THz Magneto-electric atomic rotations in the chiral compound Ba3_3NbFe3_3Si2_2O14_{14}

We have determined the terahertz spectrum of the chiral langasite Ba$_3$NbFe$_3$Si$_2$O$_{14}$ by means of synchrotron-radiation measurements. Two excitations are revealed that are shown to have a different nature. The first one, purely magnetic, is observed at low temperature in the magnetically ordered phase and is assigned to a magnon. The second one persits far into the paramagnetic phase and exhibits both an electric and a magnetic activity at slightly different energies. This magnetoelectric excitation is interpreted in terms of atomic rotations and requires a helical electric polarization

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy assessed by drug level monitoring and self-report in cameroon

OBJECTIVES: To compare adherence to antiretroviral therapy using drug level monitoring and self-report and to explore the relation between these 2 methods and viral load measurements. METHODS: Sixty patients received a fixed-dose combination of nevirapine, stavudine, and lamivudine in a clinical study in Cameroon. Adherence was assessed every 6 months until month 36 by nevirapine minimal plasma concentration and self-report. Plasma HIV-1 viral load was determined at the same time. Analyses included 159 complete observations. RESULTS: The proportion of patients labeled as "adherent" was significantly lower using nevirapine monitoring (88.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 82.7 to 93.2) than self-report (97.5%, CI: 93.7 to 99.3; P = 0.002). Virologic failure was associated with the nevirapine concentration (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.43; P = 0.018) but not with the self-reported adherence (aOR = 0.84; P = 0.9). As compared with the virologic outcome, the sensitivity of nevirapine level monitoring for predicting inadequate adherence was 20.5%, the specificity was 91.7%, the positive predictive value was 44.4%, and the negative predictive value was 78.0%. For self-report, the respective values were 2.6%, 97.5%, 25.0%, and 75.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Drug level monitoring provided a more reliable estimate of adherence than self-report. This method could be used in research settings. Operational research is required to define how to improve the accuracy of the self-report method because it is the most feasible method in clinical practice

Operationalising the 20-minute neighbourhood

BACKGROUND: Recent rapid growth in urban areas and the desire to create liveable neighbourhoods has brought about a renewed interest in planning for compact cities, with concepts like the 20-minute neighbourhood (20MN) becoming more popular. A 20MN broadly reflects a neighbourhood that allows residents to meet their daily (non-work) needs within a short, non-motorised, trip from home. The 20MN concept underpins the key planning strategy of Australia’s second largest city, Melbourne, however the 20MN definition has not been operationalised. This study aimed to develop and operationalise a practical definition of the 20MN and apply this to two Australian state capital cities: Melbourne (Victoria) and Adelaide (South Australia). METHODS: Using the metropolitan boundaries for Melbourne and Adelaide, data were sourced for several layers related to five domains: 1) healthy food; 2) recreational resources; 3) community resources; 4) public open space; and 5) public transport. The number of layers and the access measures required for each domain differed. For example, the recreational resources domain only required a sport and fitness centre (gym) within a 1.5-km network path distance, whereas the public open space domain required a public open space within a 400-m distance along a pedestrian network and 8 ha of public open space area within a 1-km radius. Locations that met the access requirements for each of the five domains were defined as 20MNs. RESULTS: In Melbourne 5.5% and in Adelaide 7.6% of the population were considered to reside in a 20MN. Within areas classified as residential, the median number of people per square kilometre with a 20MN in Melbourne was 6429 and the median number of dwellings per square kilometre was 3211. In Adelaide’s 20MNs, both population density (3062) and dwelling density (1440) were lower than in Melbourne. CONCLUSIONS: The challenge of operationalising a practical definition of the 20MN has been addressed by this study and applied to two Australian cities. The approach can be adapted to other contexts as a first step to assessing the presence of existing 20MNs and monitoring further implementation of this concept. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12966-021-01243-3

Helical bunching and symmetry lowering inducing multiferroicity in Fe langasites

International audienceThe chiral Fe-based langasites represent model systems of triangle-based frustrated magnets with a strong potential for multiferroicity. We report neutron scattering measurements for the multichiral Ba3MFe3Si2O14 (M = Nb, Ta) langasites revealing new important features of the magnetic order of these systems: the bunching of the helical modulation along the c-axis and the in-plane distortion of the 120° Fe-spin arrangement. We discuss these subtle features in terms of the microscopic spin Hamiltonian, and provide the link to the magnetically-induced electric polarization observed in these systems. Thus, our findings put the multiferroicity of this attractive family of materials on solid ground

Bulk charge density wave and electron-phonon coupling in superconducting copper oxychlorides

