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X-ray powder diffraction measurements using synchrotron radiation are currently being carried out on three experimental stations on the SRS at Daresbury Laboratory. Station 9.1 contains a general purpose powder diffractometer for angular dispersive measurements. The instrument is sited on the wiggler beamline, which provides radiation with a critical energy of 12 keV. A Si ( 111 ) water-cooled, channel-cut monochromator gives useful flux over an energy range from 6 to 30 keV. A cryostat and furnace are available for experiments requiring special environments, while a curved position sensitive detector can be used for time-resolved measurements. The wiggler white beam is employed on Station 9.7 for energy dispersive powder diffraction experiments. Various sample stages for kinetic experiments are in use on this station, and examples are shown of recent high-pressure work. A new high resolution powder diffractometer has been built and commissioned on Station 8.3, using bending magnet radiation. The diffractometer is based on the Parrish and Hart design, in which long, parallel foils are used to define the angular divergence accepted by the detector. In this way, large synchrotron beam cross sections can be employed while maintaining high angular resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assesses the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus carriage in consecutive newly referred children with atopic eczema, in their topical preparations and in their parents/carers. Intensity of eczema and extent of skin involvement; Relationship between the previous use of anti-staphylococcal antibiotics and the presence or absence of S. aureus.

Discusses the case of a 10-year-old girl who developed phototoxic contact dermatitis from 5-methoxypsoralen in aromatherapy oil. Patch test results; Clinical signs and symptoms; Treatment.

A high-pressure synchrotron x-ray diffraction study of the phase change alloy Ge1Sb2Te4 demonstrates the existence of a polyamorphic phase transition between the 'as deposited' low density amorphous (LDA) phase and a high density amorphous (HDA) phase at ∼10 GPa. The entropy of the HDA phase is expected to be higher than that of the LDA phase resulting in a negative Clapeyron slope for this transition. These phase relations may enable the polyamorphic transition to play a role in the memory and data storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the case of a 60-year-old lady with a three-year history of discoid lupus erythematosus treated with acitretin, a drug licensed for use in patients with severe, extensive chronic plaque psoriasis. Acitretin was used as an alternative treatment and was commenced at a dose of 20 milligrams. Among a number of side effects, the patient experienced three episodes of rectal bleeding, which has not been reported previously. It is proposed that the rectal bleeding experienced by the patient resulted from inflammation of the rectal mucosa secondary to acitretin.

Because the deep Earth is not directly accessible, geoscientists rely on laboratory experiments and computer models in order to understand the properties of minerals at the extreme pressure and temperature conditions of deep crust, the mantle and the core. In the field of high-pressure mineral physics and chemistry, we use our understanding of mineral properties, stress–strain relationships in multiphase rocks, and processes such as partial melting at high pressures and temperatures, to interpret geophysical observations of the deep Earth. Studies have constrained the pressure sensitivity of deformation of minerals such as olivine under subduction zone conditions, and the effect of pressure on slip systems in high-pressure minerals such as wadsleyite and perovskite. These results have important implications for the variation of mantle viscosity with depth, the geodynamic interpretation of seismic anisotropy, and changes in mantle rheology as a function of composition. However, the rheology and dynamics of the deep Earth are still poorly understood. Fortunately, technical development has been undertaken over the past 10 years in the USA, and scientific advances have been helped by the development of high-P–T deformation apparatus, such as the large volume multi-anvil deformation apparatus known as the D-DIA. This has opened up the possibility of determining physical and chemical processes in the upper mantle, and into the mantle transition zone. To participate in this exciting new area of research, we are now developing a high-pressure facility at the Australian Synchrotron. In this overview paper, we describe the background and current research that is being conducted in other synchrotron high-pressure facilities and what will now be possible for the Australian Synchrotron. