Magnetic and electric properties in the distorted tetrahedral spin chain system Cu3Mo2O9

We study the multiferroic properties in the distorted tetrahedral quasi-one dimensional spin system Cu$_3$Mo$_2$O$_9$, in which the effects of the low dimensionality and the magnetic frustration are expected to appear simultaneously. We clarify that the antiferromagnetic order is formed together with ferroelectric properties at $T_{\rm N}=7.9$ K under zero magnetic field and obtain the magnetic-field-temperature phase diagram by measuring dielectric constant and spontaneous electric polarization. It is found that the antiferromagnetic phase possesses a spontaneous electric polarization parallel to the c axis when the magnetic field $H$ is applied parallel to the a axis. On the other hand, there are three different ferroelectric phases in the antiferromagnetic phase for $H$ parallel to the c axis.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, LT26 proceedings, accepted for publication in J. Phys.: Conf. Se

Acidification of Volcanic Ash Soils from Maui and Hawai‘i Island for Blueberry and Tea Production

This publication provides background on soil acidity in relation to plant growth, presents approaches to acidifying soils, and provides guidelines for the acidification of some volcanic soils on Maui and Hawai‘i island that are potential sites for tea and blueberry production

Electric polarization induced by Neel order without magnetic superlattice: experimental study of Cu3Mo2O9 and numerical study of a small spin cluster

We clarify that the antiferromagnetic order in the distorted tetrahedral quasi-one dimensional spin system induces electric polarizations. In this system, the effects of the low dimensionality and the magnetic frustration are expected to appear simultaneously. We obtain the magnetic-field-temperature phase diagram in Cu3Mo2O9 by studying the dielectric constant and the spontaneous electric polarization. Around the tricritical point at 10 T and 8 K, the change of the direction in the electric polarization causes a colossal magnetocapacitance. We calculate the charge redistribution in the small spin cluster consisting of two magnetic tetrahedra to demonstrate the electric polarization induced by the antiferromagnetism.Comment: 10 pages 6 figures, in press in J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Liquid phase immunoassay utilizing magnetic marker and high Tc superconducting quantum interference device

We have developed a liquid phase immunoassay system utilizing a magnetic marker and a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). In this system, the magnetic marker was used to detect the biological material called antigen. The magnetic marker was designed so as to generate a remanence, and the remanence field of the markers that bound to the antigens was measured with the SQUID. The measurement was performed in a solution that contained both the bound and free (or unbound) markers, i.e., without using the so-called bound/free (BF) separation process. The Brownian rotation of the free markers in the solution was used to distinguish the bound markers from the free ones. Using the system, we conducted the detection of biological material called IgE without BF separation. At present, we could detect the IgE down to 7 pg (or 39 amol

ARSENIC REMOVAL FROM GROUNDWATER USING INDIGENOUS IRON AND MANGANESE OXDIZING BACTERIA

Joint Research on Environmental Science and Technology for the Eart

Neutral B Flavor Tagging for the Measurement of Mixing-induced CP Violation at Belle

We describe a flavor tagging algorithm used in measurements of the CP violation parameter sin2phi_1 at the Belle experiment. Efficiencies and wrong tag fractions are evaluated using flavor-specific B meson decays into hadronic and semileptonic modes. We achieve a total effective efficiency of $ 28.8 +- 0.6 %.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figure

Mass-Enhanced Fermi Liquid Ground State in Na1.5_{1.5}Co2_2O4_4

Magnetic, transport, and specific heat measurements have been performed on layered metallic oxide Na$_{1.5}$Co$_2$O$_4$ as a function of temperature $T$. Below a characteristic temperature $T^*$=30$-$40 K, electrical resistivity shows a metallic conductivity with a $T^2$ behavior and magnetic susceptibility deviates from the Curie-Weiss behavior showing a broad peak at $\sim$14 K. The electronic specific heat coefficient $\gamma$ is $\sim$60 mJ/molK$^2$ at 2 K. No evidence for magnetic ordering is found. These behaviors suggest the formation of mass-enhanced Fermi liquid ground state analogous to that in $d$-electron heavy fermion compound LiV$_2$O$_4$.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. B 69 (2004

Physicians' explanatory behaviours and legal liability in decided medical malpractice litigation cases in Japan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A physician's duty to provide an adequate explanation to the patient is derived from the doctrine of informed consent and the physician's duty of disclosure. However, findings are extremely limited with respect to physicians' specific explanatory behaviours and what might be regarded as a breach of the physicians' duty to explain in an actual medical setting. This study sought to identify physicians' explanatory behaviours that may be related to the physicians' legal liability.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We analysed legal decisions of medical malpractice cases between 1990 and 2009 in which the pivotal issue was the physician's duty to explain (366 cases). To identify factors related to the breach of the physician's duty to explain, an analysis was undertaken based on acknowledged breaches with regard to the physician's duty to explain to the patient according to court decisions. Additionally, to identify predictors of physicians' behaviours in breach of the duty to explain, logistic regression analysis was performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>When the physician's explanation was given before treatment or surgery (<it>p </it>= 0.006), when it was relevant or specific (<it>p </it>= 0.000), and when the patient's consent was obtained (<it>p </it>= 0.002), the explanation was less likely to be deemed inadequate or a breach of the physician's duty to explain. Patient factors related to physicians' legally problematic explanations were patient age and gender. One physician factor was related to legally problematic physician explanations, namely the number of physicians involved in the patient's treatment.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings may be useful in improving physician-patient communication in the medical setting.</p