363 research outputs found
Current perpendicular to plane Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) in laminated nanostructures
We theoretically studied spin dependent electron transport
perpendicular-to-plain (CPP) in magnetic laminated multilayered structures by
using Kubo formalism. We took into account not only bulk scattering, but the
interface resistance due to both specular and diffuse reflection and also spin
conserving and spin-flip processes. It was shown that spin-flip scattering at
interfaces substantially reduces the value of GMR. This can explain the
experimental observations that the CPP GMR ratio for laminated structures only
slightly increases as compared to non-laminated ones despite lamination induces
a significant increase in CPP resistance.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
Viscoelasticity of model interphase chromosomes
We investigated the viscoelastic response of model interphase chromosomes by tracking the three-dimensional motion of hundreds of dispersed Brownian particles of sizes ranging from the thickness of the chromatin fiber up to slightly above the mesh size of the chromatin solution. In agreement with previous computational studies on polymer solutions and melts, we found that the large-time behaviour of the diffusion coefficient and the experienced viscosity of moving particles as functions of particle size deviate from the traditional Stokes-Einstein relation and agree with a recent scaling theory of diffusion of non-sticky particles in polymer solutions. Interestingly, we found that at short times large particles are temporarily "caged" by chromatin spatial constraints, which thus form effective domains whose sizes match remarkably well with recent experimental results for micro-tracers inside interphase nuclei. Finally, by employing a known mathematical relation between the time mean-square displacement of tracked particles and the complex shear modulus of the surrounding solution, we calculated the elastic and viscous moduli of interphase chromosomes. \ua9 2014 AIP Publishing LLC
Nonlinear spin-polarized transport through a ferromagnetic domain wall
A domain wall separating two oppositely magnetized regions in a ferromagnetic
semiconductor exhibits, under appropriate conditions, strongly nonlinear I-V
characteristics similar to those of a p-n diode. We study these characteristics
as functions of wall width and temperature. As the width increases or the
temperature decreases, direct tunneling between the majority spin bands
decreases the effectiveness of the diode. This has important implications for
the zero-field quenched resistance of magnetic semiconductors and for the
design of a recently proposed spin transistor.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Identification and selection rules of the spin-wave eigen-modes in a normally magnetized nano-pillar
We report on a spectroscopic study of the spin-wave eigen-modes inside an
individual normally magnetized two layers circular nano-pillar
(PermalloyCopperPermalloy) by means of a Magnetic Resonance Force
Microscope (MRFM). We demonstrate that the observed spin-wave spectrum
critically depends on the method of excitation. While the spatially uniform
radio-frequency (RF) magnetic field excites only the axially symmetric modes
having azimuthal index , the RF current flowing through the
nano-pillar, creating a circular RF Oersted field, excites only the modes
having azimuthal index . Breaking the axial symmetry of the
nano-pillar, either by tilting the bias magnetic field or by making the pillar
shape elliptical, mixes different -index symmetries, which can be excited
simultaneously by the RF current. Experimental spectra are compared to
theoretical prediction using both analytical and numerical calculations. An
analysis of the influence of the static and dynamic dipolar coupling between
the nano-pillar magnetic layers on the mode spectrum is performed
Power estimation of tests in log-linear non-uniform association models for ordinal agreement
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Log-linear association models have been extensively used to investigate the pattern of agreement between ordinal ratings. In 2007, log-linear non-uniform association models were introduced to estimate, from a cross-classification of two independent raters using an ordinal scale, varying degrees of distinguishability between distant and adjacent categories of the scale.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this paper, a simple method based on simulations was proposed to estimate the power of non-uniform association models to detect heterogeneities across distinguishabilities between adjacent categories of an ordinal scale, illustrating some possible scale defects.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Different scenarios of distinguishability patterns were investigated, as well as different scenarios of marginal heterogeneity within rater. For sample size of N = 50, the probabilities of detecting heterogeneities within the tables are lower than .80, whatever the number of categories. In additition, even for large samples, marginal heterogeneities within raters led to a decrease in power estimates.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This paper provided some issues about how many objects had to be classified by two independent observers (or by the same observer at two different times) to be able to detect a given scale structure defect. Our results also highlighted the importance of marginal homogeneity within raters, to ensure optimal power when using non-uniform association models.</p
The use of urinary proteomics in the assessment of suitability of mouse models for ageing
