A single ion as a three-body reaction center in an ultracold atomic gas

We report on three-body recombination of a single trapped Rb^+ ion and two neutral Rb atoms in an ultracold atom cloud. We observe that the corresponding rate coefficient K_3 depends on collision energy and is about a factor of 1000 larger than for three colliding neutral Rb atoms. In the three-body recombination process large energies up to several 0.1eV are released leading to an ejection of the ion from the atom cloud. It is sympathetically recooled back into the cloud via elastic binary collisions with cold atoms. Further, we find that the final ionic product of the three-body processes is again an atomic Rb^+ ion suggesting that the ion merely acts as a catalyzer, possibly in the formation of deeply bound Rb_2 molecules.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Focusing a deterministic single-ion beam

We focus down an ion beam consisting of single 40Ca+ ions to a spot size of a few mum using an einzel-lens. Starting from a segmented linear Paul trap, we have implemented a procedure which allows us to deterministically load a predetermined number of ions by using the potential shaping capabilities of our segmented ion trap. For single-ion loading, an efficiency of 96.7(7)% has been achieved. These ions are then deterministically extracted out of the trap and focused down to a 1sigma-spot radius of (4.6 \pm 1.3)mum at a distance of 257mm from the trap center. Compared to former measurements without ion optics, the einzel-lens is focusing down the single-ion beam by a factor of 12. Due to the small beam divergence and narrow velocity distribution of our ion source, chromatic and spherical aberration at the einzel-lens is vastly reduced, presenting a promising starting point for focusing single ions on their way to a substrate.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figure

Stress Response of Stone Martens and Red Foxes in Two Different Live Traps

Trapping of terrestrial animals is an important tool for harvest, pest control and research worldwide. To catch animals alive, animal welfare has to be ensured, which is reflected in different agreements on trading and trapping of animals between sovereign nations (Council Regulation [EEC] No 3254/91). The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and stone marten (Martes foina) represent important predatory animals. Their influence on protected species as well as their increasing appearance in urban areas demand responsible handling. In our study, we evaluated 2 trap systems used for trapping red foxes and stone martens in accordance with criteria stipulated in the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS) and International Organisation for Standardisation 10990 Part 5 – Methods for Testing Restraining Traps (ISO 10990). In total, we captured 20 red foxes in a concrete pipe vault trap and 13 stone martens in a Strack’s wooden box trap in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and observed their behavior inside each trap. After anesthesia, a clinical examination of each animal was conducted, and blood and hair samples were taken. After euthanasia, radiological examinations of the full body were taken, and necropsies and histopathological investigations were performed. No trap-associated lesions were found. Hormone analysis showed no remarkable signs of stress for the animals, according to state-of-the-art methods. Apart from serum cortisol, the quotient of dehydroepiandrosterone in serum and hair seems to be the most predictive value on stress response of the 2 different species. Video observation of the trapped animals emerged as a valuable tool to estimate animal welfare by behavior. This study complements AIHTS and ISO 10990 criteria with results on behavior and hormone analysis, being an additional benefit when evaluating animal welfare of each trapping system

Chronic hepatitis E virus infection in a patient with leukemia and elevated transaminases: a case report

Introduction Acute hepatitis E virus infection may cause mild, self-limiting hepatitis, either as epidemic outbreaks or sporadic cases, the latter of which have been reported in industrialized countries. Chronic infections are uncommon and have been reported in immunosuppressed patients, patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection, and patients with hematological malignancies. Case presentation A 46-year-old Caucasian man was admitted to the gastroenterology clinic with a history of increasing transaminases, persistent exhaustion, and occasional right-side abdominal pain over the course of a 6-month period. B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia had been diagnosed several years earlier, and the patient was treated with rituximab, pentostatin, and cyclophosphamide. A diagnostic workup ruled out autoimmune and metabolic liver disease, hepatitis A-C, and herpes virus infection. A physical examination revealed enlarged axillary lymph nodes. The results of an abdominal ultrasound examination were otherwise unremarkable. Hepatitis E virus infection was diagnosed by detection of hepatitis E virus-specific antibodies. Blood samples were positive for hepatitis E virus ribonucleic acid with high viral loads for at least 8 months, demonstrating a rare chronic hepatitis E virus infection. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed hepatitis E virus genotype 3c with homologies to other European isolates from humans and swine, indicating an autochthonous infection. Conclusions Usually, hepatitis E virus infection appears as an acute infection; rare chronic infections have been reported for transplant patients, patients with human immunodeficiency virus, and patients with hematological malignancies. The chronic nature of hepatitis E infection in our patient was most likely induced by the immunosuppressive B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment. The differential diagnosis in patients with unexplained hepatitis should include hepatitis E virus infection, and appropriate laboratory analyses should be considered

