Spin injection and spin accumulation in permalloy-copper mesoscopic spin valves

We study the electrical injection and detection of spin currents in a lateral spin valve device, using permalloy (Py) as ferromagnetic injecting and detecting electrodes and copper (Cu) as non-magnetic metal. Our multi-terminal geometry allows us to experimentally distinguish different magneto resistance signals, being 1) the spin valve effect, 2) the anomalous magneto resistance (AMR) effect and 3) Hall effects. We find that the AMR contribution of the Py contacts can be much bigger than the amplitude of the spin valve effect, making it impossible to observe the spin valve effect in a 'conventional' measurement geometry. However, these 'contact' magneto resistance signals can be used to monitor the magnetization reversal process, making it possible to determine the magnetic switching fields of the Py contacts of the spin valve device. In a 'non local' spin valve measurement we are able to completely isolate the spin valve signal and observe clear spin accumulation signals at T=4.2 K as well as at room temperature. We obtain spin diffusion lengths in copper of 1 micrometer and 350 nm at T=4.2 K and room temperature respectively.Comment: 8 pages (incl. figures), 7 figures, RevTex, conferenc

The Critical Aggregation Concentration of ß-Lactoglobulin-Based Fibril Formation

The critical aggregation concentration (CAC) for fibril formation of ß-lactoglobulin (ß-lg) at pH 2 was determined at 343, 353, 358, 363, and 383 K using a Thioflavin T assay and was approximately 0.16 wt%. The accuracy of the CAC was increased by measuring the conversion into fibrils at different stirring speeds. The corresponding binding energy per mol, as determined from the CAC, was 13 RT (~40 kJ mol¿1) for the measured temperature range. The fact that the CAC was independent of temperature within the experimental error indicates that the fibril formation of ß-lg at pH 2 and the measured temperature range is an entropy-driven process

Around 1000 BC. Absolute dates for the Final Bronze Age - Early Iron Age transition in Italy: wiggle-match 14C dating of two tree-trunk coffins from Celano

At Celano (Abruzzo region, Italy), rare tumulus tombs of the Final Bronze Age were excavated, yielding waterlogged coffins of oak wood. Two tombs were dated by Wiggle-Match Dating (WMD), using the conventional 14C method. This shows that the tumuli were erected around 1030 BC, while the associated artefacts in the sarcophagi are attributable to the final stages of the Bronze Age (FBA) in Italy. Fibulae similar to those found in both tombs at Celano are recovered in modest numbers all over the Italian peninsula and even in Croatia and nearby regions (Glogović 2003; von Merhart 1969, pls. 4, 5, 7). Our date of ca. 1030 BC for the last stages of the Bronze Age in Italy has consequences for the beginning of the Iron Age, which should start around 1000-950 BC, an assessment that is consistent with other radiocarbon sequences obtained for Italy, such as the sequence for Latium Vetus and elsewhere in the western Mediterranean

Історичне краєзнавство як складова національної освіти: теоретичний аспект

Аналізується процес утвердження історичного краєзнавства в системі національної освіти. Розглядаються теоретичні питання про предмет, об’єкт і завдання історичного краєзнавства. Акцентується увага на виховній і консолідуючій функції історичного краєзнавства в процесі відродження української нації.Анализируется процесс становления исторического краеведения в системе национального образования. Рассматриваются теоретические вопросы о предмете, объекте и задачах исторического краеведения. Внимание акцентируется на воспитательной и консолидирующей функциях исторического краеведения в процессе возрождения украинской нации.The processes of the formation of the local history studies in the system of the national education had been analyzed. The theoretical aspects of the objects and tasks of the local history studies had been shown. The educational and consolidation functions of the local history studies in the Ukrainian national resurrection process had been pointed

Vocational perspectives after spinal cord injury

Objective: To give insight into the vocational situation several years after a traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and describe the personal experiences and unmet needs; to give an overview of health and functional status per type of SCI and their relationship with employment status. Design: Descriptive analysis of data from a questionnaire. Setting: Dutch rehabilitation centre with special department for patients with spinal cord injuries. Subjects: Fifty-seven patients with a traumatic SCI, aged 18-60 years, admitted to the rehabilitation centre from 1990 to 1998. Main measures: Questionnaire with items related to vocational outcome, job experiences, health and functional status. Results: Of 49 patients who were working at the moment of SCI 60% currently had a paid job. Vocational outcome was related to a higher educational level. A significant relation between the SCI-specific health and functional status and employment was not found. The respondents who changed to a new employer needed more time to resume work, but seemed more satisfied with the job and lost fewer working hours than those who resumed work with the same employer. In spite of reasonable to good satisfaction with the current work situation, several negative experiences and unmet needs were reported. Conclusions: Despite a high participation in paid work following SCI, the effort of the disabled worker to have and keep a job should not be underestimated

Photoplethysmography for an independent measure of pulsatile pressure under controlled flow conditions

