Probing the origin of fluorescence quenching of graphene-porphyrin hybrid material

We report transient absorption spectroscopic studies on the hybrid material composed of porphyrin molecules covalently attached to graphene for investigating the mechanism underlying the reported fluorescence quenching of porphyrin in the hybrid [1]. Excited state dynamics of pure graphene suspension and porphyrin have also been studied as reference samples. A fast excited state decay was observed in the hybrid

A constitutive model for unsaturated cemented soils under cyclic loading

On the basis of plastic bounding surface model, the damage theory for structured soils and unsaturated soil mechanics, an elastoplastic model for unsaturated loessic soils under cyclic loading has been elaborated. Firstly, the description of bond degradation in a damage framework is given, linking the damage of soil's structure to the accumulated strain. The Barcelona Basic Model (BBM) was considered for the suction effects. The elastoplastic model is then integrated into a bounding surface plasticity framework in order to model strain accumulation along cyclic loading, even under small stress levels. The validation of the proposed model is conducted by comparing its predictions with the experimental results from multi-level cyclic triaxial tests performed on a natural loess sampled beside the Northern French railway for high speed train and about 140 km far from Paris. The comparisons show the capabilities of the model to describe the behaviour of unsaturated cemented soils under cyclic loading

Imaging oligometastatic cancer before local treatment

The term oligometastases is in common clinical use, but remains poorly defined. As novel treatment strategies widen the therapeutic window for patients defined as having oligometastatic cancer, improved biomarkers to reliably define patients who benefit from these treatments are needed. Multimodal imaging should be optimized to comprehensively assess the metastatic sites, disease burden and response to neoadjuvant treatment in each disease setting. These features will likely remain important prognostic biomarkers, and are critical in planning multidisciplinary treatment. There are opportunities to extract additional phenotypic information from conventional imaging, while novel imaging techniques can also image specific aspects of tumour biology. Imaging can both characterise and localise the phenotypic heterogeneity of multiple tumour sites. Novel approaches to existing imaging datasets, and correlation with tumour biology, will be important in realizing the potential of imaging to guide treatment in the oligometastatic setting. This article discusses the current status and future directions of imaging in patients with extracranial oligometastases

Clinical study to evaluate the efficacy of Shiro Abhyanga in Nidranasha w.s.r. to Insomnia

Nidranasha is one of common disorder which affects the quality of life. Acharya Charaka has mentioned Nidra as one among the Trayo upastambha. which is an essential factor to lead a healthy life. Further he mentions Sukha, Dukha, Pushti, Karshya, Bala, Dourbalya, Purushatva, Klaibyata, Jnaana, Ajnaana, Jeevitha and Mrityu all are depended on proper and improper Sleep. Nidranasha is one among the Vataja Nanatmaja Vyadhi. In Nidranasha Shiroabhyanga is the one of the effective treatment. Abhyanga means the application of Sneha, suitable to one’s constitution, age, season, particular disease and atmosphere. Shiro Abhyanga is a Bahirparimarjana Chikitsa and are also a part of Dinacharya, is told to be beneficial in inducing Nidra. For clinical study total 15 patients were registered from O.P.D. and I.P.D. of K.V.G. Ayurveda Medical College and Hospital, Ambatedka. Result of the study revealed that Shiro Abhyanga effective in reducing the sign & symptoms of Insomnia as well as physical assessment

Mass coupling and Q−1ofimpurity−limitednormalQ^{-1} of impurity-limited normal ^3$He in a torsion pendulum

We present results of the $Q^{-1}$ and period shift, $\Delta P$, for $^3$He confined in a 98% nominal open aerogel on a torsion pendulum. The aerogel is compressed uniaxially by 10% along a direction aligned to the torsion pendulum axis and was grown within a 400 $\mu$m tall pancake (after compression) similar to an Andronikashvili geometry. The result is a high $Q$ pendulum able to resolve $Q^{-1}$ and mass coupling of the impurity-limited $^3$He over the whole temperature range. After measuring the empty cell background, we filled the cell above the critical point and observe a temperature dependent period shift, $\Delta P$, between 100 mK and 3 mK that is 2.9$$ of the period shift (after filling) at 100 mK. The $Q^{-1}$ due to the $^3$He decreases by an order of magnitude between 100 mK and 3 mK at a pressure of $0.14\pm0.03$ bar. We compare the observable quantities to the corresponding calculated $Q^{-1}$ and period shift for bulk $^3$He.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure

Surface Incompressibility from Semiclassical Relativistic Mean Field Calculations

By using the scaling method and the Thomas-Fermi and Extended Thomas-Fermi approaches to Relativistic Mean Field Theory the surface contribution to the leptodermous expansion of the finite nuclei incompressibility has been self-consistently computed. The validity of the simplest expansion, which contains volume, volume-symmetry, surface and Coulomb terms, is examined by comparing it with self-consistent results of the finite nuclei incompressibility for some currently used non-linear sigma-omega parameter sets. A numerical estimate of higher-order contributions to the leptodermous expansion, namely the curvature and surface-symmetry terms, is made.Comment: 18 pages, REVTeX, 3 eps figures, changed conten

Effect of interface bonding on spin-dependent tunneling from the oxidized Co surface

We demonstrate that the factorization of the tunneling transmission into the product of two surface transmission functions and a vacuum decay factor allows one to generalize Julliere's formula and explain the meaning of the ``tunneling density of states'' in some limiting cases. Using this factorization we calculate spin-dependent tunneling from clean and oxidized fcc Co surfaces through vacuum into Al using the principal-layer Green's function approach. We demonstrate that a monolayer of oxygen on the Co (111) surface creates a spin-filter effect due to the Co-O bonding which produces an additional tunneling barrier in the minority-spin channel. This changes the minority-spin dominated conductance for the clean Co surface into a majority spin dominated conductance for the oxidized Co surface.Comment: 7 pages, revtex4, 4 embedded eps figure

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on radiography practice: findings from a UK radiography workforce survey

OBJECTIVES: Radiographers are key patient-facing healthcare professionals involved in many aspects of patient care. The working patterns and professional practice of the radiography workforce (RW) has been altered during the COVID-19 pandemic. This survey aimed to assess the impact of the pandemic on radiography practice in the United Kingdom (UK). METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey of the UK RW was performed (March 25th to April 26th, 2020). The survey sought information regarding 1. Demographics 2. Impact of the pandemic on professional practice 3. Infection prevention/control and 4. COVID-19 related stress. Data collected was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (v.26). RESULTS: A total of 522 responses were received, comprising n = 412 (78.9%) diagnostic and n = 110 (21.1%) therapeutic RW categories from across the UK. 12.5% (65/522) of the respondents were redeployed. Redeployment did not appear to contribute (p = 0.31) to work-related stress. However, fear of contracting the infection and perceived inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE) were identified as key contributors to stress during the study period. Compared to the therapeutic RW, a significantly higher proportion of the diagnostic RW identified fear of being infected as a major stressor (166/412 (40.3%) vs 30/110 (27.3%), p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: This survey has demonstrated changes to clinical practice, in particular to working patterns, service delivery and infection prevention and control were key contributors to workplace-related stress during the pandemic. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Timely and adequate staff training and availability of PPE as well as psychosocial support during future pandemics would enhance quality patient and staff safety