Slater-Pauling Behavior of the Half-Ferromagnetic Full-Heusler Alloys

Using the full-potential screened Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method we study the full-Heusler alloys based on Co, Fe, Rh and Ru. We show that many of these compounds show a half-metallic behavior, however in contrast to the half-Heusler alloys the energy gap in the minority band is extremely small. These full-Heusler compounds show a Slater-Pauling behavior and the total spin-magnetic moment per unit cell (M_t) scales with the total number of valence electrons (Z_t) following the rule: M_t=Z_t-24. We explain why the spin-down band contains exactly 12 electrons using arguments based on the group theory and show that this rule holds also for compounds with less than 24 valence electrons. Finally we discuss the deviations from this rule and the differences compared to the half-Heusler alloys.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, revised figure 3, new text adde

Half-metallicity and Slater-Pauling behavior in the ferromagnetic Heusler alloys

Introductory chapter for the book "Halfmetallic Alloys - Fundamentals and Applications" to be published in the series Springer Lecture Notes on Physics, P. H. Dederichs and I. Galanakis (eds). It contains a review of the theoretical work on the half-metallic Heusler alloys.Comment: Introductory chapter for the book "Halfmetallic Alloys - Fundamentals and Applications" to be published in the series Springer Lecture Notes on Physics, P. H. Dederichs and I. Galanakis (eds

Topical Flunixin Meglumine Effects on Pain Associated Biomarkers after Dehorning

Twenty-four calves were dehorned and treated with either topical flunixin meglumine formulated for systemic absorption or a placebo. Biomarkers associated with pain were evaluated for up to 72 hour after the dehorning procedure. Plasma cortisol concentrations, 90 minutes post-dehorning, and mechanical nociception threshold at the control site were the only tested biomarkers where a significant difference was demonstrated. No other differences of biomarkers between the two dehorned groups were observed for any time points. Although this product is easy to dose and dispense, its effects on pain biomarkers appears to be negligible

Wave-guided optical waveguides

This work primarily aims to fabricate and use two photon polymerization (2PP) microstructures capable of being optically manipulated into any arbitrary orientation. We have integrated optical waveguides into the structures and therefore have freestanding waveguides, which can be positioned anywhere in the sample at any orientation using optical traps. One of the key aspects to the work is the change in direction of the incident plane wave, and the marked increase in the numerical aperture demonstrated. Hence, the optically steered waveguide can tap from a relatively broader beam and then generate a more tightly confined light at its tip. The paper contains both simulation, related to the propagation of light through the waveguide, and experimental demonstrations using our BioPhotonics Workstation. In a broader context, this work shows that optically trapped microfabricated structures can potentially help bridge the diffraction barrier. This structure-mediated paradigm may be carried forward to open new possibilities for exploiting beams from far-field optics down to the subwavelength domain. (C)2012 Optical Society of Americ

Архетип свобода у контексті французької політичної теорії та історії

Розглянуто сучасні підходи щодо аналізу політичної ментальності. У межах політологічного аналізу окреслено коло проблем, які потребують вирішення з використанням підходів психології. Зроблено висновок про те, що архетип “свобода” становить важливий елемент політичної ментальності французів.Modern approaches of analysis of political mentality are considered. Within the limits of political science analysis outlined circle of problems which need decision with the use of approaches of psychology. A conclusion is done that archetype freedom makes the important element of political mentality of French’s

Excessive toxicity of cabozantinib in a phase II study in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic salivary gland cancer

AIM: Because the tyrosine kinases c-MET and vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR) are often overexpressed in salivary gland cancer (SGC), this study evaluated the efficacy and safety of cabozantinib in patients with recurrent/metastatic (R/M) SGC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A single-centre phase II study was conducted. Patients with immunohistochemical c-MET-positive R/M SGC were included in three cohorts: adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC); salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) and other miscellaneous SGCs. No prior systemic treatments were required. Patients started cabozantinib 60 mg once daily. The primary outcome was the objective response rate (ORR). Secondary outcomes included survival, safety and quality of life. Per Simon-two-stage design, depending on efficacy, a maximum of 43 patients would be included. RESULTS: In total, 25 patients were included until premature closure owing to severe toxicity. Six patients (24%) had grade 3-5 wound complications, occurring at a median of 7.1 months on cabozantinib treatment (range 2.1-12.6). Remarkably, four of these six patients developed this complication in the area prior exposed to high-dose radiotherapy. Other grade ≥3 adverse events in >1 patient were hypertension (20%), diarrhoea (8%) and dehydration (8%). Twenty-one patients were evaluable for response; 1/15 ACC (ORR: 7%); 1/4 SDC and 0/2 patients with other miscellaneous SGC responded. Median progression-free survival was 9.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.4-11.4 months), 7.2 months (95%CI 0.0-15.1) and 6.9 months (95%CI 0.0-15.1), respectively. CONCLUSION: This study showed too many severe cabozantinib-associated wound complications in patients with SGC, especially in prior irradiated areas. Therefore, the study closed prematurely. The efficacy in the limited number of evaluable patients was low to moderate. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03729297

