Full control of the spin-wave damping in a magnetic insulator using spin-orbit torque

Hamadeh, A. et al.© 2014 American Physical Society. It is demonstrated that the threshold current for damping compensation can be reached in a 5  μm diameter YIG(20  nm)|Pt(7  nm) disk. The demonstration rests upon the measurement of the ferromagnetic resonance linewidth as a function of Idc using a magnetic resonance force microscope (MRFM). It is shown that the magnetic losses of spin-wave modes existing in the magnetic insulator can be reduced or enhanced by at least a factor of 5 depending on the polarity and intensity of an in-plane dc current Idc flowing through the adjacent normal metal with strong spin-orbit interaction. Complete compensation of the damping of the fundamental mode by spin-orbit torque is reached for a current density of ∼3×1011  A⋅m−2, in agreement with theoretical predictions. At this critical threshold the MRFM detects a small change of static magnetization, a behavior consistent with the onset of an auto-oscillation regime.This research was supported by the French Grants Trinidad (ASTRID 2012 program), by the RTRA Triangle de la Physique grant Spinoscopy, and by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. S. O. D. and V. V. N. acknowledges respectively support from the Russian programs Megagrant No. 2013-220-04-329 and competitive growth of KFU.Peer Reviewe

A finite strain, finite band method for modeling ductile fracture

We present a finite deformation generalization of the finite thickness embedded discontinuity formulation presented in our previous paper [A.E. Huespe, A. Needleman, J. Oliver, P.J. Sánchez, A finite thickness band method for ductile fracture analysis, Int. J. Plasticity 25 (2009) 2349–2365]. In this framework the transition from a weak discontinuity to a strong discontinuity can occur using a single constitutive relation which is of importance in a range of applications, in particular ductile fracture, where localization typically precedes the creation of new free surface. An embedded weak discontinuity is introduced when the loss of ellipticity condition is met. The resulting localized deformation band is given a specified thickness which introduces a length scale thus providing a regularization of the post-localization response. The methodology is illustrated through several example problems emphasizing finite deformation effects including the development of a cup-cone failure in round bar tensio

A finite thickness band method for ductile fracture analysis

We present a finite element method with a finite thickness embedded weak discontinuity to analyze ductile fracture problems. The formulation is restricted to small geometry changes. The material response is characterized by a constitutive relation for a progressively cavitating elastic–plastic solid. As voids nucleate, grow and coalesce, the stiffness of the material degrades. An embedded weak discontinuity is introduced when the condition for loss of ellipticity is met. The resulting localized deformation band is given a specified thickness which introduces a length scale thus providing a regularization of the post-localization response. Also since the constitutive relation for a progressively cavitation solid is used inside the band in the post-localization regime, the traction-opening relation across the band depends on the stress triaxiality. The methodology is illustrated through several example problems including mode I crack growth and localization and failure in notched bars. Various finite element meshes and values of the thickness of the localization band are used in the calculations to illustrate the convergence with mesh refinement and the dependence on the value chosen for the localization band thicknes

A review of economic consequences and costs of male violence against women

This article focuses on male violence against women. As it takes place in what is often considered to be ‘the private sphere’ of the home, violence is difficult to prove, to measure, to prevent and easy to ignore. A multi-country study (WHO, 2005, WHO multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence against women: Summary report of initial results on prevalence, health outcomes and women’s responses, Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization) shows that there are wide variations between countries resulting in 15 per cent to 71 per cent of women aged between 15 and 49 years saying that they have been victims of physical or sexual violence in intimate relationships. This article reviews and summarises literature that analyse types of economic costs that result from domestic violence and abuse perpetrated against women

2D layered transport properties from topological insulator Bi2_2Se3_3 single crystals and micro flakes

Low-field magnetotransport measurements of topological insulators such as Bi$_2$Se$_3$ are important for revealing the nature of topological surface states by quantum corrections to the conductivity, such as weak-antilocalization. Recently, a rich variety of high-field magnetotransport properties in the regime of high electron densities ($\sim10^{19}$ cm$^{-3}$) were reported, which can be related to additional two-dimensional layered conductivity, hampering the identification of the topological surface states. Here, we report that quantum corrections to the electronic conduction are dominated by the surface states for a semiconducting case, which can be analyzed by the Hikami-Larkin-Nagaoka model for two coupled surfaces in the case of strong spin-orbit interaction. However, in the metallic-like case this analysis fails and additional two-dimensional contributions need to be accounted for. Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations and quantized Hall resistance prove as strong indications for the two-dimensional layered metallic behavior. Temperature-dependent magnetotransport properties of high-quality Bi$_2$Se$_3$ single crystalline exfoliated macro and micro flakes are combined with high resolution transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, confirming the structure and stoichiometry. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy proves a single-Dirac-cone surface state and a well-defined bulk band gap in topological insulating state. Spatially resolved core-level photoelectron microscopy demonstrates the surface stability.Comment: Sci. Rep. (2016

