Effect of simultaneous application of field and pressure on magnetic transitions in La0.5{_{0.5}}Ca0.5{_{0.5}}MnO3{_{3}}

We study combined effect of hydrostatic pressure and magnetic field on the magnetization of La${_{0.5}}$Ca${_{0.5}}$MnO${_{3}}$. We do not observe any significant effect of pressure on the paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition. However, pressure asymmetrically affects the thermal hysteresis across the ferro-antiferromagnetic first-order transition, which has strong field dependence. Though the supercooling (T*) and superheating (T**) temperatures decrease and the value of magnetization at 5K (M$_{5K}$) increases with pressure, T* and M$_{5K}$ shows abrupt changes in tiny pressure of 0.68kbar. These anomalies enhance with field. In 7Tesla field, transition to antiferromagnetic phase disappears in 0.68kbar and M$_{5K}$ show significant increase. Thereafter, increase in pressure up to $\sim$10kbar has no noticeable effect on the magnetization

Spin precession and inverted Hanle effect in a semiconductor near a finite-roughness ferromagnetic interface

Although the creation of spin polarization in various non-magnetic media via electrical spin injection from a ferromagnetic tunnel contact has been demonstrated, much of the basic behavior is heavily debated. It is reported here for semiconductor/Al2O3/ferromagnet tunnel structures based on Si or GaAs that local magnetostatic fields arising from interface roughness dramatically alter and even dominate the accumulation and dynamics of spins in the semiconductor. Spin precession in the inhomogeneous magnetic fields is shown to reduce the spin accumulation up to tenfold, and causes it to be inhomogeneous and non-collinear with the injector magnetization. The inverted Hanle effect serves as experimental signature. This interaction needs to be taken into account in the analysis of experimental data, particularly in extracting the spin lifetime and its variation with different parameters (temperature, doping concentration). It produces a broadening of the standard Hanle curve and thereby an apparent reduction of the spin lifetime. For heavily doped n-type Si at room temperature it is shown that the spin lifetime is larger than previously determined, and a new lower bound of 0.29 ns is obtained. The results are expected to be general and occur for spins near a magnetic interface not only in semiconductors but also in metals, organic and carbon-based materials including graphene, and in various spintronic device structures.Comment: Final version, with text restructured and appendices added (25 pages, 9 figures). To appear in Phys. Rev.

Subclinical atherosclerosis and silent myocardial ischaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes: a protocol of a clinico-observational study

Introduction: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is a significant modifiable complication in patients with diabetes and subclinical atherosclerosis is considered a surrogate marker of future vascular events. The clustering of cardiometabolic-risk factors in patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease is increasingly being recognised. Recent evidence indicates that 20–50% of asymptomatic patients with diabetes may have silent coronary heart disease. However, the identification of subclinical atherosclerosis and silent myocardial ischaemia in patients with diabetes has been less well-explored, especially in low-resource population settings where cost-effective non-invasive clinical tools are available. The objective of this study is to identify patients with physician-diagnosed diabetes who are at risk of developing future cardiovascular events measured as subclinical atherosclerosis and silent myocardial ischaemia in an urban population of Eastern India.Methods and analysis This is a cross-sectional clinico-observational study. A convenience sampling of approximately 350 consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria will be identified at an urban diabetes center. This estimated sample size is based on an expected prevalence of silent myocardial ischaemia of 25% (± 5%), we computed the required sample size using OpenEpi online software assuming an α level of 0.05 (95% CI) to be 289. On factoring 20% non-response the estimated sample size is 350. Previously validated questionnaire tools and well-defined clinical, anthropometric and biochemical measurements will be utilised for data collection. The two primary outcomes—subclinical atherosclerosis and silent myocardial ischaemia will be measured using carotid intima-media thickness and exercise tolerance testing, respectively. Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression statistical techniques will be employed to identify ‘at risk’ patients with diabetes, and adjusted for potential confounders. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval was granted by the institutional review board of Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneshwar, India. Data will be presented at academic fora and published in peer-reviewed journals

Dispelling the myths of online education: learning via the information superhighway

There continues to be a perception that online education is inferior to traditional education. In the U.S. online learning is more developed than in the U.K. This paper provides insights into a U.S. provision and takes a close look at what are perceived as weaknesses of on line learning and argues that these are not necessarily inherent weaknesses of this form of educational delivery. Then, results of two major studies, undertaken in the U.S. are provided comparing the effectiveness of online education to traditional education as perceived by current MBA students and past graduates. Results of these studies suggest that students of MBA modules and MBA graduates perceive the quality and effectiveness of online education to be similar to, if not higher than, the quality and effectiveness of traditional modules and programmes

Design aspects and laboratory simulation study of a floating marine fish cage prototype with mooring system

In India, open sea cage culture has been successfully demonstrated and several experimental offshore cages for mariculture were installed along the coast for on-farm demonstration by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin. In the present study, a model cage was fabricated and tested in a towing tank under different waves and current load conditions. The tension on the mooring chain was measured during the experimental study, besides the towing speed and wave parameters. Based on the experimental data, drag coefficient for the cage net twine was estimated. The tensions in the mooring chain and the cage net twine of the prototype cage were predicted based on the model data. The maximum tension on a single twine of the outer and inner fish net were estimated as 0.15 N and 0.028 N respectively. The force on the net was more than 1.7 times the force on the floating collar and sinker pipe. The tension in the mooring line is mainly due to the force on the net. Further it was observed that the force on the net due to current was 10 times higher than that due to wave. This information will be useful in future while deciding the diameter of the cage, the type of net to be used for cage according to the site where the cage is to be installed

Search for supersolidity in 4He in low-frequency sound experiments

We present results of the search for supersolid 4He using low-frequency, low-level mechanical excitation of a solid sample grown and cooled at fixed volume. We have observed low frequency non-linear resonances that constitute anomalous features. These features, which appear below about 0.8 K, are absent in 3He. The frequency, the amplitude at which the nonlinearity sets in, and the upper temperature limit of existence of these resonances depend markedly on the sample history.Comment: Submitted to the Quantum Fluids and Solids Conf. Aug. 2006 Kyot