Structures, origin and evolution of various carbon phases in the ureilite Northwest Africa 4742 compared with laboratory-shocked graphite

International audienceMineralogical structures of carbon phases within the ureilite North West Africa 4742, a recent find, are investigated at various scales by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman microspectrometry and X-ray diffraction. Ureilites are the most carbon-rich of all meteorites, containing up to 6 wt.% carbon. Diamond, graphite and so-called "amorphous carbon" are typically described, but their crystallographic relationships and respective thermal histories remain poorly constrained. We especially focus on the origin of "amorphous carbon" and graphite, as well as their relationship with diamond. Two aliquots of carbon-bearing material were extracted: the insoluble organic matter (IOM) and the diamond fraction. We also compare the observed structures with those of laboratory-shocked graphite. Polycrystalline diamond aggregates with mean coherent domains of about 40 nm are reported for the first time in a ureilite and TEM demonstrates that all carbon phases are crystallographically related at the nanometre scale. Shock features show that diamond is produced from graphite through a martensitic transition. This observation demonstrates that graphite was present when the shock occurred and is consequently a precursor of diamond. The structure of what is commonly described as the "amorphous carbon" has been identified. It is not completely amorphous but only disordered and consists of nanometre-sized polyaromatic units surrounding the diamond. Comparison with laboratory-shocked graphite, partially transformed into diamond, indicates that the disordered carbon could be the product of diamond post-shock annealing. As diamond is the carrier of noble gases, whereas graphite is noble gas free, graphite cannot be the sole diamond precursor. This implies a multiple-stage history. A first generation of diamond could have been synthesized from a noble gas rich precursor or environment by either a shock or a condensation process. Thermally-induced graphitization of chondritic-like organic matter could have produced the graphite, which was then transformed by shock processes into polycrystalline nanodiamond aggregates. The formation of the disordered carbon occurred by diamond post-shock back-transformation during post-shock heating. The noble gases in the first generation diamond could then be incorporated directly into the disordered carbon during the transformation

Budget impact analysis of rituximab biosimilar in Italy from the hospital and payer perspectives

Introduction: This article aims at investigating the 5-year budget impact of rituximab biosimilars in Italy. Methods: A budget impact analysis model was developed in accordance with the International Society For Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research recommendations. Drug acquisition and drug administration costs were considered since the risk/benefit profile of biosimilars and the originator was assumed to be overlapping. The perspectives of hospitals and payers were used. Input data were retrieved from the literature and validated/integrated by an expert panel of seven clinicians from various Italian regions. A dynamic incidence-based approach was used. Results: From the hospital perspective, adopting a rituximab biosimilar would produce savings of €79.2 and €153.6 million over 3 and 5 years, respectively. The results are very similar if the payer perspective is considered, with a cumulated savings of about €153.4 million in 5 years. Lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia would account for the most significant savings. Discussion: Despite its limitations, this study provides the first Italian evaluation of the financial impact of rituximab biosimilars and also incorporates the effects of biosimilars on the pricing strategies of the originator (dynamic impact). This dynamic effect is more relevant than the impact of the treatment shift from the originator to biosimilars. Our hope is that these savings will be used to cover new cost-effective drugs and not just for cost-cutting policies

Could Healthcoin Be A Revolution In Healthcare?

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Could Healthcoin Be A Revolution In Healthcare?

International audienc

Potential Funding Sources For Breakthrough Therapies

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