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We report systematic experimental investigation of nanocrystalline Ho2NiMnO6 and Ho2CoMnO6 compounds by chemical method. The structural and magnetic, and magnetocaloric properties have been studied for their cryogenic temperature application.

Edible insects are considered an environmentally friendly source of protein; however, products containing only edible insects are associated with poor quality and processing properties. Therefore, we examined and compared the thermal stability and rheological properties among thermal-induced myofibrillar protein gels prepared using porcine myofibril protein and five different edible insect species: larvae: Tenebrio molitor L., Protaetia brevitarsis, and Allomyrina dichotoma and adult insects: Gryllus bimaculatus and Oxyachinensis sinuosa. The myofibrillar protein gels containing edible insects had a higher pH than that of the control. The water-holding capacity of the myofibrillar gel containing G. bimaculatus (T4) was higher than that of the other samples. The hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness of the thermal-induced myofibrillar gel containing T4 were the highest. The myofibrillar gel containing edible insects had a higher peak temperature than that of the control, except for T4, as well as a similar or lower enthalpy, which is required for denaturation. All myofibrillar gels with/without edible insects exhibited Hershel-Bulkley fluid properties, and rigid structures were developed during heating. The myofibrillar protein gels containing T4 revealed excellent processing properties. Therefore, myofibrillar protein gels containing T4 may be used for producing protein-rich foods.

Alternative food sources are garnering increasing interest owing to overpopulation and environmental stresses. Edible insects are a promising alternative protein source. In this study, we evaluated the effect of pH and NaCl concentration on the quality and technical properties of extracted Protaetia brevitarsis protein. Nine different solutions were used to extract edible insect protein (pH 1, 4, 7, 10, and 14 and 0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 M NaCl). The pH of the extracted protein increased with increasing pH (1.12±0.02 to 12.81±0.03) and decreasing NaCl concentration (6.52±0.02 to 6.89±0.01). Colour difference increased when deviating from neutral pH and 0 M NaCl. Further, surface hydrophobicity (μg) and solubility (mg/ml) of the protein decreased at pH 1 (12.25±1.39 μg and 0.74±0.08 mg/ml) and 14 (20.62±1.48 μg and 0.18±0.02 mg/ml) compared with pH 7 (71.81±1.76 μg and 1.26±0.22 mg/ml). Higher pH and NaCl concentrations yielded higher thermal stability. Foaming capacity was the highest at 0.5 (110.5±0.71%) and 1 M (100.5±10.61%) NaCl, and pH 14 (122.5±3.54%), followed by that at pH 1 (72.50±3.54%), although with low stability. Furthermore, emulsifying capacity and stability of the protein increased when deviating from pH 4. Therefore, the protein of P. brevitarsis had high functionality when extracted at highly alkaline conditions using NaCl.

Reaction-diffusion systems have been primary tools for studying pattern formation. A skew-gradient system is well known to encompass a class of activator-inhibitor type reaction-diffusion systems that exhibit localized patterns such as fronts and pulses. While there is a substantial literature for the case of a linear inhibitor equation, the study of nonlinear inhibitor effect is still limited. To fill this research gap, we investigate standing pulse solutions to a skew-gradient system in which both activator and inhibitor reaction terms inherit nonlinear structures. Using a variational approach that involves several nonlocal terms, we establish the existence of standing pulse solutions with a sign change. In addition, we explore some qualitative properties of the standing pulse solutions.

The replacement of conventional protein supply has been studied in the context of continuous population growth and the consequent environmental problems. Among protein substitutes, edible insects have gained relevance due to their high breeding efficiency. This study was conducted to estimate the effect of the partial replacement of porcine myofibril protein (pork protein; PP) with protein extracted from Protaetia brevitarsis (insect protein; IP) in protein-containing solutions and gels. The protein concentration was regulated at 30 and 1 mg/ml for gels and solutions, respectively, and the replacement percentages were increased by 20%. Gels containing IP showed a lower viscosity and thermal stability; the texture and surface of the gels were negatively impacted as the replacement percentage increased. Therefore, heating is not an appropriate method to induce the gelation of IP containing solutions. However, the replacement of PP with IP increased the foam capacity and emulsion capacity in solutions. In conclusion, we show that the partial replacement of PP with IP positively impacts on protein solutions but impairs their gelation.

