Energy deposition by heavy ions: Additivity of kinetic and potential energy contributions in hillock formation on CaF2

The formation of nano-hillocks on CaF2 crystal surfaces by individual ion impact has been studied using medium energy (3 and 5 MeV) highly charged ions (Xe19+ to Xe30+) as well as swift (kinetic energies between 12 and 58 MeV) heavy ions. For very slow highly charged ions the appearance of hillocks is known to be linked to a threshold in potential energy while for swift heavy ions a minimum electronic energy loss is necessary. With our results we bridge the gap between these two extreme cases and demonstrate, that with increasing energy deposition via electronic energy loss the potential energy threshold for hillock production can be substantially lowered. Surprisingly, both mechanisms of energy deposition in the target surface seem to contribute in an additive way, as demonstrated when plotting the results in a phase diagram. We show that the inelastic thermal spike model, originally developed to describe such material modifications for swift heavy ions, can be extended to case where kinetic and potential energies are deposited into the surface.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure

Pairing competition in a quasi-one-dimensional model of organic superconductors (TMTSF)2X_{2}X in magnetic field

We microscopically study the effect of the magnetic field (Zeeman splitting) on the superconducting state in a model for quasi-one-dimensional organic superconductors (TMTSF)$_{2}X$. We investigate the competition between spin singlet and spin triplet pairings and the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov(FFLO) state by random phase approximation. While we studied the competition by comparison with the eigenvalue of the gap equation at a fixed temperature in our previous study (Phys. Rev. Lett. \textbf{102} (2009) 016403), here we obtain both the $T_c$ for each pairing state and a phase diagram in the $T$(temperature)-$h_z$(field)-$V_y$(strength of the charge fluctuation) space. The phase diagram shows that consecutive transitions from singlet pairing to the FFLO state and further to $S_z=1$ triplet pairing can occur upon increasing the magnetic field when $2k_{F}$ charge fluctuations coexist with $2k_{F}$ spin fluctuations. In the FFLO state, the singlet d-wave and $S_{z}=0$ triplet $f$-wave components are strongly mixed especially when the charge fluctuations are strong.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figure

Possible Triplet Electron Pairing and an Anisotropic Spin Susceptibility in Organic Superconductors (TMTSF)_2 X

We argue that (TMTSF)_2 PF_6 compound under pressure is likely a triplet superconductor with a vector order parameter d(k) \equiv (d_a(k) \neq 0, d_c(k) = ?, d_{b'}(k) = 0); |d_a(k)| > |d_c(k)|. It corresponds to an anisotropic spin susceptibility at T=0: \chi_{b'} = \chi_0, \chi_a \ll \chi_0, where \chi_0 is its value in a metallic phase. [The spin quantization axis, z, is parallel to a so-called b'-axis]. We show that the suggested order parameter explains why the upper critical field along the b'-axis exceeds all paramagnetic limiting fields, including that for a nonuniform superconducting state, whereas the upper critical field along the a-axis (a \perp b') is limited by the Pauli paramagnetic effects [I. J. Lee, M. J. Naughton, G. M. Danner and P. M. Chaikin, Phys. Rev. Lett. 78, 3555 (1997)]. The triplet order parameter is in agreement with the recent Knight shift measurements by I. J. Lee et al. as well as with the early results on a destruction of superconductivity by nonmagnetic impurities and on the absence of the Hebel-Slichter peak in the NMR relaxation rate.Comment: 4 pages, 1 eps figur

Midgap edge states and pairing symmetry of quasi-one-dimensional organic superconductors

The singlet s-, d- and triplet p-wave pairing symmetries in quasi-one-dimensional organic superconductors can be experimentally discriminated by probing the Andreev bound states at the sample edges. These states have the energy in the middle of the superconducting gap and manifest themselves as a zero-bias peak in tunneling conductance into the corresponding edge. Their existence is related to the sign change of the pairing potential around the Fermi surface. We present an exact self-consistent solution of the edge problem showing the presence of the midgap states for p_x-wave superconductivity. The spins of the edge state respond paramagnetically to a magnetic field parallel to the vector d that characterizes triplet pairing.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures. V.2: New section on spin response is added and references are updated. V.3: Final version accepted to PRB. Typos are corrected and important note is added in proof

Pairing Symmetry Competition in Organic Superconductors

A review is given on theoretical studies concerning the pairing symmetry in organic superconductors. In particular, we focus on (TMTSF)$_2$X and $\kappa$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$X, in which the pairing symmetry has been extensively studied both experimentally and theoretically. Possibilities of various pairing symmetry candidates and their possible microscopic origin are discussed. Also some tests for determining the actual pairing symmtery are surveyed.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn., special issue on "Organic Conductors

Genotyping of the G1138A mutation of the FGFR3 gene in patients with achondroplasia using high-resolution melting analysis

