The mineralogy of the clay fraction was studied for soils and saprolite on two Blue Ridge Front mountain slopes. The clay fraction contained the weathering products of primary minerals in the mica gneiss and schist parent rocks. Gibbsite is most abundant in the saprolite and residual soil horizons, where only chemical weathering has been operable. In colluvial soil horizons, where both physical and chemical weathering have occurred, the clay fraction consists largely of comminuted primary phyllosilicates —muscovite, chlorite, and possibly biotite—and their weathering products: vermiculite, interstratified biotite/vermiculite (B/V), and kaolinite. The clay-size chlorite contains Fe2+ as indicated by Mössbauer spectroscopy, and is more resistant to weathering than biotite. The vermiculite and B/V, both weathering products of biotite, contain Fe3+. Vermiculite in colluvial soils and, especially, surface horizons is weakly hydroxy-interlayered. The kaolinite in the clay fraction resulted at least partly from the comminution of kaolinized biotite in coarser fractions.

The hematite content ranged from 0 to 8% of the clay fraction and strongly correlates (r =.95) with dry clay redness, as measured by the redness rating: RR = (10 - YR hue) × (chroma) ÷ (value). The hematite is largely a product of the weathering of almandine; thus, the soil redness is dependent on the amount of almandine in the parent materials and its degree of weathering in the soils. Goethite (13–22% of the clay fraction) imparts a yellow-brown hue to soils derived from almandine-free parent rocks. The release of Fe in relatively low concentrations during the weathering of Fe-bearing primary minerals, particularly biotite, appears to have promoted the formation of goethite.

A green, Lithic Torriorthent soil derived from a celadonite-rich, hydrothermally altered basalt immediately north of the Mojave Desert region in southern California was studied to investigate the fate of the celadonite in a pedogenic weathering environment. Celadonite was found to be disseminated in the highly altered rock matrix with cristobalite, chalcedony, and stilbite. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) showed the soil material to contain celadonite having a d(060) value of 1.510 Å, indicative of its dioctahedral nature. Very little smectite was detected in the parent material, whereas Fe-rich smectite was found to be abundant in the soil. The Fe-smectite and celadonite were identified as the sole components of the green-colored clay fraction (<2 µm) of all soil horizons. The soil clay showed a single d(060) value of 1.507 Å, indicating that the smectite was also dioctahedral and that its b-dimension was the same as that of the celadonite. Mössbauer spectroscopy showed that the chemical environments of Fe in the rock-matrix celadonite and in the smectite-rich soil clay were also nearly identical. These data strongly suggest a simple transformation of the celadonite to an Fe-rich smectite during soil formation.

Supporting evidence for this transformation was obtained by artificial weathering of celadonite, using sodium tetraphenyl boron to extract interlayer K. The intensity of the 001 XRD peak (at 10.1 Å) of celadonite was greatly reduced after the treatment and a peak at 14.4 Å, absent in the pattern of the untreated material, appeared. On glycolation of the sample, this peak expanded to 17.4 Å, similar to the behavior of the soil smectite. The alteration of celadonite to smectite is a simple transformation requiring only the loss of interlayer K. The transformation is apparently possible under present-day conditions, inasmuch as the erosional landscape position, shallow depth, and lack of significant horizonation indicate that the soil is very young.

The weathering products of primary biotite, chlorite, magnetite, and almandine in mica gneiss and schist in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Front were determined. Sand-size grains of biotite, the most abundant, readily weathered mineral in the parent rock, have altered to interstratified biotite/vermiculite, vermiculite, kaolinite, and gibbsite in the saprolite and soil. Fe2+-chlorite in the parent rock was relatively resistant to chemical weathering, which appears to be confined to the external surfaces of particles. Magnetite grains in the saprolite are essentially unaltered, but those in the soil contain abundant crystallographically controlled etch pits and are coated with oxidation crusts. Almandine altered to goethite, hematite, and gibbsite as the rock weathered to saprolite. Extensively weathered almandine grains were found to contain etch pits and what appeared to be oxide coatings. Apparently, a rapid release of Fe during weathering produced hematite, whereas slower release of Fe favored the formation of goethite.

While soils formed in tephra are typically dominated by poorly crystalline clay minerals, the occurrence of smectite in E horizons of podzolized soils (Spodosols) has been well-documented. We have observed a well-crystallized smectite mineral dominating the clay fraction of E horizons in tephra-derived soils of northern Idaho. This study was initiated to examine properties and distribution of this mineral along a developmental sequence of high-elevation, forested Spodosols formed in 6800-yr-old Mazama tephra. Three soils exhibiting strong, moderate, and weak E horizon development were sampled along an elevational and climatic gradient. The smectite mineral was identified as beidellite based on expansion and layer charge characteristics. Heated, Li-saturated samples from the most strongly developed E horizon exhibited relatively complete expansion to 1.8 nm with glycerol solvation and mean layer charge was calculated to be 0.44 molc/formula unit using sorption characteristics of alkylammonium ions. Apparent crystallinity and relative abundance of the beidellite in clay fractions decrease with decreasing E horizon development. The more poorly crystalline beidellite is associated with a non-expansive 1.4-nm mineral with considerable Al-hydroxy interlayering. Beidellite was not detected in underlying glacial drift or in a thin layer of 200-yr-old ash that mantles these soils, suggesting it is not inherited from these materials. Rather, our results indicate that beidellite forms in these soils in an environment characterized by low pH and a large flux of organic metal-complexing agents.