A breathing pyrochlore system is predicted to host a variety of quantum spin liquids. Despite tremendous experimental and theoretical efforts, such sought-after states remain elusive as perturbation terms and lattice distortions lead to magnetic order. Here, we utilize bond alternation and disorder to tune a magnetic ground state in the Cr-based breathing pyrochlore LiGa1−xInxCr4O8. By combining thermodynamic and magnetic resonance techniques, we provide experimental signatures of a spin-liquid-like state in x = 0.8, namely, a nearly T2-dependent magnetic specific heat and persistent spin dynamics by muon spin relaxation (μSR). Moreover, 7Li NMR, ZF-μSR, and ESR unveil the temporal and thermal dichotomy of spin correlations: a tetramer singlet on a slow time scale vs. a spin-liquid-like state on a fast time scale. Our results showcase that a bond disorder in the breathing pyrochlore offers a promising route to disclose exotic magnetic phases.

The present study aimed to investigate the significance and limitation for the practical application of high-flexibility glass-fiber (GF) grids as an alternative of conventional steel hoops...

Moderate intraoperative hypothermia promotes myocardial injury, surgical site infections, and blood loss. Whether aggressive warming to a truly normothermic temperature near 37°C improves outcomes remains unknown. We aimed to test the hypothesis that aggressive intraoperative warming reduces major perioperative complications.In this multicentre, parallel group, superiority trial, patients at 12 sites in China and at the Cleveland Clinic in the USA were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either aggressive warming to a target core temperature of 37°C (aggressively warmed group) or routine thermal management to a target of 35·5°C (routine thermal management group) during non-cardiac surgery. Randomisation was stratified by site, with computer-generated, randomly sized blocks. Eligible patients (aged ≥45 years) had at least one cardiovascular risk factor, were scheduled for inpatient non-cardiac surgery expected to last 2-6 h with general anaesthesia, and were expected to have at least half of the anterior skin surface available for warming. Patients requiring dialysis and those with a body-mass index exceeding 30 kg/mBetween March 27, 2017, and March 16, 2021, 5056 participants were enrolled, of whom 5013 were included in the intention-to-treat population (2507 in the aggressively warmed group and 2506 in the routine thermal management group). Patients assigned to aggressive warming had a mean final intraoperative core temperature of 37·1°C (SD 0·3) whereas the routine thermal management group averaged 35·6°C (SD 0·3). At least one of the primary outcome components (myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery, cardiac arrest, or mortality) occurred in 246 (9·9%) of 2497 patients in the aggressively warmed group and in 239 (9·6%) of 2490 patients in the routine thermal management group. The common effect relative risk of aggressive versus routine thermal management was an estimated 1·04 (95% CI 0·87-1·24, p=0·69). There were 39 adverse events in patients assigned to aggressive warming (17 of which were serious) and 54 in those assigned to routine thermal management (30 of which were serious). One serious adverse event, in an aggressively warmed patient, was deemed to be possibly related to thermal management.The incidence of a 30-day composite of major cardiovascular outcomes did not differ significantly in patients randomised to 35·5°C and to 37°C. At least over a 1·5°C range from very mild hypothermia to full normothermia, there was no evidence that any substantive outcome varied. Keeping core temperature at least 35·5°C in surgical patients appears sufficient.3M and the Health and Medical Research Fund, Food and Health Bureau, Hong Kong.For the Chinese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

This work presents the peculiarities of cone ion beam formation with a focused thruster with anode layer (TAL) and its application to silicon carbide (SiC) ion beam figuring. Modeling results of Lorentz E × B force distribution in the discharge gap are presented. 3D particle tracing for keV Ar ions is carried out for the first time in the beam drift region of TAL with magnetic lens. Extracted ion beam full width at half maxima is about 2 mm in the focal plane, where the SiC etching rate reaches 0.5 µm/min. The SiC sputter yields are measured as a function of the Ar ion impact energy and beam incidence angle. The maximum sputter yield of 2.8 atom/ion is observed at 45° of the beam-sample angle for the Si targets. Furthermore, the maximum sputter yield value of 1.7 atom/ion is measured at 30° of the beam-sample angle for the SiC targets. The novelty of present research is in the application of focused TAL keV Ar ion beam to the SiC ion beam figuring.

