Structure des isotopes de bore et de carbone riches en neutrons aux limites de la stabilité

The unbound nuclei 18B and 21C have been studied in an experiment undertaken at the RIBF-RIKEN using the recently commissioned SAMURAI spectrometer and NEBULA neutron array. The two systems were probed using single-neutron and single and two-proton knockout from secondary beams of 22C, 22N, et 23O respectively in the case of 21C and 19B, 19C and 20N for 18B. The invariant mass spectra were reconstructed from the momentum of the fragment (17B, 20C) and neutron. In order to interpret the results a complete simulation of the experimental setup was utilised. The analysis procedures as well as the calibrations were verified through a measurement of the well-known ground state of 16B. In the case of 18B three states were observed: an s-wave virtual state (as < -50 fm), an l=2 resonance at Er =0.77 +- 0.09 MeV and an l=0 resonance at Er = 1.6 +- 0.6 MeV. These results suggest that the low-lying level structure of 18B is governed by a competition between the neutron 2s1/2 and 1d5/2 configurations. In the case of 21C resonances were observed at Er = 0.8 +- 0.15 MeV (l = 0) and Er = 1.5 +-0.1 MeV (l=2), a result which confirms predictions of an inversion of the 5/2+ and 1/2+ levels. Finally an analysis of the momentum distributions for 18B and 21C produced in single-neutron knockout was carried out. The results indicate that the valence neutrons 19B and 22C are in mixed (2s1/2)2 and (1d5/2)2 configurations. Les noyaux non liés 18B et 21C sont étudiés suite à une expérience réalisée au RIBF-RIKEN en utilisant le nouveau spectromètre SAMURAI couplé au détecteur neutron NEBULA. Ces systèmes furent sondés grâce à des réactions de knock-out d'un neutron , d'un proton et de deux protons, à partir de faisceaux secondaires de 22C, 22N, et 23O pour le 21C et de 19B , 19C, et 20N pour le 18B. La masse invariante fut reconstruite à partir des moments du fragment chargé (17B, 20C) et du neutron. Afin de pouvoir interpréter les résultats, une simulation complète du dispositif expérimental fut utilisée. L'étalonnage des détecteurs et les techniques d’analyse furent testés en sondant l'état fondamental connu du 16B. Dans le cas du 18B trois états furent observés : un état s virtuel (as < -50 fm), résonance l=2 à Er =0.77 +- 0.09 MeV et une résonance l=0 à Er = 1.6 +- 0.6 MeV. Ces résultats plaident en faveur d'un mélange de configuration des niveaux neutron 2s1/2 et 1d5/2. En ce qui concerne le 21C, deux états résonnant respectivement situés à Er = 0.8 +- 0.15 MeV (l = 0) et Er = 1.5 +-0.1 MeV (l=2) furent observés. L'ordre confirme les résultats théoriques prédisant l'inversion des niveaux 5/2+ et 1/2+. Une analyse en impulsion reconstruite des systèmes 18B et 21C, produits par la réaction de knock-out d’un neutron a été réalisée. Les résultats soutiennent un mélange de configurations neutrons de valence (2s1/2)2 et (1d5/2)2 pour ces deux noyaux à halo.  

Silent and equivalent magnetic distributions on thin plates

International audienceIn geosciences and paleomagnetism, estimating the remanent magnetization in old rocks is an important issue to study past evolution of the Earth and other planets or bodies. However, the magnetization cannot be directly measured and only the magnetic field that it produces can be recorded.In this paper we consider the case of thin samples, to be modeled as a planar set S of R^2&nbsp;x&nbsp;{0}, carrying a magnetization m (a 3-dimensional vector field supported on S). This setup is typical of scanning microscopy that was developed recently to measure a single component of a weak magnetic field, close to the sample. Specifically, one is given a record of b_3[m] (tiny: a few nano Teslas), the vertical component of the magnetic field produced by m, on a planar region Q of R^2&nbsp;x&nbsp;{h} located at some fixed height h &gt; 0 above the sample plane. We assume that both S and Q are Lipschitz-smooth bounded connected open sets in their respective planes, and that the magnetization m belongs to [L^2(S)]^3, whence b_3[m] belongs to L^2(Q). Such magnetizations possess net moments &lt;m&gt; (belonging to R^3) defined as their integral on S.Recovering the magnetization m or its net moment &lt;m&gt; from available measurements of b_3[m] are inverse problems for the Poisson-Laplace equation in the upper half-space R^3_+ with right hand side in divergence form. Indeed, Maxwell's equations in the quasi-static approximation identify the divergence of m with the Laplacian of a scalar magnetic potential in R^3_+ whose normal derivative on Q coincides with b_3[m]. Hence Neumann data b_3[m] are available on Q (subset of R^3_+), and we aim at recovering m or &lt;m&gt; on S. We thus face recovery issues on the boundary of the harmonicity domain from (partial) data available inside.Such inverse problems are typically ill-posed and call for regularization. Indeed, magnetization recovery is not even unique, due to the existence of silent sources m != 0 such that b_3[m] = 0. And though such sources have vanishing moment so that net moment recovery is unique, estimation of the latter turns out to be unstable with respect to measurements errors.The present work investigates silent sources, equivalent magnetization of minimal L^2(S)-norm to some given m in [L^2(S)]^3 (two magnetizations are called equivalent if their difference is silent), as well as density / instability results

