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BACKGROUND: Older adults (aged ≥70 years) are at increased risk of severe disease and death if they develop COVID-19 and are therefore a priority for immunisation should an efficacious vaccine be developed. Immunogenicity of vaccines is often worse in older adults as a result of immunosenescence. We have reported the immunogenicity of a novel chimpanzee adenovirus-vectored vaccine, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, in young adults, and now describe the safety and immunogenicity of this vaccine in a wider range of participants, including adults aged 70 years and older. METHODS: In this report of the phase 2 component of a single-blind, randomised, controlled, phase 2/3 trial (COV002), healthy adults aged 18 years and older were enrolled at two UK clinical research facilities, in an age-escalation manner, into 18-55 years, 56-69 years, and 70 years and older immunogenicity subgroups. Participants were eligible if they did not have severe or uncontrolled medical comorbidities or a high frailty score (if aged ≥65 years). First, participants were recruited to a low-dose cohort, and within each age group, participants were randomly assigned to receive either intramuscular ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (2·2 × 1010 virus particles) or a control vaccine, MenACWY, using block randomisation and stratified by age and dose group and study site, using the following ratios: in the 18-55 years group, 1:1 to either two doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or two doses of MenACWY; in the 56-69 years group, 3:1:3:1 to one dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, one dose of MenACWY, two doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, or two doses of MenACWY; and in the 70 years and older, 5:1:5:1 to one dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, one dose of MenACWY, two doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, or two doses of MenACWY. Prime-booster regimens were given 28 days apart. Participants were then recruited to the standard-dose cohort (3·5-6·5 × 1010 virus particles of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) and the same randomisation procedures were followed, except the 18-55 years group was assigned in a 5:1 ratio to two doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or two doses of MenACWY. Participants and investigators, but not staff administering the vaccine, were masked to vaccine allocation. The specific objectives of this report were to assess the safety and humoral and cellular immunogenicity of a single-dose and two-dose schedule in adults older than 55 years. Humoral responses at baseline and after each vaccination until 1 year after the booster were assessed using an in-house standardised ELISA, a multiplex immunoassay, and a live severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) microneutralisation assay (MNA80). Cellular responses were assessed using an ex-vivo IFN-γ enzyme-linked immunospot assay. The coprimary outcomes of the trial were efficacy, as measured by the number of cases of symptomatic, virologically confirmed COVID-19, and safety, as measured by the occurrence of serious adverse events. Analyses were by group allocation in participants who received the vaccine. Here, we report the preliminary findings on safety, reactogenicity, and cellular and humoral immune responses. This study is ongoing and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04400838, and ISRCTN, 15281137. FINDINGS: Between May 30 and Aug 8, 2020, 560 participants were enrolled: 160 aged 18-55 years (100 assigned to ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, 60 assigned to MenACWY), 160 aged 56-69 years (120 assigned to ChAdOx1 nCoV-19: 40 assigned to MenACWY), and 240 aged 70 years and older (200 assigned to ChAdOx1 nCoV-19: 40 assigned to MenACWY). Seven participants did not receive the boost dose of their assigned two-dose regimen, one participant received the incorrect vaccine, and three were excluded from immunogenicity analyses due to incorrectly labelled samples. 280 (50%) of 552 analysable participants were female. Local and systemic reactions were more common in participants given ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 than in those given the control vaccine, and similar in nature to those previously reported (injection-site pain, feeling feverish, muscle ache, headache), but were less common in older adults (aged ≥56 years) than younger adults. In those receiving two standard doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, after the prime vaccination local reactions were reported in 43 (88%) of 49 participants in the 18-55 years group, 22 (73%) of 30 in the 56-69 years group, and 30 (61%) of 49 in the 70 years and older group, and systemic reactions in 42 (86%) participants in the 18-55 years group, 23 (77%) in the 56-69 years group, and 32 (65%) in the 70 years and older group. As of Oct 26, 2020, 13 serious adverse events occurred during the study period, none of which were considered to be related to either study vaccine. In participants who received two doses of vaccine, median anti-spike SARS-CoV-2 IgG responses 28 days after the boost dose were similar across the three age cohorts (standard-dose groups: 18-55 years, 20 713 arbitrary units [AU]/mL [IQR 13 898-33 550], n=39; 56-69 years, 16 170 AU/mL [10 233-40 353], n=26; and ≥70 years 17 561 AU/mL [9705-37 796], n=47; p=0·68). Neutralising antibody titres after a boost dose were similar across all age groups (median MNA80 at day 42 in the standard-dose groups: 18-55 years, 193 [IQR 113-238], n=39; 56-69 years, 144 [119-347], n=20; and ≥70 years, 161 [73-323], n=47; p=0·40). By 14 days after the boost dose, 208 (>99%) of 209 boosted participants had neutralising antibody responses. T-cell responses peaked at day 14 after a single standard dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (18-55 years: median 1187 spot-forming cells [SFCs] per million peripheral blood mononuclear cells [IQR 841-2428], n=24; 56-69 years: 797 SFCs [383-1817], n=29; and ≥70 years: 977 SFCs [458-1914], n=48). INTERPRETATION: ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 appears to be better tolerated in older adults than in younger adults and has similar immunogenicity across all age groups after a boost dose. Further assessment of the efficacy of this vaccine is warranted in all age groups and individuals with comorbidities. FUNDING: UK Research and Innovation, National Institutes for Health Research (NIHR), Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Thames Valley and South Midlands NIHR Clinical Research Network, and AstraZeneca.

