Formation of Ultracold Molecules by Merging Optical Tweezers.

We demonstrate the formation of a single RbCs molecule during the merging of two optical tweezers, one containing a single Rb atom and the other a single Cs atom. Both atoms are initially predominantly in the motional ground states of their respective tweezers. We confirm molecule formation and establish the state of the molecule formed by measuring its binding energy. We find that the probability of molecule formation can be controlled by tuning the confinement of the traps during the merging process, in good agreement with coupled-channel calculations. We show that the conversion efficiency from atoms to molecules using this technique is comparable to magnetoassociation.

Production of Ultracold 87 Rb133 Cs in the Absolute Ground State: Complete Characterisation of the Stimulated Raman Adiabatic Passage Transfer.

We present the production of ultracold 87 RbCs molecules in the electronic, rovibrational and hyperfine ground state, using stimulated Raman adiabatic passage to transfer the molecules from a weakly bound Feshbach state. We measure one-way transfer efficiencies of 92(1)% and fully characterise the strengths and linewidths of the transitions used. We model the transfer, including a Monte Carlo simulation of the laser noise, and find this matches well with both the transfer efficiency and our previous measurements of the laser linewidth and frequency stability.

Clinical relevance of herpes simplex virus viremia in Intensive Care Unit patients.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the clinical relevance of herpes simplex virus (HSV) viremia episodes in critically ill adult patients. METHODS: 1556 blood samples obtained for HSV PCR analysis in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients over 4 years were retrospectively analyzed, focusing on the comprehensive analysis of 88 HSV-viremic patients. RESULTS: HSV DNA was detected in 11.8% of samples from the ICU. HSV viral loads remained below 5×10(2) copies/ml in 68.2% of patients and exceeded 10(4) copies/ml in 7.9%. Episodes of HSV-viremia correlated with immunosuppressed status and mechanical ventilation in 79.5% and 65.9% of patients, respectively. Only a subset of patients exhibited HSV-related organ damage, including pneumonia and hepatitis (10.2% and 2.3%, respectively). The mortality rate in HSV-viremic patients was not significantly increased compared to the overall mortality rate in the ICU (27.3% vs. 22.9%, p = 0.33). Only patients with high HSV viral loads tended to have a higher, though non-significant, death rate (57.1%, p = 0.14). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest HSV viremia is common in ICU patients, potentially favored by immunocompromised status and mechanical ventilation. The global impact of HSV-viremia on mortality in the ICU was low. Quantifying HSV DNA may help identifying patients at-risk of severe HSV-induced symptoms.

Ultracold dense samples of dipolar RbCs molecules in the rovibrational and hyperfine ground state.

We produce ultracold dense trapped samples of ^{87}Rb^{133}Cs molecules in their rovibrational ground state, with full nuclear hyperfine state control, by stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) with efficiencies of 90%. We observe the onset of hyperfine-changing collisions when the magnetic field is ramped so that the molecules are no longer in the hyperfine ground state. A strong quadratic shift of the transition frequencies as a function of applied electric field shows the strongly dipolar character of the RbCs ground-state molecule. Our results open up the prospect of realizing stable bosonic dipolar quantum gases with ultracold molecules.

Creation of ultracold

We report the creation of a sample of over 1000 ultracold ^{87}Rb^{133}Cs molecules in the lowest rovibrational ground state, from an atomic mixture of ^{87}Rb and ^{133}Cs, by magnetoassociation on an interspecies Feshbach resonance followed by stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP). We measure the binding energy of the RbCs molecule to be hc×3811.576(1) cm^{-1} and the |v^{''}=0,J^{''}=0⟩ to |v^{''}=0,J^{''}=2⟩ splitting to be h×2940.09(6) MHz. Stark spectroscopy of the rovibrational ground state yields an electric dipole moment of 1.225(3)(8) D, where the values in parentheses are the statistical and systematic uncertainties, respectively. We can access a space-fixed dipole moment of 0.355(2)(4) D, which is substantially higher than in previous work.

Generating mesoscopic Bell states via collisions of distinguishable quantum bright solitons.

We investigate numerically the collisions of two distinguishable quantum matter-wave bright solitons in a one-dimensional harmonic trap. We show that such collisions can be used to generate mesoscopic Bell states that can reliably be distinguished from statistical mixtures. Calculation of the relevant s-wave scattering lengths predicts that such states could potentially be realized in quantum-degenerate mixtures of 85Rb and 133Cs. In addition to fully quantum simulations for two distinguishable two-particle solitons, we use a mean-field description supplemented by a stochastic treatment of quantum fluctuations in the soliton's center of mass: we demonstrate the validity of this approach by comparison to a mathematically rigorous effective potential treatment of the quantum many-particle problem.

