Identifying magnetic phases in chemically ordered and disordered FeAl thin films.

Direct magnetic writing of ferromagnetic nanoscale elements provides an alternative pathway for potential application in data storage or spintronic devices. Magnetic patterning due to local chemical disordering of FeAl thin films results in adjacent nanoscale regions that possess two different phases, a low-magnetization and high-coercive chemically ordered phase (non-irradiated ferromagnetic area, NIFM) and a high-magnetization and low-coercive chemically disordered phase (irradiated ferromagnetic area, IMF). Depending on the volume of NIFM and IFM phases, different interaction mechanisms were revealed.

Temporal progression of replacement and interstitial fibrosis in optimally managed dilated cardiomyopathy patients: A prospective study.

Background: To prospectively examine the dynamic evolution of fibrotic processes within a one-year in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Methods: Between May 2019 and September 2020, 102 DCM patients (mean age 45.2 ± 11.

Size-dependent bistability of magnetic states in soft magnetic cap arrays.

We have investigated the size dependent energy barrier regarding the transition between magnetic vortex and collinear states in dense arrays of magnetic cap structures hosting magnetic vortices. The cap structures were formed by the deposition of soft magnetic thin films on top of large arrays of densely packed polystyrene spheres. The energy barrier associated with the magnetic field assisted switching from a collinear magnetic state to a non-uniform vortex state (or vice versa) was tuned by tailoring the diameter and thickness of the soft magnetic caps.

Influence of Re on the Plastic Hardening Mechanism of Alloyed Copper.

In this paper, we investigated the effect of adding rhenium to Cu-Ni-Si alloys on the mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of these alloys. The scientific objective was to analyze the effect of Re addition on the microstructure of heat- and cold-treated CuNi2Si1 alloys. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM, STEM) and scanning electron microscopy (EDS, WDS) were used to examine the microstructure.

Imaging modality-dependent carotid stenosis severity variations against intravascular ultrasound as a reference: Carotid Artery intravasculaR Ultrasound Study (CARUS).

Purpose: Different non-invasive and invasive imaging modalities are used to determine carotid artery stenosis severity that remains a principal parameter in clinical decision-making. We compared stenosis degree obtained with different modalities against vascular imaging gold standard, intravascular ultrasound, IVUS.

Methods: 300 consecutive patients (age 47-83 years, 192 men, 64% asymptomatic) with carotid artery stenosis of " ≥ 50%" referred for potential revascularization received as per study protocol (i) duplex ultrasound (DUS), (ii) computed tomography angiography (CTA), (iii) intraarterial quantitative angiography (iQA) and (iv) and (iv) IVUS.

Misclassification of carotid stenosis severity with area stenosis-based evaluation by computed tomography angiography: impact on erroneous indication to revascularization or patient (lesion) migration to a higher guideline recommendation class as per ESC/ESVS/ESO/SVS and CMS-FDA thresholds.

Intoduction: Despite a growing understanding of the role played by plaque morphology, the degree of carotid lumen reduction remains the principle parameter in decisions on revascularization in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is a widely used guideline-approved imaging modality, with "percent stenosis" commonly calculated as %area reduction (area stenosis - AS).

Aim: We evaluated the impact of the non-linear relationship between diameter stenosis (DS) and AS (area = π • (diameter/2), so that in concentric lesions 51%AS is 30%DS and 75%AS is 50%DS) on stenosis severity misclassification using calculation of area reduction.

Tuning of the Titanium Oxide Surface to Control Magnetic Properties of Thin Iron Films.

We describe the magnetic properties of thin iron films deposited on the nanoporous titanium oxide templates and analyze their dependance on nanopore radius. We then compare the results to a continuous iron film of the same thickness. Additionally, we investigate the evolution of the magnetic properties of these films after annealing.

Solid-State Dewetting as a Driving Force for Structural Transformation and Magnetization Reversal Mechanism in FePd Thin Films.

In this work, the process of solid-state dewetting in FePd thin films and its influence on structural transformation and magnetic properties is presented. The morphology, structure and magnetic properties of the FePd system subjected to annealing at 600 °C for different times were studied. The analysis showed a strong correlation between the dewetting process and various physical phenomena.

Topographical anatomy of the left ventricular summit: implications for invasive procedures.

Background: Recent clinical reports have emphasized the clinical significance of the left ventricular summit (LVS), a specific triangular epicardial area, as the source of ventricular arrhythmias where radiofrequency ablation is of great difficulty.

Materials And Methods: The macroscopic morphology of the LVS has been assessed in 80 autopsied and 48 angio-computed tomography (CT) human hearts. According to Yamada's equation, the size was calculated based on the distance to the first, most prominent septal perforator.

Ecotoxicological Estimation of 4-Cumylphenol, 4--Octylphenol, Nonylphenol, and Volatile Leachate Phenol Degradation by the Microscopic Fungus Using a Battery of Biotests.

The phenolic xenobiotics nonylphenol (NP), 4--octylphenol (4--OP), and 4-cumylphenol (4-CP) have the potential to seriously disrupt the endocrine system. Volatile phenols (VPs), especially those present in landfill leachate, also adversely affect the health of numerous organisms. Microbial degradation of xenobiotics can result in the formation of intermediates with higher toxicity than the precursor substrates.

Extracellular volume is an independent predictor of arrhythmic burden in dilated cardiomyopathy.

The current stratification of arrhythmic risk in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is sub-optimal. Cardiac fibrosis is involved in the pathology of arrhythmias; however, the relationship between cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) derived extracellular volume (ECV) and arrhythmic burden (AB) in DCM is unknown. This study sought to evaluate the presence and extent of replacement and interstitial fibrosis in DCM and to compare the degree of fibrosis between DCM patients with and without AB.

Successful percutaneous treatment of late outflow graft failure of the left ventricular assist device: a long-term follow-up.

Continuous flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) outflow graft stenosis constitutes a severe complication. Treatment options include surgical pump exchange, transcatheter procedures, or systemic thrombolysis. We present a case of a spontaneous mechanical twisting of the outflow graft at two distinct points, which was treated by a two-step percutaneous stent implantation.

Lack of Relationship between Fibrosis-Related Biomarkers and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance-Assessed Replacement and Interstitial Fibrosis in Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

The relationship between circulating fibrosis-related molecules and magnetic resonance-assessed cardiac fibrosis in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is poorly understood. To compare circulating biomarkers between DCM patients with high and low fibrosis burdens, we performed a prospective, single-center, observational study. The study population was composed of 100 DCM patients (87 male, mean age 45.

The Influence of Ag on the Microstructure and Properties of Cu-Ni-Si Alloys.

The influence of the mass concentration of Ag on properties of Cu-Ni alloys is investigated. The effect of silver addition on the structure and properties of Cu-2Ni-1Si alloys is determined. The scientific aim of this research is to determine how the addition of silver affects the mechanisms of strengthening silver-modified supersaturated, deformed, and aged Cu-2Ni-1Si alloys.

Weak Antilocalization Tailor-Made by System Topography in Large Scale Bismuth Antidot Arrays.

Using a two-carriers model and the Hikami-Larkin-Nagaoka (HLN) theory, we investigate the influence of large area patterning on magnetotransport properties in bismuth thin films with a thickness of 50 nm. The patterned systems have been produced by means of nanospheres lithography complemented by RF-plasma etching leading to highly ordered antidot arrays with the hexagonal symmetry and a variable antidot size. Simultaneous measurements of transverse and longitudinal magnetoresistance in a broad temperature range provided comprehensive data on transport properties and enabled us to extract the values of charge carrier densities and mobilities.