Cooling Bose-Einstein condensates below 500 picokelvin

Spin-polarized gaseous Bose-Einstein condensates were confined by a combination of gravitational and magnetic forces. The partially condensed atomic vapors were adiabatically decompressed by weakening the gravito-magnetic trap to a mean frequency of 1hertz, then evaporatively reduced in size to 2500 atoms. This lowered the peak condensate density to 5 x 10(10) atoms per cubic centimeter and cooled the entire cloud in all three dimensions to a kinetic temperature of 450 +/- 80 picokelvin. Such spin-polarized, dilute, and ultracold gases are important for spectroscopy, metrology, and atom optics.

Fungal Planet description sheets: 716-784

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia, Chaetopsina eucalypti on Eucalyptus leaf litter, Colletotrichum cobbittiense from Cordyline stricta × C. australis hybrid, Cyanodermella banksiae on Banksia ericifolia subsp. macrantha, Discosia macrozamiae on Macrozamia miquelii, Elsinoë banksiigena on Banksia marginata, Elsinoë elaeocarpi on Elaeocarpus sp., Elsinoë leucopogonis on Leucopogon sp., Helminthosporium livistonae on Livistona australis, Idriellomyces eucalypti (incl. Idriellomyces gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus obliqua, Lareunionomyces eucalypti on Eucalyptus sp., Myrotheciomyces corymbiae (incl. Myrotheciomyces gen. nov., Myrotheciomycetaceae fam. nov.), Neolauriomyces eucalypti (incl. Neolauriomyces gen. nov., Neolauriomycetaceae fam. nov.) on Eucalyptus sp., Nullicamyces eucalypti (incl. Nullicamyces gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus leaf litter, Oidiodendron eucalypti on Eucalyptus maidenii, Paracladophialophora cyperacearum (incl. Paracladophialophoraceae fam. nov.) and Periconia cyperacearum on leaves of Cyperaceae, Porodiplodia livistonae (incl. Porodiplodia gen. nov., Porodiplodiaceae fam. nov.) on Livistona australis, Sporidesmium melaleucae (incl. Sporidesmiales ord. nov.) on Melaleuca sp., Teratosphaeria sieberi on Eucalyptus sieberi, Thecaphora australiensis in capsules of a variant of Oxalis exilis. Brazil, Aspergillus serratalhadensis from soil, Diaporthe pseudoinconspicua from Poincianella pyramidalis, Fomitiporella pertenuis on dead wood, Geastrum magnosporum on soil, Marquesius aquaticus (incl. Marquesius gen. nov.) from submerged decaying twig and leaves of unidentified plant, Mastigosporella pigmentata from leaves of Qualea parviflorae, Mucor souzae from soil, Mycocalia aquaphila on decaying wood from tidal detritus, Preussia citrullina as endophyte from leaves of Citrullus lanatus, Queiroziella brasiliensis (incl. Queiroziella gen. nov.) as epiphytic yeast on leaves of Portea leptantha, Quixadomyces cearensis (incl. Quixadomyces gen. nov.) on decaying bark, Xylophallus clavatus on rotten wood. Canada, Didymella cari on Carum carvi and Coriandrum sativum. Chile, Araucasphaeria foliorum (incl. Araucasphaeria gen. nov.) on Araucaria araucana, Aspergillus tumidus from soil, Lomentospora valparaisensis from soil. Colombia, Corynespora pseudocassiicola on Byrsonima sp., Eucalyptostroma eucalyptorum on Eucalyptus pellita, Neometulocladosporiella eucalypti (incl. Neometulocladosporiella gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus grandis × urophylla, Tracylla eucalypti (incl. Tracyllaceae fam. nov., Tracyllalales ord. nov.) on Eucalyptus urophylla. Cyprus, Gyromitra anthracobia (incl. Gyromitra subg. Pseudoverpa) on burned soil. Czech Republic, Lecanicillium restrictum from the surface of the wooden barrel, Lecanicillium testudineum from scales of Trachemys scripta elegans. Ecuador, Entoloma yanacolor and Saproamanita quitensis on soil. France, Lentithecium carbonneanum from submerged decorticated Populus branch. Hungary, Pleuromyces hungaricus (incl. Pleuromyces gen. nov.) from a large Fagus sylvatica log. Iran, Zymoseptoria crescenta on Aegilops triuncialis. Malaysia, Ochroconis musicola on Musa sp. Mexico, Cladosporium michoacanense from soil. New Zealand , Acrodontium metrosideri on Metrosideros excelsa, Polynema podocarpi on Podocarpus totara, Pseudoarthrographis phlogis (incl. Pseudoarthrographis gen. nov.) on Phlox subulata. Nigeria, Coprinopsis afrocinerea on soil. Pakistan, Russula mansehraensis on soil under Pinus roxburghii. Russia, Baorangia alexandri on soil in deciduous forests with Quercus mongolica. South Africa, Didymocyrtis brachylaenae on Brachylaena discolor. Spain, Alfaria dactylis from fruit of Phoenix dactylifera, Dothiora infuscans from a blackened wall, Exophiala nidicola from the nest of an unidentified bird, Matsushimaea monilioides from soil, Terfezia morenoi on soil. United Arab Emirates, Tirmania honrubiae on soil. USA, Arxotrichum wyomingense (incl. Arxotrichum gen. nov.) from soil, Hongkongmyces snookiorum from submerged detritus from a fresh water fen, Leratiomyces tesquorum from soil, Talaromyces tabacinus on leaves of Nicotiana tabacum. Vietnam, Afroboletus vietnamensis on soil in an evergreen tropical forest, Colletotrichum condaoense from Ipomoea pes-caprae. Morphological and culture characteristics along with DNA barcodes are provided.

