61 research outputs found
Relationship between Groat-Oil Content and Grain Yield of Oats (Avena sativa L.)
Raising the energy content of oat (Avena sativa L.) groats by increasing their oil percentage could improve the economic value of oats as a feed grain and as a source of culinary oil. Relative importance of genotype x environment interaction for groat-oil content and grain yield and the correlations of groat-oil content with yield and maturity were evaluated for ten cultivars grown at three Iowa locations for two years. Cultivar x location mean squares were significant for both traits, but they were much smaller, relative to cultivar mean squares, for groat-oil content than for grain yield. Ranking of oat cultivars for groat-oil content was similar in all environments. Groat-oil content was positively correlated with grain yield in both years (r = 0.62* and 0.63*) and had a negative but nonsignificant correlation coefficient with maturity (r = - 0.28 and - 0.48). These relationships are favorable for the development of high-yielding, high groat-oil content cultivars
Signature of a randomness-driven spin-liquid state in a frustrated magnet
Collective behaviour of electrons, frustration induced quantum fluctuations
and entanglement in quantum materials underlie some of the emergent quantum
phenomena with exotic quasi-particle excitations that are highly relevant for
technological applications. Herein, we present our thermodynamic and muon spin
relaxation measurements, complemented by ab initio density functional theory
and exact diagonalization results, on the recently synthesized frustrated
antiferromagnet Li4CuTeO6, in which Cu2+ ions (S = 1/2) constitute disordered
spin chains and ladders along the crystallographic [101] direction with weak
random inter-chain couplings. Our thermodynamic experiments detect neither
long-range magnetic ordering nor spin freezing down to 45 mK despite the
presence of strong antiferromagnetic interaction between Cu2+ moments leading
to a large effective Curie-Weiss temperature of -154 K. Muon spin relaxation
results are consistent with thermodynamic results. The temperature and magnetic
field scaling of magnetization and specific heat reveal a data collapse
pointing towards the presence of random-singlets within a disorder-driven
correlated and dynamic ground-state in this frustrated antiferromagnet
Structure, spin correlations and magnetism of the square-lattice antiferromagnet SrCuTeWO ()
Quantum spin liquids are highly entangled magnetic states with exotic
properties. The square-lattice Heisenberg model is one of the
foundational models in frustrated magnetism with a predicted, but never
observed, quantum spin liquid state. Isostructural double perovskites
SrCuTeO and SrCuWO are physical realizations of this model, but
have distinctly different types magnetic order and interactions due to a
effect. Long-range magnetic order is suppressed in the solid
solution SrCuTeWO in a wide region of , where
the ground state has been proposed to be a disorder-induced spin liquid. Here
we show that the spin-liquid-like and samples have
distinctly different local spin correlations, which suggests they have
different ground states. Furthermore, the previously ignored interlayer
coupling between the square-planes is likely to play a role in the suppression
of magnetic order on the W-rich side at . These results
highlight the complex magnetism of SrCuTeWO and hint at a
new quantum critical point at .Comment: 19+8 pages, 6+8 figure
Structure, Spin Correlations, and Magnetism of the S = 1/2 Square-Lattice Antiferromagnet Sr2CuTe1-xWxO6 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1)
Quantum spin liquids are highly entangled magnetic states with exotic properties. The S = 1/2 square-lattice Heisenberg model is one of the foundational models in frustrated magnetism with a predicted, but never observed, quantum spin liquid state. Isostructural double perovskites Sr2CuTeO6 and Sr2CuWO6 are physical realizations of this model but have distinctly different types of magnetic order and interactions due to a d10/d0 effect. Long-range magnetic order is suppressed in the solid solution Sr2CuTe1-xWxO6 in a wide region of x = 0.05-0.6, where the ground state has been proposed to be a disorder-induced spin liquid. Here, we present a comprehensive neutron scattering study of this system. We show using polarized neutron scattering that the spin liquid-like x = 0.2 and x = 0.5 samples have distinctly different local spin correlations, which suggests that they have different ground states. Low-temperature neutron diffraction measurements of the magnetically ordered W-rich samples reveal magnetic phase separation, which suggests that the previously ignored interlayer coupling between the square planes plays a role in the suppression of magnetic order at x ≈ 0.6. These results highlight the complex magnetism of Sr2CuTe1-xWxO6 and hint at a new quantum critical point between 0.2 < x < 0.4.</p
