Quantum Hall Valley Splitters and a Tunable Mach-Zehnder Interferometer in Graphene.

Graphene is a very promising test bed for the field of electron quantum optics. However, a fully tunable and coherent electronic beam splitter is still missing. We report the demonstration of electronic beam splitters in graphene that couple quantum Hall edge channels having opposite valley polarizations. The electronic transmission of our beam splitters can be tuned from zero to near unity. By independently setting the beam splitters at the two corners of a graphene p-n junction to intermediate transmissions, we realize a fully tunable electronic Mach-Zehnder interferometer. This tunability allows us to unambiguously identify the quantum interferences due to the Mach-Zehnder interferometer, and to study their dependence with the beam-splitter transmission and the interferometer bias voltage. The comparison with conventional semiconductor interferometers points toward universal processes driving the quantum decoherence in those two different 2D systems, with graphene being much more robust to their effect.

First record of the sound produced by the oldest Upper Paleolithic seashell horn.

Anthropologists and ethnomusicologists assert that there is no society without song, and more specifically, there is no ritual or celebration without accompanying sound. The production of sounds in social contexts is very ancient. Here, we report on the study of a seashell from the decorated cave of Marsoulas and demonstrate that the Magdalenian occupants of this site transformed this shell into a wind instrument. It is one of the very rare examples, if not the only one for the Paleolithic period, of a musical instrument fashioned from a large shell, and the first conch shell of this use thus far discovered. We already know that prehistoric people transformed many shells into portable ornaments and that they thus attributed substantial corporal symbolism to them. This seashell horn, with its unique sonority, both deep and strong with an enduring reverberation, sheds light on a musical dimension until now unknown in the context of Upper Paleolithic societies.

Valley polarization assisted spin polarization in two dimensions.

Valleytronics is rapidly emerging as an exciting area of basic and applied research. In two-dimensional systems, valley polarization can dramatically modify physical properties through electron-electron interactions as demonstrated by such phenomena as the fractional quantum Hall effect and the metal-insulator transition. Here, we address the electrons' spin alignment in a magnetic field in silicon-on-insulator quantum wells under valley polarization. In stark contrast to expectations from a non-interacting model, we show experimentally that less magnetic field can be required to fully spin polarize a valley-polarized system than a valley-degenerate one. Furthermore, we show that these observations are quantitatively described by parameter-free ab initio quantum Monte Carlo simulations. We interpret the results as a manifestation of the greater stability of the spin- and valley-degenerate system against ferromagnetic instability and Wigner crystalization, which in turn suggests the existence of a new strongly correlated electron liquid at low electron densities.

[Management of the cardiovascular complications of treatment in thoracic oncology]. / Prise en charge des complications cardiovasculaires des traitements en oncologie thoracique.

The management of patients suffering from bronchial and lung tumors depends on conventional chemotherapy and/or targeted molecular therapies. The prescription of these chemotherapies may be accompanied by cardiovascular complications, principally congestive heart failure, arterial hypertension and arterial or venous thrombo-embolism, the frequency of which varies with the molecule administered. The management of these complications is currently poorly standardized and should take account of the patient's oncological prognosis.

Description of the female, pupa and gall of Pisphondylia brasiliensis Couri and Maia, 1992 (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae, Schizomyiina) with new records.

The gall of Pisphondylia brasiliensis on Guapira opposita, its female and pupa are described and illustrated. The geographic distribution of this species is now widened to Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). For the first time, a female of the genus is described.

Methodology of a study on the French population exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields.

The characterisation of population exposure to a 50-Hz magnetic field (MF) is important for assessing health effects of electromagnetic fields. With the aim of estimating and characterising the exposure of the French population to 50-Hz MFs, two representative samples of the population were made. A random selection method based on the distribution of households in different regions of France was used. The samples were carried out starting from a random polling of telephone numbers of households (listed, unlisted fixed phones and cell phones only). A total of 95,362 telephone numbers were dialed to have 2148 volunteers (1060 children and 1088 adults). They all agreed to carrying an EMDEX II meter, measuring and recording MFs, and to filling out a timetable for a 24-hour period. In this article, the methodology of the sample selection and the collection of all necessary information for the realisation of this study are presented.

Statistical analysis of whole-body absorption depending on anatomical human characteristics at a frequency of 2.1 GHz.