Light Scattering to Determine the Relative Phase of Two Bose-Einstein Condensates

We demonstrated an experimental technique based on stimulated light scattering to continuously sample the relative phase of two spatially separated Bose-Einstein condensates of atoms. The phase measurement process created a relative phase between two condensates with no initial phase relation, read out the phase, and monitored the phase evolution. This technique was used to realize interferometry between two trapped Bose-Einstein condensates without need for splitting or recombining the atom cloud.

Temporal artery biopsy for diagnosing giant cell arteritis: the longer, the better?

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relation between temporal artery biopsy (TAB) length and diagnostic sensitivity for giant cell arteritis.

METHODS

Histological TAB reports generated from four hospital pathology departments were reviewed for demographics, histological findings, and formalin fixed TAB lengths. A biopsy was considered positive for giant cell arteritis if there was a mononuclear cell infiltrate predominating at the media-intima junction or in the media.

RESULTS

Among 1821 TAB reports reviewed, 287 (15.8%) were excluded because of missing data, sampling errors, or age < 50 years. Mean TAB length of the 1520 datasets finally analysed (67.2% women; mean (SD) age, 73.1 (10.0) years) was 1.33 (0.73) cm. Histological evidence of giant cell arteritis was found in 223 specimens (14.7%), among which 164 (73.5%) contained giant cells. Statistical analyses, including piecewise logistic regression, identified 0.5 cm as the TAB length change point for diagnostic sensitivity. Compared with TAB length of < 0.5 cm, the respective odds ratios for positive TAB without and with multinucleated giant cells in samples > or = 0.5 cm long were 5.7 (95% confidence interval, 1.4 to 23.6) and 4.0 (0.97 to 16.5).

CONCLUSIONS

A fixed TAB length of at least 0.5 cm could be sufficient to make a histological diagnosis of giant cell arteritis.