Precision Medicine is an emerging approach for disease treatment and prevention that takes into account individual variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle. Autoimmune diseases are those in which the body’s natural defense system loses discriminating power between its own cells and foreign cells, causing the body to mistakenly attack healthy tissues. These conditions are very heterogeneous in their presentation and therefore difficult to diagnose and treat. Achieving precision medicine in autoimmune diseases has been challenging due to the complex etiologies of these conditions, involving an interplay between genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. However, recent technological and computational advances in molecular profiling have helped identify patient subtypes and molecular pathways which can be used to improve diagnostics and therapeutics. This review discusses the current understanding of the disease mechanisms, heterogeneity, and pathogenic autoantigens in autoimmune diseases gained from genomic and transcriptomic studies and highlights how these findings can be applied to better understand disease heterogeneity in the context of disease diagnostics and therapeutics.

Seabirds are highly threatened, including by fisheries bycatch. Accurate understanding of offshore distribution of seabirds is crucial to address this threat. Tracking technologies revolutionised insights into seabird distributions but tracking data may contain a variety of biases. We tracked two threatened seabirds (Salvin’s Albatross Thalassarche salvini n = 60 and Black Petrel Procellaria parkinsoni n = 46) from their breeding colonies in Aotearoa (New Zealand) to their non-breeding grounds in South America, including Peru, while simultaneously completing seven surveys in Peruvian waters. We then used species distribution models to predict occurrence and distribution using either data source alone, and both data sources combined. Results showed seasonal differences between estimates of occurrence and distribution when using data sources independently. Combining data resulted in more balanced insights into occurrence and distributions, and reduced uncertainty. Most notably, both species were predicted to occur in Peruvian waters during all four annual quarters: the northern Humboldt upwelling system for Salvin’s Albatross and northern continental shelf waters for Black Petrels. Our results highlighted that relying on a single data source may introduce biases into distribution estimates. Our tracking data might have contained ontological and/or colony-related biases (e.g. only breeding adults from one colony were tracked), while our survey data might have contained spatiotemporal biases (e.g. surveys were limited to waters <200 nm from the coast). We recommend combining data sources wherever possible to refine predictions of species distributions, which ultimately will improve fisheries bycatch management through better spatiotemporal understanding of risks.

Barrett’s oesophagus (BE) is the precursor of oesophageal adenocarcinoma, which has become the most common type of oesophageal cancer in many Western populations. Existing evidence on diet and risk of BE predominantly comes from case–control studies, which are subject to recall bias in measurement of diet. We aimed to investigate the potential effect of diet, including macronutrients, carotenoids, food groups, specific food items, beverages and dietary scores, on risk of BE in over 20 000 participants of the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study. Diet at baseline (1990–1994) was measured using a food frequency questionnaire. The outcome was BE diagnosed between baseline and follow-up (2007–2010). Logistic regression models were used to estimate OR and 95 % CI for diet in relation to risk of BE. Intakes of leafy vegetables and fruit were inversely associated with risk of BE (highest v. lowest quartile: OR = 0·59; CI: 0·38, 0·94; P-trend = 0·02 and OR = 0·58; CI: 0·37, 0·93; P-trend = 0·02 respectively), as were dietary fibre and carotenoids. Stronger associations were observed for food than the nutrients found in them. Positive associations were observed for discretionary food (OR = 1·54; CI: 0·97, 2·44; P-trend = 0·04) and total fat intake (OR per 10 g/d = 1·11; CI: 1·00, 1·23), the association for fat was less robust in sensitivity analyses. No association was observed for meat, protein, dairy products or diet scores. Diet is a potential modifiable risk factor for BE. Public health and clinical guidelines that incorporate dietary recommendations could contribute to reduction in risk of BE and, thereby, oesophageal adenocarcinoma.

