565 research outputs found
High-field recovery of the undistorted triangular lattice in the frustrated metamagnet CuFeO2
Pulsed field magnetization experiments extend the typical metamagnetic
staircase of CuFeO2 up to 58 T to reveal an additional first order phase
transition at high field for both the parallel and perpendicular field
configuration. Virtually complete isotropic behavior is retrieved only above
this transition, indicating the high-field recovery of the undistorted
triangular lattice. A consistent phenomenological rationalization for the field
dependence and metamagnetism crossover of the system is provided, demonstrating
the importance of both spin-phonon coupling and a small field-dependent
easy-axis anisotropy in accurately describing the magnetization process of
CuFeO2.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Mapping the B,T phase diagram of frustrated metamagnet CuFeO2
The magnetic phase diagram of CuFeO2 as a function of applied magnetic field
and temperature is thoroughly explored and expanded, both for magnetic fields
applied parallel and perpendicular to the material's c-axis. Pulsed field
magnetization measurements extend the typical magnetic staircase of CuFeO2 at
various temperatures, demonstrating the persistence of the recently discovered
high field metamagnetic transition up to Tn2 ~ 11 K in both field
configurations. An extension of the previously introduced phenomenological spin
model used to describe the high field magnetization process (Phys. Rev. B, 80,
012406 (2009)) is applied to each of the consecutive low-field commensurate
spin structures, yielding a semi-quantitative simulation and intuitive
description of the entire experimental magnetization process in both relevant
field directions with a single set of parameters.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Electronic Raman response in anisotropic metals
Using a generalized response theory we derive the electronic Raman response
function for metals with anisotropic relaxation rates. The calculations account
for the long--range Coulomb interaction and treat the collision operator within
a charge conserving relaxation time approximation. We extend earlier treatments
to finite wavenumbers () and incorporate inelastic
electron--electron scattering besides elastic impurity scattering. Moreover we
generalize the Lindhard density response function to the Raman case. Numerical
results for the quasiparticle scattering rate and the Raman response function
for cuprate superconductors are presented.Comment: 5 pages, 4figures. accepted in PRB (Brief Report), in pres
Two Distinct Electronic Contributions in the Fully Symmetric Raman Response of High Cuprates
We show by non resonant effect in HgBaCuO (Hg-1201)and by Zn
substitutions in YBaCuO (Y-123) compounds that the fully
symmetric Raman spectrum has two distinct electronic contributions. The
A response consists in the superconducting pair breaking peak at the
2 energy and a collective mode close to the magnetic resonance energy.
These experimental results reconcile the \textit{d-wave} model to the A
Raman response function in so far as a collective mode that is distinct from
the pair breaking peak is present in the A channel.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
The Chemistry of the Postpharyngeal Gland of Female European Beewolves
Females of the European beewolf, Philanthus triangulum, possess a large glove-shaped gland in the head, the postpharyngeal gland (PPG). They apply the content of the PPG to their prey, paralyzed honeybees, where it delays fungal infestation. Here, we describe the chemical composition of the gland by using combined GC-MS, GC-FTIR, and derivatization. The PPG of beewolves contains mainly long-chain unsaturated hydrocarbons (C23–C33), lower amounts of saturated hydrocarbons (C14–C33), and minor amounts of methyl-branched hydrocarbons (C17–C31). Additionally, the hexane-soluble gland content is comprised of small amounts of an unsaturated C25 alcohol, an unknown sesquiterpene, an octadecenylmethylester, and several long-chain saturated (C25, C27) and unsaturated (C23–C27) ketones, some of which have not yet been reported as natural products. Surprisingly, we found a dimorphism with regard to the major component of the PPG with some females having (Z)-9-pentacosene, whereas others have (Z)-9-heptacosene as their predominant component. The biological relevance of the compounds for the prevention of fungal growth on the prey and the significance of the chemical dimorphism are discussed
On the origin of the A and B electronic Raman scattering peaks in the superconducting state of YBaCuO
The electronic Raman scattering has been investigated in optimally oxygen
doped YBaCuO single crystals as well as in crystals
with non-magnetic, Zn, and magnetic, Ni, impurities. We found that the
intensity of the A peak is impurity independent and their energy to
ratio is almost constant (). Moreover, the
signal at the B channel is completely smeared out when non-magnetic Zn
impurities are present. These results are qualitatively interpreted in terms of
the Zeyher and Greco's theory that relates the electronic Raman scattering in
the A and B channels to \textit{d}-CDW and superconducting order
parameters fluctuations, respectively.Comment: Submited to Phys. Rev. Let
