Search

Experimental dependences (pressure-temperature) of phase equilibrium of hydrofluorocarbon R134a hydrate have been obtained in aqueous solution of the NaCl salt. The measurements were carried out at a salt concentration in water of 3.25 wt. % in the pressure range from 0.5 to 2.5 bar at temperatures varying from −3 to 10°C. In contrast with the pure water system, the presence of salt in the solution had an inhibitory effect. The equilibrium temperature on the equilibrium curve of R134a hydrate at a set pressure decreased by 12–25%, unlike the temperature for the system with pure water. Combined washing process followed by centrifugation decreased the mass concentration of the salt in the solution by 92% compared to the initial salt concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intermetallic compound Fe 1 − x Co x Si has a helical magnetic order for 0.05 < x < 0.8 , whereas its orbital angular momentum contributing to the occurrence of a Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction has not yet been verified. We applied soft x-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy on the Fe L 2 , 3 and Co L 2 , 3 edges below T c for Fe 0.75 Co 0.25 Si such that their orbital magnetic moments m orb were evaluated independently. The dichroic signals provide direct experimental evidence that m orb for both Fe and Co is coupled in a parallel manner with each spin counterpart m spin . The ratio of m orb to m spin is independently estimated as m orb / m spin ∼ 3 % for Fe and 9% for Co. By comparing the average of the two m spin values with the saturated magnetization using a commercial superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer, the hole number in the d bands for both Fe and Co is roughly estimated as approximately 1.5. This suggests that Fe and Co should be arranged closely for stabilizing the ferromagnetic moments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-temperature neutron diffraction experiments at P = 8 GPa have been conducted to investigate the magnetic structures of metallic Holmium at high pressures by employing a long d-spacing high-flux diffractometer and a Paris-Edinburgh press cell inside a cryostat. We find that at P = 8 GPa and T = 5 K, no nuclear symmetry change is observed, keeping therefore the hexagonal closed packed (hcp) symmetry at high pressure. Our neutron diffraction data confirm that the ferromagnetic state does not exist. The magnetic structure corresponding to the helimagnetic order, which survives down to 5 K, is fully described by the magnetic superspace group formalism. These results are consistent with those previously published using magnetization experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MnNb3S6 is a monoaxial chiral magnet and stabilizes magnetic solitons in the presence of a magnetic field (H). The number of solitons can be controlled by varying H. Furthermore, MnNb3S6 exhibits magnetization relaxation due to soliton annihilation, that is, a nonequilibrium chiral soliton lattice (CSL) state. In this study, we observed soliton locking phenomena in a CSL state on bulk MnNb3S6 crystal, as on micro-processed crystals of CrNb3S6. Thus, we could create nonequilibrium and equilibrium CSL states and switch between them. A numerical simulation revealed that the soliton number was preserved in the soliton locking region; thus, magnetization relaxation was not observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that the archetype chiral magnet MnSi stabilizes a skyrmion lattice, termed "A-phase," in a narrow temperature range in the vicinity of the paramagnetic boundary around Tc ∼ 29 K and Hc ∼ 2 kOe. Recently, it has been predicted that at much lower temperatures below Tc, the conical helicoid and the forced ferromagnetic (FFM) states could be separated by a new "unknown state." In order to detect this "unknown state," we explored the phase diagram of MnSi oriented single crystals as a function of the d.c. magnetic field ( H ⃗ d c ) and the temperature (T) by using a.c. magnetization measurements. For H ⃗ d c ∥ 〈111〉, we observed a new region, termed "B-phase," in the magnetic phase diagram, characterized by a flat-valley-like anomaly on the in-phase component of the a.c. magnetization (m′), over 3.5 ≤ Hdc ≤ 6.2 kOe just below the low temperature (T < 6 K) FFM boundary. The observed frequency independence over 0.3–1000 Hz and the absence of any measurable absorption in the a.c. magnetization (m″) in the "B-phase" suggest a static nature. The "B-phase" was not observed for either H ⃗ d c ∥ 〈100〉 or 〈110〉, revealing that the magnetic anisotropy