This paper focuses on utilizing several different optical diagnostics to experimentally characterize a pure helium atmospheric pressure plasma jet. Axial electric field measurements were carried out along the plasma plume through the use of a non-perturbing method based on polarization-dependent Stark spectroscopy of the helium $492.2$ nm line. The electric field is shown to increase with distance along the plume length, reaching values as high as $24.5$ kV cm$^{-1}$. The rate of increase of the electric field is dependent on the helium gas flow rate, with lower gas flows rising quicker with distance in comparison with larger flow rates, with the typical values remaining within the same range. This sensitivity is linked to gas mixing between the helium and surrounding ambient air. Schlieren imaging of the gas flow is included to support this. The addition of a target is shown to further increase the measured electric field in close range to the target, with the magnitude of this increase being strongly dependent on the distance between the tube exit and target. The relative increase in the electric field is shown to be on average greater for a conducting target of water in comparison with plastic. A minimal equipment optical configuration, which is here referred to as fast two-dimensional monochromatic imaging, is introduced as an approach for estimating excited state densities within the plasma. Densities of the upper helium states for transitions, $1s3s$ $^{3}S_{1}$ $\rightarrow$ $1s2p$ $^{3}P^{0}_{0,1,2}$ at $706.5$ nm and $1s3s$ $^{1}S_{0}$ $\rightarrow$ $1s2p$ $^{1}P^{0}_{1}$ at $728.1$ nm, were estimated using this approach and found to be of the order of $10^{10}$–$10^{11}$ cm$^{-3}$.

Background: Visual impairment can impact 70% of individuals who have experienced a stroke. Identification and remediation of visual impairments can improve overall function and perceived quality of life. Our project aimed to improve visual assessment and timely intervention for patients with post-stroke visual impairment (PSVI). Methods: We conducted a quality improvement initiative to create a standardized screening and referral process for patients with PSVI to access an orthoptist. Post-stroke visual impairment was identified using the Visual Screen Assessment (VISA) tool. Patients filled out a VFQ-25 questionnaire before and after orthoptic assessment, and differences between scores were evaluated. Results: Eighteen patients completed the VFQ-25 both before and after orthoptic assessment. Of the vision related constructs, there was a significant improvement in reported outcomes for general vision (M=56.9, SD=30.7; M=48.6, SD=16.0), p=0.002, peripheral vision (M=88.3, SD=16; M=75, SD=23.1), p= 0.027, ocular pain (M=97.2, SD=6.9; M=87.5, SD=21.4), p=0.022, near activities (M=82.4, SD=24.1; M=67.8, SD=25.6), p<0.001, social functioning (M=90.2, SD=19; M=78.5, SD=29.3), p=0.019, mental health (M=84.0, SD=25.9; M=70.5, SD=31.2), p=0.017, and role difficulties (M=84.7, SD=26.3; M=67.4, SD=37.9), p=0.005. Conclusions: Orthoptic assessments for those with PSVI significantly improved perceived quality of life in a numerous vision related constructs, suggesting it is a valuable part of a patient’s post-stroke recovery.

Background: Visual impairment exists for an estimated 70% of individuals who have experienced a stroke. Identification and remediation of visual impairments can improve overall function and perceived quality of life. Our project aims to improve visual assessment and timely intervention for patients with post-stroke visual impairment (PSVI). Methods: We conducted a quality improvement initiative to create a standardized screening and referral process for patients with PSVI to access an orthoptist. Post-stroke visual impairment was assessed by way of the Visual Screen Assessment (VISA) tool, administered by an occupational therapist. Patients filled out a VFQ-25 questionnaire before and after orthoptic assessment and intervention. The VFQ-25 is a validated post-stroke survey assessing a patient’s perceived quality of life. Differences between pre- and post-orthoptic assessment scores will be evaluated. Results: Data collection currently ongoing.The benefits of a standardized screen for PSVI, standardized referral to, and experience with an orthoptist assessment will be determined. Learnings gained will also inform how we can expand the program to benefit a wider demographic of patients. Conclusions: The data gathered and the subsequent analysis will be instrumental in guiding ongoing improvement initiatives for patients with PSVI.

The Subglacial Antarctic Lakes Scientific Access (SALSA) Project accessed Mercer Subglacial Lake using environmentally clean hot-water drilling to examine interactions among ice, water, sediment, rock, microbes and carbon reservoirs within the lake water column and underlying sediments. A ~0.4 m diameter borehole was melted through 1087 m of ice and maintained over ~10 days, allowing observation of ice properties and collection of water and sediment with various tools. Over this period, SALSA collected: 60 L of lake water and 10 L of deep borehole water; microbes >0.2 μm in diameter from in situ filtration of ~100 L of lake water; 10 multicores 0.32–0.49 m long; 1.0 and 1.76 m long gravity cores; three conductivity–temperature–depth profiles of borehole and lake water; five discrete depth current meter measurements in the lake and images of ice, the lake water–ice interface and lake sediments. Temperature and conductivity data showed the hydrodynamic character of water mixing between the borehole and lake after entry. Models simulating melting of the ~6 m thick basal accreted ice layer imply that debris fall-out through the ~15 m water column to the lake sediments from borehole melting had little effect on the stratigraphy of surficial sediment cores.