Noninvasive continuous blood pressure measurements are desirable for patients and clinicians. This work proposes and validates a method for transmural pressure measurement using photoplethysmography (PPG) in an in vitro setup that allows control of pressure and flow conditions. The optimum pulsatile volume measure is obtained by comparing parameters extracted from the photoplethysmographic signal (AC amplitude, normalized pulse volume (NPV) and adjusted pulse volume (APV)). Pulsatile volume can then provide pressure measurements using the exponential pressure-volume (P-V) relationship and validated using the gold standard catheter pressure measurement. Pressure, red (R) and infrared (IR) PPG signals were recorded continuously in two arterial models with different cross-sectional areas (Model 1 and Model 2) utilising a pulsatile pump. Flow rates were controlled by varying pumping frequencies at low and high stroke volumes. The optimum method for estimation of the pulsatile volume is through APV, which had a highly significant correlation (r (2)  =  0.99, p  <  0.001) for Model 1 and (r (2)  =  0.98, p  <  0.001) for Model 2. APV obtained a significantly better fit when compared to NPVIR (r (2)  =  0.73, z  =  25.85, p  <  0.001), NPVR (r (2)  =  0.95, z  =  12.26, p  <  0.001), IRAC (r (2)  =  0.52, z  =  28.29, p  <  0.0001) and RAC (r (2)  =  0.92, z  =  15.27, p  <  0.0001) in Model 1, and when compared to NPVIR (r (2)  =  0.92, z  =  10.23, p  <  0.0001), NPVR (r (2)  =  0.96, z  =  5.08, p  <  0.001) IRAC (r (2)  =  0.63, z  =  22.47, p  <  0.0001) and RAC (r (2)  =  0.92, z  =  17.70, p  <  0.0001) in Model 2. These preliminary findings suggest that APV could be used as a potential non-invasive continuous method of blood pressure measurement at different flow conditions

Theorem on the Distribution of Short-Time Particle Displacements with Physical Applications

The distribution of the initial short-time displacements of particles is considered for a class of classical systems under rather general conditions on the dynamics and with Gaussian initial velocity distributions, while the positions could have an arbitrary distribution. This class of systems contains canonical equilibrium of a Hamiltonian system as a special case. We prove that for this class of systems the nth order cumulants of the initial short-time displacements behave as the 2n-th power of time for all n>2, rather than exhibiting an nth power scaling. This has direct applications to the initial short-time behavior of the Van Hove self-correlation function, to its non-equilibrium generalizations the Green's functions for mass transport, and to the non-Gaussian parameters used in supercooled liquids and glasses.Comment: A less ambiguous mathematical notation for cumulants was adopted and several passages were reformulated and clarified. 40 pages, 1 figure. Accepted by J. Stat. Phy

Measuring the three-dimensional shear from simulation data, with applications to weak gravitational lensing

We have developed a new three-dimensional algorithm, based on the standard P$^3$M method, for computing deflections due to weak gravitational lensing. We compare the results of this method with those of the two-dimensional planar approach, and rigorously outline the conditions under which the two approaches are equivalent. Our new algorithm uses a Fast Fourier Transform convolution method for speed, and has a variable softening feature to provide a realistic interpretation of the large-scale structure in a simulation. The output values of the code are compared with those from the Ewald summation method, which we describe and develop in detail. With an optimal choice of the high frequency filtering in the Fourier convolution, the maximum errors, when using only a single particle, are about 7 per cent, with an rms error less than 2 per cent. For ensembles of particles, used in typical $N$-body simulations, the rms errors are typically 0.3 per cent. We describe how the output from the algorithm can be used to generate distributions of magnification, source ellipticity, shear and convergence for large-scale structure.Comment: 22 pages, latex, 11 figure

Investigation of finger reflectance photoplethysmography in volunteers undergoing a local sympathetic stimulation

Optical sensors used in clinical applications have gained great popularity over the last few decades, especially the photoplethysmographic (PPG) technique used in estimating arterial blood oxygen saturation in the well-known medical devices called pulse oximeters. In this study we investigate the photoplethysmogram further in an effort to understand its origin better, as there is a significant void in the current knowledge on the PPG quantitative measurement. The photoplethysmographic signal provides a heart rhythm pulsating AC component, and a non-pulsating DC component. The signal is commonly believed to originate from tissue volume changes only and hasn't been investigated intensively. This in vivo study examines the source of the PPG signal in relation to pulse amplitude and pulse rhythm while volunteers undergo a right hand ice immersion. It was found that the PPG signal is sensitive in detecting the sympathetic stimulation which corresponds to volumetric and heart rate changes. During the immersion, AC pulse amplitudes (PA) from both hands decreased significantly, while DC levels increased significantly in the right hand and non-significantly in the left hand. Also, a significant decrease in the pulse repetition time (PRT) was observed. Using blood pressure-flow theories, these results suggest that there are possibly other factors in the blood flow regulation that alter the blood optical density which contributes to the detected signal. Further studies need to investigate PPGs in relation to blood optical density and the dynamics of the pulsatile flow effects besides volumetric changes. Such investigations might explore further applications of the PPG in medicine