Background: The pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) might be curtailed by vaccination. We assessed the safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity of a viral vectored coronavirus vaccine that expresses the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Methods: We did a phase 1/2, single-blind, randomised controlled trial in five trial sites in the UK of a chimpanzee adenovirus-vectored vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein compared with a meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) as control. Healthy adults aged 18–55 years with no history of laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection or of COVID-19-like symptoms were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 at a dose of 5 × 10 10 viral particles or MenACWY as a single intramuscular injection. A protocol amendment in two of the five sites allowed prophylactic paracetamol to be administered before vaccination. Ten participants assigned to a non-randomised, unblinded ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 prime-boost group received a two-dose schedule, with the booster vaccine administered 28 days after the first dose. Humoral responses at baseline and following vaccination were assessed using a standardised total IgG ELISA against trimeric SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, a muliplexed immunoassay, three live SARS-CoV-2 neutralisation assays (a 50% plaque reduction neutralisation assay [PRNT 50]; a microneutralisation assay [MNA 50, MNA 80, and MNA 90]; and Marburg VN), and a pseudovirus neutralisation assay. Cellular responses were assessed using an ex-vivo interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunospot assay. The co-primary outcomes are to assess efficacy, as measured by cases of symptomatic virologically confirmed COVID-19, and safety, as measured by the occurrence of serious adverse events. Analyses were done by group allocation in participants who received the vaccine. Safety was assessed over 28 days after vaccination. Here, we report the preliminary findings on safety, reactogenicity, and cellular and humoral immune responses. The study is ongoing, and was registered at ISRCTN, 15281137, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04324606. Findings: Between April 23 and May 21, 2020, 1077 participants were enrolled and assigned to receive either ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (n=543) or MenACWY (n=534), ten of whom were enrolled in the non-randomised ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 prime-boost group. Local and systemic reactions were more common in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group and many were reduced by use of prophylactic paracetamol, including pain, feeling feverish, chills, muscle ache, headache, and malaise (all p80 and in 35 (100%) participants when measured in PRNT 50. After a booster dose, all participants had neutralising activity (nine of nine in MNA 80 at day 42 and ten of ten in Marburg VN on day 56). Neutralising antibody responses correlated strongly with antibody levels measured by ELISA (R 2=0·67 by Marburg VN; p

Magnetic vortex cores in polycrystalline Ni discs underwent non-volatile displacements due to voltage-driven ferroelectric domain switching in single-crystal BaTiO3. This behaviour was observed using photoemission electron microscopy to image both the ferromagnetism and ferroelectricity, while varying in-plane sample orientation. The resulting vector maps of disc magnetization match well with micromagnetic simulations, which show that the vortex core is translated by the transit of a ferroelectric domain wall, and thus the inhomogeneous strain with which it is associated. The non-volatility is attributed to pinning inside the discs. Voltage-driven displacement of magnetic vortex cores is novel, and opens the way for studying voltage-driven vortex dynamics.

Magnetic doping and proximity coupling can open a band gap in a topological insulator (TI) and give rise to dissipationless quantum conduction phenomena. Here, by combining these two approaches, we demonstrate a novel TI superlattice structure that is alternately doped with transition and rare earth elements. An unexpected exchange bias effect is unambiguously confirmed in the superlattice with a large exchange bias field using magneto-transport and magneto-optical techniques. Further, the Curie temperature of the Cr-doped layers in the superlattice is found to increase by 60 K compared to a Cr-doped single-layer film. This result is supported by density-functional-theory calculations, which indicate the presence of antiferromagnetic ordering in Dy:Bi2Te3 induced by proximity coupling to Cr:Sb2Te3 at the interface. This work provides a new pathway to realizing the quantum anomalous Hall effect at elevated temperatures and axion insulator state at zero magnetic field by interface engineering in TI heterostructures.

Pancreatic cancer has the worst prognosis of any human malignancy and leukocyte infiltration is a major prognostic marker of the disease. As current immunotherapies confer negligible survival benefits, there is a need to better characterise leukocytes in pancreatic cancer to identify better therapeutic strategies.In this study, we analysed 32 human pancreatic cancer patients from two independent cohorts. A multi-parameter mass-cytometry analysis was performed on 32,000 T-cells from eight patients. Single-cell RNA sequencing dataset analysis was performed on a cohort of 24 patients. Multiplex immunohistochemistry imaging and spatial analysis were performed to map immune infiltration into the tumour microenvironment.Regulatory T-cell populations demonstrated highly immunosuppressive states with high TIGIT, ICOS and CD39 expression. CD8+ T-cells were found to be either in senescence or an exhausted state. The exhausted CD8 T-cells had low PD-1 expression but high TIGIT and CD39 expression. These findings were corroborated in an independent pancreatic cancer single-cell RNA dataset from additional 24 patients.These data suggest that T-cells are major players in the suppressive microenvironment of pancreatic cancer. Our work identifies novel therapeutic targets that should form the basis for rational design of a new generation of clinical trials in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Arrays of interacting 2D nanomagnets display unprecedented electromagnetic properties via collective effects, demonstrated in artificial spin ices and magnonic crystals. Progress toward 3D magnetic metamaterials is hampered by two challenges: fabricating 3D structures near intrinsic magnetic length scales (sub-100 nm) and visualizing their magnetic configurations. Here, we fabricate and measure nanoscale magnetic gyroids, periodic chiral networks comprising nanowire-like struts forming three-connected vertices. Via block copolymer templating, we produce Ni75Fe25 single-gyroid and double-gyroid (an inversion pair of single-gyroids) nanostructures with a 42 nm unit cell and 11 nm diameter struts, comparable to the exchange length in Ni–Fe. We visualize their magnetization distributions via off-axis electron holography with nanometer spatial resolution and interpret the patterns using finite-element micromagnetic simulations. Our results suggest an intricate, frustrated remanent state which is ferromagnetic but without a unique equilibrium configuration, opening new possibilities for collective phenomena in magnetism, including 3D magnonic crystals and unconventional computing.

Using photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) to image ferromagnetism in polycrystalline Ni disks, and ferroelectricity in their single-crystal BaTiO3 substrates, we find that voltage-driven 90° ferroelectric domain switching serves to reversibly annihilate each magnetic vortex via uniaxial compressive strain, and that the orientation of the resulting bi-domain reveals the chirality of the annihilated vortex. Micromagnetic simulations reveal that only 60% of this strain is required for annihilation. Voltage control of magnetic vortices is novel, and should be energetically favourable with respect to the use of a magnetic field or an electrical current. In future, stray field from bi-domains could be exploited to read vortex chirality. Given that core polarity can already be read via stray field, our work represents a step towards four-state low-power memory applications.

