Binding and interlayer force in the near-contact region of two graphite slabs: experiment and theory

Via a novel experiment, Liu \emph{et al.} [Phys. Rev. B, {\bf 85}, 205418 (2012)] estimated the graphite binding energy, specifically the cleavage energy, an important physical property of bulk graphite. We re-examine the data analysis and note that within the standard Lennard-Jones model employed, there are difficulties in achieving internal consistency in the reproduction of the graphite elastic properties. By employing similar models which guarantee consistency with the elastic constant, we find a wide range of model dependent binding energy values from the same experimental data. We attribute some of the difficulty in the determination of the binding energy to: i) limited theoretical understanding of the van der Waals dispersion of graphite cleavage, ii) the mis-match between the strong bending stiffness of the graphite-SiO$_2$ cantilever and the weak asymptotic inter-layer forces that are integrated over to produce the binding energy. We find, however, that the data does support determination of a maximum inter-layer force that is relatively model independent. We conclude that the peak force per unit area is $1.1 \pm 0.15$GPa for cleavage, and occurs at an inter-layer spacing of $0.377\pm 0.013$nm

Statistical Origin of Constituent-Quark Scaling in the QGP hadronization

Nonextensive statistics in a Blast-Wave model (TBW) is implemented to describe the identified hadron production in relativistic p+p and nucleus-nucleus collisions. Incorporating the core and corona components within the TBW formalism allows us to describe simultaneously some of the major observations in hadronic observables at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC): the Number of Constituent Quark Scaling (NCQ), the large radial and elliptic flow, the effect of gluon saturation and the suppression of hadron production at high transverse momentum (pT) due to jet quenching. In this formalism, the NCQ scaling at RHIC appears as a consequence of non-equilibrium process. Our study also provides concise reference distributions with a least chi2 fit of the available experimental data for future experiments and models.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures; added two tables, explained a little bit more on TBW_p

Layer-dependent anisotropic electronic structure of freestanding quasi-two dimensional MoS2

The anisotropy of the electronic transition is an important physical property not only determining the materials' optical property, but also revealing the underlying character of the electronic states involved. Here we used momentum-resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy to study the evolution of the anisotropy of the electronic transition involving the low energy valence electrons in the free-standing MoS2 systems as the layer thickness was reduced to monolayer. We used the orientation and the spectral-density analysis to show that indirect to direct band-gap transition is accompanied by a three- to two-dimensional anisotropy cross-over. The result provides a logical explanation for the large sensitivity of indirect transition to the change of thickness compared with that for direct transition. By tracking the energy of indirect transition, we also revealed the asymmetric response of the valence band and conduction band to the quantum confinement effect. Our results have implication for future optoelectronic applications of atomic thin MoS2

The influence of defined ante-mortem stressors on the early post-mortem biochemical processes in the abdominal muscle of the Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The effects of four different ante-mortem stressors (exercise, emersion, starvation and a patent infection with the parasite Hematodinium sp.) on post-mortem processes have been investigated in the abdominal muscle of Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus by measuring changes in the pH, the levels of glycogen, l-lactate, arginine phosphate, ATP, ADP, AMP, IMP, HxR, Hx and the adenylate energy charge (AEC) over a time course of 24 h with samples being taken at 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h. The acute stresses of intense exercise and 2 h emersion resulted in a premature onset of anaerobic glycolysis, leading both to an enhanced glycogen depletion rate and an early accumulation of l-lactate. The chronic stressors, starvation and parasite infection, resulted in a complete ante-mortem depletion of muscle glycogen and consequently the failure of post-mortem glycolytic fermentation. Post-mortem pH and ATP inter-conversion were significantly altered in chronically stressed animals. Ante-mortem, a rapid, almost complete depletion of arginine phosphate was observed in all stress groups. The AEC was altered significantly by all stresses, indicating a strong energy demand. The findings suggest that ante-mortem stressors strongly influence the post-mortem biochemical processes. The laboratory-based results are compared to 'field' data and effects on post-harvest product quality are discussed

