837 research outputs found
Universal temperature scaling of flux line pinning in high-temperature superconducting thin films
Dissipation-free current transport in high-temperature superconductors is one
of the most crucial properties of this class of materials which is directly
related to the effective inhibition of flux line movement by defect structures.
In this respect epitaxially grown thin films of YBa2Cu3O7-d (YBCO) are proving
to be the strongest candidates for many widescale applications that are close
to realization. We show that the relation between different defect structures
and flux line pinning in these films exhibits universal features which are
clearly displayed in a detailed analysis of the temperature-dependent behaviour
of local critical currents. This allows us to identify different pinning
mechanisms at different temperatures to be responsible for the found critical
currents. Additionally, the presence of grain boundaries with very low
misorientation angles affects the temperature stability of the critical
currents which has important consequences for future applications.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures To be published in Journal of Physics: Condensed
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Functional characterization of reappearing B cells after anti-CD20 treatment of CNS autoimmune disease.
The anti-CD20 antibody ocrelizumab, approved for treatment of multiple sclerosis, leads to rapid elimination of B cells from the blood. The extent of B cell depletion and kinetics of their recovery in different immune compartments is largely unknown. Here, we studied how anti-CD20 treatment influences B cells in bone marrow, blood, lymph nodes, and spleen in models of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Anti-CD20 reduced mature B cells in all compartments examined, although a subpopulation of antigen-experienced B cells persisted in splenic follicles. Upon treatment cessation, CD20+ B cells simultaneously repopulated in bone marrow and spleen before their reappearance in blood. In EAE induced by native myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), a model in which B cells are activated, B cell recovery was characterized by expansion of mature, differentiated cells containing a high frequency of myelin-reactive B cells with restricted B cell receptor gene diversity. Those B cells served as efficient antigen-presenting cells (APCs) for activation of myelin-specific T cells. In MOG peptide-induced EAE, a purely T cell-mediated model that does not require B cells, in contrast, reconstituting B cells exhibited a naive phenotype without efficient APC capacity. Our results demonstrate that distinct subpopulations of B cells differ in their sensitivity to anti-CD20 treatment and suggest that differentiated B cells persisting in secondary lymphoid organs contribute to the recovering B cell pool
Electronic tuneability of a structurally rigid surface intermetallic and Kondo lattice: CePt / Pt(111)
We present an extensive study of structure, composition, electronic and
magnetic properties of Ce--Pt surface intermetallic phases on Pt(111) as a
function of their thickness. The sequence of structural phases appearing in low
energy electron diffraction (LEED) may invariably be attributed to a single
underlying intermetallic atomic lattice. Findings from both microscopic and
spectroscopic methods, respectively, prove compatible with CePt formation
when their characteristic probing depth is adequately taken into account. The
intermetallic film thickness serves as an effective tuning parameter which
brings about characteristic variations of the Cerium valence and related
properties. Soft x-ray absorption (XAS) and magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD)
prove well suited to trace the changing Ce valence and to assess relevant
aspects of Kondo physics in the CePt surface intermetallic. We find
characteristic Kondo scales of the order of 10 K and evidence for
considerable magnetic Kondo screening of the local Ce moments.
CePt/Pt(111) and related systems therefore appear to be promising
candidates for further studies of low-dimensional Kondo lattices at surfaces.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figure
Strain and composition dependence of the orbital polarization in nickelate superlattices
A combined analysis of x-ray absorption and resonant reflectivity data was
used to obtain the orbital polarization profiles of superlattices composed of
four-unit-cell-thick layers of metallic LaNiO3 and layers of insulating RXO3
(R=La, Gd, Dy and X=Al, Ga, Sc), grown on substrates that impose either
compressive or tensile strain. This superlattice geometry allowed us to partly
separate the influence of epitaxial strain from interfacial effects controlled
by the chemical composition of the insulating blocking layers. Our quantitative
analysis reveal orbital polarizations up to 25%. We further show that strain is
the most effective control parameter, whereas the influence of the chemical
composition of the blocking layers is comparatively small.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure
evidence from cerebrospinal fluid analysis
Background The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is currently based solely
on clinical and magnetic resonance imaging features. However,
histopathological studies have revealed four different patterns of lesion
pathology in patients diagnosed with MS, suggesting that MS may be a
pathologically heterogeneous syndrome rather than a single disease entity.