Heat treatment (HT) of a mixture of tannins and inorganic boron compounds showed effective results against wood decay organisms. Boron compounds play a critical role in the preservation of wood against wood decay organisms. The use of tannins and HT represents a relatively new environmentally friendly approach to the wood preservation industry. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of tannin impregnation and HT on boron depletion, and termite and fungi resistance. Southern yellow pine (SYP) and yellow-poplar (YP) cube samples were used for this study. A mixture of condensed tannins from the Quebracho tree and disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT) was injected into the specimens using a vacuum/pressure cycle, and the specimens were then heat-treated under N2 atmosphere for four hours at 190 &deg, C to investigate both the tannin&rsquo, s fixative ability to reduce boron leaching and the performance of the mixture against brown and white-rot fungi and termites. Tannins restricted boron leaching in 46% and 34% for SYP and YP, respectively, and also significantly increased the resistance against white-rot fungi for YP. Tannins and HT showed unpredictably good performance against termites. Tannins may be acting to denature proteins, in that case, fungal enzymes would be inhibited. This study revealed the importance of HT on a mixture of boron and tannins to decrease boron leaching and increase the durability of preservative systems.

Pathogenic strains of Enterococcus cecorum cause symmetrical paralysis in broilers due to infection of the free thoracic vertebra. The disease caused by pathogenic E. cecorum, known as enterococcal spondylitis or "kinky-back" continues to be responsible for significant losses to the broiler industry worldwide. In outbreaks of pathogenic E. cecorum, gut colonization and sepsis occur in the first three weeks-of-life. Since maternal antibodies are present during this period, we postulated that vaccination of breeders with a polyvalent killed vaccine would protect chicks from challenge. To test this hypothesis, representative isolates from seven genotype groups of pathogenic E. cecorum circulating in the US were chosen to produce adjuvanted killed vaccines (bacterins) and given to broiler-breeder hens. No single strain produced high titres of antibodies to all other strains; however, the combination of serologic reactivity of pathogenic isolates (designated SA3 and SA7) was sufficient to react with all genotypes. Vaccination of commercial broiler-breeder hens with a bacterin composed of SA3 and SA7 did not have any adverse effects. Vaccinated hens developed E. cecorum specific antibodies; however, no significant difference in survival was observed in infected embryos from hens in vaccine or adjuvant only groups. Chicks from vaccinated hens also failed to resist homologous or heterologous challenge during experimental infection. In a macrophage killing assay, pathogenic E. cecorum were found to evade opsinophagocytosis with elicited antibodies. These data suggest that pathogenic strains of E. cecorum possess virulence mechanisms that confound antibody-mediated opsinophagocytosis, complicating vaccine development for this pathogen of broilers.

In an increasingly data-driven age of medicine, do companies that offer genetic testing directly to patients represent an important part of personalising care, or a dangerous threat to privacy? Should we celebrate this new mechanism of patient involvement, or fear its implications? The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge addressed these issues in the 10th annual Medical Ethics Varsity Debate, through the motion: “This House Regrets the Rise of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing”. This article summarises and extends key arguments made in the debate, exploring the impacts of such genetic testing on both the individual patient and broader society, with special consideration as to whether companies can ever truly guarantee anonymity of genetic data.

Mass timber structures have the potential to change wooden construction on a global scale. Numerous mass timber high-rise buildings are in planning, under development or already built and their performance will alter how architects and engineers view wood as a material. To date, the discussion of material durability and biodegradation in these structures has been limited. While all materials can be degraded by wetting, the potential for biodegradation of wood in a mass timber building requires special consideration. Identifying and eliminating the conditions that might lead to this degradation will be critical for ensuring proper performance of wood in these structures. This article reviews and contrasts potential sources of biodegradation that exist for traditional wood construction with those in mass timber construction and identifies methods for limiting the degradation risk. Finally, future research needs are outlined.

Modulation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in a tumor could be exploited for nanotherapeutic benefits. We investigate the antitumor effect in Walker-256 carcinosarcoma of magnetic nanodots composed of doxorubicin-loaded Fe3O4 nanoparticles combined with electromagnetic fields. Treatment using the magnetic nanodot with the largest hysteresis loop area (3402 erg/g) had the greatest antitumor effect with the minimum growth factor 0.49 ± 0.02 day–1 (compared to 0.58 ± 0.02 day–1 for conventional doxorubicin). Electron spin resonance spectra of Walker-256 carcinosarcoma treated with the nanodots, indicate an increase of 2.7 times of free iron (that promotes the formation of highly reactive oxygen species), using the nanodot with the largest hysteresis loop area, compared to conventional doxorubicin treatment as well as increases in ubisemiquinone, lactoferrin, NO-FeS-proteins. Hence, we provide evidence that the designed magnetic nanodots can modulate the tumor redox state. We discuss the implications of these results for cancer nanotherapy.

Strong spin–momentum coupling in topological insulators gives rise to topological surface states, protected against disorder scattering by time reversal symmetry. The study of these exotic quantum states not only provides an opportunity to explore fundamental phenomenon in condensed matter physics, such as the spin Hall effect, but also lays the foundation for applications in quantum computing to spintronics. Conventional electrical measurements suffer from substantial bulk interference, making it difficult to clearly identify topological surface state from the bulk. We use terahertz time-domain spectroscopy to study the temperature-dependent optical behavior of a 23-quintuple-thick film of bismuth selenide (Bi2Se3), allowing the deconvolution of the surface state response from the bulk. The signatures of the topological surface state at low temperatures (

