Various genetic models have been proposed for the supergiant Proterozoic Broken Hill Pb–Zn–Ag deposit largely based on geological and geochronological evidence. Here we present Zn, Cd and S isotope compositions as well as Zn/Cd ratios of sphalerite from Broken Hill and minor Broken Hill-type deposits (Australia) to help constrain these models but focus on syngenetic and magmatic–hydrothermal processes, since epigenetic models can be rejected because the orebodies were deformed and metamorphosed by the Olarian Orogeny. Values of δ34SVCDT, δ66ZnAA-ETH and δ114CdNIST SRM 3108 for sphalerite from Broken Hill range from +0.27 to +4.73 ‰, −1.15 to +0.46 ‰ and −0.48 to +0.01 ‰, respectively, while those for the smaller Broken Hill-type deposits range from −5.11 to +1.28 ‰, −0.97 to +0.10 ‰ and −1.02 to +2.59 ‰, respectively. By combining published S isotope data of sulfides from the Broken Hill district with those obtained here, the sources of sulfur via thermochemical sulfate reduction, bacterial sulfate reduction and a magmatic origin cannot be distinguished. However, when the S isotope compositions are considered along with the broad range of Cd and Zn isotope data for sphalerite, which are among the lightest and heaviest yet reported for a sulfide deposit, the isotopic datasets are consistent with low-temperature biogenic processes associated with syngenetic deposition of sulfides. Cadmium isotope compositions when coupled with Zn/Cd ratios of sphalerite have previously been used to classify Pb–Zn deposits, including low-temperature, high-temperature and exhalative ores. However, the Zn/Cd ratios of sphalerite from Broken Hill cannot be used for such classification purposes.

For more than a century, humankind has achieved refrigeration by exploiting volatile gases that harm the environment when released to the atmosphere. More recently, the observation of electrocaloric effects in commercial multilayer capacitors has inspired the possibility of environmentally friendly cooling. In this article, we describe electrocaloric effects in multilayer capacitors for cooling applications, compare the electrocaloric performance of existing multilayer capacitors, and discuss the improvements required for practical cooling devices.

Multicaloric materials show thermal changes that can be driven simultaneously or sequentially by more than one type of external field. The use of more than one driving field can induce larger thermal changes, with smaller field magnitudes, over wider ranges of operating temperature, and can also eliminate hysteresis in one control parameter by transferring it to another. The thermodynamics behind multicaloric effects is well established, but only a small number of multicaloric materials have been experimentally studied to date. Here, we describe the fundamentals of multicaloric effects and discuss the performance of representative multicaloric materials. Exploiting multicaloric effects could aid the future development of cooling devices, where key challenges include energy efficiency and the span of the operating temperature.

Documentation of antibiotic indication provides helpful information for antimicrobial stewardship, but accuracy is not understood. Review of 396 antibiotic orders in a pediatric ICU and adult medicine step-down unit found 90% agreement between provider-selected indication and independent review. Prompts to enter antibiotic indication during order entry provide largely accurate information.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:111–113

We report new laboratory experiments of a flow accelerating from an initially turbulent state following the opening of a valve, together with large eddy simulations of the experiments and extended Stokes first problem solutions for the early stages of the flow. The results show that the transient flow closely resembles an accelerating laminar flow superimposed on the original steady turbulent flow. The primary consequence of the acceleration is the temporal growth of a boundary layer from the wall, gradually leading to a strong instability causing transition. This extends the findings of previous direct numerical simulations of transient flow following a near-step increase in flow rate. In this interpretation, the initial turbulence is not the primary characteristic of the resulting transient flow, but can be regarded as noise, the evolution of which is strongly influenced by the development of the boundary layer. We observe the spontaneous appearance of turbulent spots and discontinuities in the velocity signals in time and space, revealing rich detail of the transition process, including a striking contrast between streamwise and wall-normal fluctuating velocities.

Prematurity is a risk factor for hypertension, vascular stiffness, nephron deficit and adult onset cardiorenal disease. The vascular tree and kidneys share morphogenic drivers that promote maturation in utero before 36 weeks of gestation. Vascular elastin accrual terminates after birth leaving collagen to promote vascular stiffness. Our objective was to determine if the histomorphometry of the umbilical artery, an extension of the aorta, parallels nephron mass across gestational age groups. From a cohort of 54 newborns, 32 umbilical cord specimens were adequate for evaluation. The umbilical cord was sectioned, stained with trichrome, and digitalized. Muscular and collagenous areas of the umbilical artery were measured in pixels using the Image J 1.48q software. Total kidney volume was measured by ultrasound and factored by body surface area (TKV/BSA). The umbilical artery total area was significantly greater in term v. preterm infants (9.3±1.3 v. 7.0±2.0 mm2; P<0.05) and increased with gestational age; while the percent muscular and collagen areas were independent of gestational age (R2=0.04; P=ns). Percent muscular area correlated positively with TKV/BSA (r=0.53; P=0.002); while an increase in collagen correlated inversely with kidney mass (r=−0.53; P=0.002). In conclusion, an enhanced % muscular area and presumed vascular elasticity was associated with increased renal mass in all infants. Umbilical artery histomorphometry provides a link between the intrauterine environment, vascular and kidney development.