We report the temperature and composition dependence of static magnetic susceptibility and Raman spectroscopic measurements on van der Waals antiferromagnets ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{x}{\mathrm{PS}}_{3}$. The end members ${\mathrm{NiPS}}_{3}$ and ${\mathrm{FePS}}_{3}$ feature $XY$- and Ising-like magnetism, respectively, enabling chemical tuning of magnetic anisotropy and spin correlations. ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{x}{\mathrm{PS}}_{3}$ shows a turnover from the $XY$ to Ising anisotropy through $x\ensuremath{\approx}0.1$. Although the $XY$ anisotropy is rapidly suppressed on introducing Fe content, two-magnon scattering evidences the slow repression of short-range magnetic correlations deep inside the Fe-rich side. Counterintuitively, the two-magnon signal undergoes less renormalization of its energy with increasing $x$ despite the larger spin number and enhanced classical magnetism. The disparate static and dynamic magnetic behaviors indicate the emergence of an exotic spin state in alloy van der Waals magnets.

Understanding the link between a charge density wave (CDW) instability and superconductivity is a central theme of the 2D metallic kagome compounds AV3Sb5 (A=K, Rb, and Cs). Using polarization-resolved electronic Raman spectroscopy, we shed light on Fermi surface fluctuations and electronic instabilities. We observe a quasielastic peak (QEP) whose spectral weight is progressively enhanced towards the superconducting transition. The QEP temperature-dependence reveals a steep increase in coherent in-plane charge correlations within the charge-density phase. In contrast, out-of-plane charge fluctuations remain strongly incoherent across the investigated temperature range. In-plane phonon anomalies appear at T* ≈ 50 K in addition to right below TCDW ≈ 95 K, while showing no apparent evidence of reduced symmetry at low temperatures. In conjunction with the consecutive phonon anomalies within the CDW state, our electronic Raman data unveil additional electronic instabilities that persist down to the superconducting phase, thereby offering a superconducting mechanism.

An algorithm is proposed to calculate traveling dissipative solitons for the FitzHugh–Nagumo equations. It is based on the application of the steepest descent method to a certain functional. This approach can be used to find solitons whenever the problem has a variational structure. Since the method seeks the lowest energy configuration, it has robust performance qualities. It is global in nature, so that initial guesses for both the pulse profile and the wave speed can be quite different from the correct solution. Also, bifurcations have a minimal effect on the performance. In the literature, there is a conjecture that no stable traveling pulse exists for a 2-component system in 2D unbounded domains. In many instances, such numerical studies investigate only solutions with a small speed, as they rely on good initial guesses based on stable standing pulse profiles. Studying a modified problem with a 2D strip domain $${\mathbb {R}} \times [-L,L]$$ with zero Dirichlet boundary conditions at $$y=\pm L$$, by using our algorithm we establish the existence of fast-moving solitons. With an appropriate set of physical parameters in this unbounded rectangular strip domain, we observe the co-existence of single-soliton and 2-soliton solutions together with additional unstable traveling pulses. The algorithm automatically calculates these various pulses as the energy minimizers at different wave speeds. In addition to finding individual solutions, we anticipate that this approach could be used to augment or initiate continuation algorithms. We also note that the rectangular strip domain can serve as a first step to investigating waves in the whole of $${\mathbb {R}}^2$$.

This study investigates the thermal and electrical stabilities of superconducting coils encapsulated with an epoxy/acid-treated carbon nanotube (CNT) composite through cool-down, over-current, and repetitive-cooling tests. Carboxylic acid groups were successfully attached to CNT surfaces by acid treatment, which facilitated uniform CNT dispersion within the epoxy resin, forming preferential paths for heat conduction. The coil encapsulated with the epoxy/acid-treated CNT composite showed a fast cooling rate in a bath of liquid nitrogen (LN2) and high endurance under over-current conditions. This contrasts with its counterpart encapsulated with untreated CNTs, because heat was easily dissipated in the epoxy/acid-treated CNT composite owing to its higher thermal conductivity. Moreover, the difference in the thermal expansion coefficients of the epoxy and the superconducting tape decreased. Therefore, using an epoxy composite containing acid-treated CNTs is recommended for developing a mechanically dense superconducting coil with enhanced thermal and electrical stabilities.

