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Summary Objectives To prospectively study the predictive value (PV) of urine nitrite (NIT) dipstick testing against urine cultures during antibiotic treatment for urinary tract infection (UTI), and other situations, in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods Inpatients with SCI on intermittent catheterisation (IC) or a Foley indwelling catheter (FC) were included. Urine specimens were collected in patients without symptoms (routine), with symptoms of UTI (suspicion), and on day 4 of a 5-day antibiotic treatment (ATB + 3). Results A total of 157 urine samples were collected in 61 patients: 34 were on IC (95 samples) and 27 on FC (62 samples). The prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in the urine cultures was 89% in routine (70 samples). At ATB + 3, microbiological cure was found in 27/30 specimens (IC group) and 2/6 (FC group). In the routine condition, the specificity and positive PV of the NIT tests was 1.00 and sensitivity 0.63. The negative PV was low in both groups. In suspicion of UTI, the sensitivity was between 0.69 and 0.55, the positive PV was 1.00 and the negative PV 0.00 for both groups. At ATB + 3, the negative PV and sensitivity was 1.00, specificity 0.85 and positive PV 0.43 in the IC group, and in the FC group, specificity was 1.00, negative PV 0.33 and sensitivity 0.00. Conclusion In the SCI population on intermittent or indwelling catheters with high prevalence of bacteriuria, dipstick testing helped assess the eradication of germs during antibiotic treatment, but showed no value in the decision making process for UTI. Level of evidence 3.

Thin films of Yttrium Iron Garnet (YIG) are grown by radio frequency magnetron non reactive sputtering system on quartz and Gadolinium Gallium Garnet (GGG) for optical applications or alumina substrates for microwave applications. A post deposition annealing is needed to obtain the crystallization of YIG films and the magnetic properties which are correlated with the magneto-optical properties. Their crystallographic, morphologic and magnetic properties are explored. The variation of Faraday rotation is studied versus the wavelength. For both optical substrates, quartz and GGG, results are comparable with the literature for bulk material. A microwave isolator was realized with YIG thin film on alumina substrate in a coplanar configuration. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

For near the first lasing threshold, we give a detailed derivation of a real order parameter equation for the degenerate optical parametric oscillator with a saturable absorber. For this regime, we study analytically the role of the quasi-homogeneous neutral mode in the pattern formation process. We show that this effect stabilized the hexagonal patterns below the lasing threshold. More importantly, we find numerically that when Turing and Hopf bifurcations interact, a stable moving asymmetric localized structure with a constant transverse velocity is generated. The formation of the moving localized structures is analysed for both the propagation and the mean field models. A quantitative confrontation of the two models is discussed.

A family of circular and striped domain walls with oscillatory tails have been observed with the propagation model for the DOPO that is more general than the mean-field model. The same structures are observed with diffraction inside or outside the cell, showing that diffraction and nonlinearity may be decoupled. They result from the switching of the signal amplitude, from the positive to the negative solution. They are formed for positive and negative signal detunings of order unity, in a wide range of input pump amplitude. A second-order MacLaurin expansion mapping model is found to agree well with the propagation model.

In the absence of environmental cues, a migrating cell performs an isotropic random motion. Recently, the breaking of this isotropy has been observed when cells move in the presence of asymmetric adhesive patterns. However, up to now the mechanisms at work to direct cell migration in such environments remain unknown. Here, we show that a non-adhesive surface with asymmetric micro-geometry consisting of dense arrays of tilted micro-pillars can direct cell motion. Our analysis reveals that most features of cell trajectories, including the bias, can be reproduced by a simple model of active Brownian particle in a ratchet potential, which we suggest originates from a generic elastic interaction of the cell body with the environment. The observed guiding effect, independent of adhesion, is therefore robust and could be used to direct cell migration both in vitro and in vivo., Comment: To appear in PRL. Supplementary Information file available on request

The stability of the 8-fold orientational order quasipattern is studied both analytically and numerically. Close to the intensity threshold, the sequence, that minimizes the free energy, displays structures built up with four, two and one modes, successively, as the linear refractive index decreases. Differently, when increasing the intensity above the threshold, the 8-fold orientational order quasipattern bifurcates to a three mode quasiperiodic pattern, followed by a robust rhombic pattern. A multiconical emission process is invoked to explain the occurrence of the rhombuses.

