1,215 research outputs found
Development and Role in Therapy of Canakinumab in Adult-Onset Still's Disease
Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare inflammatory disease of unknown etiology typically characterized by episodes of spiking fever, evanescent rash, arthralgia, leukocytosis, and hyperferritinemia. The pivotal role of interleukin (IL)-1 and other pro-inflammatory cytokines gives rise to the development of new targeted therapies. Currently, AOSD patients can benefit from efficient and well tolerated biologic agents, such as IL-1, IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-\u3b1 antagonists. Canakinumab, a human monoclonal anti-IL-1\u3b2 antibody, is indicated for the treatment of different autoinflammatory syndromes in adults, adolescents, and children and it has recently been approved for AOSD treatment. In this article, we summarize the structural and biochemical data describing the molecular interactions between Canakinumab and its target antigen. Some special considerations of the pharmacological properties of Canakinumab are included. We also review the safety, efficacy and tolerability of this drug for the treatment of AOSD
Ferromagnetic resonance study of sputtered NiFe/V/NiFe heterostructures
AbstractThe Ni81Fe19/V/Ni81Fe19 heterostructures has been produced by magnetron sputtering and analyzed by ferromagnetic resonance. Two systems were investigated: the non symmetrical NiFe(50Å)/V(t)/NiFe(30Å) trilayers and the symmetrical NiFe(80Å)/V(t)/NiFe(80Å) trilayers, with variable ultrathin V thickness t. Ferromagnetic exchange coupling was evidenced for t below 10Å by the excitation of the optic mode, in the case of the non symmetrical samples, and by the observation of a single resonance mode for the symmetrical trilayers. For larger V thickness, all samples exhibited two modes, which were attributed to the resonance of the individual NiFe layers with different effective magnetizations. The analysis with the equilibrium and resonance conditions provided the exchange coupling constants and effective magnetizations
Biographies
There is a prevailing bias, even amongst the actors directly involved, to consider activities
falling under the migration-development banner as bipolar engagements, i.e. activities
linking a country of origin of migrants to their country of present residence. Such
conceptualisations assume the nation-state as the default frame of reference. Whilst
progress has certainly been made towards a necessary sophistication of migration related
issues in policy thinking and related academic research, the migration-development nexus
remains something still often considered as essentially something to approach within a
singular or bipolar nation-state framework. This can be seen in studies of potential policy
interventions related to transnational flows such as human capital transfers, remittance
flows and community development projects initiatives. Taking the case of the Transnational
Synergy for Cooperation and Development (TRANSCODE) Programme, and focusing on
empirical insights gained with this programme in relation to its conceptual underpinnings,
we explore alternative modes of incorporating migration and development. This article
thus seeks to provide insights in opportunities for alternative initiatives resulting out of
cross-fertilization of experiences and ideas between migrant organisations and other actors
engaged in migration and development efforts
High coercivity induced by mechanical milling in cobalt ferrite powders
In this work we report a study of the magnetic behavior of ferrimagnetic
oxide CoFe2O4 treated by mechanical milling with different grinding balls. The
cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were prepared using a simple hydrothermal method
and annealed at 500oC. The non-milled sample presented coercivity of about 1.9
kOe, saturation magnetization of 69.5 emu/g, and a remanence ratio of 0.42.
After milling, two samples attained coercivity of 4.2 and 4.1 kOe, and
saturation magnetization of 67.0 and 71.4 emu/g respectively. The remanence
ratio MR/MS for these samples increase to 0.49 and 0.51, respectively. To
investigate the influence of the microstructure on the magnetic behavior of
these samples, we used X-ray powder diffraction (XPD), transmission electron
microscopy (TEM), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The XPD analysis by
the Williamson-Hall plot was used to estimate the average crystallite size and
strain induced by mechanical milling in the samples
Training-induced inversion of spontaneous exchange bias field on La1.5Ca0.5CoMnO6
In this work we report the synthesis and structural, electronic and magnetic
properties of La1.5Ca0.5CoMnO6 double-perovskite. This is a re-entrant spin
cluster material which exhibits a non-negligible negative exchange bias effect
when it is cooled in zero magnetic field from an unmagnetized state down to low
temperature. X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and
magnetometry results indicate mixed valence state at Co site, leading to
competing magnetic phases and uncompensated spins at the magnetic interfaces.
