Structural, magnetic and electrical properties of SrRuO3 films and SrRuO3/SrTiO3 superlattices.

SrRuO3 films and SrRuO3/SrTiO3 superlattices grown on SrTiO3(001) were studied by structural, magnetic, magnetoresistance and Hall effect measurements. The superlattices showed heteroepitaxial growth with coherent interfaces and a Ru/Ti diffusion region of 1-1.5 unit cells. The resistivity had metallic character above a critical thickness of 3-4 unit cells, becoming insulating below. There was no hint of conduction processes along the interfaces. Both magnetization and magnetoresistance measurements showed an increase of the magnetic anisotropy, consistent with magnetostriction effects. The magnetostriction coefficient was estimated as λ100 âˆ¼ 1.4 × 10(-4). Three unit cell thick SrRuO3 layers in SrRuO3/SrTiO3 superlattices were found to have tetragonal crystal symmetry, as deduced from the sign change of the anomalous Hall constant.

Can doping graphite trigger room temperature superconductivity? Evidence for granular high-temperature superconductivity in water-treated graphite powder.

Granular superconductivity in powders of small graphite grains (several tens of micrometers) is demonstrated after treatment with pure water. The temperature, magnetic field and time dependence of the magnetic moment of the treated graphite powder provides evidence for the existence of superconducting vortices with some similarities to high-temperature granular superconducting oxides but even at temperatures above 300 K. Room temperature superconductivity in doped graphite or at its interfaces appears to be possible.

Tuberculosis determined by Mycobacterium bovis in captive waterbucks (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) in São Paulo, Brazil

Two waterbucks from São Paulo Zoo Foundation exhibited respiratory symptoms in July 2004. After euthanasia, granulommas in lungs and mediastinic lymph nodes were observed. Acid-fast bacilli isolated were identified as Mycobacterium bovis spoligotype SB0121 by PRA and spoligotyping. They were born and kept in the same enclosure with the same group, without any contact to other species housed in the zoo. This is the first detailed description of M. bovis infection in Kobus ellipsiprymnus.

Tuberculosis determined by Mycobacterium bovis in captive waterbucks (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) in SÃo paulo, Brazil.

Two waterbucks from São Paulo Zoo Foundation exhibited respiratory symptoms in July 2004. After euthanasia, granulommas in lungs and mediastinic lymph nodes were observed. Acid-fast bacilli isolated were identified as Mycobacterium bovis spoligotype SB0121 by PRA and spoligotyping. They were born and kept in the same enclosure with the same group, without any contact to other species housed in the zoo. This is the first detailed description of M. bovis infection in Kobus ellipsiprymnus.

Induced magnetic ordering by proton irradiation in graphite.

We provide evidence that proton irradiation of energy 2.25 MeV on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite samples triggers ferro- or ferrimagnetism. Measurements performed with a superconducting quantum interferometer device and magnetic force microscopy reveal that the magnetic ordering is stable at room temperature.

Disruption of axonal transport from olfactory epithelium by 3-methylindole.

The effects of 150, 350, and 400 mg/kg intraperitoneal 3-methylindole (3-MI) on anterograde transport of horseradish peroxidase from the olfactory epithelium to the olfactory bulb were investigated. In 400 mg/kg 3-MI-treated rats sacrificed after 7 days only about 2% of all glomeruli had normal levels of the reaction product, and most glomeruli had no detectable reaction product. Lower doses of 3-MI produced correspondingly less disruption of axonal transport, with savings located primarily in the ventral to midlateral and the ventromedial region of the bulb. There was a gradual recovery of bulbar connections in 12-, 22-, and 92-day survival rats. In all cases, the increase in axonal transport was greatest in glomeruli on the lateral, ventral, and ventromedial areas of the bulb, and least evident or absent on the dorsal and dorsomedial areas.

Odor detection in rats with 3-methylindole-induced reduction of sensory input.

Rats were tested on odor-detection tasks after treatment with 400 mg/kg of 3-methyl-indole. As revealed by anterograde transport of horseradish peroxidase from the olfactory epithelium to the olfactory bulb glomeruli, treatment produced a severe (>97%) loss in sensory input relative to untreated controls. In almost all cases, only glomeruli in a restricted ventromedial segment of the bulb contained control levels of reaction product. In Experiment 1, five of nine experimental rats were anosmic or severely hyposmic, but the remaining four rats were able to detect amyl acetate vapor. In Experiment 2, four of seven experimental rats were anosmic, but the remaining three were able to detect each of four different odors. Among all experimental rats, those that were anosmic had significantly fewer glomeruli with dense anterograde transport than did those that could smell. Among rats that could smell, performance accuracy was related to the number of glomeruli with reaction product.

Early suppressive effects of chemotherapy and cytokine treatment on committed versus primitive haemopoietic progenitors in patient bone marrow.

These studies investigated the effectiveness of in vivo administration of cytokines in ameliorating potential marrow damage induced by chemotherapy. Breast cancer patients received 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (FLAC) followed by either GM-CSF, PIXY321, or no cytokine. Marrow was obtained before and after one or two cycles of FLAC once blood cell counts had recovered. Colony-forming units for granulocytes and macrophages (CFU-GM) were used to indicate the effect of therapy on recovery of committed progenitor cells responsible for early blood cell recovery. The frequency and number of CFU-GM in marrow obtained after FLAC + PIXY321 were significantly lower than in marrow obtained after FLAC+GM-CSF or FLAC without cytokine. CD34+ cell numbers were also reduced after FLAC + PIXY321. CFU-GM production in marrow long-term cultures (LTC) was used to assess the effect of therapy on primitive progenitors. After 5 weeks the number of CFU-GM in LTC of post-therapy marrow from all three treatment arms was < 15% of the number in pre-therapy LTC. Suppressive effects of FLAC on primitive progenitors were observed even when committed progenitors and CD34+ cells had recovered to pre-therapy levels. These results demonstrate that cytokine treatment did not ameliorate suppressive or toxic effects of FLAC on the functional integrity of the marrow.