Spectral Characterization of Bennu Analogs Using PASCALE: A New Experimental Set-Up for Simulating the Near-Surface Conditions of Airless Bodies.

We describe the capabilities, radiometric stability, and calibration of a custom vacuum environment chamber capable of simulating the near-surface conditions of airless bodies. Here we demonstrate the collection of spectral measurements of a suite of fine particulate asteroid analogs made using the Planetary Analogue Surface Chamber for Asteroid and Lunar Environments (PASCALE) under conditions like those found on Earth and on airless bodies. The sample suite includes anhydrous and hydrated physical mixtures, and chondritic meteorites (CM, CI, CV, CR, and L5) previously characterized under Earth- and asteroid-like conditions. And for the first time, we measure the terrestrial and extra-terrestrial mineral end members used in the olivine- and phyllosilicate-dominated physical mixtures under the same conditions as the mixtures and meteorites allowing us better understand how minerals combine spectrally when mixed intimately. Our measurements highlight the sensitivity of thermal infrared emissivity spectra to small amounts of low albedo materials and the composition of the sample materials. As the albedo of the sample decreases, we observe smaller differences between Earth- and asteroid-like spectra, which results from a reduced thermal gradient in the upper hundreds of microns in the sample. These spectral measurements can be compared to thermal infrared emissivity spectra of asteroid (101955) Bennu's surface in regions where similarly fine particulate materials may be observed to infer surface compositions.

Evidence for widespread hydrated minerals on asteroid (101955) Bennu.

Early spectral data from the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission reveal evidence for abundant hydrated minerals on the surface of near-Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu in the form of a near-infrared absorption near 2.7 µm and thermal infrared spectral features that are most similar to those of aqueously altered CM carbonaceous chondrites. We observe these spectral features across the surface of Bennu, and there is no evidence of substantial rotational variability at the spatial scales of tens to hundreds of meters observed to date. In the visible and near-infrared (0.4 to 2.4 µm) Bennu's spectrum appears featureless and with a blue (negative) slope, confirming previous ground-based observations. Bennu may represent a class of objects that could have brought volatiles and organic chemistry to Earth.

4D CT angiography more closely defines intracranial thrombus burden than single-phase CT angiography.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In patients with acute stroke, the location and extent of intravascular thrombi correlate with clinical and imaging outcomes and have been used to predict the success of intravenous thrombolysis. We hypothesized that 4D-CTA reconstructed from whole-brain CTP more closely outlines intracranial thrombi than conventional single-phase CTA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with anterior circulation occlusion were retrospectively analyzed. For 4D-CTA, temporal maximum intensity projections were calculated that combine all 30 spiral scans of the CTP examination through temporal fusion. Thrombus extent was assessed by a semi-quantitative clot burden score (0-10; in which 0 = complete unilateral anterior circulation occlusion and 10 = patent vasculature). In patients with sufficient collateral flow, the length of the filling defect and corresponding hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign on NCCT were measured. RESULTS: Clot burden on temporal maximum intensity projection (median clot burden score, 7.0; interquartile range, 5.1-8.0) was significantly lower than on single-phase CT angiography (median, 6.0; interquartile range, 4.5-7.0; P < .0001). The length of the hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign (14.30 ± 5.93 mm) showed excellent correlation with the filling defect in the middle cerebral artery on temporal maximum intensity projection (13.40 ± 6.40 mm); this filling defect was larger on single-phase CT angiography (18.08 ± 6.54 mm; P = .043). CONCLUSIONS: As the result of an increased sensitivity for collateral flow, 4D-CTA temporal maximum intensity projection more closely outlines intracranial thrombi than conventional single-phase CT angiography. Our findings can be helpful when planning acute neurointervention. Further research is necessary to validate our data and assess the use of 4D-CTA in predicting response to different recanalization strategies.

The double-spouted loop ileostomy.

