Metal-nonmetal transition in LixCoO2 thin film and thermopower enhancement at high Li concentration

We investigate the transport properties of LixCoO2 thin films whose resistivities are nearly an order of magnitude lower than those of the bulk polycrystals. A metal-nonmetal transition occurs at ~0.8 in a biphasic domain, and the Seebeck coefficient (S) is drastically increased at ~140 K (= T*) with increasing the Li concentration to show a peak of magnitude ~120 \muV/K in the S-T curve of x = 0.87. We show that T* corresponds to a crossover temperature in the conduction, most likely reflecting the correlation-induced temperature dependence in the low-energy excitations

13C NMR study of the magnetic properties of the quasi-one-dimensional conductor, (TMTTF)2SbF6

Magnetic properties in the quasi-one-dimensional organic salt (TMTTF)2SbF6 are investigated by 13C NMR under pressures. Antiferromagnetic phase transition at ambient pressure (AFI) is confirmed. Charge-ordering is suppressed by pressure and is not observed under 8 kbar. For 5 < P < 20 kbar, a sharp spectrum and the rapid decrease of the spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T1 were observed below about 4 K, attributed to a spin-gap transition. Above 20 kbar, extremely broadened spectrum and critical increase of 1/T1 were observed. This indicates that the system enters into another antiferromagnetic phase (AFII) under pressure. The slope of the antiferromagnetic phase transition temperature T_AFII, dT_AFII/dP, is positive, while T_AFI decreases with pressure. The magnetic moment is weakly incommensurate with the lattice at 30 kbar.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Closed-Loop Optimization of Soft Sensor Morphology Using 3D Printing of Electrically Conductive Hydrogel

Soft sensing technologies provide a novel alternative for state estimation in wearables and robotic systems. They allow one to capture intrinsic state parameters in a highly conformable manner. However, due to the nonlinearities in the materials that make up a soft sensor, it is difficult to develop accurate models of these systems. Consequently, design of these soft sensors is largely user defined or based on trial and error. Since these sensors conform and take the shape of the sensing body, these issues are further exacerbated when they are installed. Herein, a framework for the automated design optimization of soft sensors using closed-loop 3D printing of a recyclable hydrogel-based sensing material is presented. The framework allows direct printing of the sensor on the sensing body using visual feedback, evaluates the sensor performance, and iteratively improves the sensor design. Following preliminary investigations into the material and morphology parameters, this is demonstrated through the optimization of a sensorized glove which can be matched to specific tasks and individual hand shapes. The glove's sensors are tuned to respond only to particular hand poses, including distinguishing between two similar tennis racket grip techniques

Competition of Dimerization and Charge Ordering in the Spin-Peierls State of Organic Conductors

The effect of the charge ordering on the spin-Peierls (SP) state has been examined by using a Peierls-Hubbard model at quarter-filling with dimerization, on-site and nearest-neighbor repulsive interactions. By taking account of the presence of dimerization, a bond distortion is calculated variationally with the renormalization group method based on bosonization. When the charge ordering appears at V=V_c with increasing the nearest-neighbor interaction (V), the distortion exhibits a maximum due to competition between the dimerization and the charge ordering. It is shown that the second-order phase transition occurs from the SP state with the bond alternation to a mixed state with an additional component of the site alternationat V = V_c.Comment: 11 pages, 13 figures, to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 72 No.6 (2003

Social equality in the number of choice options is represented in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex

A distinct aspect of the sense of fairness in humans is that we care not only about equality in material rewards but also about equality in non-material values. One such value is the opportunity to choose freely among many options, often regarded as a fundamental right to economic freedom. In modern developed societies, equal opportunities in work, living, and lifestyle are enforced by anti-discrimination laws. Despite the widespread endorsement of equal opportunity, no studies have explored how people assign value to it. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to identify the neural substrates for subjective valuation of equality in choice opportunity. Participants performed a two-person choice task in which the number of choices available was varied across trials independently of choice outcomes. By using this procedure, we manipulated the degree of equality in choice opportunity between players and dissociated it from the value of reward outcomes and their equality. We found that activation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex tracked the degree to which the number of options between the two players was equal. In contrast, activation in the ventral striatum tracked the number of options available to participants themselves but not the equality between players. Our results demonstrate that the vmPFC, a key brain region previously implicated in the processing of social values, is also involved in valuation of equality in choice opportunity between individuals. These findings may provide valuable insight into the human ability to value equal opportunity, a characteristic long emphasized in politics, economics, and philosophy

Visualization of Spatiotemporal Energy Dynamics of Hippocampal Neurons by Mass Spectrometry during a Kainate-Induced Seizure

We report the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry combined with capillary electrophoresis (CE) mass spectrometry to visualize energy metabolism in the mouse hippocampus by imaging energy-related metabolites. We show the distribution patterns of ATP, ADP, and AMP in the hippocampus as well as changes in their amounts and distribution patterns in a murine model of limbic, kainate-induced seizure. As an acute response to kainate administration, we found massive and moderate reductions in ATP and ADP levels, respectively, but no significant changes in AMP levels—especially in cells of the CA3 layer. The results suggest the existence of CA3 neuron-selective energy metabolism at the anhydride bonds of ATP and ADP in the hippocampal neurons during seizure. In addition, metabolome analysis of energy synthesis pathways indicates accelerated glycolysis and possibly TCA cycle activity during seizure, presumably due to the depletion of ATP. Consistent with this result, the observed energy depletion significantly recovered up to 180 min after kainate administration. However, the recovery rate was remarkably low in part of the data-pixel population in the CA3 cell layer region, which likely reflects acute and CA3-selective neural death. Taken together, the present approach successfully revealed the spatiotemporal energy metabolism of the mouse hippocampus at a cellular resolution—both quantitatively and qualitatively. We aim to further elucidate various metabolic processes in the neural system

