Aluminum-substituted hematites (Fe2−xAlxO3) were synthesized from Fe-Al coprecipitates at pH 5.5, 7.0, and in 10−1, 10−2, and 10−2 M KOH at 70°C. As little as 1 mole % Al suppressed goethite completely at pH 7 whereas in KOH higher Al concentrations were necessary. Al substitution as determined chemically and by XRD line shift was related to Al addition up to a maximum of 16–17 mole %. The relationship between the crystallographic a0 parameter and Al substitution deviated from the Vegard rule. At low substitution crystallinity of the hematites was improved whereas higher substitution impeded crystal growth in the crystallographic z-direction as indicated by differential XRD line broadening. At still higher Al addition crystal growth was strongly retarded. The initial Al-Fe coprecipitate behaved differently from a mechanical mixture of the respective “hydroxides” and was, therefore, considered an aluminous ferrihydrite.

A series of mixed iron and titanium oxide coprecipitates ranging in composition between 0 < Ti/Ti + Fe < 1 was synthesized and aged under varying conditions of pH, temperature and time in order to establish a working model for pedogenic titanium and titano-ferric oxides. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), selective chemical dissolution, magnetic susceptibility, charge distribution and electron optical data indicate that the freshly prepared Fe-Ti oxides consist of an Fe-rich (Ti-ferrihydrite) phase (Ti/Ti + Fe ⩽ 0.70) having pH-dependent positive charge and a Ti-rich phase (Ti/Ti + Fe ⩾ 0.7) with permanent and pH dependent negative charge.

Synthetic Ti-ferrihydrite and amorphous TiO2 were completely soluble in acid ammonium oxalate (2 hr extraction in the dark) whereas poorly crystalline anatase (width at half height, WHH > 2.0°2θ) was partly oxalate soluble. NH4-oxalate soluble Ti was particularly high in soils developed under a cool montane climate (afro-alpine) and lower in soils of warmer subtropical climate, which contain anatase and rutile.

Several mixed Fe-Ti crystalline phases were identified after aging NH3 coprecipitates of Fe and Ti nitrate at 70°C and pH 5.5 for 70 days:

1. (1) goethite and hematite in the composition range 0 < Ti/Ti + Fe ⩽ 0.20; at low Ti concentrations (<5 mole %) goethite was favored and/or hematite inhibited

2. (2) microcrystalline pseudorutile in the composition range 0.20 ⩽ Ti/Ti + Fe ⩽ 0.70

3. (3) anatase and ferriferous anatase in the range 0.70 ⩽ Ti/Ti + Fe < 1.0; with decreasing proportion of Ti the crystal-Unity of anatase decreased.

The results suggest that secondary or pedogenic Ti-Fe oxides can form by coprecipitation and crystallization in the weathering solution, and emphasize the essential role of water (as opposed to dry oxidation) in the alteration of primary titaniferous minerals.

The dissolution in 1 M HC1 of Al-, Mn-, and Ni-substituted hematites and the influence of metal substitution on dissolution rate and kinetics of dissolution were investigated. The inhomogeneous dissolution of most of the hematites investigated was well described by the Avrami-Erofe'ev rate equation, kt = √[-ln(l − α)], where k is the dissolution rate in time, t, and α is the Fe dissolved. Dissolution of Al-substituted hematite occurred mostly by edge attack and hole formation normal to (001), with the rate of dissolution, k, directly related to surface area (SA). Dissolution of rhombohedral Mn- and Ni-bearing hematites occurred at domain boundaries, crystal edges, and corners with k unrelated to SA. The morphology of Mn- and Ni-substituted hematites changed during dissolution with clover-leaf-like forms developing as dissolution proceeded, whereas the original plate-like morphology of Al-bearing hematite was generally retained. Acid attack of platy and rhomboidal hematite is influenced by the direct (e.g., metaloxygen bond energy, hematite crystallinity) and indirect (e.g., crystal size and shape) affects associated with incorporation of foreign ions within hematite.