OBJECTIVE: A functional improvement to a conventional loop ileostomy is described with both proximal and distal limbs spouted reducing the number of patients with problematic ileostomies. METHOD: The results of the National Prospective Audit of Stoma Complications for the hospital showed 14/15 of the traditional single loop ileostomies were identified as problematic. 21 patients were then studied prospectively, who underwent formation of a new type of loop stoma, in which both the proximal and distal limbs were spouted. RESULTS: In the group of 21 patients with a double spouted loop ileostomy 3/21 had a problematic stoma. The number of appliances needed was significantly less than the single spouted group. The number of home visits by the stoma nurse and outpatient visits to the stoma therapy team at the hospital were also significantly less in the double spouted group. CONCLUSION: This modification of the loop ileostomy, with both the proximal and distal ends of the bowel spouted has several advantages. The danger of spouting the wrong limb is eliminated, it can be created very easily via a trephine technique and spouting the distal limb reduces the leakage of mucus under the flange of the stoma bag, reducing the problems of poor appliance adhesion.

Differential detection of turkey coronavirus, infectious bronchitis virus, and bovine coronavirus by a multiplex polymerase chain reaction.

The objective of the present study was to develop a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for differential detection of turkey coronavirus (TCoV), infectious bronchitis coronavirus (IBV), and bovine coronavirus (BCoV). Primers were designed from conserved or variable regions of nucleocapsid (N) or spike (S) protein gene among TCoV, IBV, and BCoV and used in the same PCR reaction. Reverse transcription followed by the PCR reaction was used to amplify a portion of N or S gene of the corresponding coronaviruses. The PCR products were detected on agarose gel stained with ethidium bromide. Two PCR products, a 356-bp band corresponding to N gene and a 727-bp band corresponding to S gene, were obtained for TCoV isolates. In contrast, one PCR product of 356 bp corresponding to a fragment of N gene was obtained for IBV strains and one PCR product of 568 bp corresponding to a fragment of S gene was obtained for BCoV. There were no PCR products with the same primers for Newcastle disease virus, Marek's disease virus, turkey pox virus, pigeon pox virus, fowl pox virus, reovirus, infectious bursal disease virus, enterovirus, astrovirus, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, and Mycoplasma gallisepticum. Performance of the assay with serially diluted RNA demonstrated that the multiplex PCR could detect 4.8x10(-3) microg of TCoV RNA, 4.6x10(-4) microg of IBV RNA, and 8.0x10(-2) microg of BCoV RNA. These results indicated that the multiplex PCR as established in the present study is a rapid, sensitive, and specific method for differential detection of TCoV, IBV, and BCoV in a single PCR reaction.

Identification and characterization of two neurogenic zones in interface organotypic hippocampal slice cultures.

Neurogenesis plays a role in many physiological (memory formation) and pathological (stroke, depression) processes. However the mechanisms of postnatal stem cell proliferation and neurogenesis are still poorly understood. We characterized early neurogenesis in vitro in rat organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. Proliferation was assessed by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, neurogenesis by bromodeoxyuridine-double labeling with doublecortin or beta-III tubulin. We showed for the first time that in addition to the dentate gyrus organotypic hippocampal slice cultures include a second neurogenic zone: the posterior periventricle, which is a part of the lateral ventricle wall. This structure lining the stratum oriens contained Nestin+ precursors. We could identify morphological and functional differences between dentate gyrus and posterior periventricle precursor populations. Our data demonstrate that basic fibroblast growth factor treatment induced a fast but short-lasting neurogenic response in the dentate gyrus while the posterior periventricle showed a more pronounced and long lasting neurogenic effect of basic fibroblast growth factor. Thus two neurogenic zones with different neurogenic properties were identified in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures.

Submicrometer position control of single trapped neutral atoms.

