Direct demonstration of decoupling of spin and charge currents in nanostructures

The notion of decoupling of spin and charge currents is one of the basic principles underlying the rapidly expanding field of spintronics. However, no direct demonstration of the phenomenon exists. We report a novel measurement in which a nonequilibrium spin population is created by a pointlike injection of current from a ferromagnet across a tunnel barrier into a one-dimensional spin channel and detected differentially by a pair of ferromagnetic electrodes placed symmetrically about the injection point. We demonstrate that the spin current is strictly isotropic about the injection point and, therefore, completely decoupled from the unidirectional charge current.     

Preliminary design of the ITER ECH Upper Launcher

The design of the ITER electron cyclotron launchers recently reached the preliminary design level - the last major milestone before design finalization. The ITER ECH system contains 24 installed gyrotrons providing a maximum ECH injected power of 20 MW through transmission lines towards the tokamak. There are two EC launcher types both using a front steering mirror; one equatorial launcher (EL) for plasma heating and four upper launchers (UL) for plasma mode stabilization (neoclassical tearing modes and the sawtooth instability). A wide steering angle range of the ULs allows focusing of the beam on magnetic islands which are expected on the rational magnetic flux surfaces q = 1 (sawtooth instability), q = 3/2 and q = 2 (NTMs).In this paper the preliminary design of the ITER ECH UL is presented, including the optical system and the structural components. Highlights of the design include the torus CVD-diamond windows, the frictionless, front steering mechanism and the plasma facing blanket shield module (BSM). Numerical simulations as well as prototype tests are used to verify the design     

Biological and technical variables affecting immunoassay recovery of cytokines from human serum and simulated vaginal fluid: a multicenter study

The increase of proinflammatory cytokines in vaginal secretions may serve as a surrogate marker of unwanted inflammatory reaction to microbicide products topically applied for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV-1. Interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6 have been proposed as indicators of inflammation and increased risk of HIV-1 transmission; however, the lack of information regarding detection platforms optimal for vaginal fluids and interlaboratory variation limit their use for microbicide evaluation and other clinical applications. This study examines fluid matrix variants relevant to vaginal sampling techniques and proposes a model for interlaboratory comparisons across current cytokine detection technologies. IL-1beta and IL-6 standards were measured by 12 laboratories in four countries, using 14 immunoassays and four detection platforms based on absorbance, chemiluminescence, electrochemiluminescence, and fluorescence. International reference preparations of cytokines with defined biological activity were spiked into (1) a defined medium simulating the composition of human vaginal fluid at pH 4.5 and 7.2, (2) physiologic salt solutions (phosphate-buffered saline and saline) commonly used for vaginal lavage sampling in clinical studies of cytokines, and (3) human blood serum. Assays were assessed for reproducibility, linearity, accuracy, and significantly detectable fold difference in cytokine level. Factors with significant impact on cytokine recovery were determined by Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance with Dunn's multiple comparison test and multiple regression models. All assays showed acceptable intra-assay reproducibility; however, most were associated with significant interlaboratory variation. The smallest reliably detectable cytokine differences ( P < 0.05) derived from pooled interlaboratory data varied from 1.5- to 26-fold depending on assay, cytokine, and matrix type. IL-6 but not IL-1beta determinations were lower in both saline and phosphate-buffered saline as compared to vaginal fluid matrix, with no significant effect of pH. The (electro)chemiluminescence-based assays were most discriminative and consistently detected <2-fold differences within each matrix type. The Luminex-based assays were less discriminative with lower reproducibility between laboratories. These results suggest the need for uniform vaginal sampling techniques and a better understanding of immunoassay platform differences and cross-validation before the biological significance of cytokine variations can be validated in clinical trials. This investigation provides the first standardized analytic approach for assessing differences in mucosal cytokine levels and may improve strategies for monitoring immune responses at the vaginal mucosal interface.     

