A possible role of amorphous regions at grain-boundary vertex points as linear defects on flux pinning in MgB2 films with columnar grain structure

We measured the transport properties of MgB₂ films having columnar grain structure with their axis normal to the substrate. When an external magnetic field was applied parallel to the grain axis, an enhanced critical current density has been observed, and this result has been ascribed to flux pinning induced by grain boundaries. The shape of the angular dependence of critical current density and its magnetic field dependence showed a quite similar resemblance to those of YBa₂Cu₃O_x films containing columnar defects, implying a possible existence of linear defects in MgB₂ films of columnar structure. We propose that the amorphous regions at the vertex points of three or more grain boundaries observed in microstructural studies correspond to the linear defects and these linear defects anchor the end points of the flux line dislocations of Frank-Read sources, by which the shear in the flux line lattice is actuated. This assumed mechanism is found to reasonably explain the magnetic field dependence of the flux pinning force density of MgB₂ films with columnar grain structure.     

Direct measurements of (p, \gamma) cross-sections at astrophysical energies using radioactive beams and the Daresbury Recoil Separator

There are a number of astrophysical environments in which the path of nucleosynthesis proceeds through proton-rich nuclei. These nuclei have traditionally not been available as beams, and thus proton-capture reactions on these nuclei could only be studied indirectly. At the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF), some of the first direct measurements of (p, $ \gamma$ ) cross-sections on radioactive beams have been made. The Daresbury Recoil Separator (DRS) has been used to separate the recoils of interest from the unreacted primary beam and identify them in an isobutane-filled ionization counter. First data from ¹⁷F (p, $ \gamma$ ¹⁸Ne and ⁷Be (p, $ \gamma$ ⁸B measurements are presented.     

Electrospinning and characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan oligosaccharide/clay nanocomposite nanofibers in aqueous solutions

Submicron fibers of the composite of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), chitosan oligosaccharide [COS, (1→4)2-amino-2-deoxy-β-d-glucose], and montmorillonite clay (MMT) were prepared using electrospinning method with aqueous solutions. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analyzer, and tensile strength testing machine (Zwick) were utilized to characterize the PVA/COS/MMT nanofiber mats morphology and properties. The PVA/COS ratio and MMT concentration play important roles in nanofiber mat properties. XRD and TEM data demonstrated that exfoliated MMT layers were well-distributed within nanofiber. It was also found that the mechanical property and thermal stability were increased with COS and MMT contents.     

Measurement of residual stresses in film insert molded parts with complex geometry

Residual stress distribution of injection molded and film insert injection molded products were measured by using the hole drilling method after ejection and annealing, respectively. Non-isothermal three dimensional flow analysis was carried out for filling, packing and cooling stages. The flow analysis results were transported to a finite element stress analysis program and three dimensional stress analysis was performed for prediction of residual stresses in the parts. For comparison, residual stress distribution was measured by the layer removal method and calculated by the three dimensional numerical simulation in order to evaluate accuracy of the hole drilling method. Residual stress distributions obtained by both experiments and numerical methods accorded well with each other. Therefore, the hole drilling method is a reliable and useful method for measurement of residual stresses in injection molded parts, especially, products with complex geometry.     

Polymorphisms of COTL1 gene identified by proteomic approach and their association with autoimmune disorders

To select candidate genes, we attempted to comparative analysis of protein levels between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and healthy controls by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). We identified 17 proteins that showed up- or down-regulated spots in RA patients. We found that coactosin-like1 (COTL1) were highly expressed in RA patients compared with healthy controls. We performed a case-control study to determine whether the COTL1 gene polymorphisms were associated with RA and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The genotype frequency of c.-1124G>T and the allelic frequency of c.484G>A in RA patients, and the genotype frequency of c.484G>A in SLE patients were significantly different from healthy controls (P = 0.009, 0.027, and 0.025, respectively). We also investigated the correlation with the levels of rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody in RA patients, and anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) in SLE patients. The c.484G>A polymorphism in RA patients has significant association with the levels of anti-CCP antibody (P = 0.03). Our findings demonstrated that c.-1124G>T and c.484G>A polymorphisms of the COTL1 gene might be associated with the genetic susceptibility of autoimmune disorders.     

Effect of proton irradiation on electrical properties of a-As2S3

This paper reports the effect of proton irradiation on the electrical properties of a-As₂S₃ in the temperature range of 323–418 K and frequency range 0.1–100 kHz. The variation of transport property is studied with proton irradiation dose (1 × 10¹³ ions/cm² and 1 × 10¹⁵ ions/cm²). It has been observed that proton irradiation changes the dc conductivity (σ_dc), dc activation energy (ΔE_dc) and ac conductivity (σ_ac(ω)). The σ_dc and σ_ac(ω) increases with dose of proton irradiation. The value of frequency exponent (s) decreases with the temperature and irradiation dose. These results are explained in terms of change in density of defect states in these glasses.     

XAS and XMCD studies of amorphous FeCo-based ribbons

This paper reports x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) studies at Fe L_3,2 and Co L_3,2-edges to investigate the electronic structure of (Fe_100 ? xCo_x)₇₈Si₉Nb₃B₉Cu₁ (0 < x < 95) alloys. The influence of controlled Co addition on electronic structural and magnetic properties of (Fe_100 ? xCo_x)₇₈Si₉Nb₃B₉Cu₁ (x = 0, 20, 40, and 60) alloys has been investigated and it has been observed that Co exists as Co²⁺/Co³⁺, while Fe exists as a mixture of Fe⁰ (metallic) and Fe²⁺. The XMCD studies confirm these results and reveal that Co-ions are responsible for the room temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) in the system, while at Fe L_3,2-edge it shows a diamagnetic behavior.     

Liouville-Type Theorems for the Forced Euler Equations and the Navier–Stokes Equations

In this paper we study the Liouville-type properties for solutions to the steady incompressible Euler equations with forces in ${\mathbb {R}^N}$ . If we assume “single signedness condition” on the force, then we can show that a ${C^1 (\mathbb {R}^N)}$ solution (v, p) with ${|v|^2+ |p| \in L^{\frac{q}{2}}(\mathbb {R}^N),\,q \in (\frac{3N}{N-1}, \infty)}$ is trivial, v = 0. For the solution of the steady Navier–Stokes equations, satisfying ${v(x) \to 0}$ as ${|x| \to \infty}$ , the condition ${\int_{\mathbb {R}^3} |\Delta v|^{\frac{6}{5}} dx < \infty}$ , which is stronger than the important D-condition, ${\int_{\mathbb {R}^3} |\nabla v|^2 dx < \infty}$ , but both having the same scaling property, implies that v = 0. In the appendix we reprove Theorem 1.1 (Chae, Commun Math Phys 273:203–215, 2007), using the self-similar Euler equations directly.     

Possibility of room-temperature multiferroism in Mg-doped ZnO

Room-temperature multiferroic properties in Mg-doped ZnO samples are reported wherein Mg replaces Zn in the ZnO matrix and retains hexagonal wurtzite structure. The saturation magnetisation is increased from ～2×10^?4 emu/g to 3×10^?4 emu/g for the dilute doping of 2 % Mg in pure ZnO and the ferroelectricity is also increased. Higher concentration of Mg does not lead to a significant enhancement in the magnetisation but improves the ferroelectric properties. An X-ray absorption spectroscopic study shows an enhancement in O vacancies with dilute doping of Mg. The origin of the multiferroic behaviour is understood based on their crystal and electronic structures.