Illite/smectite (I/S) and illite samples that appear to be 1Md polytypes on the basis of the lack of diagnostic reflections can be resolved as partly either 1M or 2M1 or both by either vapor solvation in ethylene glycol for 40 to 80 hr at ambient temperatures or for 4 hr at 80°C, or by heating to 375°C for 2 hr. If samples are so treated, a distinct narrowing of the I/S 003/005 peak occurs and diagnostic hkl reflections are revealed. These treatments, however, do not seem to affect diagnostic polytypic peak intensities, but rather the adjacent background. We propose that the 1Md term be restricted to its original definition—the disordered polytype associated with only the 1M ordered polytype. For illites in which disorder exists with a mixture of polytypes, the generic term Ad (disordered group A micas) should be used. Correct polytype determination of illitic material is significant because it reveals thermal history of the sediments and allows greater understanding of the depositional and diagenetic history of sedimentary basins.

Radiocarbon (14C) ages cannot provide absolutely dated chronologies for archaeological or paleoenvironmental studies directly but must be converted to calendar age equivalents using a calibration curve compensating for fluctuations in atmospheric 14C concentration. Although calibration curves are constructed from independently dated archives, they invariably require revision as new data become available and our understanding of the Earth system improves. In this volume the international 14C calibration curves for both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, as well as for the ocean surface layer, have been updated to include a wealth of new data and extended to 55,000 cal BP. Based on tree rings, IntCal20 now extends as a fully atmospheric record to ca. 13,900 cal BP. For the older part of the timescale, IntCal20 comprises statistically integrated evidence from floating tree-ring chronologies, lacustrine and marine sediments, speleothems, and corals. We utilized improved evaluation of the timescales and location variable 14C offsets from the atmosphere (reservoir age, dead carbon fraction) for each dataset. New statistical methods have refined the structure of the calibration curves while maintaining a robust treatment of uncertainties in the 14C ages, the calendar ages and other corrections. The inclusion of modeled marine reservoir ages derived from a three-dimensional ocean circulation model has allowed us to apply more appropriate reservoir corrections to the marine 14C data rather than the previous use of constant regional offsets from the atmosphere. Here we provide an overview of the new and revised datasets and the associated methods used for the construction of the IntCal20 curve and explore potential regional offsets for tree-ring data. We discuss the main differences with respect to the previous calibration curve, IntCal13, and some of the implications for archaeology and geosciences ranging from the recent past to the time of the extinction of the Neanderthals.

Substantial barriers to prenatal mental health screening exist. The primary objective of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the acceptability of computer tablet-based prenatal screening compared to paper-based screening. Secondary objectives are to compare the two screening modes on: (1) detection of depression/anxiety symptoms; (2) disclosure of symptoms; (3) factors associated with acceptability, and disclosure; (4) psychometric properties of the e-version of the tools; and (5) cost-effectiveness.

Pregnant women were recruited from maternity clinics in an urban Canadian city, and were eligible if they were: 1) able to speak/read English; 2) willing to have a diagnostic interview within 1 week. Allocation was by computer-generated randomization. Women in the intervention group completed screening on a computer tablet and those in the control group completed the same assessment in paper-based form. Intention-to-treat analyses compared groups on primary and secondary outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression will identify predictors of intervention acceptability and disclosure.

Preliminary Results – Recruitment was completed on December 8, 2014 (n=587). Mean age of women was 28.7 years (SD 4.7) with 96% partnered and 77% completing at least some post-secondary education. One-third (32.3%) had been treated previously for a mental health problem. Over 90% of women in the intervention and control groups indicated they found/would find computer-based screening acceptable and could fully disclose their concerns. No significant differences in mean depression or anxiety scores were found between groups. Additional results to be generated for presentation

High-intensity laser–plasma interactions produce a wide array of energetic particles and beams with promising applications. Unfortunately, the high repetition rate and high average power requirements for many applications are not satisfied by the lasers, optics, targets, and diagnostics currently employed. Here, we aim to address the need for high-repetition-rate targets and optics through the use of liquids. A novel nozzle assembly is used to generate high-velocity, laminar-flowing liquid microjets which are compatible with a low-vacuum environment, generate little to no debris, and exhibit precise positional and dimensional tolerances. Jets, droplets, submicron-thick sheets, and other exotic configurations are characterized with pump–probe shadowgraphy to evaluate their use as targets. To demonstrate a high-repetition-rate, consumable, liquid optical element, we present a plasma mirror created by a submicron-thick liquid sheet. This plasma mirror provides etalon-like anti-reflection properties in the low field of 0.1% and high reflectivity as a plasma, 69%, at a repetition rate of 1 kHz. Practical considerations of fluid compatibility, in-vacuum operation, and estimates of maximum repetition rate are addressed. The targets and optics presented here demonstrate a potential technique for enabling the operation of laser–plasma interactions at high repetition rates.

An outbreak of mumps within a student population in Scotland was investigated to assess the effect of previous vaccination on infection and clinical presentation, and any genotypic variation. Of the 341 cases, 79% were aged 18–24. Vaccination status was available for 278 cases of whom 84% had received at least one dose of mumps containing vaccine and 62% had received two. The complication rate was 5·3% (mainly orchitis), and 1·2% were admitted to hospital. Genetic sequencing of mumps virus isolated from cases across Scotland classified 97% of the samples as genotype G. Two distinct clusters of genotype G were identified, one circulating before the outbreak and the other thereafter, suggesting the virus that caused this outbreak was genetically different from the previously circulating virus. Whilst the poor vaccine effectiveness we found may be due to waning immunity over time, a contributing factor may be that the current mumps vaccine is less effective against some genotypes. Although the general benefits of the measles–mumps–rubella (MMR) vaccine should continue to be promoted, there may be value in reassessing the UK vaccination schedule and the current mumps component of the MMR vaccine.

