We made a three-dimensional (3-D) nanofibrous fibroin scaffold (NFS) with high porosity (94%) and examined its feasibility in bone regeneration. Under scanning electron microscopy, MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts on the scaffold showed more spread on the first day after seeding compared with a 2-D scaffold. MTT assay showed significantly increased proliferation in 3-D NFS compared with 2-D NFS 7 days after seeding (P < 0.05). Western immunoblotting for activated paxillin, FAK, AKT, C-Src, and ERK1/2 antibodies showed signals from the extracellular matrix were significantly increased in 3-D NFS. Newly developed 3-D electrospun NFS may be a good candidate for use in bone regeneration.

The universal criterion for ultrafast vortex-core switching between the up- and down-core bistates in soft magnetic nanodots is investigated by micromagnetic simulations along with vortex-core switching that occurs whenever the velocity of vortex-core motion reaches its critical velocity, upsilon cri = (1.66 +/- 0.18) gamma mean square root of Aex (e.g., upsilon cri = 330 +/- 37 m/s for Permalloy), with the exchange stiffness Aex and the gyromagnetic ratio gamma. On the basis of the universality of upsilon cri, phase diagrams for the vortex-core switching event and switching time with respect to both the amplitude and frequency of a circularly rotating magnetic field are calculated.

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Logic operations based on coupled magnetic vortices were experimentally demonstrated. We utilized a simple chain structure consisting of three physically separated but dipolar-coupled vortex-state Permalloy disks as well as two electrodes for application of the logical inputs. We directly monitored the vortex gyrations in the middle disk, as the logical output, by time-resolved full-field soft X-ray microscopy measurements. By manipulating the relative polarization configurations of both end disks, two different logic operations are programmable: the XOR operation for the parallel polarization and the OR operation for the antiparallel polarization. This work paves the way for new-type programmable logic gates based on the coupled vortex-gyration dynamics achievable in vortex-state networks. The advantages are as follows: a low-power input signal by means of resonant vortex excitation, low-energy dissipation during signal transportation by selection of low-damping materials, and a simple patterned-array structure.

A wide variety of coupled harmonic oscillators exist in nature. Coupling between different oscillators allows for the possibility of mutual energy transfer between them and the information-signal propagation. Low-energy input signals and their transport with negligible energy loss are the key technological factors in the design of information-signal processing devices. Here, utilizing the concept of coupled oscillators, we experimentally demonstrated a robust new mechanism for energy transfer between spatially separated dipolar-coupled magnetic disks - stimulated vortex gyration. Direct experimental evidence was obtained by a state-of-the-art experimental time-resolved soft X-ray microscopy probe. The rate of energy transfer from one disk to the other was deduced from the two normal modes' frequency splitting caused by dipolar interaction. This mechanism provides the advantages of tunable energy transfer rates, low-power input signals and negligible energy loss in the case of negligible intrinsic damping. Coupled vortex-state disks might be implemented in applications for information-signal processing.

Lattice vibration modes are collective excitations in periodic arrays of atoms or molecules. These modes determine novel transport properties in solid crystals. Analogously, in periodical arrangements of magnetic vortex-state disks, collective vortex motions have been predicted. Here, we experimentally observe wave modes of collective vortex gyration in one-dimensional (1D) periodic arrays of magnetic disks using time-resolved scanning transmission x-ray microscopy. The observed modes are interpreted based on micromagnetic simulation and numerical calculation of coupled Thiele equations. Dispersion of the modes is found to be strongly affected by both vortex polarization and chirality ordering, as revealed by the explicit analytical form of 1D infinite arrays. A thorough understanding thereof is fundamental both for lattice vibrations and vortex dynamics, which we demonstrate for 1D magnonic crystals. Such magnetic disk arrays with vortex-state ordering, referred to as magnetic metastructure, offer potential implementation into information processing devices.

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Phytophthora blight of pepper caused by Phytophthora capsici has devastating consequences when combined with other pathogens, including Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum, and Fusarium solani. In order to develop a field-effective biocontrol strategy against Phytophthora blight of pepper, three chitinolytic bacteria, Serratia plymuthica strain C-1, strongly antagonistic to P. capsici, Chromobacterium sp. strain C-61, strongly antagonistic to R. solani, and Lysobacter enzymogenes strain C-3, antagonistic to R. solani and Fusarium spp., were selected. In pot studies, application of cultures combining the three bacterial strains effectively suppressed Phytophthora blight more than application of any single bacterial strain. Bioformulations developed from growth of the strains in a simple medium containing chitin under large batch conditions resulted in effective control in field applications. Efficacy of the bioformulated product depended on both the dose and timing of application. Although the undiluted product suppressed Phytophthora blight under all field conditions, a 10-fold diluted product was effective in solar-sterilized greenhouses and in fields with crop rotation. These results suggest that the developed product could be a new effective system to control Phytophthora blight disease in pepper.