We compare the results for this Ca-doped material with those reported for the
resemblant compound La1.5Sr0.5CoMnO6, and discuss the much smaller spontaneous
exchange bias effect observed for the former in terms of its structural and
magnetic particularities. For La1.5Ca0.5CoMnO6, when successive magnetization
loops are carried, the spontaneous exchange bias field inverts its sign from
negative to positive from the first to the second measurement. We discuss this
behavior based on the disorder at the magnetic interfaces, related to the
presence of a glassy phase. This compound also exhibits a large conventional
exchange bias, for which there is no sign inversion of the exchange bias field
for consecutive cycles
Exchange-spring behavior in bimagnetic CoFe2O4/CoFe2 nanocomposite
In this work we report a study of the magnetic behavior of ferrimagnetic
oxide CoFe2O4 and ferrimagnetic oxide/ferromagnetic metal CoFe2O4/CoFe2
nanocomposites. The latter compound is a good system to study hard
ferrimagnet/soft ferromagnet exchange coupling. Two steps were used to
synthesize the bimagnetic CoFe2O4/CoFe2 nanocomposites: (i) first preparation
of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles using the a simple hydrothermal method and (ii) second
reduction reaction of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles using activated charcoal in
inert atmosphere and high temperature. The phase structures, particle sizes,
morphology, and magnetic properties of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles have been
investigated by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Mossbauer spectroscopy (MS),
transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM)
with applied field up to 3.0 kOe at room temperature and 50K. The mean diameter
of CoFe2O4 particles is about 16 nm. Mossbauer spectra reveal two sites for
Fe3+. One site is related to Fe in an octahedral coordination and the other one
to the Fe3+ in a tetrahedral coordination, as expected for a spinel crystal
structure of CoFe2O4. TEM measurements of nanocomposite show the formation of a
thin shell of CoFe2 on the cobalt ferrite and indicate that the nanoparticles
increase to about 100 nm. The magnetization of nanocomposite showed hysteresis
loop that is characteristic of the exchange spring systems. A maximum energy
product (BH)max of 1.22 MGOe was achieved at room temperature for CoFe2O4/CoFe2
nanocomposites, which is about 115% higher than the value obtained for CoFe2O4
precursor. The exchange-spring interaction and the enhancement of product
(BH)max in nanocomposite CoFe2O4/CoFe2 have been discussed.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figure
Comparison of self-reported measures of alcohol-related dependence among young Swiss men: a study protocol for a cross-sectional controlled sample.
Short screenings of alcohol-related dependence are needed for population-based assessments. A clinical interview constitutes a reliable diagnosis often seen as gold standard, but it is costly and time consuming and as such, not suitable for population-based assessments. Therefore, self-reported questionnaires are needed (eg, alcohol use disorder (AUD) as in the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) 5), but their reliability is questionable. Recent studies called for more evidence-based measurements for population-based screening (eg, heavy alcohol use over time (HAU)). This study aims to test the reliability of different self-reported measures of alcohol use.
Based on stratified random selection, 280 participants will be recruited from the French-speaking subgroup of the Swiss National Science Foundation-supported Cohort Study on Substance Use and Risk Factors (C-SURF). This cohort is a population-based sample of young Swiss men in their mid-20s (n=2668). The sample size calculation is based on a proportion non-inferiority test (alpha=5%, power=80%, margin of equivalence=10%, difference in sensitivity between self-reported AUD and HAU=5%, correlation between AUD and HAU=0.35, and drop-outs=15%). Assessment will include a clinical interview as the gold standard of alcohol-related dependence, self-reported alcohol measures (HAU, AUD and drinking patterns), biomarkers as gold standards of chronic excessive drinking, and health outcomes. To assess the validity of the self-reported alcohol measures, sensitivity analyses will be run. The associations between alcohol-related measures and health outcomes will be tested. A non-response analysis will be run using the previous waves of the C-SURF study using logistic regressions.
The study protocol has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland (no. 2017-00776). The results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences
Compensation temperatures and exchange bias in La1.5Ca0.5CoIrO6
We report on the study of magnetic properties of the La1.5Ca0.5CoIrO6 double
perovskite. Via ac magnetic susceptibility we have observed evidence of weak
ferromagnetism and reentrant spin glass behavior on an antiferromagnetic
matrix. Regarding the magnetic behavior as a function of temperature, we have
found that the material displays up to three inversions of its magnetization,
depending on the appropriate choice of the applied magnetic field. At low
temperature the material exhibit exchange bias effect when it is cooled in the
presence of a magnetic field. Also, our results indicate that this effect may
be observed even when the system is cooled at zero field. Supported by other
measurements and also by electronic structure calculations, we discuss the
magnetic reversals and spontaneous exchange bias effect in terms of magnetic
phase separation and magnetic frustration of Ir4+ ions located between the
antiferromagnetically coupled Co ions.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures and supplemental materia
Performance of self-reported measures of alcohol use and of harmful drinking patterns against ethyl glucuronide hair testing among young Swiss men.
There is a need for empirical studies assessing the psychometric properties of self-reported alcohol use as measures of excessive chronic drinking (ECD) compared to those of objective measures, such as ethyl glucuronide (EtG).
To test the quality of self-reported measures of alcohol use and of risky single-occasion drinking (RSOD) to detect ECD assessed by EtG.
A total of 227 samples of hair from young Swiss men were used for the determination of EtG. Self-reported measures of alcohol use (previous twelve-month and previous-week alcohol use) and RSOD were assessed. Using EtG (<30 pg/mg) as the gold standard of ECD assessment, the sensitivity and specificity were computed, and the AUROC were compared for alcohol use measures and RSOD. Logistic regressions were used to test the contribution of RSOD to the understanding of ECD after controlling for alcohol use.
A total of 23.3% of participants presented with ECD. Previous twelve-month alcohol use with a cut-off of >15 drinks per week (sensitivity = 75.5%, specificity = 78.7%) and weekly RSOD (sensitivity = 75.5%, specificity = 70.1%) yielded acceptable psychometric properties. No cut-off for previous-week alcohol use gave acceptable results. In the multivariate logistic regression, after controlling for the previous twelve months of alcohol use, RSOD was still significantly associated with EtG (p = .016).
Self-reported measures of the previous twelve months of alcohol use and RSOD were acceptable measures of ECD for population-based screening. Self-reported RSOD appeared to be an interesting screening measure, in addition to the previous twelve months of alcohol use, to understand ECD among young people
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