Femtosecond time-resolved pump-probe measurements on percolating gold in the ablation regime.

We report on femtosecond laser ablation experiments on percolating gold layers deposited on a glass substrate. In our experiments, we measure changes in optical transmission and reflection induced by single, high-intensity infrared laser pulses as a function of the time delay between the pump and the probe. For the highest pump intensities we find that on a time scale of about 150 ps after excitation, the transmission and reflection approach values close to the substrate values. We attribute this rapid ablation to vaporization of the entire layer when the injected energy exceeds the cohesive energy of the material. This vaporization results in the rapid transformation of the gold layer into a sufficiently dilute mist of atoms and nano-particles which renders the material almost optically transparent to the probe pulse. SEM images of the surfaces show how the morphology of the films changes at relatively low excitation intensities and show the complete removal of the gold at high intensities. We find that the ablation threshold for percolating Au on glass is 2.3 × 1011 W/cm2, which is two orders of magnitude lower than the damage threshold for continuous gold layers as reported in the literature.

Neutron-Star-Black-Hole Binaries Produced by Binary-Driven Hypernovae.

Binary-driven hypernovae (BdHNe) within the induced gravitational collapse paradigm have been introduced to explain energetic (E_{iso}≳10^{52} erg), long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) associated with type Ic supernovae (SNe). The progenitor is a tight binary composed of a carbon-oxygen (CO) core and a neutron-star (NS) companion, a subclass of the newly proposed "ultrastripped" binaries. The CO-NS short-period orbit causes the NS to accrete appreciable matter from the SN ejecta when the CO core collapses, ultimately causing it to collapse to a black hole (BH) and producing a GRB. These tight binaries evolve through the SN explosion very differently than compact binaries studied in population synthesis calculations. First, the hypercritical accretion onto the NS companion alters both the mass and the momentum of the binary. Second, because the explosion time scale is on par with the orbital period, the mass ejection cannot be assumed to be instantaneous. This dramatically affects the post-SN fate of the binary. Finally, the bow shock created as the accreting NS plows through the SN ejecta transfers angular momentum, braking the orbit. These systems remain bound even if a large fraction of the binary mass is lost in the explosion (well above the canonical 50% limit), and even large kicks are unlikely to unbind the system. Indeed, BdHNe produce a new family of NS-BH binaries unaccounted for in current population synthesis analyses and, although they may be rare, the fact that nearly 100% remain bound implies that they may play an important role in the compact merger rate, important for gravitational waves that, in turn, can produce a new class of ultrashort GRBs.

Designing the topology of ion nano-channels in the mesophases of amphiphilic wedge-shaped molecules.

The wedge-shaped amphiphiles bearing sulfonate groups at the tip of the wedge are prone to form ion nano-channels upon exposure to a humid atmosphere. During swelling, water molecules preferentially accumulate in polar regions of the system resulting in the formation of a lyotropic phase. In this work, the details of the structure formation processes occurring upon swelling in water vapour, including determination of the size and topology of the ion nano-channels, are explored. The electron density profiles across the channel are obtained from the fits of the X-ray scattering data with two- and three-phase structural models the applicability of which is critically analysed. The results show that the ion channel size correlates not only with water uptake but also with the molecular architecture such as the structure of the rigid molecular fragment bearing a polar group. These findings can help optimising the ion transport for development of ion-selective membranes.

2D core ion temperature and impurity density measurements with Coherence Imaging Charge Exchange Recombination Spectroscopy (CICERS) at Wendelstein 7-X (invited).

Coherence Imaging Charge Exchange Recombination Spectroscopy (CICERS) is an imaging diagnostic installed in Wendelstein 7-X from which 2D maps of ion temperature (Ti) and impurity density (nZ) are obtained. The improved spatial resolution and coverage, as compared to standard Charge eXchange Recombination Spectroscopy (CXRS), with which these parameters can be assessed, come at the expense of spectral resolution, requiring the development of new strategies to isolate the active charge exchange contribution from passive and Bremsstrahlung radiation. In this work, a new approach based on the modeling of background radiation is presented and applied to the derivation of 2D Ti maps. These are compared to the Ti profiles derived from standard CXRS, which found excellent agreement up to the edge (ρ > 0.8). The CICERS view is implemented in the pyFIDAsim code, which is used to provide further insight into the spatial localization of the radiation as measured by the diagnostic. Moreover, an absolute intensity calibration is carried out, and, coupled with pyFIDAsim, the first 2D nC maps are obtained and validated against CXRS data.

