Local Hall effect in hybrid ferromagnetic/semiconductor devices

We have investigated the magnetoresistance of ferromagnet-semiconductor devices in an InAs two-dimensional electron gas system in which the magnetic field has a sinusoidal profile. The magnetoresistance of our device is large. The longitudinal resistance has an additional contribution which is odd in applied magnetic field. It becomes even negative at low temperature where the transport is ballistic. Based on the numerical analysis, we confirmed that our data can be explained in terms of the local Hall effect due to the profile of negative and positive field regions. This device may be useful for future spintronic applications.Comment: 4 pages with 4 fugures. Accepted for publication in Applied Physics Letter

Indian Consumers\u27 Brand Equity Toward a US and Local Apparel Brand

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine effects of gender, need for uniqueness, and attitudes toward American products on dimensions of brand equity for a US and local apparel brand in the Indian market. Design/methodology/approach: Three dimensions of brand equity are evaluated based on the respondents\u27 shopping experience related to the selected US and local apparel brands. Data are collected from a convenience sample of college students in India. Findings: The empirical tests show that, for a US apparel brand, there are direct and indirect effects of Indian consumers\u27 gender, need for uniqueness (NFU), and attitudes toward American products on three dimensions of brand equity: perceived quality, brand loyalty, and brand associations with brand awareness. For local apparel brands, these effects are found for only one brand equity dimension: perceived quality. Research limitations/implications: The study uses only one US apparel brand, which may limit the generalization of the findings to all product categories and countries. Practical implications: US marketers need to improve Indian consumers\u27 attitudes toward American products through marketing and promotional campaigns. On the other hand, Indian marketers should overcome the negative relationship between Indian consumers\u27 attitudes toward American products and their quality perception toward a local apparel brand. Originality/value: Little attention has been given to individual differences in evaluating the three dimensions of brand equity. By assessing brand equity based on the individual characteristics of gender, need for uniqueness, and attitudes toward American products, results of the study can help marketers to obtain more specific knowledge of brand equity about a target consumer group and thus enable them to plan and implement well-suited strategies for improving their brand equity

Photothermal Polymer Nanocomposites of Tungsten Bronze Nanorods with Enhanced Tensile Elongation at Low Filler Contents

We present polymer nanocomposites of tungsten bronze nanorods (TBNRs) and ethylene propylene diene monomers (EPDM). The combination of these components allows the simultaneous enhancement in the mechanical and photothermal properties of the composites at low filler contents. The as-synthesized TBNRs had lengths and diameters of 14.0 +/- 2.4 nm and 2.5 +/- 0.5 nm, respectively, and were capped with oleylamine, which has a chemical structure similar to EPDM, making the TBNRs compatible with the bulk EPDM matrix. The TBNRs absorb a wide range of near-infrared light because of the sub-band transitions induced by alkali metal doping. Thus, the nanocomposites of TBNRs in EPDM showed enhanced photothermal properties owing to the light absorption and subsequent heat emission by the TBNRs. Noticeably, the nanocomposite with only 3 wt% TBNRs presented significantly enhanced tensile strain at break, in comparison with those of pristine EPDM, nanocomposites with 1 and 2 wt % TBNRs, and those with tungsten bronze nanoparticles, because of the alignment of the nanorods during tensile elongation. The photothermal and mechanical properties of these nanocomposites make them promising materials for various applications such as in fibers, foams, clothes with cold weather resistance, patches or mask-like films for efficient transdermal delivery upon heat generation, and photoresponsive surfaces for droplet transport by the thermocapillary effect in microfluidic devices and microengines

Multiple Sensor Fusion and Motion Control of Snake Robot Based on Soft-Computing

There are many circumstance limits to human like extreme radioactivity, temperature

Anti-proliferative effects of Bifidobacterium adolescentis SPM0212 extract on human colon cancer cell lines

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are beneficial probiotic organisms that contribute to improved nutrition, microbial balance, and immuno-enhancement of the intestinal tract, as well as anti-tumor activity. The aim of the present work was to study the growth inhibition of tumor cells by butanol extract of <it>Bifidobacterium adolescentis </it>isolated from healthy young Koreans.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The anti-proliferative activity of <it>B. adolescentis </it>isolates was assessed by XTT assays on three human colon cancer cell lines (Caco-2, HT-29, and SW480). The effects of <it>B. adolescentis </it>SPM0212 butanol extract on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and nitric oxide (NO) production were tested using the murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cell line.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The butanol extract of <it>B. adolescentis </it>SPM0212 dose-dependently inhibited the growth of Caco-2, HT-29, and SW480 cells by 70%, 30%, and 40%, respectively, at 200 μg/mL. Additionally, the butanol extract of <it>B. adolescentis </it>SPM0212 induced macrophage activation and significantly increased the production of TNF-α and NO, which regulate immune modulation and are cytotoxic to tumor cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The butanol extract of <it>B. adolescentis </it>SPM0212 increased activity of the host immune system and may improve human health by helping to prevent colon cancer as a biological response modifier.</p

Thermogenic effect and substrate oxidation of protein from animal and plant sources in adults

Background: Changing nutrient source is one of the efforts to increase thermogenic effect (TEF) which may be significant for body weight reduction.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of high protein diets using animal (chicken) and plant (tofu) sources on the thermogenic effect (TEF) and substrate oxidation.Method: Ten female adults (mean age 20.8+1.2 y) participated in two isocaloric diet ingestions. Each meal provided 30% of the daily basal energy need (32/26/42% as protein/fat/carbohydrates, respectively). Postprandial energy expenditure was measured by indirect calorimetry.Results: There were no significant differences in TEF and substrate oxidation. The postprandial fat oxidation rate was higher than that at the preprandial state, while carbohydrate and protein oxidation rates were lower.Conclusion: No differences were observed in TEF and substrate oxidation in animal- and plant-based diets. A high protein diet could be beneficial for weight loss, but animal protein does not appear to offer superior benefits compared to plant protein