Atom interferometry with Bose-Einstein condensates in a double-well potential

A trapped-atom interferometer was demonstrated using gaseous Bose-Einstein condensates coherently split by deforming an optical single-well potential into a double-well potential. The relative phase between the two condensates was determined from the spatial phase of the matter wave interference pattern formed upon releasing the condensates from the separated potential wells. Coherent phase evolution was observed for condensates held separated by 13 microm for up to 5 ms and was controlled by applying ac Stark shift potentials to either of the two separated condensates.

High-temperature ultrafast polariton parametric amplification in semiconductor microcavities

Cavity polaritons, the elementary optical excitations of semiconductor microcavities, may be understood as a superposition of excitons and cavity photons. Owing to their composite nature, these bosonic particles have a distinct optical response, at the same time very fast and highly nonlinear. Very efficient light amplification due to polariton-polariton parametric scattering has recently been reported in semiconductor microcavities at liquid-helium temperatures. Here we demonstrate polariton parametric amplification up to 120 K in GaAlAs-based microcavities and up to 220 K in CdTe-based microcavities. We show that the cut-off temperature for the amplification is ultimately determined by the binding energy of the exciton. A 5-micrometer-thick planar microcavity can amplify a weak light pulse more than 5,000 times. The effective gain coefficient of an equivalent homogeneous medium would be 107 cm-1. The subpicosecond duration and high efficiency of the amplification could be exploited for high-repetition all-optical microscopic switches and amplifiers. 105 polaritons occupy the same quantum state during the amplification, realizing a dynamical condensate of strongly interacting bosons which can be studied at high temperature.

Long phase coherence time and number squeezing of two Bose-Einstein condensates on an atom chip

We measure the relative phase of two Bose-Einstein condensates confined in a radio frequency induced double-well potential on an atom chip. We observe phase coherence between the separated condensates for times up to approximately 200 ms after splitting, a factor of 10 longer than the phase diffusion time expected for a coherent state for our experimental conditions. The enhanced coherence time is attributed to number squeezing of the initial state by a factor of 10. In addition, we demonstrate a rotationally sensitive (Sagnac) geometry for a guided atom interferometer by propagating the split condensates.

Advanced life support: retention of registered nurses' knowledge 18 months after initial training

In 1996, The Wesley Hospital introduced a 2 day Advanced Life Support (ALS) course, targeted at all critical care registered nurses and medical officers. The purpose of this study was to explore the retention of theoretical knowledge and clinical skills of registered nurses who had successfully completed the 2 day ALS course 18 months previously and to establish effective retesting timeframes. The study utilised a repeated post-test measure design. Forty registered nurses participated in the study. Data were collected during ALS retesting using scores from a theoretical examination and from the results of four practical skill assessments (basic life support, airway management, defibrillation and code management). Using Wilcoxon test, data were analysed with and compared to the participant's original scores from the training program 18 months previously. The findings demonstrate that the participant's theoretical knowledge remained at an equivalent level over the 18 month timeframe. However, 18 months after successfully completing an ALS course, only 75 per cent (n = 30) of participants passed the practical skill assessment components, with the 25 per cent (n = 10) requiring a second attempt to pass. The implications from this study focus on the model of assessment utilised and the dichotomy between theoretical and practical skill assessment results. Additional study is required to determine the optimal timeframe for ALS retesting and educational strategies to help retain skills over time.

Circular dichroism in biological photonic crystals and cubic chiral nets

Nature provides impressive examples of chiral photonic crystals, with the notable example of the cubic so-called srs network (the label for the chiral degree-three network modeled on SrSi2) or gyroid structure realized in wing scales of several butterfly species. By a circular polarization analysis of the band structure of such networks, we demonstrate strong circular dichroism effects: The butterfly srs microstructure, of cubic I4(1)32 symmetry, shows significant circular dichroism for blue to ultraviolet light, that warrants a search for biological receptors sensitive to circular polarization. A derived synthetic structure based on four like-handed silicon srs nets exhibits a large circular polarization stop band of a width exceeding 30%. These findings offer design principles for chiral photonic devices.

