163 research outputs found
Structural and magneto-transport characterization of Co_2Cr_xFe_(1-x)Al Heusler alloy films
We investigate the structure and magneto-transport properties of thin films
of the Co_2Cr_xFe_(1-x)Al full-Heusler compound, which is predicted to be a
half-metal by first-principles theoretical calculations. Thin films are
deposited by magnetron sputtering at room temperature on various substrates in
order to tune the growth from polycrystalline on thermally oxidized Si
substrates to highly textured and even epitaxial on MgO(001) substrates,
respectively. Our Heusler films are magnetically very soft and ferromagnetic
with Curie temperatures up to 630 K. The total magnetic moment is reduced
compared to the theoretical bulk value, but still comparable to values reported
for films grown at elevated temperature. Polycrystalline Heusler films combined
with MgO barriers are incorporated into magnetic tunnel junctions and yield 37%
magnetoresistance at room temperature
Trade-offs in managing commercial consumer returns for online apparel retail
Purpose: This paper analyses the application of Lean Six Sigma framework for supporting continuous improvement in logistics services. Both the lean philosophy and the Six Sigma methodology have become two of the most important initiatives for continuous improvement in organizations. The combination of both alternatives - Lean Six Sigma (LSS) - brings significant benefits for companies applying this method and its influence in logistics services can be relevant. Design/methodology/approach: A case study on the logistics services of a large consumer electronics company is performed. In this sector, high quality in logistics services is crucial. Using within-case and cross-case analyses, the paper discusses the implementation of LSS in two internal logistics processes. Findings: The paper identifies important implementation aspects when applying LSS to logistics services, such as continuous improvement structure, strategic analysis, cross-functional teams, and process management. Furthermore, the paper discusses the potential in logistics services of the DMAIC approach and tools like VSM, SIPOC and Process Mapping. Practical implications: The paper analyses two logistics processes where LSS has been applied â a payment process and a request-to-ship process. The analysis of both processes offers relevant information about organizational implementation in a logistics services environment, about process improvement and about the use of LSS tools. Originality/value: Firstly, this paper addresses the gap in literature about LSS and logisticsâ activities. Furthermore, the case company, with more than 9.000 employees and distributing its products to more than 100 countries, constitutes a valuable source of information to obtain insights in the implications of implementing LSS in logistics services
Thickness-dependent Ru exchange spring at La<sub>0.7</sub>Sr<sub>0.3</sub>MnO<sub>3</sub>âSrRuO<sub>3</sub> interface
The conducting oxide ferromagnets SrRuO3 (SRO) and LaSr0.3MnO3 (LSMO) form a Ru exchange spring at a coherent lowâinterdiffusion interface grown on TiO2âterminated SrTiO3(STO)(001) substrates as SRO(d)/LSMO/STO(001) bilayers. Fieldâ and temperatureâdependent magnetization data with systematically varied thickness d of SRO from 7 to 18 unit cells (uc) indicate a thickness of 10â14 uc of the exchange spring which governs magnetic switching and causes thicknessâdependent fieldâcooling effects. Mn L3 edge Xâray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) data reveal the dominating inâplane orientation of interfacial spins. In low magnetic fields, noncoplanar, topologically nontrivial spin textures arise and can be switched, driven by the Zeeman energy of the LSMO layer
Giant positive magnetoresistance in metallic VOx thin films
We report on giant positive magnetoresistance effect observed in VOx thin
films, epitaxially grown on SrTiO3 substrate. The MR effect depends strongly on
temperature and oxygen content and is anisotropic. At low temperatures its
magnitude reaches 70% in a magnetic field of 5 T. Strong electron-electron
interactions in the presence of strong disorder may qualitatively explain the
results. An alternative explanation, related to a possible magnetic
instability, is also discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures included in the text, references update
Electronic signature of the vacancy ordering in NbO (Nb3O3)
We investigated the electronic structure of the vacancy-ordered 4d-transition
metal monoxide NbO (Nb3O3) using angle-integrated soft- and hard-x-ray
photoelectron spectroscopy as well as ultra-violet angle-resolved photoelectron
spectroscopy. We found that density-functional-based band structure
calculations can describe the spectral features accurately provided that
self-interaction effects are taken into account. In the angle-resolved spectra
we were able to identify the so-called vacancy band that characterizes the
ordering of the vacancies. This together with the band structure results
indicates the important role of the very large inter-Nb-4d hybridization for
the formation of the ordered vacancies and the high thermal stability of the
ordered structure of niobium monoxide
Implementation of Whole-Body MRI (MY-RADS) within the OPTIMUM/MUKnine multi-centre clinical trial for patients with myeloma.
