Rashba Effect at Magnetic Metal Surfaces

We give experimental and theoretical evidence of the Rashba effect at the magnetic rare-earth metal surface Gd(0001). The Rashba effect is substantially enhanced and the Rashba parameter changes its sign when a metal-oxide surface layer is formed. The experimental observations are quantitatively described by ab initio calculations that give a detailed account of the near-surface charge density gradients causing the Rashba effect. Since the sign of the Rashba splitting depends on the magnetization direction, the findings open up new opportunities for the study of surface and interface magnetism.Comment: 4 Fig

Driving magnetic order in a manganite by ultrafast lattice excitation

Optical control of magnetism, of interest for high-speed data processing and storage, has only been demonstrated with near-infrared excitation to date. However, in absorbing materials, such high photon energies can lead to significant dissipation, making switch back times long and miniaturization challenging. In manganites, magnetism is directly coupled to the lattice, as evidenced by the response to external and chemical pressure, or to ferroelectric polarization. Here, femtosecond mid-infrared pulses are used to excite the lattice in La0.5Sr1.5MnO4 and the dynamics of electronic order are measured by femtosecond resonant soft x-ray scattering with an x-ray free electron laser. We observe that magnetic and orbital orders are reduced by excitation of the lattice. This process, which occurs within few picoseconds, is interpreted as relaxation of the complex charge-orbital-spin structure following a displacive exchange quench - a prompt shift in the equilibrium value of the magnetic and orbital order parameters after the lattice has been distorted. A microscopic picture of the underlying unidirectional lattice displacement is proposed, based on nonlinear rectification of the directly-excited vibrational field, as analyzed in the specific lattice symmetry of La0.5Sr1.5MnO4. Control of magnetism through ultrafast lattice excitation has important analogies to the multiferroic effect and may serve as a new paradigm for high-speed optomagnetism.Comment: 10 pages manuscript, 4 figure

Gender differences in the pharmacological actions of pegylated glucagon-Like peptide-1 on endothelial progenitor cells and angiogenic precursor cells in a combination of metabolic disorders and lung emphysema

In clinical practice, the metabolic syndrome (MetS) is often associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although gender differences in MetS are well documented, little is known about sex-specific differences in the pathogenesis of COPD, especially when combined with MetS. Consequently, it is not clear whether the same treatment regime has comparable efficacy in men and women diagnosed with MetS and COPD. In the present study, using sodium glutamate, lipopolysaccharide, and cigarette smoke extract, we simulated lipid metabolism disorders, obesity, hyperglycemia, and pulmonary emphysema (comorbidity) in male and female C57BL/6 mice. We assessed the gender-specific impact of lipid metabolism disorders and pulmonary emphysema on angiogenic precursor cells (endothelial progenitor cells (EPC), pericytes, vascular smooth muscle cells, cells of the lumen of the nascent vessel), as well as the biological effects of pegylated glucagon-like peptide 1 (pegGLP-1) in this experimental paradigm. Simulation of MetS/COPD comorbidity caused an accumulation of EPC (CD45−CD31+CD34+), pericytes, and vascular smooth muscle cells in the lungs of female mice. In contrast, the number of cells involved in the angiogenesis decreased in the lungs of male animals. PegGLP-1 had a positive effect on lipids and area under the curve (AUC), obesity, and prevented the development of pulmonary emphysema. The severity of these effects was stronger in males than in females. Furthermore, PegGLP-1 stimulated regeneration of pulmonary endothelium. At the same time, PegGLP-1 administration caused a mobilization of EPC (CD45−CD31+CD34+) into the bloodstream in females and migration of precursors of angiogenesis and vascular smooth muscle cells to the lungs in male animals. Gender differences in stimulatory action of pegGLP-1 on CD31+ endothelial lung cells in vitro were not observed. Based on these findings, we postulated that the cellular mechanism of in vivo regeneration of lung epithelium was at least partly gender-specific. Thus, we concluded that a pegGLP-1-based treatment regime for metabolic disorder and COPD should be further developed primarily for male patients

Alien Registration- Breton, Honore (Lewiston, Androscoggin County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/30621/thumbnail.jp

Development of a technology for the preparation of a dry nutrient medium for anthrax vaccine production

