Mn valence instability in La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 thin films

A Mn valence instability on La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 thin films, grown on LaAlO3 (001)substrates is observed by x-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Mn L-edge and O K-edge. As-grown samples, in situ annealed at 800 C in oxygen, exhibit a Curie temperature well below that of the bulk material. Upon air exposure a reduction of the saturation magnetization, MS, of the films is detected. Simultaneously a Mn2+ spectral signature develops, in addition to the expected Mn3+ and Mn4+ contributions, which increases with time. The similarity of the spectral results obtained by total electron yield and fluorescence yield spectroscopy indicates that the location of the Mn valence anomalies is not confined to a narrow surface region of the film, but can extend throughout the whole thickness of the sample. High temperature annealing at 1000 C in air, immediately after growth, improves the magnetic and transport properties of such films towards the bulk values and the Mn2+ signature in the spectra does not appear. The Mn valence is then stable even to prolonged air exposure. We propose a mechanism for the Mn2+ ions formation and discuss the importance of these observations with respect to previous findings and production of thin films devices.Comment: Double space, 21 pages, 6 figure

Distinct regulation of tonsillar immune response in virus infection

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Background: The relationships between tonsillar immune responses, and viral infection and allergy are incompletely known. Objective To study intratonsillar/nasopharyngeal virus detections and in vivo expressions of T-cell- and innate immune response-specific cytokines, transcription factors, and type I/II/III interferons in human tonsils. Methods: Palatine tonsil samples were obtained from 143 elective tonsillectomy patients. Adenovirus, bocavirus-1, coronavirus, enteroviruses, influenza virus, metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, rhinovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus were detected using PCR. The mRNA expression levels of IFN-α, IFN-β, IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17, IL-28, IL-29, IL-37, TGF-β, FOXP3, GATA3, RORC2, and Tbet were directly analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR. Results Fifty percentage of subjects reported allergy, 59% had ≥1 nasopharyngeal viruses, and 24% had ≥1 intratonsillar viruses. Tonsillar virus detection showed a strong negative association with age; especially rhinovirus or parainfluenza virus detection showed positive association with IFN-γ and Tbet expressions. IL-37 expression was positively associated with atopic dermatitis, whereas IFN-α, IL-13, IL-28, and Tbet expressions were negatively associated with allergic diseases. Network analyses demonstrated strongly polarized clusters of immune regulatory (IL-10, IL-17, TGF-β, FOXP3, GATA3, RORC2, Tbet) and antiviral (IFN-α, IFN-β, IL-28, IL-29) genes. These two clusters became more distinctive in the presence of viral infection or allergy. A negative correlation between antiviral cytokines and IL-10, IL-17, IL-37, FOXP3, and RORC2 was observed only in the presence of viruses, and interestingly, IL-13 strongly correlated with antiviral cytokines. Conclusions: Tonsillar cytokine expression is closely related to existing viral infections, age, and allergic illnesses and shows distinct clusters between antiviral and immune regulatory genes. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Light-induced instabilities in photo-oriented liquid crystal cells

In a planar liquid crystal sample sandwiched between a photosensitive and a reference plate instabilities occurred, when the cell was illuminated from the reference side. The instabilities were induced both by polarized white light source and monochromatic laser beams. Static and dynamic regimes were found; for laser irradiation dynamic instability was found only in a range of polarization directions. A model, developed for monochromatic excitation, predicts that at certain thicknesses dynamic instability is forbidden. Experiments on a wedge-like cell confirmed this conclusion.Comment: to appear in Mol. Cryst. Liq. Crys

Definición y cartografía de las áreas potenciales fisiográfico-climáticas de hayedo en España

On this work it is presented the methodology used in mapping the potential physiographic-climatic areas for beech (Fagus sylvatica) in Spain. On the basis of sample data taken from 235 sites of beech, and from 2944 beech stands from National Forest Inventory, a range of ecological parameters, physiographical and climatic, has been established, together with values defining optimal and marginal habitats; a parametric methodology was used, previously contrasted in earlier studies. These results have made possible to define a potentiality indicator for beech (IPot). By integrating all information elaborated in a S.I.G., and using a digital model of the terrain, digital models of potentiality, physiographical and climatic, have been generated for beech in Spain. This work has allowed to obtain the detail cartography of the potential areas for this species.Se presenta en este trabajo la metodología para la elaboración y la cartografía de las áreas potenciales fisiográfico-climáticas para el haya (Fagus sylvatica) en España. A partir de los datos procedentes del muestreo de 235 sitios de hayedo y de 2.944 puntos procedentes del Inventario Forestal Nacional (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, 1998), correspondientes a estaciones de haya, se han elaborado un conjunto de parámetros ecológicos, de naturaleza fisiográfica y climática y se han establecido los valores que definen los hábitats óptimos y marginales, utilizando una metodología paramétrica, ya contrastada en estudios anteriores. Estos resultados han permitido la definición de un indicador de potencialidad para el haya (IPot). Mediante la integración de toda la información elaborada en un S.I.G. y utilizando un modelo digital del terreno, se han generado los modelos digitales de potencialidad, de naturaleza fisiográfica y climática, para el haya en España

New interactions: past and future experiments

In this talk I will review the present status and future perspectives of some popular extensions of the conventional three-neutrino oscillation scenario, from a purely phenomenological point of view. For concreteness I will focus only on three specific scenarios: non-standard neutrino interactions with matters, models with extra sterile neutrinos, and neutrino decay and decoherence.Comment: LaTeX file using jpconf class, 8 pages, 2 tables. Proceedings of the "XXIII International Conference on Neutrino Physics and Astrophysics" (Neutrino 08), Christchurch, New Zealand, May 25-31, 200