Proximity Effect and Multiple Andreev Reflections in Chaotic Josephson junctions

We study the dc-current transport in a voltage biased superconductor-chaotic dot-superconductor junction with an induced proximity effect(PE) in the dot. It is found that for a Thouless energy $E_{Th}$ of the dot smaller than the superconducting energy gap $\Delta$, the PE is manifested as peaks in the differential conductance at voltages of order $E_{Th}$ away from the even subharmonic gap structures $eV \approx 2(\Delta\pm E_{Th})/2n$. These peaks are insensitive to temperatures $kT \ll \Delta$ but are suppressed by a weak magnetic field. The current for suppressed PE is independent of $E_{Th}$ and magnetic field and is shown to be given by the Octavio-Tinkham-Blonder-Klapwijk theory.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

A note on Zolotarev optimal rational approximation for the overlap Dirac operator

We discuss the salient features of Zolotarev optimal rational approximation for the inverse square root function, in particular, for its applications in lattice QCD with overlap Dirac quark. The theoretical error bound for the matrix-vector multiplication $H_w (H_w^2)^{-1/2}Y$ is derived. We check that the error bound is always satisfied amply, for any QCD gauge configurations we have tested. An empirical formula for the error bound is determined, together with its numerical values (by evaluating elliptic functions) listed in Table 2 as well as plotted in Figure 3. Our results suggest that with Zolotarev approximation to $(H_w^2)^{-1/2}$, one can practically preserve the exact chiral symmetry of the overlap Dirac operator to very high precision, for any gauge configurations on a finite lattice.Comment: 23 pages, 5 eps figures, v2:minor clarifications, and references added, to appear in Phys. Rev.

OPA1 disease alleles causing dominant optic atrophy have defects in cardiolipin-stimulated GTP hydrolysis and membrane tubulation

The dynamin-related GTPase OPA1 is mutated in autosomal dominant optic atrophy (DOA) (Kjer type), an inherited neuropathy of the retinal ganglion cells. OPA1 is essential for the fusion of the inner mitochondrial membranes, but its mechanism of action remains poorly understood. Here we show that OPA1 has a low basal rate of GTP hydrolysis that is dramatically enhanced by association with liposomes containing negative phospholipids such as cardiolipin. Lipid association triggers assembly of OPA1 into higher order oligomers. In addition, we find that OPA1 can promote the protrusion of lipid tubules from the surface of cardiolipin-containing liposomes. In such lipid protrusions, OPA1 assemblies are observed on the outside of the lipid tubule surface, a protein-membrane topology similar to that of classical dynamins. The membrane tubulation activity of OPA1 is suppressed by GTPγS. OPA1 disease alleles associated with DOA display selective defects in several activities, including cardiolipin association, GTP hydrolysis and membrane tubulation. These findings indicate that interaction of OPA1 with membranes can stimulate higher order assembly, enhance GTP hydrolysis and lead to membrane deformation into tubules

Coherent current transport in wide ballistic Josephson junctions

We present an experimental and theoretical investigation of coherent current transport in wide ballistic superconductor-two dimensional electron gas-superconductor junctions. It is found experimentally that upon increasing the junction length, the subharmonic gap structure in the current-voltage characteristics is shifted to lower voltages, and the excess current at voltages much larger than the superconducting gap decreases. Applying a theory of coherent multiple Andreev reflection, we show that these observations can be explained in terms of transport through Andreev resonances.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

DC current through a superconducting two-barrier system

We analyze the influence of the structure within a SNS junction on the multiple Andreev resonances in the subgap I-V characteristics. Coherent interference processes and incoherent propagation in the normal region are considered. The detailed geometry of the normal region where the voltage drops in superconducting contacts can lead to observable effects in the conductance at low voltages.Comment: 11 pages, including 7 postscript file

Chemical Inhibition of the Mitochondrial Division Dynamin Reveals Its Role in Bax/Bak-Dependent Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Permeabilization

SummaryMitochondrial fusion and division play important roles in the regulation of apoptosis. Mitochondrial fusion proteins attenuate apoptosis by inhibiting release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, in part by controlling cristae structures. Mitochondrial division promotes apoptosis by an unknown mechanism. We addressed how division proteins regulate apoptosis using inhibitors of mitochondrial division identified in a chemical screen. The most efficacious inhibitor, mdivi-1 (for mitochondrial division inhibitor) attenuates mitochondrial division in yeast and mammalian cells by selectively inhibiting the mitochondrial division dynamin. In cells, mdivi-1 retards apoptosis by inhibiting mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization. In vitro, mdivi-1 potently blocks Bid-activated Bax/Bak-dependent cytochrome c release from mitochondria. These data indicate the mitochondrial division dynamin directly regulates mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization independent of Drp1-mediated division. Our findings raise the interesting possibility that mdivi-1 represents a class of therapeutics for stroke, myocardial infarction, and neurodegenerative diseases

BtubA-BtubB Heterodimer Is an Essential Intermediate in Protofilament Assembly

BACKGROUND:BtubA and BtubB are two tubulin-like genes found in the bacterium Prosthecobacter. Our work and a previous crystal structure suggest that BtubB corresponds to alpha-tubulin and BtubA to beta-tubulin. A 1:1 mixture of the two proteins assembles into tubulin-like protofilaments, which further aggregate into pairs and bundles. The proteins also form a BtubA/B heterodimer, which appears to be a repeating subunit in the protofilament. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:We have designed point mutations to disrupt the longitudinal interfaces bonding subunits into protofilaments. The mutants are in two classes, within dimers and between dimers. We have characterized one mutant of each class for BtubA and BtubB. When mixed 1:1 with a wild type partner, none of the mutants were capable of assembly. An excess of between-dimer mutants could depolymerize preformed wild type polymers, while within-dimer mutants had no activity. CONCLUSIONS:An essential first step in assembly of BtubA + BtubB is formation of a heterodimer. An excess of between-dimer mutants depolymerize wild type BtubA/B by sequestering the partner wild type subunit into inactive dimers. Within-dimer mutants cannot form dimers and have no activity

Josephson effect in double-barrier superconductor-ferromagnet junctions

We study the Josephson effect in ballistic double-barrier SIFIS planar junctions, consisting of bulk superconductors (S), a clean metallic ferromagnet (F), and insulating interfaces (I). We solve the scattering problem based on the Bogoliubov--de Gennes equations and derive a general expression for the dc Josephson current, valid for arbitrary interfacial transparency and Fermi wave vectors mismatch (FWVM). We consider the coherent regime in which quasiparticle transmission resonances contribute significantly to the Andreev process. The Josephson current is calculated for various parameters of the junction, and the influence of both interfacial transparency and FWVM is analyzed. For thin layers of strong ferromagnet and finite interfacial transparency, we find that coherent (geometrical) oscillations of the maximum Josephson current are superimposed on the oscillations related to the crossover between 0 and $\pi$ states. For the same case we find that the temperature-induced $0-\pi$ transition occurs if the junction is very close to the crossovers at zero temperature.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figure

Technological literacy reconsidered: a model for enactment

The final publication is available at: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10798-009-9108-6.This paper presents a model to describe technological literacy as enacted by individuals in the course of shaping their lives and the world around them. The model has two interrelated facets – the potential for and enactment of technological literacy – where enactment and potential mutually constitute each other. This potential is made up of knowledge of a particular situation, personal engagement with a situation, and social engagement in the world. Enactment requires a particular set of competencies in action, which together helps shape the situation: recognizing needs; articulating problems; contributing towards the technological process; and analysing consequences. The implications of this model for technological literacy in the context of the individual and society, and the role of technology education in developing technological literacy, are discussed