Effect of annealing on structural and electrical properties of the Li–Mn–O thin films, prepared by high frequency RF magnetron sputtering

Li–Mn–O thin film cathode materials are prepared by high frequency (27.12 MHz) RF magnetron sputtering. The high RF frequency gives higher deposition rates without compromising on the quality of the films. This investigation focuses on the effects of post-annealing on the micro-structural, morphological and electrical properties of Li–Mn–O films. It is observed that with the increase of annealing temperature the crystallinity as well as the electrical conductivity of the films increases. The films annealed at 600–700 °C are found to have high structural perfection and good electrical properties.     

Cuminaldehyde as a Lipoxygenase Inhibitor: In Vitro and In Silico Validation

The search for lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitors has been carried out for decades due to its importance in inflammatory diseases. In the present study, it was observed that the methanolic extract of Cuminum cyminum L. inhibited LOX activity. Activity-guided screening of the C. cyminum crude extracts helped the identification and isolation of cuminaldehyde as a 15-LOX inhibitor. The enzyme kinetics analysis suggested cuminaldehyde to be a competitive inhibitor and the IC ₅₀ value derived from LB plots is 1,370 μM. Binding constants of cuminaldehyde on LOX was deduced by isothermal titration calorimetry. The combined thermodynamics and molecular modeling analyses suggested cuminaldehyde as a competitive LOX inhibitor. It is proposed from the present study that the coordinate bond between the Fe²⁺ atom in the active site of the enzyme and the cuminaldehyde may be responsible for the enzyme inhibition. The study suggests that cuminaldehyde may be acting as an anti-inflammatory compound and may be therefore included in the category of leads for developing dual COX-LOX inhibitors as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).     

Critical points in the Bragg glass phase of a weakly pinned crystal of Ca3Rh4Sn13

New experimental data are presented on the scan rate dependence of the magnetization hysteresis width ΔM(H) (∞ critical current densityJ _c(H)) in isothermalMH scans in a weakly pinned single crystal of Ca₃Rh₄Sn₁₃, which displays second magnetization peak (SMP) anomaly as distinct from the peak effect (PE). We observe an interesting modulation in the field dependence of a parameter which purports to measure the dynamical annealing of the disordered bundles of vortices injected through the sample edges towards the destined equilibrium vortex state at a givenH. These data, in conjunction with the earlier observations made while studying the thermomagnetic history dependence inJ _c(H) in the tracing of the minor hysteresis loops, imply that the partially disordered state heals towards the more ordered state between the peak field of the SMP anomaly and the onset field of the PE. The vortex phase diagram in the given crystal of Ca₃Rh₄Sn₁₃ has been updated in the context of the notion of the phase coexistence of the ordered and disordered regions between the onset field of the SMP anomaly and the spinodal line located just prior to the irreversibility line. A multi-critical point and a critical point in the (H,T) region of the Bragg glass phase have been marked in this phase diagram and the observed behavior is discussed in the light of recent data on multi-critical point in the vortex phase diagram in a single crystal of Nb.     

Magnetization and specific heat studies of RNi4Ga (RSm,Gd and Tb)

In order to elucidate the anomalous magnetic properties in the ferromagnetically ordered state of SmNi₄Ga GdNi₄Ga and TbNi₄Ga, we have carried out a detailed study with magnetization and specific heat (SH) measurements. GdNi₄Ga shows the possibility of a filled 3d band and a helical spin arrangement below the ordering temperature. TbNi₄Ga shows a dominant crystal field effect resulting in a deviation of T_C from the de-Gennes scaling and possible Schottky anomalies in the SH. SmNi₄Ga shows a large coercivity at low temperatures. A rough estimate of the domain wall thickness in SmNi₄Ga gives a value of 8 Å.     

A Retrospective Study on Applications of the Lindley Distribution

The need for efficient statistical models has increased with the flow of new data, which makes distribution theory a particularly interesting and attractive field. Here, we provide a thorough study of the applications of the Lindley distribution and its diverse generalizations. More precisely, we review some special applications in various areas, such as time series analysis, stress strength analysis, acceptance sampling plans and data analysis. We also conduct a comparative study between the Lindley distribution and some of its generalizations by using four real-life data sets.     

Study of the peak effect phenomenon in single crystals of 2H-NbSe2

The weakly pinned single crystals of the hexagonal 2H-NbSe₂ compound have emerged as prototypes for determining and characterizing the phase boundaries of the possible order-disorder transformations in the vortex matter. We present here a status report based on the ac and dc magnetization measurements of the peak effect phenomenon in three crystals of 2H-NbSe₂, in which the critical current densities vary over two orders of magnitude. We sketch the generic vortex phase diagram of a weakly pinned superconductor, which also utilizes theoretical proposals. We also establish the connection between the metastability effects and pinning.     

