Organic/metal interface-modulated magnetism in [Fe/C60]3 multilayers and Fe-C60 composites.

Because of the expected long spin-transport length of organic materials, the magnetic metal/organic interface is crucial to the application of organic spintronics. In this study, [Fe/C60]3 multilayers were fabricated for the investigation of C60-mediated magnetic interlayer coupling. [Fe/C60]3 thin films were characterized using the magneto-optical Kerr effect, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The thin films revealed in-plane magnetic anisotropy, and the magnetic coercivity (H c ) drastically decreased from 6-8 mT to 0.5 mT with the increase of C60 thickness from 0.1 nm to 5 nm. The insertion of the C60 layer considerably reduced H c because a thickness greater than 1 nm of the C60 layer is sufficient for blocking magnetic exchange coupling between Fe layers. In addition, post-annealing increased H c because of Fe inter-diffusion, which promotes magnetic exchange coupling and further Fe-C bonding, as confirmed by a comparative study of XPS C-spectra. The thermally triggered inter-diffusion between Fe and C60 layers turned the multilayers into a mixed composite film and thus caused magnetic variation. Annealing time and temperature can be used as control parameters for the tuning of magnetism in Fe-C60 composites.

Self-reported Medication Adherence and Adverse Patient Safety Events in CKD.

BACKGROUND: Promoting medication adherence is a recognized challenge for prescribers. In this study, we examine whether lower medication adherence is associated with adverse safety events in individuals with decreased estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional baseline analysis of prospective cohort. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Baseline analysis of the Safe Kidney Care (SKC) Cohort Study, a prospective study of individuals with eGFRs<60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) intended to assess the incidence of disease-specific safety events. Kidney transplant recipients were excluded. PREDICTOR: Self-reported medication adherence based on responses to 3 questions ascertaining degree of medication regimen adherence. OUTCOMES: Adverse safety events were self-reported at baseline (class I events), such as hypoglycemia or fall thought to be related to a medication, or detected incidentally during the baseline visit (class II events), for example, hypotension or hyperkalemia. Potential drug-related problems (DRPs) were determined by analyzing participants' medications with respect to dosing guidelines based on their screening eGFRs at the time of medication reporting. MEASUREMENTS: Relationship between medication adherence and disease-specific patient safety events. RESULTS: Of 293 SKC participants, 154 (53%) were classified as having lower medication adherence. After multivariable adjustment, lower medication adherence was significantly associated with a class I or II safety event (prevalence ratio [PR], 1.21; 95% CI, 1.04-1.41) and potential DRPs (PR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.02-1.63). Lower medication adherence was also significantly associated with multiple (≥2) class I events (PR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.18-2.49), multiple class I or II events (PR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.04-1.76), and multiple potential DRPs (PR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.08-2.69) compared with those with higher medication adherence. LIMITATIONS: Use of self-reported medication adherence rather than pharmacy records. Clinical relevance of detected safety events is unclear. CONCLUSIONS: Lower medication adherence is associated with adverse safety events in individuals with eGFRs<60 mL/min/1.73 m(2).

Full state-resolved energy gain profiles of CO2 from collisions with highly vibrationally excited molecules. II. Energy-dependent pyrazine (E = 32,700 and 37,900 cm(-1)) relaxation.

The full state-resolved distribution of scattered CO2 (00(0)0) molecules from collisions with highly vibrationally excited pyrazine (E = 32,700 cm(-1)) is reported and compared to previous studies on pyrazine (E = 37,900 cm(-1)) to investigate how internal energy content impacts the dynamics for collisional quenching of high energy molecules [J. Phys. Chem. A 2010, 113, 1569]. Nascent rotational and translational energy profiles for scattered CO2 (00(0)0) molecules with J = 2-72 were measured using high-resolution transient infrared absorption and combined with earlier results for the J = 56-78 states [J. Chem. Phys. 1999, 111, 7373]. The product translational energy for individual J-states increases by 50% for a 16% increase in donor vibrational energy. The nascent rotational distribution for scattered CO2 is biexponential, comprising 77% nearly elastic collisions and 23% inelastic collisions. The spread of the rotational distribution is sensitive to donor energy, but the branching ratio for elastic and inelastic collisions is the same for both donor energies. The measured collision rates are close to the Lennard-Jones values and are only weakly dependent on changes in donor energy. The nascent energy gain distribution function P(ΔE) depends strongly on the energy, and this energy dependence is stronger than the linear dependence seen in multicollision energy transfer studies for pyrazine(E) + CO2 collisions.

Comparing removal of trace organic compounds and assimilable organic carbon (AOC) at advanced and traditional water treatment plants.

Stability of drinking water can be indicated by the assimilable organic carbon (AOC). This AOC value represents the regrowth capacity of microorganisms and has large impacts on the quality of drinking water in a distribution system. With respect to the effectiveness of traditional and advanced processing methods in removing trace organic compounds (including TOC, DOC, UV(254), and AOC) from water, experimental results indicate that the removal rate of AOC at the Cheng Ching Lake water treatment plant (which utilizes advanced water treatment processes, and is hereinafter referred to as CCLWTP) is 54%, while the removal rate of AOC at the Gong Yuan water treatment plant (which uses traditional water treatment processes, and is hereinafter referred to as GYWTP) is 36%. In advanced water treatment units, new coagulation-sedimentation processes, rapid filters, and biological activated carbon filters can effectively remove AOC, total organic carbon (TOC), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). In traditional water treatment units, coagulation-sedimentation processes are most effective in removing AOC. Simulation results and calculations made using the AutoNet method indicate that TOC, TDS, NH(3)-N, and NO(3)-N should be regularly monitored in the CCLWTP, and that TOC, temperature, and NH(3)-N should be regularly monitored in the GYWTP.

Enhanced Néel temperature in Mn ferrite nanoparticles linked to growth-rate-induced cation inversion.

Mn ferrite (MnFe(2)O(4)) nanoparticles, having diameters from 4 to 50 nm, were synthesized using a modified co-precipitation technique in which mixed metal chloride solutions were added to different concentrations of boiling NaOH solutions to control particle growth rate. Thermomagnetization measurements indicated an increase in Néel temperature corresponding to increased particle growth rate and particle size. The Néel temperature is also found to increase inversely proportionally to the cation inversion parameter, delta, appearing in the formula (Mn(1-delta)Fe(delta))(tet)[Mn(delta)Fe(2-delta)](oct)O(4). These results contradict previously published reports of trends between Néel temperature and particle size, and demonstrate the dominance of cation inversion in determining the strength of superexchange interactions and subsequently Néel temperature in ferrite systems. The particle surface chemistry, structure, and magnetic spin configuration play secondary roles.