131 research outputs found
Development of Field Standards for an Optical Sensor Variable Rate Applicator Estimating Gaseous Nitrogen Losses from Triticum aestivum L. Using 15n
Field Dependent Specific-Heat of Rare Earth Manganites
The low temperature specific heat C(H) of several rare-earth manganites
(La_(0.7)Sr_(0.3)MnO_(3), Nd_(0.5)Sr_(0.5)MnO_(3), Pr_(0.5)Sr_(0.5)MnO_(3),
La_(0.67)Ca_(0.33)MnO$_(3), La_(0.5)Ca_(0.5)MnO_(3), La_(0.45)Ca_(0.55)MnO_(3)
and La_(0.33)Ca_(0.67)MnO_(3)) was measured as a function of magnetic field. We
observed behaviour consistent with thermodynamic expectations, i.e., C(H)
decreases with field for ferromagnetic metallic compounds by an amount which is
in quantitative agreement with spin wave theory. We also find that C(H)
increases with field in most compounds with a charge-ordered antiferromagnetic
ground state. In compounds which show evidence of a coexistence of
ferromagnetic metallic and antiferromagnetic charge-ordered states, C(H)
displays some unusual non-equilibrium effects presumably associated with the
phase-separation of the two states. We also observe a large anomalous low
temperature specific heat at the doping induced metal-insulator transition (at
x = 0.50) in La_(1-x)Ca_(x)MnO_(3).Comment: 13 pages, LATEX, 7 PDF figure
Oxygen Moment Formation and Canting in Li2CuO2
The possibilities of oxygen moment formation and canting in the quasi-1D
cuprate Li2CuO2 are investigated using single crystal neutron diffraction at 2
K. The observed magnetic intensities could not be explained without the
inclusion of a large ordered oxygen moment of 0.11(1) Bohr magnetons.
Least-squares refinement of the magnetic structure of Li2CuO2 in combination
with a spin-density Patterson analysis shows that the magnetization densities
of the Cu and O atoms are highly aspherical, forming quasi-1D ribbons of
localised Cu and O moments. Magnetic structure refinements and low-field
magnetization measurements both suggest that the magnetic structure of Li2CuO2
at 2 K may be canted. A possible model for the canted configuration is
proposed.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures (screen resolution
Soft spin waves in the low temperature thermodynamics of Pr_{0.7}Ca_{0.3}MnO_{3}
We present a detailed magnetothermal study of Pr(0.7)Ca(0.3)MnO(3), a
perovskite manganite in which an insulator-metal transition can be driven by
magnetic field, but also by pressure, visible light, x-rays, or high currents.
We find that the field-induced transition is associated with an enormous
release of energy which accounts for its strong irreversibility. In the
ferromagnetic metallic state, specific heat and magnetization measurements
indicate a much smaller spin wave stiffness than that seen in any other
manganite, which we attribute to spin waves among the ferromagnetically ordered
Pr moments. The coupling between the Pr and Mn spins may also provide a basis
for understanding the low temperature phase diagram of this most unusual
manganite.Comment: 10 pages, LATEX, 5 PDF figures, corrected typo
Investigation of the Spin Density Wave in NaxCoO2
Magnetic susceptibility, transport and heat capacity measurements of single
crystal NaxCoO2 (x=0.71) are reported. A transition to a spin density wave
(SDW) state at Tmag = 22 K is observable in all measurements, except chi(ac)
data in which a cusp is observed at 4 K and attributed to a low temperature
glassy phase. M(H) loops are hysteretic below 15 K. Both the SDW transition and
low temperature hysteresis are only visible along the c-axis. The system also
exhibits a substantial (~40%) positive magnetoresistance below this
temperature. Calculations of the electronic heat capacity gamma above and below
Tmag and the size of the jump in C indicate that the onset of the SDW brings
about the opening of gap and the removal of part of the Fermi surface. Reduced
in-plane electron-electron scattering counteracts the loss of carriers below
the transition and as a result we see a net reduction in resistivity below
Tmag. Sodium ordering transitions at higher temperatures are observable as
peaks in the heat capacity with a corresponding increase in resistivity.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figure
In vitro enamel thickness measurements with ultrasound
In the work described here, agreement between ultrasound and histologic measurements of enamel thickness in vitro was investigated. Fifteen extracted human premolars were sectioned coronally to produce 30 sections. The enamel thickness of each specimen was measured with a 15-MHz hand-held ultrasound probe and verified with histology. The speed of sound in enamel was established. Bland–Altman analysis, intra-class correlation coefficient and Wilcoxon sign rank test were used to assess agreement. The mean speed of sound in enamel was 6191 ± 199 m s−1. Bland–Altman limits of agreement were −0.16 to 0.18 mm when the speed of sound for each specimen was used, and −0.17 to 0.21 mm when the mean speed of sound was used. Intra-class correlation coefficient agreement was 0.97, and the Wilcoxon sign rank test yielded a p-value of 0.55. Using the speed of sound for each specimen results in more accurate measurement of enamel thickness. Ultrasound measurements were in good agreement with histology, which highlights its potential for monitoring the progressive loss of enamel thickness in erosive tooth surface loss
Specific heat and magnetic order in LaMnO_{3+\delta}
Magnetic and specific-heat measurements are performed in three different
samples of LaMnO_{3+\delta}, with \delta=0.11, 0.15 and 0.26, presenting
important disorder effects, such as carrier localization, due to high amounts
of La and Mn vacancies. For the samples with \delta =0.11 and 0.15, magnetic
measurements show signatures of a two-step transition: as the temperature is
lowered, the system enters a ferromagnetic phase followed by a disorder-induced
cluster-glass state. Spin-wave-like contributions and an unexpected large
linear term are observed in the specific heat as a function of temperature. In
the sample with the highest vacancy content, \delta=0.26, the disorder is
sufficient to suppress even short-range ferromagnetic order and yield a
spin-glass-like state.Comment: RevTeX 2-col, 8 pages, 5 ps figures included, submitted to PR
Social and environmental factors modulate leucocyte profiles in free-living Greylag geese (Anser anser)
Background. Blood parameters such as haematocrit or leucocyte counts are indicators of immune status and health, which can be affected, in a complex way, by exogenous as well as endogenous factors. Additionally, social context is known to be among the most potent stressors in group living individuals, therefore potentially influencing haematological parameters. However, with few exceptions, this potential causal relationship received only moderate scientific attention.