Superconductivity in Bi2.2Ca2.8−x Sr x Cu2O y system and effect of rare earth substitution

The oxide system Bi_2.2Ca_2.8−x Sr _x Cu₂O _y has been investigated for superconductivity as a function of Ca/Sr ratio withx=0.7, 1.0, 1.4 and 1.8. All these compositions are found to be superconducting with onset temperature in the range of 80–90 K implying a large homogeneity range between Sr and Ca for the superconductivity to occur in this system. Effect of partial replacement of Bi by rare earths has been studied and it is observed that 20% replacement of Bi by Nd and Eu does not significantly affect the superconducting transition temperature.     

Principal component analysis of shear strain effects

Shear stresses are always present during quasi-static strain imaging, since tissue slippage occurs along the lateral and elevational directions during an axial deformation. Shear stress components along the axial deformation axes add to the axial deformation while perpendicular components introduce both lateral and elevational rigid motion and deformation artifacts into the estimated axial and lateral strain tensor images. A clear understanding of these artifacts introduced into the normal and shear strain tensor images with shear deformations is essential. In addition, signal processing techniques for improved depiction of the strain distribution is required. In this paper, we evaluate the impact of artifacts introduced due to lateral shear deformations on the normal strain tensors estimated by varying the lateral shear angle during an axial deformation. Shear strains are quantified using the lateral shear angle during the applied deformation. Simulation and experimental validation using uniformly elastic and single inclusion phantoms were performed. Variations in the elastographic signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios for axial deformations ranging from 0% to 5%, and for lateral deformations ranging from 0 to 5° were evaluated. Our results demonstrate that the first and second principal component strain images provide higher signal-to-noise ratios of 20 dB with simulations and 10 dB under experimental conditions and contrast-to-noise ratio levels that are at least 20 dB higher when compared to the axial and lateral strain tensor images, when only lateral shear deformations are applied. For small axial deformations, the lateral shear deformations significantly reduces strain image quality, however the first principal component provides about a 1–2 dB improvement over the axial strain tensor image. Lateral shear deformations also significantly increase the noise level in the axial and lateral strain tensor images with larger axial deformations. Improved elastographic signal and contrast-to-noise ratios in the first principal component strain image are always obtained for both simulation and experimental data when compared to the corresponding axial strain tensor images in the presence of both axial and lateral shear deformations.     

In vivo attenuation and equivalent scatterer size parameters for atherosclerotic carotid plaque: Preliminary results

We have previously reported on the equivalent scatterer size, attenuation coefficient, and axial strain properties of atherosclerotic plaque ex vivo. Since plaque structure and composition may be damaged during a carotid endarterectomy procedure, characterization of in vivo properties of atherosclerotic plaque is essential. The relatively shallow depth of the carotid artery and plaque enables non-invasive evaluation of carotid plaque utilizing high frequency linear-array transducers. We investigate the ability of the attenuation coefficient and equivalent scatterer size parameters to differentiate between calcified, and lipidic plaque tissue. Softer plaques especially lipid rich and those with a thin fibrous cap are more prone to rupture and can be classified as unstable or vulnerable plaque. Preliminary results were obtained from 10 human patients whose carotid artery was scanned in vivo to evaluate atherosclerotic plaque prior to a carotid endarterectomy procedure. Our results indicate that the equivalent scatterer size obtained using Faran’s scattering theory for calcified regions are in the 120–180 μm range while softer regions have larger equivalent scatterer size distribution in the 280–470 μm range. The attenuation coefficient for calcified regions as expected is significantly higher than that for softer regions. In the frequency bandwidth ranging from 2.5 to 7.5 MHz, the attenuation coefficient for calcified regions lies between 1.4 and 2.5 dB/cm/MHz, while that for softer regions lies between 0.3 and 1.3 dB/cm/MHz.     

Magnetization and heat capacity studies of double perovskite compounds Ba2SmRuO6 and Ba2DyRuO6

Here we report the magnetic and heat capacity studies of the double perovskite compounds Ba₂SmRuO₆ and Ba₂DyRuO₆. Antiferromagnetic transitions are inferred at 54 and 47 K in Ba₂SmRuO₆ and Ba₂DyRuO₆, respectively, in the magnetization measurements. Heat capacity measurements show large jumps at the corresponding temperatures and confirm the bulk magnetic ordering. Both the measurements provide clear indication of the ordering of the rare earth moments also along with the Ruthenium moments. However, the heat capacity results suggest that the ordering of rare earth magnetic moments is spread over a large temperature range. An anomaly observed in the magnetization measurements at 42 K (below the magnetic ordering) in Ba₂SmRuO₆ is discerned as a reorientation of Sm³⁺ moments.