In this paper, we propose identification of the morphological factors that may impact the whole-body averaged specific absorption rate (WBSAR). This study is conducted for the case of exposure to a front plane wave at a 2100 MHz frequency carrier. This study is based on the development of different regression models for estimating the WBSAR as a function of morphological factors. For this purpose, a database of 12 anatomical human models (phantoms) has been considered. Also, 18 supplementary phantoms obtained using the morphing technique were generated to build the required relation. This paper presents three models based on external morphological factors such as the body surface area, the body mass index or the body mass. These models show good results in estimating the WBSAR (<10%) for families obtained by the morphing technique, but these are still less accurate (30%) when applied to different original phantoms. This study stresses the importance of the internal morphological factors such as muscle and fat proportions in characterization of the WBSAR. The regression models are then improved using internal morphological factors with an estimation error of approximately 10% on the WBSAR. Finally, this study is suitable for establishing the statistical distribution of the WBSAR for a given population characterized by its morphology.

Dual-mode transducers for ultrasound imaging and thermal therapy.

Medical imaging is a vital component of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy, which is gaining clinical acceptance for tissue ablation and cancer therapy. Imaging is necessary to plan and guide the application of therapeutic ultrasound, and to monitor the effects it induces in tissue. Because they can transmit high intensity continuous wave ultrasound for treatment and pulsed ultrasound for imaging, dual-mode transducers aim to improve the guidance and monitoring stages. Their primary advantage is implicit registration between the imaging and treatment axes, and so they can help ensure before treatment that the therapeutic beam is correctly aligned with the planned treatment volume. During treatment, imaging signals can be processed in real-time to assess acoustic properties of the tissue that are related to thermal ablation. Piezocomposite materials are favorable for dual-mode transducers because of their improved bandwidth, which in turn improves imaging performance while maintaining high efficiency for treatment. Here we present our experiences with three dual-mode transducers for interstitial applications. The first was an 11-MHz monoelement designed for use in the bile duct. It had a 25x7.5 mm(2) aperture that was cylindrically focused to 10mm. The applicator motion was step-wise rotational for imaging and therapy over a 360 degrees, or smaller, sector. The second transducer had 5-elements, each measuring 3.0x3.8 mm(2) for a total aperture of 3.0x20 mm(2). It operated at 5.6 MHz, was cylindrically focused to 14 mm, and was integrated with a servo-controlled oscillating probe designed for sector imaging and directive therapy in the liver. The last transducer was a 5-MHz, 64-element linear array designed for beam-formed imaging and therapy. The aperture was 3.0x18 mm(2) with a pitch of 0.280 mm. Characterization results included conversion efficiencies above 50%, pulse-echo bandwidths above 50%, surface intensities up to 30 W/cm(2), and axial imaging resolutions to 0.2 mm. The second transducer was evaluated in vivo using porcine liver, where coagulation necrosis was induced up to a depth of 20 mm in 120 s. B-mode and M-mode images displayed a hypoechoic region that agreed well with lesion depth observed by gross histology. These feasibility studies demonstrate that the dual-mode transducers had imaging performance that was sufficient to aid the guidance and monitoring of treatment, and could sustain high intensities to induce coagulation necrosis in vivo.

In vitro evaluation of an oscillating dual-mode ultrasound probe for sector imaging and directive therapy.

Interstitial probes have been shown as effective devices to deliver high-intensity ultrasound therapy. Here, cylindrically-focused dual-mode transducers with either one or 5-elements were characterized, and a monoelement probe was evaluated in vitro. In therapy mode, the transducers were maximally efficient (> or =70%) at 5.6 MHz with surface intensities up to 20 W/cm(2). In imaging mode, fractional bandwidths were 46% and 50+/-4% (ave+/-std) for the monoelement and 5-element transducers respectively. Axial and lateral resolutions were 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm, respectively, for both transducers as measured with a point scatterer in the focal plane. After characterization, the oscillating probe was used to image and apply therapy to porcine liver. B-mode images over a 140 degrees sector were formed before and after therapy, which was applied for 90 s at each of 5 angles separated by 20 degrees (e.g. -40 degrees , -20 degrees, 0 degrees, 20 degrees, 40 degrees) to form a composite lesion. Transducer surface intensity was 18 W/cm(2). Therapy was interrupted at 125 ms intervals to collect pulse/echo data along the therapy axes. Data were displayed in real-time as an M-mode image to monitor therapy. B-mode images adequately represented the liver tissue. M-mode image data agreed well with the formation of lesions in the liver.