We derive a deterministic protocol to implement a general single-qubit POVM on near-term circuit-based quantum computers. The protocol has a modular structure, such that an $n$-element POVM is implemented as a sequence of $(n-1)$ circuit modules. Each module performs a $2$-element POVM. Two variations of the protocol are suggested, one optimal in terms of number of ancilla qubits, the other optimal in terms of number of qubit gate operations and quantum circuit depth. We use the protocol to implement $2$- and $3$-element POVMs on two publicly available quantum computing devices. The results we obtain suggest that implementing non-trivial POVMs could be within the reach of the current noisy quantum computing devices., 7 pages, 4 figures

Surface acoustic waves (SAWs) can create moving quantum dots in piezoelectric materials. Here we show how electron-spin qubits located on dynamic quantum dots can be entangled. Previous theoretical and numerical models of quantum-dot entanglement generation have been insufficient to study quantum dynamics in realistic experimental devices. We utilize state-of-the-art graphics processing units to simulate the wave-function dynamics of two electrons carried by a SAW through a two-dimensional semiconductor heterostructure. We build a methodology to implement a power-of-swap gate via the Coulomb interaction. A benefit of the SAW architecture is that it provides a coherent way of transporting the qubits through an electrostatic potential. This architecture allows us to avoid problems associated with fast control pulses and guarantees operation consistency, providing an advantage over static qubits. For interdot barrier heights where the double occupation energy is sufficiently greater than the double-dot hopping energy, we find that parameters based on experiments in GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures can produce a high-fidelity root-of-swap operation. Our results provide a methodology for a crucial component of dynamic-qubit quantum computing.

The texture and magnetic anisotropy of a YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) film growth onto a MgO substrate are analyzed in order to understand the relation between them. X-ray diffraction shows the presence of the (00l) reflections from the YBCO layer with a grain’s fraction value 98%. Rocking Curves (RC) measurements reveal an out-of-plane texture with a full width at the half maximum of 0.81°, revealing a high uniaxial texture in the YBCO film. The temperature dependence of the susceptibility measurements obtained under many applied fields along Hext ||c-axis and Hext||ab-plane reveals strong relationship between the uniaxial texture and the magnetic anisotropy, confirming the high ordering of the CuO2 superconducting planes. In addition, the critical current density values are obtained from the hysteresis loops and compared to similar YBCO films with uniaxial and biaxial texture reported elsewhere.

We present a comprehensive study of the temperature (T) dependence of the longitudinal spin Seebeck effect (LSSE) in Pt/EuO1-x and Pt/La2NiMnO6 (LNMO) hybrid structures across their Curie temperatures (T-c). Both systems host ferromagnetic interaction below T-c, and hence present optimal conditions for testing magnon spin current based theories against ferrimagnetic yttrium iron garnet. Notably, we observe an anomalous Nernst effect generated voltage in bare EuO1-x, however, we find LSSE predominates the thermal signals in the bilayers with Pt. The T dependence of the LSSE in small T range near T-c could be fitted to a power law of the form (T-c- T)(p). The derived critical exponent P was verified for different methods of LSSE representation and sample crystallinity. The results are explained based on the magnon-driven thermal spin pumping mechanism that relates the T dependence of LSSE to the spin mixing conductance (G(mix)) at the heavy metal/ferromagnet interface, which in turn is known to vary inaccordance with the square of the spontaneous magnetization (M-s). Additionally, the T dependence of the real part of G(mix) derived from spin Hall magnetoresistance measurements at different temperatures for the Pt/LNMO structure further establishes the interdependence.

In this work, we characterize the hollow hematite (α-Fe2O3) micro spheres obtained by two non-template techniques: i) sol gel and ii) spray roasting process. Both techniques allow the production of high yield hollow hematite spheres up to 100 g for the case of sol gel and up to 500 kg for the case of spray roaster process. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The results indicate nearly uniform hollow spheres with diameters of around 1–1.5 μm and consisting of polycrystalline hematite. The Mӧssbauer spectroscopy reveals the signal change of quadrupole shift values evidencing the occurrence of the Morin transition and that the samples show an antiferromagnetic order at 77 K as in bulk hematite. The Morin temperature (TM) for both samples was obtained from the measurements of the magnetic moments as a function of the temperature in zero field cooling (ZFC) and field cooling (FC) modes. The values of TM for both samples are lower than that reported for bulk hematite (TM(bulk) = 263 K). Remarkably, the ZFC and FC loops do not overlap in both samples, revealing irreversible Morin transition. However, the sample obtained by sol gel presents thermal hysteresis with TM values of 260 K (in ZFC) and 248 K (FC). Whereas, the sample obtained by spray roaster process presents complete irreversibility and TM values of 252 K (in ZFC) and 242 K (in FC). Keywords: Hollow spheres, Hematite, Morin transition, Thermal hysteresis

Surface acoustic waves (SAWs) strongly modulate the shallow electric potential in piezoelectric materials. In semiconductor heterostructures such as GaAs/AlGaAs, SAWs can thus be employed to transfer individual electrons between distant quantum dots. This transfer mechanism makes SAW technologies a promising candidate to convey quantum information through a circuit of quantum logic gates. Here we present two essential building blocks of such a SAW-driven quantum circuit. First, we implement a directional coupler allowing to partition a flying electron arbitrarily into two paths of transportation. Second, we demonstrate a triggered single-electron source enabling synchronisation of the SAW-driven sending process. Exceeding a single-shot transfer efficiency of 99 %, we show that a SAW-driven integrated circuit is feasible with single electrons on a large scale. Our results pave the way to perform quantum logic operations with flying electron qubits., Comment: Accepted for Publication in Nature Communications

Magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) microscopy is a surface-sensitive probe of magnetisation with micron-sized lateral resolution.Here, we present a low-temperature, focused polar MOKE microscope for the simultaneous magneto-optical and magneto-transport measurements, which has a temperature range of 1.6-300 K and is equipped with a magnet capable of delivering a field of up to 9 T. In this microscope, all optical components are integrated in a free-standing probe, allowing for the straightforward incorporation into many non-optical cryostat systems. Two-dimensional magnetisation scans on patterned ferromagnetic [CoFeB/Pt]alt;subagt;nalt;/subagt; films demonstrate a magnetisation sensitivity of 10 μrad (Kerr angle) and a spatial resolution of 2.2 μm. The combination of optical and electrical measurements provides complementary temperature-dependent information, as demonstrated by the study of magnetic topological insulator thin films with out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy. Using this complementary approach, we study the effects of a secondary phase in Cr and V co-doped Sbalt;subagt;2alt;/subagt;Tealt;subagt;3alt;/subagt; thin films, which show a combination of weak antilocalization and anisotropic magnetoresistance effects above 70 K. Our results highlight the virtue of MOKE and electrical transport to optimise exotic topological magnetic materials, paving the way for energy-efficient spintronic devices.