We investigate the thermal evolution of magnetic correlations of the Co-based honeycomb lattice ${\mathrm{Na}}_{2}{\mathrm{Co}}_{2}{\mathrm{TeO}}_{6}$ with $^{23}\mathrm{Na}$ nuclear magnetic resonance and static magnetic susceptibility $\ensuremath{\chi}(T)$. The studied compound shows three-dimensional (3D) long-range magnetic ordering at ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}=26$ K. On cooling through ${T}^{*}\ensuremath{\approx}110$ K, a simple paramagnetic state undergoes a crossover to a correlated paramagnetic state featuring a power-law dependence of the nuclear spin-lattice $(1/{T}_{1})$ and spin-spin $(1/{T}_{2})$ relaxation rates as well as of the out-of-plane $\ensuremath{\chi}(T)$. The magnetic-field-direction dependence of $1/{T}_{1}$, $1/{T}_{2}$, and $\ensuremath{\chi}(T)$ uncovers anisotropic spin-spin correlations of a two-dimensional (2D) renormalized classical character. In a magnetically ordered state, we are able to identify four successive transitions or crossovers occurring at ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}=26$, ${T}_{\mathrm{N}1}=16$, ${T}_{\mathrm{N}2}=7$, and ${T}_{\mathrm{N}3}=3.5$ K. The multiple transitions and crossovers are associated with the coexistence of 2D and 3D magnetic orders or reorientation of the ordered spins. Our results suggest the presence of various types of frustrating interactions and their energy hierarchy that control complex magnetic structures and anisotropic magnetism.

The van der Waals Kitaev magnet α-RuCl3 has recently garnered considerable attention due to its possible realization of topological spin liquids. Combining Raman spectroscopy with numerical calculations, we report here the thickness dependence of electronic structure and ensuing low-energy excitations for exfoliated α-RuCl3. We observe two pronounced peaks at A1 = 249 meV and A2 = 454 meV, which are assigned to single and double spin-orbit (SO) excitons, respectively. Our numerical calculations support this interpretation by reproducing their spectral energy and shape with the electronic parameters: SO coupling λ = 140 meV, Hund’s coupling JH = 350 meV, and on-site Coulomb interaction U = 2.35 eV. The multiple SO excitons persist down to a single layer, whereas their peaks shift slightly to lower energy. For frequencies below 350 cm−1, both a magnetic continuum and phonons show noticeable thickness dependence. These results demonstrate that a SO entangled jeff = 1/2 picture remains valid in a monolayer limit despite the presence of lattice distortions.

The $B$-site ordered double perovskites ${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}\mathrm{Cu}({\mathrm{Te}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{W}}_{x}){\mathrm{O}}_{6}$ provide an excellent arena for investigating exotic phases expected for the ${J}_{1}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{J}_{2}$ square-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet. Here, combining magnetic susceptibility and specific-heat measurements with electron spin resonance (ESR) and muon spin rotation/relaxation $(\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{SR})$ techniques, we explore a spin-liquid-like state in the vicinity of the N\'eel critical end point $(x=0.05--0.1)$. The specific heat and the ESR and muon relaxation rates give evidence for an energy hierarchy of low-energy excitations, reminiscent of randomness-induced singlet states. In addition, the weak transverse $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{SR}$ data show a fraction of frozen magnetic moments in the random-singlet background. The origin of a random-singlet-like state near the phase boundary is discussed in terms of concomitant exchange randomness and local strain generated by the ${\mathrm{W}}^{6+}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{for}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{\mathrm{Te}}^{6+}$ substitution.

A mixed-flow pump has a characteristic in which the pressure (P) decreases as the flow rate (Q) increases on the performance curve. Hence, the Q-P curve generally has a negative slope, which has been understood as an ideal and stable case. However, a complex recirculating flow may occur due to the increase in incidence angle at the low flow rates compared to the design flow rate. This phenomenon accompanies noise and vibration along with the deterioration of performance and causes a positive slope in the form of a saddle on the performance curve. In this study, the effect of the impeller inlet (eye) diameter of a mixed-flow pump on the saddle characteristics was confirmed through numerical simulation. The focus was on the internal flow field and performance of a pump, which could be solved with the steady-state analysis. Here, the impeller inlet diameter was adjusted with the leading edge (LE) vertex on the shroud line of the meridional plane. The blade angle was adjusted accordingly to maintain the previously optimized degree of the incidence angle. From this novel design method, the saddle characteristics were significantly improved. The performance in the saddle range was directly related to the recirculating flow near the shroud. The numerical results were validated with the experimental tests.