Methods. In a free-living and individually marked population of the highly social and long-lived Greylag goose, Anser anser, we relate variation in haematocrit (HCT), heterophils to lymphocytes ratio(H/L) and blood leucocyte counts to the following factors: intrinsic (sex, age, raising condition, i.e. goose- or hand-raised), social (pair-bond status, pair-bond duration and parental experience) and environmental (biologically relevant periods, ambient temperature) factors. Blood samples were collected repeatedly from a total of 105 focal birds during three biologically relevant seasons (winter flock, mating season, summer).
Results. We found significant relationships between haematological parameters and social as well as environmental factors. During the mating season, unpaired individuals had higher HCT compared to paired and family individuals and this pattern reversed in fall. Similarly, H/L ratio was positively related to pair-bond status in a seasonally dependent way, with highest values during mating and successful pairs had higher H/L ratio than unsuccessful ones. Also, absolute number of leucocytes tended to vary depending of raising condition in a seasonally dependent way.
Discussion. Haematology bears a great potential in ecological and behavioural studies on wild vertebrates. In sum we found that HTC, H/L ratio and absolute number of leucocytes are modulated by social factors and conclude that they may be considered valid indicators of individual stress load
Efficacy and safety of minimally invasive surgery with thrombolysis in intracerebral haemorrhage evacuation (MISTIE III): a randomised, controlled, open-label, blinded endpoint phase 3 trial
Acute stroke due to supratentorial intracerebral haemorrhage is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Open craniotomy haematoma evacuation has not been found to have any benefit in large randomised trials. We assessed whether minimally invasive catheter evacuation followed by thrombolysis (MISTIE), with the aim of decreasing clot size to 15 mL or less, would improve functional outcome in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage. MISTIE III was an open-label, blinded endpoint, phase 3 trial done at 78 hospitals in the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Asia. We enrolled patients aged 18 years or older with spontaneous, non-traumatic, supratentorial intracerebral haemorrhage of 30 mL or more. We used a computer-generated number sequence with a block size of four or six to centrally randomise patients to image-guided MISTIE treatment (1·0 mg alteplase every 8 h for up to nine doses) or standard medical care. Primary outcome was good functional outcome, defined as the proportion of patients who achieved a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0-3 at 365 days, adjusted for group differences in prespecified baseline covariates (stability intracerebral haemorrhage size, age, Glasgow Coma Scale, stability intraventricular haemorrhage size, and clot location). Analysis of the primary efficacy outcome was done in the modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population, which included all eligible, randomly assigned patients who were exposed to treatment. All randomly assigned patients were included in the safety analysis. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01827046. Between Dec 30, 2013, and Aug 15, 2017, 506 patients were randomly allocated: 255 (50%) to the MISTIE group and 251 (50%) to standard medical care. 499 patients (n=250 in the MISTIE group; n=249 in the standard medical care group) received treatment and were included in the mITT analysis set. The mITT primary adjusted efficacy analysis estimated that 45% of patients in the MISTIE group and 41% patients in the standard medical care group had achieved an mRS score of 0-3 at 365 days (adjusted risk difference 4% [95% CI -4 to 12]; p=0·33). Sensitivity analyses of 365-day mRS using generalised ordered logistic regression models adjusted for baseline variables showed that the estimated odds ratios comparing MISTIE with standard medical care for mRS scores higher than 5 versus 5 or less, higher than 4 versus 4 or less, higher than 3 versus 3 or less, and higher than 2 versus 2 or less were 0·60 (p=0·03), 0·84 (p=0·42), 0·87 (p=0·49), and 0·82 (p=0·44), respectively. At 7 days, two (1%) of 255 patients in the MISTIE group and ten (4%) of 251 patients in the standard medical care group had died (p=0·02) and at 30 days, 24 (9%) patients in the MISTIE group and 37 (15%) patients in the standard medical care group had died (p=0·07). The number of patients with symptomatic bleeding and brain bacterial infections was similar between the MISTIE and standard medical care groups (six [2%] of 255 patients vs three [1%] of 251 patients; p=0·33 for symptomatic bleeding; two [1%] of 255 patients vs 0 [0%] of 251 patients; p=0·16 for brain bacterial infections). At 30 days, 76 (30%) of 255 patients in the MISTIE group and 84 (33%) of 251 patients in the standard medical care group had one or more serious adverse event, and the difference in number of serious adverse events between the groups was statistically significant (p=0·012). For moderate to large intracerebral haemorrhage, MISTIE did not improve the proportion of patients who achieved a good response 365 days after intracerebral haemorrhage. The procedure was safely adopted by our sample of surgeons. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and Genentech. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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