Exchange coupling induced antiferromagnetic-ferromagnetic transition in Pr0.5Ca0.5MnO3/La0.5Ca0.5MnO3Pr_{0.5}Ca_{0.5}MnO_3/La_{0.5}Ca_{0.5}MnO_3 superlattices

Superlattices built from two antiferromagnetic (AFM) charge/orbital order compounds, $Pr_{0.5}Ca_{0.5}MnO_3$ and $La_{0.5}Ca_{0.5}MnO_3$, have been studied as the thickness of $La_{0.5}Ca_{0.5}MnO_3$ ($LCMO$) varied. High structural quality thin films were obtained on $LaAlO_3$ substrates using the pulsed laser deposition technique. An antiferromagnetic-to-ferromagnetic transition, in addition to an enhancement of the coercivity, are observed as the $LCMO$ layer thickness increases. The small shift in the origin of the field-cooled hysteresis loop along the field axis indicates the presence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases in the superlattices. We attribute these features to the AFM spin fluctuations at the $Pr_{0.5}Ca_{0.5}MnO_3/La_{0.5}Ca_{0.5}MnO_3$ interfaces resulting from the strain effects.Comment: To be published in Phys. Rev.

Raman spectra and Magnetization of all-ferromagnetic superlattices grown on (110) oriented SrTiO3

Superlattices consist of two ferromagnets La0.7Sr0.3MnO3(LSMO)and SrRuO3(SRO) were grown in (110)-orientation on SrTiO3(STO) substrates. The x-ray diffraction and Raman spectra of these superlattices show the presence of in-plane compressive strain and orthorhombic structure of less than 4 u.c. thick LSMO spacer,respectively. Magnetic measurements reveal several features including reduced magnetization, enhanced coercivity, antiferromagnetic coupling, and switching from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic coupling with magnetic field orientations. These magnetic properties are explained by the observed orthorhombic structure of spacer LSMO in Raman scattering which occurs due to the modification in the stereochemistry of Mn at the interfaces of SRO and LSMO

Structural and magnetic properties of a series of low doped Zn1−x_{1-x}Cox_xO thin films deposited from Zn and Co metal targets on (0001) Al2_2O3_3 substrates

We report on the synthesis of low doping Zn$_{1-x}$Co$_x$O ($0<x<0.1$) thin films on (0001)-Al$_2$O$_3$ substrates. The films were prepared in an oxidizing atmosphere, using the pulsed laser deposition technique starting from Zn and Co metallic targets. We first studied the influence of the strains of ZnO and their stuctural properties. Second, we have investigated the structural and the magnetic properties of the Zn$_{1-x}$Co$_x$O films. We show that at low doping, the lattice parameters and the magnetization of the Zn$_{1-x}$Co$_x$O films depend strongly on the Co concentration.Comment: to be published in Journal Applied Physics (June 2004) as a proceeding of the MMM/Intermag Conferenc

Zinc dynamics in an Alfisol as influenced by levels of farm yard manure

Field experiments were conducted on sandy loam soil at Shimoga, Karnataka, India to study the influence of FYM application on dynamics of zinc in an Alfisol under fingermillet (Eleusine coracana L.) crop. Three levels of FYM viz., 7.5, 15.0 and 22.5 t/ha with and without recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) were evaluated for the purpose. Changes in available (DTPA extractable) and different fractions of Zn in soil were monitored. Application of FYM at all levels, with or without fertilizers, caused significant (p&lt;0.05) increase in DTPA-Zn, the effect being more pronounced at higher levels. Maximum DTPA- zinc (0.97 mg/kg) in soil was observed in the treatment RDF+FYM@ 22.5 t/ha. Increase in level of FYM application increased the water soluble, sorbed, easily reducible manganese bound, carbonate bound and organic bound fractions of Zn significantly (p&lt;0.05), but decreased residual fractions in soil compared to that of RDF and absolute control treatments. All the fractions except residual one had positive and significant correlation with each other indicating the existence of a dynamic equilibrium among them. DTPA-Zn was positively and significantly (p&lt;0.01) correlated with soil OC, WS, SORB, ERMn, CA, OM and Fe and Alox fractions (r= 0.683,0.603,0.683,0.702,0.777,0.678 and 0.476 respectively) in soil. The treatment receiving RDF+FYM @ 22.5 t/ha excelled over others with respect to grain and straw yield (3.028 t/ha and 1.890 t/ha respectively) of fingermillet. Thus, keeping in view the availability of Zn in soil and yield of fingermillet, FYM @22.5 t/ha supplemented with RDF was found to be the superior one

Tunable magnetic interaction at the atomic scale in oxide heterostructures

We report on a systematic study of a number of structurally identical but chemically distinct transition metal oxides in order to determine how the material-specific properties such as the composition and the strain affect the properties at the interface of heterostructures. Our study considers a series of structures containing two layers of ferromagnetic SrRuO3, with antiferromagnetic insulating manganites sandwiched in between. The results demonstrate how to control the strength and relative orientation of interfacial ferromagnetism in correlated electron materials by means of valence state variation and substrate-induced strain, respectively

Nitrogen dose dependent changes in leaf greenness, crop phenology, grain nitrogen content and yield in rice (Oryza sativa L.) sub-species