Dynamical instability of a doubly quantized vortex in a Bose-Einstein condensate

Doubly quantized vortices were topologically imprinted in /F=1> 23Na condensates, and their time evolution was observed using a tomographic imaging technique. The decay into two singly quantized vortices was characterized and attributed to dynamical instability. The time scale of the splitting process was found to be longer at higher atom density.

Quantum reflection from a solid surface at normal incidence

We observed quantum reflection of ultracold atoms from the attractive potential of a solid surface. Extremely dilute Bose-Einstein condensates of 23Na, with peak density 10(11)-10(12) atoms/cm(3), confined in a weak gravitomagnetic trap were normally incident on a silicon surface. Reflection probabilities of up to 20% were observed for incident velocities of 1-8 mm/s. The velocity dependence agrees qualitatively with the prediction for quantum reflection from the attractive Casimir-Polder potential. Atoms confined in a harmonic trap divided in half by a solid surface exhibited extended lifetime due to quantum reflection from the surface, implying a reflection probability above 50%.

Simultaneous recovery of vanadium and nickel from power plant fly-ash: optimization of parameters using response surface methodology

Simultaneous recovery of vanadium (V) and nickel (Ni), which are classified as two of the most hazardous metal species from power plant heavy fuel fly-ash, was studied using a hydrometallurgical process consisting of acid leaching using sulfuric acid. Leaching parameters were investigated and optimized in order to maximize the recovery of both vanadium and nickel. The independent leaching parameters investigated were liquid to solid ratio (S/L) (5-12.5 wt.%), temperature (45-80 °C), sulfuric acid concentration (5-25 v/v%) and leaching time (1-5h). Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the process parameters. The most effective parameter on the recovery of both elements was found to be temperature and the least effective was time for V and acid concentration for Ni. Based on the results, optimum condition for metals recovery (actual recovery of ca.94% for V and 81% for Ni) was determined to be solid to liquid ratio of 9.15 wt.%, temperature of 80 °C, sulfuric acid concentration of 19.47 v/v% and leaching time of 2h. The maximum V and Ni predicted recovery of 91.34% and 80.26% was achieved.

A systematic review of the effects of adding neostigmine to local anesthetics for neuraxial administration in obstetric anesthesia and analgesia

BACKGROUND

Drugs used in obstetric patients must accomplish two goals: efficacy and safety for both mother and fetus. Neostigmine has been co-administered epidurally and intrathecally with local anesthetics and other adjuncts in the obstetric setting. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy and incidence of adverse events related to the use of neostigmine in obstetric anesthesia.

METHODS

A meta-analysis of randomized-controlled human trials was conducted using the data sources Google Scholar and PubMed (updated 1 November 2014). Inclusion criteria were: random allocation to treatment; comparison of neostigmine or neostigmine with local anesthetics and/or other adjuvants versus placebo or placebo with local anesthetics and/or other adjuvants; and approval by an ethics committee.

RESULTS

The use of neostigmine as an adjuvant in neuraxial anesthesia is associated with a reduction in the dose of local anesthetic during labor analgesia and postoperative analgesia following cesarean section: mean reduction of local anesthetic (ropivacaine or bupivacaine) vs. control -4.08 (95% CI -6.7 to -1.5) mg/h (P=0.002). The risk of nausea was increased vs. control with intrathecal neostigmine (OR 8.99 [95% CI 4.74 to 17.05], P <0.001) but not with epidural neostigmine (OR 0.97 [95% CI 0.46 to 2.05], P=0.94). Use of neuraxial neostigmine was associated with a decrease in the risk of pruritus but there was no increase in the incidence of hypotension, dizziness or sedation and no effect on the incidence of abnormal fetal heart rate patterns or Apgar scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Neuraxial administration of neostigmine significantly reduces local anesthetic consumption without serious adverse side effects to the mother or fetus. However, neostigmine is only recommended for epidural administration as intrathecal use significantly increases the incidence of maternal nausea and vomiting.

