208 research outputs found
Lattice and spin excitations in multiferroic h-YMnO3
We used Raman and terahertz spectroscopies to investigate lattice and
magnetic excitations and their cross-coupling in the hexagonal YMnO3
multiferroic. Two phonon modes are strongly affected by the magnetic order.
Magnon excitations have been identified thanks to comparison with neutron
measurements and spin wave calculations but no electromagnon has been observed.
In addition, we evidenced two additional Raman active peaks. We have compared
this observation with the anti-crossing between magnon and acoustic phonon
branches measured by neutron. These optical measurements underly the unusual
strong spin-phonon coupling
Kondo-lattice model: Application to the temperature-dependent electronic structure of EuO(100) films
We present calculations for the temperature-dependent electronic structure
and magnetic properties of thin ferromagnetic EuO films. The treatment is based
on a combination of a multiband-Kondo lattice model with first-principles
TB-LMTO band structure calculations. The method avoids the problem of
double-counting of relevant interactions and takes into account the correct
symmetry of the atomic orbitals. We discuss the temperature-dependent
electronic structures of EuO(100) films in terms of quasiparticle densities of
states and quasiparticle band structures. The Curie temperature T_C of the EuO
films turns out to be strongly thickness-dependent, starting from a very low
value = 15K for the monolayer and reaching the bulk value at about 25 layers
UV continuum emission and diagnostics of hydrogen-containing non-equilibrium plasmas
For the first time the emission of the radiative dissociation continuum of
the hydrogen molecule ( electronic
transition) is proposed to be used as a source of information for the
spectroscopic diagnostics of non-equilibrium plasmas. The detailed analysis of
excitation-deactivation kinetics, rate constants of various collisional and
radiative transitions and fitting procedures made it possible to develop two
new methods of diagnostics of: (1) the ground state
vibrational temperature from the relative intensity
distribution, and (2) the rate of electron impact dissociation
(d[\mbox{H_{2}}]/dt)_{\text{diss}} from the absolute intensity of the
continuum. A known method of determination of from relative
intensities of Fulcher- bands was seriously corrected and simplified
due to the revision of transition probabilities and cross sections of
electron impact excitation. General considerations are illustrated
with examples of experiments in pure hydrogen capillary-arc and H+Ar
microwave discharges.Comment: REVTeX, 25 pages + 12 figures + 9 tables. Phys. Rev. E, eprint
replaced because of resubmission to journal after referee's 2nd repor
Constraining mixing processes in stellar cores using asteroseismology. Impact of semiconvection in low-mass stars
The overall evolution of low-mass stars is heavily influenced by the
processes occurring in the stellar interior. In particular, mixing processes in
convectively unstable zones and overshooting regions affect the resulting
observables and main sequence lifetime. We study the effects of different
convective boundary definitions and mixing prescriptions in convective cores of
low-mass stars, to discriminate the existence, size, and evolutionary stage of
the central mixed zone by means of asteroseismology. We implemented the Ledoux
criterion for convection in our stellar evolution code, together with a
time-dependent diffusive approach for mixing of elements when semiconvective
zones are present. We compared models with masses ranging from 1 M* to 2 M*
computed with two different criteria for convective boundary definition and
including different mixing prescriptions within and beyond the formal limits of
the convective regions. Using calculations of adiabatic oscillations
frequencies for a large set of models, we developed an asteroseismic diagnosis
using only l=0 and l=1 modes based on the ratios of small to large separations
r01 and r10 defined by Roxburgh & Vorontsov (2003). These variables are almost
linear in the expected observable frequency range, and we show that their slope
depends simultaneously on the central hydrogen content, the extent of the
convective core, and the amplitude of the sound-speed discontinuity at the core
boundary. By considering about 25 modes and an accuracy in the frequency
determinations as expected from the CoRoT and Kepler missions, the technique we
propose allows us to detect the presence of a convective core and to
discriminate the different sizes of the homogeneously mixed central region
without the need of a strong a priori for the stellar mass.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Superconductivity in Ce- and U-based "122" heavy-fermion compounds
This review discusses the heavy-fermion superconductivity in Ce- and U-based
compounds crystallizing in the body-centered tetragonal ThCr2Si2 structure.
