Nonlocal vs local vortex dynamics in the transversal flux transformer effect

In this follow-up to our recent Letter [F. Otto et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 027005 (2010)], we present a more detailed account of the superconducting transversal flux transformer effect (TFTE) in amorphous (a-)NbGe nanostructures in the regime of strong nonequilibrium in local vortex motion. Emphasis is put on the relation between the TFTE and local vortex dynamics, as the former turns out to be a reliable tool for determining the microscopic mechanisms behind the latter. By this method, a progression from electron heating at low temperatures T to the Larkin-Ovchinnikov effect close to the transition temperature Tc is traced over a range 0.26 < T/Tc < 0.95. This is represented by a number of relevant parameters such as the vortex transport entropy related to the Nernst-like effect at low T, and a nonequilibrium magnetization enhancement close to Tc. At intermediate T, the Larkin-Ovchinnikov effect is at high currents modified by electron heating, which is clearly observed only in the TFTE

Thermal relaxation of magnetic clusters in amorphous Hf_{57}Fe_{43} alloy

The magnetization processes in binary magnetic/nonmagnetic amorphous alloy Hf_{57}Fe_{43} are investigated by the detailed measurements of magnetic hysteresis loops, temperature dependence of magnetization, relaxation of magnetization and magnetic ac susceptibility, including a nonlinear term. Blocking of magnetic moments at lower temperatures is accompanied with the slow relaxation of magnetization and magnetic hysteresis loops. All of the observed properties are explained with the superparamagnetic behaviour of the single domain magnetic clusters inside the nonmagnetic host, their blocking by the anisotropy barriers and thermal fluctuation over the barriers accompanied by relaxation of magnetization. From magnetic viscosity analysis based on thermal relaxation over the anisotropy barriers it is found out that magnetic clusters occupy the characteristic volume from 25 up to 200 nm3 . The validity of the superparamagnetic model of Hf_{57}Fe_{43} is based on the concentration of iron in the Hf_{100-x}Fe_{43} system that is just below the threshold for the long range magnetic ordering. This work throws more light on magnetic behaviour of other amorphous alloys, too

UČINAK SELEKCIJE SNIŽENJA STABLJIKE NA UROD I KOMPONENTE URODA ZRNA JEČMA

This investigation deals with the effects of selection for short stem in population lines of the F4 generation derived from the barley cross between Timura x Osk. 4.208´2-84 developed by the single seed descent and pedigree method. Direct genetic gain from reducing the stem length was found to be 10.22 % at dense planting (400 kernels/m2) and 11.47 % at wide-spaced planting (100 kernels/m2). It was found that stem length had relatively high heritability (0.643 and 0.735). Large negative effects of reducing the stem length at wide-spaced and dense planting were estimated for the grain yield per plant, grain yield per plot and number of fertile tillers. Less pronounced negative effects were found for the grain weight per spike and grain number per spike. Phenotypic and genotypic correlations between stem length and other traits were mostly significant and positive with higher values at dense planting. Selection for a short stem length was efficient for the improvement of this trait. However, unfavorable correlations have significantly affected undesired expression of other traits, especially grain yield per plant, grain yield per plot and number of fertile tillers. Any further decrease of plant height should be accompanied by the appropriate selection for other traits, especially grain yield per plant, mass of one grain and harvest index.U radu su istraženi učinci selekcije na kraću stabljiku kod ječma u populaciji linija F4 generacije izvedene iz kombinacije križanja Timura x Osk.4.208´2-84 pomoću metode potomstva sjemenke po biljci (SSD) i pedigree metode. Ostvarena izravna genetska dobit sniženja stabljike bila je 10,22 % u gustoj sjetvi (400 zrna/m2 ) i 11,47 % u rijetkoj sjetvi (100 zrna/m2 ). Utvrđeno je da je dužina stabljike svojstvo relativno visokog heritabiliteta (0,643 i 0,735). Jaki negativni učinci sniženja dužine stabljike u rijetkoj i gustoj sjetvi procijenjeni su za urod zrna po biljci, urod zrna po parceli i broj plodnih vlati. Manje naglašeni negativni učinci utvrđeni su za masu zrna po klasu i broj zrna po klasu. Fenotipske i genotipske korelacije između dužine stabljike i drugih svojstava bile su uglavnom značajne i pozitivne s višim vrijednostima u gustoj sjetvi. Selekcija na skraćenje stabljike bila je učinkovita za poboljšanje toga svojstva. Međutim, nepovoljne korelacije značajno su utjecale na neželjenu ekspresiju drugih svojstava, naročito na urod zrna po biljci, urod zrna po parceli i broj plodnih vlati. Daljnje snižavanje visine stabljike trebalo bi biti praćeno i odgovarajućom selekcijom na druga svojstva, posebno urod zrna po biljci, masu zrna i žetveni indeks

