Electrical Resistivity Behavior and VRH Transport Mechanism in Semiconducting La0.6Sr0.4Mn1−2x Fe x Cr x O3 (0.10≤x≤0.25) Manganites

International audienceThe transport properties and conduction mechanism in La0.6Sr0.4Mn1−2x Fe x Cr x O3 (0≤x≤0.3) have been investigated. The undoped samples show metal-semiconductor transition with a peak of resistivity at a temperature T P , whereas for all doped compounds the semiconducting behavior persists in the whole temperature range. The insertion of Cr3+ and Fe3+ ions leads to the increase of resistivity because the simultaneous substitution of Fe3+ and Cr3+ for Mn3+ reduces the number of available hopping sites for the Mn e g↑ electron and suppresses the double-exchange mechanism. It was found that the transport mechanism for substituted samples is dominated by the variable range hopping of small polarons between localized states in a model where the various parameters estimated from Mott's relation obey the variable range hopping (VRH) mechanism

Global disparities in surgeons’ workloads, academic engagement and rest periods: the on-calL shIft fOr geNEral SurgeonS (LIONESS) study

: The workload of general surgeons is multifaceted, encompassing not only surgical procedures but also a myriad of other responsibilities. From April to May 2023, we conducted a CHERRIES-compliant internet-based survey analyzing clinical practice, academic engagement, and post-on-call rest. The questionnaire featured six sections with 35 questions. Statistical analysis used Chi-square tests, ANOVA, and logistic regression (SPSS® v. 28). The survey received a total of 1.046 responses (65.4%). Over 78.0% of responders came from Europe, 65.1% came from a general surgery unit; 92.8% of European and 87.5% of North American respondents were involved in research, compared to 71.7% in Africa. Europe led in publishing research studies (6.6 ± 8.6 yearly). Teaching involvement was high in North America (100%) and Africa (91.7%). Surgeons reported an average of 6.7 ± 4.9 on-call shifts per month, with European and North American surgeons experiencing 6.5 ± 4.9 and 7.8 ± 4.1 on-calls monthly, respectively. African surgeons had the highest on-call frequency (8.7 ± 6.1). Post-on-call, only 35.1% of respondents received a day off. Europeans were most likely (40%) to have a day off, while African surgeons were least likely (6.7%). On the adjusted multivariable analysis HDI (Human Development Index) (aOR 1.993) hospital capacity > 400 beds (aOR 2.423), working in a specialty surgery unit (aOR 2.087), and making the on-call in-house (aOR 5.446), significantly predicted the likelihood of having a day off after an on-call shift. Our study revealed critical insights into the disparities in workload, access to research, and professional opportunities for surgeons across different continents, underscored by the HDI

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Structural and magnetic properties of (La0.70−xYx)Ba0.30Mn1−xFexO3 perovskites simultaneously doped on A and B sites (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.30)

International audienceWe present the structural and magnetic properties of polycrystalline samples of the solid solution (La0.70−xYx)Ba0.30Mn1−xFexO3 (x = 0.00, 0.10, 0.20 and 0.30). Samples have been prepared by a conventional solid-state reaction method in air. Rietveld refinements of the X-ray powder diffraction data show a structural transition from rhombohedral (View the MathML sourceR3¯c) to orthorhombic (Pbnm) symmetry when x ≥ 0.10. The ZFC, FC and M(H) measurements lead to conclude that the samples with x ≥ 0.10 behave like spin-glass systems. The substitution of Mn3+ ions by Fe3+ ions triggers antiferromagnetic interactions between the Fe3+ and Mn4+ spins. The values of the magnetization (M(H)) decrease when increasing the Fe content. On the basis of a simple model of Mn and Fe spins pointing in opposite directions, we found the experimental data close to the calculated values, confirming the antiferromagnetic alignment between Fe and Mn moments

Critical behavior and magnetic entropy change in the La0.6Sr0.4Mn0.8Fe0.1Cr0.1O3 perovskite

International audienceCritical behavior in the La0.6Sr0.4Mn0.8Fe0.1Cr0.1O3 ceramics was studied using magnetization methods. Results show that the paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition is of second order. Based on the critical behavior analysis using the Banerjee criterion and the Kouvel-Fisher method, we find the critical exponents: β=0.395±0.010, γ=1.402±0.010, and δ=5.208±0.007, for which the magnetic interaction is satisfied within the three-dimensional Heisenberg model. Results indicate the presence of short-range interactions. The magnetic entropy change (−ΔSM) reached maximum values of 1.75, 1.45, 1.15, 0.8 and 0.43 J Kg−1 K−1 under a magnetic field variation of 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 T, respectively. Nevertheless, these (−ΔSM) values are much low for any potential application at this moment. The nature of this phenomenon is discussed in relation to the characteristics of the magnetic phase transition and critical exponents

Effect of the simultaneous substitution of two transition metals on the structural, magnetic and electrical properties of La0.6Sr0.4Mn1−2xCrxFexO3

