Anisotropic proximity-induced superconductivity and edge supercurrent in Kagome metal, K1-xV3Sb5.

Materials with Kagome nets are of particular importance for their potential combination of strong correlation, exotic magnetism, and electronic topology. KV3Sb5 was discovered to be a layered topological metal with a Kagome net of vanadium. Here, we fabricated Josephson Junctions of K1-xV3Sb5 and induced superconductivity over long junction lengths. Through magnetoresistance and current versus phase measurements, we observed a magnetic field sweeping direction-dependent magnetoresistance and an anisotropic interference pattern with a Fraunhofer pattern for in-plane magnetic field but a suppression of critical current for out-of-plane magnetic field. These results indicate an anisotropic internal magnetic field in K1-xV3Sb5 that influences the superconducting coupling in the junction, possibly giving rise to spin-triplet superconductivity. In addition, the observation of long-lived fast oscillations shows evidence of spatially localized conducting channels arising from edge states. These observations pave the way for studying unconventional superconductivity and Josephson device based on Kagome metals with electron correlation and topology.

Giant, unconventional anomalous Hall effect in the metallic frustrated magnet candidate, KV3Sb5.

The anomalous Hall effect (AHE) is one of the most fundamental phenomena in physics. In the highly conductive regime, ferromagnetic metals have been the focus of past research. Here, we report a giant extrinsic AHE in KV3Sb5, an exfoliable, highly conductive semimetal with Dirac quasiparticles and a vanadium Kagome net. Even without report of long range magnetic order, the anomalous Hall conductivity reaches 15,507 Ω-1 cm-1 with an anomalous Hall ratio of ≈ 1.8%; an order of magnitude larger than Fe. Defying theoretical expectations, KV3Sb5 shows enhanced skew scattering that scales quadratically, not linearly, with the longitudinal conductivity, possibly arising from the combination of highly conductive Dirac quasiparticles with a frustrated magnetic sublattice. This allows the possibility of reaching an anomalous Hall angle of 90° in metals. This observation raises fundamental questions about AHEs and opens new frontiers for AHE and spin Hall effect exploration, particularly in metallic frustrated magnets.

CsV_{3}Sb_{5}: A Z_{2} Topological Kagome Metal with a Superconducting Ground State.

Recently discovered alongside its sister compounds KV_{3}Sb_{5} and RbV_{3}Sb_{5}, CsV_{3}Sb_{5} crystallizes with an ideal kagome network of vanadium and antimonene layers separated by alkali metal ions. This work presents the electronic properties of CsV_{3}Sb_{5}, demonstrating bulk superconductivity in single crystals with a T_{c}=2.5 K. The normal state electronic structure is studied via angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and density-functional theory, which categorize CsV_{3}Sb_{5} as a Z_{2} topological metal. Multiple protected Dirac crossings are predicted in close proximity to the Fermi level (E_{F}), and signatures of normal state correlation effects are also suggested by a high-temperature charge density wavelike instability. The implications for the formation of unconventional superconductivity in this material are discussed.

Inelastic x-ray scattering measurements of phonon dispersion and lifetimes in PbTe1-x Se x alloys.

PbTe1-x Se x alloys are of special interest to thermoelectric applications. Inelastic x-ray scattering determination of phonon dispersion and lifetimes along the high symmetry directions for PbTe1-x Se x alloys are presented. By comparing with calculated results based on the virtual crystal model calculations combined with ab initio density functional theory, the validity of virtual crystal model is evaluated. The results indicate that the virtual crystal model is overall a good assumption for phonon frequencies and group velocities despite the softening of transverse acoustic phonon modes along [1 1 1] direction, while the treatment of lifetimes warrants caution. In addition, phonons remain a good description of vibrational modes in PbTe1-x Se x alloys.

An evidence-based clinical pathway for bronchiolitis safely reduces antibiotic overuse.

The overuse of antibiotics in the management of bronchiolitis is widely known, yet physician practice has been slow to change. We report here on the success of a clinical pathway in reducing antibiotic overuse in the inpatient management of bronchiolitis. The charts of 181 children admitted for bronchiolitis were reviewed to determine whether antibiotic use was reduced in patients managed using a clinical pathway compared with a matched group of patients managed without use of the pathway (non-pathway group). Only 9% of the pathway patients received antibiotics compared with 27% of the nonpathway group. No negative effects were seen on other quality measures including unplanned return for care. Furthermore, for patients managed using the clinical pathway, cost and length of stay were significantly reduced. Overall, the study suggests that implementation of a clinical pathway may be an effective means to change physician practice and reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics, while maintaining or improving other aspects of quality of care.