Magnetic field dependence of galfenol elastic properties

Elastic shear moduli measurements on Fe100−xGax (x = 12–33) single crystals (via resonant ultrasound spectroscopy) with and without a magnetic field and within 4–300 K are reported. The pronounced softening of the tetragonal shear modulus c′ is concluded to be, based on magnetoelastic coupling, the cause of the second peak in the tetragonal magnetostriction constant λ100 near x = 28. Exceedingly high ΔE effects ( ∼ 25%), combined with the extreme softness in c′ (c′\u3c10 GPa), suggest structural changes take place, yet, gradual in nature, as the moduli show a smooth dependence on Ga concentration, temperature, and magnetic field. Shear anisotropy (c44/c′) as high as 14.7 was observed for Fe71.2Ga28.8

Tetragonal magnetostriction and magnetoelastic coupling in Fe-Al, Fe-Ga, Fe-Ge, Fe-Si, Fe-Ga-Al, and Fe-Ga-Ge alloys

This paper presents a comparative study on the tetragonal magnetostriction constant,λγ,2, [ = (3/2)λ100] and magnetoelastic coupling, b1, of binary Fe100-xZx (0 \u3c x \u3c 35, Z = Al, Ga, Ge, and Si) and ternary Fe-Ga-Al and Fe-Ga-Ge alloys. The quantities are corrected for magnetostrains due to sample geometry (the magnetostrictive form effect). Recently published elastic constant data along with magnetization measurements at both room temperature and 77 K make these corrections possible. The form effect correction lowers the magnetostriction by ∼10 ppm for high-modulus alloys and by as much as 30 ppm for low-modulus alloys. The elastic constants are also used to determine the values of the magnetoelastic coupling constant, b1. With the new magnetostriction data on the Fe-Al-Ga alloy, it is possible to show how the double peak magnetostriction feature of the binary Fe-Ga alloy flows into the single peak binary Fe-Al alloy. The corrected magnetostriction and magnetoelastic coupling data for the various alloys are also compared using the electron-per-atom ratio, e/a, as the common variable. The Hume-Rothery rules link thee/a ratio to the regions of phase stability, which appear to be intimately related to the magnetostriction versus the solute concentration curve in these alloys. Using e/a as the abscissa tends to align the peaks in the magnetostriction and magnetoelastic coupling for the Fe-Ga, Fe-Ge, Fe-Al, Fe-Ga-Al, and Fe-Ga-Ge alloys, but not for the Fe-Si alloys for which the larger atomic size difference may play a greater role in phase stabilization. Corrections for the form effect are also presented for the rhombohedral magnetostriction,λɛ,2, and the magnetoelastic coupling, b2, of Fe100-xGax (0 \u3c x \u3c 35) alloys

Rhombohedral magnetostriction in dilute iron (Co) alloys

Iron is a well-utilized material in structural and magnetic applications. This does not mean, however, that it is well understood, especially in the field of magnetostriction. In particular, the rhombohedral magnetostriction of iron, λ111 , is anomalous in two respects: it is negative in sign, in disagreement with the prediction of first principles theory, and its magnitude decreases with increasing temperature much too rapidly to be explained by a power law dependence on magnetization. These behaviors could arise from the location of the Fermi level, which leaves a small region of the majority 3d t2g states unfilled, possibly favoring small internal displacements that split these states. If this view is correct, adding small amounts of Co to Fe fills some of these states, and the value of λ111 should increase toward a positive value, as predicted for perfect bcc Fe. We have measured the magnetostriction coefficients (λ111 and λ100) of pure Fe, Fe97Co3, and Fe94Co6 single crystals from 77 K to 450 K. Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy has been used to check for anomalies in the associated elastic constants, c 44 and c′. The additional electrons provided by the cobalt atoms indeed produced positive contributions to bothmagnetostriction constants, λ111 and λ100, exhibiting an increase of 2.8 × 10−6 per at. % Co for λ111 and 3.8 × 10−6 per at. % Co for λ100

Low oxygen tension primes aortic endothelial cells to the reparative effect of tissue-protective cytokines