International audienceThe structural, magnetic and electrical properties of Cr and Fe simultaneously substituted in the perovskite La0.6Sr0.4Mn1−2xCrxFexO3 have been studied. The presence of Cr and Fe had no significant effect on the structural properties. Curie temperature and saturation magnetization decrease with increase in Cr and Fe contents. For x=0.20 and 0.25, a steep drop of zero field-cooled (ZFC) magnetization at low temperature signifies the formation of cluster- or spin-glass state. A weak hysteresis at low fields seems to be an indication of phase separation. All the resulting magnetization curves can be explained by a superposition of both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic components. All the samples are semiconducting throughout the temperature range studied. Resistivity can be described by the adiabatic small polaron hopping and the variable range hopping model. It was found that the transport mechanism is dominated by the VRH model with an increase of Mott localization energy, which explains the increase of resistivity

Transport behavior and mechanism of conduction of simultaneously substituted Y and Fe in La0.7Ba0.3MnO3 perovskite

International audienceThe electrical properties and the mechanism of conduction of the simultaneously substituted La0.7−xYxBa0.3Mn1−xFexO3 perovskite (0≤x≤0.30) have been studied. The insertion of Y3+ and Fe3+ ions in the parent compound La0.7Ba0.3MnO3 leads to an increase of the resistivity. The undoped sample (x=0) shows a metallic behavior, which can be fitted by the relation ρ(T)=ρ0+ρ2T2+ρ4.5T4.5, indicating the importance of electron-magnon scattering effects in this material. All the other samples (x≥0.10) are semiconductors throughout the studied temperature range (80-290 K). Several models have been used to fit their temperature-dependent resistivity: thermal activation, adiabatic nearest-neighbor hopping of small polarons (Holstein theory) and variable range hopping (VRH) models. The fits show that the electronic transport in semiconducting La0.7−xYxBa0.3Mn1−xFexO3 is well described and dominated by the VRH mechanism, for which the hopping distance (a) grows with increasing Fe3+ doping, thus increasing the average hopping energy W

Effects of pre-operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery: an international prospective cohort study an international prospective cohort study

We aimed to determine the impact of pre-operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery during the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We performed an international prospective cohort study including patients undergoing elective surgery in October 2020. Isolation was defined as the period before surgery during which patients did not leave their house or receive visitors from outside their household. The primary outcome was postoperative pulmonary complications, adjusted in multivariable models for measured confounders. Pre-defined sub-group analyses were performed for the primary outcome. A total of 96,454 patients from 114 countries were included and overall, 26,948 (27.9%) patients isolated before surgery. Postoperative pulmonary complications were recorded in 1947 (2.0%) patients of which 227 (11.7%) were associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients who isolated pre-operatively were older, had more respiratory comorbidities and were more commonly from areas of high SARS-CoV-2 incidence and high-income countries. Although the overall rates of postoperative pulmonary complications were similar in those that isolated and those that did not (2.1% vs 2.0%, respectively), isolation was associated with higher rates of postoperative pulmonary complications after adjustment (adjusted OR 1.20, 95%CI 1.05–1.36, p = 0.005). Sensitivity analyses revealed no further differences when patients were categorised by: pre-operative testing; use of COVID-19-free pathways; or community SARS-CoV-2 prevalence. The rate of postoperative pulmonary complications increased with periods of isolation longer than 3 days, with an OR (95%CI) at 4–7 days or ≥ 8 days of 1.25 (1.04–1.48), p = 0.015 and 1.31 (1.11–1.55), p = 0.001, respectively. Isolation before elective surgery might be associated with a small but clinically important increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Longer periods of isolation showed no reduction in the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. These findings have significant implications for global provision of elective surgical care. We aimed to determine the impact of pre-operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery during the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We performed an international prospective cohort study including patients undergoing elective surgery in October 2020. Isolation was defined as the period before surgery during which patients did not leave their house or receive visitors from outside their household. The primary outcome was postoperative pulmonary complications, adjusted in multivariable models for measured confounders. Pre-defined sub-group analyses were performed for the primary outcome. A total of 96,454 patients from 114 countries were included and overall, 26,948 (27.9%) patients isolated before surgery. Postoperative pulmonary complications were recorded in 1947 (2.0%) patients of which 227 (11.7%) were associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients who isolated pre-operatively were older, had more respiratory comorbidities and were more commonly from areas of high SARS-CoV-2 incidence and high-income countries. Although the overall rates of postoperative pulmonary complications were similar in those that isolated and those that did not (2.1% vs 2.0%, respectively), isolation was associated with higher rates of postoperative pulmonary complications after adjustment (adjusted OR 1.20, 95%CI 1.05–1.36, p = 0.005). Sensitivity analyses revealed no further differences when patients were categorised by: pre-operative testing; use of COVID-19-free pathways; or community SARS-CoV-2 prevalence. The rate of postoperative pulmonary complications increased with periods of isolation longer than 3 days, with an OR (95%CI) at 4–7 days or ≥ 8 days of 1.25 (1.04–1.48), p = 0.015 and 1.31 (1.11–1.55), p = 0.001, respectively. Isolation before elective surgery might be associated with a small but clinically important increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Longer periods of isolation showed no reduction in the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. These findings have significant implications for global provision of elective surgical care