Resonant X-Ray Magnetic Scattering from CoO

We analyze the recent experiment [W. Neubeck {\em et al.}, Phys. Rev. B \vol(60,1999,R9912)] for the resonant x-ray magnetic scattering (RXMS) around the K edge of Co in the antiferromagnet CoO. We propose a mechanism of the RXMS to make the $4p$ states couple to the magnetic order: the intraatomic exchange interaction between the $4p$ and the $3d$ states and the $p$-$d$ mixing to the $3d$ states of neighboring Co atoms. These couplings induce the orbital moment in the $4p$ states and make the scattering tensor antisymmetric. Using a cluster model, we demonstrate that this modification gives rise to a large RXMS intensity in the dipole process, in good agreement with the experiment. We also find that the pre-edge peak is generated by the transition to the $3d$ states in the quadrupole process, with negligible contribution of the dipole process. We also discuss the azimuthal angle dependence of the intensity.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figure

A ventricular-vascular coupling model in presence of aortic stenosis

In patients with aortic stenosis, the left ventricular afterload is determined by the degree of valvular obstruction and the systemic arterial system. We developed an explicit mathematical model formulated with a limited number of independent parameters that describes the interaction among the left ventricle, an aortic stenosis, and the arterial system. This ventricular-valvular-vascular (V(3)) model consists of the combination of the time-varying elastance model for the left ventricle, the instantaneous transvalvular pressure-flow relationship for the aortic valve, and the three-element windkessel representation of the vascular system. The objective of this study was to validate the V(3) model by using pressure-volume loop data obtained in six patients with severe aortic stenosis before and after aortic valve replacement. There was very good agreement between the estimated and the measured left ventricular and aortic pressure waveforms. The total relative error between estimated and measured pressures was on average (standard deviation) 7.5% (SD 2.3) and the equation of the corresponding regression line was y = 0.99x - 2.36 with a coefficient of determination r(2) = 0.98. There was also very good agreement between estimated and measured stroke volumes (y = 1.03x + 2.2, r(2) = 0.96, SEE = 2.8 ml). Hence, this mathematical V(3) model can be used to describe the hemodynamic interaction among the left ventricle, the aortic valve, and the systemic arterial system

Magnetoelastic stresses in rare-earth thin films and superlattices

We report on the study of the magnetoelastic behavior of some rare-earth based thin films and superlattices (SL`s). Magnetoelastic stress (MS) measurements (by using a cantilever capacitive technique) within a wide range of temperatures (10-300 K) and magnetic fields (up to 12 T) have been performed. We derive expressions relating the cantilever curvatures and the magnetoelastic stresses in anisotropic thin films and SL`s (for cubic symmetry) deposited onto crystalline substrates. The magnetoelastic energy associated to the interfaces and the epitaxial stress dependence of the volume MS has been investigated by studying the basal plane MS in Hon/Lu₁₅ and in Ho₁₀/Ym SL`s: we obtain interface MS even higher than the volume ones and the effect in bulk`s MS of the epitaxial strain is large. In Dy/Y and Er/Lu SL's we also deduce the MS contributions but, for Er/Lu, incomplete saturation leads to inconclusive results. Although the latter case also happens in Ho/Tm SL`s, MS clearly shows anisotropy competition. In TbFe₂ (t) / YFe₂(1000 Å) (300 Å < t < 1300 Å) epitaxial bilayers, we determine all the MS allowed by the symmetry and show that epitaxial stress strongly modifies the tetragonal MS. The thermal dependence of MS parameters is also analysed

Can We Really Prevent Suicide?

Every year, suicide is among the top 20 leading causes of death globally for all ages. Unfortunately, suicide is difficult to prevent, in large part because the prevalence of risk factors is high among the general population. In this review, clinical and psychological risk factors are examined and methods for suicide prevention are discussed. Prevention strategies found to be effective in suicide prevention include means restriction, responsible media coverage, and general public education, as well identification methods such as screening, gatekeeper training, and primary care physician education. Although the treatment for preventing suicide is difficult, follow-up that includes pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, or both may be useful. However, prevention methods cannot be restricted to the individual. Community, social, and policy interventions will also be essentia

Attenuation of Salt-Induced Cardiac Remodeling and Diastolic Dysfunction by the GPER Agonist G-1 in Female mRen2.Lewis Rats

The G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) is expressed in various tissues including the heart. Since the mRen2.Lewis strain exhibits salt-dependent hypertension and early diastolic dysfunction, we assessed the effects of the GPER agonist (G-1, 40 nmol/kg/hr for 14 days) or vehicle (VEH, DMSO/EtOH) on cardiac function and structure.Intact female mRen2.Lewis rats were fed a normal salt (0.5% sodium; NS) diet or a high salt (4% sodium; HS) diet for 10 weeks beginning at 5 weeks of age.Prolonged intake of HS in mRen2.Lewis females resulted in significantly increased blood pressure, mildly reduced systolic function, and left ventricular (LV) diastolic compliance (as signified by a reduced E deceleration time and E deceleration slope), increased relative wall thickness, myocyte size, and mid-myocardial interstitial and perivascular fibrosis. G-1 administration attenuated wall thickness and myocyte hypertrophy, with nominal effects on blood pressure, LV systolic function, LV compliance and cardiac fibrosis in the HS group. G-1 treatment significantly increased LV lusitropy [early mitral annular descent (e')] independent of prevailing salt, and improved the e'/a' ratio in HS versus NS rats (P<0.05) as determined by tissue Doppler.Activation of GPER improved myocardial relaxation in the hypertensive female mRen2.Lewis rat and reduced cardiac myocyte hypertrophy and wall thickness in those rats fed a high salt diet. Moreover, these advantageous effects of the GPER agonist on ventricular lusitropy and remodeling do not appear to be associated with overt changes in blood pressure

