Prevalence and service implications of health anxiety in genitourinary medicine clinics

A comparison of the prevalence of health anxiety in genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in two UK centres was carried out using a new rating scale, the Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI). The relationship of health anxiety to demographic and clinical variables, and its impact on service contacts, was also examined in one of these centres. 694 patients were assessed and significant health anxiety was identified in 8–11%. HAI scores were stable over time and high levels persisted in the absence of treatment. Attenders with sexually transmitted infections had significantly lower levels of health anxiety than those with other conditions. Contacts with clinic doctors and health advisors in the nine months before and after assessment were significantly greater in those with high health anxiety, with doctor appointments 37% higher in the high HAI group ( P = 0.005). Health anxiety is a source of considerable morbidity in GUM clinics deserving further study.

Electron-lattice interactions strongly renormalize the charge-transfer energy in the spin-chain cuprate Li2CuO2

Strongly correlated insulators are broadly divided into two classes: Mott-Hubbard insulators, where the insulating gap is driven by the Coulomb repulsion U on the transition-metal cation, and charge-transfer insulators, where the gap is driven by the charge-transfer energy Δ between the cation and the ligand anions. The relative magnitudes of U and Δ determine which class a material belongs to, and subsequently the nature of its low-energy excitations. These energy scales are typically understood through the local chemistry of the active ions. Here we show that the situation is more complex in the low-dimensional charge-transfer insulator Li2CuO2, where Δ has a large non-electronic component. Combining resonant inelastic X-ray scattering with detailed modelling, we determine how the elementary lattice, charge, spin and orbital excitations are entangled in this material. This results in a large lattice-driven renormalization of Δ, which significantly reshapes the fundamental electronic properties of Li2CuO2.

Determining the short-range spin correlations in the spin-chain Li2CuO2 and CuGeO3 compounds using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering

We report a high-resolution resonant inelastic soft x-ray scattering study of the quantum magnetic spin-chain materials Li(2)CuO(2) and CuGeO(3). By tuning the incoming photon energy to the oxygen K edge, a strong excitation around 3.5 eV energy loss is clearly resolved for both materials. Comparing the experimental data to many-body calculations, we identify this excitation as a Zhang-Rice singlet exciton on neighboring CuO(4) plaquettes. We demonstrate that the strong temperature dependence of the inelastic scattering related to this high-energy exciton enables us to probe short-range spin correlations on the 1 meV scale with outstanding sensitivity.

Observation of phonons with resonant inelastic x-ray scattering

Phonons, the quantum mechanical representation of lattice vibrations, and their coupling to the electronic degrees of freedom are important for understanding thermal and electric properties of materials. For the first time, phonons have been measured using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) across the Cu K-edge in cupric oxide (CuO). Analyzing these spectra using an ultra-short core-hole lifetime approximation and exact diagonalization techniques, we can explain the essential inelastic features. The relative spectral intensities are related to the electron-phonon coupling strengths.

Superconductivity without nesting in LiFeAs

We have studied the electronic structure of the nonmagnetic LiFeAs (T(c)∼18  K) superconductor using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We find a notable absence of the Fermi surface nesting, strong renormalization of the conduction bands by a factor of 3, high density of states at the Fermi level caused by a van Hove singularity, and no evidence for either a static or a fluctuating order except superconductivity with in-plane isotropic energy gaps. Our observations suggest that these electronic properties capture the majority of ingredients necessary for the superconductivity in iron pnictides.

Weak superconducting pairing and a single isotropic energy gap in stoichiometric LiFeAs

We report superconducting (SC) properties of stoichiometric LiFeAs (T(c)=17 K) studied by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES). Although the vortex lattice exhibits no long-range order, well-defined SANS rocking curves indicate better ordering than in chemically doped 122 compounds. The London penetration depth lambda(ab)(0)=210+/-20 nm, determined from the magnetic field dependence of the form factor, is compared to that calculated from the ARPES band structure with no adjustable parameters. The temperature dependence of lambda(ab) is best described by a single isotropic SC gap Delta(0)=3.0+/-0.2 meV, which agrees with the ARPES value of Delta(0)(ARPES)=3.1+/-0.3 meV and corresponds to the ratio 2Delta/k(B)T(c)=4.1+/-0.3, approaching the weak-coupling limit predicted by the BCS theory. This classifies LiFeAs as a weakly coupled single-gap superconductor.

