Magnetic Correlations in Ruddlesden-Popper Ruthenates

Unconventional Superconductivity is one of the most intriguing phenomena in condensed matter physics and is often the motivation of extensive research of certain material families. Such a material family is represented by the Ruddlesden-Popper ruthenates whose superconducting member Sr2RuO4 pushed the discovery of other interesting physical phenomena in related ruthenates. The ruthenates provide a rich playground to investigate the interplay of electronic, magnetic and structural properties. This thesis is a small contribution to the latest ruthenate research and a good example of the variety of fundamental concepts of condensed matter physics which the Ruddelsden-Popper ruthenates cover. It illustrates one complete journey of experimental work in condensed matter research: Beginning with the crystal growth of ruthenates, followed by the characterization of the crystals using different diffraction and transport methods, ending in complex neutron scattering studies at state-of-the-art research facilities. Main focus lays here on the neutron scattering techniques which are a versatile tool to study structural and magnetic properties and are used here to reveal the magnetic correlation in different members of the Ruddlesden-Popper ruthenate family. This thesis presents results about the spin dynamics in SrRuO3, the influence of current on the structural and magnetic properties of Ca2RuO4, the magnetic fluctuations in Sr2RuO4, and the magnetic order in Sr2Ru(1-y)CoyO4

A "work in progress"? Public engagement is now part of the UK research landscape but challenges remain

Funders of UK research have sought to foster a research culture in which public engagement is embedded at all levels. Kevin Burchell, Chloe Sheppard and Jenni Chambers report on research examining the extent of participation in public engagement by UK researchers, how it varies, and why. Large majorities of researchers have participated in public engagement and are broadly positive about it, while institutions are also shown to be supportive. However, a lack of time, opportunities, funding, and reward are cited as constraints. Meanwhile, public engagement appears more firmly embedded in the arts, humanities and social sciences than it is among STEM researchers. The provision of effective, accessible training is found to be an important precursor to participation in public engagement

The Grizzly, April 9, 2020

Faculty Adjust to the Zoom Life • Center for Writing and Speaking Goes Online • Study Abroad Programs From all Around the World get Cancelled - and it Hurts • COVID Infects Ursinus\u27 Record Books • Lazer\u27s Historic Start Cut Shorthttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1961/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, December 5, 2019

Ursinus Cancels Swimming Seasons After Hazing Investigation • Students Detail Harassment on Main Street • Summer Internship Tips with CPD • Get to Know: Spring Break Service Trip • Opinion: Ursinus\u27 Judicial System is Broken • Q&A with Senior Linebacker Jake McCain • Women\u27s Basketball Walk-on Proves She is More Than Just a Ballerhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1597/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, October 24, 2019

Director of Residence Life Accepts Position at Franklin and Marshall • UC Welcomes New Director of Disability Services • Dean Bryant Starts Mondays with Missy • Popular Biology Course Returns for Spring • Opinions: I saw Joker and it was Just OK; Chile Protests add to Issues in Latin America • Tennis Duo Makes History in Virginia • Swimming Looks to Fill Pool with More Championshipshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1592/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, September 26, 2019

Ursinus Welcomes a New Assistant Director • College Expands Recycling Capacity • Celebrating Ursinus\u27 150th Birthday • U-Imagine Starts Business Workshops • UCARE Offers Voter Registration • Opinions: How Studying Abroad has Been Rewarding; Sesquicentennial Fatigue is Soon to Set In • Stout Defense Stands Tall for Women\u27s Soccer • Men\u27s Soccer off to a Promising Starthttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1589/thumbnail.jp

Surface Water Intrusion, Land Use Impacts, and Bacterial Community Composition in Shallow Groundwater Wells Supplying Potable Water in Sparsely Populated Areas of a Boreal Region

Rural communities often rely on groundwater for potable water supply. In this study, untreated groundwater samples from 28 shallow groundwater wells in Finland ( IMPORTANCE Standard physicochemical water quality analyses and microbial indicator analyses leave much of the (largely uncultured) complexity of groundwater microbial communities unexplored. This study combined these standard methods with additional analyses of stable water isotopes, bacterial community data, and environmental data about the surrounding areas to investigate the associations between physicochemical and microbial properties of 28 shallow groundwater wells in Finland. We detected impaired groundwater quality in some wells, identified potential land use impacts, and revealed indications of surface water intrusion which were negatively correlated with bacterial alpha diversity. The potential influence of surface water intrusion on groundwater wells and their bacterial communities is of particular interest and warrants further investigation because surface water intrusion has previously been linked to groundwater contamination, which is the primary cause of waterborne outbreaks in the Nordic region and one of the major causes in the United States and Canada.Peer reviewe

The Grizzly, September 19, 2019

Two Decades of Ursinus Fringe Festival • Professor Walvoord Wins First-Year Advising Award • Men\u27s Golf Competes at Spartan Invitational • Shammah Bermudez Will Depart from Ursinus • Res Life Launches It\u27s On Me Campaign • Wismer Feeds More than Ursinus Students • Opinion: Andrew Yang, Promising or Placebo?; Why Ursinus Could Use a Shuttle Bus System • Football Shoots Past Gettysburg • Thirteen in the Nation, One in Our Heartshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1935/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, September 12, 2019

The Commons is Coming • Ursinus Celebrates its 150th Birthday • High Expectations for Women\u27s Field Hockey • Proposal Submission Deadline for Ursinus\u27 Inclusive Community Grants is Approaching • Berman Exhibit Lands on Campus • Who ya Gonna Call? Campus Safety • Opinions: Is Climate Anxiety the New Nuclear Anxiety?; Meatless Options: A Positive Trend • A Promising Start for Ursinus Men\u27s Soccer • Senior Spotlight: Tom Garlickhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1588/thumbnail.jp

Monitoring groundwater quality with real-time data, stable water isotopes, and microbial community analysis : A comparison with conventional methods

Groundwater provides much of the world's potable water. Nevertheless, groundwater quality monitoring programmes often rely on a sporadic, slow, and narrowly focused combination of periodic manual sampling and laboratory analyses, such that some water quality deficiencies go undetected, or are detected too late to prevent adverse consequences. In an effort to address this shortcoming, we conducted enhanced monitoring of untreated groundwater quality over 12 months (February 2019-February 2020) in four shallow wells supplying potable water in Finland. We supplemented periodic manual sampling and laboratory analyses with (i) real-time online monitoring of physicochemical and hydrological parameters, (ii) analysis of stable water isotopes from groundwater and nearby surface waters, and (iii) microbial community analysis of groundwater via amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and 16S rRNA. We also developed an early warning system (EWS) for detecting water quality anomalies by automating real-time online monitoring data collection, transfer, and analysis - using electrical conductivity (EC) and turbidity as indirect water quality indicators. Real-time online monitoring measurements were largely in fair agreement with periodic manual measurements, demonstrating their usefulness for monitoring water quality; and the findings of conventional monitoring, stable water isotopes, and microbial community analysis revealed indications of surface water intrusion and faecal contamination at some of the studied sites. With further advances in technology and affordability expected into the future, the supplementary methods used here could be more widely implemented to enhance groundwater quality monitoring - by contributing new insights and/or corroborating the findings of conventional analyses.Peer reviewe