Recent Advances in the Application of the Shell Model Monte Carlo Approach to Nuclei

The shell model Monte Carlo (SMMC) method is a powerful technique for calculating the statistical and collective properties of nuclei in the presence of correlations in model spaces that are many orders of magnitude larger than those that can be treated by conventional diagonalization methods. We review recent advances in the development and application of SMMC to mid-mass and heavy nuclei.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, Proceedings of the Eleventh International Spring Seminar on Nuclear Physic

Detection of all four dengue serotypes in Aedes aegypti female mosquitoes collected in a rural area in Colombia

The Aedes aegypti vector for dengue virus (DENV) has been reported in urban and periurban areas. The information about DENV circulation in mosquitoes in Colombian rural areas is limited, so we aimed to evaluate the presence of DENV in Ae. aegypti females caught in rural locations of two Colombian municipalities, Anapoima and La Mesa. Mosquitoes from 497 rural households in 44 different rural settlements were collected. Pools of about 20 Ae. aegypti females were processed for DENV serotype detection. DENV in mosquitoes was detected in 74% of the analysed settlements with a pool positivity rate of 62%. The estimated individual mosquito infection rate was 4.12% and the minimum infection rate was 33.3/1,000 mosquitoes. All four serotypes were detected; the most frequent being DENV-2 (50%) and DENV-1 (35%). Two-three serotypes were detected simultaneously in separate pools. This is the first report on the co-occurrence of natural DENV infection of mosquitoes in Colombian rural areas. The findings are important for understanding dengue transmission and planning control strategies. A potential latent virus reservoir in rural areas could spill over to urban areas during population movements. Detecting DENV in wild-caught adult mosquitoes should be included in the development of dengue epidemic forecasting models

Recent Advances in the Microscopic Calculations of Level Densities by the Shell Model Monte Carlo Method

The shell model Monte Carlo (SMMC) method enables calculations in model spaces that are many orders of magnitude larger than those that can be treated by conventional methods, and is particularly suitable for the calculation of level densities in the presence of correlations. We review recent advances and applications of SMMC for the microscopic calculation of level densities. Recent developments include (i) a method to calculate accurately the ground-state energy of an odd-mass nucleus, circumventing a sign problem that originates in the projection on an odd number of particles, and (ii) a method to calculate directly level densities, which, unlike state densities, do not include the spin degeneracy of the levels. We calculated the level densities of a family of nickel isotopes 59−64Ni and of a heavy deformed rare-earth nucleus 162Dy and found them to be in close agreement with various experimental data sets

Efficacy and safety of valsartan compared with enalapril at different altitudes

To compare the safety, tolerability, and antihypertensive efficacy of valsartan with enalapril at different altitudes. A total of 142 adult Colombian outpatients with mild to moderate essential hypertension were recruited in 3 cities at different altitudes (Bogotá at 2600 m, Medellı́n at 1538 m and Barranquilla at 100 m) and randomized in an open label fashion to receive either valsartan 80 mg once daily or enalapril 20 mg once daily for 8 weeks. Those patients not responding at 4 weeks received additional 1.25 mg indapamide daily during the remaining trial period. The primary efficacy variable was the change in mean sitting diastolic blood pressure (SDBP) from baseline to 4 weeks. Secondary efficacy variables included the change in mean sitting systolic blood pressure (SSBP). The primary criterion for tolerability was the incidence of adverse experiences. Both valsartan and enalapril reduced mean SDBP and SSBP with similar efficacy, independent of altitude. Adverse events irrespective of relationship to trial drug were reported by 12 patients (18.8%) on valsartan and by 15 (23.4%) patients on enalapril. Enalapril was associated with a significantly (P<0.05) higher rate of dry cough and more cases of headache than valsartan. Valsartan 80 mg once daily is as effective as enalapril 20 mg once daily in reducing blood pressure, with tolerability profile at least as good as enalapril’s

The design and evaluation of a shaped filter collection device to sample and store defined volume dried blood spots from finger pricks.

BACKGROUND: Dried blood spots are a common medium for collecting patient blood prior to testing for malaria by molecular methods. A new shaped filter device for the quick and simple collection of a designated volume of patient blood has been designed and tested against conventional blood spots for accuracy and precision. METHODS: Shaped filter devices were laser cut from Whatman GB003 paper to absorb a 20 μl blood volume. These devices were used to sample Plasmodium falciparum infected blood and the volume absorbed was measured volumetrically. Conventional blood spots were made by pipetting 20 μl of the same blood onto Whatman 3MM paper. DNA was extracted from both types of dried blood spot using Qiagen DNA blood mini or Chelex extraction for real-time PCR analysis, and PURE extraction for malaria LAMP testing. RESULTS: The shaped filter devices collected a mean volume of 21.1 μl of blood, with a coefficient of variance of 8.1%. When used for DNA extraction by Chelex and Qiagen methodologies the mean number of international standard units of P. falciparum DNA recovered per μl of the eluate was 53.1 (95% CI: 49.4 to 56.7) and 32.7 (95% CI: 28.8 to 36.6), respectively for the shaped filter device, and 54.6 (95% CI: 52.1 to 57.1) and 12.0 (95% CI: 9.9 to 14.1), respectively for the 3MM blood spots. Qiagen extraction of 200 μl of whole infected blood yielded 853.6 international standard units of P. falciparum DNA per μl of eluate. CONCLUSIONS: A shaped filter device provides a simple way to quickly sample and store a defined volume of blood without the need for any additional measuring devices. Resultant dried blood spots may be employed for DNA extraction using a variety of technologies for nucleic acid amplification without the need for repeated cleaning of scissors or punches to prevent cross contamination of samples and results are comparable to traditional DBS