Evidence for competition between the superconducting and the pseudogap state in (BiPb)_2(SrLa)_2CuO_{6+\delta} from muon-spin rotation experiments

The in-plane magnetic penetration depth \lambda_{ab} in optimally doped (BiPb)_2(SrLa)_2CuO_{6+\delta} (OP Bi2201) was studied by means of muon-spin rotation. The measurements of \lambda_{ab}^{-2}(T) are inconsistent with a simple model of a d-wave order parameter and a uniform quasiparticle weight around the Fermi surface. The data are well described assuming the angular gap symmetry obtained in ARPES experiments [Phys. Rev. Lett {\bf 98}, 267004 (2007)], where it was shown that the superconducting gap in OP Bi2201 exists only in segments of the Fermi surface near the nodes. We find that the remaining parts of the Fermi surface, which are strongly affected by the pseudogap state, do not contribute significantly to the superconducting condensate. Our data provide evidence that high temperature superconductivity and pseudogap behavior in cuprates are competing phenomena.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Zero-field superfluid density in d-wave superconductor evaluated from the results of muon-spin-rotation experiments in the mixed state

We report on measurements of the in-plane magnetic penetration \lambda_{ab} in the optimally doped cuprate superconductor (BiPb)_2(SrLa)_2CuO_6+\delta (OP Bi2201) by means of muon-spin rotation (\muSR). We show that in unconventional $d-$wave superconductors (like OP Bi2201), \muSR experiments conducted in various magnetic fields allow to evaluate the zero-field magnetic penetration depth \lambda_0, which relates to the zero-field superfluid density in terms of \rho_s\propto\lambda_0^-2.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

A Comprehensive Residency Wellness Curriculum

Introduction: Resident physician burnout is an epidemic in medical education. There are several wellness curricula published, but few describe a comprehensive program to address wellness. Our objectives were to develop and pilot a longitudinal resident wellness curriculum and assess for feasibility and sustainability. Methods: We surveyed emergency medicine (EM) residents from two residency programs in the United States to assess a baseline level of burnout using the Maslach Burnout Inventory. We developed a comprehensive and longitudinal wellness curriculum for EM residents that incorporated all domains identified by the American College of Emergency Physicians Wellness Wheel. Mindfulness practice was incorporated throughout the curriculum. Results: A convenience sample of 106 EM residents were sent the baseline survey. A response rate of 69% was achieved, the median age of the respondents was 29 years, and 44.5% were female. Overall, 67.5% (95% CI: 50.5; 80.8%) reported burnout in at least one of the three domains of the Maslach Burnout inventory. 34.8% reported burnout in the personal accomplishment domain, 40.8% reported depersonalization, and 44.3% reported emotional exhaustion. The wellness curriculum was successfully implemented at the Georgia-based residency program. The curriculum has proven to be sustainable since it began in 2016. Quantitative statistical testing for the post-intervention survey was not possible due to a low response rate. However, subjective receivability was high, with participants describing these sessions as high-yield, informative and practical. Conclusions: Burnout is highly prevalent among EM residents. We provide a curriculum developed for an EM residency program that is multifaceted and comprehensive, including basic wellness topics, mindfulness, financial and medicolegal issues, as well as topics that address the stresses specific to clinical emergency medicine. The curriculum has been in place in its current form since 2016 and has proven to be sustainable

Stabilization of weak ferromagnetism by strong magnetic response to epitaxial strain in multiferroic BiFeO3

Multiferroic BiFeO3 exhibits excellent magnetoelectric coupling critical for magnetic information processing with minimal power consumption. However, the degenerate nature of the easy spin axis in the (111) plane presents roadblocks for real world applications. Here, we explore the stabilization and switchability of the weak ferromagnetic moments under applied epitaxial strain using a combination of first-principles calculations and group-theoretic analyses. We demonstrate that the antiferromagnetic moment vector can be stabilized along unique crystallographic directions ([110] and [-110]) under compressive and tensile strains. A direct coupling between the anisotropic antiferrodistortive rotations and the Dzyaloshinskii-Moria interactions drives the stabilization of the weak ferromagnetism. Furthermore, energetically competing C- and G-type magnetic orderings are observed at high compressive strains, suggesting that it may be possible to switch the weak ferromagnetism "on" and "off" under the application of strain. These findings emphasize the importance of strain and antiferrodistortive rotations as routes to enhancing induced weak ferromagnetism in multiferroic oxides.ope

