Structural, chemical, and magnetic investigation of a graphene/cobalt/platinum multilayer system on silicon carbide.

We investigate the magnetic interlayer coupling and domain structure of ultra-thin ferromagnetic (FM) cobalt (Co) layers embedded between a graphene (G) layer and a platinum (Pt) layer on a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate (G/Co/Pt on SiC). Experimentally, a combination of x-ray photoemission electron microscopy with x-ray magnetic circular dichroism has been carried out at the Co L-edge. Furthermore, structural and chemical properties of the system have been investigated using low energy electron diffraction (LEED) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).In situLEED patterns revealed the crystalline structure of each layer within the system. Moreover, XPS confirmed the presence of quasi-freestanding graphene, the absence of cobalt silicide, and the appearance of two silicon carbide surface components due to Pt intercalation. Thus, the Pt-layer effectively functions as a diffusion barrier. The magnetic structure of the system was unaffected by the substrate's step structure. Furthermore, numerous vortices and anti-vortices were found in all samples, distributed all over the surfaces, indicating Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction. Only regions with a locally increased Co-layer thickness showed no vortices. Moreover, unlike in similar systems, the magnetization was predominantly in-plane, so no perpendicular magnetic anisotropy was found.

Treatment of steroid-unresponsive optic neuritis with plasma exchange.

OBJECTIVES: Until now, the significance of plasma exchange (PE) as a treatment for steroid-unresponsive optic neuritis (ON) is still unclear because placebo-controlled and larger studies are missing. We report our experience with 23 patients treated by PE due to steroid-unresponsive ON. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were admitted to the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf between 2006 and 2010 with a visual acuity of <50% on the affected eye following steroid treatment. Ten patients suffered from RR-MS, one from neuromyelitis optica, and 12 patients developed ON as a clinically isolated syndrome. Routinely, they were treated with five cycles of PE. Visual acuity was measured before and directly after PE and during follow-up (first follow-up after 50 days, second follow-up after 174 days). RESULTS: Altogether, 70% of our patients improved after PE, 69% of them showed a good or very good response to therapy. Patients who improved well after PE (n = 11) showed a mean visual acuity of 16% before PE compared to 45% immediately after PE and 60% at the first follow-up. No serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, our study is the largest case series of patients with steroid-unresponsive ON treated with PE. Based on our experience, we conclude that PE is an important treatment option for patients with steroid-unresponsive ON although placebo-controlled studies are missing until now.

Shaping biological knowledge: applications in proteomics.

The central dogma of molecular biology has provided a meaningful principle for data integration in the field of genomics. In this context, integration reflects the known transitions from a chromosome to a protein sequence: transcription, intron splicing, exon assembly and translation. There is no such clear principle for integrating proteomics data, since the laws governing protein folding and interactivity are not quite understood. In our effort to bring together independent pieces of information relative to proteins in a biologically meaningful way, we assess the bias of bioinformatics resources and consequent approximations in the framework of small-scale studies. We analyse proteomics data while following both a data-driven (focus on proteins smaller than 10 kDa) and a hypothesis-driven (focus on whole bacterial proteomes) approach. These applications are potentially the source of specialized complements to classical biological ontologies.

Changes in the multi-joint kinematics and co-ordination after repetitive windsurfing pumping task.

AIM: This study investigated the change in kinematics after repetitive continuous maximal windsurfing pumping on a simulator by utilizing 3-D motion analysis. METHODS: Six competitive windsurfers exercised on a tailor-made simulator. The wind force was simulated by attaching the boom to the power head of a rowing ergometer. The exercise consisted of 3 sets of 3-minute maximum pumping. The motion of wrist, elbow, shoulder (on sagittal and frontal planes), waist, hip, knee and ankle joints were recorded by 2 video cameras. Kinematic analysis included the assessment of the change of the range of motion, movement speed (pulling phase and the whole pumping cycle), as well as the movement pattern of all tested joints. RESULTS: Modified motor strategy was documented by the significant drop of vertical excursion of the body centre of mass. Moreover, the ankle plantar flexors and dorsiflexors, mid-deltoid as well as wrist extensor and flexor, had significant change of movement according to the assessed parameters. Therefore, they may be the muscles that were more influenced than the other assessed muscles after continuous maximal pumping. The change of muscle co-ordination may be a compensation mechanism to maintain work output. CONCLUSIONS: Findings in this study may suggest the importance of implementing specific muscle training program for the competitive windsurfers to increase the pumping capacity.

