Induction of coherent magnetization switching in a few atomic layers of FeCo using voltage pulses

The magnetization direction of a metallic magnet has generally been controlled by a magnetic field or by spin-current injection into nanosized magnetic cells. Both these methods use an electric current to control the magnetization direction; therefore, they are energy consuming. Magnetization control using an electric field is considered desirable because of its expected ultra-low power consumption and coherent behaviour. Previous experimental approaches towards achieving voltage control of magnetization switching have used single ferromagnetic layers with and without piezoelectric materials, ferromagnetic semiconductors, multiferroic materials, and their hybrid systems. However, the coherent control of magnetization using voltage signals has not thus far been realized. Also, bistable magnetization switching (which is essential in information storage) possesses intrinsic difficulties because an electric field does not break time-reversal symmetry. Here, we demonstrate a coherent precessional magnetization switching using electric field pulses in nanoscale magnetic cells with a few atomic FeCo (001) epitaxial layers adjacent to a MgO barrier. Furthermore, we demonstrate the realization of bistable toggle switching using the coherent precessions. The estimated power consumption for single switching in the ideal equivalent switching circuit can be of the order of 10(4)k(B)T, suggesting a reduction factor of 1/500 when compared with that of the spin-current-injection switching process.     

Capacity of adsorption of Pb2+ and Ni2+ from aqueous solutions by chitosan produced from silkworm chrysalides in different degrees of deacetylation

The binding capacities of chitin (CT) and chitosan (CS) produced from silkworm chrysalides were investigated aiming at their future application in the removal of Pb2+ and Ni2+ from wastewaters. CS with 75% deacetylation degree (DD) exhibited good binding performance for Pb(2+), but bad efficiency for Ni2+. The maximum binding capacity obtained from isotherms for CS-Pb was 141.10 mg g(-1) and 52.81 mg g(-1) for CS-Ni. The binding capacities for CT were 32.01 mg g(-1) for Pb2+ and 61.24 mg g(-1) for Ni2+. The authors attribute these behaviors to two main factors: (i) the large ionic size of Pb2+ and (ii) the steric hindrance due to CT acetyl groups. Metal binding onto CS was evaluated by the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models. The parameter values obtained from the isotherm analysis confirmed that Pb2+ and Ni2+ interact differently with CS and that various factors influence their adsorption. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the thermal behavior of CS with 75% deacetylation degree was in the same profile of standard CS; however, the binding of the metals onto its structure affects the curve profile.     

Observation of Quantum Anomalous Hall Effect and Exchange Interaction in Topological Insulator/Antiferromagnet Heterostructure

Integration of a quantum anomalous Hall insulator with a magnetically ordered material provides an additional degree of freedom through which the resulting exotic quantum states can be controlled. Here, an experimental observation is reported of the quantum anomalous Hall effect in a magnetically-doped topological insulator grown on the antiferromagnetic insulator Cr₂O₃. The exchange coupling between the two materials is investigated using field-cooling-dependent magnetometry and polarized neutron reflectometry. Both techniques reveal strong interfacial interaction between the antiferromagnetic order of the Cr₂O₃ and the magnetic topological insulator, manifested as an exchange bias when the sample is field-cooled under an out-of-plane magnetic field, and an exchange spring-like magnetic depth profile when the system is magnetized within the film plane. These results identify antiferromagnetic insulators as suitable candidates for the manipulation of magnetic and topological order in topological insulator films.     

Formation of high-T c Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2Ca2(Cu0.9Ti0.1)3O x

Influences of sintering conditions onT _c are studied for Bi_1.6Pb_0.4Sr₂Ca₂(Cu_0.9Ti_0.1)₃O _x . HighT _c values are obtained at 1123±5 K sintering temperature and over 50 h sintering time. In order to explain theT _c changes, morphological discussion is attempted.     