Introduction: In Ottawa, STEMI patients are transported directly to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) by advanced care paramedics (ACPs), primary care paramedics (PCPs), or transferred from PCP to ACP crew (ACP-intercept). PCPs have a limited skill set to address complications during transport.The objective of this study was to determine what clinically important events (CIEs) occurred in STEMI patients transported for primary PCI via a PCP crew, and what proportion of such events could only be treated by ACP protocols. Methods: We conducted a health record review of STEMI patients transported for primary PCI from Jan 1, 2011-Dec 21, 2015. Ottawa has a single PCI center and its EMS system employs both PCP and ACP paramedics. We identified consecutive STEMI bypass patients transported by PCP-only and ACP-intercept using the dispatch database. A data extraction form was piloted and used to extract patient demographics, transport times, and primary outcomes: CIEs and interventions performed during transport, and secondary outcomes: hospital diagnosis, and mortality. CIEs were reviewed by two investigators to determine if they would be treated differently by ACP protocols. We present descriptive statistics. Results: We identified 967 STEMI bypass cases among which 214 (118 PCP-only and 96 ACP-intercept) met all inclusion criteria. Characteristics were: mean age 61.4 years, 78% male, 31.8% anterior and 44.4% inferior infarcts, mean response time 6 min, total paramedic contact time 29 min, and in cases of ACP-intercept 7 min of PCP-only contact time.A CIE occurred in 127 (59%) of cases: SBP<90 mmHg 26.2%, HR<60 30.4%, HR>100 20.6%, malignant arrhythmias 7.5%, altered mental status 6.5%, airway intervention 2.3%, 2 patients (0.9%) arrested, both survived. Of the CIE identified, 54 (42.5%) could be addressed differently by ACP vs PCP protocols (25.2% of total cases). The majority related to fluid boluses for hypotension (44 cases; 35% of CIE). ACP intervention for CIEs within the ACP intercept group was 51.6%. There were 6 in-hospital deaths (2.8%) with no difference in transport crew type. Conclusion: CIEs are common in STEMI bypass patients however a smaller proportion of such CIE would be addressed differently by ACP protocols compared to PCP protocols. The vast majority of CIE appeared to be transient and of limited clinical significance.

After the merging of the British helicopter industry under the Westland banner in early 1960, the three larger constituent parts continued on a semi-autonomous basis putting into service such aircraft as the Wessex, Belvedere and Wasp. Future thinking was still contained within the separate groups with activities related principally to the Westminster, Bristol 194 and the Rotodyne. All three of these projects had merit but were in competition and obviously could not all continue. In the event, however, all were unfortunately abandoned and in 1963 the Group's project activities were centralised at Yeovil. The first task of this new Project Group was to attempt to make proposals for a rational range of future products particularly with respect to the future requirements of our major customer—the British Armed Forces.

A few of us, like Tennyson, have the gift of foreseeing the future. (see Fig. I). Another few, like Juan de la Cierva have the gift of delivering the future. They are the innovators.

Those who know Tennyson's verse will recall that his vision was of transportation by air of people and freight and also sadly of weapons. These were the tasks for which aircraft have primarily been developed – that is until recently.

Let us move back a few years from Cierva's day to view the work of another innovator – Von Karman. His machine was a harbinger of the future in that it was not designed for a transport task but for a surveillance task (Fig. 2). It did not survive for long since Von Karman lacked the light-weight, compact, electro-optical sensors available today and he was forced to carry aloft two mk 1 eyeballs attached to a heavy and bulky man.

Under- and over-nutrition during gestation may influence fetal hypothalamic development resulting in individuals predisposed to adverse health effects. This study examined fetuses from obese and control ewes to determine whether dam obesity alters hypothalamic expression of fetal appetite regulatory genes. A second objective was to contrast the expression of appetite regulatory genes in ewes that become the most obese to those that remained in moderate body condition on the same energy-rich diet. Multiparous, western white-faced ewes were weighed and individually fed 100% (control) or 150% (obese) of National Research Council requirements from day 60 before mating until day 75 of gestation. At day 75 of gestation, fetuses were collected and weighed. Hypothalamic tissue from fetal lambs and dams was collected and frozen for mRNA extraction. Dam obesity (P ⩾ 0.16), fetal sex (P ⩾ 0.44) or their interaction (P ⩾ 0.42) did not affect the relative expression of fetal hypothalamic regulators of appetite, including neuropeptide Y, agouti-related protein, pro-opiomelanocortin, cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript and receptors for leptin. Maternal obesity at day 75 of gestation in ewes did not affect developmental mechanisms responsible for the expression of fetal appetite regulatory genes and would not be expected to predispose offspring to adult-onset obesity through disrupted appetite regulation at this developmental time point. In the ewe, appetite regulatory genes did not differ (P > 0.20) with ewe adiposity; however, expression of estrogen receptor α, but not β (P = 0.37), in the medial basal hypothalamus was greater (P = 0.04) in obese than in control ewes.

The assessment of multiracial status in U.S. health research is fraught with challenges that limit our ability to enumerate and study this population. This paper reconceptualizes the assessment of multiracial status through the development of a model with three dimensions: mixed ancestry multiracial status, self-identified multiracial status, and socially assigned multiracial status. We present challenges to studying multiracial populations and provide recommendations for improving the assessment of multiracial status in health research.