Near-field patterns with three to fifteen petals set on a single circle are numerically observed in the ring cavity device. Three to six petal daisies result from usual finite size effects. We point out the non-trivial formation of seven to fifteen petal daisies, with a top-hat input, and a small diffusion term that controls this daisy-type pattern formation, preventing the usual hexagonal structure to be formed.

A bounded spatio-temporal period-doubling sequence is shown to occur in the Ahkmanov et al. non-linear interferometer. This happens when the pattern is a rotating 2k-armed spiral. First, all arms are identical and the period is the time required for any arm to rotate by the angle 2 pi /2k. As the control parameter increases, the time trace at some location on the pattern displays period doubling as the arms develop progressively distinct spatial modulations. Period 2 behaviour occurs when the nearest patterns similar to arm 'i' are arms 'i+or-2', period 4 behaviour occurs when arm 'i' has arms 'i+or-4' as its nearest similar neighbours, and so on until period 2k when all arms are distinct and the pattern must complete a full revolution for the time series to repeat. Such a cascade is shown to be qualitatively modelled by a mapping.

Flower-like patterns are numerically investigated when the schematic Rb four-level relevant transition is reduced to the lower two Zeeman sub-levels via the adiabatic elimination of the upper states. These flower-like patterns are the signature of small aspect ratio while typical patterns like squares are displayed in the opposite limit. Depending on the relative weights of diffraction effects and nonlinearities, they display, or not, self-similar shapes in the near and the far field.

The attractive properties of coplanar waveguides with or without ferrite thin films are presented in this article.The microwave characteristics are measured from 1 to 55 GHz. Also, analytical calculations and simulations are performed. The influence of ferrite thin film with remanent magnetization in-plane or out-of-plane is studied. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52: 2007–2010, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.25393

International audience; The preparation of Yttrium Iron Garnet films (YIG) presenting controlled magnetic properties is of great interest for miniaturization of RF passive components. The present work deals with the integration of YIG ferrite sputtered films for coplanar circulators. These components must work at frequencies above 10GHz, and they must be compatible with mass-production and low-cost process. The YIG films (of thickness 15 μm) are deposited on an alumina substrate by RF magnetron sputtering. Their structural mechanical and magnetic properties in the millimetre wave range are optimised to enable the film's integration. A circulator is fabricated using such prepared film, and its properties in the microwave range are characterised using a network analyzer and a probing system.

The instability threshold characteristics are derived for the ring cavity with passive weakly absorbing two-level atoms cell. Emission of several conical shells is predicted, depending on the optical arrangement, and on the buffer gas pressure. In the case of pure vapor, each conical shell has its own frequency, while all the conical shells display the same frequency in case of large buffer gas pressure.

International audience; The development of telecommunications networks requires low-cost microwave and millimeter waves integrated devices. Among the microwave devices based on the non-reciprocity of ferrites, circulators are the most important. A typical use of circulators is in communication equipment (mobile phone and low power radar detection). Their operation allows to combine emission and detection using the same antenna. This work concerns the characterization of barium hexaferrite sputtered films and the device integration for the development of an integrated circulator working at a frequency of 40 GHz.