Wooden breast myopathy (WBM), or "woody breast" or "wooden breast" affects modern, rapidly growing, high breast-yield broiler chickens. Decreased meat quality due to undesirable organoleptic properties and condemnation of affected breast meat cause economic losses. The pathogenesis of WBM remains unknown. In this study, WBM lesion development was determined in three modern broiler strains and Athens Canadian Random Bred (ACRB) broilers, a 1950s unselected broiler chicken. Correlations between WBM severity and incubation temperature profile, sex, strain, body weight, and lymphocytic phlebitis were also determined. At 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age, samples of breast muscle from 10 male and 10 female birds from each strain, incubated under optimal or low-early, high-late temperatures, were scored histologically for severity of WBM and lymphocytic phlebitis. WBM lesions, identified as early as 2 weeks, became progressively more severe with age and growth in the three commercial broiler strains. WBM severity was significantly correlated with lymphocytic phlebitis and body weight. Lymphocytic phlebitis and minimal WBM were present in the ACRB broilers at all samplings, but did not progress in severity over time. There were no significant differences in severity of WBM among the commercial broiler strains, between sexes, or between incubation temperature profiles. The positive correlation between WBM severity and lymphocytic phlebitis indicates vascular injury is likely an important factor in the pathogenesis. Mild muscle lesions in ACRB birds without overt clinical signs indicate subclinical muscle disease may have been present in broilers prior to the description of WBM.

4Cr5MoSiV (H11) steel machining chips were crushed to a powder and then consolidated into discs by hot pressing under various consolidation parameters. The discs were subjected to modified spheroidizing annealing treatment, and their evolved microstructure, tensile mechanical properties and fracture behavior were studied. The microstructure consisted of α − Fe as a matrix, together with heterogeneously distributed non metallic inclusions from the chip-crushing step and precipitated secondary phases. The yield strength, fracture strength and elongation to fracture of the consolidated discs were determined to be in the range of 215 ∼ 264 ​MPa, 344 ∼ 415 ​MPa and 1.2 ∼ 2.6%, respectively. The strength of the recycled H11 steel was comparable with that of the ingot metallurgy (IM) H11 steel, but the tensile ductility of the former was significantly lower than that of the latter, being mainly caused by the fracture of the non-metallic inclusions along with the hard secondary phase particles in the IM H11 steel which leads to premature fracture of the samples. The Vickers hardness of the samples were in the range of 144 ∼ 194 HV being comparable to that of the IM counterpart. Factographs of the fracture surface demonstrated that the tensile test specimens fractured in a brittle fracture mode.

We identify room-temperature converse magnetoelectric effects (CMEs) that are non-volatile by using a single-crystal substrate of PMN–PT (001)pc (pc denotes pseudocubic) to impart voltage-driven strain to a polycrystalline film of Ni. An appropriate magnetic-field history enhances the magnetoelectric coefficient to a near-record peak of ∼10−6 s m−1 and permits electrically driven magnetization reversal of substantial net magnetization. In zero magnetic field, electrically driven ferroelectric domain switching produces large changes of in-plane magnetization that are non-volatile. Microscopically, these changes are accompanied by the creation and destruction of magnetic stripe domains, implying the electrical control of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Moreover, the stripe direction can be rotated by a magnetic field or an electric field, the latter yielding the first example of electrically driven rotatable magnetic anisotropy. The observed CMEs are associated with repeatable ferroelectric domain switching that yields a memory effect. This memory effect is well known for PMN–PT (110)pc but not PMN–PT (001)pc. Given that close control of the applied field is not required as for PMN–PT (110)pc, this memory effect could lead the way to magnetoelectric memories based on PMN–PT (001)pc membranes that switch at low voltage.

We provide an in-depth investigation of parameter estimation in nested Mach-Zehnder interferometers (NMZIs) using two information measures: the Fisher information and the Shannon mutual information. Protocols for counterfactual communication have, so far, been based on two different definitions of counterfactuality. In particular, some schemes have been based on NMZI devices, and have recently been subject to criticism. We provide a methodology for evaluating the counterfactuality of these protocols, based on an information-theoretical framework. More specifically, we make the assumption that any realistic quantum channel in MZI structures will have some weak uncontrolled interaction. We then use the Fisher information of this interaction to measure counterfactual violations. The measure is used to evaluate the suggested counterfactual communication protocol of H. Salih et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 170502 (2013)]. The protocol of D. R. M. Arvidsson-Shukur and C. H. W. Barnes [Phys. Rev. A 94, 062303 (2016)], based on a different definition, is evaluated with a probability measure. Our results show that the definition of Arvidsson-Shukur and Barnes is satisfied by their scheme, while that of Salih et al. is only satisfied by perfect quantum channels. For realistic devices the latter protocol does not achieve its objective.

The formation of graphene-encapsulated copper nanoparticles was investigated through carbonizing a mixture of kraft lignin and copper sulfate pentahydrate at the temperature up to 500 °C. The abrupt conversion of copper ions into its atoms occurred at 300 °C. The formation of graphene layers surrounding copper nanoparticles started as early as the heating temperature reached 400 °C. Most copper nanoparticles were covered with less than five graphene layers when the temperature reached 500 °C. The average diameter of graphene-encapsulated copper nanoparticles was 12.75 and 11.62 nm for temperature at 400 and 500 °C, respectively. The heating temperature had no significant effect on the size of graphene-encapsulated copper nanoparticles in the evaluated temperature range. It is believed that the formation of graphene-layered shell surrounding copper nanoparticles is based on the mechanism of self-limiting theory with solid carbon as the carbon source.

