Controlling the strength of ferromagnetic order in YBa_2Cu_3O_7/La_(2/3)Ca_(1/3)MnO_3 multilayers

With dc magnetization and polarized neutron reflectometry we studied the ferromagnetic response of YBa_2Cu_3O_7/La_(2/3)Ca_(1/3)MnO_3 (YBCO/LCMO) multilayers that are grown with pulsed laser deposition. We found that whereas for certain growth conditions (denoted as A type) the ferromagnetic moment of the LCMO layer is strongly dependent on the structural details of the YBCO layer on which it is deposited, for others (B type) the ferromagnetism of LCMO is much more robust. Both kinds of multilayers are of similar structural quality, but electron energy-loss spectroscopy studies with a scanning transmission electron microscope reveal an enhanced average Mn oxidation state of +3.5 for the A-type as opposed to the B-type samples, for which it is close to the nominal value of +3.33. The related, additional hole doping of the A-type LCMO layers, which likely originates from La and/or Mn vacancies, can explain their fragile ferromagnetic order, since it places them close to the boundary of the ferromagnetic order at which even weak perturbations can induce an antiferromagnetic or glassy state. On the other hand, we show that the B-type samples allow one to obtain YBCO/LCMO heterostructures with very thick YBCO layers and, yet, strongly ferromagnetic LCMO layers

Memory-functionality superconductor/ferromagnet/superconductor junctions based on the high- T c cuprate superconductors YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 − x and the colossal magnetoresistive manganite ferromagnets La 2 / 3 X 1 / 3 MnO 3 + δ ( X = Ca , Sr )

Complex oxides exhibit a variety of unusual physical properties, which can be used for designing novel electronic devices. Here we fabricate and study experimentally nanoscale superconductor/ferromagnet/superconductor junctions with the high-Tc cuprate superconductors YBa2Cu3O7−x and the colossal magnetoresistive (CMR) manganite ferromagnets La2/3X1/3MnO3+δ (X=Ca or Sr). We demonstrate that in a broad temperature range the magnetization of a manganite nanoparticle, forming the junction interface, switches abruptly in a monodomain manner. The CMR phenomenon translates the magnetization loop into a hysteretic magnetoresistance loop. The latter facilitates a memory functionality of such a junction with just a single CMR ferromagnetic layer. The orientation of the magnetization (stored information) can be read out by simply measuring the junction resistance in a finite magnetic field. The CMR facilitates a large readout signal in a small applied field. We argue that such a simple single-layer CMR junction can operate as a memory cell both in the superconducting state at cryogenic temperatures and in the normal state up to room temperature

Higher COVID-19 pneumonia risk associated with anti-IFN-α than with anti-IFN-ω auto-Abs in children

We found that 19 (10.4%) of 183 unvaccinated children hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia had autoantibodies (auto-Abs) neutralizing type I IFNs (IFN-alpha 2 in 10 patients: IFN-alpha 2 only in three, IFN-alpha 2 plus IFN-omega in five, and IFN-alpha 2, IFN-omega plus IFN-beta in two; IFN-omega only in nine patients). Seven children (3.8%) had Abs neutralizing at least 10 ng/ml of one IFN, whereas the other 12 (6.6%) had Abs neutralizing only 100 pg/ml. The auto-Abs neutralized both unglycosylated and glycosylated IFNs. We also detected auto-Abs neutralizing 100 pg/ml IFN-alpha 2 in 4 of 2,267 uninfected children (0.2%) and auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-omega in 45 children (2%). The odds ratios (ORs) for life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia were, therefore, higher for auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-alpha 2 only (OR [95% CI] = 67.6 [5.7-9,196.6]) than for auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-. only (OR [95% CI] = 2.6 [1.2-5.3]). ORs were also higher for auto-Abs neutralizing high concentrations (OR [95% CI] = 12.9 [4.6-35.9]) than for those neutralizing low concentrations (OR [95% CI] = 5.5 [3.1-9.6]) of IFN-omega and/or IFN-alpha 2

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Liability for racially offensive remarks

We studied the structural, magnetic and electronic properties of ${\rm SrFeO}_{3-\delta}$ (SFO) thin films and ${\rm SrFeO}_{3-\delta}$ /${\rm La}_{2/3}$ ${\rm Ca}_{1/3}$ MnO3 (LCMO) superlattices that have been grown with pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on ${\rm La}_{0.3}$ ${\rm Sr}_{0.7}$ ${\rm Al}_{0.65}$ ${\rm Ta}_{0.35}$ ${\rm O}_{3}$ (LSAT) substrates. X-ray reflectometry and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) confirm the high structural quality of the films and flat and atomically sharp interfaces of the superlattices. The STEM data also reveal a difference in the interfacial layer stacking with a SrO layer at the LCMO/SFO and a LaO layer at the SFO/LCMO interfaces along the PLD growth direction. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) data suggest that the as grown SFO films and SFO/LCMO superlattices have an oxygen-deficient ${\rm SrFeO}_{3-\delta}$ structure with I4/ mmm space group symmetry ($\delta\leqslant 0.2$ ). Subsequent ozone annealed SFO films are consistent with an almost oxygen stoichiometric structure ($\delta \approx 0$ ). The electronic and magnetic properties of these SFO films are similar to the ones of corresponding single crystals. In particular, the as grown ${\rm SrFeO}_{3-\delta}$ films are insulating whereas the ozone annealed films are metallic. The magneto-resistance effects of the as grown SFO films have a similar magnitude as in the single crystals, but extend over a much wider temperature range. Last but not least, for the SFO/LCMO superlattices we observe a rather large exchange bias effect that varies as a function of the cooling field

Photometric redshifts and clustering of emission line galaxies selected jointly by DES and eBOSS

We present the results of the first observations of the emission line galaxies (ELG) of the extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey. From the total 9000 targets, 4600 have been selected from the Dark Energy Survey (DES). In this subsample, the total success rate for redshifts between 0.6 and 1.2 is 71 and 68 per cent for a bright and a faint samples, respectively, including redshifts measured from a single strong emission line. The mean redshift is 0.80 for the bright and 0.87 for the faint sample, while the percentage of unknown redshifts is 15 and 13 per cent, respectively. In both cases, the star contamination is lower than 2 per cent. We evaluate how well the ELG redshifts are measured using the target selection photometry and validating with the spectroscopic redshifts measured by eBOSS. We explore different techniques to reduce the photometric redshift outliers fraction with a comparison between the template fitting, the neural networks and the random forest methods. Finally, we study the clustering properties of the DES SVA1 ELG samples. We select only the most secure spectroscopic redshift in the redshift range 0.6 < z < 1.2, leading to a mean redshift for the bright and faint sample of 0.85 and 0.90, respectively. We measure the projected angular correlation function and obtain a galaxy bias averaging on scales from 1 to 10 Mpc h−1 of 1.58 ± 0.10 for the bright sample and 1.65 ± 0.12 for the faint sample. These values are representative of a galaxy population with MB − log(h) < −20.5, in agreement with what we measure by fitting galaxy templates to the photometric data