Currently, submerged cultivation of the Bacillus anthracis STI-1 strain for live anthrax vaccine production requires liquid nutrient media, which have disadvantages of a short shelf life (no more than one month) and a narrow range of storage temperatures (2–8 °С). Dry media, in contrast, have a number of indisputable advantages: such media are transportable and easy to use, have a standard capability to retain properties, and can be stored without preservatives at 2–30 °С for 2–5 years. The aim of this work was to develop a technology for the preparation of a dry nutrient medium for anthrax vaccine production. Materials and methods: The study used the Bacillus anthracis STI-1 vaccine strain and a nutrient medium for its cultivation, containing a 70:30 mixture of an enzymatic digest of casein and a pre-processed corn extract solution. Drying of the nutrient medium was carried out on a spray-drying unit. The authors evaluated physicochemical parameters of experimental medium batches. The shelf life was determined by an accelerated stability study. The dry nutrient medium was used to produce a live anthrax vaccine. Quality attributes of the vaccine were assessed for compliance with regulatory requirements. Results: The authors developed the dry media production technology. According to it, the liquid nutrient medium is fed to the drying unit at a rate of 20–25 dm3/h. The spray air pressure is 0.02 MPa. Temperatures at the drying chamber inlet and outlet are 118–122 °С and 85–90 °С, respectively. The technology was used to obtain 3 experimental batches of the dry medium. The study results demonstrate that the technology is reproducible, and the tested quality attributes of experimental medium batches are consistent with the requirements. According to the accelerated stability study, the shelf life of the dry nutrient medium at 2–30 °С is at least 3 years. Experiments demonstrated the possibility of using the dry nutrient medium for live anthrax vaccine production. Critical quality attributes of the vaccine obtained with the medium met regulatory requirements. Conclusions: The developed technology allows for the production of a standard dry nutrient medium with a prolonged shelf life, which is convenient for live anthrax vaccine production

Prediction of huge X-ray Faraday rotation at the Gd N_4,5 threshold

X-ray absorption spectra in a wide energy range around the 4d-4f excitation threshold of Gd were recorded by total electron yield from in-plane magnetized Gd metal films. Matching the experimental spectra to tabulated absorption data reveals unprecedented short light absorption lengths down to 3 nm. The associated real parts of the refractive index for circularly polarized light propagating parallel or antiparallel to the Gd magnetization, determined through the Kramers-Kronig transformation, correspond to a magneto-optical Faraday rotation of 0.7 degrees per atomic layer. This finding shall allow the study of magnetic structure and magnetization dynamics of lanthanide elements in nanosize systems and dilute alloys.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, final version resubmitted to Phys. Rev. B, Brief Reports. Minor change

ТВЕРДОСТЬ, АДГЕЗИОННАЯ ПРОЧНОСТЬ И ТРИБОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ СВОЙСТВА АДАПТИВНЫХ НАНОСТРУКТУРНЫХ ИОННО-ПЛАЗМЕННЫХ ВАКУУМНО-ДУГОВЫХ ПОКРЫТИЙ (Ti,Al)N–Mo2N

The article reviews the properties of nanostructured multilayer coatings (Ti, Al)N–Mo2N obtained by plasma-ion vacuum arc deposition method (arc-PVD). The thickness of coating layers was comparable to the size of a grain, which was about 30–50 nm. Coating hardness reached 40 GPa with relative plastic work of deformation of about 60 %. It was found by the measuring scratching method that cohesive nature of coating destruction takes place entirely by a plastic strain mechanism, which was the evidence of its high viscosity. Local coating abrasion to a substrate level occurred at a load in the order of 75 N. Under test conditions as per «pin-on-disk» scheme using the opposing Al2O3 element at a load of 5 N, coating friction factor was equal to 0,35 and 0,50 at 20 °C and 500 °C respectively. Besides, it was practically not worn due to formation of MoO3 oxide in the friction zone (Magneli phase) which served as a solid lubricant. The increase in friction factor and appearance of significant wear were observed with further rising of test temperature. Such effect was due to intensified sublimation of MoO3 from friction surfaces with subsequent reduction of its lubricating efficiency.Исследованы свойства наноструктурных мультислойных покрытий состава (Ti,Al)N–Mo2N, полученных методом ионно-плазменного вакуумно-дугового осаждения (arc-PVD). Толщина слоев покрытия сопоставима с размером зерна, который составлял порядка 30–50 нм. Твердость покрытий достигала 40 ГПа с относительной работой пластической деформации около 60 %. Методом измерительного царапания установлено, что когезионный характер разрушения покрытия происходит исключительно по механизму пластического деформирования, что свидетельствует о высокой его вязкости. Локальное истирание покрытия до подложки происходило при нагрузке порядка 75 Н. Коэффициент трения покрытия в условиях испытаний по схеме «стержень–диск» с применением контртела из Al2O3 при нагрузке 5 Н составлял 0,35 и 0,50 при температурах 20 и 500 °C соответственно. При этом оно практически не изнашивалось из-за образования в зоне трения оксида MoO3 (фазы Магнели), работающего в качестве твердого смазывающего материала. При дальнейшем повышении температуры испытания наблюдалось повышение коэффициента трения и появление заметного износа, что связано с интенсификацией процессов сублимации MoO3 с рабочих поверхностей и снижением эффективности его работы как смазывающего материала

Фиброма стенки мочевого пузыря

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