Enterococcal spondylitis (ES) is a disease of commercial broiler chickens, with a worldwide distribution. Symmetrical hind limb paralysis typical of ES results from infection of the free thoracic vertebra (FTV) by pathogenic strains of Enterococcus cecorum . To determine the pathogenesis of ES, birds with natural and experimental ES were studied over time. In natural disease, case birds (n = 150) from an affected farm and control birds (n = 100) from an unaffected farm were evaluated at weeks 1–6. In control birds, intestinal colonization by E. cecorum began at week 3. In case birds, E. cecorum was detected in intestine and spleen at week 1, followed by infection of the FTV beginning at week 3. E. cecorum isolates recovered from intestine, spleen, and FTV of case birds had matching genotypes, confirming that intestinal colonization with pathogenic strains precedes bacteremia and infection of the FTV. Clinical intestinal disease was not required for E. cecorum bacteremia. In 1- to 3-week-old case birds, pathogenic E. cecorum was observed within osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) lesions in the FTV. To determine whether OCD of the FTV was a risk factor for ES, 214 birds were orally infected with E. cecorum, and the FTV was evaluated histologically at weeks 1–7. Birds without cartilage clefts of OCD in the FTV did not develop ES; while birds with OCD scores ≥3 were susceptible to lesion development. These findings suggest that intestinal colonization, bacteremia, and OCD of the FTV in early life are crucial to the pathogenesis of ES.

We report the fabrication and characterization of copper microelectrodes obtained by a homemade lithography technique and after gold electroless deposition. For the fabrication, planes consisting of arrays of electrodes (black in color) with bow tie shape were designed and printed on a transparent paper (Canson ltd.). Using an embroidery frame with a silk fabric, a photographic emulsion was spread on the silk and simultaneously pressing the Canson paper on it. The system was introduced into a closed box and exposed with a UV light. The designed electrode templates prevented direct exposition of the UV light over copper films and indelible ink was spread over it. After the ink was dried, the copper film is immersed into ferric acid to attack the uncovered copper parts (where there is no ink). In this way, we obtained copper electrodes with initial gap separation of ~142μm and subsequently, they followed electroless deposition of gold to make the copper electrodes to contact. For the characterization, electrical measurements were performed. They present ohmic resistance values in the order of 106 Ω produced by surface scattering of the electrons within the gold microwire and enhanced by oxidation of the copper electrodes.

In this work we report the formation of hollow α-Fe2O3 (hematite) microspheres by the gas-bubble template method. This technique is simple and it does not require hard templates, surfactants, special conditions of atmosphere or complex steps. After reacting Fe(NO3)3.9H2O and citric acid in water by sol–gel, the precursor was annealed in air at different temperatures between 180 and 600 °C. Annealing at 550 and 600 °C generates bubbles on the melt which crystallize and oxidizes to form hematite hollow spheres after quenching. The morphology and crystal evolution are studied by means of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. We found that after annealing at 250–400 °C, the sample consist of a mixture of magnetite, maghemite and hematite. Single hematite phase in the form of hollow microspheres is obtained after annealing at 550 and 600 °C. The crystallization and crystal size of the hematite shells increase with annealing temperature. A possible mechanism for hollow sphere formation is presented.

We report the magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) study of magnetic topological insulator superlattice films with alternating transition-metal and rare-earth doping. We observe an unexpected hump in the MOKE hysteresis loops upon magnetization reversal at low temperatures, reminiscent of the topological Hall effect (THE) reported in transport measurements. The THE is commonly associated with the existence of magnetic skyrmions, i.e. chiral spin textures originating from topological defects in real space. Here, the observation of the effect is tied to ferromagnetic ordering in the rare-earth-doped layers of the superlattice. Our study may provide a new approach for the non-invasive optical investigation of skyrmions in magnetic films, complementary to electrical transport measurements, where the topological Hall signal is often the only hint of non-trivial magnetization patterns.

We report on the angular and field dependence of the magnetoresistance (MR) in bilayers of Pt / EuO 1 − x thin films, measured in both in-plane and out-of-plane geometries at different temperatures (T). The presence of oxygen vacancies manifested by a metal–insulator transition as well as a high-T ferromagnet-to-paramagnet transition (TP) was observed in the bilayers. The anisotropic magnetoresistance could be extracted in the entire T-range, even above TP, exhibiting two sign crossovers. We attribute its T-evolution to the rotation of the easy axis of the magnetization direction from a high-T out-of-plane to a low-T in-plane orientation. In addition, we provide direct experimental evidence of the spin Hall effect-induced spin Hall magnetoresistance, systematically considering several known MR contributions that can arise from the films' (111) texture and interface.

We show that postselection offers a nonclassical advantage in metrology. In every parameter-estimation experiment, the final measurement or the postprocessing incurs some cost. Postselection can improve the rate of Fisher information (the average information learned about an unknown parameter from an experimental trial) to cost. This improvement, we show, stems from the negativity of a quasiprobability distribution, a quantum extension of a probability distribution. In a classical theory, in which all observables commute, our quasiprobability distribution can be expressed as real and nonnegative. In a quantum-mechanically noncommuting theory, nonclassicality manifests in negative or nonreal quasiprobabilities. The distribution's nonclassically negative values enable postselected experiments to outperform even postselection-free experiments whose input states and final measurements are optimized: Postselected quantum experiments can yield anomalously large information-cost rates. We prove that this advantage is genuinely nonclassical: no classically commuting theory can describe any quantum experiment that delivers an anomalously large Fisher information. Finally, we outline a preparation-and-postselection procedure that can yield an arbitrarily large Fisher information. Our results establish the nonclassicality of a metrological advantage, leveraging our quasiprobability distribution as a mathematical tool., Comment: Close to published version

