Neutron scattering and crystal field studies of the rare earth double perovskite Ba2ErSbO6.

The rare earth double perovskite Ba(2)ErSbO(6) contains an ordered face-centred cubic lattice of Er(3+) ions, suggesting that this material is a candidate for showing the effects of geometric magnetic frustration. Crystal field effects have also been shown to be important in this series. We report a systematic experimental study involving neutron scattering and bulk measurements that show no evidence of long ranged magnetic order or spin glass freezing down to 70 mK. A description of the system in terms of a crystal field scheme is established from inelastic neutron scattering. These measurements rule out significant magnetic coupling and show that all observed properties are fully explained by a model of uncoupled magnetic Er(3+) ions.

Nonmonotonic zero-point entropy in diluted spin ice.

Water ice and spin ice are important model systems in which theory can directly account for "zero-point" entropy associated with quenched configurational disorder. Spin ice differs from water ice in the important respect that its fundamental constituents, the spins of the magnetic ions, can be removed through replacement with nonmagnetic ions while keeping the lattice structure intact. In order to investigate the interplay of frustrated interactions and quenched disorder, we have performed systematic heat capacity measurements on spin ice materials which have been thus diluted up to 90%. Investigations of both Ho and Dy spin ices reveal that the zero-point entropy depends nonmonotonically on dilution and approaches the value of Rln2 in the limit of high dilution. The data are in good agreement with a generalization of Pauling's theory for the entropy of ice.

Slow spin relaxation in a highly polarized cooperative paramagnet.

We report measurements of the ac susceptibility of the cooperative paramagnet Tb2Ti2O7 in a strong magnetic field. Our data show the expected saturation maximum in chi(T) and also an unexpected frequency dependence of this peak at low frequencies (<1 Hz), suggesting very slow spin relaxations are occurring. Measurements on samples diluted with nonmagnetic Y3+ or Lu3+ and complementary measurements on pure and diluted Dy2Ti2O7 strongly suggest that the relaxation is associated with dipolar spin correlations, representing unusual cooperative behavior in a paramagnetic system.

The relationship of the incisive papilla to the maxillary central incisors and canine teeth in southern Chinese.

A photographic technique was used to measure anatomic landmarks located on dental casts. The relationship of the maxillary anterior teeth to the incisive papilla in a Southern Chinese population living in Hong Kong was studied. The distances from the labial surface of the central incisors to the midpoint and the posterior border of the incisive papilla were measured. The area on the incisive papilla where the intercanine line crossed was noted. The data obtained were compared with those from previous studies of Caucasians. Results show that there is little difference between the Southern Chinese in this study and most other ethnic groups. The guidelines that use the incisive papilla as a reference for the setting of artificial teeth in denture construction recommended for Caucasians can be applied to Southern Chinese patients.

Bacteriologic analyses of bile and brown pigment stones in patients with acute cholangitis.

BACKGROUND: Bacteria play an important role in the formation of brown pigment stones through adherence and biofilm formation. Scanning electron microscopy of cross sections of these stones reveals a laminated appearance and various bacteria in the different layers. Our postulation was that different bacteria might be involved at different stages of stone formation. METHODS: By using standard bacteriologic cultures, the composition, morphology, and antibiotic sensitivity patterns of bacteria isolated from paired stone were compared with bile samples from 70 patients with acute cholangitis. A further comparison was made between bacteria isolated from the periphery and center of 3 randomly selected brown pigment stones. RESULTS: Ninety-one percent of bile and 99% of stone samples yielded positive cultures, with a total of 151 and 149 bacteria isolated from bile and stones, respectively. In 22 patients (33%), the bacteria isolated from the paired bile and stone samples were totally different. The mean percentage similarity of bacteria isolated from bile and stones was 39% (range 0%-100%). Of the 59 pairs of similar bacteria isolated, the antibiotic sensitivity patterns were different in 24 (41%) cases. Of the 3 brown stones studied, either different bacterial species or the same bacteria but different strains with different antibiotic sensitivities were isolated from the center and periphery of the stones. CONCLUSIONS: Bacteria present in the different layers of brown pigment stones may represent the bacterial flora in bile at different times. Simple bile culture may not identify bacteria trapped inside the stone.