We optically detect the positions of single neutral cesium atoms stored in a standing wave dipole trap with a subwavelength resolution of 143 nm rms. The distance between two simultaneously trapped atoms is measured with an even higher precision of 36 nm rms. We resolve the discreteness of the interatomic distances due to the 532 nm spatial period of the standing wave potential and infer the exact number of trapping potential wells separating the atoms. Finally, combining an initial position detection with a controlled transport, we place single atoms at a predetermined position along the trap axis to within 300 nm rms.

Neutral atom quantum register.

We demonstrate the realization of a quantum register using a string of single neutral atoms which are trapped in an optical dipole trap. The atoms are selectively and coherently manipulated in a magnetic field gradient using microwave radiation. Our addressing scheme operates with a high spatial resolution, and qubit rotations on individual atoms are performed with 99% contrast. In a final readout operation we analyze each individual atomic state. Finally, we have measured the coherence time and identified the predominant dephasing mechanism for our register.

Symmetry of dipositronium Ps2.

We work out the complete symmetry and spin problem for diatomic positronium Ps2 for the ground and singly excited states of zero orbital angular momentum. The general form of the wave function for each state is given, with due regard to charge conjugation parity. Annihilation rates are discussed, and correlations to dissociation products are deduced. We indicate how the approach is extensible to larger aggregates: i.e., PsPs(n), n>2.

Expression and purification of turkey coronavirus nucleocapsid protein in Escherichia coli.

Purification of turkey coronavirus (TCoV) nucleocapsid (N) protein, expressed in a prokaryotic expression system as histidine-tagged fusion protein is demonstrated in the present study. Turkey coronavirus was partially purified from infected intestine of turkey embryo by sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation and RNA was extracted. The N protein gene was amplified from the extracted RNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and cloned. The recombinant expression construct (pTri-N) was identified by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing analysis. Expression of histidine-tagged fusion N protein with a molecular mass of 57 kd was determined by Western blotting analysis. By chromatography on nickel-agarose column, the expressed N protein was purified to near homogeneity as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. The protein recovery could be 2.5 mg from 100 ml of bacterial culture. The purified N protein was recognized by antibody to TCoV in Western blotting assay. The capability of the recombinant N protein to differentiate positive serum of turkey infected with TCoV from normal turkey serum was evident in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). These results indicated that the expressed N protein is a superior source of TCoV antigen for development of antibody-capture ELISA for detection of antibodies to TCoV.

Coherence properties and quantum state transportation in an optical conveyor belt.

We have prepared and detected quantum coherences of trapped cesium atoms with long dephasing times. Controlled transport by an "optical conveyor belt" over macroscopic distances preserves the atomic coherence with slight reduction of coherence time. The limiting dephasing effects are experimentally identified, and we present an analytical model of the reversible and irreversible dephasing mechanisms. Our experimental methods are applicable at the single-atom level. Coherent quantum bit operations along with quantum state transport open the route towards a "quantum shift register" of individual neutral atoms.

Continued imaging of the transport of a single neutral atom.

We have continuously imaged the controlled motion of a single atom as well as of a small number of distinguishable atoms with observation times exceeding one minute. The Cesium atoms are confined to potential wells of a standing wave optical dipole trap which allows to transport them over macroscopic distances. The atoms are imaged by an intensified CCD camera, and spatial resolution near the diffraction limit is obtained.

Specific mucosal IgA immunity in turkey poults infected with turkey coronavirus.

The objective of this study was to elucidate the kinetics and magnitudes of specific IgA antibody responses in intestines of turkey poults infected with turkey coronavirus (TCV). Turkey poults were orally inoculated with TCV at 10 days of age. Intestinal segment cultures were administered for duodenum, jejunum, and ileum and the IgA antibody responses were analyzed at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, or 9 weeks post-infection (PI) in two different experiments. The kinetics of virus-specific IgA antibody responses in duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were similar: gradually increased from 1 week PI, reached the peak at 3 or 4 weeks PI, and declined afterward. The virus-specific IgA antibody responses in duodenum, jejunum, and ileum showed negative correlation with duration of TCV antigen in the corresponding locations of intestine with Spearman's correlation coefficient of -0.85 (p=0.034), -0.74 (p=0.096), and -0.75 (p=0.084), respectively. Moreover, the virus-specific IgA antibody responses in serum were positively correlated with that of duodenum (coefficient=0.829, p=0.042), jejunum (coefficient=0.829, p=0.042), and ileum (coefficient=0.771, p=0.072) segment cultures, suggesting that the induction of specific IgA response in serum was predictive of an IgA response in intestine. The results indicate that intestinal mucosal IgA antibodies to TCV are elicited in turkeys following infection with TCV. The local mucosal antibodies may provide protective immunity for infected turkeys to recover from TCV infection.

