Theory of the Optical Conductivity in the Cuprate Superconductors

We present a study of the normal state optical conductivity in the cuprate superconductors using the nearly antiferromagnetic Fermi liquid (NAFL) description of the magnetic interaction between their planar quasiparticles. We find that the highly anisotropic scattering rate in different regions of the Brillouin zone, both as a function of frequency and temperature, a benchmark of NAFL theory, leads to an average relaxation rate of the Marginal Fermi Liquid form for overdoped and optimally doped systems, as well as for underdoped systems at high temperatures. We carry out numerical calculations of the optical conductivity for several compounds for which the input spin fluctuation parameters are known. Our results, which are in agreement with experiment on both overdoped and optimally doped systems, show that NAFL theory explains the anomalous optical behavior found in these cuprate superconductors.Comment: REVTEX file, 8 PostScript figure

Weak Pseudogap Behavior in the Underdoped Cuprate Superconductors

We report on an exact solution of the nearly antiferromagnetic Fermi liquid spin fermion model in the limit \pi T << \omega_{sf}, which demonstrates that the broad high energy features found in ARPES measurements of the spectral density of the underdoped cuprate superconductors are determined by strong antiferromagnetic (AF) correlations and precursor effects of an SDW state. We show that the onset temperature, T^{cr}, of weak pseudo-gap (pseudoscaling) behavior is determined by the strength, \xi, of the AF correlations, and obtain the generic changes in low frequency magnetic behavior seen in NMR experiments with \xi(T^{cr}) \approx 2, confirming the Barzykin and Pines crossover criterion.Comment: REVTEX, 4 pages, 3 EPS figure

Zinc oxide-based materials with enhanced sunlight-driven photo- and photo-electro-catalytic activity

Current trend in photocatalysis is to develop efficient semiconductors which can be activated by absorbing sunlight. Which wavelength of sunlight will be absorbed depends on the semiconductor band gap; semiconductors with a wide band gap (> 3 eV) can absorb only UV light (5% of sunlight), while those with a narrow band gap (< 3 eV) can be activated by visible light (45% of sunlight). Zinc oxide (ZnO) is promising semiconductor with band gap of 3.37 eV. Various approaches have been applied to modify its optical properties, for example: incorporation of different metal and nonmetal ions or defects into the crystal structure, particles’ surface sensitization or hydrogenation. In this study, we examined the influence of different defects present in ZnO particles on their photo- and photo-electro-catalytic properties. Processing of ZnO particles were carried out in order to introduce: (1) lattice defects, through microwave procedure, (2) surface defects, through mechanical activation, and (3) surface defects, trough composite with polyethylene oxide. Synthesized particles were characterized by XRD, FESEM, laser diffraction particle size analyzer, Raman, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The results of achieved photo- and photo-electro-catalytic tests indicate that both, structural and surface, defects enhanced sunlight-driven activity of ZnO particles

Optical Conductivity and Hall Coefficient in High-Tc Superconductors: Significant Role of Current Vertex Corrections

We study AC conductivities in high-Tc cuprates, which offer us significant information to reveal the true electronic ground states. Based on the fluctuation-exchange (FLEX) approximation, current vertex corrections (CVC's) are correctly taken into account to satisfy the conservation laws. We find the significant role of the CVC's on the optical Hall conductivity in the presence of strong antiferromagnetic (AF) fluctuations. This fact leads to the failure of the relaxation time approximation (RTA). As a result, experimental highly unusual behaviors, (i) prominent frequency and temperature dependences of the optical Hall coefficient, and (ii) simple Drude form of the optical Hall andge for wide range of frequencies, are satisfactorily reproduced. In conclusion, both DC and AC transport phenomena in (slightly under-doped) high-Tc cuprates can be explained comprehensively in terms of nearly AF Fermi liquid, if one take the CVC's into account.Comment: 5 page

