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Background and purpose: Prior studies highlighted the high diagnostic specificity (ranging from 92% to 100%) of clinical signs observed in functional neurological disorders (FNDs). However, these signs are rarely looked for by epileptologists when trying to distinguish between functional dissociative seizure (FDS) and epileptic seizure. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of inter‐ictal clinical signs of FND in a cohort of patients with probable FDS. The secondary objective was to compare the prevalence of inter‐ictal FND clinical signs in FDS patients with age‐ and gender‐matched epileptic patients without FDS. Methods: Patients diagnosed with FDS seen at two tertiary care centres and epileptic outpatients were included in the study. Each patient underwent a physical examination, searching for inter‐ictal clinical signs of FND. Results: In the FDS group, 79% of patients presented at least one sign of FND, compared to 16.6% of patients with epilepsy (p < 0.001). Moreover, 66.6% of FDS patients presented three or more FND signs, whereas only 4.1% of epileptic patients did (p < 0.001). The median number of FND clinical signs in the FDS group was four (SD 1.7; 5.5). Using the threshold of three signs or more, the specificity of detecting three or more FND signs was 83.3%, with a sensitivity of 79.2%. Conclusion: Inter‐ictal clinical signs of FND are present in patients with FDS and should be looked for during neurological examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indonesia and French Guiana share many geographic and medical concerns regarding access to care. The organisational needs in emergency management, particularly in the prehospital phase, are similar. Whereas emergency medicine (EM) is an academic and entire speciality in France, it is still under construction in Indonesia. In the framework of the French and Indonesian academic cooperation, the Medical school in Jakarta University and the French Guiana University in Cayenne signed a Memorandum of Understanding encompassing education programmes, joint research work and students' and health professionals' exchanges in EM. This partnership represented the first medical cooperation programme between the two countries. The first student class was launched in August 2022 and involved 50 Indonesian doctors who graduated in August 2023. The implementation and success of this Franco‐Indonesian cooperation were supported by political and academic partners from the two sides. Given the first student class's success, we aim to continue this programme, in line with Indonesia and World Health Organization's plan to establish a multi‐country training hub for health emergency operational readiness and Emergency Medical Teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the study of the shock wave propagation through aluminum alloys (pure aluminum and aluminum 2024-T3) produced by laser plasma using experimental and numerical tests. Water confinement regime interaction, pulse duration (7.2 ns), and power density (1–5 GW / cm 2) range correspond to laser shock peening process configuration and parameters. To that scope, we simulate the shock wave propagation using non-linear explicit code LS-DYNA, which we validate with experimental results. Thereupon, we present a descriptive analysis that links separately the material model and loading conditions to the dynamic response of aluminum alloys under high strain rate laser shock by coupling the Johnson-Cook (J-C) material model with the Grüneisen equation of state (MAT_015 and EOS_GRUNEISEN accordingly). In addition, we make use of stress propagation into target thickness to analyze the origin of different points on the Back Face Velocity (BFV) profile during shock propagation. Finally, we provide evidence that 2D compressive effects do not depend only on the focal spot size or target thickness such as the edge effects but also on power density and material initial yield strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The use of myocardial reperfusion—mainly via angioplasty—has increased in our region to over 95%. We wondered whether old and very old patients have benefited from this development. Methods Setting: Greater Paris Area (Ile-de-France). Data Regional registry, prospective, including since 2003, data from 39 mobile intensive care units performing prehospital treatment of patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (<24 h). Parameters Demographic, decision to perform reperfusion and outcome (in-hospital mortality). Primary endpoint Reperfusion decision rate by decade over age 70. Secondary endpoint Outcome. Results We analysed the prehospital management of 27,294 patients. There were 21,311 (78%) men and 5,919 (22%) women with a median age of 61 (52–73 years). Among these patients, 8,138 (30%) were > 70 years, 3,784 (14%) > 80 years and 672 (2%) > 90 years. The reperfusion decision rate was 94%. It decreased significantly with age: 93, 90 and 76% in patients in their seventh, eighth and ninth decade, respectively. The reperfusion decision rate increased significantly over time. It increased in all age groups, especially the higher ones. Mortality was 6%. It increased significantly with age: 8, 16 and 25% in patients in their seventh, eighth and ninth decade, respectively. It significantly decreased over time in all age groups. The odds ratio of the impact of reperfusion decision on mortality reached 0.42 (0.26–0.68) in patients over 90 years. Conclusion the increase in the reperfusion decision rate was the greatest in the oldest patients. It reduced mortality even in patients over 90 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims at providing exact expressions for the mechanical fields induced by Laser Shock Peening and comparing them to their numerical estimations. We use a uniaxial strain field hypothesis with an elastic perfectly plastic behavior to derive the stress wave equation. An exact solution to this equation is given using the method of characteristics for a step time profile for the pressure loading, and numerically using finite differences schemes adapted for this hyperbolic equation. An additional residual stress modeling is used, providing the residual stress distribution assuming a planar infinite plate with a finite thickness. Results are presented for three loading pressures, each one corresponding to a different structure in the exact solution. The exact and numerical results present a good match, allowing either the use of the exact solution for an initial estimation of the mechanical fields, or to test the accuracy of other numerical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological advances over the past two decades have paved the way for the prehospital use of ultrasound. This practice was first developed in traumatology and then in a multitude of other indications, including cardiology. The development of pulmonary ultrasound is certainly the most visible illustration of this. Firstly, because it is an extra-cardiac examination that provides the answer to a cardiac question. Secondly because from a theoretical point of view this ultrasound indication was a bad indication for the use of ultrasound due to the air contained in the thorax. Thirdly, because this indication has become a 'standard of care' when caring for a patient with dyspnea – a practice that has become widespread during the COVID epidemic. In patients with heart failure, ultrasound has a high diagnostic power (including for alternative diagnoses) which is all the more precise since the technique is non-invasive, the response is obtained quickly, the examination can be repeated at desire to follow the evolution of the patient. The main other indications for prehospital ultrasound are cardiac arrest to search for a curable cause, identification of residual mechanical cardiac activity, monitoring of cerebral perfusion; chest pain, for both positive and negative diagnoses; shock for the search for an etiology and therapeutic follow-up or even pulmonary embolism or ultrasound for the search for dilation of the right ventricle which is now at the forefront of the recommendation algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is a useful therapeutic option to treat dystonic manifestations. Data on its efficiency on dystonia associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) or atypical parkinsonism (AP) are scarce and no comparison of the efficiency of BoNT has been performed between these diseases and between the different localizations of dystonia in these pathologies. We retrospectively collected from patients' medical records the result of 611 BoNT injections in 63 dystonic parkinsonian patients (44 PD and 19 AP) using a self-reported clinical improvement scale and duration of effect. Using these data, we modeled the degree of improvement and its duration after BoNT treatment with a linear mixed model. This allowed us to assess the influence of clinical parameters on the reported treatment efficiency. On a scale from 0 to 100, patients with PD and AP, respectively, report a mean improvement of 69% and 55% after BoNT injection and it is similar regarding the different localizations of dystonia. Duration of effect is, however, longer in PD compared to AP (P = 0.023). Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics had no effect on the degree of improvement or duration of effect. Overall, our results support the use of BoNT in the various dystonic phenomena associated with degenerative parkinsonian syndromes. Shorter delays between injection sessions should be considered in AP compared to PD. Trial registration: This study was registered on Clinicaltrial.gov (NCT04948684). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article relates a transdisciplinary (participatory and interdisciplinary) research experiment conducted in the Territorial Living Lab for Ecological Transition (Burgundy Franche-Comté Region) that has led to constituting transdisciplinary epistemic communities. This research focuses on nine villages in this French region that have been selected to experiment with new designs for sustainable territorial development. It is part of an experimental scheme called "Villages of the Future" led by the Regional Council. These villages are less-than-2000-inhabitant municipalities, located in rural areas that are not under urban influence. The starting point is that development models based mainly on consumerism and the accumulation of wealth have shown their limits in a context of social and ecological transition. The implementation of these disciplinary epistemic communities leads to three main results: the passage from the villages' storytelling to concrete projects, the enlargement of the local sphere of action and finally the impacts in terms of training this community's stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La prise en charge d'un patient avec une douleur thoracique suspecte d'être un syndrome coronaire aigu avec sus-décalage du segment ST est une course contre la montre. Cette prise en charge repose sur une chaine, à l'image de ce qui est présenté pour l'arrêt cardiaque. Trois phases se succèdent, avec des pertes de temps potentielles successivement imputables au patient, à l'urgentiste puis au cardiologue. Il serait tentant de considérer que le principal coupable en cas de retard de prise en charge est le patient. Cette revue est l'occasion de montrer qu'il n'en est rien. L'urgentiste, le cardiologue et leur interconnexion sont les principaux pourvoyeurs de retard et, à ce titre, les principaux ennemis de la reperfusion myocardique. Managing a patient with chest pain suspected to be a ST segment elevation myocardial infarction is a race against time. This management is based on a chain, like what is presented for cardiac arrest. Three phases follow one another, with potential loss of time successively attributable to the patient, the emergency physician and then the cardiologist. It would be tempting to consider that the main culprit in the event of delayed treatment is the patient. This review is the opportunity to show that it is not the case. The emergency physician, the cardiologist and their interconnection are the main providers of delay and, as such, the main enemies of myocardial reperfusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hypothermia is common in trauma patients. It contributes to increasing mortality rate. Hypothermia is multifactorial, favoured by exposure to cold, severity of the patient's state and interventions such as infusion of fluids at room temperature. Aim: To demonstrate that specific management of hypothermia (or of the risk of hypothermia) increases the number of trauma patients arriving at the hospital with a temperature >35°C. Design: This is a prospective, multicentre, open‐label, pragmatic, cluster randomized clinical trial of an expected 1,200 trauma patients included by 12 out‐of‐hospital mobile intensive care units (MICU). Trauma patients are included in a prehospital setting if they present at least one of the following criteria known to be associated with an increased incidence of hypothermia: ambient temperature <18°C, Glasgow coma scale <15, systolic arterial blood pressure <100 mm Hg or body temperature <35°C. Patients are randomized, by cluster, to receive a conventional management or 'interventional' nursing management associating: continuous epitympanic temperature monitoring, early installation in the heated ambulance (temperature target >30°C controlled by infrared thermometer), protection by a survival blanket, and use of heated solutes (temperature objective >35°C controlled by infrared thermometer). The primary end point is the prevalence of hypothermia on arrival at the hospital. The hypothesis tested is a reduction from 20% to 13% in the prevalence of hypothermia. Secondary end points are to evaluate the interaction between the effectiveness of the measures taken and: (1) the severity of the patients assessed by the Revised Trauma Score; (2) the meteorological conditions when they are managed; (3) the time of care; and (4) therapeutic interventions. Discussion: This trial will assess the effectiveness of an invasive, out‐of‐hospital, temperature management on the onset of hypothermia in moderate to severe trauma patients. Impact: Specific management of hypothermia is expected to decrease hypothermia in trauma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light pollution refers to the degradation of darkness through the use of artificial light at night in and around human infrastructures. This pollution is intrinsically related to urbanization and spills out from urban areas to affect both rural and protected areas. Several countries are organizing the fight against light pollution. There, local communities are experimenting with environmental policies designed to protect darkness. The challenge is about preserving biodiversity and fostering the energy transition. In France, a number of pioneering rural areas are experimenting with mechanisms that include this dual implication. Two of them provide the case study for this article. We show how these areas turn darkness into a specific resource. We identify three specification processes. The first obeys an anthropocentric utilitarian rationale and is part of the "economicization" of the environment in the line of shallow ecology. The second follows a rationale of ecocentric conservation and is part of the radical ecologization of the economy, in line with deep ecology. The third is in keeping with an integrated socioecosystemic rationale enshrining the interdependence between development, planning, the preservation of biodiversity, and energy savings. Local areas are plagued with specification controversies. These areas become incubation rooms; that is, spaces for resolving these controversies. These are reflected in a transition operator enabling the local area to take a fresh trajectory in terms of development and planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The e-MUST registry has continuously and comprehensively documented ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMIs) managed in the