Distinguishing coherent atomic processes using wave mixing

We are able to clearly distinguish the processes responsible for enhanced low-intensity atomic Kerr nonlinearity, namely coherent population trapping and coherent population oscillations in experiments performed on the Rb D1 line, where one or the other process dominates under appropriate conditions. The potential of this new approach based on wave mixing for probing coherent atomic media is discussed. It allows the new spectral components to be detected with sub-kHz resolution, which is well below the laser linewidth limit. Spatial selectivity and enhanced sensitivity make this method useful for testing dilute cold atomic samples.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Unleashing Corporate Communications Via Social media: A UK Study of Brand Management and Communications with Customers

This paper reports on a small-scale UK based study that explores the impact of social media adoption and use on corporate communications and brand image. The study was structured around an empirical research study including discourse and textual analysis, archival research on social media brand communications, interactions with customers, and a small-scale survey with social media managers. The authors draw upon Habermas' theory of communicative action (the ideal speech situation and discourse ethics) in the analysis. The paper concludes that while some companies and public organisations are beginning to understand the importance of 'real' conversations with customers, only a small number have adopted the 'human brand' approach. Even fewer appear to have strategised for the characteristics of social media communications. Limitations of the study and areas for further work are identified. In raising the contradictory challenges of the immediacy and conversational tone expected of social media communications versus the need to manage the brand image and to control corporate communications, this paper has great academic and practical significance

Adaptive Optics Near-Infrared Spectroscopy of the Sgr A* Cluster

We present K-band $\lambda/\Delta\lambda$ ~ 2600 spectroscopy of five stars (K ~ 14 - 16 mag) within 0.''5 of Sgr A*, the radio source associated with the compact massive object suspected to be a 2.6 x 10$^{6}$ \msun black hole at the center of our Galaxy. High spatial resolution of ~ 0.''09, and good strehl ratios of ~ 0.2 achieved with adaptive optics on the 10-meter Keck telescope make it possible to measure moderate-resolution spectra of these stars individually for the first time. Two stars (S0-17 and S0-18) are identified as late-type stars by the detection of CO bandhead absorption in their spectra. Their absolute K magnitudes and CO bandhead absorption strengths are consistent with early K giants. Three stars (S0-1, S0-2, and S0-16), with r$_{proj}$ $<$ 0.0075 pc (~ 0.''2) from Sgr A*, lack CO bandhead absorption, confirming the results of earlier lower spectral and lower spatial resolution observations that the majority of the stars in the Sgr A* Cluster are early-type stars. The absolute K magnitudes of the early-type stars suggest that they are late O - early B main sequence stars of ages $<$ 20 Myr. The presence of young stars in the Sgr A* Cluster, so close to the central supermassive black hole, poses the intriguing problem of how these stars could have formed, or could have been brought, within its strong tidal field.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in Ap

Large-scale and significant expression from pseudogenes in Sodalis glossinidius – a facultative bacterial endosymbiont

The majority of bacterial genomes have high coding efficiencies, but there are some genomes of intracellular bacteria that have low gene density. The genome of the endosymbiont Sodalis glossinidius contains almost 50 % pseudogenes containing mutations that putatively silence them at the genomic level. We have applied multiple ‘omic’ strategies, combining Illumina and Pacific Biosciences Single-Molecule Real-Time DNA sequencing and annotation, stranded RNA sequencing and proteome analysis to better understand the transcriptional and translational landscape of Sodalis pseudogenes, and potential mechanisms for their control. Between 53 and 74 % of the Sodalis transcriptome remains active in cell-free culture. The mean sense transcription from coding domain sequences (CDSs) is four times greater than that from pseudogenes. Comparative genomic analysis of six Illumina-sequenced Sodalis isolates from different host Glossina species shows pseudogenes make up ~40 % of the 2729 genes in the core genome, suggesting that they are stable and/or that Sodalis is a recent introduction across the genus Glossina as a facultative symbiont. These data shed further light on the importance of transcriptional and translational control in deciphering host–microbe interactions. The combination of genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics gives a multidimensional perspective for studying prokaryotic genomes with a view to elucidating evolutionary adaptation to novel environmental niches

RESEARCH STRATEGIES OF THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTER TO CONTROL BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS IN WILDLIFE IN MICHIGAN, USA

