3,162 research outputs found
Magnetically-induced ferroelectricity in the (ND4)2[FeCl5(D2O)] molecular compound
The number of magnetoelectric multiferroic materials reported to date is
scarce, as magnetic structures that break inversion symmetry and induce an
improper ferroelectric polarization typically arise through subtle competition
between different magnetic interactions. The (NH4)2[FeCl5(H2O)] compound is a
rare case where such improper ferroelectricity has been observed in a molecular
material. We have used single crystal and powder neutron diffraction to obtain
detailed solutions for the crystal and magnetic structures of
(NH4)2[FeCl5(H2O)], from which we determined the mechanism of multiferroicity.
From the crystal structure analysis, we observed an order-disorder phase
transition related to the ordering of the ammonium counterion. We have
determined the magnetic structure below TN, at 2K and zero magnetic field,
which corresponds to a cycloidal spin arrangement with magnetic moments
contained in the ac-plane, propagating parallel to the c-axis. The observed
ferroelectricity can be explained, from the obtained magnetic structure, via
the inverse Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya mechanism
RAPTOR: Routing Attacks on Privacy in Tor
The Tor network is a widely used system for anonymous communication. However,
Tor is known to be vulnerable to attackers who can observe traffic at both ends
of the communication path. In this paper, we show that prior attacks are just
the tip of the iceberg. We present a suite of new attacks, called Raptor, that
can be launched by Autonomous Systems (ASes) to compromise user anonymity.
First, AS-level adversaries can exploit the asymmetric nature of Internet
routing to increase the chance of observing at least one direction of user
traffic at both ends of the communication. Second, AS-level adversaries can
exploit natural churn in Internet routing to lie on the BGP paths for more
users over time. Third, strategic adversaries can manipulate Internet routing
via BGP hijacks (to discover the users using specific Tor guard nodes) and
interceptions (to perform traffic analysis). We demonstrate the feasibility of
Raptor attacks by analyzing historical BGP data and Traceroute data as well as
performing real-world attacks on the live Tor network, while ensuring that we
do not harm real users. In addition, we outline the design of two monitoring
frameworks to counter these attacks: BGP monitoring to detect control-plane
attacks, and Traceroute monitoring to detect data-plane anomalies. Overall, our
work motivates the design of anonymity systems that are aware of the dynamics
of Internet routing
Numerical Methods in Poisson Geometry and their Application to Mechanics
We recall the question of geometric integrators in the context of Poisson
geometry, and explain their construction. These Poisson integrators are tested
in some mechanical examples. Their properties are illustrated numerically and
they are compared to traditional methods
Unveiling Ecological and Genetic Novelty within Lytic and Lysogenic Viral Communities of Hot Spring Phototrophic Microbial Mats
Viruses exert diverse ecosystem impacts by controlling their host community through lytic predator-prey dynamics. However, the mechanisms by which lysogenic viruses influence their host-microbial community are less clear. In hot springs, lysogeny is considered an active lifestyle, yet it has not been systematically studied in all habitats, with phototrophic microbial mats (PMMs) being particularly not studied. We carried out viral metagenomics following in situ mitomycin C induction experiments in PMMs from Porcelana hot spring (Northern Patagonia, Chile). The compositional changes of viral communities at two different sites were analyzed at the genomic and gene levels. Furthermore, the presence of integrated prophage sequences in environmental metagenome-assembled genomes from published Porcelana PMM metagenomes was analyzed. Our results suggest that virus-specific replicative cycles (lytic and lysogenic) were associated with specific host taxa with different metabolic capacities. One of the most abundant lytic viral groups corresponded to cyanophages, which would infect the cyanobacteria Fischerella, the most active and dominant primary producer in thermophilic PMMs. Likewise, lysogenic viruses were related exclusively to chemoheterotrophic bacteria from the phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. These temperate viruses possess accessory genes to sense or control stress-related processes in their hosts, such as sporulation and biofilm formation. Taken together, these observations suggest a nexus between the ecological role of the host (metabolism) and the type of viral lifestyle in thermophilic PMMs. This has direct implications in viral ecology, where the lysogenic-lytic switch is determined by nutrient abundance and microbial density but also by the metabolism type that prevails in the host community.This work was financially supported by Ph.D. scholarships ANID N°21130667 and N°21172022, ANID-FONDECYT grants N°1150171 and N°1190998, ANID-ECOS160025, and Iniciativa de Investigación UnACh 2020-132-Unach
Magnetically-induced ferroelectricity in the (ND4)2[FeCl5(D2O)] molecular compound