Bulk charge density waves (CDWs) are now reported in nearly all high-temperature superconducting (HTS) cuprates, with the noticeable exception of one particular family: the copper oxychlorides. Here, we used resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) to reveal a bulk CDW in these materials. Combining RIXS with non-resonant IXS, we investigate the interplay between the lattice excitations and the CDW, and evidence bond-stretching (BS) phonon anomalies at the CDW wave-vector. We propose that such electron-phonon anomalies occur in the presence of dispersive charge excitations emanating from the CDW and interacting with the BS phonon. Our observations in a structurally simple cuprate promises to better connect bulk and surface properties and bridge the gap between theory and experiment

Temporal trends of population viral suppression in the context of Universal Test and Treat: the ANRS 12249 TasP trial in rural South Africa

Introduction: The universal test-and-treat (UTT) strategy aims to maximize population viral suppression (PVS), that is, the proportion of all people living with HIV (PLHIV) on antiretroviral treatment (ART) and virally suppressed, with the goal of reducing HIV transmission at the population level. This article explores the extent to which temporal changes in PVS explain the observed lack of association between universal treatment and cumulative HIV incidence seen in the ANRS 12249 TasP trial conducted in rural South Africa. Methods: The TasP cluster-randomized trial (2012 to 2016) implemented six-monthly repeat home-based HIV counselling and testing (RHBCT) and referral of PLHIV to local HIV clinics in 2 9 11 clusters opened sequentially. ART was initiated according to national guidelines in control clusters and regardless of CD4 count in intervention clusters. We measured residency status, HIV status, and HIV care status for each participant on a daily basis. PVS was computed per cluster among all resident PLHIV (≥16, including those not in care) at cluster opening and daily thereafter. We used a mixed linear model to explore time patterns in PVS, adjusting for sociodemographic changes at the cluster level. Results: 8563 PLHIV were followed. During the course of the trial, PVS increased significantly in both arms (23.5% to 46.2% in intervention, +22.8, p < 0.001; 26.0% to 44.6% in control, +18.6, p < 0.001). That increase was similar in both arms (p = 0.514). In the final adjusted model, PVS increase was most associated with increased RHBCT and the implementation of local trial clinics (measured by time since cluster opening). Contextual changes (measured by calendar time) also contributed slightly. The effect of universal ART (trial arm) was positive but limited. Conclusions: PVS was improved significantly but similarly in both trial arms, explaining partly the null effect observed in terms of cumulative HIV incidence between arms. The PVS gains due to changes in ART-initiation guidelines alone are relatively small compared to gains obtained by strategies to maximize testing and linkage to care. The achievement of the 90-90-90 targets will not be met if the operational and implementational challenges limiting access to care and treatment, often context-specific, are not properly addressed. Clinical trial number: NCT01509508 (clinicalTrials.gov)/DOH-27-0512-3974 (South African National Clinical Trials Register)

Dynamical magnetoelectric coupling in multiferroic compounds : iron langasites and hexagonal manganites

Cette thèse expérimentale a pour motivation l'étude des propriétés dynamiques des composés multiferroïques : les langasites de fer Ba3NbFe3Si2O14 et Ba3TaFe3Si2O14 et le manganite hexagonal ErMnO3. Ces investigations ont été réalisées grâce à l'utilisation de deux techniques expérimentales complémentaires : les spectroscopies FIR et THz et la diffusion de neutrons (polarisés et non polarisés). Dans les langasites de fer, des excitations magnéto-électriques ont été observées. Celles-ci ont été interprétées comme des modes de rotation atomique excités par la composante magnétique de l'onde électromagnétique. D'autre part, des modulations fines de la structure magnétique ont également été mises en évidence dans le composé Ba3NbFe3Si2O14 par l'observation de faits expérimentaux incompatibles avec la structure magnétique publiée avant cette étude. Il s'agissait de satellites magnétiques interdits et d'ordre supérieurs ainsi qu'une extinction dans les ondes de spin. La structure magnétique déduite de cette étude correspond à une modulation en accordéon des hélices de spin et à une perte structurale de l'axe de rotation d'ordre 3. Ces modulations sont compatibles avec les excitations magnéto-électriques et la multiferroïcité récemment mise en évidence dans ce composé. En parallèle, les propriétés magnéto-électriques dynamiques du manganite hexagonal ErMnO3 ont été étudiées. Un électromagnon a été observé correspondant à un magnon du Mn excité par la composante électrique de l'onde électromagnétique. Par comparaison avec le composé YMnO3, cet électromagnon a été interprété comme résultant d'une hybridation entre une excitation de champ cristallin de l'Er active électriquement et un magnon standard du Mn.This experimental thesis is motivated by the study of the dynamical properties of multiferroic compounds : the iron langasites Ba3NbFe3Si2O14 and Ba3TaFe3Si2O14 and the hexagonal manganite ErMnO3. These investigations were performed using two complementary experimental techniques : FIR and THz spectroscopy and neutron scattering (with polarized and unpolarized neutrons). In the iron langasites, magnetoelectric excitations were observed. These excitations have been interpreted as atomic rotation modes excited by the magnetic component of the electromagnetic wave. On the other hand, weak modulations of the magnetic structure were also evidence in the Ba3NbFe3Si2O14 compound by observing experimental evidence inconsistent with the published magnetic structure. These evidence were forbidden and higher order magnetic satellites as well as an extinction in the spin-waves spectrum. The magnetic order deduced from this study presents a bunched modulation of the helix and the structural loss of the 3-fold axis. These modulations are compatible with the magnetoelectric excitations and the multiferroicity recently evidenced in this compound. In parallel, the magnetoelectric dynamical properties of the hexagonal manganite ErMnO3 have been investigated. An electromagnon has been observed corresponding to a Mn magnon excited by the electric component of the electromagnetic wave. From comparison with the YMnO3 compound, this electromagnon was interpreted as a hybrid mode between an electricallyactive Er crystal field excitation and a Mn magnon