Purification of turkey coronavirus by Sephacryl size-exclusion chromatography.

Sephacryl S-1000 size-exclusion chromatography was used to purify turkey coronavirus (TCoV) from infected turkey embryo. TCoV was propagated in the 22-day-old turkey embryos. Intestines and intestinal contents of infected embryos were harvested and homogenized. After low speed centrifugation, the supernatant was concentrated by ultracentrifugation through a cushion of 30 or 60% sucrose solution, or by ammonium sulfate precipitation. The purification methods included sucrose gradient and Sephacryl S-1000 size-exclusion chromatography. Ultracentrifugation through a cushion of 60% sucrose solution was better than the other two methods for concentration of TCoV from intestinal homogenate. The most effective method for purifying TCoV and removing extraneous materials was size-exclusion chromatography as analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. More spike-rich particles were observed in the sample purified by chromatography than those purified by sucrose gradient as examined by electron microscopy. Differentiation of turkey anti-TCoV antiserum from normal turkey serum was better achieved by ELISA plates coated with TCoV preparation purified by size-exclusion chromatography than that purified by sucrose density gradient. The results indicated that Sephacryl S-1000 chromatography was useful for purification of TCoV.

Humoral and cellular immune responses in turkey poults infected with turkey coronavirus.

The objective of the present study was to elucidate the kinetics of humoral and cellular immune responses of turkey poults infected with turkey coronavirus (TCV). Turkey poults were orally inoculated with TCV at 10 d of age, and the immune responses were analyzed at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, and 63 d postinfection (PI) in three different experiments. Total Ig to TCV was initially detected at 7 and 14 d PI in Experiments 1 and 3. In addition, Ig gradually increased from 7 to 21 d PI and remained at 80 immunofluroescent antibody assay (IFA) titers or more thereafter. Lymphocyte proliferation responses of spleen cells to concanavalin A were higher in TCV-infected turkeys than in noninfected control turkeys with significant differences (P < 0.05) being noted at 14 and 63 d PI in Experiment 2 and at 3 and 28 d PI in Experiment 3. Strong IFA staining response to TCV antigen was observed in intestines of turkeys at 1, 3, and 7 d PI, and the response declined from 14 to 28 d PI in Experiment 3. In Experiment 3, the IgG isotype antibody response to TCV was markedly increased after 21 d PI and remained high until 63 d PI. The IgM isotype antibody response to TCV was 1.40 and 0.91 at 7 and 14 d PI, respectively. The IgA isotype antibody response to TCV was very low as detected at 7 (0.13), 14 (0.20), and 21 (0.17) d PI. Turkeys infected with TCV had significantly higher (P < 0.05) antibody response to sheep erythrocytes than noninfected controls at 7 d PI. Virus-specific lymphocyte proliferation response of spleen cells was significantly stimulated (P < 0.05) at 63 d PI in Experiment 3. The proportion of the CD4+ subpopulation of T lymphocytes was significantly increased (P < 0.05) at 1, 7, and 21 d PI in Experiment 3. The results indicate that humoral and cellular immunities to TCV are elicited in turkeys following infection with TCV.

Nucleocapsid protein gene sequence analysis reveals close genomic relationship between turkey coronavirus and avian infectious bronchitis virus.

