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The measurement of the neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM) constrains the contribution of CP-violating terms within both the Standard Model and its extensions. The experiment uses ultracold neutrons (UCN) stored in vacuum at room temperature. This technique provided the last (and best) limit by the RAL/Sussex/ILL collaboration in 2006: dn < 2:9 × 10⁻²⁶ e cm (90% C.L.). We aim to improve the experimental sensitivity by a factor of 5 within 2-3 years, using an upgrade of the same apparatus. We will take advantage of the increased ultracold neutron density at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) and of a new concept including both, external magnetometers and a cohabiting magnetometer. In parallel, a next generation apparatus with two UCN storage chambers and an elaborate magnetic field control is being designed aiming to achieve another order of magnitude increase in sensitivity, allowing us to put a limit as tight as dn < 5 × 10⁻²⁸ e cm (95% C.L.), if not establishing a finite value.

Twenty grey duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) were blow-darted with a combination of ketamine and xylazine, resulting in a level of sedation adequate for capture and minor procedures in 13 of them (mean dosages: ketamine, 13.4 mg/kg; xylazine, 16.8 mg/kg). Sedation was judged to be inadequate in seven duikers (mean dosages: ketamine, 9.14 mg/kg; xylazine, 11.4 mg/kg). Sedation was reversed with atipamezole (mean dosage: 1.1 mg/kg) given as a split dose i.v. and i.m. in 19 duikers, resulting in variable reversal of sedation. Complications included inadequate sedation, trauma, hyperthermia, bradycardia, slow recovery, and one death.

Twenty grey duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) were blow-darted with a combination of ketamine and xylazine, resulting in a level of sedation adequate for capture and minor procedures in 13 of them (mean dosages: ketamine, 13.4 mg/kg; xylazine, 16.8 mg/kg). Sedation was judged to be inadequate in seven duikers (mean dosages: ketamine, 9.14 mg/kg; xylazine, 11.4 mg/kg). Sedation was reversed with atipamezole (mean dosage: 1.1 mg/kg) given as a split dose i.v. and i.m. in 19 duikers, resulting in variable reversal of sedation. Complications included inadequate sedation, trauma, hyperthermia, bradycardia, slow recovery, and one death.

Comparative hematologic and plasma chemistry values were determined in 10 captive blue duikers (Cephalophus monticola) and 23 captive grey duikers (Sylvicapra grimmia). The animals included both males and females and ranged in age from 5 mo to 7 yr. Blue duikers were anesthetized with medetomidine and ketamine, and grey duikers were anesthetized with medetomidine and ketamine or xylazine and ketamine. Significant differences were found between grey and blue duikers for albumin, creatinine, creatine kinase, magnesium, and total bilirubin.

Ten blue duiker (Cephalophus monticola) were blowdarted with a combination of ketamine and medetomidine, resulting in a level of sedation adequate for minor procedures in eight of the duikers (mean dosages: ketamine 2.2 mg/kg and medetomidine 190 µg/kg). Two duikers required an additional dose. Sedation was reversed with atipamezole (mean dosage: 0.95 mg/kg) given as a split dose i.v. and i.m. in all duikers, resulting in complete reversal of sedation. No anesthetic complications were seen in any of the duikers.

Ten blue duiker (Cephalophus monticola) were blowdarted with a combination of ketamine and medetomidine, resulting in a level of sedation adequate for minor procedures in eight of the duikers (mean dosages: ketamine 2.2 mg/kg and medetomidine 190 µg/kg). Two duikers required an additional dose. Sedation was reversed with atipamezole (mean dosage: 0.95 mg/kg) given as a split dose i.v. and i.m. in all duikers, resulting in complete reversal of sedation. No anesthetic complications were seen in any of the duikers.

Comparative hematologic and plasma chemistry values were determined in 10 captive blue duikers (Cephalophus monticola) and 23 captive grey duikers (Sylvicapra grimmia). The animals included both males and females and ranged in age from 5 mo to 7 yr. Blue duikers were anesthetized with medetomidine and ketamine, and grey duikers were anesthetized with medetomidine and ketamine or xylazine and ketamine. Significant differences were found between grey and blue duikers for albumin, creatinine, creatine kinase, magnesium, and total bilirubin.

