Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) is a powerful method widely used for nanoscale studies of the electromechanical coupling effect in various materials systems. Here, we review recent progress in this field that demonstrates great potential of PFM for the investigation of static and dynamic properties of ferroelectric domains, nanofabrication and lithography, local functional control, and str...

We demonstrate an approach for probing nonlinear electromechanical responses in BiFeO(3) thin film nanocapacitors using half-harmonic band excitation piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). Nonlinear PFM images of nanocapacitor arrays show clearly visible clusters of capacitors associated with variations of local leakage current through the BiFeO(3) film. Strain spectroscopy measurements and fini...

Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) and Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidifoliorum (Pfm) are closely related pathovars infecting kiwifruit, but Psa is considered one of the most important global pathogens, whereas Pfm is not. In this study of Actinidia deliciosa 'Hayward' responses to the two pathovars, the objective was to test whether differences in plant defense responses mounted agains...

Three kinds of near-field microscopy imaging mode including SEAM (Scanning electron acoustic microscopy), PFM (Piezoresponse force microscopy) and SPAM (Scanning probe acoustic microscopy) have been developed to investigate domain structures of ferroelectric ceramics, crystals and thin films in our studies. The domain imaging mechanisms are presented individually in three imaging modes. Sub-sur...

The high efficiency power management IC (PMIC) with switching device is presented in this paper. PMIC is controlled with PFM control method in order to have high power efficiency at high current level. Dynamic Threshold voltage CMOS (DT-CMOS) with low on-resistance is designed to decrease conduction loss. The threshold voltage of DT-CMOS drops as the gate voltage increase, resulting in a much h...

i ON SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION USING PULSE-FREQUENCY MODULATED SIGNALS Nonperiodic time quantization has proved very useful for the improvement of measurement and control systems. Very often nonperiodic time quantization is connected with pulse frequency modulation (PFM). In the present report some aspects of continuous system identification using PFM signals have been studied. Two possibilities fo...

Hypothesis / aims of study Androgens and anabolic steroids increase muscle mass and strength in general [1]. Due to the characteristics of hyperandrogenism in PCOS, it is plausible that women with PCOS may have increased muscle mass compared with controls [1]. The hyperandrogenism may lead to improve muscle function including pelvic floor muscle (PFM). In a recent study we found that women with...

BACKGROUND No head-to-head trials comparing recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII) products currently exist. This was a matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) study of efficacy of BAY 81-8973 with antihemophilic factor (recombinant) plasma/albumin-free method (rAHF-PFM) and turoctocog alfa for the prophylaxis of severe hemophilia A. METHODS A systematic literature review was conducted to iden...

For interface-tracking simulation of two-phase flows, we propose a new computational method, NS-PFM, combining Navier-Stokes (NS) equations with phase-field model (PFM). Based on the free energy theory, PFM describes an interface as a volumetric zone across which physical properties vary continuously. Surface tension is defined as an excessive free energy per unit area induced by density gradie...

Hysteresis loop analysis via piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) is typically performed to probe the existence of ferroelectricity at the nanoscale. However, such an approach is rather complex in accurately determining the pure contribution of ferroelectricity to the PFM. Here, we suggest a facile method to discriminate the ferroelectric effect from the electromechanical (EM) response through ...