Effect of plant chemical variation and mutualistic ants on the local population genetic structure of an aphid herbivore

Plants exhibit impressive genetic and chemical diversity, not just between species but also within species, and the importance of plant intraspecific variation for structuring ecological communities is well known. When there is variation at the local population level, this can create a spatially heterogeneous habitat for specialised herbivores potentially leading to non-random distribution of individuals across host plants. Plant variation can affect herbivores directly and indirectly via a third species, resulting in variable herbivore growth rates across different host plants. Herbivores also exhibit within-species variation, with some genotypes better adapted to some plant variants than others. We genotyped aphids collected across 2 years from a field site containing ~200 patchily distributed host plants that exhibit high chemical diversity. The distribution of aphid genotypes, their ant mutualists, and other predators was assessed across the plants. We present evidence that the local distribution of aphid (Metopeurum fuscoviride) genotypes across host-plant individuals is associated with variation in the plant volatiles (chemotypes) and non-volatile metabolites (metabotypes) of their host plant tansy (Tanacetum vulgare). Furthermore, these interactions in the field were influenced by plant-host preferences of aphid-mutualist ants. Our results emphasise that plant intraspecific variation can structure ecological communities not only at the species level but also at the genetic level within species and that this effect can be enhanced through indirect interactions with a third species

Optimized focusing ion optics for an ultracold deterministic single ion source targeting nm resolution

Using a segmented ion trap with mK laser-cooled ions we have realised a novel single ion source which can deterministically deliver a wide range of ion species, isotopes or ionic molecules [Schnitzler et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 070501 (2009)]. Experimental data is discussed in detail and compared with numerical simulations of ion trajectories. For the novel ion source we investigate numerically the influence of various extraction parameters on fluctuations in velocity and position of the beam. We present specialized ion optics and show from numerical simulations that nm resolution is achievable. The Paul trap, which is used as a single ion source, together with the presented ion optics, constitutes a promising candidate for a deterministic ion implantation method for applications in solid state quantum computing or classical nano-electronic devices.Comment: 17 pages, 13 figures (including 2 color figures), submitted to special issue of Journal of Modern Optics - Conference Proceedings of PQE-200

Chemotypic variation in terpenes emitted from storage pools influences early aphid colonisation on tansy

Tansy plants (Tanacetum vulgare L.) exhibit high chemical variation, particularly in mono- and sesquiterpenes that are stored in specialised glands on the plant surface. In the present work we investigated the effects of terpene chemotypes on Metopeurum fuscoviride, an aphid species specialised on tansy, and their tending ants, at the field scale. Previous studies have chemotyped tansy by assessing dominant compounds; here we propose a method of chemotyping using all volatile compounds that are likely emitted from the storage glands. The analysis is based on two extraction methods: GC-MS analysis of leaf hexane extracts and SBSE analysis of headspace emissions. In an initial screening we identified the subset of compounds present in both chemical patterns, labelled as ‘compounds likely emitted from storage’. In a large field survey we could show that the putative chemotypic emission pattern from storage pools significantly affected the early aphid colonisation of tansy. Moreover, the statistical analyses revealed that minor compounds exerted a stronger influence on aphid and tending-ant presence than dominant compounds. Overall we demonstrated that within the enormous chemotypic variation of terpenes in tansy plants, chemical signatures of volatile terpenes can be related to the occurrence of insects on individual plants in the field

Interfollicular fibrosis and organohalogens in the thyroid of the harbour porpoise (phocoena phocoena) of the British and Belgian coasts