Genetic and phenotypic spectrum associated with IFIH1 gain-of-function

IFIH1 gain‐of‐function has been reported as a cause of a type I interferonopathy encompassing a spectrum of autoinflammatory phenotypes including Aicardi–Goutières syndrome and Singleton Merten syndrome. Ascertaining patients through a European and North American collaboration, we set out to describe the molecular, clinical and interferon status of a cohort of individuals with pathogenic heterozygous mutations in IFIH1. We identified 74 individuals from 51 families segregating a total of 27 likely pathogenic mutations in IFIH1. Ten adult individuals, 13.5% of all mutation carriers, were clinically asymptomatic (with seven of these aged over 50 years). All mutations were associated with enhanced type I interferon signaling, including six variants (22%) which were predicted as benign according to multiple in silico pathogenicity programs. The identified mutations cluster close to the ATP binding region of the protein. These data confirm variable expression and nonpenetrance as important characteristics of the IFIH1 genotype, a consistent association with enhanced type I interferon signaling, and a common mutational mechanism involving increased RNA binding affinity or decreased efficiency of ATP hydrolysis and filament disassembly rate

A genome-wide scan for common alleles affecting risk for autism

Although autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have a substantial genetic basis, most of the known genetic risk has been traced to rare variants, principally copy number variants (CNVs). To identify common risk variation, the Autism Genome Project (AGP) Consortium genotyped 1558 rigorously defined ASD families for 1 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and analyzed these SNP genotypes for association with ASD. In one of four primary association analyses, the association signal for marker rs4141463, located within MACROD2, crossed the genome-wide association significance threshold of P < 5 × 10−8. When a smaller replication sample was analyzed, the risk allele at rs4141463 was again over-transmitted; yet, consistent with the winner's curse, its effect size in the replication sample was much smaller; and, for the combined samples, the association signal barely fell below the P < 5 × 10−8 threshold. Exploratory analyses of phenotypic subtypes yielded no significant associations after correction for multiple testing. They did, however, yield strong signals within several genes, KIAA0564, PLD5, POU6F2, ST8SIA2 and TAF1C

Influence of porosity on lipid preservation into the wall of archaeological pottery

International audiencePorosity of archaeological pottery is a key parameter used to assess its ability to trap lipids during the use of the pot and to preserve them over time. Mercury intrusion porosimetry and gas chromatography were used to study the distribution of porosity and the preservation of lipids in different chrono-cultural contexts. The data obtained show that the porosity pattern, related to the raw materials and the savoir-faire of the potters, influences the amount of lipids accumulated in the pottery. A significant overall porosity together with a high level of small pores is generally favourable for the preservation of lipids, but variations related to the environmental context are observed

The Faces in Infant-Perspective Scenes Change over the First Year of Life

Mature face perception has its origins in the face experiences of infants. However, little is known about the basic statistics of faces in early visual environments. We used head cameras to capture and analyze over 72,000 infant-perspective scenes from 22 infants aged 1-11 months as they engaged in daily activities. The frequency of faces in these scenes declined markedly with age: for the youngest infants, faces were present 15 minutes in every waking hour but only 5 minutes for the oldest infants. In general, the available faces were well characterized by three properties: (1) they belonged to relatively few individuals; (2) they were close and visually large; and (3) they presented views showing both eyes. These three properties most strongly characterized the face corpora of our youngest infants and constitute environmental constraints on the early development of the visual system

Organic residues in archaeology - the highs and lows of recent research

YesThe analysis of organic residues from archaeological materials has become increasingly important to our understanding of ancient diet, trade and technology. Residues from diverse contexts have been retrieved and analysed from the remains of food, medicine and cosmetics to hafting material on stone arrowheads, pitch and tar from shipwrecks, and ancient manure from soils. Research has brought many advances in our understanding of archaeological, organic residues over the past two decades. Some have enabled very specific and detailed interpretations of materials preserved in the archaeological record. However there are still areas where we know very little, like the mechanisms at work during the formation and preservation of residues, and areas where each advance produces more questions rather than answers, as in the identification of degraded fats. This chapter will discuss some of the significant achievements in the field over the past decade and the ongoing challenges for research in this area.Full text was made available in the Repository on 15th Oct 2015, at the end of the publisher's embargo period

Mathematics teaching development as a human practice: identifying and drawing the threads

This article was published in the journal, ZDM Mathematics Education [© FIZ Karlsruhe] and the definitive version is available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11858-012-0437-7The didactic triangle links mathematics, teachers and students in a consideration of teaching– learning interactions in mathematics classrooms. This paper focuses on teachers and teaching in the development of fruitful learning experiences for students with mathematics. It recognises primarily that teachers are humans with personal characteristics, subject to a range of influences through the communities of which they are a part, and considers aspects of teachers’ personhood, identity and agency in designing teaching for the benefit of their students. Teaching is seen as a developmental process in which inquiry plays a central role, both in doing mathematics in the classroom and in exploring teaching practice. The teacher-as-inquirer in collaboration with outsider researchers leads to growth of knowledge in teaching through development of identity and agency for both groups. The inclusion of the outsider researcher brings an additional node into the didactic triangle