Gravitational waves from coalescing neutron stars encode information about nuclear matter at extreme densities, inaccessible by laboratory experiments. The late inspiral is influenced by the presence of tides, which depend on the neutron star equation of state. Neutron star mergers are expected to often produce rapidly rotating remnant neutron stars that emit gravitational waves. These will provide clues to the extremely hot post-merger environment. This signature of nuclear matter in gravitational waves contains most information in the 2–4 kHz frequency band, which is outside of the most sensitive band of current detectors. We present the design concept and science case for a Neutron Star Extreme Matter Observatory (NEMO): a gravitational-wave interferometer optimised to study nuclear physics with merging neutron stars. The concept uses high-circulating laser power, quantum squeezing, and a detector topology specifically designed to achieve the high-frequency sensitivity necessary to probe nuclear matter using gravitational waves. Above 1 kHz, the proposed strain sensitivity is comparable to full third-generation detectors at a fraction of the cost. Such sensitivity changes expected event rates for detection of post-merger remnants from approximately one per few decades with two A+ detectors to a few per year and potentially allow for the first gravitational-wave observations of supernovae, isolated neutron stars, and other exotica.

Introduction: Emergency department (ED) syncope management is extremely variable. We developed practice recommendations based on the validated Canadian Syncope Risk Score (CSRS) and outpatient cardiac monitoring strategy with physician input. Methods: We used a 2-step approach. Step-1: We pooled data from the derivation and validation prospective cohort studies (with adequate sample size) conducted at 11 Canadian sites (Sep 2010 to Apr 2018). Adults with syncope were enrolled excluding those with serious outcome identified during index ED evaluation. 30-day adjudicated serious outcomes were arrhythmic (arrhythmias, unknown cause of death) and non-arrhythmic (MI, structural heart disease, pulmonary embolism, hemorrhage)]. We compared the serious outcome proportion among risk categories using Cochran-Armitage test. Step-2: We conducted semi-structured interviews using observed risk to develop and refine the recommendations. We used purposive sampling of physicians involved in syncope care at 8 sites from Jun-Dec 2019 until theme saturation was reached. Two independent raters coded interviews using an inductive approach to identify themes; discrepancies were resolved by consensus. Results: Of the 8176 patients (mean age 54, 55% female), 293 (3.6%; 95%CI 3.2-4.0%) experienced 30-day serious outcomes; 0.4% deaths, 2.5% arrhythmic, 1.1% non-arrhythmic outcomes. The serious outcome proportion significantly increased from low to high-risk categories (p < 0.001; overall 0.6% to 27.7%; arrhythmic 0.2% to 17.3%; non-arrhythmic 0.4% to 5.9% respectively). C-statistic was 0.88 (95%CI0.86–0.90). Non-arrhythmia risk per day for the first 2 days was 0.5% for medium-risk, 2% for high-risk and very low thereafter. We recruited 31 physicians (14 ED, 7 cardiologists, 10 hospitalists/internists). 80% of physicians agreed that low risk patients can be discharged without specific follow-up with inconsistencies around length of ED observation. For cardiac monitoring of medium and high-risk, 64% indicated that they don't have access; 56% currently admit high-risk patients and an additional 20% agreed to this recommendation. A deeper exploration led to following refinement: discharge without specific follow-up for low-risk, a shared decision approach for medium-risk and short course of hospitalization for high-risk patients. Conclusion: The recommendations were developed (with online calculator) based on in-depth feedback from key stakeholders to improve uptake during implementation.

New δ13Ccarb and microfacies data from Hereford–Worcestershire and the West Midlands allow for a detailed examination of variations in the Homerian carbon isotope excursion (Silurian) and depositional environment within the Much Wenlock Limestone Formation of the Midland Platform (Avalonia), UK. These comparisons have been aided by a detailed sequence-stratigraphic and bentonite correlation framework. Microfacies analysis has identified regional differences in relative sea-level change and indicates an overall shallowing of the carbonate platform interior from Hereford–Worcestershire to the West Midlands. Based upon the maximum δ13Ccarb values for the lower and upper peaks of the Homerian carbon isotope excursion (CIE), the shallower depositional setting of the West Midlands is associated with values that are 0.7 ‰ and 0.8 ‰ higher than in Hereford–Worcestershire. At the scale of parasequences the effect of depositional environment upon δ13Ccarb values can also be observed, with a conspicuous offset in the position of the trough in δ13Ccarb values between the peaks of the Homerian CIE. This offset can be accounted for by differences in relative sea-level change and carbonate production rates. While such differences complicate the use of CIEs as a means of high-resolution correlation, and caution against correlations based purely upon the isotopic signature, it is clear that a careful analysis of the depositional environment can account for such differences and thereby improve the use of carbon isotopic curves as a means of correlation.