Intraspecific diversity in the response of Trypanosoma cruzi to environmental stress

Epimastigotes of 5 Trypanosoma cruzi stocks were cultivated in liver infusion tryptose (LIT) medium at 23-35 C or cocultivated with vertebrate cells at 35 C. A temperature decrease from 26 to 23 C resulted in a stable 60% increase in population doubling time. In zymodeme I and II stocks, a temperature increase to 35 C resulted in a transient approximately 25% increase in doubling time during the first month followed by a approximately 30% decrease after 2 mo. A zymodeme III stock did not grow at 35 C. Flow cytometric analyses showed that the total DNA/cell, guanine + cytosine (G-C), and adenine + thymidine content of 2 zymodeme II stocks increased by 3-11% when cultivated in LIT at 35 C, whereas the DNA values of 2 zymodeme I stocks did not change. The increased DNA levels, due predominantly to an increased kinetoplast G-C content, returned to normal levels when the culture temperature was reduced to 26 C. The effects of cocultivation with vertebrate cells at 35 C were identical to cultivation in LIT at 35 C except that the DNA increase in a zymodeme II stock was not stable. Total DNA/cell, nuclear, and kinetoplast DNA decreased by 8-13% upon prolonged cocultivation. No change in total protein, antigen profiles, complement sensitivity, or heat shock protein gene expression was observed as a consequence of culturing the parasites above 26 C.     

Applications of a microfabricated device for evaluating sperm function

Mesoscale structures (microns dimensions, nL-pL volumes) have been designed and fabricated in silicon for use in various analytical tasks. We studied sperm motility and performed sperm selection in channels (80 microns wide x 20 microns deep), branching structures (40 microns wide x 20 microns deep, eight bifurcations), and channels containing barriers (7 microns feature size). Sperm-cervical mucus and sperm-hyaluronic acid interactions were assessed by using appropriate microchannel-chamber structures filled with either cervical mucus or hyaluronic acid. Simultaneous assessment of the potency of different spermicides (e.g., nonoxynol-9, C13G) and spermicide concentrations was achieved with structures comprising chambers containing spermicide connected via channels to a central chamber into which semen was introduced. Semen was also tested for the presence of sperm-specific antibodies by using microchannels filled with human anti-IgG antibody-coated microbeads.     

Color duplex ultrasound in the assessment of primary venous leg ulceration

METHODS: To determine the extent and severelity of venous reflux, color duplex ultrasound was used in 370 limbs of 303 patients with primary varicose veins. The clinical findings were classified according to the CEAP (clinical, etiologic, anatomic, pathophysiologic) clinical classification. RESULTS: Of 370 limbs, 32 showed previously healed ulcer (Class 5) and active ulcer (Class 6). Overall reflux in the superficial venous system was seen in 28 limbs (87.5%), and solitary superficial vein incompetence was detected in 13 (40.6%). Reflux was detected throughout the length of the superficial vein system, and the retrograde peak velocity was greater than 30 cm/second in these limbs. Reflux in the perforating veins was detected in 14 limbs (43.8%), but isolated perforating vein incompetence was seen in only one limb (3.1%). Deep vein incompetence was detected in 12 limbs (37.5%). Concomitant superficial and perforating vein reflux was evident in 4 limbs (12.5%) and 2 limbs (6.3%), respectively, but isolated deep vein incompetence was detected in only one limb (3.1%). The operations indicated were selective stripping of the long saphenous vein in the thigh, high ligation of the short saphenous vein, subfascial ligation of perforating veins, and compression sclerotherapy for varicose tributary veins. Healing of the ulcers was achieved within 1 month after surgery, and the postoperative color duplex scanning revealed correction of deep vein incompetence. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that ablation of the superficial vein system and the perforating veins is an appropriate method for the management of patients with primary venous leg ulceration.     

Adaptive fuzzy rule-based classification systems

This paper proposes an adaptive method to construct a fuzzy rule-based classification system with high performance for pattern classification problems. The proposed method consists of two procedures: an error correction-based learning procedure, and an additional learning procedure. The error correction-based learning procedure adjusts the grade of certainty of each fuzzy rule by its classification performance. That is, when a pattern is misclassified by a particular fuzzy rule, the grade of certainty of that rule is decreased. On the contrary, when a pattern is correctly classified, the grade of certainty is increased. Because the error correction-based learning procedure is not meaningful after all the given patterns are correctly classified, we cannot adjust a classification boundary in such a case. To acquire a more intuitively acceptable boundary, we propose an additional learning procedure. We also propose a method for selecting significant fuzzy rules by pruning unnecessary fuzzy rules, which consists of the error correction-based learning procedure and the concept of forgetting. We can construct a compact fuzzy rule-based classification system with high performance