Pseudo-Hall effect and anisotropic magnetoresistance in a micronscale Ni80Fe20 device

The pseudo-Hall effect (PHE) and anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) in a micronscale Ni80Fe20, six-terminal device, fabricated by optical lithography and wet chemical etching from a high quality UHV grown 30 Angstrom Au/300 Angstrom Ni80Fe20 film, have been studied. The magnetisation reversal in different parts of the device has been measured using magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE), The device gives a 50% change in PHE voltage with an ultrahigh sensitivity of 7.3%Oe(-1) at room temperature. The correlation between the magnetisation, magneto-transport properties, lateral shape of the device and directions of the external applied field is discussed based on extensive MOKE, AMR and PHE results

Influence of lateral geometry on magnetoresistance and magnetisation reversal in Ni80Fe20 wires

The magnetisation reversal processes and magnetoresistance behaviour in micron-sized Ni80Fe20 wires with triangular and rectangular modulated width have been studied. The wires were fabricated by electron beam lithography and a lift-off process. A combination of magnetic force microscopy (MFM), magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) and magnetoresistance (MR) measurements shows that the lateral geometry of the wires greatly influences the magnetic and transport properties. The width modulations modify not only the shape-dependent demagnetising fields, but also the current density. The correlation between the lateral geometry, the magnetic and the transport properties is discussed based on MFM, MOKE and MR results

Magnetic domain studies of permalloy wire-based structures with junctions

Permalloy (Ni-80 Fe-20) wire-based structures (30 nm thick and 1 . w . 10 mum wide) with junctions (crosses, networks, H-shapes, rectangular chains and ring chains) prepared on a GaAs (100) substrate were observed in both their demagnetized and remanent states by magnetic force microscopy (MFM) in order to investigate the role of junction geometry in domain formation, Except in ring chains, two classes of domain configuration are found at the junction: (i) a domain wall-like feature due to abrupt spin rotation and (ii) a triangle-shape domain consistent with a flux closure configuration, Ring chains, on the other hand, form vortex domains at every other junction. The MFM observations are compared with micromagnetic calculations which qualitatively support the magnetic domain configurations

Magnetic domain evolution in permalloy mesoscopic dots

Permalloy (Ni80Fe20) squares (30 nm thick and w mu m wide; 1 less than or equal to w less than or equal to 200 mu m) and circular disks (30 nm thick and r mu m diameter; 1 less than or equal to r less than or equal to 200 mu m) prepared on a GaAs (100) substrate were observed in both their demagnetized and remanent states by magnetic force microscopy (MFM) associated with non-contact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM). The squares (2 less than or equal to w mu m) exhibited conventional closure domains and the corner plays a very important role in creating new walls. The circular disks, on the other hand, formed either vortex domain (5 less than or equal to r less than or equal to 20 mu m) or multi-domain (50 less than or equal to r mu m) states, The magnetization rotation is observed by MFM to change according to the size and shape of the elements, The MFM observations are supported by micromagnetic calculations which confirm the effect of the corner on the domain wall formation

Magnetization reversal in mesoscopic Ni80Fe20 wires: A magnetic domain launching device

The magnetization reversal process in mesoscopic permalloy (Ni80Fe20) wire structures has been investigated using scanning Kerr microscopy, magnetic force microscopy (MFM) and micromagnetic calculations. We find that the junction offers a site for reversed domain wall nucleation in the narrow part of the wires. As a consequence, the switching field is dominated by the domain nucleation field and the junction region initiates reversal by the wall motion following the nucleation of domains. Our results suggest the possibility of designing structures that can be used to “launch” reverse domains in narrow wires within a controlled field rang

Magnetization reversal and magnetic anisotropy in Co network nanostructures

The magnetization reversal and magnetic anisotropy in Co network structures have been studied using magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE). An enhancement of the coercivity is observed in the network structures and is attributed to the pinning of domain walls by the hole edges in the vicinity of which the demagnetizing field spatially varies. We find that the magnetization reversal process is dominated by the intrinsic unaxial anisotropy (2K(u)/M(s)approximate to 200 Oe) in spite of the shape anisotropy induced by the hole edges. The influence of the cross-junction on the competition between the intrinsic uniaxial anisotropy and the induced shape anisotropy is discussed using micromagnetic simulations

Microstructural and chemical rejuvenation of a Ni-based superalloy

The microstructural evolution of the Ni-based superalloy CMSX-4 including the change in gamma prime morphology, size and distribution after high temperature degradation and subsequent rejuvenation heat treatments has been examined using field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEGSEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In this paper it is shown that there are significant differences in the size of the ‘channels’ between gamma prime particles, the degree of rafting and the size of tertiary gamma prime particles in each of the different microstructural conditions studied. Chemical analysis has been carried out to compare rejuvenated and pre-service samples after the same subsequent degradation procedure. The results indicate that although the microstructure of pre-service and rejuvenated samples are similar, chemical differences are more pronounced in the rejuvenated samples, suggesting that chemical segregation from partitioning of the elements was not completely eliminated through the applied rejuvenation heat treatment. A number of modified rejuvenation heat treatment trials were carried out to reduce the chemical segregation prior to creep testing. The creep test results suggest that chemical segregation has an immeasurable influence on the short-term mechanical properties under the test conditions used here, indicating that further work is required to fully understand the suitability of specific rejuvenation heat treatments and their role in the extension of component life in power plant applications

