2,056 research outputs found
Dissipation-driven quantum phase transition in superconductor-graphene systems
We show that a system of Josephson junctions coupled via low-resistance
tunneling contacts to graphene substrate(s) may effectively operate as a
current switching device. The effect is based on the dissipation-driven
superconductor-to-insulator quantum phase transition, which happens due to the
interplay of the Josephson effect and Coulomb blockade. Coupling to a graphene
substrate with gapless excitations further enhances charge fluctuations
favoring superconductivity. The effect is shown to scale exponentially with the
Fermi energy in graphene, which can be controlled by the gate voltage. We
develop a theory, which quantitatively describes the quantum phase transition
in a two-dimensional Josephson junction array, but it is expected to provide a
reliable qualitative description for one-dimensional systems as well. We argue
that the local effect of dissipation-induced enhancement of superconductivity
is very robust and a similar sharp crossover should be present in finite
Josephson junction chains.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Multinuclear NMR study of the complexes of 6-phospho-D-gluconic acid with W(VI) and Mo(VI)
Three and six complexes have been identified with tungstate and molybdate, respectively, in aqueous solution, depending on pH and concentration; the structure of an important species formed with Mo(VI) is shown.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TFF-4CYWMWH-1/1/064ccb9bfba9c9434e0b22290129fed
Appropriateness of oral anticoagulants for long-term treatment of atrial fibrillation in older people: results of an evidence-based review and international consensus validation process (OAC-FORTA 2016)
Background:
Age appropriateness of anticoagulants for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation is uncertain.
Objective:
To review oral anticoagulants for the treatment of atrial fibrillation in older (age >65Â years) people and to classify appropriate and inappropriate drugs based on efficacy, safety and tolerability using the Fit-fOR-The-Aged (FORTA) classification.
Methods:
We performed a structured comprehensive review of controlled clinical trials and summaries of individual product characteristics to assess study and total patient numbers, quality of major outcome data and data of geriatric relevance. The resulting evidence was discussed in a round table with an interdisciplinary panel of ten European experts. Decisions on age appropriateness were made using a Delphi process.
Results:
For the eight drugs included, 380 citations were identified. The primary outcome results were reported in 32 clinical trials with explicit and relevant data on older people. Though over 24,000 patients aged >75/80Â years were studied for warfarin, data on geriatric syndromes were rare (two studies reporting on frailty/falls/mental status) and missing for all other compounds. Apixaban was rated FORTA-A (highly beneficial). Other non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (including low/high-intensity dabigatran and high-intensity edoxaban) and warfarin were assigned to FORTA-B (beneficial). Phenprocoumon, acenocoumarol and fluindione were rated FORTA-C (questionable), mainly reflecting the absence of data.
Conclusions:
All non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants and warfarin were classified as beneficial or very beneficial in older persons (FORTA-A or -B), underlining the overall positive assessment of the risk/benefit ratio for these drugs. For other vitamin-K antagonists regionally used in Europe, the lack of evidence should challenge current practice
Specific and reversible immobilization of proteins tagged to the affinity polypeptide C-LytA on functionalized graphite electrodes
We have developed a general method for the specific and reversible immobilization of proteins fused to the choline-binding module C-LytA on functionalized graphite electrodes. Graphite electrode surfaces were modified by diazonium chemistry to introduce carboxylic groups that were subsequently used to anchor mixed self-assembled monolayers consisting of N,N-diethylethylenediamine groups, acting as choline analogs, and ethanolamine groups as spacers. The ability of the prepared electrodes to specifically bind C-LytA-tagged recombinant proteins was tested with a C-LytA-ÎČ-galactosidase fusion protein. The binding, activity and stability of the immobilized protein was evaluated by electrochemically monitoring the formation of an electroactive product in the enzymatic hydrolysis of the synthetic substrate 4-aminophenyl ÎČ-D-galactopyranoside. The hybrid protein was immobilized in an specific and reversible way, while retaining the catalytic activity. Moreover, these functionalized electrodes were shown to be highly stable and reusable. The method developed here can be envisaged as a general, immobilization procedure on the protein biosensor field.This work was supported by grants BFU2010â17824, CTQ2008-04492-E and CTQ2010-18570 (Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad) and FPA-2010-055 (Valentian Government, Spain)
A fuzzy methodology for innovation management measurement
Innovation has been recognized as one of the main sources of competitive advantage for organizations and nations. The purpose of this study is to present an innovation management measurement approach applying fuzzy techniques to small and medium manufacturing enterprises. ..