Antibodies to infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) cross-react with turkey coronavirus (TCV) in immunofluorescence assay (IFA) indicating that IBV and TCV may share an amino acid sequence similarity. To determine its extent, the gene encoding the nucleocapsid (N) protein of TCV was amplified by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) from RNA purified from intestines of embryos of turkeys infected with various TCV isolates and from allantoic fluid of chicken embryos infected with IBV M41 strain, the obtained N genes were cloned, sequenced and compared with known sequences of N genes of five IBV strains. The primers for amplification were designed from the genome of IBV PCR products were obtained only from two of eight TCV isolates tested. It was found that the two TCV isolates were identical with five IBV strains by 90.1-94.1% at the N gene level. It was also observed that the N gene of eight TCV isolates originating from various regions of the USA could not be amplified by the primers designed from the N gene of bovine coronavirus (BCV).

Deterministic delivery of a single atom.

We report the realization of a deterministic source of single atoms. A standing-wave dipole trap is loaded with one or any desired number of cold cesium atoms from a magneto-optical trap. By controlling the motion of the standing wave, we adiabatically transport the atom with submicrometer precision over macroscopic distances on the order of a centimeter. The displaced atom is observed directly in the dipole trap by fluorescence detection. The trapping field can also be accelerated to eject a single atom into free flight with well-defined velocities.

[Imaging of breast tumors using MR elastography]. / Darstellung von Tumoren der weiblichen Brust mit MR-Elastographie.

PURPOSE: Imaging of breast tumors using MR-Elastography. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Low-frequency mechanical waves are transmitted into breast-tissue by means of an oscillator. The local characteristics of the mechanical wave are determined by the elastic properties of the tissue. By means of a motion-sensitive spin-echo-sequence these waves can be displayed within the phase of the MR image. Subsequently, these images can be used to reconstruct the local distribution of elasticity. In-vivo measurements were performed in 3 female patients with malignant tumors of the breast. RESULTS: All patients tolerated the measurement set-up without any untoward sensation in the contact area of skin and oszillator. The waves completely penetrated the breast, encompassing the axilla and regions close to the chest wall. All tumors were localized by MRE as structures of markedly stiffer tissue when compared to the surrounding tissue. Furthermore, in one patient, a metastasis in an axillary lymph node was detected. In all patients, local regions of increased elasticity were found in the remaining parenchyma of the breast, which, however, did not reach the high levels of elasticity found in the tumors. CONCLUSION: MRE is an imaging modality enabling adjunct tissue differentiation of mammary tumors.

Health care provider communicator style and patient comprehension of oral contraceptive use.

PURPOSE: To explore reasons for the incorrect usage of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) by examining the relationship between patients' abilities to comprehend and/or recall information presented to them by nurse practitioners (NPs) and the communicator style of their NP. DATA SOURCES: A convenience sample of 46 OCP users completed an instrument designed to test their comprehension of OCP use and an instrument designed to measure the communicator style of their NP. CONCLUSIONS: A multiple stepwise regression revealed that attentive and friendly communicator styles were positive predictors and the communicator image and dramatic styles were negative predictors of comprehension. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Unwanted pregnancies that result from non-compliance with OCP regimens can have significant social and financial effects. A lack of understanding of proper OCP use may depend on the style of communication a NP uses to convey crucial information regarding the regimen.

Single atoms in an optical dipole trap: towards a deterministic source of cold atoms

We describe a simple experimental technique which allows us to store a small and deterministic number of neutral atoms in an optical dipole trap. The desired atom number is prepared in a magneto-optical trap overlapped with a single focused Nd:YAG laser beam. Dipole trap loading efficiency of 100% and storage times of about one minute have been achieved. We have also prepared atoms in a certain hyperfine state and demonstrated the feasibility of a state-selective detection via resonance fluorescence at the level of a few neutral atoms. A spin relaxation time of the polarized sample of 4.2+/-0.7 s has been measured. Possible applications are briefly discussed.