Magnetization dynamics in a three-dimensional interconnected nanowire array

Three-dimensional magnetic nanostructures have recently emerged as artificial magnetic material types with unique properties bearing potential for applications, including magnonic devices. Interconnected magnetic nanowires are a sub-category within this class of materials that is attracting particular interest. We investigate the high-frequency magnetization dynamics in a cubic array of cylindrical magnetic nanowires through micromagnetic simulations based on a frequency-domain formulation of the linearized Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation. The small-angle high-frequency magnetization dynamics excited by an external oscillatory field displays clear resonances at distinct frequencies. These resonances are identified as oscillations connected to specific geometric features and micromagnetic configurations. The geometry- and configuration-dependence of the nanowire array's absorption spectrum demonstrates the potential of such magnetic systems for tuneable and reprogrammable magnonic applications.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Micromagnetic study of inertial spin waves in ferromagnetic nanodots

Here we report the possibility to excite ultra-short spin waves in ferromagnetic thin-films by using time-harmonic electromagnetic fields with terahertz frequency. Such ultra-fast excitation requires to include inertial effects in the description of magnetization dynamics. In this respect, we consider the inertial Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert (iLLG) equation and develop analytical theory for exchange-dominated inertial spin waves. The theory predicts a finite limit for inertial spin wave propagation velocity, as well as spin wave spatial decay and lifetime as function of material parameters. Then, guided by the theory, we perform numerical micromagnetic simulations that demonstrate the excitation of ultra-short inertial spin waves (20 nm long) propagating at finite speed in a confined magnetic nanodot. The results are in agreement with the theory and provide the order of magnitude of quantities observable in realistic ultra-fast dynamics experiments.Comment: The following article has been accepted by Physical Review B. After it is published, it will be found at https://journals.aps.org/prb/. Revised version, 9 pages, 6 figures. Changes made in v2: added some references, minor edits and correction

Autologous Periosteum-Derived Micrografts and PLGA/HA Enhance the Bone Formation in Sinus Lift Augmentation

Sinus lift augmentation is a procedure required for the placement of a dental implant, whose success can be limited by the quantity or quality of available bone. To this purpose, the first aim of the current study was to evaluate the ability of autologous periosteum-derived micrografts and Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) supplemented with hydroxyl apatite (HA) to induce bone augmentation in the sinus lift procedure. Secondly, we compared the micrograft's behavior with respect to biomaterial alone, including Bio-Oss® and PLGA/HA, commercially named Alos. Sinus lift procedure was performed on 24 patients who required dental implants and who, according to the study design and procedure performed, were divided into three groups: group A (Alos + periosteum-derived micrografts); group B (Alos alone); and group C (Bio-Oss® alone). Briefly, in group A, a small piece of periosteum was collected from each patient and mechanically disaggregated by Rigenera® protocol using the Rigeneracons medical device. This protocol allowed for the obtainment of autologous micrografts, which in turn were used to soak the Alos scaffold. At 6 months after the sinus lift procedure and before the installation of dental implants, histological and radiographic evaluations in all three groups were performed. In group A, where sinus lift augmentation was performed using periosteum-derived micrografts and Alos, the bone regeneration was much faster than in the control groups where it was performed with Alos or Bio-Oss® alone (groups B and C, respectively). In addition, the radiographic evaluation in the patients of group A showed a radio-opacity after 4 months, while after 6 months, the prosthetic rehabilitation was improved and was maintained after 2 years post-surgery. In summary, we report on the efficacy of periosteum-derived micrografts and Alos to augment sinus lift in patients requiring dental implants. This efficacy is supported by an increased percentage of vital mineralized tisssue in the group treated with both periosteum-derived micrografts and Alos, with respect to the control group of Alos or Bio-Oss® alone, as confirmed by histological analysis and radiographic evaluations at 6 months from treatment

Interpretation of spin wave modes in Co/Ag nanodot arrays probed by broadband ferromagnetic resonance

Ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) and the measurement of magnetization dynamics in general have become sophisticated tools for the study of magnetic systems at the nanoscale. Nanosystems, such as the nanodots of this study, are technologically important structures, which find applications in a number of devices, such as magnetic storage and spintronic systems. In this work, we describe the detailed investigation of cobalt nanodots with a 200 nm diameter arranged in a square pitch array with a periodicity of 400 nm. Due to their size, such structures can support standing spin-wave modes, which can have complex spectral responses. To interpret the experimentally measured broadband FMR, we are comparing the spectra of the nanoarray structure with the unpatterned film of identical thickness. This allows us to obtain the general magnetic properties of the system, such as the magnetization, g-factor and magnetic anisotropy. We then use state-of-the-art simulations of the dynamic response to identify the nature of the excitation modes. This allows us to assess the boundary conditions for the system. We then proceed to calculate the spectral response of our system, for which we obtained good agreement. Indeed, our procedure provides a high degree of confidence, since we have interpreted all the experimental data to a good degree of accuracy. In presenting this work, we provide a full description of the theoretical framework and its application to our system, and we also describe in detail the novel simulation method used.Comment: 20 pages, 14 figure

Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells Hook into Biocoral Scaffold Forming an Engineered Biocomplex

