Non-destructive depth profile evaluation of multi-layer thin film stack using simultaneous analysis of data from multiple X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy instruments

Non-destructive depth profile evaluation of multi-layer thin film stacks using simultaneous analysis of angle-resolved x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data from multiple instruments is demonstrated. The data analysis algorithm, called the maximum smoothness method, was originally designed to handle data from a single XPS instrument with a single x-ray energy; in this work, the algorithm is extended to provide a simultaneous analysis tool which can handle data from multiple instruments with multiple x-ray energies. The analysis provides depth profiles for multilayer stacks that cannot be obtained by conventional data analysis methods. In this paper, metal multi-layer stack samples with total thickness greater than 10 nm are analyzed with the maximum smoothness method to nondestructively obtain depth profiles, with precise information on the chemical states of atoms in the surface layer (< 2 nm) and the overall layer stack structure, which can only be obtained by analyzing the data from multiple instruments.

Skin Soothing Effect of Three Herbs from the Namwon-Mt.Jiri Regions

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint grown in the Namwon-Mt.Jiri regions as functional soothing ingredients for cosmetics.Methods: The simultaneous analysis of 19 polyphenols in 50% ethanol-extracted samples of lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint cultivated in the Namwon-Mt.Jiri regions were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Antioxidant activity was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Using real-time PCR, improvements in skin barrier function were confirmed by observing the mRNA expression levels of filaggrin and involucrin, and the moisturizing ability was confirmed through the mRNA expression of HAS-2 and HAS-3. The anti-inflammatory efficacy was verified by confirming the expression levels of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and the pro-inflammatory mediator nitric oxide (NO).Results: In the simultaneous analysis of 19 phenolic compounds, rosmarinic acid from lavender; chlorogenic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, and ferulic acid from lemongrass; and caffeic acid, quercitin hydrate, rosmarinic acid, and hesperetin from peppermint were identified. Antioxidant efficacy was confirmed by DPPH radical scavenging, and excellent efficacy was shown in the order of lavender, peppermint, and lemongrass. Filaggrin and involucrin, skin barrier-related genes, were increased more in lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint than in the untreated group. HAS-2 and HAS-3 were also confirmed to be increased in lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint. Lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint all showed concentration-dependent inhibition of IL-6 and NO.Conclusion: Extracts of lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint cultivated in the Namwon-Mt.Jiri regions had excellent antioxidant, skin barrier, moisturizing and anti-inflammatory effects, so may be considered for use as natural raw materials for soothing cosmetics.

Spatial Meta-transcriptomes of human and murine intestines

We developed an analysis pipeline that can extract microbial sequences from Spatial Transcriptomic data and assign taxonomic labels to them, generating a spatial microbial abundance matrix in addition to the default host expression one, enabling simultaneous analysis of host expression and microbial distribution. We applied it on both human and murine intestinal datasets and validated the spatial microbial abundance information with alternative assays. Finally, we present a few biological insights that can be gained from this novel data. In summary, this proof of concept work demonstrated the feasibility of Spatial Meta-transcriptomic analysis, and pave the way for future experimental optimization.