Erythropoietin (EPO) has both erythropoietic and tissue-protective properties. The EPO analogues carbamylated EPO (CEPO) and pyroglutamate helix B surface peptide (pHBSP) lack the erythropoietic activity of EPO but retain the tissue-protective properties that are mediated by a heterocomplex of EPO receptor (EPOR) and the β common receptor (βCR). We studied the action of EPO and its analogues in a model of wound healing where a bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) monolayer was scratched and the scratch closure was assessed over 24 h under different oxygen concentrations. We related the effects of EPO and its analogues on repair to their effect on BAECs proliferation and migration (evaluated using a micro-Boyden chamber). EPO, CEPO and pHBSP enhanced scratch closure only at lower oxygen (5%), while their effect at atmospheric oxygen (21%) was not significant. The mRNA expression of EPOR was doubled in 5% compared to 21% oxygen, and this was associated with increased EPOR assessed by immunofluorescence and Western blot. By contrast βCR mRNA levels were similar in 5% and 21% oxygen. EPO and its analogues increased both BAECs proliferation and migration, suggesting that both may be involved in the reparative process. The priming effect of low oxygen tension on the action of tissue-protective cytokines may be of relevance to vascular disease, including atherogenesis and restenosis

A digital waveguide-based approach for Clavinet modeling and synthesis

The Clavinet is an electromechanical musical instrument produced in the mid-twentieth century. As is the case for other vintage instruments, it is subject to aging and requires great effort to be maintained or restored. This paper reports analyses conducted on a Hohner Clavinet D6 and proposes a computational model to faithfully reproduce the Clavinet sound in real time, from tone generation to the emulation of the electronic components. The string excitation signal model is physically inspired and represents a cheap solution in terms of both computational resources and especially memory requirements (compared, e.g., to sample playback systems). Pickups and amplifier models have been implemented which enhance the natural character of the sound with respect to previous work. A model has been implemented on a real-time software platform, Pure Data, capable of a 10-voice polyphony with low latency on an embedded device. Finally, subjective listening tests conducted using the current model are compared to previous tests showing slightly improved results

^{63,65}Cu NMR and NQR evidence for an unusual spin dynamics in PrCu_2 below 100 K

We report the results of a $^{63,65}$Cu NMR/NQR study probing the intermetallic compound PrCu$_2$. The previously claimed onset of magnetic order at 65 K, indicated in a $\mu$SR study, is not confirmed. Based on our data we discuss different possible reasons for this apparent discrepancy, including a non negligible influence of the implanted muons on their environment. Competing dipolar and quadrupolar interactions lead to unusual features of the magnetic-ion/conduction-electron system, different from those of common intermetallics exhibiting structural or magnetic instabilities.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Phys Rev

Removal of Mercury by Foam Fractionation Using Surfactin, a Biosurfactant

The separation of mercury ions from artificially contaminated water by the foam fractionation process using a biosurfactant (surfactin) and chemical surfactants (SDS and Tween-80) was investigated in this study. Parameters such as surfactant and mercury concentration, pH, foam volume, and digestion time were varied and their effects on the efficiency of mercury removal were investigated. The recovery efficiency of mercury ions was highly sensitive to the concentration of the surfactant. The highest mercury ion recovery by surfactin was obtained using a surfactin concentration of 10 × CMC, while recovery using SDS required < 10 × CMC and Tween-80 >10 × CMC. However, the enrichment of mercury ions in the foam was superior with surfactin, the mercury enrichment value corresponding to the highest metal recovery (10.4%) by surfactin being 1.53. Dilute solutions (2-mg L−1 Hg2+) resulted in better separation (36.4%), while concentrated solutions (100 mg L−1) enabled only a 2.3% recovery using surfactin. An increase in the digestion time of the metal solution with surfactin yielded better separation as compared with a freshly-prepared solution, and an increase in the airflow rate increased bubble production, resulting in higher metal recovery but low enrichment. Basic solutions yielded higher mercury separation as compared with acidic solutions due to the precipitation of surfactin under acidic conditions