Nanoscale electronic order in iron pnictides

The charge distribution in RFeAsO1-xFx (R=La,Sm) iron pnictides is probed using As nuclear quadrupole resonance. Whereas undoped and optimally doped or overdoped compounds feature a single charge environment, two charge environments are detected in the underdoped region. Spin-lattice relaxation measurements show their coexistence at the nanoscale. Together with the quantitative variations of the spectra with doping, they point to a local electronic order in the iron layers, where low- and high-doping-like regions would coexist. Implications for the interplay of static magnetism and superconductivity are discussed.

Incommensurately modulated CeSi1.82

An incommensurately modulated structure of CeSi1.82 as determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction at room temperature is reported. The observed satellite reflections reduce the orthorhombic symmetry of the X-ray pattern to a monoclinic one. This suggests the description of the modulated structure in the monoclinic superspace group I2/b(αβ0)00. The modulation wave vector was determined to q = 0.410(1) · a* + 0.610(1) · b*. The refinement was done using harmonic modulation functions for the displacement and the occupation probability of the atoms, the quality parameters converged to R obs = 3.33% (R obs = 2.56% for the main reflections, R obs = 8.88% for the 1st order satellite reflections and R obs = 33.06% for the 2nd order satellite reflections). The origin of the observed satellite reflections is attributed to a modulation of the partly occupied Si site caused by composition changes within the crystal.

Morphology of the superconducting vortex lattice in ultrapure niobium

The morphology of the superconducting flux line lattice (FLL) of Nb comprises gradual variations with various lock-in transitions and symmetry breaking rotations. We report a comprehensive small-angle neutron scattering study of the FLL in an ultrapure single crystal of Nb as a function of the orientation of the applied magnetic field. We attribute the general morphology of the FLL and its orientation to three dominant mechanisms; first, nonlocal contributions, second, the transition between open and closed Fermi surface sheets and, third, the intermediate mixed state between the Meissner and the Shubnikov phase.

The electronic phase diagram of the LaO(1-x)F(x)FeAs superconductor

The competition of magnetic order and superconductivity is a key element in the physics of all unconventional superconductors, for example in high-transition-temperature cuprates, heavy fermions and organic superconductors. Here superconductivity is often found close to a quantum critical point where long-range antiferromagnetic order is gradually suppressed as a function of a control parameter, for example charge-carrier doping or pressure. It is believed that dynamic spin fluctuations associated with this quantum critical behaviour are crucial for the mechanism of superconductivity. Recently, high-temperature superconductivity has been discovered in iron pnictides, providing a new class of unconventional superconductors. Similar to other unconventional superconductors, the parent compounds of the pnictides show a magnetic ground state and superconductivity is induced on charge-carrier doping. In this Letter the structural and electronic phase diagram is investigated by means of X-ray scattering, muon spin relaxation and Mössbauer spectroscopy on the series LaO(1-x)F(x)FeAs. We find a discontinuous first-order-like change of the Néel temperature, the superconducting transition temperature and the respective order parameters. Our results strongly question the relevance of quantum critical behaviour in iron pnictides and prove a strong coupling of the structural orthorhombic distortion and the magnetic order both disappearing at the phase boundary to the superconducting state.

Magnetic structure of GdCu(6)

Hot neutron diffraction has been used to study the magnetic structure of GdCu(6). Long range antiferromagnetic order with a propagation vector of (h 0 0) has been determined below the Néel temperature T(N) = 16 K from the neutron powder refinement. The magnetic moments are oriented normal to the a direction, which is in agreement with previously reported results of bulk experiments. Mean field model calculations suggest that the magnetic structure is a helix.