Occurrence of mortality, wooden breast, and pulmonary disease in broiler chickens during the last 16 days of production in a teaching flock of 4000 commercial broilers was determined. A new syndrome was identified, in which broilers fell over for an unknown reason and were unable to right themselves (dorsal recumbency). Birds affected by dorsal recumbency were alert and responsive and showed no clinical signs except for occasional mild to moderate dyspnea. When turned over, they resumed normal behavior. Mortality (14 culls; 49 dead) during the last 16 days of production accounted for 1.6% of the flock and 36% of total mortality. Among these, 71% were heavy males, 70% had wooden breast, and 71% had pulmonary congestion and edema. Gross lesions of concurrent wooden breast and pulmonary disease occurred in 68% of the mortality, including 21 of 22 dead birds found on their backs. These findings indicate that wooden breast is associated with mortality prior to processing as a result of pulmonary disease in heavy male broilers. When birds with wooden breast fall onto their backs for unknown reason(s), they are unable to right themselves. If not found and turned over, they may not survive. Based on these findings, wooden breast is likely greater than just a problem with meat quality and should be considered an animal well-being issue.Reporte de caso- Presencia de “pechuga de madera” en pollos de engorde comerciales asociada con mortalidad, recumbencia dorsal y enfermedad pulmonar. Se determinó la presentación de mortalidad, “pechuga de madera” y enfermedad pulmonar en pollos de engorde durante los últimos 16 días de producción en una parvada de 4000 pollos de engorde comerciales. Se identificó un nuevo síndrome en el que los pollos se postraban por una razón desconocida y no podían enderezarse (recumbencia dorsal). Las aves afectadas por la recumbencia dorsal estaban alertas y respondían, y no mostraban signos clínicos, excepto casos de disnea ocasional de leve a moderada. Cuando las aves se colocaban en posición normal, retomaban su comportamiento normal. La mortalidad (14 aves eliminadas; 49 muertas) durante los últimos 16 días de producción representó el 1.6% de la parvada y 36% de la mortalidad total. Entre estos, el 71% eran machos pesados, 70% tenían “pechuga de madera” y 71% tenían congestión pulmonar y edema. Lesiones macroscópicas concurrentes de enfermedad pulmonar y de “pechuga de madera” ocurrieron en el 68% de la mortalidad, incluyendo 21 de las 22 aves muertas que fueron encontradas postradas sobre sus dorsos. Estos hallazgos indican que la “pechuga de madera” se asocia con la mortalidad antes del procesamiento como resultado de enfermedad pulmonar en pollos de engorde machos pesados. Cuando las aves con “pechuga de madera” se caen de espaldas por razones desconocidas, no pueden enderezarse. Si no se encuentran y se colocan en posición normal, pueden no sobrevivir. Según estos hallazgos, la “pechuga de madera” es probablemente más que solo un problema con la calidad de la carne y también debe considerarse un problema de bienestar animal.

Enterococcus cecorum was initially identified as a harmless commensal of the gastrointestinal tract of chickens. However, over the past 15 yr, pathogenic strains of E. cecorum have become a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in broiler breeders, and repeated outbreaks occur, but an environmental reservoir for pathogenic E. cecorum has yet to be identified. Genetic analyses of E. cecorum demonstrate that strains with increased pathogenicity are genetically related and share several putative virulence genes. Pathogenic E. cecorum carry increased antimicrobial resistance compared to commensal strains. These pathogenic strains can be recovered from retail meat and may serve as a reservoir for further spread of antimicrobial resistance among other Enterococcus spp. This review presents the current understanding of the pathogenesis of E. cecorum and briefly discusses antimicrobial resistance in E. cecorum due to the role of Enterococcus spp. in nosocomial infections in people.

Laying hens (n = 2267) ranging in age from 2 to 4 yr in a study evaluating ovarian cancer prevention were necropsied. Those that died or were culled during the 2-yr study (n = 1591) were necropsied weekly to determine the most probable cause of death or culling and cancer status. Hens surviving until the end of the study (n = 676) were euthanized and necropsied. Hens necropsied before and after a hen with proventricular intussusception served as cohorts (n = 38). Nineteen hens (13 dead, 6 culled) had intussusceptions of the proventriculus into the ventriculus. Mean age of affected hens was 154 wk (range 110–204 wk). None of the hens in the study had an intestinal intussusception, and none of the hens euthanized at the end of the study had a proventricular intussusception. Hens with proventricular intussusceptions were severely emaciated; mean body weights were 1040 and 1736 g for affected and cohort hens, respectively. Necropsy findings included prominent keel, marked muscle atrophy, generalized serous atrophy of fat, no visible proventriculus, esophagus directly entering the ventriculus, and an enlarged, spherical, firm ventriculus, which contained an invaginated, swollen, diffusely ulcerated proventriculus. Eighteen affected hens were anovulatory (94.7%) compared to 27 cohorts (71.1%). Severe, diffuse necrosis and ulceration of the proventricular mucosa was confirmed microscopically, but no etiologic agent was identified. In conclusion, proventricular intussusception of undetermined etiology was identified as a cause of sporadic emaciation, culling, and mortality in older laying hens.

International audience; Aftereffect measurements have been performed on synthetic ferrimagnets showing strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, namely (Co/Pt)/Ir/(Co/Pt), by measuring the magnetization of the sample as a function of time for several different applied magnetic fields. Unexpected magnetic relaxation has been observed. Indeed, for some particular applied magnetic fields, the magnetization as a function of time first plummets and then increases. This nonmonotonic aftereffect can be understood by considering the possible magnetic states and the transitions between those states. This understanding has been confirmed and detailed using magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) microscopy. Indeed, the measurements show nucleation and propagation of a transient metastable magnetic configuration. Furthermore, we were able to obtain a good qualitative agreement between a simple one-dimensional model and the experimental observation. We could strongly support the hypothesis that this peculiar nonmonotonic behavior could be a very general feature that should be observed in any antiferromagnetically coupled system (synthetic ferrimagnets, synthetic antiferromagnets) with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy.