Periodic instabilities which occur in the output beam of a ring cavity containing a short cell of passive homogeneously broadened two-level atoms are studied as a function of the atomic detuning and the mode spacing in a high-finesse cavity. The output characteristics are found to be very sensitive to the round-trip time of the light through the cavity and to the refractive index. Conditions for the occurrence of large-amplitude self-oscillation are given in terms of these two parameters. >

The development of passive devices using a ferrite is a major focus of current research for electronic applications in the microwave range (circulators and isolators). Hexagonal ferrite, such as barium ferrite (BaFe12O19 or BaM), which has a large resistivity and high permeability at high frequencies are indeed of great interest for microwave device applications. In this work we developed an integrated and self-biased coplanar isolator using BaM sputtered films. BaM films, 1-36 mum thick, were deposited under optimized conditions by radio frequency magnetron sputtering on alumina substrates. The films were crystallized using a 800degC thermal annealing. Isolators were then realized using patterning of coplanar waveguides (CPW) with standard lift-off technique. The slots and the central width were 300 mum wide and gold was used for the conductor lines. We evaluated the influence of various parameters on the device performances: the magnetic film's thickness, the positioning of the magnetic film (CPW deposited onto the magnetic film or directly on the substrate), the CPW metallic thickness and the polarizing field. As standard design, the CPW were deposited on the top of the magnetic film. At the remanent magnetization (no polarizing field applied), the transmission coefficients then showed a non reciprocal effect, which reached 5.4 dB per cm of line length at 50 GHz for a 26.5 mum thick BaM film. Both the insertion losses and the non-reciprocal effect measured increased with the magnetic film thickness with a saturation effect. In the second design where the CPW is deposited directly on the substrate after a selective etching of the BaM film, we measured that the non reciprocal effect reached higher values for lower BaM thicknesses than for the first design and that the insertion losses also decreased. The interaction between the field lines created by the conductors and the magnetic film was indeed favored in the second case. Finally, we show the tunability of the isolator with the polarizing field.

ObjectiveThe AIS is a three-dimensional deformation of the spine, frequent, potentially progressive, with unknown etiology. It is generally accepted as being multifactorial origin, including neurosensorial factors, with orthostatic postural control disorders. In particular, Assaiante et al. showed a selective impaired of the dynamic proprioceptive tract. However, the procedures used to establish this impaired are complex and require motion analysis laboratories, inaccessible in routine clinical practice. Our objective is to determine whether, by clinical equilibration tests, simple, realizable in routine care, it is possible to find the same result.MethodsA cross-sectional study comparing 114 adolescents with right thoracic AIS (including 94 girls, mean age: 14.5±1.9years, Cobb angle: 35.7±15.3°) with 81 matched non-scoliotic adolescents (including 69 girls, mean age: 14.1±1.9 years) was conducted between January 2013 and March 2015. Three clinical equilibration tests are performed: a dynamic test (Fukuda stepping test-Utenberger), two static tests (Romberg sensitized Support monopodal eyes closed).ResultsFor the static tests, no significant difference between the 2 groups. The difference is significant for the dynamic test, for the distance travelled (P

Signal processing in communication, instrumentation and radar detection requires low cost microwave and millimeter wave devices. The integration of millimeter wave passive components like isolators and circulators is thus a major issue. In these components, the nonreciprocal nature of wave propagation in ferrites plays an essential role. Hexagonal ferrites, such as barium ferrite (BaFe12O19 or BaM), which has a large resistivity and high permeability at high frequency, are of great interest for such applications. The present work deals with the characterization of barium hexaferrite sputtered films and with the device integration for the development of coplanar isolators and circulators working at frequencies around 40 GHz.The BaM films (in the thickness range of 10μm) were deposited on alumina substrate by RF magnetron sputtering at room temperature and were then crystallized using a 800°C thermal annealing. Structural properties were evaluated by X-ray diffraction and the magnetostatic properties of the film were determined using a Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) leading to assess a range of deposition conditions appropriate for device integration.Both coplanar isolators and circulators were implemented using standard lift-off technique. Coplanar circulators were designed by analytical calculation and 3D electromagnetic simulation (HFSS) supposing a saturated material and no losses. The microwave range characterization was performed using a network analyzer and a probing system with a prior OSTL calibration. The coplanar isolators were characterized both at the remanence and under a polarizing field. At the remanence, the gyroresonance occurred at 50 GHz and the nonreciprocal effect - difference between the transmission coefficient in the forward direction and in the reverse direction - was evaluated. When applying a polarizing field, the tunability of the isolator was verified experimentally. Finally first measurements on integrated coplanar circulators are currently under progress.

