Spin flip scattering at Al surfaces

Non-local measurements are performed on a multi terminal device to $in-situ$ determine the spin diffusion length and in combination with resistivity measurements also the spin relaxation time in Al films. By varying the thickness of Al we determine the contribution to spin relaxation from surface scattering. From the temperature dependence of the spin diffusion length it is established that the spin relaxation is impurity dominated at low temperature. A comparison of the spin and momentum relaxation lengths for different thicknesses reveals that the spin flip scattering at the surfaces is weak compared to that within the bulk of the Al films.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

Enhanced spin accumulation in a superconductor

A lateral array of ferromagnetic tunnel junctions is used to inject and detect non-equilibrium quasi-particle spin distribution in a superconducting strip made of Al. The strip width and thickness is kept below the quasi particle spin diffusion length in Al. Non-local measurements in multiple parallel and antiparallel magnetic states of the detectors are used to in-situ determine the quasi-particle spin diffusion length. A very large increase in the spin accumulation in the superconducting state compared to that in the normal state is observed and is attributed to a diminishing of the quasi-particle population by opening of the gap below the transition temperature.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures; accepted for publication in Journal of Applied Physic

Spin injection and relaxation in a mesoscopic superconductor

We study spin accumulation and spin relaxation in a superconducting nanowire. Spins are injected and detected by using a set of magnetic tunnel contact electrodes, closely spaced along the nanowire. We observe a giant enhancement of the spin accumulation of up to five orders of magnitude on transition into the superconducting state, consistent with the expected changes in the density of states. The spin relaxation length decreases by an order of magnitude from its value in the normal state. These measurements combined with our theoretical model, allow us to distinguish the individual spin flip mechanisms present in the transport channel. Our conclusion is that magnetic impurities rather than spin-orbit coupling dominate spin-flip scattering in the superconducting state.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Neural correlates of visuospatial working memory in the ‘at-risk mental state’

Background. Impaired spatial working memory (SWM) is a robust feature of schizophrenia and has been linked to the risk of developing psychosis in people with an at-risk mental state (ARMS). We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the neural substrate of SWM in the ARMS and in patients who had just developed schizophrenia. Method. fMRI was used to study 17 patients with an ARMS, 10 patients with a first episode of psychosis and 15 agematched healthy comparison subjects. The blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) response was measured while subjects performed an object–location paired-associate memory task, with experimental manipulation of mnemonic load. Results. In all groups, increasing mnemonic load was associated with activation in the medial frontal and medial posterior parietal cortex. Significant between-group differences in activation were evident in a cluster spanning the medial frontal cortex and right precuneus, with the ARMS groups showing less activation than controls but greater activation than first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients. These group differences were more evident at the most demanding levels of the task than at the easy level. In all groups, task performance improved with repetition of the conditions. However, there was a significant group difference in the response of the right precuneus across repeated trials, with an attenuation of activation in controls but increased activation in FEP and little change in the ARMS. Conclusions. Abnormal neural activity in the medial frontal cortex and posterior parietal cortex during an SWM task may be a neural correlate of increased vulnerability to psychosis

The pandemic curvature of democratic space/time. A legal perspective.

The paper outlines if and how the pandemic contributed to the curvature of the democratic space/time. The entire legal toolbox was deployed and shaped to counter the pandemic's many impacts: not only regulatory strategies and decision-making processes, but also governance and even the legal lexicon. The short distance travelled in the journey towards recovery and resilience - which per se is a pandemic output - has already revealed the goal-oriented and performative face of the new NRRP/dedicated governance and regulatory framework, which seems able to temper the future and the risks it brings. It also paves the way to longer journeys, including the big transitions of our time - environmental and digital transitions, but also cultural and social ones - together with their transformative potential. Democracy is at a crossroad: it has the opportunity to be fit for the future (future-proof), or simply lost in transition(s). In this respect a few lessons emerge from the pandemic

Welfare and quality of farmed trout fed high plant protein diets. 1 Growth performance and quality traits

AbstractThis study was performed to evaluate the effects of high levels of inclusion of plant protein sources to replace fish meal in rainbow trout (O. mykiss) diets on growth performance and quality characteristics. Two isoproteic (44.8%) and isolipidic (19.6%) extruded diets were fed to eight groups of trout (IBW 106.6g) for 103 days. Diet FM, containing only fish meal as protein source, was used as control treatment and compared to diet PV80, where a plant protein mix (pea protein concentrate and wheat gluten) was included to replace 80% of fish meal protein. Growth performance (FBW: 318.5g; SGR: 1.06%) and feed to gain ratio (0.79) of the fish were not affected by dietary treatment (p>0.05). Dry matter and protein ADCs, measured in vivo after stripping, resulted higher in fish fed the high vegetable protein diet relative to the fish meal one (p<0.05). Trout fed diet PV80 were characterised by higher agility index (2.02 vs 1.72, p<0.05), carcass yield (91.95 vs 91.18%, p<0.05), lower hepatosomatic inde..