In the present study, 30 diverse genotypes of rice sub-species were evaluated for variations in phenology, grain protein content, grain morphology and yield under field conditions with different nitrogen (N) regimes i.e., N deficient (N=0) and N sufficient (N=120 kg ha-1). N deficiency decreased the leaf greenness, panicle yield, grain protein content, altered grain morphology and grain-related parameters. Significant variations in grain morphology-related parameters such as grain length and grain width among rice genotypes were observed for different N treatments. Changes in grain morphology related parameters were correlated with yield. The study identified Sahbhagi Dhan, BAM-759, BVD-109, Pusa Sugandh-5, and Kalinga-1 that maintained higher vegetative greenness, while Sahbhagi Dhan, Vandana, Nerica-L-44, Kalinga-1 and APO that showed higher panicle yield under N0 condition. Rice genotypes APO, Nerica-L-42 and Kalinga-1 performed well under N0 with a lesser impact on crop phenology and grain morphology. Grain protein content was found higher in BAM-759, Anjali, Thurur Bhog, IR-64, Rasi, and Kalinga-1under both the treatments. Flag leaf Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) measurements were significantly correlated with grain yield, and grain protein content. The trait specific donors suitable for low N conditions identified in the study will pave the way forward to the research in understanding underlying mechanisms and in crop improvement programs

Can nutrition-sensitive agriculture interventions address intersectional inequalities in women’s diets? A mediation analysis using cross-sectional trial data from Odisha, India.

Background Improving nutrition for all requires understanding how interventions influence nutrition inequalities within society. Intersectionality, which considers how multiple disadvantages intersect, may offer more precise insight into the equity of these interventions. Objective Using an intersectionality-informed approach and mediation with exposure-mediator interaction, we investigated how participation in nutrition-sensitive agriculture interventions tested in the ‘UPAVAN’ trial affected inequalities in women’s diets in Odisha, India. Methods We analysed cross-sectional endline data from 3,294 mothers of children aged 0-23 months in 111 UPAVAN intervention villages. We estimated dietary inequalities as excess relative risk of minimum dietary diversity (MDD-W) according to Scheduled Tribe identity (ST, non-ST), education (≥5, <5 years), or wealth (higher, lower), and comparing intersectional groups that combine ST/non-ST with education or wealth group. We used a 4-way decomposition to estimate whether these MDD-W inequalities were affected by social group differences in: intervention participation rates (mediation only), participation benefits (interaction only), or both combined (mediated interaction). Results Intervention participation and MDD-W were greater among the more advantaged groups of non-ST, higher education, or higher wealth. Often, the more disadvantaged groups had greater participation benefits (interaction only), which narrowed MDD-W inequalities. However, intersectional groups with two disadvantaged characteristics (e.g., poorer ST) had smaller participation benefits than those with one (e.g., wealthier ST), which widened MDD-W inequalities. Differences in participation rates had negligible effects on MDD-W inequalities. Often, any marginal widening of MDD-W inequalities due to disadvantaged groups participating less (mediation only) was suppressed by their greater participation benefits (mediated interaction). Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first intersectionality-informed analysis of nutrition interventions. UPAVAN interventions mostly had equitable impacts, reducing several inequalities in maternal diet quality. We demonstrate how intersectionality-informed analyses can help identify inequities in nutrition interventions and inform the design of inclusive interventions that reach and benefit the most marginalised groups

Bid Regulates the Pathogenesis of Neurotropic Reovirus

Reovirus infection leads to apoptosis in both cultured cells and the murine central nervous system (CNS). NF-κB-driven transcription of proapoptotic cellular genes is required for the effector phase of the apoptotic response. Although both extrinsic death-receptor signaling pathways and intrinsic pathways involving mitochondrial injury are implicated in reovirus-induced apoptosis, mechanisms by which either of these pathways are activated and their relationship to NF-κB signaling following reovirus infection are unknown. The proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member, Bid, is activated by proteolytic cleavage following reovirus infection. To understand how reovirus integrates host signaling circuits to induce apoptosis, we examined proapoptotic signaling following infection of Bid-deficient cells. Although reovirus growth was not affected by the absence of Bid, cells lacking Bid failed to undergo apoptosis. Furthermore, we found that NF-κB activation is required for Bid cleavage and subsequent proapoptotic signaling. To examine the functional significance of Bid-dependent apoptosis in reovirus disease, we monitored fatal encephalitis caused by reovirus in the presence and absence of Bid. Survival of Bid-deficient mice was significantly enhanced in comparison to wild-type mice following either peroral or intracranial inoculation of reovirus. Decreased reovirus virulence in Bid-null mice was accompanied by a reduction in viral yield. These findings define a role for NF-κB-dependent cleavage of Bid in the cell death program initiated by viral infection and link Bid to viral virulence

Observation of abnormal suppression of f0(980) production in p-Pb collisions at √sNN=5.02 TeV

The dependence of f0(980) production on the final-state charged-particle multiplicity in p–Pb collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV is reported. The production of f0(980) is measured with the ALICE detector via the f0(980)→π+π− decay channel in a midrapidity region of −0.5&lt;0. Particle yield ratios of f0(980) to π and K⁎(892)0 are found to be decreasing with increasing charged-particle multiplicity. The magnitude of the suppression of the f0(980)/π and f0(980)/K⁎(892)0 yield ratios is found to be dependent on the transverse momentum pT, suggesting different mechanisms responsible for the measured effects. Furthermore, the nuclear modification factor QpPb of f0(980) is measured in various multiplicity ranges. The QpPb shows a strong suppression of the f0(980) production in the pT region up to about 4 GeV/c. The results on the particle yield ratios and QpPb for f0(980) may help to understand the late hadronic phase in p–Pb collisions and the nature of the internal structure of f0(980) particle