Determining a vibrational distribution with a broadband optical source.

This work presents an experimental protocol conceived to determine the vibrational distribution of barium monofluoride molecules seeded in a supersonic beam of argon. Here, as in many cases, the detection signal is related to the number of molecules by an efficiency involving several parameters that may be difficult to determine properly. In particular, this efficiency depends on the vibrational level of the detected molecules. Our approach avoids these complications by comparing different detection signals generated by different vibrational excitations. Such an excitation is made possible by the use of a broadband optical source that depletes a specific vibrational level whose population is redistributed in the other levels.

[Continuous medical evaluation of the prevention of fetomaternal rhesus-D allo-immunization]. / Évaluation des pratiques professionnelles sur la prévention de l'allo-immunisation Rhésus D.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevention of fetomaternal rhesus-D allo-immunization between 2008 and 2010. This evaluation was a part of the continuous medical evaluation (CME) that is compulsory in French hospitals. It was carried out using the tools recommended by the Haute Autorité de santé. We followed the national guidelines for the prevention of fetomaternal rhesus-D allo-immunization as outlined in 2005 by the national French college of Obstetrics and Gynecology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We audited 3926 consultations in the first four months of 2008. Based on the results of the audit, actions were implemented to improve care. In 2009, we audited 4021 consultations to look for improvement, and another 3932 consultations in 2010. RESULTS: In 2008, 14% of the patients had an overall optimal prevention. After actions were taken, 44% of patients in 2009 and 58% of patients in 2010 demonstrated optimal prevention (P<0,05). Especially, the prevention of fetomaternal allo-immunization has been explained for 43% of the patients in 2008 and to 90% of them in 2010. And immunoprophylaxia has been prescribed to 70% of the patients in 2008 and to 93% of them in 2010. CONCLUSION: This CME has resulted in a statistically significant improvement of the prevention of allo-immunization.

[Maternal outcome of gestational diabetes mellitus]. / Complications maternelles du diabète gestationnel.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate maternal outcome of treated or untreated gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: French and English publications were searched using PubMed and Cochrane library. RESULTS: The diagnosis of GDM gathers a high risk population of preeclampsia and cesarean section (EL3). These risks are positively correlated with the level of hyperglycemia in a linear way (EL2). Intensive treatment of mild GDM compared with routine care reduces the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension (preeclampsia, gestational hypertension). Moreover, it does not increase the risk of operative vaginal delivery, cesarean section and postpartum haemorrhage (EL1). Overweight, obesity and maternal hyperglycemia are independent risk factors for preeclampsia (EL2). Their association with GDM increases the risk of preeclampsia and cesarean section compared to diabetic women with normal body mass index (EL3). The association of several risk factors (such as advanced maternal age, pre-existing chronic hypertension, pre-existing nephropathy, obesity, suboptimal glycemic control) increases the risk of preeclampsia. In that case, the classical follow-up (blood pressure measurement, proteinuria) should be more frequent than monthly (professional consensus). The risk of cesarean section is increased by macrosomia, whether it was prenatally suspected or not. But this increased risk remains whatever the birth weight is (EL3). Diagnosis and treatment of GDM do not reduce the risk of severe perineal lesions, operative vaginal delivery and postpartum haemorrhage (EL2). Some psychological symptoms, such as anxiety and alteration of self-perception, can occur at the diagnosis of GDM (EL3). The treatment of GDM seems to reduce the risk of postpartum depression symptoms (EL2). CONCLUSION: Most of the informations published on GDM cover the risks of preeclampsia and cesarean section. Intensive care of GDM reduces theses risks. The pregnancy follow-up should be adjusted to the risk factors.

Maternal outcome of gestational diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate maternal outcome of treated or untreated gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: French and English publications were searched using PubMed and the Cochrane library. RESULTS: The diagnosis of GDM includes a high risk population for preeclampsia and Caesarean sections (EL3). The risks are positively correlated with the level of hyperglycaemia in a linear way (EL2). Intensive treatment of mild GDM compared with routine care reduces the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension (preeclampsia, gestational hypertension). Moreover, it does not increase the risk of operative vaginal delivery, Caesarean section and postpartum haemorrhage (EL1). Being overweight, obesity and maternal hyperglycaemia are independent risk factors for preeclampsia (EL2). Their association with GDM increases the risk of preeclampsia and Caesarean section compared to diabetic women with a normal body mass index (EL3). The association of several risk factors (such as advanced maternal age, pre-existing chronic hypertension, pre-existing nephropathy, obesity, suboptimal glycaemic control) increases the risk of preeclampsia. In that case, the classic follow-up (blood pressure measurement, proteinuria) should be more frequent than monthly (professional consensus). The risk of Caesarean section is increased by macrosomia, whether suspected prenatally or not, but this increased risk remains whatever the birth weight (EL3). Diagnosis and treatment of GDM do not reduce the risk of severe perineal lesions, operative vaginal delivery and postpartum haemorrhage (EL2). Some psychological symptoms, such as anxiety and alteration of self-perception, can occur upon diagnosis of GDM (EL3). The treatment of GDM appears to reduce the risk of postpartum depression symptoms (EL2). CONCLUSION: Most of the information published on GDM covers the risks of preeclampsia and Caesarean section; intensive care of GDM reduces these risks. Pregnancy care should be adjusted to the risk factors.

The nature of alkanethiol self-assembled monolayer adsorption on sputtered gold substrates.

A detailed study of the self-assembly and coverage by 1-nonanethiol of sputtered Au surfaces using molecular resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is presented. The monolayer self-assembles on a smooth Au surface composed predominantly of [111] oriented grains. The domains of the alkanethiol monolayer are observed with sizes typically of 5-25 nm, and multiple molecular domains can exist within one Au grain. STM imaging shows that the (4 x 2) superlattice structure is observed as a (3 x 2) structure when imaged under noncontact AFM conditions. The 1-nonanethiol molecules reside in the threefold hollow sites of the Au[111] lattice and aligned along its [112] lattice vectors. The self-assembled monolayer (SAM) contains many nonuniformities such as pinholes, domain boundaries, and monatomic depressions which are present in the Au surface prior to SAM adsorption. The detailed observations demonstrate limitations to the application of 1-nonanethiol as a resist in atomic nanolithography experiments to feature sizes of approximately 20 nm.

Atom symmetry break and metastable level coupling in rare gas atom-surface van der Waals interaction.

van der Waals interactions between an atom and a planar surface exhibit a quadrupolar component in D(2)(z)-D(2)/3 (D, atomic dipole; z, normal to surface). This coupling is responsible for an atom symmetry break, mixing levels of the same parity such as metastable 3P0, 3P2 levels of rare gas atoms. The strongly exoenergic 3P0-3P2 transition in Ar and Kr is observed by a time-of-flight technique, using as a surface the edge of a copper slit. The results confirm the predicted strong peaking of the angular distribution of inelastically scattered atoms and give a good estimate of the transition probability.