Including marine microalgae in European seabass (D. labrax) diets: effects on digestive-absorptive functions

Marine microalgae deserve increasing attention as fish feed ingredients or supplements, due to their nutritional value and functional properties. They were recently shown to improve intestinal morphophysiology, which is often challenged in fish fed diets high in protein-rich plant feedstuffs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplemental dried marine microalgae on gut histology and expression of genes encoding brush border membrane enzymes and transporters, in E. sea bass fed diets low in fish meal and supplying substantial levels of plant protein feedstuffs. Two test diets (A1 and A2) were prepared by including a blend of Tisochrysis lutea and Tetraselmis suecica dried biomass (2:1 w:w ratio) to replace 15 and 45% fish meal protein and 10 and 30% fish lipid of a control diet (C+) containing 50:50 fish to vegetable protein and lipid ratios. A negative control (C-) preparation was also formulated with a 30:70 fish to vegetable protein ratio. One hundred and forty four sea bass (mean weight 204.3\ub10.78g) were divided among 12 tanks connected to a recirculating aquaculture system ensuring optimal rearing conditions (T, 23.8\ub0C; Salinity 30 ppt). Fish groups were fed the test diets to visual satiety over 105 days according to a randomized design with 3 replicates per dietary treatment. At the end of the trial, 6 fish per treatment were euthanized; the digestive tract removed, divided into pyloric caeca (PC), foregut (FG) and hindgut (HG) sections, and frozen in liquid N for gene expression analysis. Subsamples of gut tissue were also collected for histological evaluation. From histological analyses fish fed diet C- had the lowest villi thickness (P<0.05) while those given diets including microalgae, irrespective of the inclusion level, resulted in greater villi length than that observed in either positive or negative controls. Irrespective of the dietary treatment, gene expressions of sucrase-isomaltase, PepT1, Na+/K+-ATPase and APN were highest in the foregut. Regardless of the gut section, gene expression of the same enzymes-transporter was higher in fish fed microalgae-containing diets (P<0.05) when compared to both controls. The present results indicate that even at the lower dietary inclusion level investigated here, a mix of T. lutea e T. suecica resulted in potentially improved digestive-absorptive functions. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms underlying the observed positive effects of dietary microalgae addition

Modulating effects of humic acids on genotoxicity induced by water disinfectants in Cyprinus carpio

The use of chlorinated disinfectants during drinking-water production has been shown to generate halogenated compounds as a result of interactions of humic acids with chlorine. Such chlorinated by-products have been shown to induce genotoxic effects and consumption of chlorinated drinking-water has been correlated with increased risk for cancer induction in human populations. The aim of this work was to test the potential genotoxic effects on circulating erythrocytes of the fish Cyprinus carpio exposed in vivo to well-waters disinfected with sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), chlorine dioxide (ClO2) or peracetic acid (CH3COO2H, PAA), in the absence or presence of standard humic acids (HA). The effects were measured by use of the micronucleus (MN) and the single-cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assays at different sampling times after a 3-day exposure period. The exposure to chlorine disinfectants without the addition of HA produced a clear toxic effect. Significant cytogenetic damage (i.e. MN induction) was detected in fish populations exposed to both NaClO and ClO2 with humic acids. In the Comet assay, a significant decrease of DNA migration was observed in erythrocytes of specimens after exposure to NaClO-disinfected water without HA. No effects were observed in any other experimental condition. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Preliminary approach on early post mortem stress and quality indexes changes in large size bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)

Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is very appreciated on Japan and USA market for the preparation of sushi and sahimi. The market price of the fresh product can vary from 8 to 33 Euro/kg (gate farm/producers prices) according to size, shape, fat level, meat colour, consistency and freshness (absence of "hyake"), all parameters strictly connected to feeding quality and quantity, rearing and killing stress factors and refrigeration times and conditions after death. Excessive levels of stress during the slaughtering can affect meat quality, contributing to significantly decrease of tuna's price. The present trial was carried out to evaluate the possible harvesting/slaughtering stress effect on reared bluefin tuna meat quality, starting from the examination of the most important stress and quality parameters changes during the early post mortem period

QCD

We discuss QCD studies that will be possible at LEP2. We examine both experimental and theoretical aspects of jets, fragmentation functions, multiplicities and particle spectra.Comment: 44 pages, Latex, epsfig, 18 figures, to appear on the Report of the Workshop on Physics at LEP2, CERN 96-01, vol. 1, 199