could play a role in the stabilization of the phase. The "B-phase" could be compatible with the theoretical predictions if the new magnetic state is supposedly related with a relative reorientation of the four helices in MnSi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The single crystal of a chiral magnet Cr1/3NbS2 exhibits discrete changes in magnetization (M) in response to changes in magnetic field (H) triggered by the formation of a chiral soliton lattice (CSL). In order to provide evidence of this phenomenon, the study of the size effect is indispensable. We investigated the effects of size on this phenomenon by the use of two single crystals, (A) and (B), whose crystal sizes along the c-axis were 110 µm and 60 µm, respectively. First, in (A), the large jumps of M observed in the process of decreasing H exhibited inconsistent features, whereas the largest and second-largest jumps in (B) exhibited reproducibility for both the value of H and the magnitude of the M jumps. This confirms that these large jumps do not originate from the Barkhausen effect, as this effect would result in M jumps appearing at random values of H. When the system size of a sample becomes smaller, the features of the Barkhausen effect are suppressed. Second, as for the successive jumps observed in the H region where the rapid change in M is entirely seen for both the samples, the number of observed M jumps for (B) is more than that for (A). Indeed, the number of the domain wall due to the 2π-soliton in the CSL increases, as the c-axis length of the single crystal increases. However, a series of M jumps must appear in a limited H region below the critical field of the order of 2 kOe. The greater the number of M jumps, the more difficult the detection of the M jump will be in the H resolution of the present setup. Thus, the effects of size on the M jumps observed in the present setup can be understood within the framework of the CSL formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effects of hydrostatic pressure on an isotropic Nd2Fe14B magnet (the exact chemical formula is Nd2.0Fe14.1B) consisting of nanocrystals, with the size of approximately 30 nm, by magnetization measurements at pressures (P's) up to 9.3GPa and structural analyses up to 4.3GPa. Magnetization curves were measured by using a miniature diamond anvil cell made of Ti alloy with spatially uniform magnetization. The initial value of coercive field Hc at 300K is 840 kA/m (=10.6 kOe), and Hc initially increases to approximately 1180 kA/m (=15.0 kOe) almost linearly against the pressure. The increase in Hc, however, saturates at around P=3GPa. The change in Hc is understood by the decrease in the saturation magnetization Ms within the framework of the constant anisotropy of the single domain phase. The crystalline strain increases for P<1GPa. Afterward, the crystalline size (D) starts to decrease with increasing pressure, and the reduction tends to saturate at above approximately 3GPa. Furthermore, the change in Ms is actually related with both the change in strain and that in D. The data on the temperature dependence of Hc at P=0, 6.6, and 9.3GPa exhibit pressure-induced suppression of the Curie temperature. The maximum energy product decreases with increasing pressure over the whole temperature range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We perform structural analysis experiments on the chiral magnet Cr1/3NbS2, in which Cr3+ ions are inserted between hexagonal NbS2 layers. The noncentrosymmetrical nature of the inserted Cr3+ appears as a distorted CrS6 octahedron. Under the application of hydrostatic pressure, the lattice shrinks significantly along the c-axis rather than the a-axis. However, at a pressure P of approximately 3-4 GPa, a kink in the rate of decrease in the lattice parameters is observed, and the slight movement of a Nb atom along the c-axis brings about a decrease in the distortion of the CrS6 octahedron. This structural change qualitatively suggests a decrease in the strength of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (D-M) interaction. Under hydrostatic pressure, the magnetic ordering temperature TC decreases, and dTC/dP exhibits a slight change at around 3 GPa. A series of experiments indicates that the change in the structural symmetry of the CrS6 octahedron influences the exchange network between Cr3+ ions as well as the D-M interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monoaxial chiral magnet CrNb 3 S 6 exhibits a chiral soliton lattice (CSL) upon application of an external magnetic field (H) perpendicular to the helical