Beyond the disk: EUV coronagraphic observations of the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager on board Solar Orbiter

Context. Most observations of the solar corona beyond 2 R consist of broadband visible light imagery carried out with coronagraphs. The associated diagnostics mainly consist of kinematics and derivations of the electron number density. While the measurement of the properties of emission lines can provide crucial additional diagnostics of the coronal plasma (temperatures, velocities, abundances, etc.), these types of observations are comparatively rare. In visible wavelengths, observations at these heights are limited to total eclipses. In the ultraviolet (UV) to extreme UV (EUV) range, very few additional observations have been achieved since the pioneering results of the Ultraviolet Coronagraph Spectrometer (UVCS). Aims. One of the objectives of the Full Sun Imager (FSI) channel of the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI) on board the Solar Orbiter mission has been to provide very wide field-of-view EUV diagnostics of the morphology and dynamics of the solar atmosphere in temperature regimes that are typical of the lower transition region and of the corona. Methods. FSI carries out observations in two narrowbands of the EUV spectrum centered on 17.4 nm and 30.4 nm that are dominated, respectively, by lines of FeIX/X (formed in the corona around 1 MK) and by the resonance line of HeII (formed around 80 kK in the lower transition region). Unlike previous EUV imagers, FSI includes a moveable occulting disk that can be inserted in the optical path to reduce the amount of instrumental stray light to a minimum. Results. FSI detects signals at 17.4 nm up to the edge of its field of view (7 R), which is about twice further than was previously possible. Operation at 30.4 nm are for the moment compromised by an as-yet unidentified source of stray light. Comparisons with observations by the LASCO and Metis coronagraphs confirm the presence of morphological similarities and differences between the broadband visible light and EUV emissions, as documented on the basis of prior eclipse and space-based observations. Conclusions. The very-wide-field observations of FSI out to about 3 and 7 R, without and with the occulting disk, respectively, are paving the way for future dedicated instruments

Usefulness of NT-pro BNP monitoring to identify echocardiographic responders following cardiac resynchronization therapy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves left ventricular (LV) volumes, mitral regurgitation (MR) severity and symptoms of patients with heart failure (HF). However, ≥ 30% of patients have no significant clinical or echocardiographic improvement following CRT. Reverse remodeling after CRT correlates with improved clinical outcomes. We hypothesized that in NT-pro BNP monitoring is accurate to identify responders following CRT.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>42 consecutive patients (mean age 66 ± 12 years, male 68%) with HF undergoing CRT were prospectively enrolled. Responders at follow-up were defined by echocardiography (decrease in LV end systolic volume ≥ 15%). Echocardiography and NT-pro BNP measurement were performed at baseline and repeated 3 to 6 month after CRT.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was no significant difference between responders (n = 29, 69%) and non-responders (n = 13, 31%) regarding baseline NT-pro BNP level. Responders had significantly higher decrease in NT-pro BNP levels during follow-up than non-responders (absolute: -1428 ± 1333 pg.ml^-1vs. -61 ± 959 pg.ml^-1, p = 0.002; relative: -45 ± 28% vs. 2 ± 28%, p < 0.0001). A decrease of ≥ 15% in NT-pro BNP 3–6 months after CRT identifies echocardiographic responders with a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 77%.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>NT-pro BNP monitoring can accurately identify echocardiographic responders after CRT.</p

Beyond the disk: EUV coronagraphic observations of the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager on board Solar Orbiter

Most observations of the solar corona beyond 2 Rs consist of broadband visible light imagery from coronagraphs. The associated diagnostics mainly consist of kinematics and derivations of the electron number density. While the measurement of the properties of emission lines can provide crucial additional diagnostics of the coronal plasma (temperatures, velocities, abundances, etc.), these observations are comparatively rare. In visible wavelengths, observations at these heights are limited to total eclipses. In the VUV range, very few additional observations have been achieved since the pioneering results of UVCS. One of the objectives of the Full Sun Imager (FSI) channel of the EUI telescope on board the Solar Orbiter mission has been to provide very wide field-of-view EUV diagnostics of the morphology and dynamics of the solar atmosphere in temperature regimes that are typical of the lower transition region and of the corona. FSI carries out observations in two narrowbands of the EUV spectrum centered on 17.4 nm and 30.4 nm that are dominated, respectively, by lines of Fe IX/X (formed in the corona around 1 MK) and by the resonance line of He II (formed around 80 kK in the lower transition region). Unlike previous EUV imagers, FSI includes a moveable occulting disk that can be inserted in the optical path to reduce the amount of instrumental stray light to a minimum. FSI detects signals at 17.4 nm up to the edge of its FOV (7~Rs), which is about twice further than was previously possible. Comparisons with observations by the LASCO and Metis coronagraphs confirm the presence of morphological similarities and differences between the broadband visible light and EUV emissions, as documented on the basis of prior eclipse and space-based observations. The very-wide-field observations of FSI are paving the way for future dedicated instruments