Control of magnetic properties of FeCo thin films grown by sputtering

Control of magnetic properties of FeCo thin films grown by sputterin

Magnetic behaviour of multisegmented FeCoCu/Cu electrodeposited nanowires

Understanding the magnetic behaviour of multisegmented nanowires (NWs) is a major key for the application of such structures in future devices. In this work, magnetic/non-magnetic arrays of FeCoCu/Cu multilayered NWs electrodeposited in nanoporous alumina templates are studied. Contrarily to most reports on multilayered NWs, the magnetic layer thickness was kept constant (30 nm) and only the non-magnetic layer thickness was changed (0 to 80 nm). This allowed us to tune the interwire and intrawire interactions between the magnetic layers in the NW array creating a three-dimensional (3D) magnetic system without the need to change the template characteristics. Magnetic hysteresis loops, measured with the applied field parallel and perpendicular to the NWs' long axis, showed the effect of the non-magnetic Cu layer on the overall magnetic properties of the NW arrays. In particular, introducing Cu layers along the magnetic NW axis creates domain wall nucleation sites that facilitate the magnetization reversal of the wires, as seen by the decrease in the parallel coercivity and the reduction of the perpendicular saturation field. By further increasing the Cu layer thickness, the interactions between the magnetic segments, both along the NW axis and of neighbouring NWs, decrease, thus rising again the parallel coercivity and the perpendicular saturation field. This work shows how one can easily tune the parallel and perpendicular magnetic properties of a 3D magnetic layer system by adjusting the non-magnetic layer thickness

The importance of the economic bid in institutional advertising campaigns: cost vs. quality

Con más de 5.000 contratos anuales y un presupuesto total estimado de 738,3 millones de euros invertidos en publicidad institucional, el sector público es el principal anunciante en España. En sus licitaciones, uno de los aspectos con mayor incidencia en la adjudicación es la oferta económica. Se analiza la aplicación de la normativa vigente a diez licitaciones con especial atención a las bajas anormales. Los resultados demuestran que las licitaciones favorecen las ofertas económicas agresivas. No siempre gana la mejor oferta técnica, sino que se impone la más barata, siendo reducido el impacto de las bajas temerarias como tal.With more than 5,000 annual contracts and an estimated total budget of 738.3 million euros invested in institutional advertising, the public sector is the main advertiser in Spain. In its tenders, one of the aspects with the greatest impact on the award is the economic offer. The application of current regulations to ten tenders is analyzed, with special attention to abnormal low bids. The results show that the tenders favor aggressive economic offers. The best technical bid does not always win, and the impact of abnormally low bids as such is reduced

La morbilidad hospitalaria de la población española

Hospital morbidity of the Spanish population. The objective of this paper is to determine the hospital morbidity in Spain. The data are derived from the C.M.B.D. (the Minimum Basic Data Set for Hospital Statistics) (1994). The results indicate that infants, women in fértil période and elderly people are the most consumers of hospital discharges. More than a half of the hospital discharges are related to the motherhood factor as well as to the digestive, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and to the cancer. Elderly people are more likely to stay more days in hospital and this is the main demographic group in number of diagnosticated illness.La morbilidad hospitalaria de la población española. Se analiza la morbilidad de la población española, tomando como base de estudio los hospitales del país recogidos en el C.M.B.D. (Conjunto Mínimo Básico de Datos) para 1994. Se descubre que la presencia en hospital está marcada por los niños hasta los dos años, las mujeres en edad fértil y los ancianos. Más de la mitad de las altas hospitalarias se asocian con el factor maternidad, así como con las enfermedades digestivas, circulatorias, respiratorias y los tumores. Las estancias más prolongadas se producen entre la población mayor que se corresponde, además, con el grupo demográfico que presenta mayor número de patologías diagnosticadas. [fr] La morbidité hostipalière de la population espagnole. Cette étude s'intéresse par la morbidité hospitalière en Espagne. On utilise le C.M.B.D. (le minimum ensemble des donees basiquées) pour 1994. Le taux de présence en hospitalisation est plus élevé au sein des enfants de moins de 2 ans, des femimes en leur période fertile et des personnes âgées. Plus de la moitié des hospitalisés sortants est liée a la maternité, ainsi que aux malades de l'appareil digestif, circulatoire et respiratoire et aux tumeurs. Les durées de séjour sont supérieures chez les âgées qui présentent, en plus, des polypathologies

Tailoring the magnetization states in 2D arrays of multiresponse ferromagnetic nanomagnets

We have fabricated Fe52-54Co46-48 nanomagnet arrays as a function of several geometrical parameters like the spacing between nanostructures, the aspect ratio and the layers thicknesses. The nanomagnets consist in two magnetic layers, separated by a non magnetic interlayer, that interact through magnetostatic coupling. They present a multiresponse hysteresis loops with two different switching fields. We have performed micromagnetic simulations to discern the role play by the different interactions. The spacing in the array strongly modifies the saturating field along the short axis and the magnetization reversal mechanisms from coherent rotation to domain wall nucleation. A small asymmetry between the two magnetic layers favors a magnetization reversal mechanism along the long axis with two different switching fields. These fields can be tailored through the thickness of the layers or the inter-element spacing in the array. In trilayers with the same magnetic layer thicknesses, the asymmetry can be induced by growing the two magnetic layers with a different anisotropy. The well-defined reversal fields make these nanomagnets potentially useful for magnetic tagging

The Personal Wellbeing among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Spain and Associated Factors