axis (c-axis). The increase in the soliton (kink) number of the CSL in the process of decreasing H accompanies soliton penetration after nucleation at the surface. Avalanche soliton nucleation occurs during the initial process of soliton nucleation. We applied dynamic strain with scores of MHz to the crystal with the crystal size along the c-axis of 10 μm from the edge of the c-axis, so that we controlled the avalanche soliton nucleation by modifying the surface barrier. The present results suggest that the acoustic wave is useful for controlling the soliton number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous magnetic measurements for the chiral magnet CrNb3S6 have shown that the soliton penetration and soliton dissipation in the chiral soliton lattice state strongly depend on the crystal's size and shape. We performed magnetic measurements for a thin single crystal of CrNb3S6 with a thickness 3 μm, permitting the existence of approximately 60 solitons, and observed the magnetization (M)—magnetic field (H) curve with a remarkable full M–H loop. By investigating the minor loop of the M–H curve in detail, we found that the inside of the full M–H loop allows an infinite number of quasi-stable states for each eigen number of solitons, utilizing a non-negligible distribution of the thickness around 3 μm. This study reveals that in a microcrystal with a chiral axis length of a few micrometers, any magnetic state with an arbitrary soliton number can be created in a certain H range within the full M–H loop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ferromagnetic state of the spin-polarized ferromagnet La1−xSrxMnO3 is stabilized in the metallic region by strong coupling between localized spins in the t2g orbital and conduction electrons in the eg orbital. We prepared polycrystalline La1−xSrxMnO3 films (x = 0.15, 0.25, or 0.30) by deposition on an oxidized Si substrate. The three types of La1−xSrxMnO3 films were in the ferromagnetic rhombohedral phase, and their Curie temperatures, TC, evaluated from the midpoint of ac magnetization, were 305 K, 335 K, and 338 K, respectively. By applying expansion-mode acoustic vibration to the crystal structure of La1−xSrxMnO3, we observed a remarkable decrease (as large as 70 K) in TC. The applied structural perturbation causes a decrease in the possibility of conduction electron hopping and an increase in the Jahn–Teller distortion. The former is more effective for decreasing TC than the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated complex magnetic domain formation on a chiral molecule-based magnet, [Cr(CN)6][Mn(R)-pnH(H2O)](H2O) (termed as R-GN), whose two-dimensional molecular network was constructed with the help of a single-handed chiral ligand ((R)-pn). There, the first- and third-harmonic magnetic responses (M1ω and M3ω) against the ac magnetic field were observed, and magnetic hysteresis in ac field of a few Oe was discussed in terms of Rayleigh loop. The diagnostics of this magnetic hysteresis clarified the complex process of magnetic domain formation against a change in temperature. For R-GN, it was reported that a giant M3ω (termed #4 in this paper) appeared just above the so-called 'magnetic ordering temperature (TC).' In the present study, three M3ω responses (#1-3) were newly observed on the lower-temperature side of #4, and the ac field dependencies for all of #1-#4 were investigated. #1 also accompanied the giant M3ω, which suggests that a significant degree of magnetic fluctuation surviving below TC. This glassy behavior below TC is an attractive new phenomenon in molecule-based magnets with a single-handed chiral ligand. #2 and #3 exhibited magnetic ordering and the formation of a small magnetic domain, respectively. The M3ω responses of #1-3 were suppressed with increasing the amplitude of ac field, and the corresponding magnetic hysteresis was a normal Rayleigh loop accompanying the out-of-phase of the M1ω response. The M3ω response of #4 without the out-of-phase of M1ω was, however, enhanced with increasing the amplitude of ac field, and #4 represented a large magnetic hysteresis in the paramagnetic region, intrinsically different from those of #1-#3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We applied anisotropic stress to LaMnO3+δ nanoparticles synthesized in one-dimensional pores of mesoporous silica and investigated the effects of the anisotropic strain on the nanoparticles, which consisted of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic particles. The nanoparticles in the one-dimensional pores were crushed without stress in the