2,062 research outputs found
Peak Effect in Superconductors: Absence of Phase Transition and Possibility of Jamming in Vortex Matter
The magnetic field dependence of the critical current for the
vortex phase of a disordered superconductor is studied numerically at zero
temperature. The increases rapidly near the upper critical field
similar to the peak effect (PE) phenomenon observed in many
superconductors. The real space configuration across the PE changes
continuously from a partially ordered domain (polycrystalline) state into an
amorphous state. The topological defect density
with for . There is no evidence of a phase transition in
the vicinity of the PE suggesting that an order-disorder transition is not
essential for the occurrence of the PE phenomenon. An alternative view is
presented wherein the vortex system with high dislocation density undergoes
jamming at the onset of the PE.Comment: 8 pages and 5 figure
Peak effect in YBCO crystals: Statics and dynamics of the vortex lattice
Oscillatory dynamics and quasi-static Campbell regime of the vortex lattice
(VL) in twinned YBa2Cu3O7 single crystals has been explored at low fields near
the peak effect (PE) region by linear and non-linear ac susceptibility
measurements. We show evidence that the PE is a dynamic anomaly observed in the
non-linear response, and is absent in the Labusch constant derived from the
linear Campbell regime. Static properties play a major role however, and we
identify two H(T) lines defining the onset and the end of the effect. At H1(T)
a sudden increase in the curvature of the pinning potential wells with field
coincides with the PE onset. At a higher field, H2(T), a sudden increase in
linear ac losses, where dissipative forces overcome pinning forces, marks the
end of Campbell regime and, simultaneously, the end of the PE anomaly. Vortex
dynamics was probed in frequency dependent measurements, and we find that in
the PE region, vortex dynamics goes beyond the description of a power law with
a finite creep exponent for the constitutive relation.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure
Thermal conduction and particle transport in strong MHD turbulence, with application to galaxy-cluster plasmas
We investigate field-line separation in strong MHD turbulence analytically
and with direct numerical simulations. We find that in the
static-magnetic-field approximation the thermal conductivity in galaxy clusters
is reduced by a factor of about 5-10 relative to the Spitzer thermal
conductivity of a non-magnetized plasma. We also estimate how the thermal
conductivity would be affected by efficient turbulent resistivity.Comment: Major revision: higher resolution simulations lead to significantly
different conclusions. 26 pages, 10 figure
Convection and AGN Feedback in Clusters of Galaxies
A number of studies have shown that the convective stability criterion for
the intracluster medium (ICM) is very different from the Schwarzchild criterion
due to the effects of anisotropic thermal conduction and cosmic rays. Building
on these studies, we develop a model of the ICM in which a central active
galactic nucleus (AGN) accretes hot intracluster plasma at the Bondi rate and
produces cosmic rays that cause the ICM to become convectively unstable. The
resulting convection heats the intracluster plasma and regulates its
temperature and density profiles. By adjusting a single parameter in the model
(the size of the cosmic-ray acceleration region), we are able to achieve a good
match to the observed density and temperature profiles in a sample of eight
clusters. Our results suggest that convection is an important process in
cluster cores. An interesting feature of our solutions is that the cooling rate
is more sharply peaked about the cluster center than is the convective heating
rate. As a result, in several of the clusters in our sample, a compact cooling
flow arises in the central region with a size R that is typically a few kpc.
The cooling flow matches onto a Bondi flow at smaller radii. The mass accretion
rate in the Bondi flow is equal to, and controlled by, the rate at which mass
flows in through the cooling flow. Our solutions suggest that the AGN regulates
the mass accretion rate in these clusters by controlling R: if the AGN power
rises above the equilibrium level, R decreases, the mass accretion rate drops,
and the AGN power drops back down to the equilibrium level.Comment: 41 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ. Changes in this
version: extended discussion of Bondi accretion in clusters, better mass
model, new numerical solution
The effect of antenatal corticosteroids on maternal glycemic control, in a tertiary care centre in North Kerala - India
Background: Antenatal glucocorticoid therapy (ACT) can be life-saving in preterm babies and risk of PTL is increasing in. The prevalence of GDM also increasing. Virtually, all women will experience deterioration in their glycaemic control following ACT. The NICE guideline recommends additional insulin and the national Indian guidelines recommend a 20% increase. Objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in maternal serum glucose following corticosteroids in antenatal women.Methods: Prospective controlled trial of 206 patients, divided into 2 groups. Group 1:105 patients with no GDM and Group 2: 101 patients with GDM. Ethical committee approved. FBS and PPBS measured for following 5 days of D1. BMI and starting dose of insulin and dose of insulin hike were recorded. FBS >90 mg/dL and PPBS >120 mg/dL were taken as abnormal. Data were analyzed using SPSSV22.Results: There were a total of 206 of which 105 were in group 1(51%) and 101(49%) were in Group 2. FBS >90 mg/dL in over 65% of all women on D2 10 new cases on D3 and PPBS >120 mg/dL in over 66% of all women on D2 and 13 new cases on D3. Insulin was started in a total of 66 patients of 105 (62.9%) in Group 1 and 33 out of 40 (82.5%) in GDM on MNT. Of the 66 patients who started on insulin in Group 1, 17 (16.2%) patients had to continue insulin and out of 33. In MNT subgroup 10 (25%) had to continue. BMI was high in the patients, who was given and continued insulin.Conclusions: The findings support the concept of increasing the dose of insulin even before the hyperglycemia documented. In the Group 1 66 of 105 patients were started on insulin due to hyperglycemia and 17 had to continue insulin 25.7%), and 33 of 40 patients in GDM on MNT were started on insulin and 10 (30.33%) had to continue. We suggest testing all patients for hyperglycemia and to start insulin especially in the those with high BMI (>25 as per the Asian Indian)
Construction of a Plasmodium falciparum Rab-interactome identifies CK1 and PKA as Rab-effector kinases in malaria parasites
Background information
The pathology causing stages of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum reside within red blood cells that are devoid of any regulated transport system. The parasite, therefore, is entirely responsible for mediating vesicular transport within itself and in the infected erythrocyte cytoplasm, and it does so in part via its family of 11 Rab GTPases. Putative functions have been ascribed to Plasmodium Rabs due to their homology with Rabs of yeast, particularly with Saccharomyces that has an equivalent number of rab/ypt genes and where analyses of Ypt function is well characterized.
