Vortex state and effect of anisotropy in sub-100 nm magnetic nanodots

Magnetic properties of Fe nanodots are simulated using a scaling technique and Monte Carlo method, in good agreement with experimental results. For the 20-nm-thick dots with diameters larger than 60¿nm, the magnetization reversal via vortex state is observed. The role of magnetic interaction between dots in arrays in the reversal process is studied as a function of nanometric center-to-center distance. When this distance is more than twice the dot diameter, the interaction can be neglected and the magnetic properties of the entire array are determined by the magnetic configuration of the individual dots. The effect of crystalline anisotropy on the vortex state is investigated. For arrays of noninteracting dots, the anisotropy strongly affects the vortex nucleation field and coercivity, and only slightly affects the vortex annihilation field

Hepatitis G virus infection in primary Sjögren's syndrome: analysis in a series of 100 patients.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence and clinical significance of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection in a large cohort of patients with primary Sjögren¿s syndrome (SS). PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included 100 consecutive patients (92 female and eight male), with a mean age of 62 years (range 31¿80) that were prospectively visited in our unit. All patients fulfilled the European Community criteria for SS and underwent a complete history, physical examination, as well as biochemical and immunological evaluation for liver disease. Two hundred volunteer blood donors were also studied. The presence of HGV-RNA was investigated in the serum of all patients and donors. Aditionally, HBsAg and antibodies to hepatitis C virus were determined. RESULTS Four patients (4%) and six volunteer blood donors (3%) presented HGV-RNA sequences in serum. HGV infection was associated with biochemical signs of liver involvement in two (50%) patients. When compared with primary SS patients without HGV infection, no significant differences were found in terms of clinical or immunological features. HCV coinfection occurs in one (25%) of the four patients with HGV infection. CONCLUSION The prevalence of HGV infection in patients with primary SS is low in the geographical area of the study and HCV coinfection is very uncommon. HGV infection alone does not seen to be an important cause of chronic liver injury in the patients with primary SS in this area.

Bioavailability of repeated oral administration of MDL 100,240, a dual inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme and neutral endopeptidase in healthy volunteers.

BACKGROUND: MDL 100,240 (pyrido[2,1-a] [2]benzazepine-4-carboxylic acid,7-[[2-(acetylthio)-1-oxo-3-phenylpropyl]amino]-1,2,3,4,6,7,8, 12b-octahydro-6-oxo, [4S-[4alpha,7alpha(R(*)),12bbeta]]-) is a molecule possessing an inhibiting ability on both angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and neutral endopeptidase, the enzyme responsible for atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) degradation. Such a dual mechanism of action presents a potential clinical interest for the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart failure. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the bioavailability of MDL 100,240 and its accumulation over repeated oral administration, using ACE inhibition as a surrogate for plasma drug level and determining its profile after oral and i.v. administration. METHODS: First, in an open, one-period, single-dose study, the ACE inhibition profile was characterised following a 12.5 mg MDL 100,240 i.v. infusion. Second, in a three-group, parallel, randomised, double-blind study, each group of four subjects received q.d., over 8 days, 2.5, 10 or 20 mg of MDL 100,240 orally. The ACE inhibition profile was determined on day 1 and day 8. Trough plasma ACE was measured on days 2, 3 and 4. The recovery of ACE activity was monitored up to 72 h after the last dose of MDL 100,240. RESULTS: ACE inhibition profile was similar on day 1 and day 8, and trough inhibition remained unchanged after the 8 days of treatment with 10 mg or 20 mg. Following repeated 2.5-mg ingestion, trough inhibition increased from 33% to 44% after the eighth dose. The oral bioavailability of MDL 100,240 was estimated at 85%, not statistically different from 100%. The accumulation ratio at steady state was estimated at 112%. Expressing the accumulation ratio in terms of half-life, a t(1/2) of 0.31 days or 7. 5 h was estimated. CONCLUSION: MDL 100,240 (oral solution) has a good bioavailability, as estimated by ACE inhibition, and no drug accumulation seems to occur over 8 days with the 10-mg and 20-mg doses, but a slight rise in the trough level is observed with the 2. 5-mg dose.

Nanometer-scale oxidation of Si(100) surfaces by tapping mode atomic force microscopy

The nanometer¿scale oxidation of Si(100) surfaces in air is performed with an atomic force microscope working in tapping mode. Applying a positive voltage to the sample with respect to the tip, two kinds of modifications are induced on the sample: grown silicon oxide mounds less than 5 nm high and mounds higher than 10 nm (which are assumed to be gold depositions). The threshold voltage necessary to produce the modification is studied as a function of the average tip¿to¿sample distance.

