Label-Free Quantitative Proteomics Reveals Differences in Molecular Mechanism of Atherosclerosis Related and Non-Related to Chronic Kidney Disease

The major cause of mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is atherosclerosis related to traditional and non-traditional risk factors. However, the understanding of the molecular specificity that distinguishes the risk factors for classical cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CKD-related atherosclerosis (CKD-A) is far from complete. In this study we investigated the disease-related differences in the proteomes of patients with atherosclerosis related and non-related to CKD. Plasma collected from patients in various stages of CKD, CVD patients without symptoms of kidney dysfunction, and healthy volunteers (HVs), were analyzed by a coupled label-free and mass spectrometry approach. Dysregulated proteins were confirmed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All proteomic data were correlated with kidney disease development and were subjected to bioinformatics analysis. One hundred sixty-two differentially expressed proteins were identified. By directly comparing the plasma proteomes from HVs, CKD, and CVD patients in one study, we demonstrated that proteins involved in inflammation, blood coagulation, oxidative stress, vascular damage, and calcification process exhibited greater alterations in patients with atherosclerosis related with CKD. These data indicate that the above nontraditional risk factors are strongly specific for CKD-A and appear to be less essential for the development of “classical” CVD.     

Latex allergy in health services workers

The studies were performed in 20 workers from the Health Service (13 women and 7 men in the age 25-57) suffering from hand urticaria (6 persons) and hand dermatitis (14 persons) suspected of the allergy to latex gloves. In all patients the familial and personal predispositions to allergy were evaluated by the anamnesis, the estimation of total IgE serum level and the skin prick tests (SPT) with inhalant allergens. The latex allergy was diagnosed by SPT and contact test with standardized extract of the natural latex allergen in the concentration 1000 PNU/ml (Nexter-Allergopharma) and by estimation of specific to latex IgE serum level. In addition to this, contact tests with glove's material as well European standard contact allergens (Hermal) were done and the one with antiseptic substances to which the patient was exposed at his work. The allergy type I to latex gloves was confirmed in all 6 cases with contact urticaria. The SPT with standard extract of the natural latex was more valuable than latex specific IgE in the serum. Contact allergy (type IV) to latex gloves was confirmed in 10 from 14 suspected cases. In the next 4 the allergy to antiseptic substances was the reasons of the illness. The allergy to latex gloves appears more often in women. No case showed the familial predisposition to allergy and only 4 patients additionally suffered from the allergy to pollen and mites. Moreover in both groups of patients we showed the presence of the additional contact allergy to different allergens (to metals and antiseptic substances).     

Domain Structure in (NiFe/Au/Co/Au)$_{10}$ Multilayers With Perpendicular Anisotropy of Co Layers

Results of domain structures observation of individual Ni $_{80}$Fe $_{20}$ and Co sublayers in sputter deposited (NiFe/Au/Co/Au)$_{10}$ multilayers, using an element-sensitive method: the photoemission electron microscopy combined with soft X-ray magnetic circular dichroism, are presented. Also, overall domain structures were studied with magnetic force microscopy. The studies allowed us to reveal submicron stripe domains in the investigated samples and the replication of the stripe domains from the Co layers with perpendicular anisotropy to the NiFe layers with easy-plane anisotropy.      

Influence of Interface Roughness, Film Texture, and Magnetic Anisotropy on Exchange Bias in [Pt/Co]3/IrMn and IrMn/[Co/Pt]3 Multilayers

Co/Pt multilayers can exhibit considerable exchange bias along the film normal when grown onto or covered by an antiferromagnetic IrMn layer. The magnitude of the bias effect depends strongly on the selection of the buffer layers and is largest for Co/Pt multilayers with small perpendicular anisotropy. This counterintuitive result is explained by opposite dependencies of exchange bias and magnetic anisotropy on the degree of film texture and grain size. Interface roughness also influences the perpendicular exchange bias field. The largest biases are measured on smooth films. Interlayer mixing during post-deposition annealing procedures decreases the exchange bias field of IrMn-capped Co/Pt multilayers.     