Mineralogical and thermal characteristics of synthetic Al-, Cr-, Mn-, Ni- and Ti-bearing goethites, synthesized via alkaline hydrolysis of metal-ferrihydrite gels, were investigated by powder X-ray diffraction and differential thermal analysis. Shifts in unit-cell dimensions were consistent with size of substituent metal ions and confirmed the incorporation of Al3+, Cr3+, Mn3+, Ni2+ and Ti4+ in the goethite structure. A weight loss of 6.2 wt.% for goethite containing 12.2 mol.% Ti, being significantly less than for stoichiometric goethite, is consistent with the replacement of Fe by Ti in the goethite structure coupled with the substitution of O2− ions for OH− (i.e. proton loss). These data provide the first confirmation of the direct replacement of Fe by Ti within goethite. Formation of multiple dehydroxylation endotherms for goethite containing 4.5 mol.% Al, 15.3 mol.% Mn and 12.2 mol.% Ti was not attributed to the decomposition of surface OH groups or related simply to the crystallinity of precursor goethite (‘high-a’ vs. ‘low-a’) as defined by the magnitude of a. Instead, endotherm doublet formation was associated with weight loss due to the dehydroxylation of goethite remaining after initial phase transformation to protohematite and to the evolution of OH− associated with the rapid increase in crystallite size of protohematite directed primarily along the a direction. Development of the first endotherm is due to initial dehydroxylation and transformation to protohematite. With continued heating of well ordered goethite or goethite containing moderate to high levels of substituent cations, domain growth along the a direction is delayed or inhibited to a critical point that provides enough thermal energy to enable goethite transformation to proceed to completion and for proto-hematite domain growth to occur. This results in the formation of a second endotherm. For less well ordered goethite and/or goethite containing only low levels of foreign metal cations, protohematite domain growth is not inhibited and proceeds continuously with heating to give only a single endotherm.

Every year, there are over 200 traumatic deaths at work in Australia. A government safety inspector usually investigates each incident. The investigation may lead to prosecution of the employer or another party deemed to have breached relevant legislation. However, little systematic research has examined the needs and interests of grieving families in this process. Drawing on interviews with 48 representatives of institutions that deal with deaths at work (including regulators, unions, employers, police and coronial officers), this article examines how they view the problems and experiences of families. Notwithstanding some recent improvements, findings indicate ongoing shortcomings in meeting the needs of families regarding information provision, involvement and securing justice.

This article provides an overview of selected ongoing international efforts that have been inspired by Edward Zigler's vision to improve programs and policies for young children and families in the United States. The efforts presented are in close alignment with three strategies articulated by Edward Zigler: (a) conduct research that will inform policy advocacy; (b) design, implement, and revise quality early childhood development (ECD) programs; and (c) invest in building the next generation of scholars and advocates in child development. The intergenerational legacy left by Edward Zigler has had an impact on young children not only in the United States, but also across the globe. More needs to be done. We need to work together with a full commitment to ensure the optimal development of each child.

Introduction: Emergency care serves as an important health resource for First Nations (FN) persons. Previous reporting shows that FN persons visit emergency departments at almost double the rate of non-FN persons. Working collaboratively with FN partners, academic researchers and health authority staff, the objective of this study is to investigate FN emergency care patient visit statistics in Alberta over a five year period. Methods: Through a population-based retrospective cohort study for the period from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2017, patient demographics and emergency care visit characteristics for status FN patients in Alberta were analyzed and compared to non-FN statistics. Frequencies and percentages (%) describe patients and visits by categorical variables (e.g., Canadian Triage Acuity Scale (CTAS)). Means and standard deviations (medians and interquartile ranges (IQR)) describe continuous variables (e.g., distances) as appropriate for the data distribution. These descriptions are repeated for the FN and non-FN populations, separately. Results: The data set contains 11,686,288 emergency facility visits by 3,024,491 unique persons. FN people make up 4.8% of unique patients and 9.4% of emergency care visits. FN persons live further from emergency facilities than their non-FN counterparts (FN median 6 km, IQR 1-24; vs. non-FN median 4 km, IQR 2-8). FN visits arrive more often by ground ambulance (15.3% vs. 10%). FN visits are more commonly triaged as less acute (59% CTAS levels 4 and 5, compared to non-FN 50.4%). More FN visits end in leaving without completing treatment (6.7% vs. 3.6%). FN visits are more often in the evening – 4:01pm to 12:00am (43.6% vs. 38.1%). Conclusion: In a collaborative validation session, FN Elders and health directors contextualized emergency care presentation in evenings and receiving less acute triage scores as related to difficulties accessing primary care. They explained presentation in evenings, arrival by ambulance, and leaving without completing treatment in terms of issues accessing transport to and from emergency facilities. Many factors interact to determine FN patients’ emergency care visit characteristics and outcomes. Further research needs to separate the impact of FN identity from factors such as reasons for visiting emergency facilities, distance traveled to care, and the size of facility where care is provided.