prehospital setting by the 39 Mobile Emergency and Resuscitation Services (SMUR) of the 8 Emergency Medical Assistance System (SAMU) and subsequently managed in the 36 interventional cardiology services in Île-de-France since 2000. This encompasses a population of over 12 million residents. To date, nearly 44,000 patients have been enrolled. The analysis of these findings reflects the real-world management of these patients and the evolution of their care. The results are shared annually with the investigators' teams and have led to around twenty publications. The latest acquired results have demonstrated, in a series of over 630 patients aged over 90, that nonagenarians particularly benefit from prehospital coronary reperfusion decisions, resulting in a nearly 60% reduction in mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though the thrombocytopenia lacked the typical features of idiosyncratic drug-induced thrombocytopenia, we believe that the association with agranulocytosis and recovery after TBZ removal makes the hypothesis of an immune-mediated mechanism plausible. Dear Editor, We report the case of a 58-year-old man who developed thrombocytopenia and agranulocytosis after receiving Tetrabenazine (TBZ). [Extracted from the article]

Background: Morphine adversely impacts the action of oral adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-receptor blockers in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients, and is possibly associated with differing patient characteristics. This retrospective analysis investigated whether interaction between morphine use and pre-percutaneous coronary intervention (pre-PCI) ST-segment elevation resolution in STEMI patients in the ATLANTIC study was associated with differences in patient characteristics and management.Methods: ATLANTIC was an international, multicenter, randomized study of treatment in the acute ambulance/hospital setting where STEMI patients received ticagrelor 180 mg ± morphine. Patient characteristics, cardiovascular history, risk factors, management, and outcomes were recorded.Results: Opioids (97.6% morphine) were used in 921 out of 1862 patients (49.5%). There were no significant differences in age, sex or cardiovascular history, but more morphine-treated patients had anterior myocardial infarction and left-main disease. Time from chest pain to electrocardiogram and ticagrelor loading was shorter with morphine (both p = 0.01) but not total ischemic time. Morphine-treated patients more frequently received glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (p = 0.002), thromboaspiration and stent implantation (both p < 0.001). No significant difference between the two groups was found regarding pre-PCI ≥ 70% ST-segment elevation resolution, death, myocardial infarction, stroke, urgent revascularization and definitive acute stent thrombosis. More morphine-treated patients had an absence of pre-PCI Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 3 flow (85.8% vs. 79.7%; p = 0.001) and more had TIMI major bleeding (1.1% vs. 0.1%; p = 0.02).Conclusions: Morphine-treatment was associated with increased GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor use, less pre-PCI TIMI 3 flow, and more bleeding. Judicious morphine use is advised with non-opioid analgesics preferred for non-severe acute pain.Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01347580. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background ATLANTIC was a randomized study comparing pre- and in-hospital treatment with a ticagrelor loading dose (LD) in ongoing ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We sought to compare patient characteristics and clinical outcomes in France with other countries participating in ATLANTIC. Methods The population comprised 1862 patients, 660 (35.4%) from France and 1202 from 12 other countries. The main endpoints were reperfusion (≥ 70% ST-segment elevation resolution) and TIMI flow grade 3 before (co-primary endpoints) and after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Other endpoints included a composite ischaemic endpoint (death/myocardial infarction/stroke/urgent revascularization/definite stent thrombosis) and bleeding events at 30 days. Results In France, median times from first LD to angiography and between first and second LDs were 49 and 35 min, respectively, and were similar to other countries. French patients were younger (mean 58.7 vs 61.9 years, p < 0.0001) and characterized by a higher rate of radial access (89.9% vs 54.8%, p < 0.0001), more frequent use of pre-hospital glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors (14.1% vs 3.1%, p < 0.0001) and intravenous enoxaparin (57.3% vs 10.1%, p < 0.0001). In France, as in other countries, the co-primary endpoints did not differ between the two randomization groups. The composite ischaemic endpoint was numerically lower in France (3.3% vs 5.1%, p = 0.07), with a lower mortality (1.4% vs 3.3%, p = 0.01). PLATO major bleeding was numerically less frequent in France (1.8% vs 3.2%, p = 0.07). Conclusions The French population appears to have better outcomes than the rest of the study population, and seems related to differences in demographics and management characteristics. Trial registry ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT01347580 ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To determine the contributing factors in the successful diabetes education of patients and their entourage. Methods: Prospective observational study conducted in a pre-hospital setting by 17 emergency services across France (September 2009-January 2011) included all insulin-treated patients (≥18 years) provided that at least one family member was present on scene. Data were collected from patients and their entourage: (1) personal details including language proficiency and educational attainment, (2) treatments, (3) diabetes-related data (log sheets, glucose meter, glucagon, glycated hemoglobin, prior hypoglycemic episodes); (4) care by diabetologist, general practitioner and/or visiting nurse. The main end points were ability to measure capillary blood sugar (patient) and awareness of hypoglycemia symptoms and ability to administer glucagon (entourage). Results: Overall, 561 patients and 736 family members were included; 343 patients (61%) were experiencing a hypoglycemic episode (<2.5 mmol/L). A total of 141 (75%) patients and 343 (50%) family members could measure capillary blood sugar. They could name a median of 2 [0-3‰] hypoglycemia symptoms although 217 (39%) patients and 262 (39%) family members could name no symptom. Few patients (33%) had glucagon available. In multivariate analyses, the main factor associated with better patient education was care by a diabetologist. Lack of an educational qualification and visits by a nurse were associated with poor patient education, and French mother tongue and care by a diabetologist with better education of the entourage. Conclusions: In France, diabetic patients and their entourage are inadequately educated. Their education benefits most from care by a diabetologist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to develop a model allowing a fast first approximate estimation of the elastic–plastic stress wave propagation caused by a laser impact and the resulting residual stress field. We start by modeling the stress wave propagation, adopting a 1D uniaxial modeling, reducing the behavior of the specimen to the axis of the laser impact, excluding any edge effects caused by the edges of the laser spot. The plastic strain field resulting from this propagation can in turn be used to compute the residual stresses, by making use of an analytic modeling in the case of an infinite planar plate. The accuracy of the 1D model is assessed by comparing it to finite elements simulations, acting as a reference solution, for several materials and laser spot diameters. The results show that the stress wave propagation from the 1D model is close to identical to the reference solution. The residual plastic and stress fields from the finite elements model present a uniaxial