Phaseâ amplitude coupling between interictal highâ frequency activity and slow waves in epilepsy surgery

ObjectiveWe hypothesized that the modulation index (MI), a summary measure of the strength of phaseâ amplitude coupling between highâ frequency activity (>150 Hz) and the phase of slow waves (3â 4 Hz), would serve as a useful interictal biomarker for epilepsy presurgical evaluation.MethodsWe investigated 123 patients who underwent focal cortical resection following extraoperative electrocorticography recording and had at least 1 year of postoperative followâ up. We examined whether consideration of MI would improve the prediction of postoperative seizure outcome. MI was measured at each intracranial electrode site during interictal slowâ wave sleep. We compared the accuracy of prediction of patients achieving International League Against Epilepsy class 1 outcome between the full multivariate logistic regression model incorporating MI in addition to conventional clinical, seizure onset zone (SOZ), and neuroimaging variables, and the reduced logistic regression model incorporating all variables other than MI.ResultsNinety patients had class 1 outcome at the time of most recent followâ up (mean followâ up = 5.7 years). The full model had a noteworthy outcome predictive ability, as reflected by regression model fit R2 of 0.409 and area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic plot of 0.838. Incomplete resection of SOZ (P < 0.001), larger number of antiepileptic drugs at the time of surgery (P = 0.007), and larger MI in nonresected tissues relative to that in resected tissue (P = 0.020) were independently associated with a reduced probability of class 1 outcome. The reduced model had a lower predictive ability as reflected by R2 of 0.266 and AUC of 0.767. Anatomical variability in MI existed among nonepileptic electrode sites, defined as those unaffected by magnetic resonance imaging lesion, SOZ, or interictal spike discharges. With MI adjusted for anatomical variability, the full model yielded the outcome predictive ability of R2 of 0.422, AUC of 0.844, and sensitivity/specificity of 0.86/0.76.SignificanceMI during interictal recording may provide useful information for the prediction of postoperative seizure outcome.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146440/1/epi14544_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146440/2/epi14544.pd

Scalar fields on SL(2,R) and H^2 x R geometric spacetimes and linear perturbations

Using appropriate harmonics, we study the future asymptotic behavior of massless scalar fields on a class of cosmological vacuum spacetimes. The spatial manifold is assumed to be a circle bundle over a higher genus surface with a locally homogeneous metric. Such a manifold corresponds to the SL(2,R)-geometry (Bianchi VIII type) or the H^2 x R-geometry (Bianchi III type). After a technical preparation including an introduction of suitable harmonics for the circle-fibered Bianchi VIII to separate variables, we derive systems of ordinary differential equations for the scalar field. We present future asymptotic solutions for these equations in a special case, and find that there is a close similarity with those on the circle-fibered Bianchi III spacetime. We discuss implications of this similarity, especially to (gravitational) linear perturbations. We also point out that this similarity can be explained by the "fiber term dominated behavior" of the two models.Comment: 23 pages, no figures, to be published in Class. Quant. Gravi

Spatial variation in the fine-structure constant -- new results from VLT/UVES

(abridged) We present a new analysis of a large sample of quasar absorption-line spectra obtained using UVES (the Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph) on the VLT (Very Large Telescope) in Chile. In the VLT sample (154 absorbers), we find evidence that alpha increases with increasing cosmological distance from Earth. However, as previously shown, the Keck sample (141 absorbers) provided evidence for a smaller alpha in the distant absorption clouds. Upon combining the samples an apparent variation of alpha across the sky emerges which is well represented by an angular dipole model pointing in the direction RA=(17.3 +/- 1.0) hr, dec. = (-61 +/- 10) deg, with amplitude (0.97 +0.22/-0.20) x 10^(-5). The dipole model is required at the 4.1 sigma statistical significance level over a simple monopole model where alpha is the same across the sky (but possibly different to the current laboratory value). The data sets reveal a number of remarkable consistencies: various data cuts are consistent and there is consistency in the overlap region of the Keck and VLT samples. Assuming a dipole-only (i.e. no-monopole) model whose amplitude grows proportionally with `lookback-time distance' (r=ct, where t is the lookback time), the amplitude is (1.1 +/- 0.2) x 10^(-6) GLyr^(-1) and the model is significant at the 4.2 sigma confidence level over the null model [Delta alpha]/alpha = 0). We apply robustness checks and demonstrate that the dipole effect does not originate from a small subset of the absorbers or spectra. We present an analysis of systematic effects, and are unable to identify any single systematic effect which can emulate the observed variation in alpha.Comment: 47 pages, 35 figures. Accepted for publication by Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Please see http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/~mmurphy/pub.html for an ASCII version of table A1 and the full set of Voigt profile fits for appendix