The impact of moving to a novel environment on social networks, activity and wellbeing in two new world primates.

Among the stressors that can affect animal welfare in zoos, the immediate effect of relocation to a novel environment is one that has received little attention in the literature. Here, we compare the social network, daily activity and the expression of stress-related behavior in capuchins (Cebus apella) and squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) before and just after they were relocated to a new enriched enclosure. Results showed similar immediate responses to the move in the two species. Both showed a substantial increase in the time spent resting and spent more time in the highest and "safest" part of their enclosure after relocation. Both capuchins and squirrel monkeys spent significantly more time in close proximity to other group members after relocation, compared to before. In squirrel monkeys, the structure of the social network, which was initially correlated to affiliation, was no longer so after the move. In capuchins, the network analysis showed that individuals regrouped by age, with the youngsters who were potentially more affected by stress being in the center of the network. Social network analysis helped to achieve a more complete picture of how individuals were affected by relocation. We suggest that this type of analysis should be used alongside traditional methods of observation and analysis to encompass the most complex aspects of animal behavior in times of stress and to improve welfare.

From the first intention movement to the last joiner: macaques combine mimetic rules to optimize their collective decisions.

Mechanisms related to collective decision making have recently been found in almost all animal reigns from amoebae to worms, insects and vertebrates, including human beings. Decision-making mechanisms related to collective movements-including pre-departure and joining-have already been studied at different steps of the movement process, but these studies were always carried out separately. We therefore have no understanding of how these different processes are related when they underlie the same collective decision-making event. Here, we consider the whole departure process of two groups of Tonkean macaques (Macaca tonkeana), using a stochastic model. When several exclusive choices are proposed, macaques vote and choose the majority. Individuals then join the movement according to a mimetism based on affiliative relationships. The pre-departure quorum and the joining mimetic mechanism are probably linked, but we have not yet identified which transition mechanism is used. This study shows that decision-making related to macaque group movements is governed by a quorum rule combined with a selective mimetism at departure. This is the first time that transition mechanisms have been described in mammals, which consequently helps understand how a voting process leads to social amplification. Our study also provides the first complete proof that there is continuity in the decision-making processes underlying collective movements in mammals from the first intention movement right through to the last joiner.

Short-term group fission processes in macaques: a social networking approach.

Living in groups necessarily involves a certain amount of within-group competition for food. Group members may have different motivations, implying the reaching of a consensus to stay cohesive. In some cases individuals fail to reach a common decision and the group splits; this can be temporary, as seen in fission-fusion dynamics, or even irreversible. Most studies on fission-fusion dynamics published to date have focused on the influence of environmental constraints on sub-grouping patterns, but little is known about how social relationships affect individual choices for sub-groups. In this study, we used an agent-based model to understand the mechanisms underlying group fission in two semi-free-ranging groups of macaques: one group of Tonkean macaques (Macaca tonkeana) and one of rhesus macaques (M. mulatta). The results showed that sub-grouping patterns were mainly influenced by affiliative relationships. Moreover, the species-specific social style appeared to affect the probability of choosing a particular sub-group. In the tolerant Tonkean macaques, mechanisms underlying sub-grouping patterns resembled anonymous mimetism, while in the nepotistic rhesus macaques, kinship influenced the mechanisms underlying group fissions. As previous studies have shown, fission-fusion society may be a way to avoid social conflicts induced either by food or by social competition.

TDDFT diagnostic testing and functional assessment for triazene chromophores.

A simple diagnostic test based on orbital overlap [M. J. G. Peach et al., J. Chem. Phys., 2008, 128, 044118] may be used to help judge the reliability of excitation energies in time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) when using generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and hybrid functionals. Orbital plots are used to illustrate the test for a model tripeptide and for 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)benzonitrile, which are representative of systems containing low- and high-overlap charge-transfer excitations. The scheme is then applied to a series of triazene chromophores in solvent, highlighting the relationship between overlap and oscillator strength and its implications for theoretical absorption spectra. No low-overlap excitations are observed with a hybrid functional; a single one is identified using a GGA. To assess the diagnostic test and to judge functional performance, gas phase triazene TDDFT excitations are compared with correlated ab initio values. The diagnostic test correctly identifies two low-overlap problematic GGA excitations. However, it does not identify another problematic excitation where the electron is excited to a spatially extended orbital, which necessarily has reasonable overlap with the occupied orbital; an improved diagnostic quantity is required for such cases. The best agreement between TDDFT and correlated ab initio excitations is obtained using a Coulomb-attenuated functional; the errors are significantly smaller than from the GGA and hybrid functionals. The study provides further support for the high quality excitations from Coulomb-attenuated functionals, negating the need for diagnostic tests.