Low birth weight is associated with adverse health outcomes. If birth weight records are not available, studies may use recalled birth weight. It is unclear whether this is reliable. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing recalled with recorded birth weights. We followed the Meta-Analyses of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) statement and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) to May 2015. We included studies that reported recalled birth weight and recorded birth weight. We excluded studies investigating a clinical population. Two reviewers independently reviewed citations, extracted data, assessed risk of bias. Data were pooled in a random effects meta-analysis for correlation and mean difference. In total, 40 studies were eligible for qualitative synthesis (n=78,997 births from 78,196 parents). Agreement between recalled and recorded birth weight was high: pooled estimate of correlation in 23 samples from 19 studies (n=7406) was 0.90 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.87–0.93]. The difference between recalled and recorded birth weight in 29 samples from 26 studies (n=29,293) was small [range −86–129 g; random effects estimate 1.4 g (95% CI −4.0–6.9 g)]. Studies were heterogeneous, with no evidence for an effect of time since birth, person reporting, recall bias, or birth order. In post-hoc subgroup analysis, recall was higher than recorded birth weight by 80 g (95% CI 57–103 g) in low and middle income countries. In conclusion, there is high agreement between recalled and recorded birth weight. If birth weight is recalled, it is suitable for use in epidemiological studies, at least in high income countries.

The dynamo process is believed to drive the magnetic activity of stars like the Sun that have an outer convection zone. Large spectroscopic surveys showed that there is a relation between the rotation periods and the cycle periods: the longer the rotation period is, the longer the magnetic activity cycle period will be. We present the analysis of F stars observed by Kepler for which individual p modes have been measure and with surface rotation periods shorter than 12 days. We defined magnetic indicators and proxies based on photometric observations to help characterise the activity levels of the stars. With the Kepler data, we investigate the existence of stars with cycles (regular or not), stars with a modulation that could be related to magnetic activity, and stars that seem to show a flat behaviour.

It would be naïve to argue that money isn't the driving force motivating health care delivery in 2010. At nearly 17% of GDP, health care delivery is a large and growing industrial enterprise that is the largest employer in many communities. Save for free clinics, generating revenue is fundamental to every aspect of the delivery system. From insurance reimbursement rates to the cost of purchasing the latest technology, the surest explanation for understanding changes in the health care system and concomitant development of legal doctrine is, indeed, to “follow the money.”

Determining who controls the money flows usually explains who the dominant players are, and how they are able to organize and change the delivery system. Unquestionably, the most straightforward way to understand how the system functions, where its vulnerabilities lie, and why it is so difficult to institute significant reforms is to identify who controls the money.

A regional (Oceania) core collection for taro germplasm has been developed based on phenotypic and molecular characterization. In total, 2199 accessions of taro germplasm have been collected by TaroGen (Taro Genetic Resources: Conservation and Utilisation) from 10 countries in Oceania: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji, Palau, Niue, Tonga, Cook Islands and Samoa. Our objective was to select 10% from each country to contribute to a regional core. The larger collections from Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and New Caledonia were analysed based on phenotypic characters, and a diverse subset representing 20% of these collections was fingerprinted. A diverse 20% subsample was also taken from the Solomon Islands. All accessions from the other six countries were fingerprinted. In total, 515 accessions were genotyped (23.4% overall) using taro specific simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. DNA fingerprint data showed that great allelic diversity existed in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Interestingly, rare alleles were identified in taros from the Solomon Islands province of Choiseul which were not observed in any of the other collections. Overall, 211 accessions were recommended for inclusion in the final regional core collection based on the phenotypic and molecular characterization.

A novel optical-MEMS sensor based on the AlGaAs material system is designed and fabricated. The device consists of micro-beam waveguides butt-coupled with their ends separated by approximately 2 to 4 µm. The device works on the principle that when acoustically driven by an external source, the waveguides misalign, leading to coupling loss. The device design parameters were determined using FEM (Finite Element Method) modeling. The dielectric waveguide beams were designed for single mode propagation at 785 nm and longer wavelengths. A combination of dry and wet etching process followed by precision laser cutting was used to fabricate the suspended beams. Beams ranging from 100 µm to 400 µm with fundamental frequencies of 50 KHz to 200 KHz were successfully fabricated. Initial uncut waveguide test results will be discussed along with the plan for characterizing the devices using an acoustically coupled piezoelectric driver. These devices may be utilized for vibration sensing, or optical intensity modulation.