direction parallel to the silica walls that separated the pores when the mesoporous silica containing the nanoparticles is pressurized. X-ray diffraction patterns of the nanoparticles indicated that the lattice strain increased with increasing applied pressure. The lattice constants were found to reduce anisotropically, and the values saturated above a critical strain. Both the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic transition temperatures for the LaMnO3+δ nanoparticles initially increased with increasing pressure and then remained constant at around the critical strain. These results indicate that anisotropic stress causes distortion of the shape of nanoparticles. This induces an increase in the lattice strain and the anisotropic compression of the crystal structure, which, in turn, results in an increase in the transition temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has recently been reported that, in FePt nanoparticles (NPs) protected by poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP), which possess a particle diameter (D) near the critical size (2-3 nm) for the emergence of the face-centered tetragonal (fct) structure, the coercive field (Hc) at room temperature increases with increasing D, whereas the Hc value below 10 K increases with decreasing D. We investigated the fct-ordering parameter (S) for PVP-coated FePt NPs with three mean D values (=2.0, 2.6, and 3.4 nm) in order to gain a better insight into the unique behavior of Hc. Furthermore, the temperature dependencies of Hc, saturation magnetization (Ms), and their product (HcMs) were also investigated. The behavior of Hc at high temperature is attributed to the decrease in the magnetic switching volume (V), while the enhancement of Hc at low temperatures with decreasing D is thought to originate from the decrease in the saturation magnetization, Ms, with decreasing D. The decrease in Ms with decreasing D is related to the decrease in the fct-ordering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the surface size- and shape-effects of soliton annihilation and soliton nucleation in chiral magnet CrNb3S6. We measure magnetization (M) curves of submillimeter-sized single crystals with an equal length along the c-axis (Lc = 10 μm) but with different cross sections in the ab-plane (Sab = 0.120–0.014 mm2). We find a ferromagnetic type of magnetizing (FMM) with a convex curve (d2M/dH2 < 0) near zero field (H = 0) and a major jump in M near the forced ferromagnetic state, which are more conspicuous, compared with earlier samples with submillimeter Lc [K. Tsuruta et al. J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 85, 013707 (2016)]. A new finding is that the major jump in M occurs at lower fields in samples with the smaller Sab. We further perform numerical simulation of the magnetization process with the Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equation of the Langevin-type. Based on the numerical results, we attribute the FMM at small fields to rapid annihilation of soliton assisted by the reduction of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction near the surfaces. We also discuss possible penetration processes of chiral soliton through the ac-(bc-)plane as well as ab-plane, and its relation to the major jump in M. Our experimental and calculated results will contribute to understanding of the effects of topological metastability in chiral magnets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exogenous application of plant hormones and their analogues has been exploited to improve crop performance in the field. Protodioscin is a saponin whose steroidal moiety has some similarities to plant steroidal hormones, brassinosteroids. To test the possibility that protodioscin acts as an agonist or antagonist of brassinosteroids or other plant growth regulators, we compared responses of the weed species Bidens pilosa L. to treatment with protodioscin, brassinosteroids, auxins (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA).Seeds were germinated and grown in agar containing protodioscin, dioscin, brassinolides, IAA and ABA. Root apex respiratory activity was measured with an oxygen electrode. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant enzymes activities were assessed.Protodioscin at 48–240 μm inhibited growth of B. pilosa seedlings. The steroidal hormone 24‐epibrassinolide (0.1–5 μm) also inhibited growth of primary roots, but brassicasterol was inactive. IAA at higher concentrations (0.5–10.0 μm) strongly inhibited primary root length and fresh weight of stems. ABA inhibited all parameters of seedling growth and also seed germination. Respiratory activity of primary roots (KCN‐sensitive and KCN‐insensitive) was activated by protodioscin. IAA and ABA reduced KCN‐insensitive respiration. The content of MDA in primary roots increased only after protodioscin treatment. All assayed compounds increased APx and POD activity, with 24‐epibrassinolide being most active. The activity of CAT was stimulated by protodioscin and 24‐epibrassinolide.The results revealed that protodioscin was toxic to B. pilosa through a mechanism not related to plant growth regulator signalling. Protodioscin caused a disturbance in mitochondrial respiratory activity, which could be related to overproduction of ROS and consequent cell membrane damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We measured the electrical conductivity σ of aluminum specimen consisting of submicron-grains by observing the AC magnetic susceptibility resulting from the eddy current. By using a commercial platform for magnetic measurement, contactless measurement of the relative electrical conductivity σn of a nonmagnetic metal is possible over a wide temperature (T) range. By referring to σ at room temperature, obtained by the four-terminal method, σn(T) was transformed into σ(T). This approach is useful for cylinder specimens, in which the estimation of the radius and/or volume is difficult. An experiment in which aluminum underwent accumulative roll bonding, which is a severe plastic deformation process, validated this method of evaluating σ as a function of the fraction of high-angle grain boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternating current magnetic measurements of YbBa2Cu4O8 (Yb-124) and YBa2Cu3O7 (Y-123) epitaxial films were performed under hydrostatic pressure (HP). Here, the strain under HP results in uniaxial strain along the c-axis, in addition to the biaxial strain due to mismatching with the substrate. This uniaxial effect on Yb-124 film brings about a prominent increase in the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) against the initial strain. However, a nearly optimal Y-123 film hardly exhibits an initial change in Tc, and even an underdoped one only exhibits an increase in Tc, that is, one-third as much as that in the Yb-124 film. Effective carrier doping by the use of effective out-of-plane contraction prominently appears in the 124-structure rather than in the 123-structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to show the results of computed tomography (CT)-based dosimetry of intracavitary brachytherapy for cervical cancer.Materials and Methods: A total of 20 patients with cervical cancer underwent intracavitary brachytherapy with external beam radiation therapy. The prescribed dose of brachytherapy was 6 Gy per fraction to point A. In every fraction a CT scan was performed after applicator insertion and three-dimensional (3D) dosimetry was done. The tumor dose was evaluated using D90 (the minimum dose delivered to 90% of the volume), and the doses of risk organs were evaluated using D2cc (the minimum dose in the most irradiated 2 cm3 of the volume).Results: The mean D90 for the clinical target volume (CTV) was 7.0 Gy (range 4.8-9.8 Gy). There was a negative correlation between the volume and the D90 for the CTV. The mean D2cc doses for the rectum and bladder were 6.0 Gy (range 3.9-9.0 Gy) and 6.5 Gy 5 Gy 2.9-9.0 Gy), respectively.Conclusion: CT-based 3D dosimetry of intracavitary brachytherapy for cervical cancer was useful for evaluating the doses of the CTV and the organs at risk. In cases with a large CTV, CTV D90 was often lower than the point A dose, and modulation of the prescribed dose might have to be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocytes isolated from F344 rats were transplanted into the spleens of congenic Nagase analbuminemic rats (NARs). The morphology and function of the transplanted hepatocytes were investigated after 18 months. The hepatocytes had formed nodules that occupied approximately 35% of the area of the splenic parenchyma on microscopic examination. Ultrastructural examination demonstrated that the organelles of the transplanted cells were indistinguishable from those of normal hepatocytes. The serum albumin level in NARs at 18 months after intrasplenic transplantation (HCTx) was about 3.6 % of that in normal rats. We confirmed that the hepatocytes in the spleen produced albumin and increased the serum albumin level in NARs with HCTx. The NAR model demonstrates the effect of HCTx and prolonged changes in the morphology of the hepatized spleen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A