Validation of the synthetic model for the imaging heavy ion beam probe at the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak (invited).

Recent experiments at the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak have provided the first ever measurements from the imaging heavy-ion beam probe. In this work, we show that the developed simulation framework can reproduce qualitatively the measurement's observed shape and position. Quantitatively, we demonstrate that the model reproduces, within the experimental uncertainties, the observed signal levels. A detailed explanation of the synthetic model is presented, along with the calibration of the optical setup that reproduces the measurements.

Simulation of a scintillator-based fast ion loss detector for steady-state operation in Wendelstein 7-X (invited).

A quantitative theoretical framework has been created to model neutral beam injection and fast ion losses in the Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) stellarator, including a novel method to develop synthetic diagnostics for fast ion loss detectors (FILDs) of many types, such as scintillating and Faraday Cup FILDs. This is the first time that this has been done in stellarator geometry with this level of fidelity, providing a way for fast ion losses to be predicted more precisely in future stellarator experiments and in W7-X. Simulations of the signal seen by a Faraday Cup FILD have been completed for multiple W7-X plasmas and show close agreement with the measured signals. This method is now applied to an actively water-cooled, scintillator-based FILD, which is currently in development to measure the fast ion loss distribution in W7-X in greater detail. The design makes use of a double slit to measure energy-and-pitch-angle-resolved losses of both co-going and counter-going fast ions. The diagnostic, which can be inserted to different radial positions, has been designed to withstand steady-state heat fluxes of up to 120 kW/m2 along with additional transient heat loads of 100 kW/m2 lasting for up to 20 s at a time. Simulations of W7-X standard magnetic configuration show up to 8 × 1013 (s-1 cm-2) ion fluxes onto the sensor from each neutral beam source and no signal from the counter-going slit. These simulations will help inform experimental proposals for future W7-X campaigns after installation of this diagnostic.

First measurements of an imaging heavy ion beam probe at the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak.

The imaging heavy ion beam probe (i-HIBP) diagnostic has been successfully commissioned at ASDEX Upgrade. The i-HIBP injects a primary neutral beam into the plasma, where it is ionized, leading to a fan of secondary (charged) beams. These are deflected by the magnetic field of the tokamak and collected by a scintillator detector, generating a strike-line light pattern that encodes information on the density, electrostatic potential, and magnetic field of the plasma edge. The first measurements have been made, demonstrating the proof-of-principle of this diagnostic technique. A primary beam of 85/87Rb has been used with energies ranging between 60 and 72 keV and extracted currents up to 1.5 mA. The first signals have been obtained in experiments covering a wide range of parameter spaces, with plasma currents (Ip) between 0.2 and 0.8 MA and on-axis toroidal magnetic field (Bt) between 1.9 and 2.7 T. Low densities appear to be critical for the performance of the diagnostic, as signals are typically observed only when the line integrated density is below 2.0-3.0 × 1019 m-2 in the central interferometer chord, depending on the plasma shape. The strike line moves as expected when Ip is ramped, indicating that current measurements are possible. Additionally, clear dynamics in the intensity of the strike line are often observed, which might be linked to changes in the edge profile structure. However, the signal-to-background ratio of the signals is hampered by stray light, and the image guide degradation is due to neutron irradiation. Finally, simulations have been carried out to investigate the sensitivity of the expected signals to plasma density and temperature. The results are in qualitative agreement with the experimental observations, suggesting that the diagnostic is almost insensitive to fluctuations in the temperature profile, while the signal level is highly determined by the density profile due to the beam attenuation.

