1,025 research outputs found
Enhanced magnetic moment and conductive behavior in NiFe2O4 spinel ultrathin films
Bulk NiFe2O4 is an insulating ferrimagnet. Here, we report on the epitaxial
growth of spinel NiFe2O4 ultrathin films onto SrTiO3 single-crystals. We will
show that - under appropriate growth conditions - epitaxial stabilization leads
to the formation of a spinel phase with magnetic and electrical properties that
radically differ from those of the bulk material : an enhanced magnetic moment
(Ms) - about 250% larger - and a metallic character. A systematic study of the
thickness dependence of Ms allows to conclude that its enhanced value is due to
an anomalous distribution of the Fe and Ni cations among the A and B sites of
the spinel structure resulting from the off-equilibrium growth conditions and
to interface effects. The relevance of these findings for spinel- and, more
generally, oxide-based heterostructures is discussed. We will argue that this
novel material could be an alternative ferromagetic-metallic electrode in
magnetic tunnel junctions.Comment: accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Direct Distance Measurements to Superluminal Radio Sources
We present a new technique for directly measuring the distances to
superluminal radio sources. By comparing the observed proper motions of
components in a parsec scale radio jet to their measured Doppler factors, we
can deduce the distance to the radio source independent of the standard rungs
in the cosmological distance ladder. This technique requires that the jet angle
to the line of sight and the ratio of pattern to flow velocities are
sufficiently constrained. We evaluate a number of possibilities for
constraining these parameters and demonstrate the technique on a well defined
component in the parsec scale jet of the quasar 3C279 (z = 0.536). We find an
angular size distance to 3C279 of greater than 1.8 (+0.5,-0.3) n^{1/8} Gpc,
where n is the ratio of the energy density in the magnetic field to the energy
density in the radiating particles in that jet component. For an Einstein-de
Sitter Universe, this measurement would constrain the Hubble constant to be H <
65 n^{-1/8} km/s/Mpc at the two sigma level. Similar measurements on higher
redshift sources may help discriminate between cosmological models.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures, to be published in The Astrophysical Journa
Theory of interlayer exchange interactions in magnetic multilayers
This paper presents a review of the phenomenon of interlayer exchange
coupling in magnetic multilayers. The emphasis is put on a pedagogical
presentation of the mechanism of the phenomenon, which has been successfully
explained in terms of a spin-dependent quantum confinement effect. The
theoretical predictions are discussed in connection with corresponding
experimental investigations.Comment: 18 pages, 4 PS figures, LaTeX with IOP package; v2: ref. added.
Further (p)reprints available from http://www.mpi-halle.de/~theory
Probiotic yogurt with brazilian red propolis: physicochemical and bioactive properties, stability, and shelf life
This study aimed to evaluate the quality parameters in probiotic yogurt produced with Brazilian red propolis
to replace potassium sorbate used in conventional yogurt (CY). Microbiological stability and shelf life, physicochemical
properties (pH, acidity, chemical composition, and fatty acids), and bioactive properties (phenolic compounds and
antioxidant activity) were evaluated. The addition of red propolis (0.05%) to replace the potassium sorbate did not change
the pH, acidity, fatty acid profile, chemical composition, or shelf life. Microbiological stability of at least 28 days was
achieved, while a drastic reduction in the lactic acid bacteria content was observed in the CY during refrigeration storage.
Phenolic total contents were higher than those of the control, and consequently, yogurt with red propolis showed higher
antioxidant activity.We thank the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível
Superior (CAPES), Brazilian government, for scholarship support
(Finance Code 001), the Dr Cátia Ionara Santos Lucas (INSECTA
laboratory, UFRB, Cruz das Almas, Brazil), and the technical team
of the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança laboratory (Bragança,
Portugal) for their support during the research.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Exchange bias effect in alloys and compounds
The phenomenology of exchange bias effects observed in structurally
single-phase alloys and compounds but composed of a variety of coexisting
magnetic phases such as ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic,
spin-glass, cluster-glass and disordered magnetic states are reviewed. The
investigations on exchange bias effects are discussed in diverse types of
alloys and compounds where qualitative and quantitative aspects of magnetism
are focused based on macroscopic experimental tools such as magnetization and
magnetoresistance measurements. Here, we focus on improvement of fundamental
issues of the exchange bias effects rather than on their technological
importance
Bicultural identity among economical migrants from three south European countries living in Switzerland. Adaptation and validation of a new psychometric instrument
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Acculturation is one of the determinants of mental health among immigrants. Evaluating adaptation to the host culture is insufficient, since immigrants will develop various degrees of bi- or multicultural identity. However, mental health professionals lack simple and easy to use instruments to guide them with bicultural identity evaluation in their practice. Our aim was to develop such an instrument to be used for clinical purposes among economical migrants from three South European countries living in Geneva, Switzerland.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We adapted from existing instruments a 24 item bi-dimensional scale to assess involvement in both culture of origin and host culture. The study included 93 immigrant adults from three south European countries (Italy, Portugal and Spain). Thirty-eight patients were recruited in an outpatient treatment program for alcohol-related problems and 55 participants were hospital employees.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The questionnaire was rated as easy or rather easy by 97.8% of participants. Median time to complete it was 5 minutes. The instrument allowed discriminating between patients and healthy subjects, with scores for Swiss culture significantly higher among hospital workers. The subscales related to culture of origin and host culture displayed adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.77 and 0.73 respectively).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It is possible to assist clinicians' assessment of cultural identity of Italian, Portuguese and Spanish economical immigrants in Switzerland with a single and easy to use instrument.</p
Non-PEGylated liposomes for convection-enhanced delivery of topotecan and gadodiamide in malignant glioma: initial experience
Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) of highly stable PEGylated liposomes encapsulating chemotherapeutic drugs has previously been effective against malignant glioma xenografts. We have developed a novel, convectable non-PEGylated liposomal formulation that can be used to encapsulate both the topoisomerase I inhibitor topotecan (topoCED™) and paramagnetic gadodiamide (gadoCED™), providing an ideal basis for real-time monitoring of drug distribution. Tissue retention of topoCED following single CED administration was significantly improved relative to free topotecan. At a dose of 10 μg (0.5 mg/ml), topoCED had a half-life in brain of approximately 1 day and increased the area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) by 28-fold over free topotecan (153.8 vs. 5.5 μg day/g). The combination of topoCED and gadoCED was found to co-convect well in both naïve rat brain and malignant glioma xenografts (correlation coefficients 0.97–0.99). In a U87MG cell assay, the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of topoCED was approximately 0.8 μM at 48 and 72 h; its concentration–time curves were similar to free topotecan and unaffected by gadoCED. In a U87MG intracranial rat xenograft model, a two-dose CED regimen of topoCED co-infused with gadoCED greatly increased median overall survival at dose levels of 0.5 mg/ml (29.5 days) and 1.0 mg/ml (33.0 days) vs. control (20.0 days; P < 0.0001 for both comparisons). TopoCED at higher concentrations (1.6 mg/ml) co-infused with gadoCED showed no evidence of histopathological changes attributable to either agent. The positive results of tissue pharmacokinetics, co-convection, cytotoxicity, efficacy, and lack of toxicity of topoCED in a clinically meaningful dose range, combined with an ideal matched-liposome paramagnetic agent, gadoCED, implicates further clinical applications of this therapy in the treatment of malignant glioma
Patterns of changes in bipolar depressive symptoms revealed by trajectory analysis among 482 patients with bipolar disorder
Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149731/1/bdi12715_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149731/2/bdi12715.pd
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