Optical and Magnetooptical Spectroscopy of the Nanostructural Multilayered Films: Possible Applications

The aim of the paper is to show the potential of the spectroscopic ellipsometry and magnetooptical (MO) spectroscopy for probing of the multilayered films (MLF) with sublayer thickness of about a few nanometres. The main approach applied by us is based on the comparison of the experimental optical and MO properties with the simulated ones based on various models of the MLF. Specifically, as shown, such an approach can be useful for studying the nature of unusual MO properties and the interfaces in MLF comprising the noble and 3d-transition metals (3d-TM). The high sensitivity of the applied spectroscopic methods for the monitoring of the solid-state reactions in the 3d-TM/Si MLF induced by ion-beam treatment or by thermal annealing is also demonstrated. The optical properties of various silicides formed spontaneously or induced by various treatments at interfaces are evaluated experimentally and compared with the results of first-principle calculations.В данной работе показаны возможности спектральной эллипсометрии и магнитооптической (МО) спектроскопии для изучения структуры и особенностей физических свойств многослойных металлических пленок (МСП) с толщинами составляющих слоев порядка единиц нанометров. Основной подход исследования базируется на сравнении экспериментально измеренных оптических и МО свойств МСП с модельными, полученными для различных моделей структуры МСП. Было показано, что данный подход позволяет выяснить природу необычных МО свойств, а также структуру интерфейсной области в МСП, состоящих из слоев благородных и 3d-переходных металлов (ПМ). Также в работе продемонстрирована высокая чувствительность спектральной эллипсометрии для изучения твердотельных реакций в МСП 3d-ПМ/Si, вызванных ионной бомбардировкой или термическим отжигом. Оптические свойства различных силицидов 3d-ПМ, сформированных спонтанно либо в результате различных воздействий на МСП, были изучены экспериментально и сравнены с результатами теоретических первопринципных расчетов.В даній роботі показані можливості спектральної еліпсометрії та магнітооптичної (МО) спектроскопії для вивчення структури та особливостей фізичних властивостей багатошарових металевих плівок (БШП) з товщинами складаючих їх шарів порядку одиниць нанометрів. Основний підхід дослідження базується на порівнянні експериментально одержаних оптичних та МО властивостей БШП з модельними, що були одержані для різних моделей структури БШП. Було показано, що даний підхід дозволяє визначити природу незвичайних МО властивостей, а також природу інтерфейсної області БШП, що складаються з шарів благородних та 3d-перехідних металів (ПМ). В роботі також паказана висока чутливість спектральної еліпсометрії для вивчення твердотільних реакцій в БШП 3d-ПМ/Si, зумовлених іонним бомбардуванням або термічним відпалом. Оптичні властивості різних силіцидів 3d-ПМ, що було зформовані спонтанно або завдяки зовнішньому впливу, були вивчені експериментально та порівняні з результатами теоретичних першопринципних розрахунків

Vlasov-Maxwell, self-consistent electromagnetic wave emission simulations in the solar corona

1.5D Vlasov-Maxwell simulations are employed to model electromagnetic emission generation in a fully self-consistent plasma kinetic model for the first time in the solar physics context. The simulations mimic the plasma emission mechanism and Larmor drift instability in a plasma thread that connects the Sun to Earth with the spatial scales compressed appropriately. The effects of spatial density gradients on the generation of electromagnetic radiation are investigated. It is shown that 1.5D inhomogeneous plasma with a uniform background magnetic field directed transverse to the density gradient is aperiodically unstable to Larmor-drift instability. The latter results in a novel effect of generation of electromagnetic emission at plasma frequency. When density gradient is removed (i.e. when plasma becomes stable to Larmor-drift instability) and a $low$ density, super-thermal, hot beam is injected along the domain, in the direction perpendicular to the magnetic field, plasma emission mechanism generates non-escaping Langmuir type oscillations which in turn generate escaping electromagnetic radiation. It is found that in the spatial location where the beam is injected, the standing waves, oscillating at the plasma frequency, are excited. These can be used to interpret the horizontal strips observed in some dynamical spectra. Quasilinear theory predictions: (i) the electron free streaming and (ii) the beam long relaxation time, in accord with the analytic expressions, are corroborated via direct, fully-kinetic simulation. Finally, the interplay of Larmor-drift instability and plasma emission mechanism is studied by considering $dense$ electron beam in the Larmor-drift unstable (inhomogeneous) plasma. http://www.maths.qmul.ac.uk/~tsiklauri/movie1.mpg * http://www.maths.qmul.ac.uk/~tsiklauri/movie2.mpg * http://www.maths.qmul.ac.uk/~tsiklauri/movie3.mpgComment: Solar Physics (in press, the final, accepted version

Ciprofloxacin pharmacokinetics after oral and intravenous administration in (morbidly) obese and non-obese individuals: a prospective clinical study