Differences in the strength of cortical and brainstem inputs to SSA and non-SSA neurons in the inferior colliculus

[EN] In an ever changing auditory scene, change detection is an ongoing task performed by the auditory brain. Neurons in the midbrain and auditory cortex that exhibit stimulus-specific adaptation (SSA) may contribute to this process. Those neurons adapt to frequent sounds while retaining their excitability to rare sounds. Here, we test whether neurons exhibiting SSA and those without are part of the same networks in the inferior colliculus (IC). We recorded the responses to frequent and rare sounds and then marked the sites of these neurons with a retrograde tracer to correlate the source of projections with the physiological response. SSA neurons were confined to the non-lemniscal subdivisions and exhibited broad receptive fields, while the non-SSA were confined to the central nucleus and displayed narrow receptive fields. SSA neurons receive strong inputs from auditory cortical areas and very poor or even absent projections from the brainstem nuclei. On the contrary, the major sources of inputs to the neurons that lacked SSA were from the brainstem nuclei. These findings demonstrate that auditory cortical inputs are biased in favor of IC synaptic domains that are populated by SSA neurons enabling them to compare top-down signals with incoming sensory information from lower areas

Situación de la Certificación en Organizaciones de Gestión de Instalaciones Deportivas en España

The aim of this study was to analyze and describe the current situation of quality in sports management organizations of Spanish sports facilities. Out of a total of 5,065 registered under the national code of economic activities 9311, a detailed study of each of the organizations was carried out through systematic observation, to finally select 35 organizations with quality certification ISO9001, ISO14001, OHSAS 18001and EFQM. The results show a low quality implantation in the management organizations of sports facilities, being the certifications with greater implementation the quality management system (ISO 9001) and environmental management system (ISO 14001).El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar y describir la situación actual de la calidad en las organizaciones deportivas de gestión de instalaciones deportivas españolas. De un total de 5.065 registradas bajo el código nacional de actividades económicas 9311, se procedió al estudio pormenorizado de cada una de las organizaciones a través de la observación sistemática, para finalmente seleccionar a 35 organizaciones con certificación de calidad ISO9001, ISO14001, OHSAS 18001y EFQM. Los resultados muestran una escasa implantación de calidad en las organizaciones de gestión de instalaciones deportivas, siendo las certificaciones con mayor implantación, el sistema de gestión de calidad (ISO 9001) y el sistema de gestión medioambiental (ISO 14001)

The Proteome of Biologically Active Membrane Vesicles from Piscirickettsia salmonis LF-89 Type Strain Identifies Plasmid-Encoded Putative Toxins

Indexación: Scopus.Piscirickettsia salmonis is the predominant bacterial pathogen affecting the Chilean salmonid industry. This bacterium is the etiological agent of piscirickettsiosis, a significant fish disease. Membrane vesicles (MVs) released by P. salmonis deliver several virulence factors to host cells. To improve on existing knowledge for the pathogenicity-associated functions of P. salmonis MVs, we studied the proteome of purified MVs from the P. salmonis LF-89 type strain using multidimensional protein identification technology. Initially, the cytotoxicity of different MV concentration purified from P. salmonis LF-89 was confirmed in an in vivo adult zebrafish infection model. The cumulative mortality of zebrafish injected with MVs showed a dose-dependent pattern. Analyses identified 452 proteins of different subcellular origins; most of them were associated with the cytoplasmic compartment and were mainly related to key functions for pathogen survival. Interestingly, previously unidentified putative virulence-related proteins were identified in P. salmonis MVs, such as outer membrane porin F and hemolysin. Additionally, five amino acid sequences corresponding to the Bordetella pertussis toxin subunit 1 and two amino acid sequences corresponding to the heat-labile enterotoxin alpha chain of Escherichia coli were located in the P. salmonis MV proteome. Curiously, these putative toxins were located in a plasmid region of P. salmonis LF-89. Based on the identified proteins, we propose that the protein composition of P. salmonis LF-89 MVs could reflect total protein characteristics of this P. salmonis type strain. © 2017 Oliver, Hernández, Tandberg, Valenzuela, Lagos, Haro, Sánchez, Ruiz, Sanhueza-Oyarzún, Cortés, Villar, Artigues, Winther-Larsen, Avendaño-Herrera and Yáñez.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2017.00420/ful

