19,501 research outputs found
Is U3Ni3Sn4 best described as near a quantum critical point?
Although most known non-Fermi liquid (NFL) materials are structurally or
chemically disordered, the role of this disorder remains unclear. In
particular, very few systems have been discovered that may be stoichiometric
and well ordered. To test whether U3Ni3Sn4 belongs in this latter class, we
present measurements of the x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) of
polycrystalline and single-crystal U3Ni3Sn4 samples that are consistent with no
measurable local structural disorder. We also present temperature-dependent
specific heat data in applied magnetic fields as high as 8 T that show features
that are inconsistent with the antiferromagnetic Griffiths' phase model, but do
support the conclusion that a Fermi liquid/NFL crossover temperature increases
with applied field. These results are inconsistent with theoretical
explanations that require strong disorder effects, but do support the view that
U3Ni3Sn4 is a stoichiometric, ordered material that exhibits NFL behavior, and
is best described as being near an antiferromagnetic quantum critical point.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, in press with PR
R2D2 - a symmetric measurement of reactor neutrinos free of systematical errors
We discuss a symmetric setup for a reactor neutrino oscillation experiment
consisting of two reactors separated by about 1 km, and two symmetrically
placed detectors, one close to each reactor. We show that such a configuration
allows a determination of which is essentially free of
systematical errors, if it is possible to separate the contributions of the two
reactors in each detector sufficiently. This can be achieved either by
considering data when in an alternating way only one reactor is running or by
directional sensitivity obtained from the neutron displacement in the detector.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, clarifications added, some numbers in relation
with the neutron displacement corrected, version to appear in JHE
Watching the birth of a charge density wave order: diffraction study on nanometer-and picosecond-scales
Femtosecond time-resolved X-ray diffraction is used to study a photo-induced
phase transition between two charge density wave (CDW) states in 1T-TaS,
namely the nearly commensurate (NC) and the incommensurate (I) CDW states.
Structural modulations associated with the NC-CDW order are found to disappear
within 400 fs. The photo-induced I-CDW phase then develops through a
nucleation/growth process which ends 100 ps after laser excitation. We
demonstrate that the newly formed I-CDW phase is fragmented into several
nanometric domains that are growing through a coarsening process. The
coarsening dynamics is found to follow the universal Lifshitz-Allen-Cahn growth
law, which describes the ordering kinetics in systems exhibiting a
non-conservative order parameter.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
Eluate derived by extracorporal antibody-based immunoadsorption elevates the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in podocytes via B-2 kinin receptors
Background/Aim: Patients with idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) often develop a recurrence of the disease after kidney transplantation. In a number of FSGS patients, plasmapheresis and immunoadsorption procedures have been shown to transiently reduce proteinuria and are thought to do this by eliminating a circulating factor. Direct cellular effects of eluates from immunoadsorption procedures on podocytes, the primary target of injury in FSGS, have not yet been reported. Methods: Eluates were derived from antibody-based immunoadsorption of a patient suffering from primary FSGS, a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus, and a healthy volunteer. The cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ({[}Ca2+](i)) of differentiated podocytes was measured by single-cell fura-2 microfluorescence measurements. Free and total immunoreactive kinin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Results: FSGS eluates increased the {[}Ca2+](i) levels concentration dependently (EC50 0.14 mg/ml; n = 3-19). 1 mg/ml eluate increased the {[}Ca2+](i) values reversibly from 82 +/- 12 to 1,462 +/- 370 nmol/l, and then they returned back to 100 16 nmol/l (n = 19). The eluate-induced increase of {[}Ca2+](i) consisted of an initial Ca2+ peak followed by a Ca2+ plateau which depended on the extracellular Ca2+ concentration. The eluate-induced increase of {[}Ca2+](i) was inhibited by the specific B-2 kinin receptor antagonist Hoe 140 in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 2.47 nmol/l). In addition, prior repetitive application of bradykinin desensitized the effect of eluate on {[}Ca2+](i). A colonic epithelial cell line not reacting to bradykinin did not respond to eluate either (n = 6). Similar to FSGS eluates, the eluate preparations of both the systemic lupus patient and the healthy volunteer led to a biphasic, concentration-dependent {[}Ca2+](i) increase in poclocytes which again was inhibited by Hoe 140. Free kinins were detected in all eluate preparations. Conclusion: The procedure of antibody-based immunoadsorption leads to kinin in the eluate which elevates the {[}Ca2+](i) level of podocytes via B-2 kinin receptors. Copyright (C) 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel
Quantum Hall Effect in a Two-Dimensional Electron System Bent by 90 Degrees
Using a new MBE growth technique, we fabricate a two-dimensional electron
system which is bent around an atomically sharp 90 degree corner. In the
quantum Hall regime under tilted magnetic fields, we can measure equilibration
between both co- and counter-propagating edge channels of arbitrary filling
factor ratio. We present here 4-point magnetotransport characterization of the
corner junction with filling factor combinations which can all be explained
using the standard Landauer-Buttiker edge channel picture. The success of this
description confirms the realization of a new type of quantum Hall edge
geometry.Comment: 4 pages, figures included Typographical errors corrected, reference
adde
Biogenesis of phagolysosomes proceeds through a sequential series of interactions with the endocytic apparatus
We have examined the modifications occurring during the transformation of phagosomes into phagolysosomes in J-774 macrophages. The use of low density latex beads as markers of phagosomes (latex bead compartments, LBC) allowed the isolation of these organelles by flotation on a simple sucrose gradient. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, immunocytochemistry, and biochemical assays have been used to characterize the composition of LBC at different time points after their formation, as well as their interactions with the organelles of the endocytic pathway. Our results show that LBC acquire and lose various markers during their transformation into phagolysosomes. Among these are members of the rab family of small GTPases as well as proteins of the lamp family. The transfer to the LBC of lamp 2, a membrane protein associated with late endocytic structures, was shown to be microtubule dependent. Videomicroscopy showed that newly formed phagosomes were involved in rapid multiple contacts with late components of the endocytic pathway. Collectively, these observations suggest that phagolysosome formation is a highly dynamic process that involves the gradual and regulated acquisition of markers from endocytic organelles
On the Interpretation of Supernova Light Echo Profiles and Spectra
The light echo systems of historical supernovae in the Milky Way and local
group galaxies provide an unprecedented opportunity to reveal the effects of
asymmetry on observables, particularly optical spectra. Scattering dust at
different locations on the light echo ellipsoid witnesses the supernova from
different perspectives and the light consequently scattered towards Earth
preserves the shape of line profile variations introduced by asymmetries in the
supernova photosphere. However, the interpretation of supernova light echo
spectra to date has not involved a detailed consideration of the effects of
outburst duration and geometrical scattering modifications due to finite
scattering dust filament dimension, inclination, and image point-spread
function and spectrograph slit width. In this paper, we explore the
implications of these factors and present a framework for future resolved
supernova light echo spectra interpretation, and test it against Cas A and SN
1987A light echo spectra. We conclude that the full modeling of the dimensions
and orientation of the scattering dust using the observed light echoes at two
or more epochs is critical for the correct interpretation of light echo
spectra. Indeed, without doing so one might falsely conclude that differences
exist when none are actually present.Comment: 18 pages, 22 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Electroweak phase transition in technicolor
Several phenomenologically viable walking technicolor models have been
proposed recently. I demonstrate that these models can have first order
electroweak phase transitions, which are sufficiently strong for electroweak
baryogenesis. Strong dynamics can also lead to several separate transitions at
the electroweak scale, with the possibility of a temporary restoration and an
extra breaking of the electroweak symmetry. First order phase transitions will
produce gravitational waves, which may be detectable at future experiments.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures. Talk at PASCOS 2010 conference, Valencia, 19-23
July 201
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