180 research outputs found
Simulation Studies of Nanomagnet-Based Architecture
We report a simulation study on interacting ensembles of Co nanomagnets that
can perform basic logic operations and propagate logic signals, where the state
variable is the magnetization direction. Dipole field coupling between
individual nanomagnets drives the logic functionality of the ensemble and
coordinated arrangements of the nanomagnets allow for the logic signal to
propagate in a predictable way. Problems with the integrity of the logic signal
arising from instabilities in the constituent magnetizations are solved by
introducing a biaxial anisotropy term to the Gibbs magnetic free energy of each
nanomagnet. The enhanced stability allows for more complex components of a
logic architecture capable of random combinatorial logic, including horizontal
wires, vertical wires, junctions, fanout nodes, and a novel universal logic
gate. Our simulations define the focus of scaling trends in nanomagnet-based
logic and provide estimates of the energy dissipation and time per nanomagnet
reversal
Electron Spin for Classical Information Processing: A Brief Survey of Spin-Based Logic Devices, Gates and Circuits
In electronics, information has been traditionally stored, processed and
communicated using an electron's charge. This paradigm is increasingly turning
out to be energy-inefficient, because movement of charge within an
information-processing device invariably causes current flow and an associated
dissipation. Replacing charge with the "spin" of an electron to encode
information may eliminate much of this dissipation and lead to more
energy-efficient "green electronics". This realization has spurred significant
research in spintronic devices and circuits where spin either directly acts as
the physical variable for hosting information or augments the role of charge.
In this review article, we discuss and elucidate some of these ideas, and
highlight their strengths and weaknesses. Many of them can potentially reduce
energy dissipation significantly, but unfortunately are error-prone and
unreliable. Moreover, there are serious obstacles to their technological
implementation that may be difficult to overcome in the near term.
This review addresses three constructs: (1) single devices or binary switches
that can be constituents of Boolean logic gates for digital information
processing, (2) complete gates that are capable of performing specific Boolean
logic operations, and (3) combinational circuits or architectures (equivalent
to many gates working in unison) that are capable of performing universal
computation.Comment: Topical Revie
Assessment of diaphragm motion using ultrasonography in a patient with facio-scapulo-humeral dystrophy: A case report.
Diaphragm is the main inspiratory respiratory muscle and little is known about diaphragm ultrasound in facio-scapula-humeral muscular dystrophy, a neuromuscular disease characterized by an asymmetric skeletal muscle involvement.
Diaphragm function evaluation DIAGNOSIS:: Diaphragm muscle weakness attested by the drop of vital capacity (VC) value from sitting position (74%) to supine position (46%).
A diaphragm ultrasound was performed in supine position, from the anterior subcostal window OUTCOMES:: We found an opposite side to side hemi diaphragm displacement, either during sniff maneuver or during deep inspiration maneuver, showing a cranial abnormal reduced motion of the right hemi diaphragm whereas the left hemi diaphragm moved caudally.
Diaphragm weakness may be present with an asymmetric pattern and an opposite motion during inspiration or sniff manoeuver in facio-scapula-humeral muscular dystrophy. A future study with a systematic evaluation of a greater number of FSHD1 patients will be necessary to characterize this population
Diaphragm: Pathophysiology and Ultrasound Imaging in Neuromuscular Disorders.
Respiratory muscles are classically involved in neuromuscular disorders, leading to a restrictive respiratory pattern. The diaphragm is the main respiratory muscle involved during inspiration. Ultrasound imaging is a noninvasive, radiation-free, accurate and safe technique allowing assessment of diaphragm anatomy and function. The authors review the pathophysiology of diaphragm in neuromuscular disorders, the methodology and indications of diaphragm ultrasound imaging as well as possible pitfalls in the interpretation of results
Graphene-passivated nickel as an oxidation-resistant electrode for spintronics.
We report on graphene-passivated ferromagnetic electrodes (GPFE) for spin devices. GPFE are shown to act as spin-polarized oxidation-resistant electrodes. The direct coating of nickel with few layer graphene through a readily scalable chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process allows the preservation of an unoxidized nickel surface upon air exposure. Fabrication and measurement of complete reference tunneling spin valve structures demonstrate that the GPFE is maintained as a spin polarizer and also that the presence of the graphene coating leads to a specific sign reversal of the magneto-resistance. Hence, this work highlights a novel oxidation-resistant spin source which further unlocks low cost wet chemistry processes for spintronics devices.R.S.W. acknowledges funding from EPSRC
(Doctoral training award). S.H. acknowledges funding from ERC
Grant InsituNANO (Project Reference 279342). P.S. acknowledges
the Institut Universitaire de France for junior fellowship
support. This research was partially supported by the EU FP7
work programme under Grant GRAFOL (Project Reference
285275).This is the accepted manuscript. The final version is available from ACS at http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/nn304424x
Opposite role of Bax and BCL-2 in the anti-tumoral responses of the immune system
BACKGROUND: The relative role of anti apoptotic (i.e. Bcl-2) or pro-apoptotic (e.g. Bax) proteins in tumor progression is still not completely understood. METHODS: The rat glioma cell line A15A5 was stably transfected with human Bcl-2 and Bax transgenes and the viability of theses cell lines was analyzed in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: In vitro, the transfected cell lines (huBax A15A5 and huBcl-2 A15A5) exhibited different sensitivities toward apoptotic stimuli. huBax A15A5 cells were more sensitive and huBcl-2 A15A5 cells more resistant to apoptosis than mock-transfected A15A5 cells (pCMV A15A5). However, in vivo, in syngenic rat BDIX, these cell lines behaved differently, as no tumor growth was observed with huBax A15A5 cells while huBcl-2 A15A5 cells formed large tumors. The immune system appeared to be involved in the rejection of huBax A15A5 cells since i) huBax A15A5 cells were tumorogenic in nude mice, ii) an accumulation of CD8+ T-lymphocytes was observed at the site of injection of huBax A15A5 cells and iii) BDIX rats, which had received huBax A15A5 cells developed an immune protection against pCMV A15A5 and huBcl-2 A15A5 cells. CONCLUSIONS: We show that the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 controls the sensitivity of the cancer cells toward the immune system. This sensitization is most likely to be due to an increase in immune induced cell death and/or the amplification of an anti tumour immune respons
Giant enhancement of spin accumulation and long-distance spin precession in metallic lateral spin valves
The nonlocal spin injection in lateral spin valves is highly expected to be
an effective method to generate a pure spin current for potential spintronic
application. However, the spin valve voltage, which decides the magnitude of
the spin current flowing into an additional ferromagnetic wire, is typically of
the order of 1 {\mu}V. Here we show that lateral spin valves with low resistive
NiFe/MgO/Ag junctions enable the efficient spin injection with high applied
current density, which leads to the spin valve voltage increased hundredfold.
Hanle effect measurements demonstrate a long-distance collective 2-pi spin
precession along a 6 {\mu}m long Ag wire. These results suggest a route to
faster and manipulable spin transport for the development of pure spin current
based memory, logic and sensing devices.Comment: 23 pages, 4 figure
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