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a zoonotic disease caused by Mycobaterium bovis and is transmissible to humans, wildlife, and domestic livestock. In the United Kingdom, the suspected wildlife reservoir of bTB is the badger (Meles meles) (HUTCHINGS and HARRIS, 1 997), and in New Zealand, the culprit is the brush-tailed possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) (MORRIS et al., 1994). In northern Michigan, USA, bovine tuberculosis is endemic in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). In 1975 a hunter-killed white-tailed deer in Alpena County, Michigan, USA, was tested positive for bTB. Subsequent surveillance by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) of hunter-killed deer revealed no additional cases, and the situation was ruled an anomaly. However, in 1994, an additional hunter-killed white-tailed deer tested positive for bTB in Alcona County, only 13 km from the 1975 case. Between 1995 and 2005, a total of 509 deer tested positive for the disease (MDNR, 2005) and evidence suggested that deer transmitted the disease to domestic cattle (PALMER et al., 2004a). From 1997 to 2004, 33 cattle herds and 1 captive cervid farm tested positive for bTB (MDNR, 2005), most of them within a 5- county area. In addition, in 2006, 6 cattle farms and 1 captive cervid farm tested positive for the disease (MDNR, personal communication). In response to this outbreak, in the past several years MDNR has implemented management strategies to reduce the prevalence of bTB in deer in the outbreak area. These include reduction of deer densities through liberal hunting and restriction of baiting and supplemental feeding of white-tailed deer to reduce deer densities. In addition, Michigan Department of Agriculture and USDA/APHIS/Veterinary Services actively test cattle and captive deer herds with subsequent depopulation of infected herds. And while these actions have reduced the apparent prevalence of bTB in deer from 4.7 % to 1.7 %, a 64 % reduction (MDNR, 2005), other wildlife species may act as reservoirs for the disease. Bovine tuberculosis has been documented in many species of wildlife, including raccoons (Procyon lotor), coyotes (Canis latrans), red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and black bear (Ursus americanus) (BRUNING-FANN et al., 2001). In the outbreak area, bTB prevalence estimates in coyotes and raccoons are as high as 24% (VERCAUTEREN et al., unpublished data) and 2.5 % (WITMER et al., unpublished data), respectively. This raises the question of whether infected raccoons and coyotes actively shed M. bovis through either feces or oral/nasal secretions, thus increasing risks of infection to cattle and other wildlife

Genetics of rust resistance in the Australian wheat germplasm

The aim of this naturalistic study was to identify pretreatment predictors of response to cognitive behaviour therapy in treatment-seeking patients with binge eating disorder (BED; N=304). Furthermore, we examined end-of-treatment factors that predict treatment outcome 6months later (N=190). We assessed eating disorder psychopathology, general psychopathology, personality characteristics and demographic variables using self-report questionnaires. Treatment outcome was measured using the bulimia subscale of the Eating Disorder Inventory 1. Predictors were determined using hierarchical linear regression analyses. Several variables significantly predicted outcome, four of which were found to be both baseline predictors of treatment outcome and end-of-treatment predictors of follow-up: Higher levels of drive for thinness, higher levels of interoceptive awareness, lower levels of binge eating pathology and, in women, lower levels of body dissatisfaction predicted better outcome in the short and longer term. Based on these results, several suggestions are made to improve treatment outcome for BED patients

The GSC-II-based survey of ancient cool white dwarfs I. The sample of spectroscopically confirmed WDs

The GSC-II white dwarf survey was designed to identify faint and high proper motion objects, which we used to define a new and independent sample of cool white dwarfs. With this survey we aim to derive new constraints on the halo white dwarf space density. Also, these data can provide information on the age of thick disk and halo through the analysis of the luminosity function. On the basis of astrometric and photometric parameters, we selected candidates with mu > 0.28 as/yr and R_F > 16 in an area of 1150 square degrees. Then, we separated white dwarfs from late type dwarfs and subdwarfs by means of the reduced proper motion diagram. Finally, spectroscopic follow-up observations were carried out to confirm the white dwarf nature of the selected candidates. We found 41 white dwarfs of which 24 are new discoveries. Here we present the full sample and for each object provide positions, absolute proper motions, photometry, and spectroscopy.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, submitted to A&

The MPCP Longitudinal Educational Growth Study Third Year Report

This is the third-year report in a five-year evaluation of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP). The MPCP, which began in 1990, provides government-funded vouchers for low-income children to attend private schools in the City of Milwaukee. The maximum voucher amount in 2008-09 was $6,607, and approximately 20,000 children used a voucher to attend either secular or religious private schools. The MPCP is the oldest and largest urban school voucher program in the United States. This evaluation was authorized by Wisconsin Act 125 enacted in 2005