Giant inelastic tunneling in epitaxial graphene mediated by localized states

Local electronic structures of nanometer-sized patches of epitaxial graphene and its interface layer with SiC(0001) have been studied by atomically resolved scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. Localized states belonging to the interface layer of a graphene/SiC system show to have an essential influence on the electronic structure of graphene. Giant enhancement of inelastic tunneling, reaching 50% of the total tunneling current, has been observed at the localized states on a nanometer-sized graphene monolayer surrounded by defects.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Variation of cataract surgery costs in four different graded providers of China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>China has the largest population of cataract patients in the world. However, the cataract surgery rate per million remains low in China. We carried out a survey on costs of cataract surgery from four different graded providers in China and analyzed differences in cost among these clinics.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>1,189 patients were recruited for the study in four eye clinics, located in two provinces, Guangdong province in southern China and Hubei province in central China. The average cost of each cataract surgery episode was calculated including cost of intraocular lens, cost of drugs and facility cost. We also collected information on reimbursement and disposable annual income of local residents.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mean total cost per cataract intervention of four different providers varied considerably, ranging from US$1,293 in Union Hospital to US$ 536 in Jingshan County Hospital. In all providers, except for Jingshan County Hospital, the cost exceeded annual disposable income of local rural residents. As to the proportion of patients with reimbursement, the figure for Union Hospital was only 36%, while for other three clinics it was more than 60%. There was a significant difference between mean reimbursement ratios, with the highest ratio in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center being 71%.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Significant differences in costs of cataract surgery were found among the 4 different graded providers. A part of the cost was borne by patients. Proportion of patients with reimbursement and mean reimbursement ratios were higher in economically developed regions than in economically developing regions. Much more financial support should be directed into the rural New Cooperative Medical Scheme to raise the reimbursement ratio in rural China.</p

Spinal inhibition of descending command to soleus motoneurons is removed prior to dorsiflexion

Non-technical summary: The coordination of antagonistic muscle activity starts well in advance of the onset of voluntary movement. We recently demonstrated that antagonist muscle responses evoked by stimulation of the brain were increased prior to voluntary contraction at the ankle. Although our data indicated that this was explained by activation of a subcortical motor program, the neural pathways involved are unknown. Here we probe the transmission in the underlying neuronal networks by peripheral nerve stimulation in order to investigate the neural pathways responsible for this facilitation of antagonist muscle responses. We demonstrate that this stimulation produces a spinal inhibition of the antagonist muscle responses, which is removed prior to voluntary contraction. We propose that the removal of this inhibition might explain the increased antagonist muscle responses prior to voluntary contraction at the ankle. This mechanism might enable the direction of movement to be changed quickly during functional motor tasks such as dribbling

Willingness to pay for cataract surgery in Kathmandu valley

Aim: A cross sectional study was carried out on 78 screened cataract patients of two screening camps in Kathmandu valley, Nepal, to assess the willingness to pay for cataract surgery. Methods: A non-probability sampling technique with open ended and close ended questionnaires was used. Results: The average age of patients was 68.8 years. The ratio of men and women was 0.9:1. 42.3% (33) of patients were willing to pay for cataract surgery. Among them 48.5% (16) of people were willing to pay less than $13 and 51.5$13. The mean was $2.3 (SD$15.5) per case. Patients with bilateral cataract were more willing to pay than unilateral cases. Poverty (44.4%, 20) was the main barrier for unwillingness to pay for cataract surgery. Other reasons were the lack of family support (28.9%, 13), lack of knowledge of surgery and belief that it was an unnecessary procedure (15.6%, seven), and waiting for a free surgical service (11.1%, five). Conclusion: This study clearly indicates that although there was awareness of the availability of treatment and services provided within the reach, people are not willing to pay for the surgery and use the facility primarily because of poverty. Hence, to change patients’ attitudes, a more holistic approach is needed, keeping in view the cultural, social, and economic background of the society