expensive gains resulted. 9. The individuality of a steer is a very important factor in the rate of gain. The average difference in gains made between the highest and lowest producing steer in each of fourteen different lots was 120 pounds. In practically all cases there was a greater variation in the daily gains made by steers in the same lot than there was in the average daily gains of the different lots. 10. Usually a considerable difference can be noted between poor and good feeder cattle, but sometimes even a careful study of steers does not reveal their feeding possibilities. 11. An advance of 8 cents per bushel in the price of corn increased the cost of gains$1 per 100 pounds. 12. In the second experiment, where a ration of corn and alfafa hay was fed, an increase of 1 cent per bushel in the price of corn had the same effect in increasing the cost of gains as did an increase of $1 per ton in the price of alfalfa hay

Corn Silage and Alfalfa Hay for Beef Production

SUMMARY. 1. A ration of corn and alfalfa hay produced the cheapest gains of any ration used. Furthermore, the steers fed corn and alfalfa hay made as rapid gains as did the steers on any other ration. 2. Had the alfalfa hay used in the first experiment cost $20 per ton, the average profit on the three lots receiving alfalfa would have been 15 per cent greater than the profit on the best one of the three lots not receiving alfalfa. 3. Cold pressed cottonseed cake did not give as good results, as regards either rate of gain or economy of gain, as did alfalfa hay in a ration for fattening steers. 4. The addition of cold pressed cottonseed cake to a ration of corn, silage, and alfalfa increased the cost of gain and lowered the profits on the steers. 5. The steers receiving silage without exception shed their coats early in the spring and at all times presented a sleek and sappy appearance. 6. Contrary to preceding experiments, a heavy feed of silage with alfalfa hay and corn gave as rapid gains as did either a medium or a light feed of silage with alfalfa hay and corn. The amount of silage which can best be fed to fattening steers apparently must be regarded as unsettled. 7. The steers fed silage in connection with corn and alfalfa suffered a very light shrinkage when shipped to market. Different amounts of silage seemingly had no effect upon the number of pounds shrinkage. 8. Where prairie hay was used in place of alfalfa, small and expensive gains resulted. 9. The individuality of a steer is a very important factor in the rate of gain. The average difference in gains made between the highest and lowest producing steer in each of fourteen different lots was 120 pounds. In practically all cases there was a greater variation in the daily gains made by steers in the same lot than there was in the average daily gains of the different lots. 10. Usually a considerable difference can be noted between poor and good feeder cattle, but sometimes even a careful study of steers does not reveal their feeding possibilities. 11. An advance of 8 cents per bushel in the price of corn increased the cost of gains$1 per 100 pounds. 12. In the second experiment, where a ration of corn and alfafa hay was fed, an increase of 1 cent per bushel in the price of corn had the same effect in increasing the cost of gains as did an increase of $1 per ton in the price of alfalfa hay

FDA Actions Against Health Economic Promotions, 2002–2011

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory actions against drug companies' health economic promotions from 2002 through 2011 to understand how frequently and in what circumstances the agency has considered such promotions false or misleading.MethodsWe reviewed all warning letters and notices of violation (“untitled letters”) issued by the FDA's Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising and Communications (DDMAC) to pharmaceutical companies from January 2002 through December 2011. We analyzed letters containing a violation related to “health economic promotion,” defined according to one of several categories (e.g., implied claims of cost savings due to work productivity or economic claims containing unsupported statements about effectiveness or safety). We also collected information on factors such as the indication and type of media involved and whether the letter referenced Section 114 of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act.ResultsOf 291 DDMAC letters sent to pharmaceutical companies during the study period, 35 (12%) cited a health economic violation. The most common type of violation cited was an implied claim of cost savings due to work productivity or functioning (found in 20 letters) and economic claims containing unsubstantiated comparative claims of effectiveness, safety, or interchangeability (7 letters). The violations covered various indications, mostly commonly psychiatric disorders (6 letters) and pain (6 letters). No DDMAC letter pertained to Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act Section 114.ConclusionThe FDA has cited inappropriate health economic promotions in roughly 12% of the letters issued by the DDMAC. The letters highlight drug companies' interest in promoting the value of their products and the FDA's concerns in certain cases about the lack of supporting evidence

An optimised method for the proteomic profiling of full thickness human skin

Background The skin is the largest organ of the human body and is the first line barrier defence against trauma, microbial infiltration and radiation. Skin diseases can be a result of multi-systemic disease or an isolated condition. Due to its proteolysis resistant properties there are relatively few human skin proteomic datasets published compared with other human organs or body fluids. Skin is a challenging tissue to analyse using traditional proteomic techniques due to its high lipid content, insolubility and extensive cross-linking of proteins. This can complicate the isolation and digestion of proteins for analysis using mass spectrometry techniques. Results We have optimised a sample preparation procedure to improve solubilisation and mass spectral compatibility of full thickness skin samples. Using this technique, we were able to obtain data for the proteome profile of full thickness human skin using on-line two-dimensional liquid chromatography, followed by ultra-high definition label-free mass spectrometry analysis (UDMSE). We were able to identify in excess of 2000 proteins from a full thickness skin sample. Conclusions The adoption of on-line fractionation and optimised acquisition protocols utilising ion mobility separation (IMS) technology has significantly increased the scope for protein identifications ten-fold

Large area silicon sheet by EFG

Progress in a program to produce high speed, thin, wide silicon sheets for fabricating 10% efficient solar cells is reported. An EFG ribbon growth system was used to perform growth rate and ribbon thickness experiments. A new, wide ribbon growth system was developed. A theoretical study of stresses in ribbons was also conducted. The EFG ribbons were observed to exhibit a characteristic defect structure which is orientation dependent in the early stages of growth