In this retrospective multicentre cohort study that included 27 COVID-19 patients who underwent tracheostomy, the mean time between intubation and tracheostomy was 15.8 days and the negative conversion time of COVID-19 was 43.1 days. Eleven patients (40.7%) died of COVID-19 and the use of percutaneous dilatation tracheostomy was significantly associated with in-hospital death. Timely tracheostomy could be performed in COVID-19 patients, regardless of duration of intubation or positivity of COVID-19 test, with an open surgical tracheostomy as a preferable technique.

A breathing pyrochlore system is predicted to host a variety of quantum spin liquids. However, perturbations beyond nearest-neighbor Heisenberg interaction are an obstacle to identifying such exotic states. Here, we utilize a bond-alternating disorder to tune a magnetic ground state in the Cr-based breathing pyrochlore. By combining thermodynamic and magnetic resonance techniques, we provide experimental signatures of a spin-liquid-like state in LiGa1-xInxCr4O8 (x=0.2), namely, a nearly T2-dependent magnetic specific heat and a persistent spin dynamics by muon spin relaxation (μSR). Moreover, 7Li NMR, ZF-μSR, and ESR unveil the dichotomic nature of both temporal and thermal spin fluctuations: slowly fluctuating tetramer singlets at high temperatures and a fast fluctuating spin-liquid-like state at low temperatures. Our results suggest that a bond disorder in the breathing pyrochlore offers a new route to achieve an unexplored state of matter.

MUC4 is a predominant membrane-tethered mucin lubricating and protecting the epithelial surface and playing various biological roles in the renewal and differentiation of epithelial cells, cell signaling, cell adhesion, and carcinogenesis. Interestingly, recent studies have demonstrated that MUC4 expression regulates the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cancer cells in ovarian, pancreatic, and lung cancer. However, the effects of MUC4 expression on EMT in human airway epithelial cells are not yet well known. Here, we describe the effects of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1)-induced MUC4 expression on EMT and evaluate its downstream signaling pathway in human airway epithelial cells. In human airway epithelial NCI-H292 cells, exposure to TGF-β1 induced expression of MUC4, CDH2, VIM and SNAI1 genes and encoded by them proteins, MUC4, N-cadherin, vimentin and Snail, and reduced the level of CDH1 and its product, E-cadherin. In MUC4-knockdown cells, TGF-β1-induced expression levels of MUC4, CDH2, VIM and SNAI1 and corresponding proteins were suppressed, but CDH1 and E-cadherin levels were not. In addition, TGF-β1-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) was suppressed, but that of Smad2/3, Akt, and p38 was not. The results of this study suggest that MUC4 silencing inhibits TGF-β1 -induced EMT via the ERK1/2 pathway, and a possible role of MUC4 in the induction of EMT in human airway epithelial cells.

The pure Kitaev honeycomb model harbors a quantum spin liquid in zero magnetic fields, while applying finite magnetic fields induces a topological spin liquid with non-Abelian anyonic excitations. This latter phase has been much sought after in Kitaev candidate materials, such as α-RuCl3. Currently, two competing scenarios exist for the intermediate field phase of this compound (B = 7 − 10 T), based on experimental as well as theoretical results: (i) conventional multiparticle magnetic excitations of integer quantum number vs. (ii) Majorana fermionic excitations of possibly non-Abelian nature with a fractional quantum number. To discriminate between these scenarios a detailed investigation of excitations over a wide field-temperature phase diagram is essential. Here, we present Raman spectroscopic data revealing low-energy quasiparticles emerging out of a continuum of fractionalized excitations at intermediate fields, which are contrasted by conventional spin-wave excitations. The temperature evolution of these quasiparticles suggests the formation of bound states out of fractionalized excitations., α-RuCl3 has properties consistent with predictions of a phase hosting fractionalized Majorana fermions but that could also be explained by conventional magnetic excitations. Here the authors find evidence for fractionalized quasiparticles by studying magnetic excitations across the field-temperature phase diagram.

