Observation of anti-damping spin-orbit torques generated by in-plane and out-of-plane spin polarizations in MnPd3.

Large spin-orbit torques (SOTs) generated by topological materials and heavy metals interfaced with ferromagnets are promising for next-generation magnetic memory and logic devices. SOTs generated from y spin originating from spin Hall and Edelstein effects can realize field-free magnetization switching only when the magnetization and spin are collinear. Here we circumvent the above limitation by utilizing unconventional spins generated in a MnPd3 thin film grown on an oxidized silicon substrate. We observe conventional SOT due to y spin, and out-of-plane and in-plane anti-damping-like torques originated from z spin and x spin, respectively, in MnPd3/CoFeB heterostructures. Notably, we have demonstrated complete field-free switching of perpendicular cobalt via out-of-plane anti-damping-like SOT. Density functional theory calculations show that the observed unconventional torques are due to the low symmetry of the (114)-oriented MnPd3 films. Altogether our results provide a path toward realization of a practical spin channel in ultrafast magnetic memory and logic devices.

Long-term outcome of repeated lead chelation therapy in progressive non-diabetic chronic kidney diseases.

BACKGROUND: Previous research suggest that repeated lead-chelation therapy decelerates progression of renal insufficiency in non-diabetic (non-DM) patients with high-normal body lead burden (BLB). Study findings are limited by relatively short-term follow-up and small sample size. METHODS: A total of 116 non-DM patients with chronic kidney diseases (serum creatinine level of 1.5-3.9 mg/dl), high-normal BLB (>60 microg and <600 microg) and no lead exposure history were randomly assigned to a chelation or control group in this 4-year clinical trial. For 3 months, the 58 chelation group patients received initial lead-chelation therapy with calcium disodium EDTA, and the 58 control group patients received placebos. During the ensuing 48 months, repeated chelation therapy was administered weekly to chelation group patients unless, on repeated testing, BLB was <60 microg; the control group patients received weekly placebo infusions for 5 weeks at 6-month intervals. RESULTS: Mean change in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in the chelation group was -1.8 +/- 8.8 ml/min/1.73 m(2), as compared with -12.7 +/- 8.4 ml/min/1.73 m(2) in the control group (P <0.0001) at study end. Chelation group rates of decline in the GFR was lower than that in the control group, although they had similar decline rates before chelation. At study end, 18 patients, including 15 control group patients, had elevated serum creatinine levels to two times the baseline values. Both Cox and Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated repeated chelation therapy was the important determining factor of progression of renal insufficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated chelation therapies can, over a four-year period, slow progression of renal insufficiency in non-DM patients with high-normal BLB.

Low-level environmental exposure to lead and progressive chronic kidney diseases.

PURPOSE: To determine whether low-normal body lead burden (BLB) accelerates progressive renal insufficiency in nondiabetic patients with chronic kidney diseases (CKD). METHODS: One hundred eight CKD patients (serum creatinine between 1.5 and 2.9 mg/dL) with low-normal BLB (<80 microg) and no lead exposure history were observed for 24 months. Following the observation, 32 patients with low-normal BLB (> or =20 microg and <80 microg) were randomly assigned to chelation and control groups. The chelation group patients were given edetate calcium disodium (EDTA) chelation therapy for 3 months and repeated chelation therapy during the following 24 months to maintain their BLB below 20 mug, while the control group patients underwent placebo therapy. The primary endpoint was an increased serum creatinine level to 1.25 times the baseline value. The secondary endpoint was temporal changes in renal function. RESULTS: The primary endpoint occurred in 14 patients in the observation period. Baseline BLB was the important risk factor in determining progressive renal insufficiency. The mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) change in the chelation group patients was 6.6+/-10.7 mL/min/1.73m(2), compared with -4.6+/-4.3 mL/min/1.73 m2 in control group patients (P <.001) at the end of the intervention period. The mean decrease in GFR per year of chelation group patients was lower than that of control group patients during the repeated chelation period. CONCLUSION: Environmental exposure to lead, even at low level, may accelerate progressive renal insufficiency of nondiabetic patients with CKD.