New piezoelectric transducers for therapeutic ultrasound.

Therapeutic ultrasound (US) has been of increasing interest during the past few years. However, the development of this technique depends on the availability of high-performance transducers. These transducers have to be optimised for focusing and steering high-power ultrasonic energy within the target volume. Recently developed high-power 1-3 piezocomposite materials bring to therapeutic US the exceptional electroacoustical properties of piezocomposite technology: these are high efficiency, large bandwidth, predictable beam pattern, more flexibility in terms of shaping and definition of sampling in annular arrays, linear arrays or matrix arrays. The construction and evaluation of several prototypes illustrates the benefit of this new approach that opens the way to further progress in therapeutic US.

[Not Available]. / Microspectrometrie raman multicanale: application a l'identification du trimethylacetate et du caproate de fluocortolone isoles d'une forme galenique.

This work is an application of the results obtained by classical Raman spectroscopy for fluocortolone and its trimethylacetate and caproate esters. These drugs are used together in a pharmaceutical preparation. To avoid fluorescence problems with excipients a solvent extraction was first applied, followed by an HPLC separation. The aim was to identify two corticosteroids through their molecular structure by applying Raman spectroscopy to HPLC eluates. Tests with the drugs in aqueous methanol solution proved unsatisfactory so recourse was made to use of the crystalline state and a Raman multichannel microprobe. This allowed the identification, with accuracy, of Delta(1,4)-3-one structure with sample quantities as small as 10(-12) g.

[Not Available]. / Analyse de melanges complexes sur le couplage chromatographie en phase gazeuse/spectrometrie infrarouge par transformee de fourier equipe de colonnes capillaires.

To increase the analytical potential of the combination of gas chromatography and Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry, we have adapted our system to use of capillary columns, and automated the acquisition and treatment of the data. The performance of the method was tested by analysis of complex mixtures such as the essential oils of peppermint and lavender. The sensitivity and resolution are poorer than those obtained with classical GC detectors but the spectra are very useful for determining molecular structure.

Etude par spectroscopie raman du chlorhydrate de cocaine.

Raman spectra of cocaine hydrochloride in the polycrystalline state and in saturated aqueous solutions have been recorded at room temperature from 0 to 4000 cm(-1) and at 9 K from 0 to 200 cm(-1) (only for the polycrystalline state). They show that cocaine can be characterized by the following proposed assignments. For the tropane nucleus the frequencies 851 and 786 cm(-1) (piperidine) and 896, 870 cm(-1) (pyrrolidine); these frequencies are assigned to ring carbon stretching vibrations V(C-C) Bands for the ester functional groups can be observed at 1713 cm(-1) (v(CO)) and 1203 cm(-1) (v((C-O-O)). The benzene nucleus is also important in characterization of cocaine hydrochloride because of its bands at 616, 990, 1000, 1026 and 1596 cm(-1). Special reference is made first to the work in the low-frequency range at room temperature and 9 K and secondly to the polarization studies of saturated aqueous solutions in the range 700-1726 cm(-1). The results constitute a pool of analytical characteristics which can be used for toxicological investigations, and also show all the possibilities of Raman spectroscopy in this field.

Etude par spectrometrie raman de corticosteroides derives de la fluocortolone: trimethylacetate et caproate.