General Relativistic Dynamics of Irrotational Dust: Cosmological Implications

The non--linear dynamics of cosmological perturbations of an irrotational collisionless fluid is analyzed within General Relativity. Relativistic and Newtonian solutions are compared, stressing the different role of boundary conditions in the two theories. Cosmological implications of relativistic effects, already present at second order in perturbation theory, are studied and the dynamical role of the magnetic part of the Weyl tensor is elucidated.Comment: 12 pages , DFPD 93/A/6

Prise en charge : pré, per et post opératoire chez un drépanocytaire

La drépanocytose est une pathologie héréditaire caractérisée par une anomalie structurale de l'hémoglobine responsable d'un processus de polymérisation en situation de désoxygénation. Cliniquement, elle se manifeste par les épisodes anémiques aigus, des crises vaso-occlusives, des syndromes infectieux graves et des dégénérescences fonctionnelles multiples. En période périopératoire, la drépanocytose se caractérise par une morbidité et une mortalité élevées .La prise en charge préopératoire est dominée par la consultation d'anesthésie qui a pour but d'évaluer le retentissement fonctionnel de la maladie et d'assurer la préparation préopératoire du patient. Cette préparation vise à ramener la concentration de l'HbS autour de 30-40%. En phase peropératoire les modalités anesthésiques sont peu spécifiques, cependant certains impératifs doivent être respectés afin de minimiser le risque de falciformation. L'anesthésie loco-régionale sera privilégiée notamment en obstétrique où la morbidité est élevée. Dans la période post-opératoire, les complications ne sont pas rares. Il s'agit des crises vaso-occlusives, du syndrome thoracique aigu, de l'anémie et des thromboses. La prise en charge de ces complications passe par une bonne oxygénation, une hydratation adéquate , parfois la transfusion, les antalgiques et les antithrombotiques. Mots cles: drépanocytose, prise en charge, péri-opératoire Clinics in Mother and Child Health Vol. 1(1) 2004: 43-5

Staff Time and Motion Assessment for Administration of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents: A Two-Phase Pilot Study in Clinical Oncology Practices

BACKGROUND: Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) are used for the management of anaemia in patients with non-myeloid malignancies where anaemia is due to the effect of concomitant myelosuppressive chemotherapy. Assessing the impact of different ESA dosing regimens on office staff time and projected labour costs is an important component of understanding the potential for optimization of oncology practice efficiencies. OBJECTIVES: A two-phase study was conducted to evaluate staff time and labour costs directly associated with ESA administration in real-world oncology practice settings among cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The objective of Phase 1 was to determine the mean staff time required for the process of ESA administration in patients with anaemia due to concomitantly administered chemotherapy. The objective of Phase 2 was to quantify and compare the mean staff time and mean labour costs of ESA administered once weekly (qw) with ESA once every 3 weeks (q3w) over an entire course of chemotherapy. METHODS: Phase 1 was a prospective, cross-sectional time and motion study conducted in six private oncology practices in the US based on nine steps associated with ESA administration. Using findings from Phase 1, Phase 2 was conducted as a retrospective chart review to collect data on the number and types of visits in two private oncology practices for patients receiving a complete course of myelosuppressive chemotherapy. RESULTS: In Phase 1, the mean total time that clinic staff spent on ESA administration was 23.2 min for patient visits that included chemotherapy administration (n(chemo) = 37) and 21.5 min when only ESA was administered (n(ESAonly) = 36). In Phase 2, the mean duration of treatment was significantly longer for q3w than qw (53.84 days for qw vs. 113.38 for q3w, p < 0.0001); thus, analyses were adjusted using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) for episode duration for between-group comparisons. Following adjustment by ANCOVA, qw darbepoetin alfa (DA) patients (n(qw) = 83) required more staff time for ESA + chemotherapy visits and ESA-only visits than q3w patients (n(q3w) = 118) over a course of chemotherapy. Overall, mean total staff time expended per chemotherapy course was greater for patients receiving qw versus q3w DA. Weekly DA dosing was associated with greater projected mean labour costs ($US38.16 vs.$US31.20 [average for 2007–2010]). CONCLUSIONS: The results from this real-world study demonstrate that oncology practices can attain staff time and labour costs savings through the use of q3w ESA. The degree of savings depends on the individual oncology practice’s staffing model and ESA administration processes, including those that allow for optimized synchronization of patient visits for ESA and chemotherapy administration. These findings indicate that additional research using standard ESA administration protocols for longer periods of time with a larger number of oncology practices and patients should be conducted to confirm these findings

