IntroductionIn the emergency setting, focused cardiac ultrasound has become a fundamental tool for diagnostic, initial emergency treatment and triage decisions. A new ultra-miniaturized pocket ultrasound device (PUD) may be suited to this specific setting. Therefore, we aimed to compare the diagnostic ability of an ultra-miniaturized ultrasound device (Vscan™, GE Healthcare, Wauwatosa, WI) and of a conventional high-quality echocardiography system (Vivid S5™, GE Healthcare) for a cardiac focused ultrasonography in patients admitted to the emergency department.MethodsDuring 4 months, patients admitted to our emergency department and requiring transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) were included in this single-center, prospective and observational study. Patients underwent TTE using a PUD and a conventional echocardiography system. Each examination was performed independently by a physician experienced in echocardiography, unaware of the results found by the alternative device. During the focused cardiac echocardiography, the following parameters were assessed: global cardiac systolic function, identification of ventricular enlargement or hypertrophy, assessment for pericardial effusion and estimation of the size and the respiratory changes of the inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter.ResultsOne hundred fifty-one (151) patients were analyzed. With the tested PUD, the image quality was sufficient to perform focused cardiac ultrasonography in all patients. Examination using PUD adequately qualified with a very good agreement global left ventricular systolic dysfunction (κ = 0.87; 95%CI: 0.76-0.97), severe right ventricular dilation (κ = 0.87; 95%CI: 0.71-1.00), inferior vena cava dilation (κ = 0.90; 95%CI: 0.80-1.00), respiratory-induced variations in inferior vena cava size in spontaneous breathing (κ = 0.84; 95%CI: 0.71-0.98), pericardial effusion (κ = 0.75; 95%CI: 0.55-0.95) and compressive pericardial effusion (κ = 1.00; 95%CI: 1.00-1.00).ConclusionsIn an emergency setting, this new ultraportable echoscope (PUD) was reliable for the real-time detection of focused cardiac abnormalities.

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Phase diagram and thermodynamic properties of the Plutonium-Uranium (Pu-U) system have been successfully reassessed using the CALPHAD method with input from ab initio electronic-structure calculations for the bcc phase

Phase diagram and thermodynamic properties of the Am-U system, that are experimentally unknown, are calculated using the CALPHAD method with input from ab initio electronic-structure calculations for the fcc and bcc phases. A strong tendency toward phase separation across the whole composition range is predicted. In addition, ab initio informed Pu-U and Am-Pu thermodynamic assessments are combined to build a Pu-U-Am thermodynamic database. Regarding the Pu-rich corner of the ternary system, predictions indicate that Am acts as a powerful δ-Pu (fcc) stabilizer. In the U-rich corner, similar predictions are made but to a lesser extent. In both cases, the bcc phase is destabilized and the fcc phase is enhanced. Finally, results and methodology are discussed and compared with previous assessments and guidelines are provided for further experimental studies.

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Low-temperature specific-heat experiments on ␦-Pu stabilized by Ce give the value of the Sommerfeld coefficient ␥ in the close vicinity of 40 mJ/ mol K 2 . The most precise data set for Pu-6.1 at. % Ce yields ␥ = ͑41.5Ϯ 0.5͒ mJ/ mol K 2 and the Debye temperature D = ͑103.0Ϯ 0.5 K͒. As Ce is in a compressed ␣-Ce state, major contribution to the ␥ value comes from the Pu states. Theoretical calculations suggest that the 5f 6 admixture in the 5f 5 ground state is responsible for the high-␥ value. Although the 5f states are not present at the Fermi level, low-energy excitations due to transitions of the 5f 6 → 5f 5 type contribute to the spectral density around the Fermi level.

International audienceRecently, it has been highlighted that Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) could be removed through through the coupling of an absorption step in a solvent followed by biodegradation mainly at the liquid/liquid (solvent/water) interface. Among the solvents fulfilling the required characteristics (non toxicity and no biodegradability, high affinity for VOCs, solvent regeneration, good mass transfer, ...), octyl isoquinolium bis(trifluoromethyl)sulfonimide ionic liquid (IL), [octiq+][Tf2N−], appears especially promising. The first step of the process consists in the absorption of the VOC contained in the air to be treated by the IL as the VOC vapor contacts the IL. In this work we report molecular dynamics simulations of {IL+toluene}/vapor and IL/toluene vapor interfaces to elucidate the physical phenomena ruling the interfacial adsorption of toluene and its absorption by the IL. We first predicted a high affinity between [octiq+][Tf2N−] and toluene, in agreement with experimental data. Moreover, we evidenced an enhancement of the interfacial toluene density, which allowed us improving the understanding of the interfacial capture and degradation of toluene