Previous studies have described high levels of polychlorobiphenyls (PCB), p,p`-dichlordiphenyl-dichlorethen (DDT), p,p`-dichlordiphenyl-trichlorethan (DDE) and polybrominated diphenylether (PBDE) in the blubber of the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) from the North Sea raising the question of a potential endocrine disruption in this species. In the present study, the thyroids of 36 harbour porpoises from the British and the Belgian coast have been collected for histological and immunohistological investigations. The number and mean diameter of follicles and the relative distribution of follicular, connective and vascular tissues (%) were quantified in the thyroid of each individual. Then, the relationship between the thyroid morphometry data and previously described organic compounds (namely PCB, DDT, DDE and PBDE) was investigated using factor analysis and multiple regressions. The results of this work were compared to the previous study of harbour porpoises from the German (North and Baltic Seas), Norwegian and Icelandic coasts. Thyroid morphology was similar between the harbour porpoises from the British and Belgian coast. Compared to the previous study, the thyroids differed strongly between sampling sites. Porpoises from the German (North and Baltic Seas) and Norwegian coasts displayed a high percentage of connective tissues between 30 and 38% revealing severe inter-follicular fibrosis. The thyroids of Icelandic coasts displayed only a light inter-follicular fibrosis (percentage of connective tissue of 3%). The thyroids of the porpoises from the British and Belgian coasts occupied an intermediary place with a moderate fibrosis (percentage of connective tissue of 10%). A relation between mean diameter of follicles and the body size and mass suggesting a downward trend of activity of the thyroid with increasing body size and mass and thus, the age of the porpoises. A correlation-based principal component analysis (PCA) revealed one principal components explaining 69% of the total variance. The variables PCB, PBDE, DDT, and DDE compounds loaded highest on PC1. Our results pointed out a relationship between PCBs, PBDE, DDE and DDT (PC1) compounds and interfollicular fibrosis in the thyroids of harbour porpoises from the German coast of the Baltic Sea. The present report supports the hypothesis of a contaminant-induced thyroid fibrosis in harbour porpoises raising the question of the long term-viability in highly polluted area

Under fire-simultaneous volatilome and transcriptome analysis unravels fine-scale responses of tansy chemotypes to dual herbivore attack

BACKGROUND: Tansy plants (Tanacetum vulgare L.) are known for their high intraspecific chemical variation, especially of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from the terpenoid compound group. These VOCs are closely involved in plant-insect interactions and, when profiled, can be used to classify plants into groups known as chemotypes. Tansy chemotypes have been shown to influence plant-aphid interactions, however, to date no information is available on the response of different tansy chemotypes to simultaneous herbivory by more than one insect species. RESULTS: Using a multi-cuvette system, we investigated the responses of five tansy chemotypes to feeding by sucking and/or chewing herbivores (aphids and caterpillars; Metopeurum fuscoviride Stroyan and Spodoptera littoralis Boisduval). Herbivory by caterpillars following aphid infestation led to a plant chemotype-specific change in the patterns of terpenoids stored in trichome hairs and in VOC emissions. The transcriptomic analysis of a plant chemotype represents the first de novo assembly of a transcriptome in tansy and demonstrates priming effects of aphids on a subsequent herbivory. Overall, we show that the five chemotypes do not react in the same way to the two herbivores. As expected, we found that caterpillar feeding increased VOC emissions, however, a priori aphid infestation only led to a further increase in VOC emissions for some chemotypes. CONCLUSIONS: We were able to show that different chemotypes respond to the double herbivore attack in different ways, and that pre-treatment with aphids had a priming effect on plants when they were subsequently exposed to a chewing herbivore. If neighbouring chemotypes in a field population react differently to herbivory/dual herbivory, this could possibly have effects from the individual level to the group level. Individuals of some chemotypes may respond more efficiently to herbivory stress than others, and in a group environment these "louder" chemotypes may affect the local insect community, including the natural enemies of herbivores, and other neighbouring plants

Ancient genomes reveal social and genetic structure of Late Neolithic Switzerland

Genetic studies of Neolithic and Bronze Age skeletons from Europe have provided evidence for strong population genetic changes at the beginning and the end of the Neolithic period. To further understand the implications of these in Southern Central Europe, we analyze 96 ancient genomes from Switzerland, Southern Germany, and the Alsace region in France, covering the Middle/Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age. Similar to previously described genetic changes in other parts of Europe from the early 3rd millennium BCE, we detect an arrival of ancestry related to Late Neolithic pastoralists from the Pontic-Caspian steppe in Switzerland as early as 2860-2460 calBCE. Our analyses suggest that this genetic turnover was a complex process lasting almost 1000 years and involved highly genetically structured populations in this region