[[abstract]]Objectives: The fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 gene (FGFR3) plays a critical role in cartilage growth-plate differentiation and bony development. It has been shown that 97% of patients with achondroplasia have a G to A transition mutation at position 1138 (c.1138 G>A) of codon 380 of the FGFR3 gene. Design and methods: Exon 8 of the FGFR3 gene was analyzed in 40 patients with achondroplasia, as well as in 50 control individuals for the presence of the c.1138G>A variant using melting curve analysis with a high-resolution melting instrument (HR-1). Results: The high-resolution melting curve analysis successfully genotyped the c.1138G>A mutation in exon 8 of the FGFR3 gene in all 40 patients with achondroplasia without the need of further assays. The technique had a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. Conclusion: High-resolution melting analysis is a simple, rapid, and sensitive one tube assay for genotyping the FGFR3 gene. The technique is a low cost high-throughput FGFR3 screening assay. (c) 2007 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Effort required to finish shotgun-generated genome sequences differs significantly among vertebrates

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The approaches for shotgun-based sequencing of vertebrate genomes are now well-established, and have resulted in the generation of numerous draft whole-genome sequence assemblies. In contrast, the process of refining those assemblies to improve contiguity and increase accuracy (known as 'sequence finishing') remains tedious, labor-intensive, and expensive. As a result, the vast majority of vertebrate genome sequences generated to date remain at a draft stage.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To date, our genome sequencing efforts have focused on comparative studies of targeted genomic regions, requiring sequence finishing of large blocks of orthologous sequence (average size 0.5-2 Mb) from various subsets of 75 vertebrates. This experience has provided a unique opportunity to compare the relative effort required to finish shotgun-generated genome sequence assemblies from different species, which we report here. Importantly, we found that the sequence assemblies generated for the same orthologous regions from various vertebrates show substantial variation with respect to misassemblies and, in particular, the frequency and characteristics of sequence gaps. As a consequence, the work required to finish different species' sequences varied greatly. Application of the same standardized methods for finishing provided a novel opportunity to "assay" characteristics of genome sequences among many vertebrate species. It is important to note that many of the problems we have encountered during sequence finishing reflect unique architectural features of a particular vertebrate's genome, which in some cases may have important functional and/or evolutionary implications. Finally, based on our analyses, we have been able to improve our procedures to overcome some of these problems and to increase the overall efficiency of the sequence-finishing process, although significant challenges still remain.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings have important implications for the eventual finishing of the draft whole-genome sequences that have now been generated for a large number of vertebrates.</p

Software countermeasures for control flow integrity of smart card C codes

International audienceFault attacks can target smart card programs in order to disrupt an execution and gain an advantage over the data or the embedded functionalities. Among all possible attacks, control flow attacks aim at disrupting the normal execution flow. Identifying harmful control flow attacks as well as designing countermeasures at software level are tedious and tricky for developers. In this paper, we propose a methodology to detect harmful intra-procedural jump attacks at source code level and to automatically inject formally-proven countermeasures. The proposed software countermeasures defeat 100% of attacks that jump over at least two C source code statements or beyond. Experiments show that the resulting code is also hardened against unexpected function calls and jump attacks at assembly level

Synergistic activity of troxacitabine (Troxatyl™) and gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Gemcitabine, a deoxycytidine nucleoside analog, is the current standard chemotherapy used as first-line treatment for patients with locally advanced or metastatic cancer of the pancreas, and extends life survival by 5.7 months. Advanced pancreatic cancer thus remains a highly unmet medical need and new therapeutic agents are required for this patient population. Troxacitabine (Troxatyl™) is the first unnatural L-nucleoside analog to show potent preclinical antitumor activity and is currently under clinical investigation. Troxacitabine was recently evaluated as a first-line therapy in 54 patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas and gave comparable overall results to those reported with gemcitabine in recently published randomized trials.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines, AsPC-1, Capan-2, MIA PaCa-2 and Panc-1, were exposed to troxacitabine or gemcitabine alone or in combination, for 72 h, and the effects on cell growth were determined by electronic particle counting. Synergistic efficacy was determined by the isobologram and combination-index methods of Chou and Talalay. Mechanistic studies addressed incorporation of troxacitabine into DNA and intracellular levels of troxacitabine and gemcitabine metabolites. For <it>in vivo </it>studies, we evaluated the effect of both drugs, alone and in combination, on the growth of established human pancreatic (AsPC-1) tumors implanted subcutaneously in nude mice. Statistical analysis was calculated by a one-way ANOVA with Dunnett as a post-test and the two-tailed unpaired <it>t </it>test using GraphPad prism software.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Synergy, evaluated using the CalcuSyn Software, was observed in all four cell-lines at multiple drug concentrations resulting in combination indices under 0.7 at Fa of 0.5 (50% reduction of cell growth). The effects of drug exposures on troxacitabine and gemcitabine nucleotide pools were analyzed, and although gemcitabine reduced phosphorylation of troxacitabine when cells were exposed at equal drug concentrations, there was no effect on phosphorylated pools at drug combinations that were synergistic. The amount of troxacitabine incorporated into DNA was also not affected by the presence of gemcitabine. <it>In vivo </it>testing against a human pancreatic (AsPC-1) xenograft mouse tumor model indicated that both drugs were more than additive at well-tolerated doses and schedule. The biological basis for this synergy is unclear as we did not observe changes in apoptosis, DNA repair, troxacitabine incorporation into DNA or troxacitabine metabolism in the presence of gemcitabine.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data, together with phase I clinical data showing tolerability of both agents when combined, suggest combination therapy with troxacitabine and gemcitabine warrants further evaluation in advanced pancreatic cancer patients.</p