Local Electronic and Magnetic Studies of an Artificial La2FeCrO6 Double Perovskite

Through the utilization of element-resolved polarized x-ray probes, the electronic and magnetic state of an artificial La2FeCrO6 double perovskite were explored. Applying unit-cell level control of thin film growth on SrTiO3 (111), the rock salt double perovskite structure can be created for this system, which does not have an ordered perovskite phase in the bulk. We find that the Fe and Cr are in the proper 3+ valence state, but, contrary to previous studies, the element-resolved magnetic studies find the moments in field are small and show no evidence of a sizable magnetic moment in the remanent state.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figure

Magnetic properties of LaFe1-xCrxO3 and Fe2-2xCr2xO3 mixed oxides

Mixed oxides with formula LaFe1-xCrxO3 and Fe2-2xCr2xO3, where 0≤x≤1, are studied. The samples have been prepared using solid state reaction technique in air. The X-ray diffraction spectra indicated that the samples crystallize in a corundum phase with space group ( R3c ) for Fe2-2xCr2xO3 and in the perovskite structure for LaFe1-xCrxO3. Many techniques have been used to explore the magnetic properties of the systems. High field, ZFC and FC magnetization vs. temperature, d.c. susceptibility and Mössbauer spectroscopy were carried out. High temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements and high field magnetic magnetization (H ≤ 20 T) show that the behavior of the susceptibility and the magnetization are complex. Mössbauer spectra of the solid solutions have been measured at 4.2 K and in the temperature range 77 K to 300 K. The shapes of spectra are unusual, showing strong relaxation phenomena in a wide temperature range as recently observed for many frustrated systems. The results are discussed by establishing the existence of various magnetic structures, inducing intermediate magnetic phases between the antiferromagnetic and the paramagnetic states. Preliminary magnetic phase diagrams of the systems have been established.Mixed oxides with formula LaFe1-xCrxO3 and Fe2-2xCr2xO3, where 0≤x≤1, are studied. The samples have been prepared using solid state reaction technique in air. The X-ray diffraction spectra indicated that the samples crystallize in a corundum phase with space group ( R3c ) for Fe2-2xCr2xO3 and in the perovskite structure for LaFe1-xCrxO3. Many techniques have been used to explore the magnetic properties of the systems. High field, ZFC and FC magnetization vs. temperature, d.c. susceptibility and Mössbauer spectroscopy were carried out. High temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements and high field magnetic magnetization (H ≤ 20 T) show that the behavior of the susceptibility and the magnetization are complex. Mössbauer spectra of the solid solutions have been measured at 4.2 K and in the temperature range 77 K to 300 K. The shapes of spectra are unusual, showing strong relaxation phenomena in a wide temperature range as recently observed for many frustrated systems. The results are discussed by establishing the existence of various magnetic structures, inducing intermediate magnetic phases between the antiferromagnetic and the paramagnetic states. Preliminary magnetic phase diagrams of the systems have been established

Static critical exponents of the ferromagnetic transition in spin glass re-entrant systems

The static critical phenomenology near the Curie temperature of the re-entrant metallic alloys Au_0.81Fe_0.19, Ni_0.78Mn_0.22, Ni_0.79Mn_0.21 and amorphous a-Fe_0.98Zr_0.08 is studied using a variety of experimental techniques and methods of analysis. We have generally found that the values for the exponents alpha, beta, gamma and delta depart significantly from the predictions for the 3D Heisenberg model and are intermediate between these expectations and the values characterizing a typical spin glass transition. Comparing the exponents obtained in our work with indices for other re-entrant systems reported in the literature, a weak universality class may be defined where the exponents distribute within a certain range around average values.Comment: 17 pages, 11 figure

Evaluation of intermittent hemodialysis conducted off-site on patients with renal insufficiency admitted in the intensive care unit of a developing country

Background: In most developing countries, the renal replacement therapy (RRT) in ICU is not performed locally. We designed this study to assess the intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) offsite intakes on survival in critically ill patients admitted with renal failure.Methods: We prospectively analyzed all patients admitted to medical ICU with Acute Renal Failure (AKF) or Chronic Renal Failure (CKF) from February 2011 to September 2013. Patients were divided into two groups: those that received IHD in Hemodialysis Unit (IHD+) and those who did not (IHD-). Every patient IHD+ was matched to a patient IHD - using propensity score.Results: 202 patients were included: 151 with ARF and 51 with CRF. 116 patients were matched (age: 48±18 years; 46F/70M; median serum creatinine: 51mg/l; IQR: 32-90 mg/l). The total number of dialysis sessions was 112 for 58 patients (1.8±1.4 session/patient). The median delay to initiate IHD was 5.5h (IQR: 2-8h) and median duration of transportation was 10 min (IQR: 10-15min) with 23.6% transportation incidents. Significant hypotension with tachycardia were reported during IHD. ICU mortality rate was the same in the both groups (58.6%). In multivariate analysis, CRF (RR=2.69; p=0.006), serum creatinine >50mg/l (RR=3.54; p=0.007) and requirement for vasopressors infusion (RR=1.8; p=0.041) were independent predictive factors for receiving IHD.Conclusions: Our study doesn’t show an improvement in survival in ICU patients who receive IHD offsite. The probability to require IHD offsite increases with CRF and the use of vasopressors

Re-entrant spin glass and magnetoresistance in Co_{0.2}Zn_{0.8}Fe_{1.6}Ti_{0.4}O_4 spinel oxide

We have investigated the static and dynamic response of magnetic clusters in Co_{0.2}Zn_{0.8}Fe_{1.6}Ti_{0.4}O_4 spinel oxide, where a sequence of magnetic phase transitions, i.e., paramagnetic (PM) to ferromagnetic at T_{C} $\leq$ 270K and ferromagnetic to canted spin glass state at T_f$$\leq$ 125K is observed

When Too Much Is Not Enough: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder as a Pathology of Stopping, Rather than Starting

Background: In obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), individuals feel compelled to repeatedly perform security-related behaviors, even though these behaviours seem excessive and unwarranted to them. The present research investigated two alternative ways of explaining such behavior: (1) a dysfunction of activation—a starting problem—in which the level of excitation in response to stimuli suggesting potential danger is abnormally strong; versus (2) a dysfunction of termination— a stopping problem—in which the satiety-like process for shutting down security-related thoughts and actions is abnormally weak. Method: In two experiments, 70 patients with OCD (57 with washing compulsions, 13 with checking compulsions) and 72 controls were exposed to contamination cues—immersing a hand in wet diapers —and later allowed to wash their hands, first limited to 30 s and then for as long as desired. The intensity of activation of security motivation was measured objectively by change in respiratory sinus arrythmia. Subjective ratings (e.g., contamination) and behavioral measures (e.g., duration of hand washing) were also collected. Results: Compared to controls, OCD patients with washing compulsions did not differ significantly in their levels of initial activation to the threat of contamination; however, they were significantly less able to reduce this activation by engaging in the corrective behavior of hand-washing. Further, the deactivating effect of hand-washing in OCD patients with checkin

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century