Introduction: The Cunningham reduction method for anterior shoulder dislocation offers an atraumatic alternative to traditional reduction techniques without the inconvenience and risk of procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA). Unfortunately, success rates as low as 27% have limited widespread use of this method. Inhaled methoxyflurane (I-MEOF) offers a rapidly administered, minimally invasive option for short-term analgesia. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility of studying whether I-MEOF increased success rates for atraumatic reduction of anterior shoulder dislocation. Methods: A convenience sample of 20 patients with uncomplicated anterior shoulder dislocations were offered the Cunningham reduction method supported by methoxyflurane analgesia under the guidance of an advanced care paramedic. Operators were instructed to limit their attempt to the Cunningham method. Outcomes included success rate without the requirement for PSA, time to discharge, and operator and patient satisfaction with the procedure. Results: 20 patients received I-MEOF and an attempt at Cunningham reduction. 80% of patients were male, median age was 38.6 (range 18-71), and 55% were first dislocations of that joint. 35% (8/20 patients) had reduction successfully achieved by the Cunningham method under I-MEOF analgesia. The remainder proceeded to closed reduction under PSA. All patients had eventual successful reduction in the ED. 60% of operators reported good to excellent satisfaction with the process, with inadequate muscle relaxation being identified as the primary cause of failed initial attempts. 80% of patients reported good to excellent satisfaction. Conclusion: Success with the Cunningham technique was marginally increased with the use of I-MEOF, although 65% of patients still required PSA to facilitate reduction. The process was generally met with satisfaction by both providers and patients, suggesting that early administration of analgesia is appreciated. Moreover, one-third of patients had reduction achieved atraumatically without need for further intervention. A larger, randomized study may identify patient characteristics which make this reduction method more likely to be successful.

Introduction: The harm that may come to healthcare providers impacted by adverse events has led them to be called “second victims.” Our objective was to characterize the range and context of interventions used to support second victims in acute care settings. Methods: We performed a scoping study using the process described by Arksey and O'Malley. Comprehensive searches of scientific databases and grey literature were conducted in September 2017 and updated in November 2018. A library scientist searched PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE and CENTRAL. We sought unpublished literature (Canadian Electronic Library, Proquest and Scopus) and searched reference lists of included studies. Stakeholder organizations and authors of included studies were contacted through email, requesting information on relevant programs. Two reviewers independently reviewed titles and abstracts using predetermined criteria. Using a structured data abstraction form, two reviewers independently extracted data and appraised methodological quality with the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). All discrepancies were resolved through consensus. A qualitative approach was used to categorize the context and characteristics of the identified strategies and interventions. Results: Our search strategy yielded 3883 results. After screening titles and abstracts, 173 studies underwent full text screening. Extracted data reflected 21 interventions categorized as providing peer-support (n = 7), proactive education (n = 7) or both (n = 7). Programs came from Canada (n = 2), Spain (n = 2), and United States (n = 17). Specific traumatic events were described as the trigger for development of five programs. While some programs were confined to a standard definition of second victim as a healthcare provider traumatized by an “unanticipated adverse patient event” (n = 6), other programs had a broader scope (n = 12) including situations such as non-accidental trauma, stressful anticipated patient events and complaints/litigation (3 programs were unclear about the definition). Confidentiality was assured in nine peer support programs. Outcome measures were often not reported and were limited in terms of quality. Conclusion: This is a new area of study with little scientific rigour from which to determine whether these programs are effective. Concerns about protecting healthcare providers from potential legal proceedings hinder documentation and study of program effectiveness.

