Loop Bifurcation and Magnetization Rotation in Exchange Biased Ni/FeF2

Exchange biased Ni/ FeF2 films have been investigated using vector coil vibrating sample magnetometry as a function of the cooling field strength H_FC. In films with epitaxial FeF2, a loop bifurcation develops with increasing H_FC as it divides into two sub-loops shifted oppositely from zero field by the same amount. The positively biased sub-loop grows in size with H_FC until only a single positively shifted loop is found. Throughout this process, the negative/positive (sub)loop shift has maintained the same discrete value. This is in sharp contrast to films with twinned FeF2 where the exchange field gradually changes with increasing H_FC. The transverse magnetization shows clear correlations with the longitudinal sub-loops. Interestingly, over 85% of the Ni reverses its magnetization by rotation, either in one step or through two successive rotations. These results are due to the single crystal nature of the antiferromagnetic FeF2, which breaks down into two opposite regions of large domains.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures, to appear in PR

Synchrotron X-Ray microtomography: a high resolution, fast and quantitative tool for rock characterization.

This article describes the current capabilities of the European Synchrotron radiation Facility (ESRF), and more particularly those of the ID19 beamline, devoted to imaging, for microtomography. Phase contrast, in situ and fast acquisitions, are emphasized, and examples illustrate the possibilities offered by the use of modern SR sources. RÉSUMÉ: Cet article expose les possibilités actuelles de l'Installation Européenne de Rayonnement Synchrotron (ESRF), et plus en particulier celles de la ligne ID19 dédiée à l' 'imagerie, en ce qui concerne la microtomographie. Les aspects contraste de phase, in situ et acquisition rapide sont soulignés. Des exemples illustrent les possibilités nouvelles

Investigation of damage evolution in short glass fibers reinforced polyamide 6,6 under tensile loading using infrared thermography

AbstractMechanical properties of polymers are very sensitive to environmental conditions in particular temperature. In the case of mechanical testing, thermomechanical coupling induce heat sources to be activated during the deformation and damage processes so that the temperature of the specimen may vary during testing. Depending on the characteristic temporal and spacial scales of the deformation and damage processes involved by the loading this temperature increase might be uniform or highly localized. The aim of the study is to investigate the temperature field evolution of glass fibers reinforced polyamide 6,6 with 0% (PA66GF00), 10% (PA66GF10), 20% (PA66GF20) and 30% (PA66GF30) glass fiber. In addition to infrared thermography, digital image correlation (DIC) was used to quantify deformation localization zones and correlate them to identified heat dissipation sources. Until necking, the heat distribution was found to be nearly homogeneous on PA66GF00 with a well marked thermoelastic region, succeeded by an homogeneous heat increase due to viscoplastic dissipation. Necking is associated to strong heat increase that is localized on the the necking area. The thermal response of short fiber reinforced materials was found to differ markedly from the uncharged one. Strong heterogeneity of the thermal was observed and was associated to localisation processes at different scales (investigated by DIC). The effect of the applied strain rate on the observed thermal heterogenities was investigated. In addition to DIC, the volume damage evolution was monitored using X-ray computed microtomography in particular region

Probing the dynamics of quasicrystal growth using synchrotron live imaging

The dynamics of quasicrystal growth remains an unsolved problem in condensed matter. By means of synchrotron live imaging, facetted growth proceeding by the tangential motion of ledges at the solid-melt interface is clearly evidenced all along the solidification of icosahedral AlPdMn quasicrystals. The effect of interface kinetics is significant so that nucleation and free growth of new facetted grains occur in the melt when the solidification rate is increased. The evolution of these grains is explained in details, which reveals the crucial role of aluminum rejection, both in the poisoning of grain growth and driving fluid flow

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy in Paediatric B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia : Curative Treatment Option or Bridge to Transplant?

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T) targeting CD19 has been associated with remarkable responses in paediatric patients and adolescents and young adults (AYA) with relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (BCP-ALL). Tisagenlecleucel, the first approved CD19 CAR-T, has become a viable treatment option for paediatric patients and AYAs with BCP-ALL relapsing repeatedly or after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Based on the chimeric antigen receptor molecular design and the presence of a 4-1BB costimulatory domain, tisagenlecleucel can persist for a long time and thereby provide sustained leukaemia control. "Real-world" experience with tisagenlecleucel confirms the safety and efficacy profile observed in the pivotal registration trial. Recent guidelines for the recognition, management and prevention of the two most common adverse events related to CAR-T - cytokine release syndrome and immune-cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome - have helped to further decrease treatment toxicity. Consequently, the questions of how and for whom CD19 CAR-T could substitute HSCT in BCP-ALL are inevitable. Currently, 40-50% of R/R BCP-ALL patients relapse post CD19 CAR-T with either CD19(-) or CD19(+) disease, and consolidative HSCT has been proposed to avoid disease recurrence. Contrarily, CD19 CAR-T is currently being investigated in the upfront treatment of high-risk BCP-ALL with an aim to avoid allogeneic HSCT and associated treatment-related morbidity, mortality and late effects. To improve survival and decrease long-term side effects in children with BCP-ALL, it is important to define parameters predicting the success or failure of CAR-T, allowing the careful selection of candidates in need of HSCT consolidation. In this review, we describe the current clinical evidence on CAR-T in BCP-ALL and discuss factors associated with response to or failure of this therapy: product specifications, patient- and disease-related factors and the impact of additional therapies given before (e.g., blinatumomab and inotuzumab ozogamicin) or after infusion (e.g., CAR-T re-infusion and/or checkpoint inhibition). We discuss where to position CAR-T in the treatment of BCP-ALL and present considerations for the design of supportive trials for the different phases of disease. Finally, we elaborate on clinical settings in which CAR-T might indeed replace HSCT.Peer reviewe