Accumulation of De-Icing Salt and Leaching in Spanish soils surrounding roadwayss
The environmental implications of soil salinity caused by accumulation of de-icing salt and leaching in soils of northeastern Spain were examined. For this purpose, the concentrations of ions associated with diagnosing and managing this problem were evaluated from several measurements performed over one year along a road. This analysis demonstrated a higher concentration of soluble Na+ in the soil 3 m from a road in the northernmost part of the study area in February, which made the soil saline-sodic. Data from the rest of the study period (during the spring and summer) demonstrated that the de-icing salt moved to areas farther south by runoff water, which caused environmental impacts by modifying soil characteristics. These results suggest that leaching of Ca2+ and Mg2+ cations occurred faster in the studied systems in sodic soils. Leaching of these cations may affect plant yield, and results in environmental impacts within 3â30 m from the road. Awareness of this impact will be useful for developing future strategies for evaluating and reporting these complex relationships within Spainâs transport system and environment
Dynamic Stimulation of Quantum Coherence in Lattice Bosons
Thermal fluctuations tend to destroy long-range phase correlations.
Consequently, bosons in a lattice will undergo a transition from a
phase-coherent superfluid as the temperature rises. Contrary to common
intuition, however, we show that non-equilibrium driving can be used to reverse
this thermal decoherence. This is possible because the energy distribution at
equilibrium is rarely optimal for the manifestation of a given quantum
property. We demonstrate this in the Bose-Hubbard model by calculating the
non-equilibrium spatial correlation function with periodic driving. We show
that the non-equilibrium phase boundary between coherent and incoherent states
at finite bath temperatures can be made qualitatively identical to the familiar
zero-temperature phase diagram, and we discuss the experimental manifestation
of this phenomenon in cold atoms.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
The stellar mass assembly of galaxies from z=0 to z=4. Analysis of a sample selected in the rest-frame near-infrared with Spitzer
Using a sample of ~28,000 sources selected at 3.6-4.5 microns with Spitzer
observations of the HDF-N, the CDF-S, and the Lockman Hole (surveyed area: ~664
arcmin^2), we study the evolution of the stellar mass content of the Universe
at 0<z<4. We calculate stellar masses and photometric redshifts, based on
~2,000 templates built with stellar and dust emission models fitting the
UV-to-MIR SEDs of galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts. We estimate stellar
mass functions for different redshift intervals. We find that 50% of the local
stellar mass density was assembled at 0<z<1 (average SFR:0.048 M_sun/yr/Mpc^3),
and at least another 40% at 1<z<4 (average SFR: 0.074 M_sun/yr/Mpc^3). Our
results confirm and quantify the ``downsizing'' scenario of galaxy formation.
The most massive galaxies (M>10^12.0 M_sun) assembled the bulk of their stellar
content rapidly (in 1-2 Gyr) beyond z~3 in very intense star formation events
(producing high specific SFRs). Galaxies with 10^11.5<M/M_sun<10^12.0 assembled
half of their stellar mass before z~1.5, and more than 90% of their mass was
already in place at z~0.6. Galaxies with M<10^11.5 M_sun evolved more slowly
(presenting smaller specific SFRs), assembling half of their stellar mass below
z~1. About 40% of the local stellar mass density of 10^9.0<M/M_sun<10^11.0
galaxies was assembled below z~0.4, most probably through accretion of small
satellites producing little star formation. The cosmic stellar mass density at
z>2.5 is dominated by optically faint (R>25) red galaxies (Distant Red Galaxies
or BzK sources) which account for ~30% of the global population of galaxies,
but contribute at least 60% to the cosmic stellar mass density. Bluer galaxies
(e.g., Lyman Break Galaxies) are more numerous but less massive, contributing
less than 50% to the global stellar mass density at high redshift.Comment: Published in ApJ. 38 pages, 10 figures, 5 tables, 2 appendices. Some
changes to match the final published versio
Topological Floquet Spectrum in Three Dimensions via a Two-Photon Resonance
A recent theoretical work [Nature Phys., 7, 490 (2011)] has demonstrated that
external non-equilibrium perturbations may be used to convert a two-dimensional
semiconductor, initially in a topologically trivial state, into a Floquet
topological insulator. Here, we develop a non-trivial extension of these ideas
to three-dimensional systems. In this case, we show that a two-photon resonance
may provide the necessary twist needed to transform an initially unremarkable
band structure into a topological Floquet spectrum. We provide both an
intuitive, geometrical, picture of this phenomenon and also support it by an
exact solution of a realistic lattice model that upon irradiation features
single topological Dirac modes at the two-dimensional boundary of the system.
It is shown that the surface spectrum can be controlled by choosing the
polarization and frequency of the driving electromagnetic field. Specific
experimental realizations of a three-dimensional Floquet topological insulator
are proposed
- âŠ