Unusually large magnetic anisotropy in electrochemically deposited Co-rich Co-Pt films.

Co-rich Co-Pt films grown by electrodeposition from an amino-nitrite/citrate/glycine electrolyte onto Au(111) substrates apparently grow with a hexagonal structure, with its c-axis directed perpendicular to the surface. The films exhibit a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (MCA) of the same order of magnitude as the shape anisotropy. Experimental estimates of the MCA result in a higher anisotropy than that reported for bulk materials of the same composition, but similar to values measured in films grown by vacuum methods at relatively high temperature, which partly consist of a high anisotropy, metastable orthorhombic Pmm2 phase. Comparison of valence band X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements on electrodeposited films with density functional theory simulations of the electronic structure of the various reported Co(3)Pt structures support the notion that the films may consist of a mixture of the hexagonal and the Pmm2 structure.

Risk factors for delayed healing of duodenal ulcers treated with famotidine and ranitidine.

OBJECTIVES: 1) To validate risk factors for delayed healing of duodenal ulcers identified previously in a pilot study, and 2) To evaluate whether famotidine improves the rate of duodenal ulcer healing and pain relief, compared with ranitidine. DESIGN: prospective, multicenter, double-observer-blinded, randomized trial. SETTING: 594 patients with active duodenal ulcers seen in private practice offices, university based medical practices and Veterans Affairs hospital clinics. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive famotidine 40 mg or ranitidine 300 mg qhs. MEASUREMENTS: Endoscopy was performed at entry and at 2, 4, and 8 wk after therapy or until complete ulcer healing. Seventeen patient variables, including demographic, past historical, presenting historical and endoscopic characteristics, were assessed for their relationship to healing. RESULTS: After 4 wk of treatment, by a "per protocol" analysis, three risk factors for nonhealing were statistically significant: prior ulcer history [63.0% healed, compared to 77.9% with no history, p = 0.001, odds ratio for not healing (OR) = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.4-3.1]; ulcer size (61.6% of ulcers > or = 10 mm healed at 4 wk compared to 75.5% of smaller ulcers, p = 0.001, OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.3-2.8); and smoking (62% of smokers healed vs. 77.7% of nonsmokers, OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.4-3.1). The presence of multiple risk factors resulted in additive risk: for patients with no risk factors, 86.8% healed at 4 wk, with any one risk factor 76.8% healed, with two factors 63.0%, and with all three risk factors only 46.9% healed. Multiple risk factors also affected healing rates at 8 wk. Bleeding, alcohol use, and prior NSAID use did not influence ulcer healing. Although famotidine resulted in statistically significant faster ulcer healing when examined on an "intention-to-treat" basis, there were no differences between the drugs when examined on a "per protocol" basis. Patients treated with famotidine achieved more rapid pain relief than those treated with ranitidine. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Smoking, prior ulcer history, and ulcer size > or = 10 mm exert independent risks for nonhealing of duodenal ulcers; 2) These risks are similar for both famotidine and ranitidine; 3) Patients with multiple risk factors for nonhealing may require more prolonged acid suppression therapy than patients who have no risks.