Singe ferroelectric and chiral magnetic domain of single-crystalline BiFeO3_3 in an electric field

We report polarized neutron scattering and piezoresponse force microscopy studies of millimeter-sized single crystals of multiferroic BiFeO$_3$. The crystals, grown below the Curie temperature, consist of a single ferroelectric domain. Two unique electric polarization directions, as well as the populations of equivalent spiral magnetic domains, can be switched reversibly by an electric field. A ferroelectric monodomain with a single-$q$ single-helicity spin spiral can be obtained. This level of control, so far unachievable in thin films, makes single-crystal BiFeO$_3$ a promising object for multiferroics research.Comment: 4 figures in separate jpg file

Maxwell-Chern-Simons Q-balls

We examine the energetics of $Q$-balls in Maxwell-Chern-Simons theory in two space dimensions. Whereas gauged $Q$-balls are unallowed in this dimension in the absence of a Chern-Simons term due to a divergent electromagnetic energy, the addition of a Chern-Simons term introduces a gauge field mass and renders finite the otherwise-divergent electromagnetic energy of the $Q$-ball. Similar to the case of gauged $Q$-balls, Maxwell-Chern-Simons $Q$-balls have a maximal charge. The properties of these solitons are studied as a function of the parameters of the model considered, using a numerical technique known as relaxation. The results are compared to expectations based on qualitative arguments.Comment: 6 pages. Talk given at Theory CANADA 2, Perimeter Institut

Field and angular dependence of the Sommerfeld coefficient in Al-doped MgB2 single crystals

International audienceThe angular and field dependence of the Sommerfeld coefficient = lim Cel /T T→0 Cel being the electronic contribution to the specific heat has been measured in Al-doped MgB2 single crystals for x=0, x=0.1, and x 0.2 . We show that the decomposition previously introduced to describe H, where is the angle between the applied field and the c axis in pure samples Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 137001 2007 is well adapted to doped samples: e.g., the contribution of the band to the specific heat is proportional to B/Bc2 whereas the contribution of the band is isotropic but highly nonlinear in field. We hence present the evolution of the coherence lengths of the two bands and corresponding Fermi velocities with doping

Anisotropy of the Sommerfeld Coefficient in Magnesium Diboride Single Crystals

International audienceThe anisotropic field dependence of the Sommerfeld coefficient has been measured down to B ! 0 by combining specific heat and Hall probe magnetization measurements in MgB2 single crystals. We find that B; is the sum of two contributions arising from the and band, respectively. We show that B; B=Bc2 where Bc2 Bab c2= si n 2 2cos2 p with 5:4 ( being the angle between the applied field and the c axis) and B; B B=B B . The ''critical field'' of the band B is fully isotropic but field dependent increasing from 0:25 T for B 0:1 T up to 3 T Bcc 2 for B ! 3 T. Because of the coupling of the two bands, superconductivity survives in the band up to 3 T but is totally destroyed above for any orientation of the field

Calorons, Nahm's equations on S^1 and bundles over P^1xP^1

The moduli space of solutions to Nahm's equations of rank (k,k+j) on the circle, and hence, of SU(2) calorons of charge (k,j), is shown to be equivalent to the moduli of holomorphic rank 2 bundles on P^1xP^1 trivialized at infinity with c_2=k and equipped with a flag of degree j along P^1x{0}. An explicit matrix description of these spaces is given by a monad constructio

Electroencephalogram measured functional connectivity for delirium detection: a systematic review

ObjectiveDelirium is an acute alteration of consciousness marked by confusion, inattention, and changes in cognition. Some speculate that delirium may be a disorder of functional connectivity, but the requirement to lay still may limit measurement with existing functional imaging modalities in this population. Electroencephalography (EEG) may allow for a more feasible approach to the study of potential connectivity disturbances in delirium. We conducted a systematic review to investigate whether there are EEG-measurable differences in brain functional connectivity in the resting state associated with delirium.MethodsMedline, PubMed, PsychInfo, Embase and CINAHL were searched for relevant articles containing original data studying EEG functional connectivity measures in delirium.ResultsThe search yielded 1,516 records. Following strict inclusion criteria, four studies were included in the review. The studies used a variety of EEG measures including phase lag index, coherence, entropy, shortest path length, minimum spanning tree, and network clustering coefficients to study functional connectivity between scalp electrodes. Across connectivity measures, delirium was associated with decreased brain functional connectivity. All four studies found decreased alpha band connectivity for patients with delirium. None of the studies directly compared the different motor subtypes of delirium.SignificanceThis systematic review provides converging evidence for disturbances in oscillatory-based functional connectivity in delirium

Impact of Combined Low-Level Mupirocin and Genotypic Chlorhexidine Resistance on Persistent Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Carriage After Decolonization Therapy: A Case-control Study

The clinical significance of low-level mupirocin and genotypic chlorhexidine resistance remains unclear. This case-control study demonstrates that combined low-level mupirocin and genotypic chlorhexidine resistance significantly increases the risk of persistent MRSA carriage after decolonization therapy (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.5-7.8

Projections of Ebola outbreak size and duration with and without vaccine use in Équateur, Democratic Republic of Congo, as of May 27, 2018.

As of May 27, 2018, 6 suspected, 13 probable and 35 confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) had been reported in Équateur Province, Democratic Republic of Congo. We used reported case counts and time series from prior outbreaks to estimate the total outbreak size and duration with and without vaccine use. We modeled Ebola virus transmission using a stochastic branching process model that included reproduction numbers from past Ebola outbreaks and a particle filtering method to generate a probabilistic projection of the outbreak size and duration conditioned on its reported trajectory to date; modeled using high (62%), low (44%), and zero (0%) estimates of vaccination coverage (after deployment). Additionally, we used the time series for 18 prior Ebola outbreaks from 1976 to 2016 to parameterize the Thiel-Sen regression model predicting the outbreak size from the number of observed cases from April 4 to May 27. We used these techniques on probable and confirmed case counts with and without inclusion of suspected cases. Probabilistic projections were scored against the actual outbreak size of 54 EVD cases, using a log-likelihood score. With the stochastic model, using high, low, and zero estimates of vaccination coverage, the median outbreak sizes for probable and confirmed cases were 82 cases (95% prediction interval [PI]: 55, 156), 104 cases (95% PI: 58, 271), and 213 cases (95% PI: 64, 1450), respectively. With the Thiel-Sen regression model, the median outbreak size was estimated to be 65.0 probable and confirmed cases (95% PI: 48.8, 119.7). Among our three mathematical models, the stochastic model with suspected cases and high vaccine coverage predicted total outbreak sizes closest to the true outcome. Relatively simple mathematical models updated in real time may inform outbreak response teams with projections of total outbreak size and duration

A model for atomic and molecular interstellar gas: The Meudon PDR code

We present the revised ``Meudon'' model of Photon Dominated Region (PDR code), presently available on the web under the Gnu Public Licence at: http://aristote.obspm.fr/MIS. General organisation of the code is described down to a level that should allow most observers to use it as an interpretation tool with minimal help from our part. Two grids of models, one for low excitation diffuse clouds and one for dense highly illuminated clouds, are discussed, and some new results on PDR modelisation highlighted.Comment: accepted in ApJ sup