We have investigated the effect of biaxial strain on local electrical/electronic properties in thin films of La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 with varying degrees of biaxial strain in them. The local electrical properties were investigated as a function of temperature by scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) and scanning tunneling potentiometry (STP), along with the bulk probe like conductance fluctuations.

The results indicate a positive correlation between the lattice mismatch biaxial strain and the local electrical/electronic inhomogenities observed in the strained sample. This is plausible since the crystal structure of the manganites interfere rather strongly with the magnetic/electronic degrees of freedom. Thus even a small imbalance (biaxial strain) can induce significant changes in the electrical properties of the system.

A new method for depositing parylene-F (PA-F) thin films on silicon substrates has been explored. Hydrogen has been used as a carrier gas along with liquid precursors, dibromotetrafluoro-p-xylene and 1,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzene, to deposit PA-F. The properties of this film have been compared with the films obtained by the Gorham dimer method and the liquid precursor method using FTIR, XPS, and XRD. The PA-F films deposited by the dimer or liquid precursor acquired some kind of microcrystallinity on annealing. However, the PA-F films deposited in the presence of hydrogen were amorphous on annealing. This property could be potentially exploited for application in microelectronic device fabrication.

The structural changes and magnetoresistance (MR) properties of as-grown and post-annealed La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 films were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The data for the films were compared to that for bulk La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 post-annealed under the same conditions. The main structure of the as-grown films was face-centered pseudo-cubic with a doubled perovskite unit cell, of size ∼2ap × ∼2ap × 2ap, where ap is the single perovskite parameter. The phase showed a cube-on-cube epitaxy with the underlying LaAlO3 substrate. Upon annealing to a saturation point, a minor primitive pseudo-tetragonal structure evolved, of cell parameters . A total of four possible orientations of the two structures was observed by TEM, comprised of one orientation of the ∼ 2ap × ∼ 2ap × ∼ 2ap cell, i.e., the cube-on-cube epitaxy, giving rise to (00l) peaks in x-ray, and three orientations of the cell, giving rise to a single (00l)/(hk0) peak in x-ray. The bulk La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 sample also contains the × structure. The difference between the bulk and the film and the effects of annealing on films can be ascribed to the influence of strain between the film and substate, induced by lattice mismatch.

Preliminary multidisciplinary investigations were carried out in a 105 m thick late Pleistocene terrestrial sequence in the Lamayuru basin, Ladakh Himalaya. Palaeomagnetic studies reveal a reversal of polarity at about 35 ka BP. This is the only report of this reversal event in the late Pleistocene terrestrial sequences of the Indian subcontinent. The valley fill sequence is the product of an interplay of lacustrine with fluvio-deltaic to colluvial processes. Four fossiliferous horizons have yielded ostracods and gastropods indicating shallow freshwater conditions. The Lamayuru lake was created by tectonically induced instability about 35–40 ka BP, an event that may be represented widely throughout the Himalaya.

Thin films of colossal magnetoresistance material La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 were implanted with different fluence 200keV Cr ions. Resistivity measurements in zero and applied fields of up to 8T were made in order to determine the effects of the implanted magnetic ions on the magnetoresistance (MR). As the Cr fluence was increased, the resistivity increased and the metal-insulator transition (MI) temperature was suppressed to values below the experimentally accessible temperature range as a result of oxygen loss and the creation of defects. However, for the highest fluence of 5×1015 ions/cm2, a re-entrant metal-insulator type transition was observed. Furthermore a significant improvement in the low field MR was observed for fields less than 500mT. These results are interpreted in terms of substitution of Cr ions onto Mn sites and the creation of a magnetically inhomogeneous material and the influence of oxygen deficiency.

The Medium-l Program of the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) instrument on board SOHO provides continuous observations of oscillation modes of angular degree, l, from 0 to ∼ 300. The initial results show that the noise in the Medium-l oscillation power spectrum is substantially lower than in ground-based measurements. This enables us to detect lower amplitude modes and, thus, to extend the range of measured mode frequencies. The MDI observations also reveal the asymmetry of oscillation spectral lines. The line asymmetries agree with the theory of mode excitation by acoustic sources localized in the upper convective boundary layer. The sound-speed profile inferred from the mean frequencies gives evidence for a sharp variation at the edge of the energy-generating core. In a thin layer just beneath the convection zone, helium appears to be less abundant than predicted by theory. Inverting the multiplet frequency splittings from MDI, we detect significant rotational shear in this thin layer.