Microstructural evolution in a nickel based superalloy for power plant applications as a consequence of high temperature degradation and rejuvenation heat treatments

The microstructural evolution of the Ni-based superalloy CMSX-4 including the change in gamma prime size and distribution and the degree of rafting has been examined in detail using field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEGSEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) after high temperature degradation and rejuvenation heat treatments. The relationship between the microstructure, mechanical properties and the applied heat treatment procedures has been investigated. It is shown that there are significant differences in the rafting behaviour, the size of the ‘channels’ between the gamma prime particles, the degree of rafting and the size of the tertiary gamma prime particles in each of the different microstructural conditions studied. Chemical segregation investigations were carried out to establish the cause of reduced mechanical properties of the rejuvenated sample after high temperature degradation compared to an as-received sample after the same degradation procedure. The results indicate that although the microstructure of as-received and rejuvenated samples were similar, the chemical segregation was more pronounced in the rejuvenated samples, suggesting that chemical segregation from partitioning of the elements during rejuvenation was not completely eliminated. The aim of this research is to provide greater understanding of the suitability of rejuvenation heat treatments and their role in the extension of component life in power plant applications

High-throughput avian molecular sexing by SYBR green-based real-time PCR combined with melting curve analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Combination of <it>CHD </it>(chromo-helicase-DNA binding protein)-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with electrophoresis (PCR/electrophoresis) is the most common avian molecular sexing technique but it is lab-intensive and gel-required. Gender determination often fails when the difference in length between the PCR products of <it>CHD-Z </it>and <it>CHD-W </it>genes is too short to be resolved.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here, we are the first to introduce a PCR-melting curve analysis (PCR/MCA) to identify the gender of birds by genomic DNA, which is gel-free, quick, and inexpensive. <it>Spilornis cheela hoya </it>(<it>S. c. hoya</it>) and <it>Pycnonotus sinensis </it>(<it>P. sinensis</it>) were used to illustrate this novel molecular sexing technique. The difference in the length of <it>CHD </it>genes in <it>S. c. hoya </it>and <it>P. sinensis </it>is 13-, and 52-bp, respectively. Using Griffiths' P2/P8 primers, molecular sexing failed both in PCR/electrophoresis of <it>S. c. hoya </it>and in PCR/MCA of <it>S. c. hoya </it>and <it>P. sinensis</it>. In contrast, we redesigned sex-specific primers to yield 185- and 112-bp PCR products for the <it>CHD-Z </it>and <it>CHD-W </it>genes of <it>S. c. hoya</it>, respectively, using PCR/MCA. Using this specific primer set, at least 13 samples of <it>S. c. hoya </it>were examined simultaneously and the Tm peaks of <it>CHD-Z </it>and <it>CHD-W </it>PCR products were distinguished.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this study, we introduced a high-throughput avian molecular sexing technique and successfully applied it to two species. This new method holds a great potential for use in high throughput sexing of other avian species, as well.</p

Short-term outcomes of fetoscopic laser surgery for severe twin–twin transfusion syndrome from Taiwan single center experience: Demonstration of learning curve effect on the fetal outcomes

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the learning curve effect on fetal outcomes while using fetoscopic laser photocoagulation (FLP) for twin–twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) as managed by a newly established single center in Taiwan.Materials and MethodsBetween October 2005 and October 2010, women diagnosed to have TTTS before 26 weeks of gestation were offered FLP surgery. Cases were divided into first-half and second-half groups to evaluate the learning effect on fetal outcomes including at least one survival rate, two survival rate, and gestational age of delivery.ResultsA total of 44 cases with a median gestational age of 20.1 weeks (range 16–25) at operation were included in the study. Overall, both twins survived in 22 (50.0%) cases, whereas only one twin was born alive in 13 (29.5%), and neither was born alive in the remaining nine cases (20.5%). The total survival rate was 64.8%. When comparing the first-half 22 cases and the second-half 22 cases, there were significant improvements in total survival rate (54.7% vs. 75.0%, p = 0.045), a prolonged interval between operation and delivery (62.1 vs. 89.1 days, p = 0.042), and more advanced gestational age of delivery (28.3 vs. 33.0 weeks, p = 0.008) in the second-half 22 cases.ConclusionsWith increasing experience in using fetoscopic guide laser therapy for TTTS, the fetal survival rate could be improved with advanced gestational age at delivery