Introduction: Cardioactive steroid poisoning occurs worldwide with the use of pharmaceutical digoxin and botanical cardiac glycosides. The wholesale price of the antidote, digoxin immune fab, has increased over 300% from 2010 to 2015. Our objective was to identify gaps in the existing literature with respect to the use of digoxin immune fab in cardioactive steroid toxicity in acute care settings. Methods: We used scoping study methodology, as described by Arksey and O'Malley, to assess the range and scope of empiric research and will report: 1) sources of cardioactive steroid toxicity in acute settings; 2) doses of digoxin immune fab used in treatment; and, 3) intervention outcomes of acute cardioactive steroid toxicity following the administration of digoxin immune fab as first or second-line therapy. We collaborated with a library scientist to devise search strategies for PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, CENTRAL and Toxnet. We sought unpublished literature through the Canadian Electronic Library, Proquest, and Scopus and searched reference lists of included studies. We hand searched relevant conference proceedings and applicable guidelines. Two reviewers independently reviewed titles and abstracts using predetermined criteria. Using a structured data abstraction form, two reviewers independently extracted data. All discrepancies were resolved through consensus. Results: Our search strategy yielded 3458 results. After screening titles and abstracts 384 underwent full text screening. We included 147 studies and are currently extracting data from 12 French studies and 135 English studies. To date we have extracted data from 90 case reports and case series. Conclusion: Given concerns over rising costs, our findings will shed light on the extent of the evidence for use of digoxin immune fab in acute care settings.

The WAIS (West Antarctic Ice Sheet) Divide deep ice core was recently completed to a total depth of 3405 m, ending 50 m above the bed. Investigation of the visual stratigraphy and grain characteristics indicates that the ice column at the drilling location is undisturbed by any large-scale overturning or discontinuity. The climate record developed from this core is therefore likely to be continuous and robust. Measured grain-growth rates, recrystallization characteristics, and grain-size response at climate transitions fit within current understanding. Significant impurity control on grain size is indicated from correlation analysis between impurity loading and grain size. Bubble-number densities and bubble sizes and shapes are presented through the full extent of the bubbly ice. Where bubble elongation is observed, the direction of elongation is preferentially parallel to the trace of the basal (0001) plane. Preferred crystallographic orientation of grains is present in the shallowest samples measured, and increases with depth, progressing to a vertical-girdle pattern that tightens to a vertical single-maximum fabric. This single-maximum fabric switches into multiple maxima as the grain size increases rapidly in the deepest, warmest ice. A strong dependence of the fabric on the impurity-mediated grain size is apparent in the deepest samples.

The past has been interesting, but what of the future? As Fig. 1 shows, extrapolation is an attractive tool, with pitfalls for the incautious - most often exemplified in aerospace by the prediction that by 2015 the entire US defence budget would fund one aeroplane, or more recently by the belief that avionics will expand into infallibility and reduce costs to invisibility. The first extrapolation is premature, and the latter two as near as makes no difference wrong.

In the case of the single affordable US defence aircraft the extrapolation probably correctly estimated the 2015 US defence budget, but erred in expressing the US Department of Defence requirement in terms of aircraft rather than damage-effects on target. The subsequent step change in avionics miniaturisation undermined the extrapolation and now looks likely to enable the DoD’s damage-effect requirements to be attained using products that lie on a different cost-effectiveness trend line.

Epidemiological data are often fragmented, partial, and/or ambiguous and unable to yield the desired level of understanding of infectious disease dynamics to adequately inform control measures. Here, we show how the information contained in widely available serology data can be enhanced by integration with less common type-specific data, to improve the understanding of the transmission dynamics of complex multi-species pathogens and host communities. Using brucellosis in northern Tanzania as a case study, we developed a latent process model based on serology data obtained from the field, to reconstruct Brucella transmission dynamics. We were able to identify sheep and goats as a more likely source of human and animal infection than cattle; however, the highly cross-reactive nature of Brucella spp. meant that it was not possible to determine which Brucella species (B. abortus or B. melitensis) is responsible for human infection. We extended our model to integrate simulated serology and typing data, and show that although serology alone can identify the host source of human infection under certain restrictive conditions, the integration of even small amounts (5%) of typing data can improve understanding of complex epidemiological dynamics. We show that data integration will often be essential when more than one pathogen is present and when the distinction between exposed and infectious individuals is not clear from serology data. With increasing epidemiological complexity, serology data become less informative. However, we show how this weakness can be mitigated by integrating such data with typing data, thereby enhancing the inference from these data and improving understanding of the underlying dynamics.