Thermodynamic conditions during growth determine the magnetic anisotropy in epitaxial thin-films of La0.7_{0.7}Sr0.3_{0.3}MnO3_{3}

The suitability of a particular material for use in magnetic devices is determined by the process of magnetization reversal/relaxation, which in turn depends on the magnetic anisotropy. Therefore, designing new ways to control magnetic anisotropy in technologically important materials is highly desirable. Here we show that magnetic anisotropy of epitaxial thin-films of half-metallic ferromagnet La$_{0.7}$Sr$_{0.3}$MnO$_{3}$ (LSMO) is determined by the proximity to thermodynamic equilibrium conditions during growth. We performed a series of X-ray diffraction and ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) experiments in two different sets of samples: the first corresponds to LSMO thin-films deposited under tensile strain on (001) SrTiO$_{3}$ by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD; far from thermodynamic equilibrium); the second were deposited by a slow Chemical Solution Deposition (CSD) method, under quasi-equilibrium conditions. Thin films prepared by PLD show a in-plane cubic anisotropy with an overimposed uniaxial term. A large anisotropy constant perpendicular to the film plane was also observed in these films. However, the uniaxial anisotropy is completely suppressed in the CSD films. The out of plane anisotropy is also reduced, resulting in a much stronger in plane cubic anisotropy in the chemically synthesized films. This change is due to a different rotation pattern of MnO$_{6}$ octahedra to accomodate epitaxial strain, which depends not only on the amount of tensile stress imposed by the STO substrate, but also on the growth conditions. Our results demonstrate that the nature and magnitude of the magnetic anisotropy in LSMO can be tuned by the thermodynamic parameters during thin-film deposition.Comment: 6 pages, 8 Figure

The genetics of adaptation in freshwater Eurasian shad (Alosa)

Studying the genetics of phenotypic convergence can yield important insights into adaptive evolution. Here, we conducted a comparative genomic study of four lineages (species and subspecies) of anadromous shad (Alosa) that have independently evolved life cycles entirely completed in freshwater. Three naturally diverged (A. fallax lacustris, A. f. killarnensis, and A. macedonica), and the fourth (A. alosa) was artificially landlocked during the last century. To conduct this analysis, we assembled and annotated a draft of the A. alosa genome and generated whole-genome sequencing for 16 anadromous and freshwater populations of shad. Widespread evidence for parallel genetic changes in freshwater populations within lineages was found. In freshwater A. alosa, which have only been diverging for tens of generations, this shows that parallel adaptive evolution can rapidly occur. However, parallel genetic changes across lineages were comparatively rare. The degree of genetic parallelism was not strongly related to the number of shared polymorphisms between lineages, thus suggesting that other factors such as divergence among ancestral populations or environmental variation may influence genetic parallelism across these lineages. These overall patterns were exemplified by genetic differentiation involving a paralog of ATPase-α1 that appears to be under selection in just two of the more distantly related lineages studied, A. f. lacustris and A. alosa. Our findings provide insights into the genetic architecture of adaptation and parallel evolution along a continuum of population divergence

Prior exercise impairs subsequent performance in an intensity- and duration-dependent manner