distribution on a large portion of the laser spot, except for the very edge and spot center. The comparison between the 1D model and the reference solution shows a good match, indicating that the 1D model can be used for a fast approximation the mechanical fields created by a laser impact for laser spot diameters larger than 2 mm. • The stress wave induced by laser shock in elasto-plastic specimens is studied. • A fast uniaxial solver is developed for the stress wave propagation problem. • An analytical model is used for estimating the associated residual stress field. • Results match main parts of 3D fields from FE simulations, for shorter CPU times. • The estimation applies to VISAR/LSP configurations, for spot sizes of a few mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although frequently used and crucial in emergency care, peripheral intravenous access has been poorly documented. We examined whether criteria related to patient characteristics, underlying disease, devices, or environment were associated with difficult peripheral intravenous access.Design and Setting: Prehospital prospective observational study.Participants and Measurements: For each peripheral intravenous access attempt a questionnaire was filled in until final success or procedure abandonment. This questionnaire included data on the patient, operator, disease, degree of emergency, cannulation, nature of fluid infused and the use of gloves, environment, and particular medical observations such as recent peripheral intravenous access and chemotherapy. Criteria associated with peripheral intravenous access difficulty were identified comparing successful and unsuccessful attempts. A total of 671 attempts at peripheral intravenous access in 495 patients were studied.Results: The first attempt was successful in 368 cases (74%) and unsuccessful in 127 (26%). Final success was reported in all cases, including the use of central venous access in three cases. No abandonment was reported. Significantly correlated with a successful attempt were: the caliber of the catheter (OR 0.793), cannulation performed by a nurse specialized in emergency care (OR 3.959), lack of particular observations (OR 0.120), and a clean patient (OR 0.505).Conclusions: Peripheral intravenous access was achieved in 99% of the patients in out-of-hospital settings. Improved success rate was reported when attempts were performed by a nurse specialized in emergency care using a 16- or 18-G catheter in clean patients without a particular medical history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Falls from height cause significant mortality in the urban environment, but reliable prognostic factors have not been identified. Even the intuitive relation between the distance fallen and mortality rate has been questioned. Our objective was to determine factors predictive of increased mortality rate in victims of falls from height.Design: Clinical observational study, retrospective for January 1998 to May 1999 and prospective from June 1999 to September 2000.Setting: The study population was drawn from Seine-Saint-Denis, an urban region near Paris with 1.3 million inhabitants treated by a French out-of-hospital medical emergencies unit.Patients: Patients were victims of falls from height >3 m, age >12 yrs. Study entry was performed on the scene by an emergency physician from the medical emergencies unit.Interventions: None.Measurements and Main Results: Studied data included age, gender, circumstances of fall, height of fall, nature of the impact surface (soft or hard), transient impact preceding final impact, and part of the body touching the ground first. The primary end point was mortality. The study included 287 patients, 116 (40%) during the retrospective phase and 171 (60%) during the prospective phase. Ninety-seven patients (34%) ultimately died. In multivariate analysis, age (mean, 41.6 +/- 16.6 yrs in patients who died vs. 34.9 +/- 14.9 in survivors; odds ratio, 1.05; p < .0005); height of fall (median, 5.0; 3.8-8.0 vs. 2.0; 1.2-3.0 floors; odds ratio, 1.24; p < .0001); nature of the impact surface (hard in 39% vs. soft in 22%; odds ratio, 2.7; p < .05); and head, anterior, and lateral body surfaces touching the ground first (with respectively mortality rates of 44%, odds ratio, 16.7, p = .0001; 57%, odds ratio, 10.6, p < 0.005; 32%, odds ratio, 11.1, p < .001) were independently correlated with the final mortality rate.Conclusions: Patient age, height of fall, impact surface nature, and body part first touching the ground are independent prognostic factors in victims of falls from height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • New methodology of material characterization in high strain rate regime. • Successful distinction between material planes and its properties. • Perfect correlation between grain size, residual stresses and J-C parameters. • Prediction of material behaviour under dynamic loading. This paper presents an innovative methodology of material characterization under high strain rate (order of 10 7 s - 1 ) laser shock loading coupled with microstructural and mechanical material features. To that scope, experimental and simulation analyses have been conducted for Al alloys (AA7075-T6 and AA2017-T4) and dissimilar Friction Stir Welded (FSWed) AA7075-AA2017 joint, under shock pressure of 4.5 GPa (laser power density of 3.5 GW / cm 2 ). In order to perform proper in-depth material model simulation of these alloys and dissimilar pairs, Johnson–Cook (J-C) material model has been coupled with Grüneisen equation of state using the non-linear explicit code LS-DYNA. For the first time, we provided a way to differentiate between material behaviour in the cross-section and the in-plane rolling and welding direction. What is more, we have provided the link between microstructural features and mechanical properties such as microhardness, residual stresses and the identified material parameters. By achieving this goal, the bigger difference between studied planes was confirmed for strain hardening modulus, strain hardening exponent and strain rate sensitivity parameters. Obtained results and proposed methodology indicate high potential to predict material properties and behaviour of dynamically stressed parts and at the same time can be used for optimization of LSP process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of migration and country or region of origin on sexual behaviours and prevention of the sexual transmission of HIV has been scarcely studied in France. The objective of this study was to evaluate if and how individual attitudes of prevention towards HIV infection are different according to country or region of origins in Paris area, France. Methods: 3006 individuals were interviewed in the Paris metropolitan area in 2010. Outcome variables were (i) the intention of the individual to protect oneself against HIV, and (ii) the adoption of a condom-based approach for protection against HIV. To explore factors associated with these outcomes, we constructed multivariate logistic regression models, first taking into account only demographic variables -including country of origin-, then successively adding socioeconomic variables and variables related to sexual behaviour and HIV perception and prevention behaviour. Results: French and foreign people who have origins in Sub-Saharan Africa declared more intentions to protect themselves than French people with French parents (in foreign men, aOR = 3.43 [1.66-7.13]; in foreign women, aOR = 2.94 [1.65-5.23]), but did not declare more recourse to a condom-based approach for protection against HIV (in foreign men, aOR = 1.38 [0.38-4.93]; in foreign women, aOR = 0.93 [0.40-2.18]). Conversely, foreign women and French women from foreign origin, especially from Maghreb (Northern Africa), reported less intention of protection than French women with French parents. Conclusions: These results underline the importance of taking culture and origins of target populations into consideration when designing information, education and communication about HIV and sexually transmitted diseases. These