Objective: The conceptual framework of Quality of Life (QoL) allows approaching the knowledge of the living conditions of people in order to help establishing policies for QoL improvement. This study is aimed at examining the assessment made by older adults on their personal wellbeing and the satisfaction with life and the associated factors. A summary of the psychometric properties of the measurement instrument was also presented. Method: The data came from the Ageing in Spain Longitudinal Study, Pilot Survey (ELES-PS), carried out in 2011 among people 50 years old or more living in family housing in Spain. The Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI), as a multidimensional measure of QoL, was used to evaluate the subjective wellbeing. Personal, social and residential characteristics were considered as independent variables. Descriptive statistical analysis, ANOVA, correlation, factor and regression analyses were applied. Results and conclusions: The PWI had good psychometric properties and showed the convergent validity with satisfaction with life as a whole (SWLW). Unidimensional structure of the scale was also demonstrated. PWI and SWLW total scores reached 74.5%SM and 77.1%SM, respectively. The best rated life domains were the satisfaction with relationships, safety and feeling part of the community. The SWLW observed significant differences in gender categories while PWI within age and social status. Both scales were associated with marital status, educational level, household size, current activity status and social status. The regression model of the PWI explained 34.2% of the variance through factors on socio-demographic and economic resources, psychosocial, health/functioning, family and social networks, leisure and residential environment. Based on these results, it would be desirable to deepen on this line from a longitudinal perspective to detect the influence of the changing conditions of the aged people in their personal well-being and life satisfaction.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (National R&D&I Plan: ref. CSO2009-08645-E/SOCI, CSO2009-06638-E/SOCI, CSO2009-06637-E/SOCI), by the Fundación Obra Social Cajamadrid and by the Basque Government, and supported by the Ageing Process Research Unit INGEMA-CSIC, for carrying out the ELES Project Pilot Survey. Another grant from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (National R&D&I Plan: ref. CSO2011-30210-C02-01) was endorsed for the analysis. Authors would like to thank the editor and the anonymous reviewer/s for their helpful comments during the development of this paper

Ectopic adrenal tissue in the spermatic cord in pediatric patients: surgical implications.

ABSTRACT Objective: To study the incidence and relevance of ectopic adrenal tissue in pediatric patients who underwent groin surgical explorations. Materials and Methods: We studied 1120 patients with groin surgical explorations during a period of 8 consecutive years. Patients' clinical data and histological findings were analyzed. Results: We found ectopic adrenal tissue in 13 patients in 1120 groin surgical exploration (1.16%). Of the 13 cases, 5 were diagnosed as having undescended testes, 6 inguinal hernia and 2 communicating hydrocele. Median age at diagnosis was 5.6 years. Histological sections showed adrenal cortical tissue with no medulla present. Conclusion: Based on the clinical implications of those adrenal rests it is mandatory the removal of this ectopic tissue whenever encountered during surgical interventions in the groin region in children

Single Alloy Nanoparticle X-Ray Imaging during a Catalytic Reaction

The imaging of active nanoparticles represents a milestone in decoding heterogeneous catalysts dynamics. We report the facet resolved, surface strain state of a single PtRh alloy nanoparticle on SrTiO3 determined by coherent x-ray diffraction imaging under catalytic reaction conditions. Density functional theory calculations allow us to correlate the facet surface strain state to its reaction environment dependent chemical composition. We find that the initially Pt terminated nanoparticle surface gets Rh enriched under CO oxidation reaction conditions. The local composition is facet orientation dependent and the Rh enrichment is non-reversible under subsequent CO reduction. Tracking facet resolved strain and composition under operando conditions is crucial for a rational design of more efficient heterogeneous catalysts with tailored activity, selectivity and lifetime.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, 32 reference

Distribution and impact on quality of life of the pain modalities assessed by the King's Parkinson's disease pain scale

In Parkinson's disease, pain is a prevalent and complex symptom of diverse origin. King's Parkinson's disease pain scale, assesses different pain syndromes, thus allowing exploration of its differential prevalence and influence on the health-related quality of life of patients. Post hoc study 178 patients and 83 matched controls participating in the King's Parkinson's disease pain scale validation study were used. For determining the respective distribution, King's Parkinson's disease pain scale items and domains scores = 0 meant absence and ≥1 presence of the symptom. The regular scores were used for the other analyses. Health-related quality of lifewas evaluated with EQ-5D-3L and PDQ-8 questionnaires. Parkinson's disease patients experienced more pain modalities than controls. In patients, Pain around joints (King's Parkinson's disease pain scale item 1) and Pain while turning in bed (item 8) were the most prevalent types of pain, whereas Burning mouth syndrome (item 11) and Pain due to grinding teeth (item 10) showed the lowest frequency. The total number of experienced pain modalities closely correlated with the PDQ-8 index, but not with other variables. For all pain types except Pain around joints (item 1) and pain related to Periodic leg movements/RLS (item 7), patients with pain had significantly worse health-related quality of life. The influence of pain, as a whole, on the health-related quality of life was not remarkable after adjustment by other variables. When the particular types of pain were considered, adjusted by sex, age, and Parkinson's disease duration, pain determinants were different for EQ-5D-3L and PDQ-8. King's Parkinson's disease pain scale allows exploring the distribution of the diverse syndromic pain occurring in Parkinson's disease and its association with health-related quality of life.The study was funded by a Parkinson’s UK innovation grant, and adopted to the UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) national portfolio of studies and supported by NIHR Mental Health Biomedical Research Center and Dementia Unit at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London.S