799 research outputs found

    Interdependence of magnetism and superconductivity in the borocarbide TmNi2B2C

    Get PDF
    We have discovered a new antiferromagnetic phase in TmNi2B2C by neutron diffraction. The ordering vector is Q_A = (0.48,0,0) and the phase appears above a critical in-plane magnetic field of 0.9 T. The field was applied in order to test the assumption that the zero-field magnetic structure at Q_F = (0.094,0.094,0) would change into a c-axis ferromagnet if superconductivity were destroyed. We present theoretical calculations which show that two effects are important: A suppression of the ferromagnetic component of the RKKY exchange interaction in the superconducting phase, and a reduction of the superconducting condensation energy due to the periodic modulation of the moments at the wave vector Q_A

    Bose-Einstein Condensation in a CO_2-laser Optical Dipole Trap

    Full text link
    We report on the achieving of Bose-Einstein condensation of a dilute atomic gas based on trapping atoms in tightly confining CO_2-laser dipole potentials. Quantum degeneracy of rubidium atoms is reached by direct evaporative cooling in both crossed and single beam trapping geometries. At the heart of these all-optical condensation experiments is the ability to obtain high initial atomic densities in quasistatic dipole traps by laser cooling techniques. Finally, we demonstrate the formation of a condensate in a field insensitive m_F=0 spin projection only. This suppresses fluctuations of the chemical potential from stray magnetic fields.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

    Abundance of actinobacteria and production of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol in Danish streams and fish ponds

    Get PDF
    Occurrence of the odours geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) in freshwater environments indicates that odour-producing organisms are commonly occurring. In the present study, we assumed actinomycetes to be a major source of the odours. Seasonal concentrations of odours and abundance of Actinobacteria, which includes actinomycetes and other G+ and high GC bacteria, were determined in one oligotrophic and two eutrophic freshwater streams, as well as in aquacultures connected to these streams, in Denmark. Concentrations of geosmin and MIB ranged from 2 to 9 ng l−1 and were lowest in the winter. Passage of stream water in the aquacultures increased the amount of geosmin and MIB by up to 55% and 110%, respectively. Densities of actinobacteria were determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization with catalyzed reporter deposition (CARD-FISH) technique and were found to make up from 4 to 38 × 107 cells l−1, corresponding to 3–9% of the total bacterial populations. The lowest densities of actinobacteria occurred in the winter. Filamentous bacteria targeted by the FISH probe made up about 2.7–38% (average was 22%) of the actinobacteria and were expected to be actinomycetes. Combined microautoradiography and CARD-FISH demonstrated that 10–38% (incorporation of 3H-thymidine) and 41–65% (incorporation of 3H-leucine) of the actinobacteria were metabolically active. The proportion of active actinobacteria increased up to 2-fold during passage of stream water in the aquacultures, and up to 98% of the cells became active. Sequencing of 16S rRNA genes in 8 bacterial isolates with typical actinomycete morphology from the streams and ponds demonstrated that most of them belonged to the genus Streptomyces. The isolated actinomycetes produced geosmin at rates from 0.1 to 35 ag geosmin bacterium−1 h−1. MIB was produced at similar rates in 5 isolates, whereas no MIB was produced by three of the isolates. Addition of the odours to stream water demonstrated that indigenous stream bacteria were capable of reducing the odours, and that enrichment with LB medium stimulated the degradation. Our study shows that bacterial communities in freshwater include geosmin- and MIB-producing actinobacteria. However, the mechanisms controlling production as well as degradation of the odours in natural waters appear complex and require further research

    Riboflavin-Vancomycin Conjugate Enables Simultaneous Antibiotic Photo-Release and Photodynamic Killing against Resistant Gram-Positive Pathogens

    Get PDF
    Decades of antibiotic misuse have led to alarming levels of antimicrobial resistance, and the development of alternative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to delineate and treat infections is a global priority. In particular, the nosocomial, multidrug-resistant "ESKAPE" pathogens such as Gram-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp (VRE) urgently require alternative treatments. Here, we developed light-activated molecules based on the conjugation of the FDA-approved photosensitizer riboflavin to the Gram-positive specific ligand vancomycin to enable targeted antimicrobial photodynamic therapy. The riboflavin-vancomycin conjugate proved to be a potent and versatile antibacterial agent, enabling the rapid, light-mediated, killing of MRSA and VRE with no significant off-target effects. The attachment of riboflavin on vancomycin also led to an increase in antibiotic activity against S. aureus and VRE. Simultaneously, we evidenced for the first time that the flavin subunit undergoes an efficient photoinduced bond cleavage reaction to release vancomycin, thereby acting as a photoremovable protecting group with potential applications in drug delivery

    Outcomes in elderly Danish citizens admitted with community-acquired pneumonia. Regional differencties, in a public healthcare system

    Get PDF
    SummaryObjectivesTo evaluate regional differences in and risk factors for admission, length of stay, mortality, and readmission for community-acquired pneumonia in elderly Danish patients.MethodsNational registry study on elderly Danish citizens with an acute admission in 2009 owing to community-acquired pneumonia. We studied differences among hospitals in length of stay, in-hospital mortality, mortality within 30 days of discharge, and readmission within 30 days after discharge using Cox regression models with adjustments for age, sex, ventilatory support, and co-morbidity by Charlson's index score.ResultsA total of 11,332 elderly citizens were admitted with community-acquired pneumonia. Mortality during admission and 30-days from discharge were 11.6% and 16.2%, respectively. Readmission rates within 30 days of discharge were 12.3%. There were significantly differences between hospitals in length of stay. A high Charlson index score and advanced age were significantly risk factors for death during admission and within 30 days of discharge. Male sex and high Charlson index score were significant risk factors for readmission. Admission to large bed capacity hospital was a significant risk factor for death and readmission within 30 days of discharge.ConclusionsLength of stay, rate of admission, mortality and readmission in elderly Danish patients with community-acquired pneumonia follows international findings. There are regional differences between hospitals. In depth investigation in regional differences could reveal potential feasible clinical interventions with an improvement of readmission-, mortality rates and cost

    Formation of atomic tritium clusters and condensates

    Get PDF
    We present an extensive study of the static and dynamic properties of systems of spin-polarized tritium atoms. In particular, we calculate the two-body |F,m_F>=|0,0> s-wave scattering length and show that it can be manipulated via a Feshbach resonance at a field strength of about 870G. Such a resonance might be exploited to make and control a Bose-Einstein condensate of tritium in the |0,0> state. It is further shown that the quartet tritium trimer is the only bound hydrogen isotope and that its single vibrational bound state is a Borromean state. The ground state properties of larger spin-polarized tritium clusters are also presented and compared with those of helium clusters.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
    • …
    corecore