La mania de les llistes: 100 biblioteques digitals i 'recol·lectors' de llibres electrònics

Selecció personal de 100 projectes de digitalització internacionals i locals actualment en funcionament. La tria s'ha fet seguint l'interès que poden tenir les obres incloses i en altres ocasions pels serveis, les eines i les aplicacions diferents que s'hi proposen. La major part dels recursos tenen com a objectiu oferir una còpia digital de llibres però també s'hi inclouen altres tipologies documentals: publicacions periòdiques, tesis, literatura grisa, fotografies, gravats, enregistraments sonors¿ Hi abunden els projectes fets per les biblioteques nacionals i universitàries, els projectes comercials més representatius i les col·leccions col·laboratives. Una tipologia a destacar és la de les plataformes que pretenen recuperar i difondre una cultura o una llengua. La llista inclou preferentment projectes de biblioteques digitals amb obres de domini públic, les obres de les quals es poden descarregar i imprimir; també hi són inclosos però materials de pagament. L'ordenació de la selecció està presentada alfabèticament.

La manía de las listas: 100 bibliotecas digitales y 'recolectores' de libros electrónicos

Selección personal de 100 proyectos de digitalización internacionales y locales actualmente en funcionamiento. La elección se ha hecho siguiendo el interés que pueden tener las obras incluidas y en otras ocasiones por los servicios, las herramientas y las aplicaciones diferentes que se proponen. La mayor parte de los recursos tienen como objetivo ofrecer una copia digital de libros pero también se incluyen otras tipologías documentales: publicaciones periódicas, tesis, literatura gris, fotografías, grabados, grabaciones sonoras... Abundan los proyectos realizados por las bibliotecas nacionales y universitarias, los proyectos comerciales más representativos y las colecciones colaborativas. Una tipología a destacar es la de las plataformas que pretenden recuperar y difundir una cultura o una lengua. La lista incluye preferentemente proyectos de bibliotecas digitales con obras de dominio público, las obras de las que se pueden descargar e imprimir, también están incluidos pero materiales de pago. La ordenación de la selección está presentada alfabéticamente.

Heterogeneity of t(4;14) in multiple myeloma. Long-term follow-up of 100 cases treated with tandem transplantation in IFM99 trials.

One hundred de novo multiple myeloma patients with t(4;14) treated with double intensive therapy according to IFM99 protocols were retrospectively analyzed. The median overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were 41.4 and 21 months, respectively, as compared to 65 and 37 for patients included in the IFM99 trials without t(4;14) (P<10(-7)). We identified a subgroup of patients presenting at diagnosis with both low beta(2)-microglobulin <4 mg/l and high hemoglobin (Hb) >/=10 g/l (46% of the cases) with a median OS of 54.6 months and a median EFS of 26 months, respectively, which benefits from high-dose therapy (HDT); conversely patients with one or both adverse prognostic factor (high beta(2)-microglobulin and/or low Hb) had a poor outcome. The achievement of either complete response or very good partial response after HDT was also a powerful independent prognostic factor for both OS and EFS.

Deicer Scaling Resistance of Concrete Mixtures Containing Slag Cement Phase 2: Evaluation of Different Laboratory Scaling Test Methods, TPF-5(100), 2012

With the use of supplementary cementing materials (SCMs) in concrete mixtures, salt scaling tests such as ASTM C672 have been found to be overly aggressive and do correlate well with field scaling performance. The reasons for this are thought to be because at high replacement levels, SCM mixtures can take longer to set and to develop their properties: neither of these factors is taken into account in the standard laboratory finishing and curing procedures. As a result, these variables were studied as well as a modified scaling test, based on the Quebec BNQ scaling test that had shown promise in other research. The experimental research focused on the evaluation of three scaling resistance tests, including the ASTM C672 test with normal curing as well as an accelerated curing regime used by VDOT for ASTM C1202 rapid chloride permeability tests and now included as an option in ASTM C1202. As well, several variations on the proposed draft ASTM WK9367 deicer scaling resistance test, based on the Quebec Ministry of Transportation BNQ test method, were evaluated for concretes containing varying amounts of slag cement. A total of 16 concrete mixtures were studied using both high alkali cement and low alkali cement, Grade 100 slag and Grade 120 slag with 0, 20, 35 and 50 percent slag replacement by mass of total cementing materials. Vinsol resin was used as the primary air entrainer and Micro Air® was used in two replicate mixes for comparison. Based on the results of this study, a draft alternative test method to ASTM C762 is proposed.