Novel Tunnel Magnetoresistive Sensor Functionalities via Oblique-Incidence Deposition.

Controlling the magnetic properties of ultrathin films remains one of the main challenges to the further development of tunnel magnetoresistive (TMR) device applications. The magnetic response in such devices is mainly governed by extending the primary TMR trilayer with the use of suitable contact materials. The transfer of magnetic anisotropy to ferromagnetic electrodes consisting of CoFeB layers results in a field-dependent TMR response, which is determined by the magnetic properties of the CoFeB as well as the contact materials.

Peptidoglycan Contribution to the B Cell Superantigen Activity of Staphylococcal Protein A.

causes reiterative and chronic persistent infections. This can be explained by the formidable ability of this pathogen to escape immune surveillance mechanisms. Cells of display the abundant staphylococcal protein A (SpA).

Acceptability and Feasibility of Early Palliative Care Among Women with Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.

Objective: To evaluate the acceptability of early palliative care (EPC) among patients with advanced ovarian cancer and to determine the feasibility of larger-scale phase III trials.

Methods: We performed a randomized controlled pilot study of adult women (>18 years) with pathologically confirmed epithelial ovarian cancer that had recurred or progressed on first-line therapy and had no immediate need for palliative care. We randomly assigned patients to either EPC or standard oncologic care (SOC), and collected patient-reported outcomes (PRO) at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months; end-of-life care quality indicators were collected at study completion.

Regulated cleavage of glycan strands by the murein hydrolase SagB in involves a direct interaction with LyrA (SpdC).

LyrA (SpdC), a homologue of eukaryotic CAAX proteases that act on prenylated substrates, has been implicated in the assembly of several pathways of the envelope of We described earlier the sostaphin esistance (Lyr) and taphylococcal rotein A isplay (Spd) phenotypes associated with loss of the () gene. However, a direct contribution to the assembly of pentaglycine crossbridges, the target of lysostaphin cleavage in peptidoglycan, or of Staphylococcal protein A attachment to peptidoglycan could not be attributed directly to LyrA (SpdC). These two processes are catalyzed by the Fem factors and Sortase A, respectively.

FmhA and FmhC of incorporate serine residues into peptidoglycan cross-bridges.

Staphylococcal peptidoglycan is characterized by pentaglycine cross-bridges that are cross-linked between adjacent wall peptides by penicillin-binding proteins to confer robustness and flexibility. In , pentaglycine cross-bridges are synthesized by three proteins: FemX adds the first glycine, and the homodimers FemA and FemB sequentially add two Gly-Gly dipeptides. Occasionally, serine residues are also incorporated into the cross-bridges by enzymes that have heretofore not been identified.