Determination of superconducting anisotropy from magnetization data on random powders as applied to LuNi2_2B2_2C, YNi2_2B2_2C and MgB2_2

The recently discovered intermetallic superconductor MgB2 appears to have a highly anisotopic upper critical field with Hc2(max)/Hc2(min} = \gamma > 5. In order to determine the temperature dependence of both Hc2(max) and Hc2(min) we propose a method of extracting the superconducting anisotropy from the magnetization M(H,T) of randomly oriented powder samples. The method is based on two features in dM/dT the onset of diamagnetism at Tc(max), that is commonly associated with Hc2, and a kink in dM/dT at a lower temperature Tc(min). Results for LuNi2B2C and YNi2B2C powders are in agreement with anisotropic Hc2 obtained from magneto-transport measurements on single crystals. Using this method on four different types of MgB2 powder samples we are able to determine Hc2(max)(T) and Hc2(min)(T) with \gamma \approx 6

Chronic exposure to environmental temperature attenuates the thermal sensitivity of salmonids

Metabolism, the biological processing of energy and materials, scales predictably with temperature and body size. Temperature effects on metabolism are normally studied via acute exposures, which overlooks the capacity for organisms to moderate their metabolism following chronic exposure to warming. Here, we conduct respirometry assays in situ and after transplanting salmonid fish among different streams to disentangle the effects of chronic and acute thermal exposure. We find a clear temperature dependence of metabolism for the transplants, but not the in-situ assays, indicating that chronic exposure to warming can attenuate salmonid thermal sensitivity. A bioenergetic model accurately captures the presence of fish in warmer streams when accounting for chronic exposure, whereas it incorrectly predicts their local extinction with warming when incorporating the acute temperature dependence of metabolism. This highlights the need to incorporate the potential for thermal acclimation or adaptation when forecasting the consequences of global warming on ecosystems

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

La fauna de espinicaudados de la formación cerro de las cabras (Cuenca Guyana), provincia de Mendoza (Argentina): descripción de nuevas especies y revisión de registros previos

Se presenta el estudio sistemático de la fauna de Spinicaudata de la Formación Cerro de Las Cabras (Triásico Medio), norte del cerro Bayo, en la clásica localidad de Potrerillos, Precordillera de Mendoza, Cuenca cuyana, Argentina. Se describen dos nuevas especies: Estheriellites zavattieriae sp. nov. y Euestheria menendezi sp. nov., se enmienda la diagnosis del género y de la especie Challaolimnadiopsis mendozaensis Shen and Gallego, y se describe la especie Euestheria martinsnetoi Gallego et al., previamente citada para la Formación Río Mendoza y que ahora se considera perteneciente a los estratos de Cerro de Las Cabras. La sección estudiada consiste de finas areniscas tufáceas y pelitas interpretadas como depósitos de barreales, ríos y/ o arroyos efímeros de la planicie fluvial. Lagos efímeros o ambientes lacustres someros están caracterizados por una sucesión de limolitas interestratificadas con calizas nodulares-moteadas y estromatolíticas con exposición sub-aérea e incipiente desarrollo de suelos en áreas deprimidas y anegadas bajo condiciones de clima estacional semiárido. Los espinicaudados probablemente habitaron los ambientes de las costas de los lagos y los pequeños pantanos de la planicie fluvial. La profusa presencia de depósitos piroclásticos a lo largo de la secuencia indica una apreciable actividad volcánica explosiva, coetánea con la sedimentación. Sobre la base de consideraciones litoestratigráficas, paleontológicas y dataciones realizadas previamente en esta unidad, la edad de los depósitos estudiados fueron limitados al Triásico Medio (equivalente al Anisiano Tardío-Ladiniano Tardío de las secuencias marinas) y por lo tanto, la asociación faunística E. zavattieriae-E. martinsnetoi es considerada como indicadora para tal edad.This is a systematic study of the Spinicaudata fauna of the Cerro de Las Cabras Formation (Middle Triassic), north of Cerro Bayo, in the classical Potrerillos area, Precordillera of Mendoza, Cuyo Basin, Argentina. Two new species are described: Estheriellites zavattieriae sp. nov. and Euestheria menendezi sp. nov.. The diagnosis of the genus and species of Challaolimnadiopsis mendozaensis Shen and Gallego, is emended; and Euestheria martinsnetoi Gallego et al., previously described for the Río Mendoza Formation is now considered as coming from the Cerro de Las Cabras strata. The studied section consists mainly of fine-grained tuffaceous sandstones and interbedded mudstones interpreted as playa lake, ephemeral rivers and/or streams developed in the floodplain. Ephemeral to shallow lacustrine environments are characterized by interbedded siltstones, nodular-mottle and stromatolitic limestones with sub-aerial exposures and incipient soil development in depressed and flood-prone areas under seasonal semi-arid conditions. Spinicaudatans probably inhabited lacustrine shorelines and small ponds in the floodplain where plant remains (arthrophyte) and rare fish scales were also recorded. The profuse presence of pyroclastic deposits along the sequence indicates considerable explosive volcanic activity coeval with sedimentation. Based on previous lithostratigraphical, paleontological and chronological data, the age of the studied deposits was constrained to Middle Triassic (equivalent to Late Anisian—Late Ladinian of marine sequences) and therefore the E. zavattieriae-E. martinsnetoi Faunal Association is considered as a marker for such age range.Fil: Vaz Tassi, Lara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Zavattieri, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Gallego, Oscar Florencio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral; Argentin

Structure of a heavily transcribed region of barley chloroplast DNA. Transfer RNA genes for serine (UGA), glycine (GCC, UCC), formyl-methionine and threonine (GGU)

The barley chloroplast genome is transcribed into at least 80 RNA molecules (29). Some regions of the genome hybridise to more transcripts than others. One 4.3 kbp HindIII fragment was found to hybridise to a disproportionately high number of transcripts, some of which were light-induced. The sizes of the transcripts ranged from 0.3 to 5.5 kb. In order to discover from which genes these transcripts are derived, the DNA sequence of the fragment has been determined and the transcripts have been mapped. Five tRNA genes have been located including genes for formyl-methionine tRNA and a glycine tRNA with an intron in the D-stem. A scheme to account for the transcription and processing of a precursor-transcript for these tRNAs is proposed. A region containing two open-reading frames hybridises to 9 transcripts. The largest of these, which is 5.5 kb, may be intercistronically processed. A number of long repeated sequences which may be involved in recombinational activity were found

Letter to the editor: male circumcision is an efficacious, lasting and cost-effective strategy for combating HIV in high-prevalence AIDS epidemics

In this article the authors respond to the various claims made in a recent article by Green, et al. "Male circumcision is not the 'vaccine' we have been waiting for!". The article by Green urged immediate action to implement safe MC services based on the scientific evidence for HIV prevention and others aspects of reproductive health.