The magneto-mechanical coupling effect of amorphous Co40Fe40B20 (CoFeB) films (10-200 nm) on flexible polyethylene terephthalate substrates were investigated in detail. The normalized remanent magnetization (Mr/Ms) of CoFeB films changes significantly (up to 62%) under small tensile or compressive strain. Moreover, the thickness dependence of the magneto-mechanical coupling effect for the flexible CoFeB films was demonstrated. These results provide important information for the development of CoFeB-based magnetic tunnel junction used in flexible spintronic devices.

Human-machine interaction (HMI) enables two-way information transfer between humans and machines (such as computers or robots). [1] Conventional rigid HMIs are widely used in various applications, such as rehabilitation robots, motion gesture monitoring, and biological health monitoring. However, their rigid nature leads to discomfort and unstable signal problem during the motion of human body. Alternatively, soft HMIs provide all the sensing functions of conventional rigid HMIs but with the ability of being stretched, compressed, twisted, bent, and deformed into arbitrary shapes. [2] Nowadays, soft HMIs are realizing such innovative applications that are impossible for rigid HMIs.Flexible strain sensors are important component of soft HMI systems. [3] To date, significant efforts are made to develop flexible strain sensors with ultralow detection limit and broad sensing range. Generally, the performance of a strain sensor is improved by choosing stretchable polymers or by designing novel sensing structures. [3][4][5] Bao et al. have reported carbon nanotube (CNT)-based spiral-structured stretchable strain sensor that can accommodate stretching strain up to 150%. [6] In contrast, a variety of structures are designed to enhance the performance of strain sensors. For instance, Kang et al. have developed strain sensors by generating cracks in the platinum (Pt) film, which demonstrated the detection limit of 0.1% and a gauge factor of over 2000, within 0-2% strain range. [7] Peng et al. manufactured a strain sensor by depositing CNTs on spiral-shaped polypropylene fiber and achieved wide sensing range of 200% strain with ultralow detection limit of 0.01%. [8] Despite these advancements, a strain sensor having precise displacement-resistance response with high resolution, ultralow detection limit, and broad sensing range still remains a challenge.Gallium-based LM alloys are considered highly suitable material for stretchable strain sensors because of their capability of retaining high electrical conductivity even under extreme stretch condition. [9,10] These LMs exhibit low viscosity and fluidic nature, which enables LM to follow the deformation path of soft

An experiment was conducted to investigate plasticity of meristem allocation under intraspecific competition in three annual species ( Xanthium sibiricum Patrin., Datura stramonium L., and Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) with different architectures (monopodial, false dichotomous, and sympodial branching, respectively). There were two density treatments for X. sibiricum and D. stramonium, with plant–plant distances of 7 and 14 cm, and five density treatments for F. esculentum, with plant–plant distances of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 cm. We recorded meristem fates (inactive, growth, and reproduction) at several developmental stages and at the final developmental stage. Allocation of meristems to reproduction in all three species could be explained by allometric growth (“apparent plasticity”), but meristem allocation patterns to the other functions differed among the species. Allocation of meristems to growth affects and is affected by plant architecture. Our results suggest that vegetative growth is more plastic than reproduction in annual plants.