Dipole localization in Moon rocks from sparse magnetic data

International audienceWe consider dipole recovery issues from sparse magnetic data, with the use of best quadratic rational approximation techniques, together with geometrical and algebraic properties of the poles of the approximants

Dipole recovery from sparse measurements of its field on a cylindrical geometry

International audienceWe consider the inverse problem of recovering the position and moment of a magnetic dipolefrom sparse measurements of the field it generates, known on sections of three orthogonal cylindersenclosing it. This problem is motivated by recent measurements performed on Moon rocks, in viewof determining their magnetic properties. The key ingredient of the presented method is the useof rational approximation techniques, together with properties of the poles of the approximants, inorder to estimate the position of the dipole

Asymptotic method for estimating magnetic moments from field measurements on a planar grid

Scanning magnetic microscopes typically measure the vertical component B_3 of the magnetic field on a horizontal rectangular grid at close proximity to the sample. This feature makes them valuable instruments for analyzing magnetized materials at fine spatial scales, e.g., in geosciences to access ancient magnetic records that might be preserved in rocks by mapping the external magnetic field generated by the magnetization within a rock sample. Recovering basic characteristics of the magnetization (such as its net moment, i.e., the integral of the magnetization over the sample's volume) is an important problem, specifically when the field is too weak or the magnetization too complex to be reliably measured by standard bulk moment magnetometers.In this paper, we establish formulas, asymptotically exact when R goes large, linking the integral of x_1 B_3, x_2 B_3, and B_3 over a square region of size R to the first, second, and third component of the net moment (and higher moments), respectively, of the magnetization generating B_3. The considered square regions are centered at the origin and have sides either parallel to the axes or making a 45-degree angle with them. Differences between the exact integrals and their approximations by these asymptotic formulas are explicitly estimated, allowing one to establish rigorous bounds on the errors.We show how the formulas can be used for numerically estimating the net moment, so as to effectively use scanning magnetic microscopes as moment magnetometers. Illustrations of the method are provided using synthetic examples

Wavelength-scale stationary-wave integrated Fourier-transform spectrometry

Spectrometry is a general physical-analysis approach for investigating light-matter interactions. However, the complex designs of existing spectrometers render them resistant to simplification and miniaturization, both of which are vital for applications in micro- and nanotechnology and which are now undergoing intensive research. Stationary-wave integrated Fourier-transform spectrometry (SWIFTS)-an approach based on direct intensity detection of a standing wave resulting from either reflection (as in the principle of colour photography by Gabriel Lippmann) or counterpropagative interference phenomenon-is expected to be able to overcome this drawback. Here, we present a SWIFTS-based spectrometer relying on an original optical near-field detection method in which optical nanoprobes are used to sample directly the evanescent standing wave in the waveguide. Combined with integrated optics, we report a way of reducing the volume of the spectrometer to a few hundreds of cubic wavelengths. This is the first attempt, using SWIFTS, to produce a very small integrated one-dimensional spectrometer suitable for applications where microspectrometers are essential

Response to rituximab induction is a predictive marker in B-cell post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder and allows successful stratification into rituximab or r-chop consolidation in an international, prospective, multicenter Phase II trial