dc and ac magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, specific heat, and Raman scattering measurements are combined to probe low-lying spin excitations in $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-${\mathrm{Ru}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Ir}}_{x}{\mathrm{Cl}}_{3}$ ($x\ensuremath{\approx}0.2$), which realizes a disordered spin liquid. At intermediate energies ($\ensuremath{\hbar}\ensuremath{\omega}g3\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{meV}$), Raman spectroscopy evidences linearly $\ensuremath{\omega}$-dependent Majorana-like excitations, obeying Fermi statistics. This points to robustness of a Kitaev paramagnetic state under spin vacancies. At low energies below 3 meV, we observe power-law dependences and quantum-critical-like scalings of the thermodynamic quantities, implying the presence of a weakly divergent low-energy density of states. This scaling phenomenology is interpreted in terms of the random hoppings of Majorana fermions. Our results demonstrate an emergent hierarchy of spin excitations in a diluted Kitaev honeycomb system subject to spin vacancies and bond randomness.

We report on the spin dynamics of the strong spin-orbit coupled antiferromagnets Ba3Ru1−xIr x Ti2O9 (x = 0.5 and 0.8), which comprise a mixture of edge- and corner-sharing triangles. Muon spin-relaxation measurements give no hints of long-range magnetic order down to 25 mK. Rather, the muon spin-relaxation rates λ(T) show persistent spin dynamics below 1 K, indicating that fast fluctuations are dominant in spite of Ir4+(Jeff = 1/2)/Ru4+(S = 1) randomness. The muon spin depolarization of both compounds is well described by a stretched exponential function with the stretching exponent β = 0.4 (0.6) for x = 0.5 (0.8) at low temperatures, which is larger than β = 1/3 expected for a spin glass. Our results suggest that randomness in the spin number and the exchange interaction induces a partial spin freezing, but the majority of spins remain dynamically fluctuating.

IntroductionMinimising temporary and permanent disability associated with musculoskeletal conditions (MSK-D) is critical to the mission of the US Army. Prior research has identified potentially actionable risk factors for overall military disability and its MSK-D subset, including elevated body mass index, tobacco use and physical fitness. However, prior work does not appear to have addressed the impact of these factors on MSK-D when controlling for a full range of factors that may affect health behaviours, including aptitude scores that may serve as a proxy for health literacy. Identifying risk factors for MSK-D when providing control for all such factors may inform efforts to improve military readiness.MethodsWe studied 494 757 enlisted Army soldiers from 2014 to 2017 using a combined medical and administrative database. Leveraging data from the Army’s digital ‘eProfile’ system of duty restriction records, we defined MSK-D as the first restriction associated with musculoskeletal conditions and resulting in the inability to deploy or train. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression to assess the associations between incident MSK-D and selected risk factors including aptitude scores, physical fitness test scores, body mass index and tobacco use.ResultsAmong the subjects, 281 278 (45.14%) experienced MSK-D. In the MSK-D hazards model, the highest effect size was for failing the physical fitness test (adjusted HR=1.63, 95% CI 1.58 to 1.67, pConclusionsThe analysis revealed the strongest associations between physical fitness and MSK-D. Additional efforts are warranted to determine potential mechanisms for the observed associations between selected factors and MSK-D.

dc and ac magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, specific heat, and Raman scattering measurements are combined to probe low-lying spin excitations in α-Ru_{1-x}Ir_{x}Cl_{3} (x≈0.2), which realizes a disordered spin liquid. At intermediate energies (ℏω3 meV), Raman spectroscopy evidences linearly ω-dependent Majorana-like excitations, obeying Fermi statistics. This points to robustness of a Kitaev paramagnetic state under spin vacancies. At low energies below 3 meV, we observe power-law dependences and quantum-critical-like scalings of the thermodynamic quantities, implying the presence of a weakly divergent low-energy density of states. This scaling phenomenology is interpreted in terms of the random hoppings of Majorana fermions. Our results demonstrate an emergent hierarchy of spin excitations in a diluted Kitaev honeycomb system subject to spin vacancies and bond randomness.

