In this paper, we describe the system design and capabilities of the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope at the conclusion of its construction project and commencement of science operations. ASKAP is one of the first radio telescopes to deploy phased array feed (PAF) technology on a large scale, giving it an instantaneous field of view that covers $31\,\textrm{deg}^{2}$ at $800\,\textrm{MHz}$. As a two-dimensional array of 36$\times$12 m antennas, with baselines ranging from 22 m to 6 km, ASKAP also has excellent snapshot imaging capability and 10 arcsec resolution. This, combined with 288 MHz of instantaneous bandwidth and a unique third axis of rotation on each antenna, gives ASKAP the capability to create high dynamic range images of large sky areas very quickly. It is an excellent telescope for surveys between 700 and $1800\,\textrm{MHz}$ and is expected to facilitate great advances in our understanding of galaxy formation, cosmology, and radio transients while opening new parameter space for discovery of the unknown.

We describe the performance of the Boolardy Engineering Test Array, the prototype for the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder telescope. Boolardy Engineering Test Array is the first aperture synthesis radio telescope to use phased array feed technology, giving it the ability to electronically form up to nine dual-polarisation beams. We report the methods developed for forming and measuring the beams, and the adaptations that have been made to the traditional calibration and imaging procedures in order to allow BETA to function as a multi-beam aperture synthesis telescope. We describe the commissioning of the instrument and present details of Boolardy Engineering Test Array’s performance: sensitivity, beam characteristics, polarimetric properties, and image quality. We summarise the astronomical science that it has produced and draw lessons from operating Boolardy Engineering Test Array that will be relevant to the commissioning and operation of the final Australian Square Kilometre Array Path telescope.

This paper describes the system architecture of a newly constructed radio telescope – the Boolardy engineering test array, which is a prototype of the Australian square kilometre array pathfinder telescope. Phased array feed technology is used to form multiple simultaneous beams per antenna, providing astronomers with unprecedented survey speed. The test array described here is a six-antenna interferometer, fitted with prototype signal processing hardware capable of forming at least nine dual-polarisation beams simultaneously, allowing several square degrees to be imaged in a single pointed observation. The main purpose of the test array is to develop beamforming and wide-field calibration methods for use with the full telescope, but it will also be capable of limited early science demonstrations.

The aim was to determine the factors that contribute to behavioural change in smokers, and to assess differences in the distribution of these factors between those in lower and higher stages of behavioural change using the transtheoretical model (TTM). A total of 112 participants were recruited from smoking cessation clinics in six local health authorities in North Wales, United Kingdom into a cross-sectional study; 46% of the participants were in the lower stages of the TTM (Precontemplation and Contemplation). The odds of being in the higher stage of behavioural change were not significantly associated with any of the factors considered (p > 0.05). In open-ended questions, the main factors reported to influence the decision to quit smoking were related to health and expenditure on cigarettes. The findings of this study suggest that in addition to the existing health strategy of promoting knowledge of the health impact of smoking, understanding factors influencing smokers to take steps towards quitting is also important.

Mathematical models are constructed to investigate the population dynamics of Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) serogroups O26 and O103 in two different calf cohorts. We compare the epidemiological characteristics of these two serogroups within the same calf cohort as well as the same serogroups between the two calf cohorts. The sources of infection are quantified for both calf cohort studies. VTEC serogroups O26 and O103 mainly differ in the rate at which calves acquire infection from sources other than infected calves, while infected calves typically remain infectious for less than 1 week regardless of the serogroups. Fewer than 20% of VTEC-positive samples are the result of calf-to-calf transmission. PFGE typing data are available for VTEC-positive samples to further subdivide the serogroup data in one of the two calf cohort studies. For serogroup O26 but not O103, there is evidence for unequal environmental exposure to infection with different PFGE types.

Uncoupling proteins (UCP) 1 and 2 are members of the subfamily of inner mitochondrial membrane carriers. UCP1 is specific to brown adipose tissue (BAT), where it is responsible for the rapid production of heat at birth. In fetal sheep UCP1 is first detectable at approximately 900d of gestation; its abundance increases with gestational age and peaks at the time of birth. The mRNA and protein for both the long and short form of the prolactin (PRL) receptor (PRLR) are also highly abundant in BAT. Enhanced PRLR abundance in late gestation is associated with an increase in the abundance of UCP1. This relationship between PRLR and UCP is not only present in BAT. Similar findings are now reported in the pregnant ovine uterus, where PRLR abundance reaches a maximum just before that of UCP2. However, the role of PRLR in BAT remains undetermined. Rat studies have shown that PRL administration throughout pregnancy results in offspring with increased UCP1 at birth. Studies in newborn lambs have shown that administration of PRL (20mg/d) causes an acute response, increasing colonic temperature in the first hour by 1°. This increased colonic temperature is maintained for the first 240h of life, in conjunction with enhanced lipolysis. After 70d of treatment there is no difference in the abundance of UCP1 but an increase in UCP1 activity; this effect may be mediated by an increase in lipolysis. Taken together these findings suggest that PRL could be an important endocrine factor during pregnancy and early postnatal life.