High statistics measurement of the K+-->pi0e+nu (K+e3) branching ratio.

E865 at the Brookhaven National Laboratory AGS collected about 70 000 K(+)(e3) events to measure the K(+)(e3) branching ratio relative to the observed K+-->pi(+)pi(0), K+-->pi(0)micro(+)nu, and K+-->pi(+)pi(0)pi(0) decays. The pi(0) in all the decays was detected using the e(+)e(-) pair from pi(0)-->e(+)e(-)gamma decay and no photons were required. Using the 2002 Particle Data Group branching ratios for the normalization decays, we obtain BR(K(+)(e3(gamma)))=(5.13+/-0.02(stat)+/-0.09(syst)+/-0.04(norm))%, where K(+)(e3(gamma)) includes the effect of virtual and real photons. This result is approximately 2.3sigma higher than the current Particle Data Group value. Implications for the V(us) element of the CKM matrix, and the matrix's unitarity are discussed.

Experimental study of the radiative decays K+-->mu(+)nue(+)e(-) and K+-->e(+)nue(+)e(-).

Experiment 865 at the Brookhaven Alternating Gradient Synchrotron obtained 410 K+-->e(+)nue(+)e(-) and 2679 K+-->mu(+)nue(+)e(-) events including 10% and 19% background. The branching ratios were measured to be [2.48+/-0.14(stat)+/-0.14(syst)]x10(-8) (m(ee)>150 MeV) and (7.06+/-0.16+/-0.26)x10(-8) (m(ee)>145 MeV), respectively. Results for the decay form factors are presented.

A humanist's legacy in medical informatics: visions and accomplishments of Professor Jean-Raoul Scherrer.

OBJECTIVE: To report about the work of Prof. Jean-Raoul Scherrer, and show how his humanist vision, his medical skills and his scientific background have enabled and shaped the development of medical informatics over the last 30 years. RESULTS: Starting with the mainframe-based patient-centered hospital information system DIOGENE in the 70s, Prof. Scherrer developed, implemented and evolved innovative concepts of man-machine interfaces, distributed and federated environments, leading the way with information systems that obstinately focused on the support of care providers and patients. Through a rigorous design of terminologies and ontologies, the DIOGENE data would then serve as a basis for the development of clinical research, data mining, and lead to innovative natural language processing techniques. In parallel, Prof. Scherrer supported the development of medical image management, ranging from a distributed picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) to molecular imaging of protein electrophoreses. Recognizing the need for improving the quality and trustworthiness of medical information on the Web, Prof. Scherrer created the Health-On-the-Net (HON) foundation. CONCLUSIONS: These achievements, made possible thanks to his visionary mind, deep humanism, creativity, generosity and determination, have made of Prof. Scherrer a true pioneer and leader of the human-centered, patient-oriented application of information technology for improving healthcare.

[PACS: from project to reality. Report of experiences on full digitalisation of the radiology department of a major hospital]. / PACS: Vom Projekt zur Realität. Erfahrungsbericht über die vollständige Digitalisierung der Radiologischen Abteilung eines Schwerpunktkrankenhauses.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the time needed and the resulting effects of a complete digitalisation of a radiological department of a major hospital (856 beds, 28,000 in-patients, 35,000 out-patients/year) a pilot study was performed. This had to be done without interrupting routine services. RESULTS: After intensive preparations were performed and the hospital-network was completed, within a two year period all radiological functions (mammography excluded), reporting stations and archives were changed to a complete digital workflow. All modalities (provided by 3 different companies) are now connected by DICOM-work lists. The picture-files (4 GB/day) are automatically routed to the work-stations (n = 10), where the reporting and file shows are performed, to the digital archive and to the peripheral viewing-stations (n = 44). The distribution of the digital pictures takes place all over the hospital including the ORs and special units. We accomplished, to connect electronically the report and the image data. The clinical file shows are also performed completely digitally. The access to the data of the deep archive is possible by the dept. of radiology without any manual interaction. The film consumption was reduced to an amount of less than 10%, as compared to the prior PACS situation. Since PACS has been introduced the radiological productivity increased by more than 15% and throughput-time was clearly reduced. CONCLUSIONS: The complete digitalisation increases productivity and attractiveness of a hospital-radiology and helps to shorten diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making. The transfer from a conventional to a digital workflow is possible without interrupting the clinical services. Extensive preparations and ongoing assistance of such projects though are clearly needed.

