Probing the growth window of LaVO₃ perovskites thin films elaborated using magnetron co-sputtering

LaVO3 is a promising material for tuning and improving solar cell performances when modifying the La/V stoichiometry. However, the production of LaVO3 thin films still requires a complex process (MBE, PLD), and the growth window of LaVO3 structure in terms of La/V ratio, already defined in the literature using hybrid-MBE is not determined for elaboration based on magnetron co-sputtering of both vanadium and lanthanum targets followed by an external reducing annealing that we use here. La/V ratio has been varied from 0.52 to 1.68 by changing the power applied to the vanadium target in order to synthesize films with different La/V ratios. The off-stoichiometry growth window has been investigated by complementary methods (XRD, XPS, FTIR and TEM). X-ray diffraction highlights the LaVO3 structure for all the films. For La-rich samples (La/V ratio andgt;1.2), the formation of lanthanum oxide La2O3 is observed at the top surface and interface with the substrate, according to XPS, FTIR and TEM investigations. On the other hand, for V-rich samples, only a slight modification of the structure is observed below the La/V ratio = 0.6; with the presence of a new IR vibration mode corresponding to a small contribution of vanadium oxide(s) present in volume. Our study allows a better definition of the LaVO3 growth window in terms of La/V ratio, estimated from 0.6 to 1.2. © 201

Memory Effects in Granular Material

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study of memory effects in vibration-induced compaction of granular materials. In particular, the response of the system to an abrupt change in shaking intensity is measured. At short times after the perturbation a granular analog of aging in glasses is observed. Using a simple two-state model, we are able to explain this short-time response. We also discuss the possibility for the system to obey an approximate pseudo-fluctuation-dissipation theorem relationship and relate our work to earlier experimental and theoretical studies of the problem.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, reference list change

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Histoire(s) d'élections(s)

no abstrac

Reconstructing seawater Sr/Ca during the last 70 My using fossil fish tooth enamel

International audienceThe chemical composition of past oceans records the combined effects of the evolution of life, climate changes and solid Earth dynamics. Variations in the rate of hydrothermal alteration of the oceanic crust, continental weathering input and burial of marine carbonates are thought to drive the seawater Sr/Ca ratio. Several methods exist for reconstructing past seawater Sr/Ca ratio which are based on the partitioning of Sr between biogenic and inorganic carbonates, and seawater. A compilation of reconstructed seawater Sr/Ca ratios shows that results at variance with each other are obtained for the last 100 My, leaving the question of the Sr/Ca composition of seawater over this period unresolved. Here, a new method for reconstructing the Sr/Ca ratio of past seawater based on the partitioning of Sr between tooth apatite of fossil fish enamel and seawater is proposed. Previously reported values of Sr/Ca and δ18OPO4 for a collection of fish teeth and new data allow the reconstruction of the seawater Sr/Ca ratio evolution for the last 70 My using a new thermometer based on the Sr/Ca ratio in fish teeth. Calculated Sr/Ca ratios decrease from ~ 14 mmol*mol− 1 at 70 Ma to ~ 8 mmol*mol− 1 at 50 Ma and further increase to present day values during the Pliocene. The results are in agreement with values calculated from Cenozoic benthic foraminifera obtained from ODP and DSDP sites. Once the biological offsets of the partitioning of Sr between apatite and water are determined, fossil fish tooth bioapatite represents a material of choice for reconstructing the past seawater Sr/Ca considering its better resistance to diagenetic alteration than for calcite and aragonite

Routine surgical pathology in general surgery

Background: Although pathological analysis provides the definitive diagnosis for most resection specimens, recent evidence suggests that such analysis may be omitted for certain routine samples. This was a retrospective analysis of the value of routine histopathological examination performed in daily general surgical practice. Methods: All specimens from routine appendicectomies, cholecystectomies, haemorrhoidectomies and inguinal hernia repairs performed between 1993 and 2002 were included. The analysis included a comparison of histological and macroscopic diagnoses, review of preoperative and peroperative findings, and an evaluation of the consequences of routine histopathological assessment on patient management and costs. Results: With the exception of hernia specimens, the rate of submission for routine pathological evaluation was 100 percent. No hernia sac specimen from more than 2000 interventions revealed aberrant histological findings. Of 311 haemorrhoidectomy specimens three showed malignancy, all of which had a suspicious macroscopic appearance. Of 1465 appendices, only one (0(.)1 per cent) had a potentially relevant histological diagnosis that was not suspected macroscopically. Among 1523 cholecystectomy specimens, all adenomas (0(.)6 per cent) and carcinomas (0(.)4 per cent) were suspected macroscopically or developed in association with a known disease. Conclusion: The rarity of incidental histological findings relevant to patient management, especially in the absence of macroscopic abnormalities, suggests that routine histological examination of certain specimens may be omitted. A more elementary role for macroscopic examination of the specimen by the surgeon and the pathologist is proposed

Ileocolic intussusception due to a cecal endometriosis: Case report and review of literature

Abstract Cecal endometriosis and ileocolic intussusception due to a cecal endometriosis is extremely rare. We report a case of a woman who presented an ileocecal intussusception due to a cecal endometriosis. The patient gave two months history of chronic periombilical pain requiring regular hospital admission and analgesia. The symptoms were not related to menses. A laparotomy was performed and revealed an ileocolic intussusception. The abdominal exploration did not find any endometriosis lesion. Ileocaecal resection was performed. Microscopic examination showed a cystic component, lined by a regular cylindric epithelium. Foci of endometrial tissu were oberved in the cecal subserosa and muscularis mucosal, with irregular endometrial glands lined by cylindric epithelium without atypia immunostained with CK7, and characteristic endometrial stroma immunostained with CD10. Cecal endometriosis and ileocolic intussusception due to a cecal endometriosis is extremely rare. Diagnose of etiology remains challenging due to the absence of clinical and radiological specific characteristics. Virtual slide The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/2975867306869166</p

Technical Analysis of Available Assurance Techniques

This document presents a technical analysis of available assurance techniques proposed by the Common Criteria v3.1 (CC3.1) from Evaluation Assurance Level (EAL) 5 to EAL 7 to examine their applicability to a feasible transnational CC certification. The conditions to international recognition of issued CC certificates are studied and several differentials are done showing what the prerequisites in terms of Security Assurance Requirements (SARs) are at EAL 5, 6 and 7 based on information available in CC3.1 and the Common Methodology for Information Technology Security Evaluation (CEM v3.1). EAL 5 evaluation is doable based on the CEM, EAL 6 evaluation requires the use of additional guidance and the gap to perform an EAL 7 evaluation is identified. Finally a review of known evaluations at EAL 6 and 7 is done for resource management, for existing separation kernels/hypervisors compiled from published protection profiles, security targets or relevant publications