Intense slow beams of bosonic potassium isotopes

We report on an experimental realization of a two-dimensional magneto-optical trap (2D-MOT) that allows the generation of cold atomic beams of 39K and 41K bosonic potassium isotopes. The high measured fluxes up to 1.0x10^11 atoms/s and low atomic velocities around 33 m/s are well suited for a fast and reliable 3D-MOT loading, a basilar feature for new generation experiments on Bose-Einstein condensation of dilute atomic samples. We also present a simple multilevel theoretical model for the calculation of the light-induced force acting on an atom moving in a MOT. The model gives a good agreement between predicted and measured flux and velocity values for our 2D-MOT.Comment: Updated references, 1 figure added, 10 pages, 9 figure

Collisional properties of sympathetically cooled 39^{39}K

We report the experimental evidence of the sympathetic cooling of $^{39}$K with $^{87}$Rb down to 1 $\mu$K, obtained in a novel tight confining magnetic trap. This allowed us to perform the first direct measurement of the elastic cross section of $^{39}$K below 50 $\mu$K. The result obtained for the triplet scattering length, $a_T = -51(7)$ Bohr radii, agrees with previous results derived from photoassociation spectra and from Feshbach spectroscopy of $^{40}$K.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Association of early glycemic change with short-term mortality in lobar and non-lobar intracerebral hemorrhage

The association between early glycemic change and short-term mortality in non-diabetic patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is unclear. We retrospectively investigated non-diabetic patients with lobar (n = 262) and non-lobar ICH (n = 370). Each patient had a random serum glucose test on hospital admission and a fasting serum glucose test within the following 48 h. Hyperglycemia was defined as serum glucose ≥ 7.8 mmol/l. Four patterns were determined: no hyperglycemia (reference category), persistent hyperglycemia, delayed hyperglycemia, and decreasing hyperglycemia. Associations with 30-day mortality were estimated using Cox models adjusted for major features of ICH severity. Persistent hyperglycemia was associated with 30-day mortality in both lobar (HR 3.00; 95% CI 1.28-7.02) and non-lobar ICH (HR 4.95; 95% CI 2.20-11.09). In lobar ICH, 30-day mortality was also associated with delayed (HR 4.10; 95% CI 1.77-9.49) and decreasing hyperglycemia (HR 2.01, 95% CI 1.09-3.70). These findings were confirmed in Cox models using glycemic change (fasting minus random serum glucose) as a continuous variable. Our study shows that, in non-diabetic patients with ICH, early persistent hyperglycemia is an independent predictor of short-term mortality regardless of hematoma location. Moreover, in non-diabetic patients with lobar ICH, both a positive and a negative glycemic change are associated with short-term mortality

High speed sCMOS-based oblique plane microscopy applied to the study of calcium dynamics in cardiac myocytes

blique plane microscopy (OPM) is a form of light sheet microscopy that uses a single high numerical aperture microscope objective for both fluorescence excitation and collection. In this paper, measurements of the relative collection efficiency of OPM are presented. An OPM system incorporating two sCMOS cameras is then introduced that enables single isolated cardiac myocytes to be studied continuously for 22 seconds in two dimensions at 667 frames per second with 960 × 200 pixels and for 30 seconds with 960 × 200 × 20 voxels at 25 volumes per second. In both cases OPM is able to record in two spectral channels, enabling intracellular calcium to be studied via the probe Fluo-4 AM simultaneously with the sarcolemma and transverse tubule network via the membrane dye Cellmask Orange. The OPM system was then applied to determine the spatial origin of spontaneous calcium waves for the first time and to measure the cell transverse tubule structure at their point of origin. Further results are presented to demonstrate that the OPM system can also be used to study calcium spark parameters depending on their relationship to the transverse tubule structure

Changes in anthropometric, biochemical, hematological, hormonal and cardiac markers in a group of late-adult amateur cyclist, afet continuous and prolonged exercise on an uncontrolled diet

Abstract: Purpose: to describe and compare the main biochemical and hematological parameters, markers of cardiac and stress suffering (cortisol), in an amateur group of 8 late-adult cyclists (average age 60.9 years s.d. 4.1 years) before and after a continuous bicycle course of 9 days with an actual duration of 7 days and a daily average of 103.5 Km (total of 725 km) on an uncontrolled diet. Results: body weight, BMI, systolic and diastolic pressure did not vary significantly in pre- and post-cycling performance (p> 0.05). There was no significant change in the pre- and post-red blood cell count in the hemochromocytometric hematological parameters (p = 0.57), while hemoglobin values decreased significantly after pedaling (p = 0.03), as did the average cellular hemoglobin values and the average cell concentration of hemoglobin (p = 0.002 and p = 0.0006, respectively). The number of platelets, white blood cells, the absolute number of neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils and monocytes, and the percentage of neutrophils, eosinophilic lymphocytes, basophils and monocytes did not change significantly (p> 0.05). With regard to basic biochemistry, there was no significant variation in the values of glucose, urea, creatinine, alanine amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase, cholinesterase and creatinine kinase (p> 0.05). Aspartate amino transferase was found to be significantly greater after pedaling (p = 0.03). The values of albumin, total proteins, lactate dehydrogenase, total calcium, inorganic phosphorus, total magnesium, total iron, sodium and potassium were statistically non-significant between pre and post phases. The lipid profile, total cholesterol, triglycerides, lipases, HDL and LDL were also statistically non-significant even if HDL values increased on average after cycling performance (before 48.9 \ub1 9.5 and after 53.8 \ub1 12.4) while LDL values decreased on average (before 118.5 \ub1 28.8 and after 101.6 \ub1 10.3). In the hormone-labeling and vitamin group, ferritin was statistically non-significant. Pre and post changes in the stress hormone cortisol, PSA, vitamin B12 and natriuretic B-type NT-proBNP peptide were statistically non-significant. Instead, folate decreased significantly following the cycling performance (p = 0.017). In protein biochemistry, apolipoprotein A1 was statistically significant (p = 0.038) increasing after pedaling, while apolipoprotein B, C-reactive protein and transferrin were statistically non-significant. CK MB mass and troponin I in the cardiac markers did not undergo significant changes between pre and post phases. Conclusions: despite the small size of the chosen sample, parameters analyzed between pre and post continuous physical effort lead to the conclusion and confirmation of many data in the literature and, that is, that sporting activity conducted in an important way can improve the biochemical/functional state and, therefore, the health of practising subjects even in late adults and/or the elderly. This could postpone physical psychic decline caused by the natural progression of years