Prior constant-load exercise performed for 30-min at or above maximal lactate steady state (MLSSp) significantly impairs subsequent time-to-task failure (TTF) compared with TTF performed without prior exercise. We tested the hypothesis that TTF would decrease in relation to the intensity and the duration of prior exercise compared to a baseline TTF trial. Eleven individuals (6 men, 5 women, 28 ± 8 yrs) completed the following tests on a cycle ergometer (randomly assigned after MLSSp was determined): i) a ramp-incremental test, ii) a baseline TTF trial performed at 80% of peak power (TTFb), iii) five 30-min constant-PO rides at 5% below lactate threshold (LT-5%), halfway between LT and MLSSp (Delta50), 5% below MLSSp (MLSS-5%), MLSSp, and 5% above MLSSp (MLSS+5%), and iv) 15- and 45-min rides at MLSSp (MLSS15 and MLSS45, respectively). Each condition was immediately followed by a TTF trial at 80% of peak power. Compared to TTFb (330 ± 52s), there was 8.0 ± 24.1, 23.6 ± 20.2, 41.0 ± 14.8, 52.2 ± 18.9, and 75.4 ± 7.4% reduction in TTF following LT-5%, Delta50, MLSS-5%, MLSSp, and MLSS+5%, respectively. Following MLSS15 and MLSS45 there were 29.0 ± 20.1 and 69.4 ± 19.6% reductions in TTF, respectively (P <0.05). It is concluded that TTF is reduced following prior exercise of varying duration at MLSSp and at submaximal intensities below MLSS. Novelty: •Prior constant-PO exercise, performed at intensities below MLSSp, reduces subsequent TTF performance. •Subsequent TTF performance is reduced in a linear fashion following an increase in the duration of constant-PO exercise at MLSSp

Inter-limb differences in parameters of aerobic function and local profiles of deoxygenation during double-leg and counterweighted single-leg cycling

It is typically assumed that in the context of double-leg cycling, dominant ($DOM_L$$_E$$_G$) and non-dominant ($NDOM_L$$_E$$_G$) legs have similar aerobic capacity and that both contribute equally to the whole-body physiological responses. However, there is a paucity of studies that have systematically investigated maximal and submaximal aerobic performance and characterized the profiles of local muscle deoxygenation in relation to leg-dominance. Using counterweighted single-leg cycling, this study explored whether peak $O_2$ consumption ($V̇O_2$$_p$$_e$$_a$$_k$), maximal lactate steady-state ($MLSS_p$), and profiles of local deoxygenation [HHb] would be different in the $DOM_L$$_E$$_G$ compared with the $NDOM_L$$_E$$_G$. Twelve participants performed a series of double-leg and counterweighted single-leg $DOM_L$$_E$$_G$ and $NDOM_L$$_E$$_G$$i)$ ramp-exercise tests, and $ii)$ 30-min constant-load trials. $V̇O_2$$_p$$_e$$_a$$_k$ was greater in the $DOM_L$$_E$$_G$ than in the $NDOM_L$$_E$$_G$ (2.87±0.42 vs 2.70±0.39 L·min-1; P<0.05). The difference in $V̇O_2$$_p$$_e$$_a$$_k$ persisted even after accounting for lean mass (P<0.05). Similarly, $MLSS_p$ was greater in the $DOM_L$$_E$$_G$ than in the $NDOM_L$$_E$$_G$ (118±31 vs 109±31 W; P<0.05). Furthermore, the amplitude of the [HHb] signal during ramp-exercise was larger in the $DOM_L$$_E$$_G$ than in the $NDOM_L$$_E$$_G$ during both double-leg (26.0±8.4 vs 20.2±8.8 µM; P<0.05) and counterweighted single-leg cycling (18.5±7.9 vs 14.9±7.5 µM; P<0.05). Additionally, the amplitudes of the [HHb] signal were highly-to-moderately correlated with the mode-specific $V̇O_2$$_p$$_e$$_a$$_k$ values (ranging from 0.91 to 0.54). These findings showed, in a group of young men, that maximal and submaximal aerobic capacities were greater in the $DOM_L$$_E$$_G$ than in the $NDOM_L$$_E$$_G$, and that superior peripheral adaptations of $DOM_L$$_E$$_G$ may underpin these differences

The European Registered Toxicologist (ERT) : Current status and prospects for advancement

Acknowledgements We would like to thank the participants of the five workshops in which the issues presented in this paper were discussed and the revised guidelines prepared, as well as the EUROTOX Executive Committee and the societies of toxicology of Sweden, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria and France for their support which allowed the workshops to take place.Peer reviewedPostprin