Efficacy of toltrazuril (Baycox 5% suspension) in natural infections with pathogenic Eimeria spp. in housed lambs.

A field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a single oral treatment with 20 mg/kg body weight (BW) of toltrazuril (Baycox 5% suspension)--TOL--in comparison to a single oral treatment with 1 mg/kg BW of diclazuril (Vecoxan suspension orale, 2.5 mg/ml)--DIC--and an untreated control group (CTRL) on naturally acquired Eimeria infections in lambs. On a French sheep farm with a known history of coccidiosis, 75 housed lambs aged 10-14 days were randomised and allocated to one of three groups. During an observation period of 60 days after treatment, clinical (faecal consistency, BW) and parasitological parameters (oocyst excretion) were evaluated. Excretion in the negative control group started 3 days after treatment and peaked on the 31st day with a prevalence of 80%. Animals were predominantly infected with Eimeria ovinoidalis. Treatment with toltrazuril, but not with diclazuril, resulted in significantly reduced numbers of excreting animals. The number of excretion days and the average oocyst excretion decreased significantly in both the TOL and the DIC groups compared to the CTRL, with the TOL group showing significantly fewer excretion days and excretion intensities than the DIC group. Changes in the faecal consistency were moderate throughout the study and not significantly different between the groups. Daily weight gains were higher in the TOL group compared to the DIC and CTRL groups which did not differ. This study demonstrates the good efficacy of toltrazuril administered orally to lambs in the prepatent period in subclinical natural Eimeria infections in housed lambs.

Shared or unshared consensus decision in macaques?

Members of a social group have to make collective decisions in order to synchronise their activities. In a shared consensus decision, all group members can take part in the decision whereas in an unshared consensus decision, one individual, usually a dominant member of the group, takes the decision for the rest of the group. It has been suggested that the type of decision-making of a species could be influenced by its social style. To investigate this further, we studied collective movements in two species with opposed social systems, the Tonkean macaque (Macaca tonkeana) and the rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). From our results, it appears that the decision to move is the result of the choices and actions of several individuals in both groups. However, this consensus decision involved nearly all group members in Tonkean macaques whereas dominant and old individuals took a prominent role in rhesus macaques. Thus, we suggest that Tonkean macaques display equally shared consensus decisions to move, whereas in the same context rhesus macaque exhibit partially shared consensus decisions. Such a difference in making a collective decision might be linked to the different social systems of the two studied species.

Comparative study of the photopic spectral sensitivity of domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus), turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo) and humans.

1. The photopic spectral sensitivity of domestic ducks and turkeys was determined using an operant psychophysical technique. Spectral sensitivity was determined over a range of specified wavelengths, including UVA, between 326 < lambda < 694 nm and the results were directly compared with human spectral sensitivity measured under similar experimental conditions. 2. Domestic ducks and turkeys had similar spectral sensitivities to each other, and could perceive UVA radiation, although turkeys were more sensitive to UVA than ducks. For both species, peak sensitivity was between 544 < lambda < 577 nm, with reduced sensitivity at lambda = 508 and 600 nm. Both ducks and turkeys had a very different and broader range of spectral sensitivity than the human subjects tested. 3. Spectral sensitivity and UVA perception in these avian species are discussed in relation to their visual ecology and the mechanisms controlling neural processing of colour information.

[Ecstasy and its "counterparts"]. / L'ecstasy et ses "sosies".

RISK AWARENESS: Use of psychostimulants is spreading in France, particularly at "techno" dances. The generic term "ecstasy" covers a wide variety of molecules with variable formulations. The situation is a true public health problem, generally concerning very young subjects who must be informed of the risks involved. Knowledge of the chemical makeup of the products currently used is needed to provide valid information and reduce risks. CHEMICAL ANALYSIS: Two types of chemical analysis are used for rapid controls. A coloration test is used by the Rave mission implemented by "Médecins du Monde". More elaborate analysis methods are used to identify the active substances and quantify the compounds in the different "tablets". FINDINGS: Rapid controls give a means of quickly identifying samples containing methylenedioxyamphetamines and distinguishing them from other samples which may contain any number of substances with unknown toxicity. A precise analysis of 73 samples has shown highly variable compositions with 22% actually containing methylenedioxyamphetamines. PREVENTION: Precise analytical knowledge of the drugs circulating in "techno" dances has revealed the extreme danger of a large number of the substances used. A continuous control of ongoing consumption is required to correctly warn the users and reduce risk.