results also draw attention to fractions of the general population that could escape from prevention messages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the widespread offer of free HIV testing in France, the proportion of people who have never been tested remains high. The objective of this study was to identify, in men and women separately, the various factors independently associated with no lifetime HIV testing. Methods: We used multilevel logistic regression models on data from the SIRS cohort, which included 3006 French-speaking adults as a representative sample of the adult population in the Paris metropolitan area in 2010. The lifetime absence of any HIV testing was studied in relation to individual demographic and socioeconomic factors, psychosocial characteristics, sexual biographies, HIV prevention behaviors, attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), and certain neighborhood characteristics. Results: In 2010, in the Paris area, men were less likely to have been tested for HIV at least once during their lifetime than women. In multivariate analysis, in both sexes, never having been tested was significantly associated with an age younger or older than the middle-age group (30-44 years), a low education level, a low self-perception of HIV risk, not knowing any PLWHA, a low lifetime number of couple relationships, and the absence of any history of STIs. In women, other associated factors were not having a child <20 years of age, not having additional health insurance, having had no or only one sexual partner in the previous 5 years, living in a cohabiting couple or having no relationship at the time of the survey, and a feeling of belonging to a community. Men with specific health insurance for low-income individuals were less likely to have never been tested, and those with a high stigma score towards PLWHA were more likely to be never-testers. Our study also found neighborhood differences in the likelihood of men never having been tested, which was, at least partially, explained by the neighborhood proportion of immigrants. In contrast, in women, no contextual variable was significantly associated with never-testing for HIV after adjustment for individual characteristics. Conclusions: Studies such as this one can help target people who have never been tested in the context of recommendations for universal HIV screening in primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of migration and country or region of origin on sexual behaviours and prevention of the sexual transmission of HIV has been scarcely studied in France. The objective of this study was to evaluate if and how individual attitudes of prevention towards HIV infection are different according to country or region of origins in Paris area, France. Methods: 3006 individuals were interviewed in the Paris metropolitan area in 2010. Outcome variables were (i) the intention of the individual to protect oneself against HIV, and (ii) the adoption of a condom-based approach for protection against HIV. To explore factors associated with these outcomes, we constructed multivariate logistic regression models, first taking into account only demographic variables –including country of origin-, then successively adding socioeconomic variables and variables related to sexual behaviour and HIV perception and prevention behaviour. Results: French and foreign people who have origins in Sub-Saharan Africa declared more intentions to protect themselves than French people with French parents (in foreign men, aOR = 3.43 [1.66–7.13]; in foreign women, aOR = 2.94 [1.65–5.23]), but did not declare more recourse to a condom-based approach for protection against HIV (in foreign men, aOR = 1.38 [0.38–4.93]; in foreign women, aOR = 0.93 [0.40–2.18]). Conversely, foreign women and French women from foreign origin, especially from Maghreb (Northern Africa), reported less intention of protection than French women with French parents. Conclusions: These results underline the importance of taking culture and origins of target populations into consideration when designing information, education and communication about HIV and sexually transmitted diseases. These results also draw attention to fractions of the general population that could escape from prevention messages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the widespread offer of free HIV testing in France, the proportion of people who have never been tested remains high. The objective of this study was to identify, in men and women separately, the various factors independently associated with no lifetime HIV testing. Methods: We used multilevel logistic regression models on data from the SIRS cohort, which included 3006 French-speaking adults as a representative sample of the adult population in the Paris metropolitan area in 2010. The lifetime absence of any HIV testing was studied in relation to individual demographic and socioeconomic factors, psychosocial characteristics, sexual biographies, HIV prevention behaviors, attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), and certain neighborhood characteristics. Results: In 2010, in the Paris area, men were less likely to have been tested for HIV at least once during their lifetime than women. In multivariate analysis, in both sexes, never having been tested was significantly associated with an age younger or older than the middle-age group (30–44 years), a low education level, a low self-perception of HIV risk, not knowing any PLWHA, a low lifetime number of couple relationships, and the absence of any history of STIs. In women, other associated factors were not having a child <20 years of age, not having additional health insurance, having had no or only one sexual partner in the previous 5 years, living in a cohabiting couple or having no relationship at the time of the survey, and a feeling of belonging to a community. Men with specific health insurance for low-income individuals were less likely to have never been tested, and those with a high stigma score towards PLWHA were more likely to be never-testers. Our study also found neighborhood differences in the likelihood of men never having been tested, which was, at least partially, explained by the neighborhood proportion of immigrants. In contrast, in women, no contextual variable was significantly associated with never-testing for HIV after adjustment for individual characteristics. Conclusions: Studies such as this one can help target people who have never been tested in the context of recommendations for universal HIV screening in primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our paper explains the birth of an environmental problem, i.e. light pollution, viewed as a socio-technical controversy. Supported by the actor-network approach, it traces over forty years the conditions of its emergence, transformation and dissemination to local, national and transnational levels and through various professional disciplines. Schematically, “environmentalists” uphold a holistic approach of “nocturnality” and define artificial light as a pollutant. Facing them, the “technicist” defends a segmented approach and defines artificial light as a nuisance. The introduction of this controversy into the political agenda leads to institutional decisions that grasp with difficulty all its social, scientific and spatial dimensions. The spatial spread of the controversy in the zoning and standardization process appears as a partial and segmented regulatory response to this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to compare breast cancer screening (BCS) and cervical cancer screening (CCS) practices of French women born to French parents with those of immigrants and nationals born to immigrants, taking their socioeconomic status into account. Methods: The study is based on data collected in 2010 in the Paris metropolitan area among a representative sample of 3000 French-speaking adults. For women with no history of breast or cervical cancer, multivariate logistic regressions and structural equation models were used to investigate the factors associated