Collective Spin Fluctuation Mode and Raman Scattering in Superconducting Cuprates
Although the low frequency electronic Raman response in the superconducting
state of the cuprates can be largely understood in terms of a d-wave energy
gap, a long standing problem has been an explanation for the spectra observed
in the polarization orientations. We present calculations which
suggest that the peak position of the observed spectra is due to a
collective spin fluctuation mode.Comment: 4 pages, 5 eps figure
Is the postpharyngeal gland of a solitary digger wasp homologous to ants? Evidence from chemistry and physiology
The postpharyngeal gland (PPG) was thought to be restricted to ants where it serves a crucial function in the generation of the colony odour. Recently, head glands that closely resemble the PPG of ants were discovered in females of a solitary digger wasp, the European beewolf. The function of this gland necessarily differs from ants: beewolf females apply the secretion of their PPG onto the bodies of paralysed honeybees that serve as larval provisions in order to delay fungus growth. Since ants and digger wasps are not closely related, the occurrence of this gland in these two taxa might either be due to convergent evolution or it is a homologous organ inherited from a common ancestor. Here we test the hypothesis that the PPGs of both taxa are homologous by comparing characteristics of chemical composition and physiology of the PPG of beewolves and ants. Based on reported characteristics of the PPG content of ants, we tested three predictions that were all met. First, the PPG of beewolves contained mainly long-chain hydrocarbons and very few compounds with functional groups. Second, the composition of hydrocarbons in the beewolf PPG was similar to that of the hemolymph. Taking the structure of the gland epithelium and the huge requirements of beewolf females for gland secretion into account this result suggests that the content of the PPG is also sequestered from the hemolymph in beewolves. Third, the chemical composition of the PPG and the cuticle was similar in beewolves since cuticular hydrocarbons derive either from the hemolymph or the PPG. Taking the considerable morphological similarities into account, our results support the hypothesis of a homologous origin of the PPG in beewolves and ants
Moderate hypothermia within 6 h of birth plus inhaled xenon versus moderate hypothermia alone after birth asphyxia (TOBY-Xe): a proof-of-concept, open-label, randomised controlled trial
Background Moderate cooling after birth asphyxia is associated with substantial reductions in death and disability, but additional therapies might provide further benefit. We assessed whether the addition of xenon gas, a promising novel therapy, after the initiation of hypothermia for birth asphyxia would result in further improvement. Methods Total Body hypothermia plus Xenon (TOBY-Xe) was a proof-of-concept, randomised, open-label, parallel-group trial done at four intensive-care neonatal units in the UK. Eligible infants were 36–43 weeks of gestational age, had signs of moderate to severe encephalopathy and moderately or severely abnormal background activity for at least 30 min or seizures as shown by amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG), and had one of the following: Apgar score of 5 or less 10 min after birth, continued need for resuscitation 10 min after birth, or acidosis within 1 h of birth. Participants were allocated in a 1:1 ratio by use of a secure web-based computer-generated randomisation sequence within 12 h of birth to cooling to a rectal temperature of 33·5°C for 72 h (standard treatment) or to cooling in combination with 30% inhaled xenon for 24 h started immediately after randomisation. The primary outcomes were reduction in lactate to N-acetyl aspartate ratio in the thalamus and in preserved fractional anisotropy in the posterior limb of the internal capsule, measured with magnetic resonance spectroscopy and MRI, respectively, within 15 days of birth. The investigator assessing these outcomes was masked to allocation. Analysis was by intention to treat. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00934700, and with ISRCTN, as ISRCTN08886155. Findings The study was done from Jan 31, 2012, to Sept 30, 2014. We enrolled 92 infants, 46 of whom were randomly assigned to cooling only and 46 to xenon plus cooling. 37 infants in the cooling only group and 41 in the cooling plus xenon group underwent magnetic resonance assessments and were included in the analysis of the primary outcomes. We noted no significant differences in lactate to N-acetyl aspartate ratio in the thalamus (geometric mean ratio 1·09, 95% CI 0·90 to 1·32) or fractional anisotropy (mean difference −0·01, 95% CI −0·03 to 0·02) in the posterior limb of the internal capsule between the two groups. Nine infants died in the cooling group and 11 in the xenon group. Two adverse events were reported in the xenon group: subcutaneous fat necrosis and transient desaturation during the MRI. No serious adverse events were recorded. Interpretation Administration of xenon within the delayed timeframe used in this trial is feasible and apparently safe, but is unlikely to enhance the neuroprotective effect of cooling after birth asphyxia
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