Couplage magnéto-électrique dynamique dans les composés multiferroïques : langasites de fer et manganites hexagonaux

This experimental thesis is motivated by the study of the dynamical properties of multiferroic compounds : the iron langasites Ba3NbFe3Si2O14 and Ba3TaFe3Si2O14 and the hexagonal manganite ErMnO3. These investigations were performed using two complementary experimental techniques : FIR and THz spectroscopy and neutron scattering (with polarized and unpolarized neutrons). In the iron langasites, magnetoelectric excitations were observed. These excitations have been interpreted as atomic rotation modes excited by the magnetic component of the electromagnetic wave. On the other hand, weak modulations of the magnetic structure were also evidence in the Ba3NbFe3Si2O14 compound by observing experimental evidence inconsistent with the published magnetic structure. These evidence were forbidden and higher order magnetic satellites as well as an extinction in the spin-waves spectrum. The magnetic order deduced from this study presents a bunched modulation of the helix and the structural loss of the 3-fold axis. These modulations are compatible with the magnetoelectric excitations and the multiferroicity recently evidenced in this compound. In parallel, the magnetoelectric dynamical properties of the hexagonal manganite ErMnO3 have been investigated. An electromagnon has been observed corresponding to a Mn magnon excited by the electric component of the electromagnetic wave. From comparison with the YMnO3 compound, this electromagnon was interpreted as a hybrid mode between an electricallyactive Er crystal field excitation and a Mn magnon.Cette thèse expérimentale a pour motivation l'étude des propriétés dynamiques des composés multiferroïques : les langasites de fer Ba3NbFe3Si2O14 et Ba3TaFe3Si2O14 et le manganite hexagonal ErMnO3. Ces investigations ont été réalisées grâce à l'utilisation de deux techniques expérimentales complémentaires : les spectroscopies FIR et THz et la diffusion de neutrons (polarisés et non polarisés). Dans les langasites de fer, des excitations magnéto-électriques ont été observées. Celles-ci ont été interprétées comme des modes de rotation atomique excités par la composante magnétique de l'onde électromagnétique. D'autre part, des modulations fines de la structure magnétique ont également été mises en évidence dans le composé Ba3NbFe3Si2O14 par l'observation de faits expérimentaux incompatibles avec la structure magnétique publiée avant cette étude. Il s'agissait de satellites magnétiques interdits et d'ordre supérieurs ainsi qu'une extinction dans les ondes de spin. La structure magnétique déduite de cette étude correspond à une modulation en accordéon des hélices de spin et à une perte structurale de l'axe de rotation d'ordre 3. Ces modulations sont compatibles avec les excitations magnéto-électriques et la multiferroïcité récemment mise en évidence dans ce composé. En parallèle, les propriétés magnéto-électriques dynamiques du manganite hexagonal ErMnO3 ont été étudiées. Un électromagnon a été observé correspondant à un magnon du Mn excité par la composante électrique de l'onde électromagnétique. Par comparaison avec le composé YMnO3, cet électromagnon a été interprété comme résultant d'une hybridation entre une excitation de champ cristallin de l'Er active électriquement et un magnon standard du Mn

Playing with the Redox Potentials in Ludwigite Oxyborates: Fe 3 BO 5 and Cu 2 MBO 5 (M = Fe, Mn, and Cr)

International audienc