UČINAK SELEKCIJE SNIŽENJA STABLJIKE NA UROD I KOMPONENTE URODA ZRNA JEČMA

This investigation deals with the effects of selection for short stem in population lines of the F4 generation derived from the barley cross between Timura x Osk. 4.208´2-84 developed by the single seed descent and pedigree method. Direct genetic gain from reducing the stem length was found to be 10.22 % at dense planting (400 kernels/m2) and 11.47 % at wide-spaced planting (100 kernels/m2). It was found that stem length had relatively high heritability (0.643 and 0.735). Large negative effects of reducing the stem length at wide-spaced and dense planting were estimated for the grain yield per plant, grain yield per plot and number of fertile tillers. Less pronounced negative effects were found for the grain weight per spike and grain number per spike. Phenotypic and genotypic correlations between stem length and other traits were mostly significant and positive with higher values at dense planting. Selection for a short stem length was efficient for the improvement of this trait. However, unfavorable correlations have significantly affected undesired expression of other traits, especially grain yield per plant, grain yield per plot and number of fertile tillers. Any further decrease of plant height should be accompanied by the appropriate selection for other traits, especially grain yield per plant, mass of one grain and harvest index.U radu su istraženi učinci selekcije na kraću stabljiku kod ječma u populaciji linija F4 generacije izvedene iz kombinacije križanja Timura x Osk.4.208´2-84 pomoću metode potomstva sjemenke po biljci (SSD) i pedigree metode. Ostvarena izravna genetska dobit sniženja stabljike bila je 10,22 % u gustoj sjetvi (400 zrna/m2 ) i 11,47 % u rijetkoj sjetvi (100 zrna/m2 ). Utvrđeno je da je dužina stabljike svojstvo relativno visokog heritabiliteta (0,643 i 0,735). Jaki negativni učinci sniženja dužine stabljike u rijetkoj i gustoj sjetvi procijenjeni su za urod zrna po biljci, urod zrna po parceli i broj plodnih vlati. Manje naglašeni negativni učinci utvrđeni su za masu zrna po klasu i broj zrna po klasu. Fenotipske i genotipske korelacije između dužine stabljike i drugih svojstava bile su uglavnom značajne i pozitivne s višim vrijednostima u gustoj sjetvi. Selekcija na skraćenje stabljike bila je učinkovita za poboljšanje toga svojstva. Međutim, nepovoljne korelacije značajno su utjecale na neželjenu ekspresiju drugih svojstava, naročito na urod zrna po biljci, urod zrna po parceli i broj plodnih vlati. Daljnje snižavanje visine stabljike trebalo bi biti praćeno i odgovarajućom selekcijom na druga svojstva, posebno urod zrna po biljci, masu zrna i žetveni indeks

Vortex Motion Noise in Micrometre-Sized Thin Films of the Amorphous Nb0.7Ge0.3 Weak-Pinning Superconductor

