Kochia is one of the most problematic weeds in the United States. Field studies were conducted in five states (Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota) over 2 yr (2010 and 2011) to evaluate kochia control with selected herbicides registered in five common crop scenarios: winter wheat, fallow, corn, soybean, and sugar beet to provide insight for diversifying kochia management in crop rotations. Kochia control varied by experimental site such that more variation in kochia control and biomass production was explained by experimental site than herbicide choice within a crop. Kochia control with herbicides currently labeled for use in sugar beet averaged 32% across locations. Kochia control was greatest and most consistent from corn herbicide programs (99%), followed by soybean (96%) and fallow (97%) herbicide programs. Kochia control from wheat herbicide programs was 93%. With respect to the availability of effective herbicide options, glyphosate-resistant kochia control was easiest in corn, soybean, and fallow, followed by wheat; and difficult to manage with herbicides in sugar beet.

Introduction: Acute aortic syndrome (AAS) is a time sensitive aortic catastrophe that is often misdiagnosed. There are currently no Canadian guidelines to aid in diagnosis. Our goal was to adapt the existing American Heart Association (AHA) and European Society of Cardiology (ESC) diagnostic algorithms for AAS into a Canadian evidence based best practices algorithm targeted for emergency medicine physicians. Methods: We chose to adapt existing high-quality clinical practice guidelines (CPG) previously developed by the AHA/ESC using the GRADE ADOLOPMENT approach. We created a National Advisory Committee consisting of 21 members from across Canada including academic, community and remote/rural emergency physicians/nurses, cardiothoracic and cardiovascular surgeons, cardiac anesthesiologists, critical care physicians, cardiologist, radiologists and patient representatives. The Advisory Committee communicated through multiple teleconference meetings, emails and a one-day in person meeting. The panel prioritized questions and outcomes, using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to assess evidence and make recommendations. The algorithm was prepared and revised through feedback and discussions and through an iterative process until consensus was achieved. Results: The diagnostic algorithm is comprised of an updated pre test probability assessment tool with further testing recommendations based on risk level. The updated tool incorporates likelihood of an alternative diagnosis and point of care ultrasound. The final best practice diagnostic algorithm defined risk levels as Low (0.5% no further testing), Moderate (0.6-5% further testing required) and High ( >5% computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, trans esophageal echocardiography). During the consensus and feedback processes, we addressed a number of issues and concerns. D-dimer can be used to reduce probability of AAS in an intermediate risk group, but should not be used in a low or high-risk group. Ultrasound was incorporated as a bedside clinical examination option in pre test probability assessment for aortic insufficiency, abdominal/thoracic aortic aneurysms. Conclusion: We have created the first Canadian best practice diagnostic algorithm for AAS. We hope this diagnostic algorithm will standardize and improve diagnosis of AAS in all emergency departments across Canada.

The majority of paediatric Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI) are community-associated (CA), but few data exist regarding associated risk factors. We conducted a case–control study to evaluate CA-CDI risk factors in young children. Participants were enrolled from eight US sites during October 2014–February 2016. Case-patients were defined as children aged 1–5 years with a positive C. difficile specimen collected as an outpatient or ⩽3 days of hospital admission, who had no healthcare facility admission in the prior 12 weeks and no history of CDI. Each case-patient was matched to one control. Caregivers were interviewed regarding relevant exposures. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was performed. Of 68 pairs, 44.1% were female. More case-patients than controls had a comorbidity (33.3% vs. 12.1%; P = 0.01); recent higher-risk outpatient exposures (34.9% vs. 17.7%; P = 0.03); recent antibiotic use (54.4% vs. 19.4%; P < 0.0001); or recent exposure to a household member with diarrhoea (41.3% vs. 21.5%; P = 0.04). In multivariable analysis, antibiotic exposure in the preceding 12 weeks was significantly associated with CA-CDI (adjusted matched odds ratio, 6.25; 95% CI 2.18–17.96). Improved antibiotic prescribing might reduce CA-CDI in this population. Further evaluation of the potential role of outpatient healthcare and household exposures in C. difficile transmission is needed.

Total reflection X-ray Fluorescence (TXRF) has been applied to the detection and quantification of metal contamination on the surface and near-surface regions of silicon wafers in the semiconductor industry The need for improving the sensitivity and detection limit of the TXRF technique is driven by the progress in producing thinner films and finer features in the development of larger Mbit DRAMS.