Clinical course of a complex regional pain syndrome type II in upper limb.

INTRODUCTION: the complex regional pain syndrome type II, also called causalgia, is a rare clinical condition that appears after a traumatic or surgical event with evidence of nervous system involvement. Its clinical presentation is the consequence of a multifactorial pathogenic process that involves peripheral and central mechanisms and has variable clinical manifestations. We present the photographic record of a patient with complex regional syndrome type II. CLINICAL CASE: 43-year-old patient who consulted for neuropathic pain during the last four years, of severe intensity, associated with sensory, vasomotor and trophic changes in the right upper limb, as a consequence of neurectomy of the palmar digital nerves of the third finger. CONCLUSION: achieving the photographic record of the clinical phases of complex regional pain syndrome type II in its entirety is difficult, because not all patients present all clinical phases, a fact that gives relevance to this case.

INTRODUCCIÓN: el síndrome doloroso regional complejo (SDRC) tipo II, también llamado causalgia, es una condición clínica poco frecuente que aparece después de un evento traumático o quirúrgico con evidencia de afectación del sistema nervioso. Su presentación clínica es consecuencia de un proceso patogénico multifactorial que involucra mecanismos periféricos y centrales y tiene manifestaciones clínicas variables. Presentamos el registro fotográfico de un paciente con síndrome regional complejo tipo II. CASO CLÍNICO: paciente de 43 años que consultó por dolor neuropático durante los últimos cuatro años, de intensidad severa, asociado a cambios sensoriales, vasomotores y tróficos en miembro superior derecho, como consecuencia de neurectomía de los nervios digitales palmares propios del tercer dedo. CONCLUSIÓN: lograr el registro fotográfico de las fases clínicas del SDRC tipo II en su totalidad resulta difícil, debido a que no todos los pacientes presentan todas las fases clínicas; hecho que otorga la relevancia a este caso.

[Cranial multineuritis and transverse myelitis as complications of pneumococcal meningitis]. / Multineuritis craneal y mielitis transversa como complicaciones de una meningitis neumocócica.

INTRODUCTION: Pneumococcal meningitis is a condition associated with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. CASE REPORT: We report the clinical case of a 41-year-old man who, following meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, developed subsequent complications such as thoracic transverse myelitis, which caused paralysis in the lower extremities, abolition of all sensory modalities and dysautonomic disorders, as well as an alteration of the anterior horn cells at the cervical level that produced paralysis in the upper extremities, but with preservation of sensibility. This implies the need for a differential diagnosis between what is known as 'poliomyelitis-like' disorder and acute disseminated encephalomyeloradiculitis. The examination and the radiological and neurophysiological study showed a full clinical recovery of the upper extremities, thanks in part to early neurorehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: Complications of the spinal cord within the context of infection of the central nervous system are very rare. Involvement of the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord has only been described anecdotally, and no bibliographical references have been found that associate it with S. pneumoniae.

TITLE: Multineuritis craneal y mielitis transversa como complicaciones de una meningitis neumocócica.Introducción. La meningitis neumocócica es una patología que asocia una elevada tasa de morbimortalidad. Caso clínico. Presentamos el caso clínico de un varón de 41 años que, tras una meningitis causada por Streptococcus pneumoniae, tuvo como complicaciones posteriores una mielitis transversa torácica que le ocasionó una plejía en las extremidades inferiores, abolición de todas las modalidades sensitivas y trastornos disautonómicos, así como una alteración de las astas anteriores a nivel cervical que produjo plejía en las extremidades superiores, pero con conservación de la sensibilidad. Esto plantea un diagnóstico diferencial entre la afectación denominada 'poliomielitis like' y una encefalomielorradiculitis diseminada aguda. La exploración y el estudio radiológico y neurofisiológico avalaron una recuperación clínica completa en las extremidades superiores, gracias, en parte, a una neurorrehabilitación precoz. Conclusiones. Las complicaciones medulares en el contexto de una infección del sistema nervioso central son muy infrecuentes. La afectación medular de astas anteriores se ha descrito únicamente de forma anecdótica, y no se han encontrado referencias bibliográficas que la asocien con S. pneumoniae.