Zeolit kao faktor poboljšanja nekih proizvodnih osobina kod krava muzara

Milk yield and milk chemical composition are largely affected by diet quality. Natural zeolite has been successfully used in livestock production as a feed supplement for some types and categories of domestic animals. This experiment was conducted over a period of 15 months involving Domestic Spotted dairy cattle. The test animals were assigned to three groups, each receiving different levels of supplemental zeolite. The control group comprised cows that received no zeolite supplement. Experimental groups I and II were fed compound feeds supplemented with 4% and 2% zeolite, respectively. The production traits studied included the following milk performance traits: whole lactation length, milk and fat yields over whole lactations, milk and fat yields over standard lactations. The results obtained suggest that zeolite supplementation affects some production traits, depending on the zeolite level present in livestock feed.Kontrolna grupa krava imala je prosečno trajanje laktacije od 312 dana, sa varijacijama od 300 do 360 dana. Ova grupa se po dobijenim rezultatima nalazi između ostale dve grupe krava. Statističke razlike u trajanju celih laktacija među grupama su značajne (P (lt) 0,05). Najniža proizvodnja mleka u celim laktacijama zabeležena je kod krava Kgrupe (6395,20 kg), viša kod krava I-O grupe (6714,13 kg) i najviša kod krava II-O grupe (6934,13 kg) koja je dobijala 2% zeolita preko krmnih smeša. Statističke razlike u proizvodnji mleka u celim laktacijama među grupama su vrlo značajne (P (lt) 0,01). Najmanja prosečna produkcija mleka zabeležena je kod krava K-grupe (6342,33 kg). Znatno veća proizvodnja je bila kod krava koje su dobijale zeolit. Krave I-O grupe dobijale su 4% zeolita i postigle su prosečnu mlečnost od 6690.86 kg. Krave II-O grupe dobijale su 2% zeolita i postigle su najveću prosečnu mlečnost od 6711.80 kg. Krave II-O grupe imale su najveću prosečnu proizvodnju mleka u standardnim laktacijama i najniži koeficijent varijacije među grupama. Statističke razlike u proizvodnji mleka u standardnim laktacijama među grupama su vrlo značajne (P (lt) 0,01). Krave K-grupe imale su najmanju prosečnu priozvodnju mlečne masti u mleku, a krave II-O grupe najveću. Statističke razlike u količini mlečne masti u celim laktacijama među grupama su vrlo značajne (P (lt) 0,01). Takođe su vrlo značajne (P (lt) 0,01) i statističke razlike među grupama u količini mlečne masti u standardnim laktacijama

Pentoxifylline Prevents Autoimmune Mediated Inflammation in Low Dose Streptozotocin Induced Diabetes

Xanthine derivative, pentoxifylline (PTX), has been recently shown to exert a protective effects in certain animal models of autoimmunity, including diabetes in NOD mice. In the present study, the immunomodulatory potential of PTX was investigated in autoimmune diabetes induced by multiple low doses of streptozotocin (MLD-SZ) in genetically susceptible CBA/H mice (tested with 40 mg SZ/kg b.w. for 5 days) and DA rats (tested with 20 mg/kg b.w. for 5 days). In both species, 2 – 3 weeks following the MLD-SZ treatment, sustained hyperglycemia developed, as an outcome of inflammatory reaction with endothelial cell activation and accumulation of mononuclear cells. Although there was no evidence of typical insulitis in early disease development (day 10), in both rats and mice, macrophages, CD4+ and CD8+ cells were present in the islets of Langerhans as diffuse mononuclear infiltrates with the expression of IFN-γ and inducible NO synthase (iNOS). Administration of PTX (200 mg/kg/day for 10 days) in combination with MLD-SZ reduced insulitis and the production of mediators tested, and prevented the development of hyperglycemia. These results suggest that beneficial effects of PTX involve down-regulation of local proinflammatory cytokine-mediated NO synthase pathway. They also demonstrate that in addition to ameliorating spontaneous autoimmunity in NOD mice, PTX may be effective in downregulating an inflammatory autoimmune process triggered in susceptible host by an external agents, such as streptozotocin