Advancements in trace clement analysis require improvements in both the signal-to-noise ratio and accurate background correction. With a sequential spectrometer, one can obtain detection limits of around 0.1 ppm for medium to heavy Z elements. Conditions can be individually optimized for each element, for example, selection of filters, collimators, crystals and background subtraction. The disadvantage is that the analysis time may become “long” if many elements are to be analyzed. This long exposure time can lead to the deterioration of some samples.

Over the past few years there has been substantial progress in the TXRF analysis of heavy element surface contamination on silicon wafers. Further advances and improvements are desired in the analytical performance and hardware. Extension of the analytical range to include the light elements is particularly desirable.

In the case of light element analysis, sodium and aluminum impurities have been monitored in the IC production process. The increase of the sodium impurity in a silicon wafer gives rise to a decrease in the insulation in IC devices and the growth of the SiO2 film is disturbed by the prsence of aluminum impurity on the silicon wafer surface.

Total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) analysis of “low Z” elements, Ti, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and “high Z” elements, Zr, W, Au, Pb, are required for micro scale semiconductor device production processes. In the past, the W–Lβ X-rays have been used for the analysis of S to Zn.

This paper describes a new three crystal monochromator coupled with a gold direct-drive rotating anode target. This development has produced significant improvements in the sensitivities and LLD's for all measured elements. The monochromator makes the Au Lα (9.71 keV), Au Lβ (11.44 keV) and Au Lγ (13.33 keV) available for routine use in TXRF analyses. The Au Lα X-ray is best used for the lower Z elements, Na to Cu. The best result for W, Cu and Zn are obtained with the Au Lβ X-ray. This is the result of both increased peak intensity and lower background. For the heavier elements, such as Au and Pb, the Au L X-ray yields intensities 100 times higher than what has been achieved in the past.

Aging processes exhibiting cluster to precipitate transitions were studied in polycrystalline line austenitic iron-base alloys with a Siemens' Guinier camera. This camera combines the Seemann-Bohlin focusing geometry with a curved-crystal monochromator arid thus maximizes the resolution of observed sidebands and the weak precipitate lines. Growth studies encompassing a cluster-size range of 15 to 70 unit cells were followed. For the systems of interest, this coincided with a variation from detectable hardness increase to a stage of maximum hardness immediately preceding precipitation, Cluster sizes were calculated on the basis of the Guinier model; variation with time and temperature permitted calculations of an apparent activation energy in the one system where decomposition was spontaneous. An iron-nickeltitanium alloy was used to study aging in a ternary system. Behavior was classic in that the cluster size present on quenching grew with aging coincident with a simultaneous hardness increase. Calculation of activation energies indicated strongly that transportation of nickel to, or iron from, the cluster was rate determining. Upon overaging, the nickel-titanium enriched clusters gave way to the hexagonal Ni2Ti phase. An iron-nickel-chromium-niobium quaternary, in addition to presenting a clustering system similar to the above ternary, showed two rather interesting phenomena. First, chromium was necessary for precipitation; the ternary ironnickel-niobium did not age. Secondly, a stable Pe2Nb Laves phase present upon quenching from 2200°F disappeared on aging in favor of nickel-niobium clusters; an incubation time for the formation of these clusters existed, and its duration was about 4 hr. An asymmetry was noted in the diffraction intensities about the (311)γ line in both systems. In the iron-nickel-titanium case, the asymmetry was only in intensity, whereas, with the iron-nickel-chromium-niobium alloys, the asymmetry existed in both intensity and position. Interpretation of these observations is made on the basis of anticipated variations in scattering factors, lattice spacings, and cluster sizes.

The wafer analyzer has been used to fulfil many applications needs in the semiconductor industry. The prominent features of the XRF method for the semiconductor industry are:analysis of many types of films, e.g., oxides, silicides and metallic alloys, and simultaneous analysis of film thickness and compositions.

In the past, the analysis results of BPSG (Boron-doped Phospho-Silicate Glass) films, with thicknesses greater than 4000 Å, were reported. With the recent increased demand for larger scale and higher quality semiconductor devices (larger than 64 Mbit), more accurate analysis with high precision has been required.