New measurement of K(+)(e4) decay and the s-pave pi pi-scattering length a(0)(0).

A sample of 4 x 10(5) events from the decay K(+)-->pi(+)pi(-)e(+)nu(e) (K(e4)) has been collected in experiment E865 at the Brookhaven Alternating Gradient Synchrotron. The analysis of these data yields new measurements of the K(e4) branching ratio [(4.11+/-0.01+/-0.11) x 10(-5)], the s-wave pi pi scattering length [a(0)(0) = 0.216+/-0.013(stat)+/-0.004(syst)+/-0.005(theor)], and the form factors F, G, and H of the hadronic current and their dependence on the invariant pi pi mass.

New perspectives in the Escherichia coli proteome investigation.

Escherichia coli is a model organism for biochemical and biological studies as it is one of the best characterised prokaryote. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, computer image analysis and different protein identification techniques gave rise, in 1995, to the Escherichia coli SWISS-2D PAGE database (http://www.expasy.ch/ch2d/). In the E. coli 3.5-10 SWISS-2D PAGE map, 40% of the E. coli proteome was displayed. The present study demonstrated that the use of narrow range pH gradients is able to potentially display up to a few copies of protein per E. coli cell. Moreover, the six new E. coli SWISS-2D PAGE maps (pH 4-5, 4.5-5.5, 5-6, 5.5-6.7, 6-9 and 6-11) presented here displayed altogether more than 70% of the entire E. coli proteome.

The mouse SWISS-2D PAGE database: a tool for proteomics study of diabetes and obesity.

A number of two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) reference maps from mouse samples have been established and could be accessed through the internet. An up-to-date list can be found in WORLD-2D PAGE (http://www.expasy.ch/ch2d/2d- index.html), an index of 2-DE databases and services. None of them were established from mouse white and brown adipose tissues, pancreatic islets, liver nuclei and skeletal muscle. This publication describes the mouse SWISS-2D PAGE database. Proteins present in samples of mouse (C57BI/6J) liver, liver nuclei, muscle, white and brown adipose tissue and pancreatic islets are assembled and described in an accessible uniform format. SWISS-2D PAGE can be accessed through the World Wide Web (WWW) network on the ExPASy molecular biology server (http://www.expasy.ch/ ch2d/).

New measurement of the rare decay K+ --> pi(+)&mgr;(+)&mgr;(-)

More than 400 K+-->pi(+)&mgr;(+)&mgr;(-) events were observed in a rare K+ decay experiment at the Brookhaven Alternating Gradient Synchrotron. Normalized to the K+-->pi(+)pi(+)pi(-) decay, the branching ratio is determined to be [9.22+/-0.60(stat)+/-0. 49(syst)]x10(-8). This branching ratio and the &mgr;&mgr; mass spectrum is in very good agreement with the measurement of the K+-->pi(+)e(+)e(-) decay, but deviates significantly from the previous measurement.

Search for lepton flavor violation in K+ decays into a charged pion and two leptons.

A search for lepton flavor violating decays, K+ --> mu+ mu+ pi-, K+ --> e+ e+ pi-, K+ --> pi+ e+ mu-, K+ --> mu+ e+ pi-, and pi0 --> e+ mu-, was performed using the data collected in Experiment E865 at the Brookhaven Alternating Gradient Synchrotron. No signal was found in any of the decay modes. At the 90% confidence level, the branching ratios are less than 3.0x10(-9), 6.4x10(-10), 5. 2x10(-10), 5.0x10(-10), and 3.4x10(-9), respectively.