In order to miniaturize and self-bias a coplanar isolator, new method is to use thin magnetic films. The results presented in this paper show that this component behaves like an isolator in the 50-GHz band. The influence of the magnetic and conductor films for increasing the isolator properties is studied. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 46: 435–437, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21009

Summary form only given. In a degenerate optical parametric oscillator (DOPO) the non-trivial homogeneous signal amplitude presents a /spl pi/-phase indetermination, giving rise to the formation of walls separating the two /spl pi/-phase domains. The kinetics of the phase separation from an initial 50%-50% mixture of positive and negative domains, is studied with the help of the average domain size, proportional to the inverse of the interface length.

Rapid thermal annealing (RTA) has been performed on boron-implanted LPCVD polysilicon films for doses ranging from 2.10/sup14/ cm/sup-2/ to 4.10/sup15/ cm/sup-2/. We have investigated the piezoresistance through gauge factor measurements in the scope of pressure sensor applications and the electrical properties using Hall techniques. RTA was carried out at 1100/spl deg/C for 20s, 40s and 60s respectively.

International audience

The development of integrated devices combining a ferrite is a major focus of current research. Barium hexaferrite (BaFe/sub 12/O/sub 19/ or BaM), which exhibits a high anisotropy field and high coercive force are deposited on alumina substrate using an RF sputtering system. After deposition BaM films are amorphous and a post deposition thermal annealing is needed to obtain magnetic properties. The saturation magnetization and coercive force was about 500 mT and 330 kA/m. After that, coplanar lines were made with BaM thin films on alumina substrates and with gold conductor. The transmission coefficients of a barium ferrite coplanar isolator are measured up to 55 GHz. The measurements of transmission parameters S/sub 12/ and S/sub 21/ was performed by a 65 GHz vector network analyzer and a probing system. First experimental results showed an isolation of 3.3 dB/cm at 50 GHz.

Ferrites have magnetic properties suitable for electronic applications, especially in the microwave range (circulators and isolators). Hexagonal ferrite, such as barium ferrite (BaFe12O19 or BaM), which have a large resistivity and high permeability at high frequencies are of great interest for microwave device applications.This contribution deals with BaM films, 1 to 36 microns thick, which were deposited under optimized conditions by RF magnetron sputtering. The films were then crystallized using a 800°C thermal annealing. Isolators were then realized using patterning of coplanar wave guides with standard lift-off technique. The slots and the central width were 300 μm wide, gold was used for the conductor lines. We evaluated the influence of various parameters on the device performances: the magnetic film thickness, the positioning of the magnetic film (CPW deposited onto the magnetic film or directly on the substrate) and the CPW metallic thickness. As standard design, the CPW were deposited on the top of the magnetic film. For the first design, transmission coefficients showed a non reciprocal effect, which reaches 7 dB per cm of line length at 50 GHz for a 26.5 μm thick BaM film. Both the insertion losses and the non-reciprocal effect measured increased with the magnetic film thickness with a saturation effect. In the second design where the CPW is deposited directly on the substrate, the BaM film was selectively wet etched prior to the metal deposition everywhere except between the conductors. In that case we measured that the non reciprocal effect reached high values for lower BaM thicknesses than in comparison to design # 1 and that the insertion losses also decreased. Moreover for the design # 2, also in relation with the localization of the BaM between the conductors, the non reciprocal effect improved with increasing conductor thickness as the interaction between the field lines created by the conductors and the magnetic film is then favored.

