Superconducting Fluctuation and Pseudogap in Disordered Short Coherence Length Superconductor

We investigate the role of disorder on the superconducting (SC) fluctuation in short coherence length d-wave superconductors. The particular intetest is focused on the disorder-induced microscopic inhomogeneity of SC fluctuation and its effect on the pseudogap phenomena. We formulate the self-consistent 1-loop order theory for the SC fluctuation in inhomogeneous systems and analyze the disordered $t$-$t'$-$V$ model. The SC correlation function, electronic DOS and the critical temperature are estimated. The SC fluctuation is localized like a nanoscale granular structure when the coherence length is short, namely the transition temperature is high. This is contrasted to the long coherence length superconductors where the order parameter is almost uniform in the microscopic scale. In the former case, the SC fluctuation is enhanced by the disorder in contrast to the Abrikosov-Gorkov theory. These results are consistent with the STM, NMR and transport measurements in high-$T_{\rm c}$ cuprates and illuminate the essential role of the microscopic inhomogeneity. We calculate the spacial dependence of DOS around the single impurity and discuss the consistency with the NMR measurements

Genetic characterization of rainfed upland New Rice for Africa (NERICA) varieties

A total of 18 rainfed upland New Rice for Africa (NERICA) varieties were categorized as the heavy panicle and low tillering types and early heading, in compared with 32 different varieties. These chromosome components were clarified using 243 SSR markers which showed polymorphism among NERICA varieties and their parents, CG 14 (O. glaberrima Steud.) and one of the recurrent parents, WAB-56-104 (O. sativa L.). NERICA varieties were classified into three groups, which corresponded with these parents' continuation including two exceptions, NERICAs 14 and 17, by a cluster analysis using polymorphism data of SSR markers and 14 differential markers among them were selected to classify NERICA varieties. However, three groups: NERICAs, 3 and 4, NERICAs, 8, 9 and 11 and NERICAs, 15 and 16 were not distinguishable. Association analysis was carried out for characterization of NERICA varieties by using SSR markers genotype and phenotype of agronomic traits. A total of 131 quantitative trait loci between SSR markers and 11 agronomic traits were detected. The characteristics of early maturity and heavy panicle of upland NERICA varieties were succeeded from Asian rice varieties and the characteristics of high dry matter production and late heading were introduced from CG 14 and the other varieties