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Pressure induced densification in a molecular arsenic sulfide glass is studied at ambient temperature using x-ray scattering, absorption and Raman spectroscopic techniques in situ in a diamond anvil cell. The relatively abrupt changes in the position of the first sharp diffraction peak, FSDP, and the pressure-volume equation of state near ∼2 GPa suggest a phase transition between low- and high-density amorphous phases characterized by different densification mechanisms and rates. Raman spectroscopic results provide clear evidence that the phase transition corresponds to a topological transformation between a low-density molecular structure and a high-density network structure via opening of the constituent As4S3 cage molecules and bond switching. Pressure induced mode softening of the high density phase suggests a low dimensional nature of the network. The phase transformation is hysteretically reversible, and therefore, reminiscent of a first-order phase transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study was the first of its kind, where neutron computed tomography (CT) was applied to a wrapped mummified animal. Conventional X‐ray CT was also used to allow for meaningful comparison, and complementary data for a comprehensive investigation. Previous applications of both techniques are limited to metallic objects, such as bronze Buddhas. The mummy used in this study (IA.2402) is dated between the Third Intermediate Period (1069–664 bce) to Late Period (664–332 bce) according to the wrapping style, and was originally believed to contain a complete skeleton of a feline. However, precise date and provenance were unknown. Our results prove the presence of only partial juvenile feline remains, and provide a date range for artefact creation (900–804 bce ± 30) and alteration (367–204 bce ± 30). Therefore, this study implements an established imaging technique (neutron CT) in a novel way, while preserving and conserving the intrinsic value of the artefact through non‐destructive investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the compressibility of monolithic fully dense electrodeposited nanocrystalline Ni (∼29 nm grain size) under both quasihydrostatic and nonhydrostatic conditions up to a nominal pressure of 50 GPa using angle-dispersive x-ray diffraction. We obtained an equation of state consistently and unambiguously from each measured reflection. The apparent bulk modulus measured under nonhydrostatic conditions is larger than that of the corresponding coarse-grained material under either type of compression, but is nearly the same when measured under quasihydrostatic conditions. These results may be consistent with a strength, but not necessarily a bulk modulus, that is enhanced in the nanomaterial relative to its coarse-grained counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a letter to the editor on the treatment for recalcitrant hidradenitis suppurativa with oral ciclosporin.

The article presents a case study of an 11-month-old baby boy was presented with rashes on the face and arms. Also discusses the diagnosis of variegated pigmentation, telangiectases and erosions on the skin after light microscopy, and identifying frameshift mutation in exons and introns through Sanger sequencing.

Experiments at 20–97 GPa and 2000 K in the system CaO–MgO–TiO2–SiO2 constrain phase relations involving Mg-rich and Ca-rich perovskite solid solutions at conditions relevant to the Earth's deep Transition Zone and lower mantle. Bulk compositions were investigated with molar Ti/(Ti + Si) up to 0·5 within the quasi-ternary ‘perovskite plane’, which is defined by a reciprocal solution among the components MgSiO3, MgTiO3, CaSiO3, and CaTiO3. Multi-anvil experiments at 20 GPa and 2000 K on bulk compositions within the plane produce akimotoite coexisting with Ca-perovskites that lie close to the CaSiO3–CaTiO3 join. Higher-pressure experiments using a laser-heated diamond anvil cell constrain the position of a two-perovskite field that extends into the perovskite plane from the solvus along the MgSiO3–CaSiO3 binary join, where limited mutual solubility exists between MgSiO3 and CaSiO3 perovskites. On the join MgSiO3–MgTiO3, MgTiO3 solubility in MgSiO3 perovskite increases with pressure, with MgSi0·8Ti0·2O3 perovskite stable at ∼50 GPa. Limited reciprocal solution at ∼25 GPa results in an expansive two-perovskite field that occupies much of the Si-rich portion of the perovskite plane. Solution of Ti into Mg-rich and Ca-rich perovskites enhances the solubility of reciprocal Ca and Mg components, respectively. Increase in pressure promotes reciprocal solution, and the two-phase field collapses rapidly with pressure toward the MgSiO3–CaSiO3 join. We find that a single-phase, orthorhombic perovskite with near equimolar Ca and Mg is stable in a composition with Ti/(Ti + Si) of only 0·05 at 97 GPa, requiring that by this pressure the two-phase field