Scrapie infectivity enters the environment via a multiplicity of routes from infected animals. Environmentally associated scrapie persists on farms when infected animals have been removed and is particularly resistant to disinfection. Infectivity within the farm is not adequately removed by current recommended guidelines for farm decontamination. We describe an in vitro method for modelling decontamination, specifically the removal of scrapie prions from the surface of concrete fomites within buildings that have housed scrapie infected animals. Concrete that had been spiked with low amounts of a diluted scrapie positive brain homogenate was sampled before and after decontamination. Extracts were used to seed a semi-quantitative serial protein misfolding cyclic amplification assay (sPMCA). We demonstrate that methods currently recommended for prion decontamination result in inadequate reduction of prion seeding activity within this in vitro assay. Effective treatment was achieved using repeat dosing of surfaces with 20,000 ppm available chlorine for 4 h.

Scrapie infectivity enters the environment via a multiplicity of routes from infected animals. Environmentally associated scrapie persists on farms when infected animals have been removed and is particularly resistant to disinfection. Infectivity within the farm is not adequately removed by current recommended guidelines for farm decontamination. We describe an in vitro method for modelling decontamination, specifically the removal of scrapie prions from the surface of concrete fomites within buildings that have housed scrapie infected animals. Concrete that had been spiked with low amounts of a diluted scrapie positive brain homogenate was sampled before and after decontamination. Extracts were used to seed a semi-quantitative serial protein misfolding cyclic amplification assay (sPMCA). We demonstrate that methods currently recommended for prion decontamination result in inadequate reduction of prion seeding activity within this in vitro assay. Effective treatment was achieved using repeat dosing of surfaces with 20,000 ppm available chlorine for 4 h.

Scrapie infectivity enters the environment via a multiplicity of routes from infected animals. Environmentally associated scrapie persists on farms when infected animals have been removed and is particularly resistant to disinfection. Infectivity within the farm is not adequately removed by current recommended guidelines for farm decontamination. We describe an in vitro method for modelling decontamination, specifically the removal of scrapie prions from the surface of concrete fomites within buildings that have housed scrapie infected animals. Concrete that had been spiked with low amounts of a diluted scrapie positive brain homogenate was sampled before and after decontamination. Extracts were used to seed a semi-quantitative serial protein misfolding cyclic amplification assay (sPMCA). We demonstrate that methods currently recommended for prion decontamination result in inadequate reduction of prion seeding activity within this in vitro assay. Effective treatment was achieved using repeat dosing of surfaces with 20,000 ppm available chlorine for 4 h.

Scrapie infectivity enters the environment via a multiplicity of routes from infected animals. Environmentally associated scrapie persists on farms when infected animals have been removed and is particularly resistant to disinfection. Infectivity within the farm is not adequately removed by current recommended guidelines for farm decontamination. We describe an in vitro method for modelling decontamination, specifically the removal of scrapie prions from the surface of concrete fomites within buildings that have housed scrapie infected animals. Concrete that had been spiked with low amounts of a diluted scrapie positive brain homogenate was sampled before and after decontamination. Extracts were used to seed a semi-quantitative serial protein misfolding cyclic amplification assay (sPMCA). We demonstrate that methods currently recommended for prion decontamination result in inadequate reduction of prion seeding activity within this in vitro assay. Effective treatment was achieved using repeat dosing of surfaces with 20,000 ppm available chlorine for 4 h.

The measurement of the neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM) constrains the contribution of CP-violating terms within both the Standard Model and its extensions. The experiment uses ultracold neutrons (UCN) stored in vacuum at room temperature. This technique provided the last (and best) limit by the RAL/Sussex/ILL collaboration in 2006: dn < 2:9 × 10⁻²⁶ e cm (90% C.L.). We aim to improve the experimental sensitivity by a factor of 5 within 2-3 years, using an upgrade of the same apparatus. We will take advantage of the increased ultracold neutron density at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) and of a new concept including both, external magnetometers and a cohabiting magnetometer. In parallel, a next generation apparatus with two UCN storage chambers and an elaborate magnetic field control is being designed aiming to achieve another order of magnitude increase in sensitivity, allowing us to put a limit as tight as dn < 5 × 10⁻²⁸ e cm (95% C.L.), if not establishing a finite value.