Quantum spin liquids are outstanding examples of highly quantum entangled phases of matter and serve as a testbed to gauge central concepts of strongly correlated materials. Enormous research efforts in the past few decades have brought an in-depth understanding of these novel phases, although their conundrums have not yet been solved completely. In this review, we give an overview of the three different classes of spin-liquid materials: (i) a one-dimensional spin chain system KCuF3, (ii) a kagome antiferromagnet ZnCu3(OH)6Cl2, and (iii) a Kitaev honeycomb material [Formula: see text]-RuCl3. The emphasis is on demonstrating the success of the Raman scattering technique for probing fractionalized excitations in the aforementioned spin-liquid compounds, complementing a well-established neutron scattering method. Irrespective of dimensionality, spin topology, and spin-exchange type, the three materials share several common features in the spectral shape and temperature dependence of magnetic excitations, which can be taken as Raman spectroscopic fingerprints of quantum spin liquids.

We report on magnetization M(H), dc and ac magnetic susceptibility χ(T), specific heat C_{m}(T) and muon spin relaxation (μSR) measurements of the Kitaev honeycomb iridate Cu_{2}IrO_{3} with quenched disorder. In spite of the chemical disorders, we find no indication of spin glass down to 260 mK from the C_{m}(T) and μSR data. Furthermore, a persistent spin dynamics observed by the zero-field muon spin relaxation evidences an absence of static magnetism. The remarkable observation is a scaling relation of χ[H,T] and M[H,T] in H/T with the scaling exponent α=0.26-0.28, expected from bond randomness. However, C_{m}[H,T]/T disobeys the predicted universal scaling law, pointing towards the presence of additional low-lying excitations on the background of bond-disordered spin liquid. Our results signify a many-faceted impact of quenched disorder in a Kitaev spin system due to its peculiar bond character.

We report on magnetization M(H), dc and ac magnetic susceptibility χ(T), specific heat C_{m}(T) and muon spin relaxation (μSR) measurements of the Kitaev honeycomb iridate Cu_{2}IrO_{3} with quenched disorder. In spite of the chemical disorders, we find no indication of spin glass down to 260 mK from the C_{m}(T) and μSR data. Furthermore, a persistent spin dynamics observed by the zero-field muon spin relaxation evidences an absence of static magnetism. The remarkable observation is a scaling relation of χ[H,T] and M[H,T] in H/T with the scaling exponent α=0.26-0.28, expected from bond randomness. However, C_{m}[H,T]/T disobeys the predicted universal scaling law, pointing towards the presence of additional low-lying excitations on the background of bond-disordered spin liquid. Our results signify a many-faceted impact of quenched disorder in a Kitaev spin system due to its peculiar bond character.

This study aimed to analyze the use of the revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) assessed after hypomethylating treatment (HMT) for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) undergoing an allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Among 115 patients who received pre-SCT HMT, comparison analysis of the prognostic values between the IPSS-R at the time of HMT (IPSS-R@HMT) and at the time of SCT after HMT (IPSS-R@SCT) showed a significantly higher predictive power for overall survival (OS) of the latter. Alteration in IPSS-R risk occurred in 60%, while the patients with 'down-staged' IPSS-R@SCT showed better OS compared with those with 'unchanged' or 'up-staged' risk. On multivariate analysis in all 201 patients, IPSS-R@SCT, monosomal karyotype, treatment failure to pre-SCT treatment, and high hematopoietic cell transplantation-comorbidity index were independently associated with OS. Constructed using these factors, the MDS Transplantation Prognostic Scoring System (MTPSS) identified four risk groups with 4-year OS of 76.4% in low, 61.4% in intermediate-1 and 21.9% in intermediate-2 risk groups, whereas all in the high risk group died within 2 years after SCT (P

In this paper, an equivalent circuit model for magnetoelastic resonator is introduced. Elements of the model consist of coil inductance, magnetization of the resonator, a parallel RLC resonator representing the resonator resonance and a transformer indicating conversion ratio. This model suggests an approach to describe electrical response and characteristics of the resonator subject to geometries and excitation conditions. Moreover, corresponding techniques for extraction of parameters of the system are developed. Experimental results show that the model gives reasonable approximation of the system and accurately predicts behavior of the system.