Physical properties of ferromagnetic-superconducting coexistent system

We studied the nuclear relaxation rate 1/T1 of a ferromagnetic-superconducting system from the mean field model proposed in Ref.14. This model predicts the existence of a set of gapless excitations in the energy spectrum which will affect the properties studied here, such as the density of states and, hence, 1/T1. The study of the temperature variation of 1/T1(for T<Tc) shows that the usual Hebel-Slichter peak exists, but will be reduced because of the dominant role of the gapless fermions and the background magnetic behavior. We have also presented the temperature dependence of ultrasonic attenuation and the frequency dependence of electromagnetic absorption within this model. We are successful in explaining certain experimental results.Comment: 10 Pages, 9 figute

Evidence for Strong-coupling S-wave Superconductivity in MgB2 :11B NMR Study

We have investigated a gap structure in a newly-discovered superconductor, MgB2 through the measurement of 11B nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate, ^{11}(1/T_1). ^{11}(1/T_1) is proportional to the temperature (T) in the normal state, and decreases exponentially in the superconducting (SC) state, revealing a tiny coherence peak just below T_c. The T dependence of 1/T_1 in the SC state can be accounted for by an s-wave SC model with a large gap size of 2\Delta /k_BT_c \sim 5 which suggests to be in a strong-coupling regime.Comment: 2 pages with 1 figur

RoofKIT - Circular Construction and Solar Energy Use in Practice at the Solar Decathlon Europe 21/22

he contribution of the RoofKIT team to the SDE 21/22 competition is the extension for an existing café in Wuppertal, Germany, to create new functions and living space for the building with simultaneous energetic upgrading. The energy concept targets all renewable resources available on and in the building for energy supply: mainly solar energy which is used via PVT collectors, as well as waste heat from ventilation and grey water which is recovered for pre-heating. As part of the competition, a demonstration unit will be built representing a small cut-out of the extension. An integral building and energy concept combines physical properties of the building with adapted building services technologies to achieve maximum indoor comfort – particularly considering possible overheating of the lightweight construction during summer – and minimum CO2 emissions. The latter extends to the whole lifecycle of the building unit and one of the major goals of the project is to realize an almost completely mono-fraction and circular building construction as a contribution to the urban mining concept

Evaluation of a wireless infrared thermometer with a narrow field of view

Many agricultural studies rely on infrared sensors for remote measurement of surface temperatures for crop status monitoring and estimating sensible and latent heat fluxes. Historically, applications for these non-contact thermometers employed the use of hand-held or stationary industrial infrared thermometers (IRTs) wired to data loggers. Wireless sensors in agricultural applications are a practical alternative, but the availability of low cost wireless IRTs is limited. In this study, we designed prototype narrow (10◦) field of view wireless infrared sensor modules and evaluated the performance of the IRT sensor by comparing temperature readings of an object (Tobj) against a blackbody calibrator in a controlled temperature room at ambient temperatures of 15 ◦C, 25 ◦C, 35 ◦C, and 45 ◦C. Additional comparative readings were taken over plant and soil samples alongside a hand-held IRT and over an isothermal target in the outdoors next to a wired IRT. The average root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) between the collected IRT object temperature readings and the blackbody target ranged between 0.10 and 0.79 ◦C. The wireless IRT readings also compared well with the hand-held IRT and wired industrial IRT. Additional tests performed to investigate the influence of direct radiation on IRT measurements indicated that housing the sensor in white polyvinyl chloride provided ample shielding for the self-compensating circuitry of the IR detector. The relatively low cost of the wireless IRT modules and repeatable measurements against a blackbody calibrator and commercial IR thermometers demonstrated that these wireless prototypes have the potential to provide accurate surface radiometric temperature readings in outdoor applications. Further studies are needed to thoroughly test radio frequency communication and power consumption characteristics in an outdoor setting

Mechanical properties of dense mycelium-bound composites under accelerated tropical weathering conditions

Mycelium, as the root of fungi, is composed of filamentous strands of fine hyphae that bind discrete substrate particles into a block material. With advanced processing, dense mycelium-bound composites (DMCs) resembling commercial particleboards can be formed. However, their mechanical properties and performance under the working conditions of particleboards are unknown. Here, we show how weathering conditions affect the DMC stress and elastic modulus. DMC was made using Ganoderma lucidum mycelium grown on a substrate of sawdust and empty fruit bunch. The DMC was then subjected to weathering under tropical conditions over 35 days and tested under flexural, tensile, and compressive loading with reference to international standards. After exposure to specified weathering conditions, the maximum stress in flexure, tension, and compression decreased substantially. The addition of a protective coating improved the resistance of DMC to weathering conditions; however, the difference between coated and uncoated samples was only found to be statistically significant in tensile strength