We report high-resolution measurements of voltage (V) noise in the mixed state of micrometre-sized thin films of amorphous Nb0.7Ge0.3, which is a good representative of weak-pinning superconductors. There is a remarkable difference between the noise below and above the irreversibility field Birr. Below Birr, in the presence of measurable pinning, the noise at small applied currents resembles shot noise, and in the regime of flux flow at larger currents decreases with increasing voltage due to a progressive ordering of the vortex motion. At magnetic fields B between Birr and the upper critical field Bc2 flux flow is present already at vanishingly small currents. In this regime the noise scales with (1-B/Bc2)^2 V^2 and has a frequency (f) spectrum of 1/f type. We interpret this noise in terms of the properties of strongly driven depinned vortex systems at high vortex density.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, version accepted for publication in PR

The Croatian Health Survey – SF-36: I. General Quality of Life Assessment

The objective of the Croatian Health Survey was the assessment of population health related quality of life in the transitional enviroment of Croatia. Health status measures incorporate dimensions such as physical, psychological, and social functioning, role performance and perception of wellbeing. In order to assess health status, »The medical outcome study 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) model« was used. A total sample of 5048 inhabitants (1983 males and 3065 females), 18 years and over, represents approximately 1‰ of the general population of Croatia. Mean scores were as follows: physical functioning (PF) 69.94, role-physical (RP)63.01, bodily pain (BP) 64.51, general health (GH) 53.40, vitality (VT) 51.85, social functioning (SF) 72.96, role-emotional (RE) 72.42, mental health (MH) 61.71 and health transition (HT) 44.79. Results of the SF-36 health survey in Croatia are very much like the results in other European countries with indication that general quality of life is lower in Croatia

Gene expression profiling of the dorsolateral and medial orbitofrontal cortex in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a complex polygenic disorder of unknown etiology. Over 3,000 candidate genes associated with schizophrenia have been reported, most of which being mentioned only once. Alterations in cognitive processing - working memory, metacognition and mentalization - represent a core feature of schizophrenia, which indicates the involvement of the prefrontal cortex in the pathophysiology of this disorder. Hence we compared the gene expression in postmortem tissue from the left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC, Brodmann's area 46), and the medial part of the orbitofrontal cortex (MOFC, Brodmann's area 11/12), in six patients with schizophrenia and six control brains. Although in the past decade several studies performed transcriptome profiling in schizophrenia, this is the first study to investigate both hemispheres, providing new knowledge about possible brain asymmetry at the level of gene expression and its relation to schizophrenia. We found that in the left hemisphere, twelve genes from the DLPFC and eight genes from the MOFC were differentially expressed in patients with schizophrenia compared to controls. In the right hemisphere there was only one gene differentially expressed in the MOFC. We reproduce the involvement of previously reported genes TARDBP and HNRNPC in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, and report seven novel genes: SART1, KAT7, C1D, NPM1, EVI2A, XGY2, and TTTY15. As the differentially expressed genes only partially overlap with previous studies that analyzed other brain regions, our findings indicate the importance of considering prefrontal cortical regions, especially those in the left hemisphere, for obtaining disease-relevant insights

Force distributions in a triangular lattice of rigid bars

We study the uniformly weighted ensemble of force balanced configurations on a triangular network of nontensile contact forces. For periodic boundary conditions corresponding to isotropic compressive stress, we find that the probability distribution for single-contact forces decays faster than exponentially. This super-exponential decay persists in lattices diluted to the rigidity percolation threshold. On the other hand, for anisotropic imposed stresses, a broader tail emerges in the force distribution, becoming a pure exponential in the limit of infinite lattice size and infinitely strong anisotropy.Comment: 11 pages, 17 figures Minor text revisions; added references and acknowledgmen

Idylls of socialism : the Sarajevo Documentary School and the problem of the Bosnian sub-proletariat

This historical overview of the Sarajevo Documentary School considers the films, in the light of their recent re-emergence, as indicative of both the legacy of socialist realism (even in the context of Yugoslav media) and attempted social engineering in the Bosnia of the 1960s and 1970s. The argument is made that the documentaries, despite their questionable aesthetic status (in respect of cinma-vrit and ethnography) and problematic ideological strategies and attempted interventions, document a history and offer insights that counter the prevailing revisionist trends in the presentation of Eastern and Central European history