Purpose The Sequential Treatment of CD20-Positive Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (PTLD-1) trial ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT01458548) established sequential treatment with four cycles of rituximab followed by four cycles of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) chemotherapy as a standard in the management of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) and identified response to rituximab induction as a prognostic factor for overall survival. We hypothesized that rituximab consolidation might be sufficient treatment for patients with a complete response after rituximab induction. Patients and Methods In this prospective, international, multicenter phase II trial, 152 treatment-naive adult solid organ transplant recipients, with CD20+ PTLD unresponsive to immunosuppression reduction, were treated with four weekly doses of rituximab induction. After restaging, complete responders continued with four courses of rituximab consolidation every 21 days; all others received four courses of rituximab plus CHOP chemotherapy every 21 days. The primary end point was treatment efficacy measured as the response rate in patients who completed therapy and the response duration in those who completed therapy and responded. Secondary end points were frequency of infections, treatment-related mortality, and overall survival in the intention-to-treat population. Results One hundred eleven of 126 patients had a complete or partial response (88%; 95% CI, 81% to 93%), of whom 88 had a complete response (70%; 95% CI, 61% to 77%). Median response duration was not reached. The 3-year estimate was 82% (95% CI, 74% to 90%). Median overall survival was 6.6 years (95% CI, 5.5 to 7.6 years). The frequency of grade 3 or 4 infections and of treatment-related mortality was 34% (95% CI, 27% to 42%) and 8% (95% CI, 5% to 14%), respectively. Response to rituximab induction remained a prognostic factor for overall survival despite treatment stratification. Conclusion In B-cell PTLD, treatment stratification into rituximab or rituximab plus CHOP consolidation on the basis of response to rituximab induction is feasible, safe, and effective

Effect of Hydrocortisone on Mortality and Organ Support in Patients With Severe COVID-19: The REMAP-CAP COVID-19 Corticosteroid Domain Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Evidence regarding corticosteroid use for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is limited. Objective: To determine whether hydrocortisone improves outcome for patients with severe COVID-19. Design, Setting, and Participants: An ongoing adaptive platform trial testing multiple interventions within multiple therapeutic domains, for example, antiviral agents, corticosteroids, or immunoglobulin. Between March 9 and June 17, 2020, 614 adult patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled and randomized within at least 1 domain following admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) for respiratory or cardiovascular organ support at 121 sites in 8 countries. Of these, 403 were randomized to open-label interventions within the corticosteroid domain. The domain was halted after results from another trial were released. Follow-up ended August 12, 2020. Interventions: The corticosteroid domain randomized participants to a fixed 7-day course of intravenous hydrocortisone (50 mg or 100 mg every 6 hours) (n = 143), a shock-dependent course (50 mg every 6 hours when shock was clinically evident) (n = 152), or no hydrocortisone (n = 108). Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was organ support-free days (days alive and free of ICU-based respiratory or cardiovascular support) within 21 days, where patients who died were assigned -1 day. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model that included all patients enrolled with severe COVID-19, adjusting for age, sex, site, region, time, assignment to interventions within other domains, and domain and intervention eligibility. Superiority was defined as the posterior probability of an odds ratio greater than 1 (threshold for trial conclusion of superiority >99%). Results: After excluding 19 participants who withdrew consent, there were 384 patients (mean age, 60 years; 29% female) randomized to the fixed-dose (n = 137), shock-dependent (n = 146), and no (n = 101) hydrocortisone groups; 379 (99%) completed the study and were included in the analysis. The mean age for the 3 groups ranged between 59.5 and 60.4 years; most patients were male (range, 70.6%-71.5%); mean body mass index ranged between 29.7 and 30.9; and patients receiving mechanical ventilation ranged between 50.0% and 63.5%. For the fixed-dose, shock-dependent, and no hydrocortisone groups, respectively, the median organ support-free days were 0 (IQR, -1 to 15), 0 (IQR, -1 to 13), and 0 (-1 to 11) days (composed of 30%, 26%, and 33% mortality rates and 11.5, 9.5, and 6 median organ support-free days among survivors). The median adjusted odds ratio and bayesian probability of superiority were 1.43 (95% credible interval, 0.91-2.27) and 93% for fixed-dose hydrocortisone, respectively, and were 1.22 (95% credible interval, 0.76-1.94) and 80% for shock-dependent hydrocortisone compared with no hydrocortisone. Serious adverse events were reported in 4 (3%), 5 (3%), and 1 (1%) patients in the fixed-dose, shock-dependent, and no hydrocortisone groups, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients with severe COVID-19, treatment with a 7-day fixed-dose course of hydrocortisone or shock-dependent dosing of hydrocortisone, compared with no hydrocortisone, resulted in 93% and 80% probabilities of superiority with regard to the odds of improvement in organ support-free days within 21 days. However, the trial was stopped early and no treatment strategy met prespecified criteria for statistical superiority, precluding definitive conclusions. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02735707