Applications and limitations of electron correlation microscopy to study relaxation dynamics in supercooled liquids

Electron correlation microscopy (ECM) is a way to measure structural relaxation times, τ, of liquids with nanometer-scale spatial resolution using coherent electron scattering equivalent of photon correlation spectroscopy. We have applied ECM with a 3.5 nm diameter probe to Pt57.5Cu14.7Ni5.3P22.5 amorphous nanorods and Pd40Ni40P20 bulk metallic glass (BMG) heated inside the STEM into the supercooled liquid region. These data demonstrate that the ECM technique is limited by the characteristics of the time series, which must be at least 40τ to obtain a well-converged correlation function g2(t), and the time per frame, which must be less than 0.1τ to obtain sufficient sampling. A high-speed direct electron camera enables fast acquisition and affords reliable g2(t) data even with low signal per frame

Oscillatory tunnel magnetoresistance in double barrier magnetic tunnel junctions

We report an unconventional oscillatory tunnel magnetoresistance as a function of the applied bias in double barrier magnetic tunnel junctions that were made of two Al2O3 barriers sandwiched by three ferromagnetic layers. When the center ferromagnetic layer is aligned antiparallel to the top and bottom magnetic layers, a distinct magnetoresistance oscillation appears with respect to the increase of the bias voltage at 4.2 K and at room temperature. The period of the oscillation is about 1.6 mV

Prise en charge de la douleur post-operatoire immediate en salle de soins post interventionnels

15 à 50 % des opérés font l'expérience des douleurs post opératoires en dépit des traitements analgésiques. Le but de ce travail a été d'évaluer la prise en charge de la douleur post opératoire (DPO)en salle de soins post interventionnels (SPPI). Il s'agit dune étude prospective et descriptive réalisée dans le service d'anesthésie et de réanimation de l'Hôpital Général de Yaoundé, République du Cameroun. Ont été inclus dans cette étude des patients âgés de plus de 15 ans admis en salle de soins post interventionnels et capables d'utiliser les différentes échelles d'évaluation de la douleur (échelle visuelle analogique, échelle numérique, échelle verbale simple). La DPO a été évaluée et les patients ont été traités. Les résultats ont été présentés sous forme de moyennes et de pourcentages. Le test de chi carré a été utilisé pour la comparaison des valeurs. 174 patients ont été recrutés, âgés de 34 ans en moyenne. Le sex ratio a été d'un homme pour 5 femmes. La majorité des interventions chirurgicales a été faite sous anesthésie générale (91 %). L'incidence des DPO a été de 94 %. La fréquence des DPO a été élevée dans les chirurgies orthopédique (13 cas soit 100 %) et gynéco obstétrique (118 cas soit 97,5 %) La Noramidopyrine a été l'antalgique le plus prescrit (73 % des patients). 4 % des patients ont présenté des effets indésirables dus au traitement. La lutte contre la DPO requiert une bonne évaluation de la douleur, des protocoles thérapeutiques adaptés et une surveillance clinique rigoureuse. Clinics in Mother and Child Health Vol. 3(1) 2006: 473-47