molecule-based magnet [Cr(CN)6][Mn(R/S)-pnH(H2O)](H2O) (termed R/S-GN) is a chiral crystal without an inversion center and mirror reflection, and its structural network is constructed using a chiral ligand diaminopropane (R/S)-pn. In S-GN, multiple spectra of ESR were observed below the magnetic ordering temperature by Morgunov et al. [Phys. Rev. B 77, 184419 (2008)]. They concluded that the phenomenon at the high field side occurred because the incommensurate magnetic structure resulted in a length-controllable superlattice of domain walls (the so-called chiral soliton lattice, CSL) under a dc magnetic field H applied perpendicular to the magnetic chiral axis. However, there multiple spectra were observed even for H nearly parallel to the chiral axis, a-axis, and their interpretation is unreasonable. Thus, we conducted an X-band electron spin resonance (ESR) measurement of R-GN under conditions similar to those of their experiment and performed Fourier spectrum analyses for the data of R-GN as an approach of physical characterization. By using two Lorentz spectra, the main ESR spectra for H // a were reproduced, and furthermore two prominent periodic modes were found by spectrum analyses based on Fourier transform. Two characteristic periods, p1 and p2 (

The magnetostructural correlation in FePt nanoparticles (NPs) of various sizes was investigated as a function of pressure. An FePt NP size of approximately 2 nm corresponds to the critical size for the formation of the face-centered tetragonal (fct) structure in the FePt compound. FePt NPs with an initial size D0 of 2.6 nm, in which the fct structure was stably constructed, were investigated from the viewpoints of both their magnetic properties and crystal structure at pressures up to 26 kbar. The magnetic blocking temperature (TB) for D0 = 2.6 nm was reduced by contraction, which was contrary to the pressure-induced enhancement of TB for D0 = 2.0 nm. The pressure response observed for D0 = 2.6 nm rather than that for D0 = 2.0 nm is clearly a characteristic of FePt NPs with the fct structure. For D0 = 2.6 nm, pressure-induced suppression of the effective magnetic anisotropy occurred and, from the viewpoint of the structure, anisotropic contraction occurred on the unit-cell level. This study reveals that anisotropic unit-cell contraction in FePt NPs reduces the effective anisotropic energy K, and the magnetic nature of the NPs could be controlled by changing the contraction manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In magnetic nanoparticles, anisotropy energy has extra contributions compared to that of the bulk counterparts, being the most relevant surface anisotropy. Here we use pressure to separate core from surface anisotropy in one system of maghemite nanoparticles dispersed in a polymer. The core anisotropy is Kcore=7.7×105 erg/cm3 while the surface anisotropy is KS=4.2×10-2 erg/cm2. This in-one-sample separation is possible due to changes in structurally ordered and disordered ratio, which induce changes in the average magnetic anisotropy energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "'Magnetic Diagnostics Using the Third-Harmonic Magnetic Response for a Molecule-Based Magnet Networked by a Single Chiral Ligand," by M. Mito et al. that was published in 2012 is presented.

We report the advantage of employing transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) using the contact Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of a rectal anastomotic stenosis. A 72-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a postoperative rectal anastomotic stenosis. Twenty months prior to admission, the patient underwent a low anterior resection for the treatment of the rectal cancer using an EEA stapling device. A barium enema and colonoscopy revealed a rectal stenosis, 0.8-cm diameter. This stenosis was at the anastomotic site, approximately 4.0 from the dental line. An endoscopic treatment was performed transanally using the contact Nd:YAG laser. The stenotic rectal wall was fulgurated or vaporized completely. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. We concluded that TEM appears to be a safe and minimally invasive procedure. Furthermore, the contact Nd:YAG laser is very effective in treating the gastrointestinal stenotic area. To our knowledge, this is the first successful report of this novel procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article ""Effects of selective lattice deformation on YbBa2Cu4O8 and YBa2Cu3O7 epitaxial films" that was published in the May 2014 issue of the journal is presented.