Results
Rabs are important regulators of vesicular traffic due to their capacity to recruit specific effectors. In order to identify P. falciparum Rab (PfRab) effectors, we first built a Ypt-interactome by exploiting genetic and physical binding data available at the Saccharomyces genome database (SGD). We then constructed a PfRab-interactome using putative parasite Rab-effectors identified by homology to Ypt-effectors. We demonstrate its potential by wet-bench testing three predictions; that casein kinase-1 (PfCK1) is a specific Rab5B interacting protein and that the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PfPKA-C) is a PfRab5A and PfRab7 effector.
Conclusions
The establishment of a shared set of physical Ypt/PfRab-effector proteins sheds light on a core set Plasmodium Rab-interactants shared with yeast. The PfRab-interactome should benefit vesicular trafficking studies in malaria parasites. The recruitment of PfCK1 to PfRab5B+ and PfPKA-C to PfRab5A+ and PfRab7+ vesicles, respectively, suggests that PfRab-recruited kinases potentially play a role in early and late endosome function in malaria parasites
Target Population Environments and Pest Distribution Modelling: An Approach towards Pest Prioritization and Preparedness
The transboundary crop pest and disease (P&D) outbreaks over large geographical regions jeopardizes the food security and have broad economic, social and environmental impacts. The upsurge of new crop P&D, such as fall armyworm; cassava mosaic and brown streak virus; banana fusarium wilt tropical race 4 and wheat stem rust Ug99 are having serious repercussions on agriculture. Climate change is, in part, responsible for food chain catastrophes arising from these transboundary P&D. However, there is clear evidence that climate change impacts are altering the distribution of crop P&D. Such accelerated events require more attention on a greater scale to strengthen food security and protect the livelihoods of poor and most vulnerable countries of the world. A well-defined P&D ranking and distribution will focus on supporting policy-making, integrated P&D management as well as tangible pre-emptive breeding strategies at large scale. Here, we have used chickpea homogenous systems units (HSUs) defined by mechanistic models and geo-bio-physical parameters; over which the P&D distribution and rankings were over-layered. The chickpea P&D severity, distributions, social impact and key drivers responsible for spread on these locations were identified by using meta-analysis. Further, in order to understand the possible risks and consequences of P&D population growth and geographical expansion, the CLIMEX package was used. We aim to compare the pest distribution generic models and prioritization methodologies for emerging regional specific P&D. These findings would support policy intrusions associated with long term transformative adaptation strategies for climate change
Secondary peak on asymmetric magnetization loop of type-II superconductors
Asymmetric magnetization loops with a second peak effect were parameterized
by the extended critical state model. The magnetic field distribution in a
sample is considered. Expression is suggested for a peak of the critical
current density and corresponding depression on field dependence of the depth
of surface layer with equilibrium magnetization. These functions determine the
width and the asymmetry of a magnetization loop. Asymmetry of the secondary
peak height on magnetization branches for increasing and decreasing field is
reproduced on the computed magnetization curves.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, Equation 6 is modified to be f=0 at B=
Correlation between Oxidative Stress and Thyroid Function in Patients with Nephrotic Syndrome
Background. The present study is to look for a correlation between oxidative stress and thyroid function in patients with the nephrotic syndrome in the remission phase as well as in a persistent proteinuric state. Introduction. Nephrotic syndrome is a form of chronic kidney disease due to which blood loses protein through the urine. We wanted to know if there was an increased loss of thyroid hormones in urine affecting thyroid function. Methods. 60 patients with nephrotic syndrome and 20 healthy non-proteinuric individuals as control subjects were enrolled in the study. We measured their serum tri-iodothyronine, thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone. Estimation of lipid peroxidation (LPx) catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were carried out by standard methods. Results. TSH was elevated in the nephrotic patients compared to controls, while TT4 and TT3 were significantly lower in the patients than in controls. Lipid Peroxidation and GPx were significantly higher in the nephrotic syndrome patients than in the controls, while SOD and catalase were significantly lower than in patients than in the control subjects. Conclusion. Nephrotic patients can lose significant amounts of thyroid hormones along with protein in urine, which can affect thyroid status, but this is reversible on remission
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