Management of hypophosphatemia in nocturnal hemodialysis with phosphate-containing enema: a technical study

Hypophosphatemia is observed in patients undergoing nocturnal hemodialysis. Phosphate is commonly added to the dialysate acid bath, but systematic evaluation of the safety and reliability of this strategy is lacking. The objectives of this study were 4‐fold. First, we determined whether predictable final dialysate phosphate concentrations could be achieved by adding varying amounts of Fleet^® enema. Second, we assessed the stability of calcium (Ca) and phosphate dialysate levels under simulated nocturnal hemodialysis conditions. Third, we assessed for Ca‐phosphate precipitate. Finally, we evaluated whether dialysate containing Fleet^® enema met the current sterility standards. We added serial aliquots of enema to 4.5 L of dialysate acid concentrate and proportioned the solution on Gambro and Althin/Baxter dialysis machines for up to 8 hours. We measured dialysate phosphate, Ca, pH, and bicarbonate concentrations at baseline, and after simulated dialysis at 4 and 8 hours. We evaluated for precipitation visually and by assessing optical density at 620 nm. We used inoculation of agar to detect bacteria and Pyrotell reaction for endotoxin. For every 30 mL of Fleet^® (1.38 mmol/mL of phosphate) enema added, the dialysate phosphate concentration increased by 0.2 mmol/L. There were no significant changes in dialysate phosphate, Ca, pH, and bicarbonate concentrations over 8 hours. No precipitate was observed in the dialysate by optical density measures at 620 nm for additions of up to 90 mL of enema. Bacterial and endotoxin testing met sterility standards. The addition of Fleet^® enema to dialysate increases phosphate concentration in a predictable manner, and no safety problems were observed in our in vitro studies.     

The Role of NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Oxidative Stress in Varicocele-Mediated Male Hypofertility

Varicocele (VC) is the most common abnormality identified in men evaluated for hypofertility. Increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced antioxidants concentrations are key contributors in varicocele-mediated hypofertility. Moreover, inflammation and alterations in testicular immunity negatively impact male fertility. In particular, NLRP3 inflammasome activation was hypothesized to lead to seminal inflammation, in which the levels of specific cytokines, such as IL-1β and IL-18, are overexpressed. In this review, we described the role played by oxidative stress (OS), inflammation, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in VC disease. The consequences of ROS overproduction in testis, including inflammation, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction, chromatin damage, and sperm DNA fragmentation, leading to abnormal testicular function and failed spermatogenesis, were highlighted. Finally, we described some therapeutic antioxidant strategies, with recognized beneficial effects in counteracting OS and inflammation in testes, as possible therapeutic drugs against varicocele-mediated hypofertility.     

Effect of EDTA,sodium, and calcium hypochlorite on the inorganic component of root canal dentin: A SEM analysis

This study evaluated the influence of canal irrigation protocols with 5.25% calcium hypochlorite [Ca(OCl)₂], 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and 17% EDTA solution on the inorganic component of root canal dentin. Sixty roots were randomly divided into six groups (n = 10): Saline solution (SS) (control); Saline solution (SSE) +17% EDTA; CH ? 5.25% Ca(OCl)₂; CHE ? 5.25% Ca(OCl)₂ + 17% EDTA; SH ? 5.25% NaOCl; SHE ? 5.25% NaOCl +17% EDTA. After canal irrigation, the specimens were longitudinally split and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Dentinal tubules were observed in transverse (middle and apical thirds) direction. The images were classified in scores, according to smear layer removal and peritubular dentin alteration, and data were analyzed by Kruskal–Wallis's test, followed by Dunn's test (α = 0.05). In the middle third, all groups with EDTA presented better removal of the smear layer with higher peritubular dentin alteration (p < .05). In the apical third, this happened only in SHE (p < .05). Ca(OCl)₂ and NaOCl exhibit similar performance to remove smear layer and alteration of the inorganic component in the middle third. In the apical third, NaOCl associated with EDTA showed better performance in smear layer removal.     

Bimodality of formal ontology and mereology

From the distinctions between "ontology" and "logic" and between "formal" and "material" we obtain two basic oppositions. Keeping the term "ontology" constant yields the opposition between "formal ontology" and "material ontology". This raises a question: when one speaks of ontology, how can its formal aspects be distinguished from its material ones? If, instead, we keep the term "formal" constant, the opposition is between "formal ontology" and "formal logic". The question here is therefore: when we talk about "formal" how can we distinguish between logic and ontology?Starting from these questions, I propose to update the somewhat old distinction between formal ontology as the domain of the distributive-collective opposition and material ontology as the domain of the parts-whole oppositions.     

2-Substituted-4-methoxybenzimidazole-based PDE4 inhibitors

A new family of PDE4 inhibitors based on a benzimidazole framework is described. Several of these compounds are orally bioavailable and show efficacy in in vivo models of inflammatory disease.