Electronic structure and nesting-driven enhancement of the RKKY interaction at the magnetic ordering propagation vector in Gd2PdSi3 and Tb2PdSi3

Measurements of the low-energy electronic structure in Gd2PdSi3 and Tb2PdSi3 by means of angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy reveal a Fermi surface consisting of an electron barrel at the Gamma point surrounded by spindle-shaped electron pockets originating from the same band. The calculated momentum-dependent RKKY coupling strength is peaked at the 1/2GammaK wave vector, which coincides with the propagation vector of the low-temperature in-plane magnetic order observed by neutron diffraction, thereby demonstrating the decisive role of the Fermi surface geometry in explaining the complex magnetic ground state of ternary rare earth silicides.

Optical study of LaO0.9F0.1FeAs: evidence for a weakly coupled superconducting state

We have studied the reflectance of the recently discovered superconductor LaO0.9F0.1FeAs in a wide energy range from the far infrared to the visible regime. We report on the observation of infrared active phonons, the plasma edge, and possible interband transitions. On the basis of this data and the reported in-plane penetration depth lambda{L}(0)=254 nm [H. Luetkens, Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 097009 (2008)] a disorder sensitive relatively small value of the total electron-boson coupling constant lambda{tot}=lambda{e-ph}+lambda{e-sp} approximately 0.6+/-0.35 can be estimated adopting an effective single-band picture.

High-field pauli-limiting behavior and strongly enhanced upper critical magnetic fields near the transition temperature of an arsenic-deficient LaO0.9F0.1FeAs1-delta superconductor

We report upper critical field Bc2(T) data for disordered (arsenic-deficient) LaO0.9F0.1FeAs1-delta in a wide temperature and magnetic field range up to 47 T. Because of the large linear slope of Bc2 approximately -5.4 to -6.6 T/K near Tc approximately 28.5 K, the T dependence of the in-plane Bc2(T) shows a flattening near 23 K above 30 T which points to Pauli-limited behavior with Bc2(0) approximately 63-68 T. Our results are discussed in terms of disorder effects within [corrected] unconventional superconducting pairings.

Field and temperature dependence of the superfluid density in LaFeAsO1-xFx superconductors: a muon spin relaxation study

We present zero field and transverse field muon spin relaxation experiments on the recently discovered Fe-based superconductor LaFeAsO1-xFx (x=0.075 and x=0.1). The temperature dependence of the deduced superfluid density is consistent with a BCS s-wave or a dirty d-wave gap function, while the field dependence strongly evidences unconventional superconductivity. We obtain the in-plane penetration depth of lambda ab(0)=254(2) nm for x=0.1 and lambda ab(0)=364(8) nm for x=0.075. Further evidence for unconventional superconductivity is provided by the ratio of Tc versus the superfluid density, which is close to the Uemura line of high-Tc cuprates.

Commensurate spin density wave in LaFeAsO: a local probe study

We present a detailed study on the magnetic order in the undoped mother compound LaFeAsO of the recently discovered Fe-based superconductor LaFeAsO1-xFx. In particular, we present local probe measurements of the magnetic properties of LaFeAsO by means of 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and muon-spin relaxation in zero external field along with magnetization and resistivity studies. These experiments prove a commensurate static magnetic order with a strongly reduced ordered moment of 0.25(5)muB at the iron site below T(N)=138 K, well separated from a structural phase transition at T(S)=156 K. The temperature dependence of the sublattice magnetization is determined and compared to theory. Using a four-band spin density wave model both, the size of the order parameter and the quick saturation below T(N) are reproduced.

75As NMR studies of superconducting LaFeAsO0.9F0.1

We have performed 75As nuclear magnetic resonance measurements on aligned powders of the new LaFeAsO0.9F0.1 superconductor. In the normal state, we find a strong temperature dependence of the spin shift and Korringa behavior of the spin lattice relaxation rate. In the superconducting state, we find evidence for line nodes in the superconducting gap and spin-singlet pairing. Our measurements reveal a strong anisotropy of the spin lattice relaxation rate, which suggests that superconducting vortices contribute to the relaxation rate when the field is parallel to the c axis but not for the perpendicular direction.