Special attention will be paid to the theoretical background of these systems
which are located close to a magnetic instability.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures. Invited topical review (special issue on "Recent
Developments in Superconductivity") Metadata and references update
Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown in Eating Disorders: A Multicentre Collaborative International Study
Background. The COVID-19 lockdown has had a significant impact on mental health. Patients with eating disorders (ED) have been particularly vulnerable. Aims. (1) To explore changes in eating-related symptoms and general psychopathology during lockdown in patients with an ED from various European and Asian countries; and (2) to assess differences related to diagnostic ED subtypes, age, and geography. Methods. The sample comprised 829 participants, diagnosed with an ED according to DSM-5 criteria from specialized ED units in Europe and Asia. Participants were assessed using the COVID-19 Isolation Scale (CIES). Results. Patients with binge eating disorder (BED) experienced the highest impact on weight and ED symptoms in comparison with other ED subtypes during lockdown, whereas individuals with other specified feeding and eating disorders (OFSED) had greater deterioration in general psychological functioning than subjects with other ED subtypes. Finally, Asian and younger individuals appeared to be more resilient. Conclusions. The psychopathological changes in ED patients during the COVID-19 lockdown varied by cultural context and individual variation in age and ED diagnosis. Clinical services may need to target preventive measures and adapt therapeutic approaches for the most vulnerable patients
COVID Isolation Eating Scale (CIES): Analysis of the impact of confinement in eating disorders and obesity-A collaborative international study
Confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to have a serious and complex impact on the mental health of patients with an eating disorder (ED) and of patients with obesity. The present manuscript has the following aims: (1) to analyse the psychometric properties of the COVID Isolation Eating Scale (CIES), (2) to explore changes that occurred due to confinement in eating symptomatology; and (3) to explore the general acceptation of the use of telemedicine during confinement. The sample comprised 121 participants (87 ED patients and 34 patients with obesity) recruited from six different centres. Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFA) tested the rational-theoretical structure of the CIES. Adequate goodness-of-fit was obtained for the confirmatory factor analysis, and Cronbach alpha values ranged from good to excellent. Regarding the effects of confinement, positive and negative impacts of the confinement depends of the eating disorder subtype. Patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and with obesity endorsed a positive response to treatment during confinement, no significant changes were found in bulimia nervosa (BN) patients, whereas Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED) patients endorsed an increase in eating symptomatology and in psychopathology. Furthermore, AN patients expressed the greatest dissatisfaction and accommodation difficulty with remote therapy when compared with the previously provided face-to-face therapy. The present study provides empirical evidence on the psychometric robustness of the CIES tool and shows that a negative confinement impact was associated with ED subtype, whereas OSFED patients showed the highest impairment in eating symptomatology and in psychopathology.This manuscript and research was supported by grants from
the Ministeriode Economía y Competitividad (PSI2015-68701-R), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) (FIS PI14/00290/ INT19/00046nd PI17/01167) and co-funded by FEDER funds/European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), a way to build Europe. CIBERobn, CIBERsam and CIBERDEM are all initiatives of ISCIII. GMB is supported by a postdoctoral grant from FUNCIVA. This initiative is supported by Generalitat de Catalunya.
LM is supported by a postdoctoral grant of the mexican institution Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT). PPM was supported, in part, by a Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology grant (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028145). The funders had no role in
the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
Difficult tracheal intubation in neonates and infants. NEonate and Children audiT of Anaesthesia pRactice IN Europe (NECTARINE): a prospective European multicentre observational study
Background: Neonates and infants are susceptible to hypoxaemia in the perioperative period. The aim of this study was to analyse interventions related to anaesthesia tracheal intubations in this European cohort and identify their clinical consequences. Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of tracheal intubations of the European multicentre observational trial (NEonate and Children audiT of Anaesthesia pRactice IN Europe [NECTARINE]) in neonates and small infants with difficult tracheal intubation. The primary endpoint was the incidence of difficult intubation and the related complications. The secondary endpoints were the risk factors for severe hypoxaemia attributed to difficult airway management, and 30 and 90 day outcomes. Results: Tracheal intubation was planned in 4683 procedures. Difficult tracheal intubation, defined as two failed attempts of direct laryngoscopy, occurred in 266 children (271 procedures) with an incidence (95% confidence interval [CI]) of 5.8% (95% CI, 5.1e6.5). Bradycardia occurred in 8% of the cases with difficult intubation, whereas a significant decrease in oxygen saturation (SpO2<90% for 60 s) was reported in 40%. No associated risk factors could be identified among comorbidities, surgical, or anaesthesia management. Using propensity scoring to adjust for confounders, difficult anaesthesia tracheal intubation did not lead to an increase in 30 and 90 day morbidity or mortality. Conclusions: The results of the present study demonstrate a high incidence of difficult tracheal intubation in children less than 60 weeks post-conceptual age commonly resulting in severe hypoxaemia. Reassuringly, the morbidity and mortality at 30 and 90 days was not increased by the occurrence of a difficult intubation event. Clinical trial registration: NCT02350348
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