Improved limit on the rate of the decay K+ --> pi(+)&mgr;(+)e(-)

We report results of a search for the lepton-family number violating decay K+-->pi(+)&mgr;(+)e(-) from data collected by experiment E865 in 1996 at the Alternating Gradient Synchroton of Brookhaven National Laboratory. We place an upper limit on the branching ratio at 3.9x10(-11) ( 90% C.L.). Together with results based on data collected in 1995 and an earlier experiment, E777, this result establishes a combined 90% confidence level upper limit on the branching ratio at 2.8x10(-11). We also report a new upper limit on the branching ratio for pi(0)-->&mgr;(+)e(-) of 3.8x10(-10) ( 90% C. L.).

Tobacco, hypertension, and vascular disease: risk factors for renal functional decline in an older population.

BACKGROUND: A decline in renal function with age has been noted in some but not all individuals. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors associated with a clinically significant increase in serum creatinine (of at least 0.3 mg/dL) in an older nondiabetic population. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was performed analyzing data obtained from 4142 nondiabetic participants of the Cardiovascular Health Study Cohort, all at least 65 years of age, who had two measurements of serum creatinine performed at least three years apart. Cases were identified as participants who developed an increase in serum creatinine of at least 0.3 mg/dL, with controls including participants who did not sustain such an increase. RESULTS: There was an increase in the serum creatinine of at least 0.3 mg/dL in 2.8% of the population. In a multivariate "best-fit" model adjusted for gender, weight, black race, baseline serum creatinine, and age, the following factors were associated with an increase in serum creatinine: number of cigarettes smoked per day, systolic blood pressure, and maximum internal carotid artery intimal thickness. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that three very preventable or treatable conditions-hypertension, smoking, and prevalent vascular disease, which are associated with large and small vessel disease-are highly associated with clinically important changes in renal function in an older population.

IgA nephropathy and Reiter's syndrome. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy is the commonest type of primary glomerulonephritis worldwide. It has previously been reported in association with the seronegative spondyloarthropathies (ankylosing spondylitis, Behcet's syndrome, psoriatic arthritis, Reiter's syndrome and the postenteritic arthritides). Since this condition was first described in 1968, 5 previous case reports of biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy associated with Reiter's syndrome have been published in the English-language literature. Here we report 2 more such cases, along with a review of the literature describing the association of IgA nephropathy and a number of other immune-complex-mediated glomerulonephritides with the seronegative spondyloarthropathies.

The 1999 SWISS-2DPAGE database update.

SWISS-2DPAGE (http://www.expasy.ch/ch2d/ ) is an annotated two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electro-phoresis (2-DE) database established in 1993. The current release contains 24 reference maps from human and mouse biological samples, as well as from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Escherichia coli and Dictyostelium discoideum origin. These reference maps have now 2824 identified spots, corresponding to 614 separate protein entries in the database, in addition to virtual entries for each SWISS-PROT sequence or any user-entered amino acids sequence. Last year improvements in the SWISS-2DPAGE database are as follows: three new maps have been created and several others have been updated; cross-references to newly built federated 2-DE databases have been added; new functions to access the data have been provided through the ExPASy proteomics server.

Modeling peptide mass fingerprinting data using the atomic composition of peptides.

The peptide mass fingerprinting technique is commonly used for identifying proteins analyzed by mass spectrometry (MS) after enzymatic digestion. Our goal is to build a theoretical model that predicts the mass spectra of such digestion products in order to improve the identification and characterization of proteins using this technique. We present here the first step towards a full MS model. We have modeled MS spectra using the atomic composition of peptides and evaluated the influence that this composition may have on the MS signals. Peptides deduced from the SWISS-PROT protein sequence database were used for the calculation. To validate the model, the variability of the peptide mass distribution in SWISS-PROT was compared to two theoretical, randomly generated databases. Functions have been built that describe the behavior of the isotopic distribution according to the mass of peptides. The variability of these functions was analyzed. In particular, the influence of sulfur was studied. This work, while representing only a first step in the construction of an MS model, yields immediate practical results, as the new isotopic distribution model significantly improves peak detection in MS spectra used by protein identification algorithms.