Several interesting phenomena involving ultra-soft X-rays and synthetic multilayer crystals were studied as a result of the on-going process of improving the Rigaku Mode] 3630 Wafer Analyzer for the measurement of BPSG (1000-2500 Å) and other thin films.1-3 These phenomena can be divided into four categories; “ghost” peaks, diffraction from the substrate, fluorescence from the multilayer and higher order lines from the multilayer. Each of these is a potential snurce nf error in the measurement of ultra-soft X-rays, Fortunately, as will be shown, each can be readily dealt with.

Dementia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality without pharmacologic prevention or cure. Mounting evidence suggests that adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern may slow cognitive decline, and is important to characterise in at-risk cohorts. Thus, we determined the reliability and validity of the Mediterranean Diet and Culinary Index (MediCul), a new tool, among community-dwelling individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A total of sixty-eight participants (66 % female) aged 75·9 (sd 6·6) years, from the Study of Mental and Resistance Training study MCI cohort, completed the fifty-item MediCul at two time points, followed by a 3-d food record (FR). MediCul test–retest reliability was assessed using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC), Bland–Altman plots and κ agreement within seventeen dietary element categories. Validity was assessed against the FR using the Bland–Altman method and nutrient trends across MediCul score tertiles. The mean MediCul score was 54·6/100·0, with few participants reaching thresholds for key Mediterranean foods. MediCul had very good test–retest reliability (ICC=0·93, 95 % CI 0·884, 0·954, P<0·0001) with fair-to-almost-perfect agreement for classifying elements within the same category. Validity was moderate with no systematic bias between methods of measurement, according to the regression coefficient (y=−2·30+0·17x) (95 % CI −0·027, 0·358; P=0·091). MediCul over-estimated the mean FR score by 6 %, with limits of agreement being under- and over-estimated by 11 and 23 %, respectively. Nutrient trends were significantly associated with increased MediCul scoring, consistent with a Mediterranean pattern. MediCul provides reliable and moderately valid information about Mediterranean diet adherence among older individuals with MCI, with potential application in future studies assessing relationships between diet and cognitive function.

So far, only one distribution function giving rise to a collisionless nonlinear force-free current sheet equilibrium allowing for a plasma beta less than one is known (Allanson et al., Phys. Plasmas, vol. 22 (10), 2015, 102116; Allanson et al., J. Plasma Phys., vol. 82 (3), 2016a, 905820306). This distribution function can only be expressed as an infinite series of Hermite functions with very slow convergence and this makes its practical use cumbersome. It is the purpose of this paper to present a general method that allows us to find distribution functions consisting of a finite number of terms (therefore easier to use in practice), but which still allow for current sheet equilibria that can, in principle, have an arbitrarily low plasma beta. The method involves using known solutions and transforming them into new solutions using transformations based on taking integer powers ( $N$ ) of one component of the pressure tensor. The plasma beta of the current sheet corresponding to the transformed distribution functions can then, in principle, have values as low as $1/N$ . We present the general form of the distribution functions for arbitrary $N$ and then, as a specific example, discuss the case for $N=2$ in detail.

The call for products of animal origin increased dramatically in the Developing World in the last twenty years of the twentieth century. It is expected to double again in the first twenty years of the twenty-first century. The massive demand fuelled a concomitant increase in supply. This combination of events, being increasingly dubbed the “livestock revolution”, is certain to have an effect on the global environment. The changes that are occurring can be a force for good: helping to relieve human poverty, hunger and disease and being a driving force in intensification and improved efficiency of livestock production over wide areas.

Recent analysis pointed towards visual imaging analysis (VIA), which yields pig body size measures and shape indices from two-dimensional visual images of living pigs, as a potential technique for estimating fat and lean content in pig carcasses (Doeschl et al., 2004). The present analysis further explored the potential of using VIA body size and shape indices as indicators of the proportion of lean and fat in various carcass joints, either alone or in combination with ultrasonic backfat depth of the live animal. Due to increasing interest in the shape of retail cuts in the meat industry, the association between VIA size measures and the dimensions of the longissimus dorsi and gluteobiceps muscles is also assessed.

The Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope (MOST) is an 18000 m2 radio telescope located 40 km from Canberra, Australia. Its operating band (820–851 MHz) is partly allocated to telecommunications, making radio astronomy challenging. We describe how the deployment of new digital receivers, Field Programmable Gate Array-based filterbanks, and server-class computers equipped with 43 Graphics Processing Units, has transformed the telescope into a versatile new instrument (UTMOST) for studying the radio sky on millisecond timescales. UTMOST has 10 times the bandwidth and double the field of view compared to the MOST, and voltage record and playback capability has facilitated rapid implementaton of many new observing modes, most of which operate commensally. UTMOST can simultaneously excise interference, make maps, coherently dedisperse pulsars, and perform real-time searches of coherent fan-beams for dispersed single pulses. UTMOST operates as a robotic facility, deciding how to efficiently target pulsars and how long to stay on source via real-time pulsar folding, while searching for single pulse events. Regular timing of over 300 pulsars has yielded seven pulsar glitches and three Fast Radio Bursts during commissioning. UTMOST demonstrates that if sufficient signal processing is applied to voltage streams, innovative science remains possible even in hostile radio frequency environments.

Understanding the organic chemistry of molecular clouds, particularly the formation of biologically important molecules, is fundamental to the study of the processes which lead to the origin, evolution and distribution of life in the Galaxy. Determining the level of molecular complexity attainable in the clouds, and the nature of the complex organic material available to protostellar disks and the planetary systems that form from them, requires an understanding of the possible chemical pathways and is therefore a central question in astrochemistry. We have thus searched for prebiologically important molecules in the hot molecular cloud cores: Sgr B2(N-LMH), W51 e1/e2 and Orion-KL. Among the molecules searched: Pyrimidine is the unsubstituted ring analogue for three of the DNA and RNA bases. 2H-Azirine and Aziridine are azaheterocyclic compounds. And Glycine is the simplest amino acid. Detections of these interstellar organic molecular species will thus have important implications for Astrobiology. Our preliminary results indicate a tentative detection of interstellar glycine. If confirmed, this will be the first detection of an amino acid in interstellar space and will greatly strengthen the thesis that interstellar organic molecules could have played a pivotal role in the prebiotic chemistry of the early Earth.

The class of radio transients called Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) encompasses enigmatic single pulses, each unique in its own way, hindering a consensus for their origin. The key to demystifying FRBs lies in discovering many of them in order to identity commonalities – and in real time, in order to find potential counterparts at other wavelengths. The recently upgraded UTMOST in Australia, is undergoing a backend transformation to rise as a fast transient detection machine. The first interferometric detections of FRBs with UTMOST, place their origin beyond the near-field region of the telescope thus ruling out local sources of interference as a possible origin. We have localised these bursts to much better than the ones discovered at the Parkes radio telescope and have plans to upgrade UTMOST to be capable of much better localisation still.

We have detected the 8.7 GHz hyperfine line of 3He+ in the HII regions W43, W51, and W3 and obtained significant upper limits for M17, W49, and Orion A. Even though the abundances derived from measured line parameters can have large uncertainty due to the detailed structure of the sources, it seems almost certain that the 3He+ abundance in W3, 12 kpc from the galactic center is significantly higher than in sources closer to the galactic center. If this is the result of general chemical evolution of the galaxy, it is exactly the opposite of what is expected.

This is a brief report on a sensitive search for excited OH absorption and emission sources made with the Effelsberg 100 m telescope towards several compact HII regions. Our data are discussed elsewhere (Guilloteau et al., 1983) and we mainly present here our II3/2, J = 5/2 and 7/2 OH narrow emission results (masers). In the J = 5/2 state, 14 sources were observed with a typical 1 σ sensitivity of 0.2 Jy. Among 13 positive detections, 4 and may be 5 are new maser sources: G43.1, W48, K3-50, ON3 and G34.3 (?). With the exception of W3 (OH) the 6035 MHz line is always much stronger than the 6030 MHz line. Comparison with spectra published by others suggests time variability in M17, W51 and Orion A. In W3 (OH) a weak broad emission was also detected at 6049 MHz. In our j = 7/2 observations the peak to peak noise was the range 0.1 to 1 Jy. No masers were detected even in the strong 6035 MHz sources associated with M17 and W33 cont. Thus the F = 4−4 emission line in W3 (OH) seems to be really exceptional (Baudry et al., 1981).