with never having undergone BCS or CCS. Results: We confirmed the existence of a strong gradient, with respect to migration origin, for delaying or never having undergone BCS or CCS. Thus, being a foreign immigrant or being French of immigrant parentage were risk factors for delayed and no lifetime screening. Interestingly, we found that this gradient persisted (at least partially) after adjusting for the women’s socioeconomic characteristics. Only the level of income seemed to play a mediating role, but only partially. We observed differences between BCS and CCS which suggest that organized CCS could be effective in reducing socioeconomic and/or ethnic inequities. Conclusion: Socioeconomic status partially explained the screening nonparticipation on the part of French women of immigrant origin and foreign immigrants. This was more so the case with CCS than with BCS, which suggests that organized prevention programs might reduce social inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to study the effect of microstructure heterogeneity upon elasto-plastic wave propagation generated during laser shot peening. We consider a simplified elasto-plastic laminate specimen subjected to uniaxial strain. The microstructure is composed of two phases alternating periodically and perfectly bonded together. The associated PDE system is solved using a high-resolution Godunov scheme, allowing to study the wave propagation in the heterogeneous structure. It is found that, even for a small mechanical contrast between the two phases, the considered laminate microstructure has a significant effect on the distribution of plastic strain. In addition, an elasto-plastic homogenization of the laminate has been carried out, and the resulting Homogeneous Equivalent Medium (HEM) has been used to decrease the computation time of the wave propagation. The HEM-based model is able to reproduce accurately the full-field solution in terms of distribution of mean plastic strain within the specimen and its fluctuation between the two phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study explored the pattern of associations between socioeconomic status (SES) and atherosclerosis progression (as indicated by carotid intima media thickness, CIMT) across gender. Design: Cross-sectional analysis of a sample of 5474 older persons (mean age 73 years) recruited between 1999 and 2001 in the 3C study (France). We fitted linear regression models including neighborhood SES, individual SES and cardiovascular risk factors. Results: CIMT was on average 24 µm higher in men (95% CI: 17 to 31). Neighborhood SES was inversely associated with CIMT in women only (highest versus lowest tertiles: −12.2 µm, 95%CI −22 to −2.4). This association persisted when individual SES and risk factors were accounted for. High individual education was associated with lower CIMT in men (−21.4 µm 95%CI −37.5 to −5.3) whereas high professional status was linked to lower CIMT among women (−15.7 µm 95%CI: −29.2 to −2.2). Adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors resulted in a slightly more pronounced reduction of the individual SES-CIMT association observed in men than in women. Conclusion: In this sample, neighborhood and individual SES displayed different patterns of associations with subclinical atherosclerosis across gender. This suggests that the causal pathways leading to SES variations in atherosclerosis may differ among men and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In France, HIV prevention within Maghrebi or French of Maghrebi origin has been seldom studied. The purpose of this study is to compare the recourse to HIV test according to nationality and origin. Data were from the 2010 SIRS cohort, which included 3,006 households representative of the Paris metropolitan area. Results of the study show comparatively low HIV testing rate among Maghrebi and French of Maghrebi origin compared to French with French parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In France, numerous HIV patients still discover their HIV status as a result of AIDS-related symptoms. We investigated factors related to the absence of any HIV testing in men and women separately, using the data from the SIRS cohort, which includes 3023 households representative of the Paris metropolitan area in 2005. The failure to use HIV testing services was studied in relation to individual socio-economic and demographic factors as well as some psychosocial characteristics. The effect of the characteristics of the residential neighbourhood was also analysed using multilevel models. In multivariate analysis, the factors associated with no history of HIV testing in women were an age >44 years, the absence of any pregnancy during the previous 15 years, a low education level, unemployment, to have had no or only one steady relationship in one's lifetime, to have a religious affiliation and to live in a poor neighbourhood. In men, factors were age <30 or >44 years, to have had no or only one steady relationship during one's lifetime, to have a religious affiliation and to perceive oneself as being at low risk of HIV infection. An association according to the “migration origin” was observed among men: foreigners and French men born to (at least) one foreign parent were more likely not to have been tested than French men born to two French parents. We conclude that gender, social and territorial differences exist in HIV testing among people living in the Paris area. More systematic proposals of HIV test in primary care would be an effective policy to overcome these persistent social stratifications. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The organisation of teacher training was thoroughly transformed in France in 2010. This transformation was the consequence of three interrelated reforms: the requirement of a Master's degree for all teachers, the new recruitment process for teachers and the integration of teacher training colleges (IUFM) into the universities. Universities are now responsible for providing initial training in programmes leading to a Master's degree. The state school system then recruits graduates through a competitive examination and newly recruited teachers are offered 'deferred initial training', the exact content and duration of which have not yet been fully specified. By looking at the former conditions of training and at the new organisation, it is, however, possible to outline the content and purpose of this further training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In France, the newly diagnosed infection rate was 372/100,000 for African immigrants versus 6/100,000 for the French-born population in 2008. In addition, people from sub-Saharan countries were at higher risk for late diagnosis than native-born French despite their more frequent use of HIV testing. The purpose of this study was to compare the mean time since the last HIV test according to migration origin. This study used data from the SIRS (a French acronym for health, inequalities, and social ruptures) cohort, which, in 2005, included 3023 households representative of the greater Paris area. HIV testing uptake and the time since the last test were studied in relation to socio-economic factors, psychosocial characteristics, and migration origin. Multivariate ANOVA analyses were performed using Stata 10. People from sub-Saharan Africa were more likely to have been tested in their lifetime (78.51%) than those of French (56.19%) or Maghreb (39.74%) origin (p<0.0000). The mean time, in years, since the last HIV test was shorter among sub-Saharan immigrants and Maghreb immigrants (2.15 and 2.53 years, respectively) than among native-born French (4.84 years) (F=12.67; p<0.0000). These differences remained significant even after adjusting for gender, age, number of steady relationships, time lived in France, and difficulty reading and/or writing French (F=5.73; p=0.0007). A gender analysis revealed the same pattern for both sexes, with greater differences in the mean duration by migration origin for women. These results and recent epidemiological data seem to show