The plane-wave dynamics of 3*omega => (2*omega, omega) subharmonic optical parametric oscillators containing a second harmonic generator of the idler wave omega is analyzed analytically by using the meanfield approximation and numerically by taking into account the field propagation inside the media. The resonant Chi(2):Chi(2) cascaded second-order nonlinearities induce a mutual injection-locking of the signal and idler waves that leads to coherent self phase-locking of the pump and subharmonic waves, freezing the phase diffusion noise. In case of signal-and-idler resonant devices, largely detuned sub-threshold states occur due to a subcritical bifurcation, broadening out the self-locking frequency range to a few cavity linewidths., RevTeX file + 11 figures (.jpg format) Accepted in Phys. Rev. A (oct 2000)

Built-in stresses are known to induce deflections in microstructures such as composite membranes. The thermoelastic behaviour of large square SiO 2 /Si membranes with a side length from 3 to 7.5 mm, a Si thickness in the [7.7–50] μm range and a SiO 2 thickness up to 1.5 μm, was studied by optical profilometry. A very satisfactory agreement within 10% has been found between the experimental and the simulated deflections of prestressed SiO 2 /Si membranes. However, clamping conditions have been found to play a major role in built-in stress relaxation. This tendency was confirmed by Finite Element Modelling. Oxidized (up to 1.5 μm) and bare Si membranes with thicknesses from 7.7 to 50 μm were studied under pressure in the [0–1] bar range. We observed that the membrane stiffness is affected by the oxide depending on SiO 2 /Si thickness ratio. Finally, F.E.M. results are in good agreement for various membrane geometries, and the interest of this tool for the design of packaging structures is shown.

Porous silicon (PS) is generated by electrochemical etching in hydrofluoric acid (HF). Recently porous silicon has been applied to micromachining and micro-devices as an alternate material, this material being used as a sacrificial layer. This technology competes with conventional techniques like surface and bulk micromachining regarding its speed, simplicity and reduced costs. A wide range of microstructures and free-standing structures can be fabricated with a large freedom of design in relation to the isotropic behavior of the etching. A sacrificial layer may be realized fast over varying thickness (PS formation rate 45 μm/h compared to silicon bulk micromachining rate 20 μm/h for KOH etching).This contribution is devoted to the materials aspects of patterning and processing: we will show how basic microstructures (trenches, polysilicon cantilevers, polysilicon free-standing membranes) may be fabricated using a very simple process based on a single photolithography. The important points are the choice of the mask, porous silicon properties as a function of its formation parameters and the choice of the solution removing the sacrificial layer. The morphology and porosity of the porous silicon layers are indeed mainly determined by the electrolyte composition and by the current density for a given substrate type. Optimized conditions (HF 15% and 80 mA/cm2) lead us to an appropriate porous silicon. Finally the applicability of this technology for various microsensors will be underlined.

Biconical emission with wave-number ratio \ensuremath{\surd}2 is observed in the numerical simulations of the ring cavity with diffraction effects, on the defocusing side of the resonance. As the intensity of the plane-wave input beam increases, a sequence of stationary patterns is observed, and understood via a nonlinear analysis. The first pattern with (4-4) peaks is a bisquare resulting from a strong coupling between two quasiresonant sets of modes with wave numbers K and \ensuremath{\surd}2K. This pattern destabilizes at the onset of the drift bifurcation, into a new (4-4) pattern with a smaller wavelength, that splits into two twisted bisquares, with a 53\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} rotation angle ensuring the wave-vector locking, or the spatial periodicity of this (8-8) structure. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.

Composite SiO2/Si membranes are used in various type of sensors among them, resonant and pressure sensors. However due to a large thermal mismatch, residual induced stresses may affect the devices long term reliability especially for thin membranes (˜5 μm). In this study, we have characterized test structures consisting of SiO2/Si membranes with respective thickness ratio between 2 and 10. Micro-Raman Spectroscopy, well known to be an accurate, non destructive method to determine residual stresses in microelectronic devices, has shown to be a powerful testing technique to measure local stresses on micromachined structures such as membranes, with a high spatial (10 μm2 ) and stress resolution (8 MPa). At room temperature, Raman line (520 cm−1) shifts between 0.05 and 1 cm−1 are observed. Highest frequency shifts of 1cm−1 corresponds to a 230 MPa biaxial stress. Finite Element analysis (ANSYS) was used to model the thermal stress distribution over the micromachined bilayer membrane, yielding a satisfactorily agreement with the experimental results over a large membrane area. The Finite Element analysis was correlated with optical profilometer deflection measurements. Membrane deflections up to 48 μm (more than 10 times the membrane thickness) have been measured. Furthermore, Micro-Raman Spectroscopy results up to 300°C are shown and related to temperature dependent deflection measurements.