Magnetic and superconducting properties of Cd2Re2O7: Cd NMR and Re NQR

We report Cd NMR and Re NQR studies on Cd2Re2O7, the first superconductor among pyrochlore oxides Tc=1 K. Re NQR spectrum at zero magnetic field below 100 K rules out any magnetic or charge order. The spin-lattice relaxation rate below Tc exhibits a pronounced coherence peak and behaves within the weak-coupling BCS theory with nearly isotropic energy gap. Cd NMR results point to moderate ferromagnetic enhancement at high temperatures followed by rapid decrease of the density of states below the structural transition temperature of 200 K.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Anti-Suicidal Efficacy of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Depressive Patients: A Retrospective Analysis of a Large Sample

Background: Suicide is a major public health problem. About 90% of suicide victims have one or more major psychiatric disorder, with a reported 20-fold increased risk for suicide in patients with affective disorders in comparison with healthy subjects. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been established as an effective alternative or adjunctive treatment option for patients with depressive disorders, but little is known about its effects on suicide risk. Objective: For the assessment of the effectiveness of rTMS on suicidal ideation and behaviors, we performed a retrospective analysis of a large sample of patients with depressive disorders, who were treated with rTMS. Methods: We analyzed the records of 711 TMS in- and out-patients with depressive affective disorders in a tertiary referral hospital between 2002 and 2017. Out of these patients we were able to collect Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) data of 332 patients (180 females, 152 males; age range 20 to 79 years; mean age 47.3 ± 12.3) for which we analyzed the change of suicidal ideation by using item 3 (suicidality) of HAMD. Results: Out of all 711 patients treated with rTMS for their depression, one patient (0.1%) committed suicide during the TMS treatment. In the statistical analysis of the subsample with 332 patients there was an overall amelioration of depressive symptoms accompanied by a significant decrease in the suicidality item with a medium effect size. Decrease in suicidality was not inferior to changes in other items as indicated by effect sizes. Forty-seven percent of patients showed an amelioration in suicidality, 41.3% of patients did not show a change in their suicidality’s scores, and 11.7% of patients showed an increase in suicidality’s scores from baseline to final rating. Correlation of item 3 (suicidality) and item 7 (drive) demonstrated a significant positive association, revealing improved drive with a parallel decreased suicidality. Conclusion: Based on the proposed data, there is no evidence that rTMS increases the risk for suicide during the course of the treatment. Conversely, rTMS tends to reduce suicidal ideation. Our findings call for further rTMS controlled studies using large sample sizes and specific suicidality assessment measures to obtain more conclusive results

Short- and long-term effects of crop residues and of phosphorus fertilization on pearl millet yield on an acid sandy soil in Niger, West Africa

Field experiments were conducted during the rainy seasons of 1990 and 1991 on an acid sandy soil (Luvic Arenosol) in Niger, to assess long-term (since 1986) andshort-term (since 1990) effectsof millet straw (cropresidues) at different amounts (2 t and 6 t ha−1) and modes of application (incorporation, mulching and burning), andofphosphorus (P) fertilization on dry matter yield of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]. Especially long-term, but also short-term application ofcropresidues increased dry matter yield of pearl millet by more than 60%, whereas their omission decreased yield immediately. Compared to mulching or burning, higher yields were obtained with incorporation ofcropresidues. When cropresidues were applied as mulch, dry matter yield was increased to the same extent by 2 t and 6 t ha−1. Similar dry matter yields were achieved with cropresidues (-P) to those with P fertilizer only. An additional yield increase could be obtained by simultaneous application ofcropresiduesand P. Without cropresidues, potassium (K) concentrations in the shoot dry matter indicated K deficiency. With cropresidues considerable amounts of K (15 kg t−1) were provided and raised the K concentrations in the plants to the sufficiency range. Although with cropresidues some P was provided (1.5 kg t−1), the beneficial effects were primarily attributed to increased P acquisition by the millet plants, which was reflected in enhanced root growth in the topsoil (0–10 cm

Interaction of Laser Radiation with Plasmas and Nonadiabatic Motion of Particles in Magnetic Fields

Contains research objectives.United States Atomic Energy Commission (Contract AT(30-1)-3285