Magnetoresistance in Heavily Underdoped YBa_2Cu_3O_{6+x}: Antiferromagnetic Correlations and Normal-State Transport

We report on a contrasting behavior of the in-plane and out-of-plane magnetoresistance (MR) in heavily underdoped antiferromagnetic (AF) YBa_2Cu_3O_{6+x} (x<0.37). The out-of-plane MR (I//c) is positive over most of the temperature range and shows a sharp increase, by about two orders of magnitude, upon cooling through the Neel temperature T_N. A contribution associated with the AF correlations is found to dominate the out-of-plane MR behavior for H//c from far above T_N, pointing to the key role of spin fluctuations in the out-of-plane transport. In contrast, the transverse in-plane MR (I//a(b);H//c) appears to be small and smooth through T_N, implying that the development of the AF order has little effect on the in-plane resistivity.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Phys.Rev.Let

Levels of Presepsin and Midregion-Proadrenomedullin in Septic Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease after Cardiovascular Surgery: 1-Year Follow Up Study

Background: Procalcitonin (PCT) is a marker for sepsis diagnosis, identification of bacterial infection and monitoring of antibiotic therapy. It has been shown that PCT is not a good choice in patients with hemodialysis. Therefore, we have explored two biomarkers: a) presepsin, and, b) midregion-proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) in patients having End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Patients and Methods: We prospectively enlisted 20 patients, who underwent cardiovascular surgery and had been on dialysis. The diagnosis of sepsis has been established clinically and confirmed by PCT. Blood samples were taken before and after dialysis. Additionally, plasma and sera of 10 healthy blood donors without any complications were used as controls. Results: Presepsin plasma concentrations (4368 ± 3088 vs. 694.1 ± 239.1 pg/mL) were significantly higher in patients with sepsis compared with controls (p0.05) with no significance between alive and deceased (p=0.53) patients. Adjustments have shown that the difference for MR-proADM level is due to the random sampling variability (p=0.989), whereas difference for presepsin remained highly significant (p<0.001). Conclusions: Our results indicate that the accuracy of new biomarkers is equal to that of PCT in patients with ESRD. Presepsin might be as good marker in repeated measurements, before and after dialysis, as it is PCT. © 2014 Maravic-Stojkovic V, et al

PCR amplification of seven single copy nuclear genes from the Belgrade mummy

Here we report a DNA analysis of a human mummy dated approximately 2300 years BC. We extracted the DNA and used it for further PCR amplification of the following genes: c-fms proto-oncogene for CSF-1 receptor gene (CSF1PO); coagulation factor XIII a subunit gene (F13A01); c-fes/fps proto-oncogene (FESFPS); tyrosine hydroxylase gene (TH01); thyroid peroxidase gene (TPOX), von Willebrand factor gene (vWA) and Y chromosome specific sequence. The alleles from Belgrade mummy do not differ from the most frequent alleles of all present human populations. The exception is FESFPS gene. Belgrade mummy is homozygous for this locus which contains alleles with 7 motif repeats while such allele is found in less than 0.38% of living humans.U ovom radu dati su rezultati analiza molekula DNK izolovanih iz uzorka mumije čoveka stare 2300 godina. Genomska DNK je izolovana i korišćena za PCR amplifikaciju sledećih gena: c-fms protoonkogen za CSF-l receptor gen (CSF1PO), gen za a subjedinicu humanog faktora koagulacije XIII (F13A01), c-fes/fps protoonkogen (FESFPS), gen za tirozin hidroksilazu (TH01), gen za tiroidnu peroksidazu (TROH), gen za von Willebrand-ov faktor(vWA) i specifične sekvence za Y hromozom. Aleli beogradske mumije se ne razlikuju od najučestalijih alela sadašanje humane populacije. Izuzetak je FESFPS gen. Beogradska mumija je homozigotna za ovaj lokus i ima alele sa motivom od 7 ponovaka. Učestalost ovog alela u današnjoj humanoj populaciji je manja od 0.38%.nul