[Chronotaraxis as a harbinger of medial thalamic infarction]. / Cronotaraxis como síntoma guía de un infarto talámico medial.

INTRODUCTION: Chronotaraxis is an impairment of the perception of the sequencing of time. This alteration of temporality has been described as being characteristically associated with thalamic involvement, specifically in the dorsomedial nucleus. CASE REPORTS: We report the clinical cases of two patients with acute ischaemic strokes located in said territory, with a clinical presentation based on this symptom and the recognition of which was essential in the therapeutic approach. In the first and second cases, it is described how the perception of temporality was essential for the diagnosis of the ischaemic condition in both patients. DISCUSSION: Awareness and dissemination of this association may be vital in the management of patients with thalamic disorders. This is due to the possibility of influencing and modifying the initial approach, since the recognition of a specific symptom, such as chronotaraxis, can prevent the spread of thalamic damage, in addition to the long-term sequelae that it causes, especially those of a cognitive nature.

TITLE: Cronotaraxis como síntoma guía de un infarto talámico medial.Introducción. La cronotaraxis es una afectación de la percepción de la secuencia temporal. Esta alteración de la temporalidad se ha descrito asociada de forma característica a la afectación talámica, concretamente al núcleo dorsomediano. Casos clínicos. Presentamos los casos clínicos de dos pacientes con ictus isquémicos agudos de localización en dicho territorio, con una clínica basada en este síntoma y cuyo reconocimiento resultó esencial en el abordaje terapéutico. Tanto en el primero como en el segundo caso se describe cómo la percepción de la temporalidad fue esencial para el diagnóstico de la patología isquémica de ambos pacientes. Discusión. El conocimiento y la divulgación de esta asociación pueden resultar fundamentales en el manejo de los pacientes con alteraciones talámicas. Esto se debe a la posibilidad que surge de influir y modificar el abordaje inicial, puesto que el reconocimiento de un síntoma específico, como es la cronotaraxis, puede evitar la extensión del daño talámico, y prevenir de esta manera las secuelas, sobre todo cognitivas, que ocasiona a largo plazo.

[Rapidly progressive dementia as the initial presentation of human immunodeficiency virus infection].

Dementia associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is currently a rare cause of rapidly progressive dementia. Its appearance is not only limited to the late phases of the disease, but can sometimes be the presenting symptom. We present the case of a patient who debuted with anxious-depressive symptoms and rapid cognitive deteri-oration with early repercussions on his daily functionality. HIV was detected in the study, with a higher viral load in cerebrospinal fluid than in plasma. Despite a torpid course at the beginning, antiretroviral therapy brought about a progressive improvement in the cognitive sphere, consistent with the decrease in the viral load. Although rare, HIV continues to be a cause of dementia that primary care and hospital care professionals should not forget. The relevance of its early diagnosis lies in its potentially reversible nature.

Conceptual study for velocity space resolved thermal ion loss detection in tokamaks.

A new concept for velocity space thermal ion loss detection is presented. This diagnostic provides pitch angle resolved measurements that are unfeasible with current diagnostics. It uses the same detection principle as the Fast-Ion Loss Detector with a scintillator as the active component and includes a double slit configuration to measure simultaneously the escaping counter- and co-current ions. Simulations show a gyroradius range between 0.15 and 1.00 cm with a resolution below 0.15 cm (for a gyroradius of 1 cm) and a pitch angle range between 30° and 150° with a resolution below 8° for both counter- and co-current ions. The formation of a sheath in front of the detector and its associated electric field may impact the detection principle. Preliminary simulations with a homogeneous electric field show a decrease in the measurable velocity space range, whereas the gyroradius and pitch angle resolution barely change. The strike map is sensitive to the sheath electric field.

[Imaging signs of ganglioneuroma of the mandible in a seven-year-old girl]. / Manifestaciones radiológicas del ganglioneuroma mandibular en edad pediátrica.