Spannungsanisotropie und Struktur von TiN-Schichten

Stress anisotropy and structure of TiN thin films In many sputtering processes the substrate is rotated or periodically moved with respect to the target in order to obtain a homogeneous film deposition. In that case anisotropic conditions of film growth exist which lead to anisotropic mechanical stresses. The stress anisotropy depends on the carrier velocity and can be attributed to the film structure. The stress measurements, therefore, will be related to measurements of composition by SNMS, to determination of stoichiometry by ellipsometry and to investigations of structure by X-ray diffraction.     

Phenolic compounds isolated from bitter lupine seeds and their inhibitory effects on germination and seedling growth of lettuce

The phenolic acids, including 4-hydroxybenzoic and 4-hydroxycinnamic acids, and their derivatives, such as 6,7-dihydroxycoumarin and 1,2-dihydroxybenzene, were isolated from bitter lupine seeds and were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. These compounds inhibited lettuce seed germination in the first 24 hr after sowing, but after 72 hr germination was comparable with that of the control. However, very strong suppression of seedling growth, especially the roots, was observed for higher concentrations of the lupine seed fractions containing phenolic acids. Effects observed in the lettuce germination bioassays were compared with those produced by nine pure phenolic acids previously identified in the mixture. The ethyl acetate fraction from lupine seed extract inhibited seedling growth as effectively as pure 1,2-dihydroxybenzene, the strongest inhibitor of the pure phenolic compounds studied. The possible reason for this could be the synergistic effect created in the mixture of phenolic compounds isolated from the extract.     

The preparation and properties of electrodeposited permalloy films on substrates of evaporated permalloy

The technology of production and some of the properties of isotropic magnetic Ni 80%-Fe 20% films are described. These films were obtained by permalloy electrodeposition onto glass substrates previously coated with vacuum-deposited thin films of Ni-Fe alloy. The change in the magnetoresistance of the films as a function of thickness has been investigated and is discussed, taking into account the influence of the film composition. The results are compared with those previously reported for evaporated films. The dependence of coercive force on film thickness is given. An increase in the crystallite size of the electro-deposited films with respect to the vacuum-deposited substrate has been found.     

梅塞斯米特Bf-109 G-6

<正>DiORAMA1/32介绍我的朋友邀请我制作一架豪普特曼·格尔哈德·巴克霍隆(Hauptmann Gerhard Barkhorn)驾驶的Bf-109 G-6。他希望把整架飞机安置在一个草坪地台之上,旁边站着它的机师。飞机涂装需要根据历史照片精确还原。我选用了长谷川出品的1/32 Bf-109,另外还添加了Master Details为本套材出品的树脂座舱、排气管、螺旋桨以及起落架组件,RB出品的蚀刻片,     

Structural and tunneling properties of magnetic tunnel junctions with Al-O and MgO barrier

Two types of magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) with the configuration: substrate Si(1 0 0)/SiO₂ 47 nm/buffer/IrMn 12 nm/CoFe 2.5 nm/Al-O 1.5 nm/NiFe 3 nm/Ta 5 nm and Si(1 0 0)/SiO₂ 47 nm/buffer/IrMn 10 nm/CoFeB 3 nm/MgO 2 nm/CoFeB 4 nm/Ta 5 nm were prepared by the sputtering technique with two different buffers: A-Cu 25 nm and B-Ta 5 nm/Cu 25 nm. The B buffer caused a high texture of MTJs whereas in the case of the A buffer junctions texture was weak. Crystallites in the textured layers grew in a columnar like shape that induced interfacial roughness. High textured buffer B caused high interfacial roughness that reduced the resistance-area (RA) product due to a barrier thickness fluctuation. RA also changed substantially depending on the type of a barrier. The highest RA product ∼15 MΩ μm² was achieved for a low textured junction with Al-O barrier whereas in the high textured MgO sample RA product was ∼100 kΩ μm². Tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) measured at room temperature was about 45% for the samples with Al-O barrier, whereas for the samples with MgO barrier TMR was about three times higher and achieved 140%.