Generación de electricidad en horas de punta a partir de la digestión anaeróbica de camalote

El presente trabajo tiene como objeto de presentar una propuesta novedosa y sustentable para la generación de energía eléctrica en el área metropolitana de Asunción basada en una fuente renovable de energía. Dicha generación se realizaría principalmente en horas de punta con el fin de reducir la potencia contratada por la ANDE en las usinas existentes y de esta forma disminuir costos y al mismo tiempo estabilizar las redes de transmisión y de distribución en la zona de Asunción. La electricidad se generaría en una planta térmica de ciclo combinado de 130 MW de potencia instalada utilizando como combustible biogás obtenido por medio de la digestión anaeróbica en biodigestores de plantas de camalote cultivadas en piletas a ser construidas en la orilla del río Paraguay frente al Jardín Botánico de Asunción. La principal ventaja para el aprovechamiento del camalote es su elevado índice de crecimiento, que es entre 100 y 500 g por día y por m2 según las condiciones ambientales, lo que permite que se duplique su masa vegetal cada 6 a 15 días. La relación entre carbono y nitrógeno, que se encuentra en su masa vegetal es óptima para la generación de biogás, cuyo poder calorífico de unos 6,4 kWh/m3 es suficientemente elevado para utilizarlo para la generación de calor y por ende también de electricidad en una planta térmica. Esa usina podría conectarse directamente al SIN a través de la Estación de Puerto Botánico mediante una línea de transmisión en 220 kV de 2 km cruzando el río Paraguay. Mediante este proyecto la ANDE podría ahorrar por año hasta US$25,000,000 en concepto de la contratación de potencia en la represa de Itaipú. Aunque dicho ahorro se reduciría cada año de 3$ 98,000,000 podría ser amortizada en un plazo de 15 años y tendrá un TIR del 5% y un VAN de US$40,548,000The objective of the present paper is to present an innovative and sustainable proposal for generating electricity in the metropolitan area of Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay, based on a renewable source of energy. Electricity would mainly be generated during peak hours with the aim of reducing power contracted by the Paraguayan Electricity Administration (ANDE) from existing hydroelectric power plants and thus reduce costs and stabilise transmission and distribution grids in the area of Asuncion. Electricity would be generated at a 130 MW combined cycle thermal power plant using biogas as fuel, this being obtained by anaerobic digestion of water hyacinths cultivated in pools, which would be built on the banks of the Paraguay river opposite Asuncion’s botanical garden. The main advantage of using water hyacinths is their high growth rate, this being 100 to 500 g/day/m2 depending on environmental conditions, thereby allowing plant mass to double every 6 to 15 days. Additionally, carbon to nitrogen ratio in water hyacinth vegetal mass is optimum for biogas generation. About 6.4 kWh/m3 biogas calorific value is high enough to be used for producing heat and, therefore, for generating electricity in a thermal power plant. Such power plant could be directly connected to the national grid through the Puerto Botanic transformer station by building a 2 km long 220 kV transmission line crossing the Paraguay River. This project could save ANDE up to 25 million US$ every year due to reduced contracted power at the Itaipu power plant. Although this reduction will decline by 3% each year due to increased electricity demand, the investment of around 98 million US$could be repaid within 15 years and would have 5$ 40.5 million NPV

A methodological approach to assess the effect of organic, biodynamic, and conventional production processes on the intrinsic and perceived quality of a typical wine: The case study of chianti docg

The aim of this study was to propose a methodological approach to evaluate the impact of the organic, biodynamic, and conventional production processes on the intrinsic and perceived quality of a typical wine. For this purpose, fourteen commercial Chianti DOCG wines from the 2016 harvest were selected based on the type of production management. A survey was set up to get winemaking information from the estate’s producer of the wines to estimate the carbon dioxide production under the three types of management. The eligibility, identity, and style properties (the intrinsic quality) of the wines were defined. A group of 45 experts evaluated the differences between wines by the Napping test and rated their typicality (perceived quality). The organic and biodynamic management showed a lower level of estimated values of carbon dioxide production. The overall statistical elaboration of the chemical and sensory data highlighted that the registered differences of the intrinsic, perceived quality, and typicality level of the respective wines, did not depend on the type of management. The comparison of the three kinds of wine by SIMCA modeling, put in evidence that the conventional ones showed a greater homogeneity regarding chemical composition, sensory characteristics, and typicality