674 research outputs found
Superconducting pairing and density-wave instabilities in quasi-one-dimensional conductors
Using a renormalization group approach, we determine the phase diagram of an
extended quasi-one-dimensional electron gas model that includes interchain
hopping, nesting deviations and both intrachain and interchain repulsive
interactions. d-wave superconductivity, which dominates over the
spin-density-wave (SDW) phase at large nesting deviations, becomes unstable to
the benefit of a triplet -wave phase for a weak repulsive interchain
backscattering term , despite the persistence of dominant SDW
correlations in the normal state. Antiferromagnetism becomes unstable against
the formation of a charge-density-wave state when exceeds some
critical value. While these features persist when both Umklapp processes and
interchain forward scattering () are taken into account, the effect
of alone is found to frustrate nearest-neighbor interchain - and
-wave pairing and instead favor next-nearest-neighbor interchain singlet or
triplet pairing. We argue that the close proximity of SDW and
charge-density-wave phases, singlet d-wave and triplet -wave superconducting
phases in the theoretical phase diagram provides a possible explanation for
recent puzzling experimental findings in the Bechgaard salts, including the
coexistence of SDW and charge-density-wave phases and the possibility of a
triplet pairing in the superconducting phase.Comment: 19 pages, 13 figure
Astringency sub-qualities of red wines and the influence of wineâsaliva aggregates
Astringency is a sensory attribute, related to the quality and mouthfeel of red wines. However, the origin of astringency sub-qualities, such as the typical drying astringency found in immature grapes, is still unknown. Astringency of red wines with similar tannin content but different astringency sub-qualities, from different harvest dates, is studied. Astringency was characterised in terms of friction coefficient, polyphenol content, sensory analysis and tannin/salivaryâproteins aggregates characterisation. A different evolution during ripening was found for both Cabernet Sauvignon and CarmĂ©nĂšre, and tanninâprotein aggregates showed differences in size, shape and surface. The velvety sub-quality appears to be related to aggregates with low precipitation, and with specific surface characteristics as roundness and Feret diameter. Results from this work propose an effect of aggregates on sensory perception and opens the possibility to explore their effect on oral lubrication
Planck pre-launch status: HFI beam expectations from the optical optimisation of the focal plane
Planck is a European Space Agency (ESA) satellite, launched in May 2009, which will map the cosmic microwave background anisotropies in intensity and polarisation with unprecedented detail and sensitivity. It will also provide full-sky maps of astrophysical foregrounds. An accurate knowledge of the telescope beam patterns is an essential element for a correct analysis of the acquired astrophysical data. We present a detailed description of the optical design of the High Frequency Instrument (HFI) together with some of the optical performances measured during the calibration campaigns. We report on the evolution of the knowledge of the pre-launch HFI beam patterns when coupled to ideal telescope elements, and on their significance for the HFI data analysis procedure
Ătude expĂ©rimentale de l'Ă©clatement tourbillonnaire en bordure d'une plaque immergĂ©e sous la houle
L'interaction de la houle avec une structure immergée génÚre des filaments tourbillonnaires trÚs intenses qui ont un fort impact sur leur environnement proche. La dynamique de ces filaments présente des mécanismes de déstabilisation fortement tridimensionnels dont la caractérisation représente un défi expérimental. Pour identifier et comprendre ces mécanismes, nous avons utilisé l'holographie numérique dans l'axe, par afin d'accéder à la distribution tridimensionnelle des vitesses au sein du tourbillon et ainsi mieux comprendre la nature des processus intervenant dans sa déstabilisation. Ses mesures sont complétées par des mesures en stéréo-piv afin de valider les résultats obtenus par holographie
A Novel Sintered Porous Micromixer for the Effective Mixing of Biologics and Scale Model Investigation of Micromixing Mechanisms
This paper presents a parametric investigation of a porous 3D micro-mixer as well as a 10:1 scale model of the same used to examine the influence of the contributions of both diffusion and advection to successful mixing of fluids of different viscosity. Experiments at both scales implement the laser induced fluorescence technique to capture the evolution of concentration gradients at the mixer outlet. Mixing performance strongly increases with flow rate in the micromixing apparatus but only moderately in the scale-up suggesting important scale-dependent manipulation of diffusion
A mucin-like peptide from Fasciola hepatica instructs dendritic cells with parasite specific Th1-polarizing activity
Fasciolosis is a trematode zoonosis of interest in public health and cattle production. We report here the immunostimulatory effect of a 66 mer mucin-like peptide from Fasciola hepatica (Fhmuc), which synergizes with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to promote dendritic cell (DC) maturation, endowing these cells with Th1-polarizing capacity. Exposure of DCs to Fhmuc in presence of LPS induced enhanced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and expression of co-stimulatory molecules by DCs, promoting their T cell stimulatory capacity and selectively augmenting IFN-3 secretion by allogeneic T cells. Furthermore, exposure of DCs to Fhmuc augmented LPS-induced Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 expression on the cell surface. Finally, Fhmuc-conditioned DCs induced parasite specific-adaptive immunity with increased levels of IFN-3 secreted by splenocytes from vaccinated animals, and higher parasite-specific IgG antibodies. However, Fhmuc-treated DC conferred modest protection against F. hepatica infection highlighting the potent immuno-regulatory capacity of the parasite. In summary, this work highlights the capacity of a mucin-derived peptide from F. hepatica to enhance LPS-maturation of DCs and induce parasite-specific immune responses with potential implications in vaccination and therapeutic strategies
On the exchange of intersection and supremum of sigma-fields in filtering theory
We construct a stationary Markov process with trivial tail sigma-field and a
nondegenerate observation process such that the corresponding nonlinear
filtering process is not uniquely ergodic. This settles in the negative a
conjecture of the author in the ergodic theory of nonlinear filters arising
from an erroneous proof in the classic paper of H. Kunita (1971), wherein an
exchange of intersection and supremum of sigma-fields is taken for granted.Comment: 20 page
Microct and preparation of ÎČ-TCP granular material by polyurethane foam method
Commercial Ă-tricalcium phosphate (Ă-TCP) is commercialy available in granules manufactured by sintering of powders. We have evaluated the different steps of the manufacturing process of Ă-TCP ceramics granules prepared from blocks obtained with the polyurethane foam technology. Three types of slurry were prepared with 10, 15 and 25 g of Ă-TCP per gram of polyurethane foam. Analysis was done by scanning electron microscopy, EDX, Raman spectroscopy and microcomputed tomography combined with image analysis. A special algorithm was used to identify the internal microporosity (created by the calcination of the foam) from the internal macroporosity due to the spatial repartition of the material. The low Ă-TCP dosages readily infiltrated the foam and the slurry was deposited along the polymer rods. On the contrary, the highest concentration produced inhomogeneous infiltrated blocks and foam cavities appeared completely filled in some areas. 2D microcomputed sections and reconstructed 3D models evidenced this phenomenon and the frequency distribution of the thickness and separation of material trabeculae confirmed the heterogeneity of the distribution. When crushed, blocks prepared with the 25 g slurry provided the largest and irregular granulates
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