Objective The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients with
pattern I MS differ from patients with pattern II or III MS with regard to
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings, especially with reference to intrathecal
IgG synthesis, which is found in most patients with MS but is frequently
missing in MS mimics such as aquaporin-4-IgG-positive neuromyelitis optica
spectrum disorders and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-IgG-positive
encephalomyelitis. Methods Findings from 68 lumbar punctures in patients who
underwent brain biopsy as part of their diagnostic work-up and who could be
unequivocally classified as having pattern I, pattern II or pattern III MS
were analysed retrospectively. Results Oligoclonal bands (OCBs) were present
in 88.2% of samples from pattern I MS patients but in only 27% of samples from
patients with pattern II or pattern III MS (P < 0.00004); moreover, OCBs were
present only transiently in some of the latter patients. A polyspecific
intrathecal IgG response to measles, rubella and/or varicella zoster virus
(so-called MRZ reaction) was previously reported in 60–80% of MS patients, but
was absent in all pattern II or III MS patients tested (P < 0.00001 vs.
previous cohorts). In contrast, the albumin CSF/serum ratio (QAlb), a marker
of blood–CSF barrier function, was more frequently elevated in samples from
pattern II and III MS patients (P < 0.002). Accordingly, QAlb values and
albumin and total protein levels were higher in pattern II and III MS samples
than in pattern I MS samples (P < 0.005, P < 0.009 and P < 0.006,
respectively). Conclusions Patients with pattern II or pattern III MS differ
significantly from patients with pattern I MS as well as from previous,
histologically non-classified MS cohorts with regard to both intrathecal IgG
synthesis and blood–CSF barrier function. Our findings strongly corroborate
the notion that pattern II and pattern III MS are entities distinct from
pattern I MS
Element-Specific Depth Profile of Magnetism and Stoichiometry at the La0.67Sr0.33MnO3/BiFeO3 Interface
Depth-sensitive magnetic, structural and chemical characterization is
important in the understanding and optimization of novel physical phenomena
emerging at interfaces of transition metal oxide heterostructures. In a
simultaneous approach we have used polarized neutron and resonant X-ray
reflectometry to determine the magnetic profile across atomically sharp
interfaces of ferromagnetic La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 / multiferroic BiFeO3 bi-layers
with sub-nanometer resolution. In particular, the X-ray resonant magnetic
reflectivity measurements at the Fe and Mn resonance edges allowed us to
determine the element specific depth profile of the ferromagnetic moments in
both the La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 and BiFeO3 layers. Our measurements indicate a
magnetically diluted interface layer within the La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 layer, in
contrast to previous observations on inversely deposited layers. Additional
resonant X-ray reflection measurements indicate a region of an altered Mn- and
O-content at the interface, with a thickness matching that of the magnetic
diluted layer, as origin of the reduction of the magnetic moment.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, supplemental material include
Serum neurofilament light chains in progressive multiple sclerosis patients treated with repeated cycles of high-dose intravenous steroids
Background and objectives: In progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, CNS inflammation trapped behind a closed blood brain barrier drives continuous neuroaxonal degeneration, thus leading to deterioration of neurological function. Therapeutics in progressive MS are limited. High-dose intravenous glucocorticosteroids (HDCS) can cross the blood-brain barrier and may reduce inflammation within the CNS. However, the treatment efficacy of HDCS in progressive MS remains controversial. Serum neurofilament light chains (sNfL) are an established biomarker of neuroaxonal degeneration and are used to monitor treatment responses. We aimed to investigate whether repeated cycles of intravenous HDCS reduce the level of sNfL in progressive MS patients.
Methods: We performed a monocentric observational study of 25 patients recruited during ongoing clinical routine care who were treated with repeated cycles of intravenous HDCS as long-term therapy for their progressive MS. sNfL were measured in 103 repeated blood samples (median time interval from baseline 28 weeks, range 2-55 weeks) with the Single Molecular Array (SiMoA) technology. The Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS) was documented at baseline and follow-up.
Results: The median age of patients was 55 years (range 46-77 years) with a median disease duration of 26 years (range 11-42 years). sNfL baseline levels at study inclusion were significantly higher in progressive MS patients compared to age-matched healthy controls (median 16.7 pg/ml vs 11.5 pg/ml, p=0.002). sNfL levels showed a positive correlation with patient age (r=0.2, p=0.003). The majority of patients (72%, 16/23) showed reduced sNfL levels ≥20 weeks after HDCS compared to baseline (median 13.3 pg/ml, p=0.03). sNfL levels correlated negatively with the time interval from baseline HDCS therapy (r=-0.2, p=0.03). This association was also evident after correction for treatment with disease-modifying drugs (adjusted R2=0.10, p=0.001). The EDSS remained stable (median 6.5) within a median treatment duration of 26 weeks (range 13-51 weeks).
Conclusion: Although larger studies are needed to confirm our findings, we were able to demonstrate that HDCS treatment reduces sNfL levels and therefore may slow down neuroaxonal damage in a subgroup of patients with progressive MS. Moreover, a stable EDSS was observed during therapy. Findings suggest that HDCS may be beneficial for the treatment of progressive MS
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