that since the early 2000s, measures aimed at increasing HIV testing and decreasing late diagnosis in sub-Saharan immigrants have been effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Al, Ti)N coatings were reactively cosputtered using a hybrid process in Ar/N2 atmosphere, where aluminum and titanium targets were supplied via classical pulsed-dc and HiPIMS power units, respectively. Aiming to study the influence of substrate biasing on the properties of the coatings, all other parameters were kept constant. Unexpectedly, the titanium content seems to remain unchanged, whereas the deposition rate, the morphology, the structure, and the mechanical properties of the coatings strongly depend on the applied voltage on the samples. Increasing the negative bias voltage leads to a slight decrease in the deposition rate of up to -100 V, and for a higher bias voltage, the deposition rate drops drastically. The compressive stresses show similar evolution. These behaviors depend on the attraction of highly energetic metallic and \Ar^+ ions, which strongly impinge the biased substrates. Finally, all the films synthesized below a negative bias of -100 V are crystallized in hcp-AlN form, whereas those deposited above -130 V exhibit the c-TiN structure. This induces a hardness enhancement, but combined to poor adhesion due to a too high level of internal stresses, this induces the characteristic of a brittle and rigid character. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: In this paper, the metal to ceramic transition of the Al–N2 system was investigated using classical reactive pulsed-DC magnetron sputtering and HIgh Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HIPIMS) at a constant average current of 3 A. Optical emission spectroscopy measurements revealed more ionised aluminium species in the HIPIMS discharge compared to pulsed-DC sputtering. It also showed excited N0 and ionised N+ species in reactive Ar/N2 HIPIMS discharges. The corresponding evolution of the consumed nitrogen flow as a function of the N2 partial pressure revealed that a higher amount of reactive gas is needed to achieve stoichiometric AlN with HIPIMS. Electron probe micro-analysis and X-ray diffraction measurements confirmed that a partially poisoned aluminium target is enough to allow the deposition of stoichiometric hcp-AlN thin films via HIPIMS. To go further in the comparison of both processes, two stoichiometric hexagonal aluminium nitride thin films have been deposited. High power impulse magnetron sputtered hcp-AlN exhibits a higher nano-hardness (18 GPa) than that of the coating realised with conventional pulsed-DC sputtering (8 GPa). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to define what 'transversal training' represents in secondary teachers' training in France. It attempts at the same time to assess critically the place it holds in the framework of the two years of training that university institutes for teacher training provide for young teachers. Noting the small place occupied by transversal training, this article questions its possible fate within the framework of current reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A significant reduction in road traffic accidents has been observed since prevention measures were introduced by the French public authorities in 2002. The goals of this study are to describe the burden of road traffic accidents in a French Departement, and to identify changes if any between the periods 1997-2001 and 2002-2006 on the basis of the disability adjusted life years (DALY). Methods: Years of lost life (YLL) and years lived with disability (YLD) were calculated for two periods using the mortality and incidence data in the Rhone Departement Registry of Road Traffic Accident Casualties. Results: YLD and YLL that are related to road traffic accidents are at their maximum value between 15 and 24 years of age. For men, intracranial fractures and intracranial injuries dominate, and for women it is spinal cord injuries that account for highest rates of YLD. A reduction in the rates of YLL and YLD has been observed for both genders and all age groups between 1997-2001 and 2002-2006. Conclusion: The reduction in DALY between the two periods is explained both by the reduction in the number of fatalities and injuries but also by an increase in the age at which they occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé L’échographie a bouleversé la pratique de la médecine d’urgence, en particulier en préhospitalier. À propos de l’observation d’un patient présentant une dyspnée, nous présentons la place de l’échographie dans le diagnostic et le traitement en urgence. L’échographie cardiaque, mais aussi l’échographie hémodynamique (veine cave) et pulmonaire sont de précieux outils. La réalisation de l’échographie pulmonaire et la valeur diagnostique de la présence de lignes B sont détaillées. Ultrasound has revolutionized the practice of emergency medicine, particularly in prehospital setting. About a patient with dyspnea, we present the role of ultrasound in the diagnosis and emergency treatment. Echocardiography, but also hemodynamic ultrasound (vena cava) and lung exam are valuable tools. Achieving lung ultrasound and diagnostic value of B lines B are detailed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creation of the Instituts Universitaires de Formation des Maitres (IUFMs) testifies to the ambition to train new teachers who are in a better position to respond to the challenges of democratisation of secondary education. It is an issue of adding fresh impetus while taking into account a number of the consequences. However, if by and large, the IUFM seems to have responded to the aims set, a certain number of changes could be envisaged to still increase performance. Their integration with university, as laid down in the Fillon Law of 2005, could be one factor helping to increase efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Despite administration of Fab fragments in digitalis poisoning, high mortality rates are consistently reported. A previous study suggested that Fab fragments prescribed as first-line therapy might improve mortality rate. Our objective was to evaluate this approach. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review (January 1990 to January 2004). SETTING: University hospital intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Consecutive patients admitted for cardiac glycoside poisoning. INTERVENTION: First-line therapy with Fab fragments (with or without atropine) in either curative or prophylactic doses. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 141 patients were admitted for digitalis poisoning of whom 66 received first-line Fab fragment therapy. Their median age was 74 years (25th to 75th percentiles: 51-83); 76% were women. Half were intoxicated by digitoxin and half by digoxin. Median serum concentration was 168 (108-205) ng/mL for digitoxin and 6.2 (4.3-13.5) ng/mL for digoxin. Conduction disturbances were reported in 45 cases (68%) and ventricular arrhythmia in six cases (9%). Fab fragments were administered as curative treatment in 21 patients (32%) and prophylactically in 45 patients (68%). The median cumulative dose was 4 (4-6) vials. No adverse effects were reported. Five patients (7.6%) died. CONCLUSIONS: First-line therapy with Fab fragments in patients with digitalis poisoning was associated with a low mortality rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the evaluation made on Digoxin-specific Fab fragments, as a first-line therapy in digitalis poisoning. Digoxin-specific Fab fragments are reported as an effective therapy to reduce mortality rates. The study uses a retrospective chart review of 141 patients admitted with digitalis poisoning, whom 66 received Fab fragment therapy. The study is able to prove that Fab fragments in patients with digitalis poisoning contribute to a low mortality rate.