Assessment in the service of learning: challenges and opportunities or Plus ça Change, Plus c’est la même Chose

This paper begins with a brief overview of literature indicating that, although there have been significant advances in the field’s capacity to conduct both formative and summative assessments over the past decades, those advances have not been matched by comparable impact. The bulk of the paper is devoted to a series of examples from the Mathematics Assessment Project that illustrate issues of methods, and the unrealized potential for advances

Imaging angiogenesis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas by [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-DOTA-E-[c(RGDfK)]₂ PET/CT

Purpose: Angiogenesis plays an important role in the growth and metastatic spread of solid tumours and is characterised by the expression of integrins on the cell surface of endothelial cells. Radiolabelled RGD peptides specifically target angiogenesis-related αvβ3 integrins, expressed on the activated endothelial cells of sprouting blood vessels. Here, we investigated the potential of 68Ga[Ga]-DOTA-E-[c(RGDfK)]2 (68Ga-RGD) PET/CT imaging to visualise angiogenesis in patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC). Methods: Ten patients with OSCC and scheduled for surgical resection including elective neck dissection, received an intravenously administration of 68Ga-RGD (42±8 µg; 214±9 MBq). All patients subsequently underwent dynamic (n=5) or static PET/CT imaging (n=5) for 60 minutes or for 4 min/bed position at 30, 60, and 90 minutes after injection, respectively. Quantitative tracer uptake in tumour lesions was expressed as Standardised Uptake Values (SUV). Additionally, tumour tissue was immunohistochemically stained for αvβ3 integrin to assess the expression pattern. Results: 68Ga-RGD tumour accumulation was observed in all patients. Tumour SUVmax, measured at 60 minutes post injection, was 7.5±2.6 and correlated positively with tumour volume (R=0.69, P=0.041). Tracer accumulation in tumour tissue plateaued at 10 minutes after injection. Uptake in background tissue did not change over time.Conclusions: 68Ga-RGD PET/CT imaging of αvβ3 integrin expression in OSCC patients is feasible with adequate tumour-to-background ratios. It will provide more insight in angiogenesis as a hallmark of the head and neck squamous cell carcinomas’ tumour microenvironment

Allosteric control of Ubp6 and the proteasome via a bidirectional switch

The interplay of the proteasome and deubiquitinase Ubp6 is crucial for the degradation of ubiquitylated substrates. Here, the authors provide structural insights into the allosteric mechanism by which the activities of both Ubp6 and the proteasome are regulated. The proteasome recognizes ubiquitinated proteins and can also edit ubiquitin marks, allowing substrates to be rejected based on ubiquitin chain topology. In yeast, editing is mediated by deubiquitinating enzyme Ubp6. The proteasome activates Ubp6, whereas Ubp6 inhibits the proteasome through deubiquitination and a noncatalytic effect. Here, we report cryo-EM structures of the proteasome bound to Ubp6, based on which we identify mutants in Ubp6 and proteasome subunit Rpt1 that abrogate Ubp6 activation. The Ubp6 mutations define a conserved region that we term the ILR element. The ILR is found within the BL1 loop, which obstructs the catalytic groove in free Ubp6. Rpt1-ILR interaction opens the groove by rearranging not only BL1 but also a previously undescribed network of three interconnected active-site-blocking loops. Ubp6 activation and noncatalytic proteasome inhibition are linked in that they are eliminated by the same mutations. Ubp6 and ubiquitin together drive proteasomes into a unique conformation associated with proteasome inhibition. Thus, a multicomponent allosteric switch exerts simultaneous control over both Ubp6 and the proteasome