Large changes in the magnetization of ferromagnetic films can be electrically driven by non-180° ferroelectric domain switching in underlying substrates, but the shear components of the strains that mediate these magnetoelectric effects have not been considered so far. Here we reveal the presence of these shear strains in a polycrystalline film of Ni on a 0.68Pb(Mg

Phosphorylated histone 3 (PH3) and cleaved caspase 3 (CCASP3) were used to detect proliferating and apoptotic cells, respectively, in the jejunums of female sibling poults, with and without enteritis and depressed growth, from hatch to day 35. Poults that developed enteritis and depressed growth (SIB flock) were raised on a commercial farm in eastern North Carolina, whereas poults with normal growth and no enteritis (TAU flock) were raised in the Teaching Animal Unit at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Beginning on day 5 through day 35 and at processing, TAU poults were significantly heavier than SIB poults. Jejunal weights, relative jejunal weights, and jejunal densities were greater in SIB poults from day 10 through 35. Jejunal efficiency (body weight /jejunal length) was higher in TAU poults at day 5 and days 10 through 35. Mucosal thickness was greater in SIB poults between days 7 and 21 but greater in TAU poults at days 28 and 35. From day 7 to 35, villus-to-crypt ratios were higher for TAU poults and lower for SIB poults because hyperplastic crypts formed a greater percentage of the mucosa in SIB poults. By day 7, PH3- and CCASP3-positive cells were increased in SIB poults, showing that mucosal changes resulted from combined crypt epithelial hyperplasia and increased apoptosis of villous enterocytes. Findings in this study confirm that enteritis, in the absence of clinical signs, and depressed growth in turkey poults begins by day 7, can be identified microscopically, persists for at least 35 days, is associated with lower processing weights, and has a profound negative effect on turkey growth.

It is well known that the magnetic spin effects during nanotherapy can cause tumor cell apoptosis and necrosis based on redox reactions. The current study was carried out on C57Bl/6 mice with Lewis lung carcinoma. The magnetic nanocomplex administration combined with the impact of magnetic resonance system (1.5 T) showed maximal antitumor and antimetastatic effects. The electron spin resonance spectra have been used as diagnostic markers and recorded a change in the tumor redox state based on chemical species such as NO-FeS-proteins and ubisemiquinone. The technology of magnetic resonance nanotheranostics could potentially allow to improve the antitumor effect of chemotherapeutic agents in disseminated cancer therapy.

Ferromagnetic ordering in a topological insulator can break time-reversal symmetry, realizing dissipationless electronic states in the absence of a magnetic field. The control of the magnetic state is of great importance for future device applications. We provide a detailed systematic study of the magnetic state in highly doped CrxSb2−xTe3 thin films using electrical transport, magneto-optic Kerr effect measurements and terahertz time domain spectroscopy, and also report an efficient electric gating of ferromagnetic order using the electrolyte ionic liquid [DEME][TFSI]. Upon increasing the Cr concentration from x = 0.15 to 0.76, the Curie temperature (Tc) was observed to increase by ~5 times to 176 K. In addition, it was possible to modify the magnetic moment by up to 50% with a gate bias variation of just ±3 V, which corresponds to an increase in carrier density by 50%. Further analysis on a sample with x = 0.76 exhibits a clear insulator-metal transition at Tc, indicating the consistency between the electrical and optical measurements. The direct correlation obtained between the carrier density and ferromagnetism - in both electrostatic and chemical doping - using optical and electrical means strongly suggests a carrier-mediated Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yoshida (RKKY) coupling scenario. Our low-voltage means of manipulating ferromagnetism, and consistency in optical and electrical measurements provides a way to realize exotic quantum states for spintronic and low energy magneto-electronic device applications.

Bismuth ferrite-based multiferroic composites, x⋅Bi0.95Mn0.05FeO3 − (1 − x)⋅Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4, where x takes the values of 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6 and 0.8, have been prepared by combining sol–gel autocombustion and solid-state methods. Phase identification of the samples was done by X-ray diffraction analysis. SEM–EDX measurements on the samples were used to evaluate the microstructural aspects and quantitative evaluation of the samples. Room temperature P–E loop measurements on the samples were done under the application of external electric fields in the range from 0 to 6 kV/mm at a frequency of 50 Hz to understand the ferroelectric strength of the compounds. Magnetic studies on the samples were made by M–H loop measurements in the field range of ± 10 kOe. Magnetoelectric coupling measurements were made using a dynamic lock-in test set-up. The results indicate that the mixing of nickel–zinc ferrite in Bi0.95Mn0.05FeO3, in spite of the enhanced conductivity, has produced considerable improvements in saturation magnetization while retaining the remnant ferroelectric polarization in reasonable magnitudes to obtain improved M–E coupling. Among all the composites, the composite with x = 0.5 has resulted better M–E performance.

In this article we describe the bulk and interface quantum states of electrons in multi-layer heterostructures in one dimension, consisting of topological insulators (TIs) and topologically trivial materials. We use and extend an effective four-band continuum Hamiltonian by introducing position dependence to the eight material parameters of the Hamiltonian. We are able to demonstrate complete conduction-valence band mixing in the interface states. We find evidence for topological features of bulk states of multi-layer TI heterostructures, as well as demonstrating both complete and incomplete conduction-valence band inversion at different bulk state energies. We show that the linear k

Spores of Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus subtilis were found to exhibit intrinsic paramagnetic properties as a result of the accumulation of manganese ions. All three Bacillus species displayed strong yet distinctive magnetic properties arising from differences in manganese quantity and valency. Manganese ions were found to accumulate both within the spore core as well as being associated with the surface of the spore. Bacillus megaterium spores accumulated up to 1 wt.% manganese (II) within, with a further 0.6 wt.% adsorbed onto the surface. At room temperature, Bacillus spores possess average magnetic susceptibilities in the range of 10−6 to 10−5. Three spore‐related biotechnological applications—magnetic sensing, magnetic separation and metal ion adsorption—were assessed subsequently, with the latter two considered as having the most potential for development.