Ageing is a complex process characterised by a systemic and progressive deterioration of biological functions. As ageing is associated with an increased prevalence of age-related chronic disorders, understanding its underlying molecular mechanisms can pave the way for therapeutic interventions and managing complications. Animal models such as mice are commonly used in ageing research as they have a shorter lifespan in comparison to humans and are also genetically close to humans. To assess the translatability of mouse ageing to human ageing, the urinary proteome in 89 wild-type (C57BL/6) mice aged between 8–96 weeks was investigated using capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry (CE-MS). Using age as a continuous variable, 295 peptides significantly correlated with age in mice were identified. To investigate the relevance of using mouse models in human ageing studies, a comparison was performed with a previous correlation analysis using 1227 healthy subjects. In mice and humans, a decrease in urinary excretion of fibrillar collagens and an increase of uromodulin fragments was observed with advanced age. Of the 295 peptides correlating with age, 49 had a strong homology to the respective human age-related peptides. These ortholog peptides including several collagen (N = 44) and uromodulin (N = 5) fragments were used to generate an ageing classifier that was able to discriminate the age among both wild-type mice and healthy subjects. Additionally, the ageing classifier depicted that telomerase knock-out mice were older than their chronological age. Hence, with a focus on ortholog urinary peptides mouse ageing can be translated to human ageing
Expression of Human α2-Adrenergic Receptors in Adipose Tissue of β3-Adrenergic Receptor-deficient Mice Promotes Diet-induced Obesity
Catecholamines play an important role in controlling white adipose tissue function and development. β- and α2-adrenergic receptors (ARs) couple positively and negatively, respectively, to adenylyl cyclase and are co-expressed in human adipocytes. Previous studies have demonstrated increased adipocyte α2/β-AR balance in obesity, and it has been proposed that increased α2-ARs in adipose tissue with or without decreased β-ARs may contribute mechanistically to the development of increased fat mass. To critically test this hypothesis, adipocyte α2/β-AR balance was genetically manipulated in mice. Human α2A-ARs were transgenically expressed in the adipose tissue of mice that were either homozygous (−/−) or heterozygous (+/−) for a disrupted β3-AR allele. Mice expressing α2-ARs in fat, in the absence of β3-ARs (β3-AR −/− background), developed high fat diet-induced obesity. Strikingly, this effect was due entirely to adipocyte hyperplasia and required the presence of α2-ARs, the absence of β3-ARs, and a high fat diet. Of note, obese α2-transgenic, β3 −/− mice failed to develop insulin resistance, which may reflect the fact that expanded fat mass was due to adipocyte hyperplasia and not adipocyte hypertrophy. In summary, we have demonstrated that increased α2/β-AR balance in adipocytes promotes obesity by stimulating adipocyte hyperplasia. This study also demonstrates one way in which two genes (α2 and β3-AR) and diet interact to influence fat mass
Spin accumulation induced resistance in mesoscopic ferromagnet/ superconductor junctions
We present a description of spin-polarized transport in mesoscopic
ferromagnet-superconductor (F/S) systems, where the transport is diffusive, and
the interfaces are transparent. It is shown that the spin reversal associated
with Andreev reflection generates an excess spin density close to the F/S
interface, which leads to a spin contact resistance. Expressions for the
contact resistance are given for two terminal and four terminal geometries. In
the latter the sign depends on the relative magnetization of the ferromagnetic
electrodes.Comment: RevTeX 10 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys.Rev. Let
Current driven switching of magnetic layers
The switching of magnetic layers is studied under the action of a spin
current in a ferromagnetic metal/non-magnetic metal/ferromagnetic metal spin
valve. We find that the main contribution to the switching comes from the
non-equilibrium exchange interaction between the ferromagnetic layers. This
interaction defines the magnetic configuration of the layers with minimum
energy and establishes the threshold for a critical switching current.
Depending on the direction of the critical current, the interaction changes
sign and a given magnetic configuration becomes unstable. To model the time
dependence of the switching process, we derive a set of coupled Landau-Lifshitz
equations for the ferromagnetic layers. Higher order terms in the
non-equilibrium exchange coupling allow the system to evolve to its
steady-state configuration.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figure. Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Spin Transfer from a Ferromagnet into a Semiconductor through an Oxide barrier
We present results on the magnetoresistance of the system Ni/Al203/n-doped
Si/Al2O3/Ni in fabricated nanostructures. The results at temperature of 14K
reveal a 75% magnetoresistance that decreases in value up to approximately 30K
where the effect disappears. We observe minimum resistance in the antiparallel
configurations of the source and drain of Ni. As a possibility, it seems to
indicate the existence of a magnetic state at the Si/oxide interface. The
average spin diffusion length obtained is of 650 nm approximately. Results are
compared to the window of resistances that seems to exist between the tunnel
barrier resistance and two threshold resistances but the spin transfer seems to
work in the range and outside the two thresholds
- …