Spin-transistor action via tunable Landau-Zener transitions

Spin-transistor designs relying on spin-orbit interaction suffer from low signal levels resulting from low spin-injection efficiency and fast spin decay. Here, we present an alternative approach in which spin information is protected by propagating this information adiabatically. We demonstrate the validity of our approach in a cadmium manganese telluride diluted magnetic semiconductor quantum well structure in which efficient spin transport is observed over device distances of 50 micrometers. The device is turned "off" by introducing diabatic Landau-Zener transitions that lead to a backscattering of spins, which are controlled by a combination of a helical and a homogeneous magnetic field. In contrast to other spin-transistor designs, we find that our concept is tolerant against disorder.     

一年生植物作为石膏刨花板原料的适应性

本文叙述了使用德国及中国建筑石膏和甘蔗渣、竹材、棉秆、麦秸、稻草等一年生植物生产石膏刨花板的适应性,分析了石膏的成分和性能,测定了缓凝剂和植物原料对石膏水化的影响。制板时采用不同的配方和板的密度,以评价一年生植物的使用价值。在所使用的原料中,甘蔗渣是良好的石膏刨花板原料。     

Detection of bovine papillomavirus DNA in equine sarcoids using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)]

Unfixed and formalin-fixed frozen sections and paraffin-sections of histopathologically confirmed sarcoids of 20 horses were studied in the PCR. The used set of primers was located in the E5 open reading frame fitting both to bovine papillomavirus 1 (BPV-1) and BPV-2. Independent of the quality of the used tissues BPV-DNA was detected in all 20 sarcoids. By cleaving with restriction endonuclease Bst XI it was shown that the DNA-sequences amplified by PCR were identical with that of BPV-1. The results support the general view that BPV play an important role in equine sarcoids.     

Lunar Fe and Ti abundances: comparison of lunar prospector and clementine data

The Lunar Prospector neutron spectrometer data correlate well with iron and titanium abundances obtained through analysis of Clementine spectral reflectance data. With the iron and titanium dependence removed, the neutron spectrometer data also reveal regions with enhanced amounts of gadolinium and samarium, incompatible rare earth elements that are enriched in the final phases of magma crystallization. These regions are found mainly around the ramparts of the Imbrium impact basin but not around the other basins, including the much larger and deeper South Pole-Aitken basin. This result confirms the compositional uniqueness of the surface and interior of the Imbrium region.     

The Relationship Between Post‐Thaw Sperm DNA Integrity and Non‐Return Rate Among Norwegian Cross‐Bred Rams

With the aim of investigating the relationship between sperm DNA integrity and non‐return rate (NRR) among Norwegian cross‐bred rams, semen from 15 individuals was examined by flow cytometry. Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA) quantifies the proportion of spermatozoa with denatured DNA after in situ acid treatment, and the four parameters % DFI, % HDS, MEAN DFI and SD DFI are all different measures of DNA denaturation and maturation. Field fertility, reported as NRR 25 days after insemination was based on all inseminations from a large‐scale breeding programme and supplied by the Norwegian Association of Sheep and Goat Farmers. From each ram, four straws from four different weeks of the breeding season were analysed, and the associations between 25‐day NRR and the mean of the four SCSA parameters were tested using a logistic regression model. The results revealed no association between fertility and % DFI or % HDS, while SD DFI and MEAN DFI showed a significant negative association with NRR. Further, the SCSA values varied significantly between ejaculates within ram among some of the rams in the study. However, no significant association was seen between these intra‐individual differences in sperm DNA integrity and NRR. In conclusion, this study suggests an association between sperm DNA integrity and NRR for rams. However, further research must be conducted to confirm these findings and determine whether sperm DNA assessments can be applied to predict ram fertility.     

Atmospheric Lead Deposition from 12,400 to ca. 2,000 yrs BP in a Peat Bog Profile,Jura Mountains,Switzerland

The bog at Etang de la Gruère (Jura Mountains, Switzerland) consists of 420 cm of Sphagnum-dominated bog peat overlying 230 cm of Carex-dominated fen peat. One hundred cm below the bog surface, there is a pronounced peak in lead (Pb) concentration (approx. 10 µg/g) which has been dated at 2110 ± 30 BP and can be attributed to Roman Pb mining and smelting. Lead concentrations in peats from deeper, much older layers were measured using ICP-MS and found to be low and relatively constant (0.28 ± 0.04 µg/g, n = 17) from 405 cm to 235 cm which corresponds to the period from approx. 8,000 and 5,500 years before present (BP). In this same interval, scandium (Sc) concentrations (measured using INAA) were 0.07 ± 0.02 µg/g, yielding an average Pb/Sc ratio of 4.1 ± 1.2. These values are assumed to represent the true "background" Pb and Sc concentrations and Pb/Sc ratios of pre-anthropogenic aerosols. At 205 cm the Pb concentrations began to increase by 2 to 3 times, but these are proportional to the increases in aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), silicon (Si), and Sc, and reflect an increase in Pb deposition supplied by silicate-derived soil dust. This depth, dated at 5,230 BP, coincides with the development of agriculture and indicates the impact of soil cultivation on metal fluxes to the air. At 115 cm, however, the Pb concentrations increase out of proportion with Sc; this point was dated at 3,000 BP and reflects the beginning of Pb contamination by mining and metallurgy in Europe and the Middle East. There are two pronounced peaks in Pb concentrations centered at 435 cm and 555 cm, corresponding with local maxima in ash and ash-forming major elements at the same depths. These samples have been dated at 8,230 BP and 10,590 BP, respectively, indicating the Vasset/Killian volcanic events (Massif Central, France) and Younger-Dryas cold phase as the most likely explanations.     

Effects of furosemide and pentoxifylline on blood flow properties in horses.

The effects of furosemide and pentoxifylline on blood flow properties in horses were investigated. Hematologic and rheologic changes were examined in 4 horses before and 3 minutes after administration of epinephrine (1 mg, IV). The next day, hemorheologic changes were determined before and 3 hours after administration of furosemide (1 mg/kg of body weight, IM), and after administration of epinephrine at the sampling at 3 hours. Hematologic and rheologic changes were evaluated weekly in 3 horses given pentoxifylline (8.5 mg/kg, q 12 h, PO) for 28 days. In addition, hemorheologic responses to epinephrine were determined on days 0, 14, and 28 of pentoxifylline treatment. Neutrophil filtration studies were also performed 2 hours after IV administration of pentoxifylline (8.5 mg/kg). Postepinephrine values for PCV, RBC and WBC counts, and blood viscosity were greater than preepinephrine values. Erythrocyte sedimentation rates decreased after epinephrine, whereas RBC filterability did not change. Treatment with furosemide was associated with increases in mean RBC hemoglobin concentration and blood viscosity. Filterability of RBC did not change. Treatment with pentoxifyllie resulted in an increase in RBC filterability and erythrocyte sedimentation rate and a decrease in PCV; however, mean values for hematocrit and RBC count did not change. Treatment with pentoxifylline did not result in a change in resting blood viscosity, but markedly reduced the postepinephrine increase in blood viscosity. Neither IV nor orally administered pentoxifylline had an effect on neutrophil filtration. It was concluded that pentoxifylline has beneficial effects on RBC filterability and postepinephrine changes in blood viscosity, which may contribute to improvements of microcirculatory blood flow. In addition, furosemide may exacerbate exercise-associated hyperviscosity in horses.