Ganglioneuromas are benign tumors that are rare in children. They are made up of mature ganglion cells, Schwann cells, and connective tissue. The most common sites involved are the posterior mediastinum, retroperitoneum, suprarenal gland, and neck. They rarely involve bone. We present the case of a seven-year-old girl diagnosed with an intraosseous ganglioneuroma in the mandible. She had been treated for a suprarenal neuroblastoma (stage M) five years earlier. Bone scintigraphy and computed tomography of the mandible showed a lesion in the right mandibular ramus. Many osseous lesions can affect the mandible in children and the radiological appearance of most of them is unspecific. We discuss the differential diagnosis and main imaging findings of osseous lesions involving the mandible in children.

Patient education program at the forefront of cancer-associated thrombosis care.

INTRODUCTION: Treatment of cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) requires specific approaches, although it is well codified in most cases. Current national and international (International Initiative on Cancer and Thrombosis, ITAC) Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) recommend the use of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) over 6 months as first treatment option, and anticoagulation should be maintained thereafter as long as cancer is active. Since compliance improves when patients understand their disease and related treatments, we created a dedicated patient education program (PEP) for CAT, aiming to improve quality of care. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all patients who voluntarily joined the PEP for CAT from 2014 to 2020. RESULTS: In total, 182 cancer patients (median age, 64.9 years) were included, 53.3% with metastatic disease. A total of 528 PEP sessions (median, 3 per patient) were delivered. After PEP completion, the rate of self-injections or those performed at home by a relative had increased from 49.1% to 59.8% (P=0.05). Quality of life had improved significantly (P=0.025) and 90.0% of patients reported adhering to anticoagulant therapy. CONCLUSION: Implementation of a structured and personalized PEP for CAT is feasible, allowing to improve cancer patient empowerment, adherence to CAT treatment and quality of life. The Groupe francophone et cancer (GFTC) members aim at facilitating access to CAT-PEP for both patients and caregivers and use of the multi-language ITAC-CPG mobile app (free access: www.itaccme.com) to improve the care and quality of life of patients with CAT.

Usefulness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in non-metastatic muscle-invasive bladder cancer. / Utilidad de la quimioterapia neoadyuvante en el carcinoma vesical músculo invasivo no metastásico.

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the profile of patients who were candidates for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in stage pT2-4aN0M0, the tolerability and adherence of our cisplatin-based protocol and oncological outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective observational cohort study including patients diagnosed with muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma treated with NACT. Clinical, histopathological, therapeutic and evolutionary characteristics of the patients were analyzed. The use of NACT was evaluated by the complete response in the surgical specimen (pT0). This and other pathological factors were related to overall survival and progression-free survival. RESULTS: We included 90 patients with muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma (clinical stage T2a-T4aN0M0) who received a cisplatin-based NACT regimen between January 2011 and December 2018, prior to radical surgery. Forty percent of patients presented an adverse reaction, with a compliance with the NACT regimen of 92.2%. There were no deaths related to systemic treatment and no adverse reaction to treatment made radical cystectomy impracticable. After performing radical cystectomy, the presence of complete response (pT0) was observed in 20 patients (21%), lower stage in the surgical specimen (

Design and simulation of an imaging neutral particle analyzer for the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak.

An Imaging Neutral Particle Analyzer (INPA) diagnostic has been designed for the ASDEX Upgrade (AUG) tokamak. The AUG INPA diagnostic will measure fast neutrals escaping the plasma after charge exchange reactions. The neutrals will be ionized by a 20 nm carbon foil and deflected toward a scintillator by the local magnetic field. The use of a neutral beam injector (NBI) as an active source of neutrals will provide radially resolved measurements, while the use of a scintillator as an active component will allow us to cover the whole plasma along the NBI line with unprecedented phase-space resolution (<12 keV and 8 cm) and a fast temporal response (up to 1 kHz with the high resolution acquisition system and above 100 kHz with the low resolution one), making it suitable to study localized fast-ion redistributions in phase space.