In this paper, we present the experimental results of a coplanar isolator made on both bulk YIG and thin-film YIG. An external field has been applied on this device and we observe the amplitude of the nonreciprocal effect, which is between 1.8 and 6.2 dB for a resonance frequency of 3.3 and 6.9 GHz for bulk YIG and a nonreciprocal effect of 0.3 dB at 9 GHz for 2.5-μm YIG thin films. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 42: 470–471, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20339

Heavily boron-doped (4×1019 < [B] >1021 cm-3) polycrystalline silicon thin films on oxidized silicon cantilevers were studied by FTIR spectroscopy. The experimental reflectance spectra (400–7000 cm-l) were compared to those expected for a poly-Si/SiO2/c-Si/SiO2 multilayer where the doped layer is described by a simple Drude model. The resulting free carrier concentration and conductivity were checked against electrical measurements.The optical response of the polycrystalline layer in the medium infrared range (400–3000 cmn−1) was shown to be affected by a static uniaxial stress applied along the film plane by a four point bending mechanical device. The resulting microscopic piezoresistivity longitudinal gauge factors in the 15 - 25 range are in close agreement with those deduced from conventional electrical piezoresistivity measurements on sub-millimeter size patterns. The effective range of applicability of this contactless method and the potential application of such layers to temperature-independent miniature pressure sensors are discussed

We investigate the electrical properties of polycrystalline silicon thin films implanted with arsenic or boron ions. Two types of post-implantation annealing have been performed on the samples: a conventional thermal annealing (CTA) and a rapid thermal annealing (RTA). We find that RTA improves the electrical properties. Measurements of gauge factors have been carried out on both films. We conclude that RTA can be applied successfully in thin film silicon integrated sensor technology.

Rapid thermal anneals (RTA) have been performed on boron and arsenic-implanted LPCVD polysilicon films. We have investigated the electrical properties of highly implanted films (4 × 10 14 , 8 × 10 14 and 5 × 10 15 cm −2 ) using Hall techniques. The experimental results are compared with those obtained on conventionally annealed (CTA) films. The electrical dopant efficiency and Hall mobility are measured at room temperature in the two series. We find that they are higher in RTA films. Thus the RTA-processed polysilicon substrates have the lowest resistivity. This result is of the highest importance in using implanted LPCVD amorphous- or polycrystalline silicon layers for low-cost, thin, film sensors. The density, N t , of trapping centers at grain boundaries (GB) is derived from electrical data (i.e., from the Hall carrier concentration and the GB potential barrier height, E B) . We find that it does not depend significantly on the implant species and heat-treatment. In contrast, it depends strongly on the implantation dose. The temperature coefficient of the resistivity is found to be positive or negative depending on the implantation dose. This striking result is clearly interpreted in terms of GB barrier potential scattering.

We study the dynamics of the formation of circular domain walls, which are large-intensity structures, in a degenerate optical parametric oscillator. We show that the mean-field and the propagation models predict the same increase in the domain size proportional to t(1/3) ., Journal Article, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

The Lyapunov analysis of low-dimensional instabilities in retarded differential systems predicts both the Hopf bifurcation thresholds and the fundamental frequencies. A demonstration is made in a saturable thin sample ring cavity.