Spinal cord compression in neuroblastoma

Twelve of 80 patients suffering from neuroblastoma who were treated during a 21-year period had intraspinal involvement. Mediastinal tumors have a greater tendency to extend to the spinal canal; however, distant spread of the tumor is rare in patients presenting with intraspinal extension. Patients with intraspinal extension also survive longer than those without. Other factors affecting survival are age, stage of disease, duration of neurological symptoms, degree of histologic differentiation, and mode of therapy. In the absence of osseous metastasis, total excision of the primary lesion and its intraspinal components is usually followed by a favorable outcome; residual neurological deficits among survivors, however, are relatively common.

Arginine deficiency-induced hyperammonemia in a home total parenteral nutrition-dependent patient: a case report

BACKGROUND

Patients with short bowel syndrome and renal dysfunction with TPN dependence are at high risk for developing hyperammonemia if the TPN does not contain sufficient quantities of arginine. Providing proper nutrition support is essential in the management of these patients.

METHODS

We report on a patient with short bowel syndrome, TPN dependence, and normal renal function who developed hyperammonemic encephalopathy due to inadvertent lack of arginine in his TPN.

RESULTS

The patient was successfully treated with hemodialysis and an IV arginine infusion to resolve the hyperammonemia. His home TPN was also adjusted such that arginine was added to his subsequent solutions.

CONCLUSIONS

Our patient underscores the importance of adequate and sustained arginine supplementation to avoid hyperammonemia in TPN dependent patients with short bowel syndrome.

Estimated dose rates to members of the public from external exposure to patients with 131I thyroid treatment

PURPOSE

Estimated dose rates that may result from exposure to patients who had been administered iodine-131 ((131)I) as part of medical therapy were calculated. These effective dose rate estimates were compared with simplified assumptions under United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Regulatory Guide 8.39, which does not consider body tissue attenuation nor time-dependent redistribution and excretion of the administered (131)I.

METHODS

Dose rates were estimated for members of the public potentially exposed to external irradiation from patients recently treated with (131)I. Tissue attenuation and iodine biokinetics were considered in the patient in a larger comprehensive effort to improve external dose rate estimates. The external dose rate estimates are based on Monte Carlo simulations using the Phantom with Movable Arms and Legs (PIMAL), previously developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. PIMAL was employed to model the relative positions of the (131)I patient and members of the public in three exposure scenarios: (1) traveling on a bus in a total of six seated or standing permutations, (2) two nursing home cases where a caregiver is seated at 30 cm from the patient's bedside and a nursing home resident seated 250 cm away from the patient in an adjacent bed, and (3) two hotel cases where the patient and a guest are in adjacent rooms with beds on opposite sides of the common wall, with the patient and guest both in bed and either seated back-to-back or lying head to head. The biokinetic model predictions of the retention and distribution of (131)I in the patient assumed a single voiding of urinary bladder contents that occurred during the trip at 2, 4, or 8 h after (131)I administration for the public transportation cases, continuous first-order voiding for the nursing home cases, and regular periodic voiding at 4, 8, or 12 h after administration for the hotel room cases. Organ specific activities of (131)I in the thyroid, bladder, and combined remaining tissues were calculated as a function of time after administration. Exposures to members of the public were considered for (131)I patients with normal thyroid uptake (peak thyroid uptake of ∼27% of administered (131)I), differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC, 5% uptake), and hyperthyroidism (80% uptake).

RESULTS

The scenario with the patient seated behind the member of the public yielded the highest dose rate estimate of seated public transportation exposure cases. The dose rate to the adjacent room guest was highest for the exposure scenario in which the hotel guest and patient are seated by a factor of ∼4 for the normal and differentiated thyroid cancer uptake cases and by a factor of ∼3 for the hyperthyroid case.

