High-Pressure Iron-Sulfur Compound, Fe3S2, and Melting Relations in the Fe-FeS System

An iron-sulfur compound (Fe3S2) was synthesized at pressures greater than 14 gigapascals in the system Fe-FeS. The formation of Fe3S2 changed the melting relations from a simple binary eutectic system to a binary system with an intermediate compound that melted incongruently. The eutectic temperature in the system at 14 gigapascals was about 400°C lower than that extrapolated from Usselman's data, implying that previous thermal models of Fe-rich planetary cores could overestimate core temperature. If it is found in a meteorite, the Fe3S2 phase could also be used to infer the minimum size of a parent body.     

High-Pressure Framework Silicates

Recent syntheses of high-pressure alkali and alkaline earth silicates reveal a class of framework structures with corner-linked 4- and 6-coordinated silicon. These compounds possess the structural formula (A4-2x1+Bx2+)SimVI(SinIVO2(m+n)+2), where x, m, and n specify the amounts of alkaline earth, 6-coordinated silicon, and 4-coordinated silicon, respectively. Appropriate values of m and n yield a range of high-pressure structures, from fully 4-coordinated to fully 6-coordinated silicate frameworks. Recognition of this class of framework silicates leads to predictions of high-pressure structures as well as room-pressure isomorphs of high-pressure silicates.     

The first laboratory-confirmed rabid pig in Maryland, 2003

This article is the first to describe the clinical picture and potential human health impact of laboratory-confirmed rabies infection in a pet Vietnamese pot-bellied pig in Maryland. Although cases of confirmed rabies infection have been infrequently reported in pet or agricultural during the past 10 years in the United States, exposure to rabies-positive animals remains a public health concern particularly for veterinarians, pet owners and other animal caretakers. It is important that individuals who are in a high-risk rabies exposure group remain vigilant to this potential public health threat in all mammal species.     

Induction of heat stress in beef cattle by feeding the ergots of Claviceps purpurea

Two groups of 4 Hereford steers were housed in a controlled environment room and exposed to simulated high summer temperatures. Both groups were fed a barley grain and hay diet ad libitum. The barley in one diet contained 0.5% w/w ergots of Claviceps purpurea. Within one week of feeding the ergot diet mean rectal temperature was significantly elevated (P less than 0.05) each afternoon (up to 41 degrees C) but returned to normal overnight. Elevated rectal temperature was accompanied by other signs of heat stress, reduced feed intake, body weight loss and depression or serum prolactin concentration. Symptoms disappeared within 1 week of ceasing to feed the ergot diet.