Disability and its influence in nutritional assessment tools in elderly people living in nursing homes

Introduction: Poor nutritional status is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, especially in older people. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess nutritional status in elderly nursing home residents with different nutritional test, and to determine which parameters used for nutritional assessment can be carried out in this population, which usually have a high prevalence of functionally dependent residents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 383 elderly. The nutritional assessment tools used were the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), the new ESPEN consensus definition of malnutrition, and the tool for Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT). Moreover, the ability to perform basic activities of daily living was assessed with the Barthel index (BI). Results: According to BI, 78.9% had a total dependence and only 20.9% could be weighed and heighed. The prevalence of malnutrition with MNA, ESPEN and CONUT was 21.3%, 17.6% and 20.7%, respectively. The agreement between MNA vs ESPEN criteria was moderate (?= 0.483), but with CONUT was low. Conclusions: Nursing homes had a high percentage of totally dependent residents. This high degree of functional dependence made difficult to obtain some anthropometric parameters such as weight and height, which are essential to carry out most nutritional tests. MNA, CONUT and the new ESPEN criteria of malnutrition showed a high prevalence of malnutrition and risk of malnutrition in subjects in which they could be performed. Introducción: un estado nutricional deficiente está asociado con un incremento de la morbilidad y la mortalidad, especialmente en personas ancianas. Objetivo: el objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el estado nutricional en ancianos institucionalizados en residencias geriátricas mediante diferentes test nutricionales, y determinar qué parámetros utilizados en la valoración nutricional pueden ser realizados en esta población. Métodos: se llevó a cabo un estudio transversal en 383 ancianos. Las herramientas de valoración nutricional empleadas fueron el Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), el nuevo consenso de definición de malnutrición, y el CONUT. Además, la capacidad de realizar las actividades básicas de la vida diaria fue evaluada con el índice de Barthel. Resultados: según el índice de Barthel, hasta un 78, 9% de los residentes tenía una dependencia total, y en solo el 20, 9% se pudo determinar el peso y la talla. La prevalencia de malnutrición con MNA, el consenso de ESPEN y CONUT fueron 21, 3%, 17, 2% y 20, 7%, respectivamente. La concordancia (kappa) entre el MNA y el ESPEN fue moderada (? = 0, 483), pero con CONUT fue baja. Conclusiones: en las residencias geriátricas públicas existe un elevado porcentaje de ancianos totalmente dependientes. Este alto grado de dependencia funcional dificulta la obtención de algunos parámetros antropométricos como el peso y la talla, que son esenciales para llevar a cabo la mayoría de los test de valoración nutricional. El MNA, el CONUT y los nuevos criterios de desnutrición de la ESPEN mostraron una elevada prevalencia de desnutrición y de riesgo de desnutrición en esta población de ancianos institucionalizados, en aquellos en los que fue posible realizarlos

Neck circumference is associated with nutritional status in elderly nursing home residents

Objectives: Anthropometry is an easy and noninvasive method to evaluate nutritional status in institutionalized elderly people who are often bedridden. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the neck circumference (NC) and nutritional status of elderly nursing home residents and to find cutoff points for NC size to identify individuals at risk of malnutrition. Methods: A cross-sectional study was developed with data collected from 352 elderly people living in five public nursing homes. Different anthropometric measures and the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) were used to determine nutritional status. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were built for each anthropometric variable to determine their sensitivity and specificity for predicting the risk of malnutrition according to the MNA. Results: The mean age of the participants (59% females) was 83 years old. In total, 48.3% of women and 45.5% of men were at risk of malnutrition according to their MNA scores. All anthropometric measurements were highly intercorrelated in both men and women, indicating a high degree of collinearity. Bootstrapped linear regression was used to assess the strength of the association between an individuals’ nutritional status and their anthropometric parameters. Calf circumference and NC presented the best predictive value with the highest sensitivity for diagnosing the risk of malnutrition in both institutionalized elderly men and women. The best cutoff points of NC to identify elderly nursing home residents at risk of malnutrition were 35.2 cm for females and 37.8 cm for males. Conclusions: NC is associated with other classical anthropometric parameters and malnutrition status in elderly people living in nursing homes