Revisiting spin ice physics in the ferromagnetic Ising pyrochlore PrSnO
Pyrochlore materials are characterized by their hallmark network of
corner-sharing rare-earth tetrahedra, which can produce a wide array of complex
magnetic ground states. Ferromagnetic Ising pyrochlores often obey the
"two-in-two-out" spin ice rules, which can lead to a highly-degenerate spin
structure. Large moment systems, such as HoTiO and
DyTiO, tend to host a classical spin ice state with low-temperature
spin freezing and emergent magnetic monopoles. Systems with smaller effective
moments, such as Pr-based pyrochlores, have been proposed as excellent
candidates for hosting a "quantum spin ice" characterized by entanglement and a
slew of exotic quasiparticle excitations. However, experimental evidence for a
quantum spin ice state has remained elusive. Here, we show that the
low-temperature magnetic properties of PrSnO satisfy several
important criteria for continued consideration as a quantum spin ice. We find
that PrSnO exhibits a partially spin-frozen ground state with a
large volume fraction of dynamic magnetism. Our comprehensive bulk
characterization and neutron scattering measurements enable us to map out the
magnetic field-temperature phase diagram, producing results consistent with
expectations for a ferromagnetic Ising pyrochlore. We identify key hallmarks of
spin ice physics, and show that the application of small magnetic fields
(0.75T) suppresses the spin ice state and induces a long-range
ordered magnetic structure. Together, our work clarifies the current state of
PrSnO and encourages future studies aimed at exploring the
potential for a quantum spin ice ground state in this system
Empiricism Without the Senses: How the Instrument Replaced the Eye
On receiving news of Galileo’s observations of the four satellites of Jupiter and the rugged face of the moon through his newly invented perspicillum, Kepler in great excitement exclaimed: Therefore let Galileo take his stand by Kepler’s side. Let the former observe the moon with his face turned skyward, while the latter studies the sun by looking down at a screen (lest the lens injure his eyes). Let each employ his own device, and from this partnership may there some day arise an absolutely perfect theory of the distances. This Hollywood-like scene of the two astronomers marching hand in hand toward the dawn of a new scientific era was no attempt by Kepler to appropriate Galileo’s success or to diminish the novelty of the telescope. On the contrary, Kepler repeatedly asserted how short sighted he was in misjudging the potential for astronomical observations inherent in lenses, and how radically Galileo’s instrument transformed the science of astronomy. It was a deep sense of recognition that beyond their different scientific temperaments and projects, they shared a common agenda of a new mode of empirical engagement with the phenomenal world: the instrument. For Kepler and Galileo, empirical investigation was no longer a direct engagement with nature, but an essentially mediated endeavor. The new instruments were not to assist the human senses, but to replace them
Field testing and exploitation of genetically modified cassava with low-amylose or amylose-free starch in Indonesia
The development and testing in the field of genetically modified -so called- orphan crops like cassava in tropical countries is still in its infancy, despite the fact that cassava is not only used for food and feed but is also an important industrial crop. As traditional breeding of cassava is difficult (allodiploid, vegetatively propagated, outbreeding species) it is an ideal crop for improvement through genetic modification. We here report on the results of production and field testing of genetically modified low-amylose transformants of commercial cassava variety Adira4 in Indonesia. Twenty four transformants were produced and selected in the Netherlands based on phenotypic and molecular analyses. Nodal cuttings of these plants were sent to Indonesia where they were grown under biosafety conditions. After two screenhouse tests 15 transformants remained for a field trial. The tuberous root yield of 10 transformants was not significantly different from the control. Starch from transformants in which amylose was very low or absent showed all physical and rheological properties as expected from amylose-free cassava starch. The improved functionality of the starch was shown for an adipate acetate starch which was made into a tomato sauce. This is the first account of a field trial with transgenic cassava which shows that by using genetic modification it is possible to obtain low-amylose cassava plants with commercial potential with good root yield and starch quality
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