The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior of human Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs), as well as human osteoblasts, when challenged on a Biocoral scaffold, which is a porous natural hydroxyapatite. For this purpose, human DPSCs were seeded onto a three-dimensional (3D) Biocoral scaffold or on flask surface (control). Either normal or rotative (3D) cultures were performed. Scanning electron microscopic analyses, at 8, 24 and 48 h of culture showed that cells did not adhere on the external surface, but moved into the cavities inside the Biocoral structure. After 7, 15 and 30 days of culture, morphological and molecular analyses suggested that the Biocoral scaffold leads DPSCs to hook into the cavities where these cells quickly start to secrete the extra cellular matrix (ECM) and differentiate into osteoblasts. Control human osteoblasts also moved into the internal cavities where they secreted the ECM. Histological sections revealed a diffuse bone formation inside the Biocoral samples seeded with DPSCs or human osteoblasts, where the original scaffold and the new secreted biomaterial were completely integrated and cells were found within the remaining cavities. In addition, RT-PCR analyses showed a significant increase of osteoblast-related gene expression and, above all, of those genes highly expressed in mineralized tissues, including osteocalcin, OPN and BSP. Furthermore, the effects on the interaction between osteogenesis and angiogenesis were observed and substantiated by ELISA assays. Taken together, our results provide clear evidence that DPSCs differentiated into osteoblasts, forming a biocomplex made of Biocoral, ECM and differentiated cells

Concave Pit-Containing Scaffold Surfaces Improve Stem Cell-Derived Osteoblast Performance and Lead to Significant Bone Tissue Formation

Scaffold surface features are thought to be important regulators of stem cell performance and endurance in tissue engineering applications, but details about these fundamental aspects of stem cell biology remain largely unclear.In the present study, smooth clinical-grade lactide-coglyolic acid 85:15 (PLGA) scaffolds were carved as membranes and treated with NMP (N-metil-pyrrolidone) to create controlled subtractive pits or microcavities. Scanning electron and confocal microscopy revealed that the NMP-treated membranes contained: (i) large microcavities of 80-120 microm in diameter and 40-100 microm in depth, which we termed primary; and (ii) smaller microcavities of 10-20 microm in diameter and 3-10 microm in depth located within the primary cavities, which we termed secondary. We asked whether a microcavity-rich scaffold had distinct bone-forming capabilities compared to a smooth one. To do so, mesenchymal stem cells derived from human dental pulp were seeded onto the two types of scaffold and monitored over time for cytoarchitectural characteristics, differentiation status and production of important factors, including bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We found that the microcavity-rich scaffold enhanced cell adhesion: the cells created intimate contact with secondary microcavities and were polarized. These cytological responses were not seen with the smooth-surface scaffold. Moreover, cells on the microcavity-rich scaffold released larger amounts of BMP-2 and VEGF into the culture medium and expressed higher alkaline phosphatase activity. When this type of scaffold was transplanted into rats, superior bone formation was elicited compared to cells seeded on the smooth scaffold.In conclusion, surface microcavities appear to support a more vigorous osteogenic response of stem cells and should be used in the design of therapeutic substrates to improve bone repair and bioengineering applications in the future

Detection and Characterization of CD133+ Cancer Stem Cells in Human Solid Tumours

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary tumour of bone. Solid tumours are made of heterogeneous cell populations, which display different goals and roles in tumour economy. A rather small cell subset can hold or acquire stem potentials, gaining aggressiveness and increasing expectancy of recurrence. The CD133 antigen is a pentaspan membrane glycoprotein, which has been proposed as a cancer stem cell marker, since it has been previously demonstrated to be capable of identifying a cancer initiating subpopulation in brain, colon, melanoma and other solid tumours. Therefore, our aim was to observe the possible presence of cells expressing the CD133 antigen within solid tumour cell lines of osteosarcoma and, then, understand their biological characteristics and performances.In this study, using SAOS2, MG63 and U2OS, three human sarcoma cell lines isolated from young Caucasian subjects, we were able to identify and characterize, among them, CD133+ cells showing the following features: high proliferation rate, cell cycle detection in a G2\M phase, positivity for Ki-67, and expression of ABCG2 transporters. In addition, at the FACS, we were able to observe the CD133+ cell fraction showing side population profile and forming sphere-clusters in serum-free medium with a high clonogenic efficiency.Taken together, our findings lead to the thought that we can assume that we have identified, for the first time, CD133+ cells within osteosarcoma cell lines, showing many features of cancer stem cells. This can be of rather interest in order to design new therapies against the bone cancer

luoghi dell'archeologia e usi contemporanei. archeology's place and contemporary uses. a call for proposals of architectural designs.

la mostra ed il catalogo relativo raccolgono gli esiti della call for proposals "luoghi dell'archeologia e usi contemporanei" organizzata nel 2009 dall'area di ricerca architettura e archeologia dello IUAV di Venezia in occasione dell'omonimo convegno internazionale. I 16 progetti selezionati tra le 130 proposte inviate da architetti italiani ed internazionali, tra i quali un progetto dell'autore Luigi Franciosini, offrono un contributo alla definizione di strategie per la valorizzazione di siti archeologici.

Archeologia e architettura. Tutela e valorizzazione. Progetti in aree antiche e medioevali.

Interventi per la fruibilità di via Biberatica, via della Torre e Giardino delle Milizie nel complesso dei Mercati di Traiano. Gli elaborati in mostra descrivono gli intyerventi sui parterre archeologici a completamento, integrazione o restauro delle pavimentazioni originali, oltre che agli elementi inseriti nel contesto archeologico per il superamento delle barriere architettoniche. Nel giardino delle Milizie, nell'ex-convento di Santa Caterina è messa in evidenza la metodologia di consolidamento delle strutture e di fruizione della spazialità ipogea.

Roma. Complesso archeologico dei Mercati di Traiano.

la mostra ed il catalogo relativo raccolgono gli esiti della call for proposals "luoghi dell'archeologia e usi contemporanei" organizzata nel 2009 dall'area di ricerca architettura e archeologia dello IUAV di Venezia in occasione dell'omonimo convegno internazionale. I 16 progetti selezionati tra le 130 proposte inviate da architetti italiani ed internazionali, tra i quali un progetto dell'autore Luigi Franciosini, offrono un contributo alla definizione di strategie per la valorizzazione di siti archeologici.