occupies a small area close to the MgSiO3–CaSiO3 join. On the basis of experiments at∼1500 K, temperature has only a mild effect on the position of the Ca-rich limb of the solvus. Ca(Ti,Si)O3 mineral inclusions in deep sublithospheric diamonds could not have formed in equilibrium with Mg-perovskite owing to their virtual lack of MgSiO3 component at pressures of Mg-perovskite stability, but may have equilibrated with Transition Zone MgSiO3-rich phases at lower pressures; this observation can be extended generally to near-endmember CaSiO3 inclusions. On an iron-free basis, the average bulk compositions of clinopyroxene–ilmenite and orthopyroxene–ilmenite megacrysts from kimberlites plot in single-perovskite fields at pressures greater than about 45 and 65 GPa, respectively, when projected onto the perovskite plane. We predict that the effect of iron will not be large, and estimate that single-phase perovskites may form at somewhat lower pressures than in the iron-free system. Thus, the origin of pyroxene–ilmenite megacrysts from single-phase perovskite solutions in the lower mantle is plausible on the basis of phase relations, although a lower pressure magmatic origin appears more likely. Deeply subducted Ti-rich lithologies such as ocean-island basalt will crystallize a single perovskite rather than a two-perovskite assemblage beginning at pressures of ∼80 GPa. Normal mid-ocean ridge basalt and primitive mantle peridotite are expected to remain within a two-phase perovskite field until Mg-perovskite transforms to post-perovskite. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The crystalline, liquid and amorphous phase stabilities and transformations of the Ge1Sb2Te4 (GST124) alloy are investigated as a function of pressure and temperature using synchrotron diffraction experiments in a diamond anvil cell. The results indicate that the solid-state amorphization of the cubic GST124 phase under high pressure may correspond to a metastable extension of the stability field of the GST124 liquid along a hexagonal crystal-liquid phase boundary with a negative P-T slope. The internal pressures generated during phase change are shown to be too small to affect phase stability. However, they may be important in understanding reliability issues related to thermomechanical stress development in phase change random access memory structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present isothermal volume compression behavior of two polycrystalline (Mg,Fe)O samples with FeO = 39 and 78 mol% up to ~90 GPa at 300 K using synchrotron X-ray diffraction and neon as a pressure-transmitting medium. For the iron-rich (Mg0.22Fe0.78)O sample, a structural transition from the B1 structure to a rhombohedral structure was observed at 41.6 GPa, with no further indication of changes in structural or compression behavior changes up to 93 GPa. In contrast, a change in the compression behavior of (Mg0.61Fe0.39)O was observed during compression at P ≥ 71 GPa and is indicative of a spin crossover occurring in the Fe2+ component of (Mg0.61Fe0.39)O. The low-spin state exhibited a volume collapse of ~3.5%, which is a larger value than what was observed for a similar composition in a laser-heated NaCl medium. Upon decompression, the volume of the high-spin state was recovered at approximately 65 GPa. We therefore bracket the spin crossover at 65 ≤ P (GPa) ≤ 77 at 300 K (Mg0.61Fe0.39)O. We observed no deviation from the B1 structure in (Mg0.61Fe0.39)O throughout the pressure range investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Partial melting in the Earth’s mantle plays an important part in generating the geochemical and isotopic diversity observed in volcanic rocks at the surface. Identifying the composition of these primary melts in the mantle is crucial for establishing links between mantle geochemical ‘reservoirs’ and fundamental geodynamic processes. Mineral inclusions in natural diamonds have provided a unique window into such deep mantle processes. Here we provide experimental and geochemical evidence that silicate mineral inclusions in diamonds from Juina, Brazil, crystallized from primary and evolved carbonatite melts in the mantle transition zone and deep upper mantle. The incompatible trace element abundances calculated for a melt coexisting with a calcium-titanium-silicate perovskite inclusion indicate deep melting of carbonated oceanic crust, probably at transition-zone depths. Further to perovskite, calcic-majorite garnet inclusions record crystallization in the deep upper mantle from an evolved melt that closely resembles estimates of primitive carbonatite on the basis of volcanic rocks. Small-degree melts of subducted crust can be viewed as agents of chemical mass-transfer in the upper mantle and transition zone, leaving a chemical imprint of ocean crust that can possibly endure for billions of years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background It is generally accepted that the onset of sebum secretion occurs before puberty in boys and girls as a result of increasing androgen output during the adrenarche. Propionibacteria are part of the commensal skin flora and, in adults, are found in highest numbers in sebum-rich areas of skin such as the face and upper trunk. Previous studies investigating the association between sebum output and propionibacterial population densities have been cross-sectional and have been carried out mainly in adults. Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the onset of sebum secretion and expansion of the propionibacterial flora in a population of early adolescent children aged between 5.5 and 12 years, and to evaluate the temporal relation between the two factors longitudinally. In addition, the study aimed to evaluate the change with age in sebaceous gland activity and propionibacterial colonization on the skin and in the nares between children who developed acne and those who did not. Methods Biannual examinations of volunteers included age, pubertal (Tanner) stage, weight and height, lesion counting on the face, propionibacterial colonization on the skin surface and in the nares and sebum secretion. A longitudinal analysis based on all observations of each subject throughout the study was applied to examine the change of sebaceous gland activity and propionibacterial colonization with age and pubertal stage. A generalized estimating equation was used with a 0.05 level of significance. Results The commencement of sebum production was asynchronous, with only a small number of follicles initially starting to secrete sebum onto the skin surface. The number of secreting follicles and the area of sebum increased with age and pubertal stage (P < 0.0001, P < 0.05, respectively). Numbers of propionibacteria on the skin tended to increase after the age of 9 years, but not significantly so. In contrast, numbers of propionibacteria in the nares increased significantly with age (P < 0.0001) but not with pubertal maturation. Children who developed acne had higher sebum output and propionibacterial densities with increasing age than children who did not develop acne. This effect was significant for the increase of total sebum area with age in pubertal children (P = 0.0023), the increase in number of secreting follicles with age (P = 0.020) in prepubertal children, and the increase in propionibacteria densities in the nares with age (P = 0.0005) in pubertal children. Sebaceous gland activity and propionibacterial numbers on the skin surface remained unchanged with increasing age in children who did not develop acne. Propionibacterial population densities in the nares increased with age regardless of the development of acne. Conclusions Onset of sebum secretion and consequently expansion of the propionibacterial skin flora occur earlier in children who develop acne than in children of the same age and pubertal status who do not develop acne. These observations suggest that postponing the onset of sebum production or the expansion of the propionibacterial skin flora until after puberty may represent ways of preventing the disease or minimizing its severity. Determinants of propionibacterial colonization on the skin and in the nares may be different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The hygiene hypothesis is often proposed to explain the high prevalence of atopy in the western world. Dysregulation of the immune system may result from inadequate exposure to micro-organisms such as mycobacteria. A small trial suggested that a killed extract of Mycobacterium vaccae ameliorates atopic dermatitis (AD). Objectives To confirm in a large clinical trial whether killed M. vaccae ameliorates AD in 5–16-year-old children. Methods This was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multi-centre study of the effect of intradermal injection of killed M. vaccae (0.1 or 1 mg) on patients, aged 5–16, with moderate-to-severe AD. Patients were followed up for 24 weeks. The primary end point was the change in severity of AD at 12 weeks, assessed using the six area, six-sign, atopic dermatitis (SASSAD) score. Secondary end points included changes in disease extent, patient's global assessment and children's dermatology life quality index. Results There were 166 patients randomized. The mean SASSAD score fell to a similar degree at week 12 in all treatment arms: from 33 to 24, (26%) in the high-dose group, from 30 to 23 (25%) in the low-dose group and from 36 to 27 (24%) in the placebo group ( P>0.05). Secondary end points followed the same trend. Adverse events were generally those expected to occur in this population. Injection site reactions occurred in 32 patients at week 4. Conclusions M. vaccae was no more effective than the placebo in ameliorating the severity of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]