BACKGROUND: Whole-body (WB) MRI, which includes diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and T1-w Dixon, permits sensitive detection of marrow disease in addition to qualitative and quantitative measurements of disease and response to treatment of bone marrow. We report on the first study to embed standardised WB-MRI within a prospective, multi-centre myeloma clinical trial (IMAGIMM trial, sub-study of OPTIMUM/MUKnine) to explore the use of WB-MRI to detect minimal residual disease after treatment. METHODS: The standardised MY-RADS WB-MRI protocol was set up on a local 1.5Â T scanner. An imaging manual describing the MR protocol, quality assurance/control procedures and data transfer was produced and provided to sites. For non-identical scanners (different vendor or magnet strength), site visits from our physics team were organised to support protocol optimisation. The site qualification process included review of phantom and volunteer data acquired at each site and a teleconference to brief the multidisciplinary team. Image quality of initial patients at each site was assessed. RESULTS: WB-MRI was successfully set up at 12 UK sites involving 3 vendor systems and two field strengths. Four main protocols (1.5Â T Siemens, 3Â T Siemens, 1.5Â T Philips and 3Â T GE scanners) were generated. Scanner limitations (hardware and software) and scanning time constraint required protocol modifications for 4 sites. Nevertheless, shared methodology and imaging protocols enabled other centres to obtain images suitable for qualitative and quantitative analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Standardised WB-MRI protocols can be implemented and supported in prospective multi-centre clinical trials. Trial registration NCT03188172 clinicaltrials.gov; registration date 15th June 2017 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT03188172
FMR investigations of half-metallic ferromagnets
Thin films of various half-metallic ferromagnets, such as chromium dioxide (CrO 2) and Heusler alloys (Co 2Cr 0.6Fe 0.4Al, Co 2MnSi) have been investigated by ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) technique. It is demonstrated that FMR is a very efficient method to study the nanoscale magnetic properties, in particular to probe the magnetic anisotropy and magnetic inhomogeneities of ferromagnetic thin films. Epitaxial CrO 2 thin films of various thicknesses (25-535 nm) have been deposited on TiO 2(100) substrates by chemical vapor deposition process. It is shown that the magnetic behavior of the CrO 2 films results from a competition between the magnetocrystalline and strain anisotropies. For the ultrathin CrO 2 film (25 nm) the magnetic easy axis switches from the c-direction to the b-direction of the rutile structure. Thin-film Co 2Cr 0.6Fe 0.4Al samples (25 nm or 100 nm) have been grown by DC magnetron sputtering either on unbuffered SiO 2(100) substrates or on the substrates capped by a 50 nm thick V buffer layer. The effects of the vanadium buffer layer and of the film thickness are revealed by FMR studies of the Co 2Cr 0.6Fe 0.4Al samples. Well-resolved multiple spin-wave modes are observed in the unbuffered Co 2Cr 0.6Fe 0.4Al sample with a thickness of 100 nm and the exchange stiffness constant has been estimated. Thin films of Co 2MnSi (4-100 nm) have been grown by DC sputtering on silicon substrates on top of a 42 nm thick V seed layer and capped either by Al 2O 3 or by Co and V layers. A set of the 80 nm thick films has been annealed at different temperatures in the range of 425-550°C. FMR studies of the Co 2MnSi samples shows that at the fixed annealing temperature (450°C) the highest magnetization is observed in the sample with a thickness of 61 nm, while the thicker samples (100 nm) reveal not only a lower magnetization but greater magnetic inhomogeneity as well. An annealing treatment at T ℠450°C is essential to obtain higher magnetization as well as uniform magnetic properties in the Co 2MnSi films. Weak SWR modes have also been observed in the thick Heusler films. © 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA
Dinosolve: a protein disulfide bonding prediction server using context-based features to enhance prediction accuracy
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