Intergrowth of several solid phases from the Y–Ni–B–C system in a large YNi2B2C crystal

A YNi2B2C single crystal containing traces of foreign phases was inspected by means of neutron and X-ray diffraction as well as scanning electron microscopy and X-ray spectroscopy methods. The diffraction patterns obtained from the experiments look similar to those expected for a superstructure. Nevertheless, they can be interpreted as crystallographically oriented precipitations of YB2C2and Ni2B within the YNi2B2C crystal, formed during the cooling process. The orientation relation between the lattices was obtained from experimental neutron and X-ray data. Structure refinements of the collected X-ray data were performed by separation of the intensity data of the individual phases. Scanning electron microscopy images of the inclusions found on a polished cross section of the crystal are presented; their chemical composition was determined using wavelength-dispersive X-ray analysis.

One- and two-triplon spectra of a cuprate ladder

We have performed inelastic neutron scattering on the near ideal spin-ladder compound La4Sr10Cu24O41 as a starting point for investigating doped ladders and their tendency toward superconductivity. A key feature was the separation of one-triplon and two-triplon scattering. Two-triplon scattering is observed quantitatively for the first time and so access is realized to the important strong magnetic quantum fluctuations. The spin gap is found to be 26.4+/-0.3 meV. The data are successfully modeled using the continuous unitary transformation method, and the exchange constants are determined by fitting to be Jleg=186 meV and Jrung=124 meV along the leg and rung, respectively; a substantial cyclic exchange of Jcyc=31 meV is confirmed.

Hopping conductivity in CaCu(2)O(3) single crystals

The resistivity, ρ, of the spin-ladder compound CaCu(2)O(3) is investigated between T∼130-450 K. The ρ(T) data measured for [Formula: see text] (along the Cu-O-Cu leg) and [Formula: see text] (along the Cu-O-Cu rungs), ρ(a)(T)>ρ(b)(T), exhibit an activated dependence, similar in both directions and characterized by a nearest-neighbour hopping followed by a variable-range hopping (VRH) regime when T is decreased. A detailed analysis of ρ(T) demonstrates that conventional d-dimensional models of the hopping conductivity, based on the electron localization in disordered systems, cannot interpret the experimental data at any d = 1, 2 or 3, leading to the mismatch of the characteristic energies and/or unphysical values of the characteristic length scales. The observed VRH conductivity law on the low-temperature interval, lnρ∼T(-3/4), contradicts the models above, too. Instead, it is found that this law can be substantiated and the correct matching of the energy and length scales can be found within a model of Fogler et al (2004 Phys. Rev. B 69 035413) by treating CaCu(2)O(3) as a three-dimensional array of quasi-one-dimensional electron crystals.

Specific properties of fine SnO 2 powders connected with surface segregation

The effect of surface segregation in Sb- and In-doped SnO2 fine-grained powders has been analyzed in comparison with single-crystalline samples. The kinetics and thermodynamics of the Sb and In segregation processes were studied as a function of annealing temperature by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) after annealing in an oxygen-containing atmosphere. Significant differences between diffusion and segregation were revealed for doped powders and single crystals, obviously because of simultaneous diffusion and particle-growth processes proceeding during annealing of powders. For doped single crystals the thermodynamic equilibrium is approached after 24 h annealing above 850 degrees C and at 1000 degrees C for Sb and In, respectively. Higher effective activation energies of diffusion are observed for doped powders and the thermodynamic equilibrium is not achieved under technologically relevant annealing conditions. On the basis of dopant profile measurements anomalies in the electrical resistivity at 300 degrees C of Sb-doped SnO2 powders annealed at 700 and 900 degrees C were attributed to an Sb-depleted zone formed beneath the segregated surface during the kinetic regime. To achieve optimum resistivity behavior for commercial application, inhomogeneous doping of powders must be avoided by appropriate preparation steps.

