Ferromagnetic-superconducting hybrid films and their possible applications: A direct study in a model combinatorial film

Model combinatorial films (CFs) which host a pure superconductor adjacent to a ferromagneticsuperconducting hybrid film (HF) are manufactured for the study of the influence of ferromagnetic nanoparticles (FNs) on the nucleation of superconductivity. Careful resistance measurements were performed simultaneously on two different sites of the CFs. Enhancement of superconductivity and magnetic memory effects were observed only on the hybrid site of the CFs but were absent on their purely superconducting part. Our results give direct proof that the FNs modulate the superconducting order parameter in an efficient and controlled way giving us the possibility of miscellaneous practical applications.Comment: To appear in Physical Review

Enhancement of Superconductivity by Exchange Bias

In this work we study the transport properties of hybrids that consist of exchange biased ferromagnets (FMs) combined with a low-Tc superconductor (SC). Not only different FMs but also various structural topologies have been investigated: results for multilayers of La(1-x)CaxMnO3 combined with Nb in the form of [La0.33Ca0.67MnO3/La0.60Ca0.40MnO3]15/Nb, and for more simple Ni80Fe20/Nb/Ni80Fe20 trilayers and Ni80Fe20/Nb bilayers are presented. The results obtained in all hybrid structures studied in this work clearly uncover that the exchange bias mechanism promotes superconductivity. Our findings assist the understanding of the contradictory results that have been reported in the recent literature regarding the transport properties of relative FM/SC/FM spin valves

Stray-fields-based magnetoresistance mechanism in Ni80Fe20-Nb-Ni80Fe20 trilayers

We report on the transport and magnetic properties of hybrid trilayers and bilayers that consist of low spin-polarized Ni80Fe20 exhibiting in-plane but no uniaxial anisotropy and low-Tc Nb. We reveal a magnetoresistance effect that is pronounced. In our trilayers the magnetoresistance exhibits an increase of two orders of magnitude when the superconducting state is reached: from the conventional normal-state values 0.6 % it goes up to 1000 % for temperatures below Tc. In contrast, in the bilayers the effect is only minor since from 3% in the normal state increases only to 70 % for temperatures below Tc. Magnetization data of both the longitudinal and transverse magnetic components are presented. Most importantly, we present data not only for the normal state of Nb but also in its superconducting state. Strikingly, these data show that below its Tc SC the Nb interlayer under the influence of the outer Ni80Fe20 layers attains a magnetization component transverse to the external field. By comparing the transport and magnetization data we propose a candidate mechanism that could motivate the pronounced magnetoresistance effect observed in the trilayers. Adequate magnetostatic coupling of the outer Ni80Fe20 layers is motivated by stray fields that emerge naturally in their whole surface due to the multidomain magnetic structure that they attain near coercivity. Atomic force microscopy is employed in order to examine the possibility that such magnetostatic coupling could be promoted by interface roughness. Referring to the bilayers, although out-of-plane rotation of the magnetization of the single Ni80Fe20 layer is still observed, in these structures magnetostatic coupling does not occur due to the absence of a second Ni80Fe20 one so that the observed magnetoresistance peaks are only modest.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

Transformation of Hotel Food Waste into Animal Feed: Two Operational Periods of the Food for Feed Pilot Unit

Food waste represents 25–35% of the European Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), thus its diversion into innovative utilization streams is critical for sustainable waste management and the achievement of circularity. Opportunities are even higher in the island of Crete, Greece, where landfilled food waste is 39% of MSW. In this context, the LIFE-F4F Project implements a pilot scale modified solar drying process that provides an innovative, low-tech and low emissions method for safe transformation of source separated food waste into animal feed

A comparison of manifest refractions, cycloplegic refractions and retinoscopy on the RMA-3000 autorefractometer in children aged 3 to 15 years

T Rotsos,1 D Grigoriou,2 A Kokkolaki,2 N Manios21Moorfields eye hospital, London, UK; 2Department of Ophthalmology, General Children’s Hospital, Penteli, Athens, GreecePurpose: The study was conducted to compare the accuracy of readings of the RMA-3000 autorefractometer (Topcon, Tokyo, Japan) with traditional retinoscopy as a means of determining the approximate subjective refraction in children after cycloplegia.Methods: 142 children aged 3 to 15 years were included. All children had their refractive status measured with the RMA-3000 autorefractometer (noncycloplegic autorefraction [AR]). Subsequently all children underwent cycloplegia and the refractive status was estimated again with the autorefractometer (cycloplegic autorefraction [ARC]) and traditional retinoscopy (RC) by examiners who were unaware of the results from the other techniques.Results: From 69 right eyes with negative sphere we observed that the sphere power was significantly higher (more than 0.5 diopters) in AR than in ARC (P = 0.0001) and RC (P = 0.0001). From the 73 normal and hyperopic right eyes we observed that the sphere power was significantly lower (more than 0.5 diopters) in AR than in ARC (P = 0.0001) and RC (P = 0.0001). Conclusions: The use of the autorefractometer in children (in whom accommodation is more active than older patients) without cycloplegia may underestimate the actual hyperopia and overestimate the actual myopia. Manual retinoscopy is still the most accurate technique to estimate refractive status in children.Keywords: refractometer, cycloplegia, retinoscopy, myopia, hyperopia, astigmatis