To evaluate the use of antidotal therapy in patients with an elevated digitalis concentration following chronic or acute exposure. Retrospective review of patient records over 2 years in 20 city hospitals in France. Overall 838 patients with an elevated serum digitalis concentration (digoxin > 1.95 ng/ml or digitoxin > 23 ng/ml) were included in the study. Of these, 67 (8%) had received antidotal therapy with Fab fragments. The relationships between previously reported prognostic criteria and use of antidotal therapy were investigated. We identified five independent factors that were associated with the use of antidotal therapy: acute overdose (OR 15.74), Fab fragment availability in the hospital (11.06), serum potassium (1.81), and heart rate (0.96). Mortality was significantly lower in Fab-treated (6%, 4/67) than untreated patients (15%, 117/770). Antidotal therapy is underused in patients with an elevated digitalis concentration especially in patients with chronic digitalis exposure. These patients in our series presented a higher mortality rate than patients with acute poisoning. Although they were older and tended to have a history of cardiac disease, they did not differ from patients with acute poisoning with regard to the main severity criteria and prognostic factors. The use of identical criteria for antidotal treatment after acute and chronic poisoning should help optimize outcomes. Fab fragment availability is insufficient in France but ranks only second after type of poisoning (acute or chronic) in the multivariate association with Fab treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to provide estimates of the French burden of disease, using the WHO Global Burden of Disease methodology and to perform sensitivity analysis on different set of mortality data. METHODS: The burden of disease is measured by disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) that take into account both mortality and morbidity data. Results were obtained using French mortality data for the years 2000 and 2001 and morbidity data estimated by WHO for France. Sensitivity analyses were conducted using different mortality data sets and various life tables as mortality norms. Calculations were also performed with and without discounting and age-weighting. RESULTS: In France, the annual burden of disease was about 12.4 million DALYs. Depending on the mortality data set and the choice of social values used for calculation, results could be quite different. The use of WHO estimates for mortality resulted in an underestimation of 2.6% of total DALYs with respect to French data. Changes of the mortality norm imply changes in the number of years of life lost (YLLs), whereas the use of discounting and age-weighting mainly modifies the ranking of diseases. CONCLUSION: DALYs constitute a summary measure of population health, which is a powerful tool for the grading of health problems, allowing to compare fatal and non-fatal diseases. Nevertheless, the validity of results obtained depends primarily on the validity of the input data. Collecting morbidity data (mainly incidence) at the national level is hence an important step in order to assess more accurately the specific burden of diseases in France. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study is to provide estimates of the French burden of disease, using the WHO Global Burden of Disease methodology and to perform sensitivity analysis on different set of mortality data. Methods: The burden of disease is measured by disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) that take into account both mortality and morbidity data. Results were obtained using French mortality data for the years 2000 and 2001 and morbidity data estimated by WHO for France. Sensitivity analyses were conducted using different mortality data sets and various life tables as mortality norms. Calculations were also performed with and without discounting and age-weighting. Results: In France, the annual burden of disease was about 12.4 million DALYs. Depending on the mortality data set and the choice of social values used for calculation, results could be quite different. The use of WHO estimates for mortality resulted in an underestimation of 2.6% of total DALYs with respect to French data. Changes of the mortality norm imply changes in the number of years of life lost (YLLs), whereas the use of discounting and age-weighting mainly modifies the ranking of diseases. Conclusion: DALYs constitute a summary measure of population health, which is a powerful tool for the grading of health problems, allowing to compare fatal and non-fatal diseases. Nevertheless, the validity of results obtained depends primarily on the validity of the input data. Collecting morbidity data (mainly incidence) at the national level is hence an important step in order to assess more accurately the specific burden of diseases in France. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the IUFM (University Institutes for Teachers' Training) are going to become part of universities, this article questions one of the bases validating the teachers' training: the professional report. This assessment concerns exercising teachers in having a critical mind towards their practical experience, because its purpose is to prepare teachers to adapt to the different types of pupils they are going to teach. This is the reason why the Government can only define this assessment briefly, even if they want to have better control over the teachers' training. To be precise concerning this assessment, the Government has to trust the teachers' trainers' control and the latter are only lightly encouraged. Despite the positive opinion expressed by specialists, this assessment could disappear because the Government favours a training efficient in a short-term period and ignores the analyses which would take long-term needs into account... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Amorphous and polycrystalline zirconium oxide thin films have been deposited by reactive rf magnetron sputtering in a mixed argon/oxygen or pure oxygen atmosphere with no intentional heating of the substrate. The films were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), and capacitance versus voltage (C–V) measurements to investigate the variation of structure, surface morphology, thickness of SiO2-like interfacial layer as well as dielectric characteristics with different oxygen partial pressures. The films deposited at low oxygen partial pressures (less than 15%) are amorphous and dense with a smooth surface. In contrast, the films prepared at an oxygen partial pressure higher than 73% are crystallized with the microstructure changing from the mixture of monoclinic and tetragonal phases to a single monoclinic structure. The film structural transition is believed to be consequences of decrease in the oxygen vacancy concentration in the film and of increase of the energetically neutral particles in the plasma due to an increased oxygen partial pressure. SE measurements showed that significant interfacial SiO2 growth has taken place above approximately 51%. The best C–V results in terms of relative dielectric constant values are obtained for thin films prepared at an oxygen partial pressure of 15%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: (ZrO2)1−x (Y2O3) x thin films were sputter-deposited from metallic targets in various reactive argon–oxygen gas mixtures. Structural investigations have been realised by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The coatings microstructure have been characterised by TEM and their morphology by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) on brittle-fracture cross sections. Chemical compositions have been achieved by Electron Probe Micro-Analysis (EPMA) and by Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). Finally, attention was paid to the film optical properties, as assessed via Optical Transmission Interferometry (OTI) as well as spectrophotometry. In a first part, we have studied the influence of the argon pressure on the chemical, structural and morphological properties of the coatings. In a second part, we have observed the effect of the yttria content on the structure of the films. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]