The number of magnetoelectric multiferroic materials reported to date is scarce, as magnetic structures that break inversion symmetry and induce an improper ferroelectric polarization typically arise through subtle competition between different magnetic interactions. The (NH 4) 2 [FeCl 5 (H 2 O)] compound is a rare case where such improper ferroelectricity has been observed in a molecular material. We have used single crystal and powder neutron diffraction to obtain detailed solutions for the crystal and magnetic structures of (NH4)2[FeCl5(H2O)], from which we determined the mechanism of multiferroicity. From the crystal structure analysis, we observed an order-disorder phase transition related to the ordering of the ammonium counterion. We have determined the magnetic structure below T N, at 2 €‰K and zero magnetic field, which corresponds to a cycloidal spin arrangement with magnetic moments contained in the ac-plane, propagating parallel to the c-axis. The observed ferroelectricity can be explained, from the obtained magnetic structure, via the inverse Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya mechanism.Partial funding for this work is provided by the Ministerio Español de Ciencia e Innovación through projects MAT2010-16981, MAT2011-27233-C02-02. JARV acknowledges CSIC for a JAEdoc contract.Peer Reviewe
Spin-orbit torques for current parallel and perpendicular to a domain wall
We report field- and current-induced domain wall (DW) depinning experiments
in Ta/Co20Fe60B20/MgO nanowires through a Hall cross geometry. While purely
field-induced depinning shows no angular dependence on in-plane fields, the
effect of the current depends crucially on the internal DW structure, which we
manipulate by an external magnetic in-plane field. We show for the first time
depinning measurements for a current sent parallel to the DW and compare its
depinning efficiency with the conventional case of current flowing
perpendicularly to the DW. We find that the maximum efficiency is similar for
both current directions within the error bars, which is in line with a
dominating damping-like spin-orbit torque (SOT) and indicates that no large
additional torques arise for currents parallel to the DW. Finally, we find a
varying dependence of the maximum depinning efficiency angle for different DWs
and pinning levels. This emphasizes the importance of our full angular scans
compared to previously used measurements for just two field directions
(parallel and perpendicular to the DW) and shows the sensitivity of the
spin-orbit torque to the precise DW structure and pinning sites.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure
Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Efficacy of Intravitreal Digoxin in Preclinical Models for Retinoblastoma
PURPOSE:To assess in vitro cytotoxic activity and antiangiogenic effect, ocular and systemic disposition, and toxicity of digoxin in rabbits after intravitreal injection as a potential candidate for retinoblastoma treatment.METHODS:A panel of two retinoblastoma and three endothelial cell types were exposed to increasing concentrations of digoxin in a conventional (72-hour exposure) and metronomic (daily exposure) treatment scheme. Cytotoxicity was defined as the digoxin concentration that killed 50% of the cells (IC50) and was assessed with a vital dye in all cell types. Induction of apoptosis and cell-cycle status were evaluated by flow cytometry after both treatment schemes. Ocular and systemic disposition after intravitreal injection as well as toxicity was assessed in rabbits. Electroretinograms (ERGs) were recorded before and after digoxin doses and histopathological examinations were performed after enucleation.RESULTS:Digoxin was cytotoxic to retinoblastoma and endothelial cells under conventional and metronomic treatment. IC50 was comparable between both schedules and induced apoptosis in all cell lines. Calculated vitreous digoxin Cmax was 8.5 μg/mL and the levels remained above the IC50 for at least 24 hours after intravitreal injection. Plasma digoxin concentration was below 0.5 ng/ml. Retinal toxicity was evident after the third intravitreal dose with considerable changes in the ERG and histologic damage to the retina.CONCLUSIONS:Digoxin has antitumor activity for retinoblastoma while exerting antiangiogenic activity in vitro at similar concentrations. Metronomic treatment showed no advantage in terms of dose for cytotoxic effect. Four biweekly injections of digoxin led to local toxicity to the retina but no systemic toxicity in rabbits.Fil: Winter, Ursula Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Buitrago, Emiliano. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Mena, Hebe Agustina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: del Sole, Maria Jose. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Fisiopatología. Laboratorio de Farmacología; ArgentinaFil: Laurent, Viviana Eunice. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Negrotto, Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Francis, Jasmine. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; Estados UnidosFil: Arana, Eloisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo; ArgentinaFil: Sgroi, Mariana. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Croxatto, Juan Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación Oftalmología Argentina "J. Malbrán"; ArgentinaFil: Djaballah, Hakim. Core Facility Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; Estados UnidosFil: Chantada, Guillermo Luis. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Abramson, David. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; Estados UnidosFil: Schaiquevich, Paula Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; Argentin
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