CONCLUSIONS

It was determined that for all modeled cases, the DTC case yielded the lowest external dose rates, whereas the hyperthyroid case yielded the highest dose rates. In estimating external dose to members of the public from patients with (131)I therapy, consideration must be given to (patient- and case-specific) administered (131)I activities and duration of exposure for a more complete estimate. The method implemented here included a detailed calculation model, which provides a means to determine dose rate estimates for a range of scenarios. The method was demonstrated for variations of three scenarios, showing how dose rates are expected to vary with uptake, voiding pattern, and patient location.

p.Asn176Lys and p.Met137Thr dimorphisms of the PRNP gene significantly decrease the susceptibility to classical scrapie in ARQ/ARQ sheep

In this study, we investigated the susceptibility to scrapie of Sarda breed sheep carrying the genotype ARQ/ARQ with additional polymorphisms at the PRNP gene. To do this, we examined 256 scrapie-affected sheep and 320 flock-mate negative controls from 24 flocks. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that sheep carrying the ARQ/ARQ genotype with additional dimorphisms had lower risk of becoming scrapie affected when compared with those with ARQ/ARQ(wildtype) genotype. ARQ/ARQ genotypes that were detected with heterozygous or homozygous p.Asn176Lys and p.Met137Thr dimorphisms were associated with the lowest susceptibility to the disease. A significant lower risk was also associated with the p.Arg154His dimorphism, while p.Leu141Phe had a protective effect that was not statistically significant.

Clinicopathologic evaluation of salivary gland neoplasms: a 38-year retrospective study in Iran

We present a 38-year retrospective study of 165 patients with salivary gland tumors that were diagnosed from 1971 to 2009 in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Mashhad, Iran. The histologic diagnoses were reevaluated according to the 2005 World Health Organization classification. A total of 165 tumors were identified in 79 male and 86 female patients. The mean age was 43.41 ± 18.59 for male patients and 40.06 ± 15.91 for female patients. Although benign salivary gland tumors are usually more common than the malignant counterpart in previous studies, neoplasms showed an almost equal frequency of benign and malignant tumors in the present study. The frequency of major salivary gland tumors was 15.8%, and that of minor salivary gland tumors was 83%. The mean age of patients with major salivary gland tumors (44.30 years) was slightly higher than patients with minor ones (41.15 years). Pleomorphic adenoma was the most common histologic type of benign tumor identified, whereas mucoepidermoid was the most common malignant tumor. In contrast to some previous studies that have been reported parotid gland as the most common site for salivary tumors, in the current study, the palate was the most frequent location for salivary gland tumors and tumors have a propensity to occur at the palate than any other sites. Therefore, any lesion arising from the palate should be considered as a possible salivary gland tumor.

Adaptive trial design: its growing role in clinical research and implications for pharmacists

PURPOSE

Current trends and recent developments in use of adaptive trial design methodology for pharmaceutical research, as well as barriers to wider acceptance and implications for pharmacists, are discussed.

SUMMARY

Traditional clinical drug trials typically take many months or years to complete. In contrast, trials incorporating adaptive design elements allow researchers to make midstudy adjustments so that trial objectives are addressed more efficiently. Properly designed adaptive trials can enable researchers to conclude trials of unsuccessful treatments earlier or bring effective drugs to market sooner, improving patient safety and yielding substantial time and cost savings. Challenges and concerns with adaptive trial methodology include inadequate knowledge of adaptive design techniques among health care professionals and increased potential for bias or misinterpretation of trial results stemming from earlier access to data. Over the past decade, U.S. and European regulatory bodies have issued a number of documents to better define acceptable practices for designing, conducting, and reporting the results of adaptive trials, including updated Food and Drug Administration guidance released in 2010. Pharmacists need to stay current with developments in the field to properly assess and interpret trial results.

CONCLUSION

Adaptive trial design is an emerging study methodology that allows for design modifications during a study, with the objective of implementing trial data as early as possible for the benefit of patients and the drug development process.