The use of poly-buffered LOCOS processing is a common feature of many sub-micron integrated circuit fabrication processes. However, the silicon layer interposed between the nitride oxidation mask and the pad oxide is often difficult to remove. Different strategies involve dry and/or wet etching of the film. We have demonstrated the utility of adding metals such as Fe or Cu to a conventional phosphoric bath used to etch silicon nitride. Briefly, the presence of the metals is thought to result in a classic oxidation-reduction reaction between the metal and the silicon. Additions of 60ppm of Cu+2 resulted in etch rates of 20Å /min. on undoped polysilicon at a process temperature of 165°C, whereas, the etch rate of SiO2 was less than 1Å/min. Similar results were obtained for additions of Fe+3 and other metals.

Discrepancies between clay mineral and organic indicators of very low-grade metamorphism have been observed from the Southern Uplands of Scotland. In the Southern Belt, I-S expandability ranges from 18–5% and chitinozoan reflectance from 0·8–2·1% R 0 mean; a clear correlation exists between I-S expandability and organic maturity. At Dob's Linn in the Central Belt, I-S expandabilities range from 18–10%, and chitinozoan reflectance from 3·6–4·8% R 0 mean. The results from Dob's Linn show anomalously high I-S expandabilities with respect to maturity, both in comparison with the Southern Belt and with previous work from other regions. K-feldspar is present in variable amounts in the Southern Belt, but is not detectable by XRD at Dob's Linn. Low K+ activity is believed to have resulted in a slower reaction rate at Dob's Linn, and a consequent “lag” in I-S expandability with respect to the Southern Belt.

‘Prescription-event monitoring’ (PEM) is one of two national systems of post-marketing surveillance in operation in Britain. It identified 22 065 patients who had received NHS prescriptions for alprazolam, and data available on 10 895 of these were analysed. The main reasons for treatment with alprazolam were anxiety and depression. The patients provided 3360 patient-years of treatment and 7540 patient-years of follow-up. No serious events clearly associated with treatment were recorded. The main events reported during treatment, albeit infrequently, were drowsiness and depression, although depression is more likely to be due to the disorder being treated than to the drug. Some of the other alleged unwanted effects of alprazolam in published reports were not encountered. Since PEM is unable to determine the dependence potential of alprazolam, further evaluation of this problem is called for.

The formation and annealing of buried damage layers in hydrogen implanted N-type float zone <111> silicon has been studied by Rutherford Backscattering/ion channeling and cross-section transmission electron microscopy. Implantation with 50 keV or 75 keV H+ ions was conducted at temperatures of 95K, 300K and 800K at fluences of 2×1017 H+/cm2, 8×1017 H+/cm2 and 1×1018 H+/cm2. Post implantation annealing was conducted at temperatures up to 800K. The results show a temperature dependent transition from a highly hydrogen doped amorphous zone bounded by strongly diffracting (TEM) 2–5 nm diameter defects for implantation at 95K to a crystalline microstructure containing small dislocation loops and ∼40% of the implanted hydrogen for implantation at 300K. Defect production and annealing and hydrogen trapping in the damage zone are shown to depend on the relative implantation and post implantation annealing temperatures.

A graphical method, based on bivariate analysis, is used to present yield data from intercropping experiments involving two crop species. The method is used to demonstrate two- and three-factor interactions in factorial experiments.

One hundred and eight crossbred sows from nine different commercial sources were monitored over two parities for changes in live weight and fatness. All sows were given a common nutritional regime. Thirty sows were slaughtered and physically dissected. After weaning the second litter, mean carcass measurements ( ± s.d.) were: live weight, 139±9·5kg; lean mass, 26·6 ± 2·8kg; subcutaneous fat mass, 4·l ± l·7kg; ultrasonic P2 backfat depth (USP2), 11·3±2·8mm; total dissected fat (kg) = 0·63 ± 0·073 USP2 —1·1 ±0·85(r = 0·85). Between mating (parity 1) and weaning (parity 2) sows gained 22kg live weight and lost 6·8mm backfat. There were significant differences between sources with respect to fatness, despite standardized feeding. It is suggested that for breeding pigs such as these, starting their reproductive life with limited fat reserves (16·4 ± 3·0mm USP2 at 92 ± 6kg live weight), a conventional fat-exploiting feeding regime is unlikely to be appropriate.

When experiments are conducted on two crops in association significance tests are available for judging whether treatments are having different effects or not. If, however, differences are established, it becomes necessary to assess the various treatments in agronomic, dietetic or economic terms. Graphical methods are here advanced to aid such assessment, special attention being given to (a) the stability of recommendations when the monetary or other values of the two crops change from season to season, (b) the measurement of yield advantage of mixtures over pure stands, and (c) the maximization of yield when it is desired to produce the two crops in specified proportions. The relationship to competition experiments is discussed.

When two species are interplanted the interpretation of experimental data presents statistical difficulties because the yields of the two crops will not in general be independent. It is therefore desirable to have a method that will both allow significance levels to be determined and give full importance to the treatment means of the two crops. It is shown that a bivariate analysis of variance can be carried out with little difficulty and precise tests can be based upon it. If it would be helpful to combine the two crops in any way, e.g. on the basis of calorific value or price, the task is readily accomplished.