Infrared response of multiwalled boron nitride nanotubes

We report the infrared (IR) response of bulk samples of multiwalled boron nitride nanotubes, produced by a substitution reaction from single walled carbon nanotubes, which is dominated by two characteristic BN-vibrations at 800 and 1372 cm-1.

Neuromelanin biosynthesis is driven by excess cytosolic catecholamines not accumulated by synaptic vesicles

Melanin, the pigment in hair, skin, eyes, and feathers, protects external tissue from damage by UV light. In contrast, neuromelanin (NM) is found in deep brain regions, specifically in loci that degenerate in Parkinson's disease. Although this distribution suggests a role for NM in Parkinson's disease neurodegeneration, the biosynthesis and function of NM have eluded characterization because of lack of an experimental system. We induced NM in rat substantia nigra and PC12 cell cultures by exposure to l-dihydroxyphenylalanine, which is rapidly converted to dopamine (DA) in the cytosol. This pigment was identical to human NM as assessed by paramagnetic resonance and was localized in double membrane autophagic vacuoles identical to NM granules of human substantia nigra. NM synthesis was abolished by adenoviral-mediated overexpression of the synaptic vesicle catecholamine transporter VMAT2, which decreases cytosolic DA by increasing vesicular accumulation of neurotransmitter. The NM is in a stable complex with ferric iron, and NM synthesis was inhibited by the iron chelator desferrioxamine, indicating that cytosolic DA and dihydroxyphenylalanine are oxidized by iron-mediated catalysis to membrane-impermeant quinones and semiquinones. NM synthesis thus results from excess cytosolic catecholamines not accumulated into synaptic vesicles. The permanent accumulation of excess catechols, quinones, and catechol adducts into a membrane-impermeant substance trapped in organelles may provide an antioxidant mechanism for catecholamine neurons. However, NM in organelles associated with secretory pathways may interfere with signaling, as it delays stimulated neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells.

Mass immunisation campaigns--do they solve the problem?

Mass immunisation campaigns have been successfully used for vaccine delivery in countries such as Brazil and Turkey as well as in a number of instances locally. Although in some circumstances mass campaigns have been advantageous, they are not recommended as a basic policy for South Africa. Immunisation services should be incorporated into routine primary health care delivery as part of maternal and child services. If these services are adequately delivered there would be no need for mass campaigns.

Charles White of Manchester: the 250th anniversary of his birth

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A passive method of disposal of expired anaesthetic gases

A passive method for the disposal of waste anaesthetic gases is described. The resistance characteristics of the collector valve, the balancing device and the disposal system were studied. It was found that the resistances offered by the conduction channels and the terminal exhaust valve were extremely low. The collector valves were found to be responsible for most of the expiratory resistance. Swabs taken from various components of the system showed that these were contaminated mainly with commensals and non-pathogenic organisms.

Myocardial tuberculosis

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Magnesium and potassium content of normal heart muscle in areas of hard and soft water

Concentrations of both magnesium and potassium were significantly increased in normal heart muscle samples from an area with a soft water supply compared with matched samples from an area with hard water. The zinc contrentration was also slightly increased in the soft water area. The magnesium/potassium ratio was significantly lower in the softwater area. This relative deficiency of magnesium may increase the risk of death after myocardial infarction in soft-water areas.

The nitroblue-tetrazolium test following acute myocardial infarction

The percentage nitroblue-tetrazolium (NBT) leucocyte levels were evaluated daily in the 10 days following a first attack of coronary thrombosis. In 12 uncomplicated cases the peak increase was on the second or third day; thereafter the level declined and was below 10% by the tenth day. Three other patients did not conform to this pattern of NBT behaviour. They had experienced a second myocardial infarction and this was attended by a secondary rise in the NBT score; in the two survivors the score remained elevated on the tenth day. Comparison of the score on the second-third and tenth-fourteenth days is a possible useful index of a further complication.