Background and Objective Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone used for empirical and targeted therapy of a wide range of infections. Despite the increase in obesity prevalence, only very limited guidance is available on whether the ciprofloxacin dose needs to be adjusted when administered orally or intravenously in (morbidly) obese individuals. Our aim was to evaluate the influence of (morbid) obesity on ciprofloxacin pharmacokinetics after both oral and intravenous administration, to ultimately guide dosing in this population. Methods (Morbidly) obese individuals undergoing bariatric surgery received ciprofloxacin either orally (500 mg; n = 10) or intravenously (400 mg; n = 10), while non-obese participants received semi-simultaneous oral dosing of 500 mg followed by intravenous dosing of 400 mg 3 h later (n = 8). All participants underwent rich sampling (11-17 samples) for 12 h after administration. Non-linear mixed-effects modelling and simulations were performed to evaluate ciprofloxacin exposure in plasma. Prior data from the literature were subsequently included in the model to explore exposure in soft tissue in obese and non-obese patients. Results Overall, 28 participants with body weights ranging from 57 to 212 kg were recruited. No significant influence of body weight on bioavailability, clearance or volume of distribution was identified (all p > 0.01). Soft tissue concentrations were predicted to be lower in obese individuals despite similar plasma concentrations compared with non-obese individuals. Conclusion Based on plasma pharmacokinetics, we found no evidence of the influence of obesity on ciprofloxacin pharmacokinetic parameters; therefore, ciprofloxacin dosages do not need to be increased routinely in obese individuals. In the treatment of infections in tissue where impaired ciprofloxacin penetration is anticipated, higher dosages may be required.Pharmacolog

Collisional and Radiative Processes in Optically Thin Plasmas

Most of our knowledge of the physical processes in distant plasmas is obtained through measurement of the radiation they produce. Here we provide an overview of the main collisional and radiative processes and examples of diagnostics relevant to the microphysical processes in the plasma. Many analyses assume a time-steady plasma with ion populations in equilibrium with the local temperature and Maxwellian distributions of particle velocities, but these assumptions are easily violated in many cases. We consider these departures from equilibrium and possible diagnostics in detail

Renal Clearance of Mineral Metabolism Biomarkers

CKD leads to disturbances in multiple interrelated hormones that regulate bone and mineral metabolism. The renal handling of mineral metabolism hormones in humans is incompletely understood. We determined the single-pass renal clearance of parathyroid hormone, fibroblast growth factor 23, vitamin D metabolites, and phosphate from paired blood samples collected from the abdominal aorta and renal vein in 17 participants undergoing simultaneous right and left heart catheterization and estimated associations of eGFR with the renal elimination of metabolites. The mean age ±SD of the study population was 71.4±10.0 years and 11 participants (65%) were male. We found a relatively large mean±SD single-pass renal extraction of parathyroid hormone (44.2%±10.3%) that exceeded the extraction of creatinine (22.1%±7.9%). The proportionate renal extraction of parathyroid hormone correlated with eGFR. The renal extraction of fibroblast growth factor 23 was, on average, lower than that of parathyroid hormone with greater variability across individuals (17.1%±19.5%). There were no differences in the mean concentrations of vitamin D metabolites across the renal vein and artery. In summary, we demonstrate substantial single-pass renal extraction of parathyroid hormone at a rate that exceeds glomerular filtration. Impaired renal clearance of parathyroid hormone may contribute to secondary hyperparathyroidism in CKD

Supplementary Material for: Metabolomics of Chronic Kidney Disease Progression: A Case-Control Analysis in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Whereas several longitudinal metabolomics studies have been conducted in individuals with normal estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at baseline, disease progression among individuals with established chronic kidney disease (CKD) has not been rigorously examined. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We performed a nested case-control study of rapid CKD progression in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study, profiling baseline plasma from 200 individuals each with eGFR slope <-3 ml/min/1.73 m²/year (cases) or between -1 and +1 ml/min/1.73 m²/year (controls), matched on baseline eGFR and proteinuria. To directly assess how the kidney modulates circulating metabolites, we profiled plasma from the aorta and renal vein of 25 hospital-based individuals. <b><i>Results:</i></b> At baseline, cases and controls had a mean eGFR of 41.7 ± 13.3 and 45.0 ± 14.5 ml/min/1.73 m², respectively. Ten plasma metabolites were nominally associated with CKD progression in logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, hypertension, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, diabetes, eGFR and proteinuria; no metabolite achieved the Bonferroni-adjusted significance threshold (p < 0.0003). In a cross-sectional analysis, all 6 of the metabolites that were higher in cases than controls were significantly associated with eGFR at baseline. By contrast, threonine, methionine and arginine were lower in cases than in controls and had no association with baseline eGFR. Furthermore, in the hospital-based cohort that underwent renal arteriovenous sampling, these 3 metabolites were net released from the kidney. Combining these metabolites into a panel of markers further strengthened their association with CKD progression. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Our results motivate interest in arginine, methionine and threonine as potential indicators of renal metabolic function and markers of renal prognosis