Les spectres Raman de trois corticostéroïdes: fluocortolone base, triméthylacétate et caproate de fluocortolone (TMAF et CAF) ontétéenregistrésàl'état polycristallin entre 150 et 4000 cm(-1). Une attribution des raies observées est proposée. Elle a montréla complexitédu problème poséàsavoir la différenciation de trois composés de structure trés voisine. Cependant quelques intervalles de fréquences contenant des raies spécifiques sont susceptibles d'e^tre utilisés afin de permettre l'identification des composésétudiés. Il convient en premier lieu de distinguer tout particulièrement les raies situées entre 1500 et 1800 cm(-1). Dans l'intervalle 1580-1690 cm(-1) celles-ci sont intenses et spécifiques de la structure conjuguée Delta(1,4) 3-one des corticostéroi des ce qui permet de distinguer la classe de médicamentàlaquelle appartiennent les substancesétudiées. La zone de fréquence comprise entre 1690 et 1750 cm(-1) témoigne non seulement de la présence d'une fonction cétonique sur la chai^ne latérale mais aussi de l'existence d'une fonction ester suivant que l'on y trouve respectivement une ou deux raies (fluocortolone base 1701 cm(-1); TMAF 1728, 1745 cm(-1); CAF 1723, 1745 cm(-1). La fluocortolone base présenteà1635 cm(-1) une raie qui n'est pas retrouvée chez les dérivès estérifiés. En second lieu, nous retiendrons les zones spectrales représentatives des chai^nes latérales estrrifiées fixées sur le carbone C(21): chai^ne triméthylacétate 340-360, 570-610, 750-810 cm(-1) (dans cette dernière région commune au caproate et au triméthylacétate la différenciation des deux composés se fait grâceàla raieà796 cm(-1) absente dans le spectre du caproate); chai^ne caproate 1310-1350 cm(-1) (dans cet intervalle, le caproate présente un profil très particulier avec trois raies d'intensitévoisine). Cet ensemble de résultats doite^tre utilisépour identifier ces substances par spectroscopie Raman sur des quantitiés de l'ordre du picogramme provenant d'éluat d'HPLC.

Normal modes of vibration of a model peptide adopting the C7 C5 structure. Application toi angiotensin II.

A normal coordinate treatment was performed on the C7C5 conformation using a modified Urey-Bradley force field refined from previous studies on beta-turns. The predicted frequencies were compared with the experimental ones obtained on the peptide hormone human angiotensin II. The existence of both a beta-turn and a C7C5 conformation in solid and in aqueous solution is discussed.

Raman spectroscopy and normal vibrations of peptides. Characteristic normal modes of a type-II beta turn.

Raman and infrared spectra have been recorded on the peptide Gly-LPro-Gly-Gly in its zwitterionic form and on its protected homolog Z-Gly-LPro-Gly-Gly-OMe (Z = N-benzyloxycarbonyl and OMe = methyl ester). Both peptides adopt a type-II beta-turn conformation into appropriate solvents, that is in dimethylsulfoxide and chloroform respectively. A normal coordinate treatment has been performed on Gly-LPro-Gly-Gly using a modified Urey-Bradley force field and the characteristic normal modes of vibrations. Their corresponding frequencies have been extracted from experimental investigations.

Vibrational normal modes of folded prolyl-containing peptides. Application to beta turns.

Normal mode analysis of standard beta turns has been performed using the refined force field obtained from type-II beta-turn-like conformation frequencies. Effects of various potentials are discussed and theoretical predictions are compared to the experimental results of various authors.

[Transcutaneous measurement of blood flow in arteriovenous fistulae caused by hemodialysis using Doppler ultrasound]. / Mesure transcutanée du débit dans les fistules artério-veineuses d'hémodialyse par échographie-Doppler.

Blood flow measurement in arterio-venous fistulae can be performed with a duplex ultrasound system which combines echography and C. W. Doppler. This method is very useful to follow up the patency of the fistulae and his consequence on the cardiac function. The exploration consists in two steps: a qualitative study of the Doppler spectrum to detect a possible decrease of the arterial diastole flow which traduce a severe stenosis; the evaluation of the blood flow in ml/min. The blood flow in ml/mn is a good parameter for the follow-up of the fistulae; moreover in case of high blood flow values, it is very useful to guide the surgical therapy.

[Drug addiction by inhalation of gasoline vapor. Clinical and toxicological aspects]. / Toxicomanies par inhalation de vapeur d'essence. Aspects cliniques et toxicologiques.

Following an epidemic of sniffing petrol fumes and the death of a child, the authors review published findings of this little-known type of toxicomania. They envisage the Clinical and Toxicological problems. Researching and identifying the petrol remain problems. It is possible to detect the traces of petrol directly in the blood by gaz chromatography on a capillary column coupled to flame ionisation detector but it not possible to identify the product with complete certainly. The gas liquid on a packed column detected by Fournier transformed infra-red spectrography can be given to identification with total accuracy.