A transverse optical bistability is defined here as a bistability that would not occur with a plane-wave input, i.e., it depends crucially upon the radial variations in the input. Such bistabilities are characterized by much more pronounced changes in transverse profiles than in total transmission. An optical cavity is not required, making such systems good candidates for continuous wave studies of delayed-feedback instabilities which require a round-trip time longer than the medium response time. Trapping bistability and diffraction-free-encoding bistability are two limiting cases of transverse optical bistabilities. Trapping bistability occurs only for a long self-focusing nonlinear medium and arises from self-trapping of a single beam with a single feedback mirror or from cross trapping of two counterpropagating beams. In the diffraction-free-encoding case, diffraction is negligible through the portion of the nonlinear medium performing the encoding, but it is significant through any remaining medium and in the free-space propagation to the mirror and back. This paper is organized as follows: The physics of transverse optical bistabilities is summarized in Section I. Theoretical models are presented in Section II. A thin-sample-encoding (TSE) rings model is defined and shown not only to predict transverse bistability but also to account for the interference rings observed to accompany TSE bistability; it also yields delayed-feedback instabilities with a rich bifurcation sequence. Transverse bistability using a short length of sodium vapor is reported under TSE and DFE conditions in Section III. Recently it was discovered that TSE bistability has been seen only when the feedback beam is displaced from the input by about one beam diameter at the sodium. It remains to be determined just how much the nonconcentric feedback assists the concentric bistability predicted by the TSE rings model. A delayed-feedback instability with a period of twice the round-trip time is also seen.

The development of integrated devices combining a ferrite is a major focus of current research. Barium hexaferrite (BaFe12O19 or BaM) thick films are deposited here using a RF sputtering system. Films are amorphous and non magnetic after the deposition. Post-deposition thermal annealings are employed to ensure magnetic properties. Coplanar lines were made with BaM thick films on alumina substrates and with gold conductor. First experimental results showed an isolation of 3.3 dB/cm at 50 GHz.

Continuous-wave (cw) off-resonance rings and cw on-resonance enhancement (CORE) are observed as a result of an optical beam propagating through sodium vapor. They are interpreted in terms of diffraction-free encoding (DFE) followed by free-space propagation. They are discussed with respect to the three regimes of DFE, namely, pure phase encoding, on-resonance pure amplitude encoding leading to stripping, and the intermediate case involving both phase and amplitude encodings. First there are far-field interference rings displaying pure phase encoding. They are observed on both sides of resonance, as expected by theory. Second, there is CORE, which is a Fresnel diffraction manifestation resulting from the stripping of the beam profile by the nonlinear medium, and in the far field, the corresponding Fraunhofer patterns. CORE is observed in an inhomogeneously broadened system, and the role of Doppler broadening is theoretically studied. Finally, there are off-resonance rings involving both phase and amplitude encodings. They are numerically simulated and discussed with respect to DFE predictions.

Introduction It's in the wake of Brigitte Schurch's work that the indication of Botulinum Toxin (BoNT) developed in the treatment of Detrusor Hyperactivity (DH). DH treatment by BoNT injection is considered to be well tolerated. However, in two patients treated with intradetrusor BoNT injections, a motor deficit located at the root of lower limbs was noticed. That observation raises questions about its diffusion beyond the injection site. Observations They are two women with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS) receiving BoNT as a treatment for DH. On several occasions in post injection, an aggravation of the proximal motor deficit on the hip flexors was observed, which justified the realization of a SOLUMEDROL bolus in the event of relapses. Discussion Ramirez-Castaneda et al. [1] describe three means of dissemination of the BoNT: migration by systemic or neuronal transport, propagation and diffusion. Migration by systemic transport: it has been established by electromyography (EMG) analysis. These subclinical manifestations are not correlated by EMG [2] . This mechanism can’t account for an isolated motor deficit. Migration by axonal transport Animal experiments confirm the axonal transport of BoNT. On human subjects, Marchand-Pauvert et al. suggest its existence: reduction of the reciprocal inhibition exercised by Renshaw cells after BoNT injections [3] . Local dissemination of BoNT by diffusion and propagation In the absence of direct connection between the iliopsoas and the bladder, this hypothesis looks compromised. Synthesis A retrograde migration of BoNT via hypogastric nerves seems to prevail. It could be followed by axonal anterograde transport causing a deficit on the hip flexors via the L2 nerve root.