Deployment of Municipal Solid Wastes as a Substitute Growing Medium Component in Marigold and Basil Seedlings Production

The possible use of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) in the production of marigold and basil seedlings examined. Six medium prepared from commercial peat (CP) and MSWC (0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 100% v/v). There was not any plant growth when MSWC used alone (100%). The addition of MSWC in low content (15% and 30%) improved seed emergence for marigold and basil respectively, while greater content revealed opposed impacts. Mean emergence time delayed as MSWC content increased into substrates. Addition of MSWC (especially in content greater than 30%) into CP reduced (from 34 to 64%) plant height, leaf number and stem diameter as a consequence reduced plant fresh weight (plant biomass) for both species. The number of lateral stems decreased (up to 81%) in basil when MSWC added into substrate mixtures. Chlorophyll b content decreased (up to 58%) in substrates with MSWC content greater than 15% or 30% while similar reduction observed in content of Chlorophyll a and total carotenoids for basil with MSWC > 60%. However, Chlorophyll a and total carotenoids content increased as MSWC content increased for marigold. K and Na leaf content increased but P equivalent decreased as MSWC content increased. Nursery-produced basil and marigold seedlings grown in 15% MSWC; displayed quality indices similar to those recorded for conventional mixtures of peat and may act as component substitute

Clustering of energy balance-related behaviors and parental education in European children : the ENERGY-project

Background:Recent research and literature reviews show that, among schoolchildren, some specific energy balance-related behaviors (EBRBs) are relevant for overweight and obesity prevention. It is also well known that the prevalence of overweight and obesity is considerably higher among schoolchildren from lower socio-economic backgrounds. This study examines whether sugared drinks intake, physical activity, screen time and usual sleep duration cluster in reliable and meaningful ways among European children, and whether the identified clusters could be characterized by parental education. Methods: The cross-sectional study comprised a total of 5284 children (46% male), from seven European countries participating in the ENERGY-project ("EuropeaN Energy balance Research to prevent excessive weight Gain among Youth"). Information on sugared drinks intake, physical activity, screen time and usual sleep duration was obtained using validated self-report questionnaires. Based on these behaviors, gender-specific cluster analysis was performed. Associations with parental education were identified using chi-square tests and odds ratios. Results: Five meaningful and stable clusters were found for both genders. The cluster with high physical activity level showed the highest proportion of participants with highly educated parents, while clusters with high sugared drinks consumption, high screen time and low sleep duration were more prevalent in the group with lower educated parents. Odds ratio showed that children with lower educated parents were less likely to be allocated in the active cluster and more likely to be allocated in the low activity/sedentary pattern cluster. Conclusions: Children with lower educated parents seemed to be more likely to present unhealthier EBRBs clustering, mainly characterized by their self-reported time spent on physical activity and screen viewing. Therefore, special focus should be given to lower educated parents and their children in order to develop effective primary prevention strategies

Using the intervention mapping protocol to reduce European preschoolers' sedentary behavior, an application to the ToyBox-study

Background: High levels of sedentary behavior are often measured in preschoolers, but only a few interventions have been developed to counteract this. Furthermore, detailed descriptions of interventions in preschoolers targeting different forms of sedentary behavior could not be located in the literature. The aim of the present paper was to describe the different steps of the Intervention Mapping Protocol used towards the development of an intervention component of the ToyBox-study focusing on decreasing preschoolers' sedentary behavior. The ToyBox-study focuses on the prevention of overweight in 4- to 6-year-old children by implementing a multi-component kindergarten-based intervention with family involvement in six different European countries. Methods: Applying the Intervention Mapping Protocol, six different steps were systematically completed for the structured planning and development of the intervention. A literature search and results from focus groups with parents/caregivers and kindergarten teachers were used as a guide during the development of the intervention and the intervention materials. Results: The application of the different steps in the Intervention Mapping Protocol resulted in the creation of matrices of change objectives, followed by the selection of practical applications for five different intervention tools that could be used at the individual level of the preschool child, at the interpersonal level (i.e., parents/caregivers) and at the organizational level (i.e., kindergarten teachers). No cultural differences regarding preschoolers' sedentary behavior were identified between the participating countries during the focus groups, so cultural and local adaptations of the intervention materials were not necessary to improve the adoption and implementation of the intervention. Conclusions: A systematic and evidence-based approach was used for the development of this kindergarten-based family-involved intervention targeting preschoolers, with the inclusion of parental involvement. The application of the Intervention Mapping Protocol may lead to the development of more effective interventions. The detailed intervention matrices that were developed as part of the ToyBox-study can be used by other researchers as an aid in order to avoid repetitive work for the design of similar interventions