Advances in ab-initio theory of Multiferroics. Materials and mechanisms: modelling and understanding

Within the broad class of multiferroics (compounds showing a coexistence of magnetism and ferroelectricity), we focus on the subclass of "improper electronic ferroelectrics", i.e. correlated materials where electronic degrees of freedom (such as spin, charge or orbital) drive ferroelectricity. In particular, in spin-induced ferroelectrics, there is not only a {\em coexistence} of the two intriguing magnetic and dipolar orders; rather, there is such an intimate link that one drives the other, suggesting a giant magnetoelectric coupling. Via first-principles approaches based on density functional theory, we review the microscopic mechanisms at the basis of multiferroicity in several compounds, ranging from transition metal oxides to organic multiferroics (MFs) to organic-inorganic hybrids (i.e. metal-organic frameworks, MOFs)Comment: 22 pages, 9 figure

Pain and Opioid Consumption After Laparoscopic Versus Open Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer:A Secondary Analysis of a Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial (LOGICA-Trial)

Background:Laparoscopic gastrectomy could reduce pain and opioid consumption, compared to open gastrectomy. However, it is difficult to judge the clinical relevance of this reduction, since these outcomes are reported in few randomized trials and in limited detail. Methods: This secondary analysis of a multicenter randomized trial compared laparoscopic versus open gastrectomy for resectable gastric adenocarcinoma (cT1-4aN0-3bM0). Postoperative pain was analyzed by opioid consumption in oral morphine equivalents (OME, mg/day) at postoperative day (POD) 1–5, WHO analgesic steps, and Numeric Rating Scales (NRS, 0–10) at POD 1–10 and discharge. Regression and mixed model analyses were performed, with and without correction for epidural analgesia. Results: Between 2015 and 2018, 115 patients in the laparoscopic group and 110 in the open group underwent surgery. Some 16 patients (14%) in the laparoscopic group and 73 patients (66%) in the open group received epidural analgesia. At POD 1–3, mean opioid consumption was 131, 118, and 53 mg OME lower in the laparoscopic group, compared to the open group, respectively (all p &lt; 0.001). After correcting for epidural analgesia, these differences remained significant at POD 1–2 (47 mg OME, p = 0.002 and 69 mg OME, p &lt; 0.001, respectively). At discharge, 27% of patients in the laparoscopic group and 43% patients in the open group used oral opioids (p = 0.006). Mean highest daily pain scores were between 2 and 4 at all PODs, &lt; 2 at discharge, and did not relevantly differ between treatment arms. Conclusion: In this multicenter randomized trial, postoperative pain was comparable between laparoscopic and open gastrectomy. After laparoscopic gastrectomy, this was generally achieved without epidural analgesia and with fewer opioids. Trial Registration: NCT02248519.</p

On the pigment system of the red alga Porphyra Lacineata

Absorption and fluorescence around 725 mμ of suspensions of the red alga Porphyra lacineata were studied both with and without the phycobilins attached to the pigment system. The in vivo occurrence of 2 chlorophyll a types was confirmed spectroscopically. Their red absorption maxima are located at 678 and 672 mμ respectively. Removal of the phycobilins did not affect the shape of the red absorption band of these types. It is therefore concluded that phycobilins are not responsible, e.g. by complex formation, for the occurrence of one or both of these types. It is possible that withdrawal of the phycobilins causes quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence. The “pigment X” fluorescence around 725 mμ remains unaffected by removal of the phycobilins