28,015 research outputs found
Probing the Phase Diagram of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+d with Tunneling Spectroscopy
Tunneling measurements are performed on Ca-rich single crystals of
Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+d (Bi2212), with various oxygen doping levels, using a novel
point contact method. At 4.2 K, SIN and SIS tunnel junctions are obtained with
well-defined quasiparticle peaks, robust dip and hump features and in some
cases Josephson currents. The doping dependence of tunneling conductances of
Ca-rich Bi2212 are analyzed and compared to stoichiometric Bi2212. A similar
profile of energy gap vs. doping concentration is found although the Ca-rich
samples have a slighly smaller optimum Tc and therefore smaller gap values for
any doping level. The evolution of tunneling conductance peak height to
background ratios with hole concentration are compared. For a given doping
level, the Ca-rich spectra showed more broadened features compared to the
stoichiometric counterparts, most likely due to increased disorder from the
excess Ca. Comparison of the dip and hump features has provided some potential
insights into their origins.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures; presented at the Applied Superconductivity
Conference (August 4-9, 2002) in Houston, TX; to be published in IEEE Trans.
Appl. Supercon
Single Junction and Intrinsic Josephson Junction Tunneling Spectroscopies of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+d
Tunneling spectroscopy measurements are reported on optimally-doped and
overdoped BiSrCaCuO single crystals. A novel
point contact method is used to obtain superconductor-insulator-normal metal
(SIN) and SIS break junctions as well as intrinsic Josephson junctions (IJJ)
from nanoscale crystals. Three junction types are obtained on the same crystal
to compare the quasiparticle peaks and higher bias dip/hump structures which
have also been found in other surface probes such as scanning tunneling
spectroscopy and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. However, our IJJ
quasiparticle spectra consistently reveal very sharp conductance peaks and no
higher bias dip structures. The IJJ conductance peak voltage divided by the
number of junctions in the stack consistently leads to a significant
underestimate of when compared to the single junction values. The
comparison of the three methods suggests that the markedly different
characteristics of IJJ are a consequence of nonequilibrium effects and are not
intrinsic quasiparticle features.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures; presented at the Applied Superconductivity
Conference (October 3-8, 2004) in Jacksonville, FL; to be published in IEEE
Trans. Appl. Supercon
Fear from the heart: sensitivity to fear stimuli depends on individual heartbeats
Cognitions and emotions can be influenced by bodily physiology. Here, we investigated whether the processing of brief fear stimuli is selectively gated by their timing in relation to individual heartbeats. Emotional and neutral faces were presented to human volunteers at cardiac systole, when ejection of blood from the heart causes arterial baroreceptors to signal centrally the strength and timing of each heartbeat, and at diastole, the period between heartbeats when baroreceptors are quiescent. Participants performed behavioral and neuroimaging tasks to determine whether these interoceptive signals influence the detection of emotional stimuli at the threshold of conscious awareness and alter judgments of emotionality of fearful and neutral faces. Our results show that fearful faces were detected more easily and were rated as more intense at systole than at diastole. Correspondingly, amygdala responses were greater to fearful faces presented at systole relative to diastole. These novel findings highlight a major channel by which short-term interoceptive fluctuations enhance perceptual and evaluative processes specifically related to the processing of fear and threat and counter the view that baroreceptor afferent signaling is always inhibitory to sensory perception
Energy Gap from Tunneling and Metallic Sharvin Contacts onto MgB2: Evidence for a Weakened Surface Layer
Point-contact tunnel junctions using a Au tip on sintered MgB2 pellets reveal
a sharp superconducting energy gap that is confirmed by subsequent metallic
Sharvin contacts made on the same sample. The peak in the tunneling conductance
and the Sharvin contact conductance follow the BCS form, but the gap values of
4.3 meV are less than the weak-coupling BCS value of 5.9 meV for the bulk Tc of
39 K. The low value of Delta compared to the BCS value for the bulk Tc is
possibly due to chemical reactions at the surface.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure
Discovery of a Non-Thermal Galactic Center Filament (G358.85+0.47) Parallel to the Galactic Plane
We report the discovery of a new non-thermal filament, G358.85+0.47, the
``Pelican'', located ~225 pc in projection from SgrA, and oriented parallel to
the Galactic plane. VLA continuum observations at 20 cm reveal that this 7'
(17.5 pc) structure bends at its northern extension and is comprised of
parallel strands, most apparent at its ends. Observations at 6 and 3.6 cm
reveal that the Pelican is a synchrotron-emitting source and is strongly
linearly polarized over much of its extent. The spectral index of the filament
changes from alpha(20/6)=-0.8 to alpha(6/3.6)=-1.5. The rotation measures
exhibit a smooth gradient, with values ranging from -1000 rad/m2 to +500
rad/m2. The intrinsic magnetic field is well-aligned along the length of the
filament. Based on these properties, we classify the Pelican as one of the
non-thermal filaments unique to the Galactic center. Since these filaments
(most of which are oriented perpendicular to the Galactic plane) are believed
to trace the overall magnetic field in the inner Galaxy, the Pelican is the
first detection of a component of this field parallel to the plane. The Pelican
may thus mark a transition region of the magnetic field orientation in the
inner kiloparsec of the Galaxy.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, to appear in ApJ Letters; Figs. 2 & 3 are color
.ps files and best viewed in colo
Hysterectomy, endometrial destruction, and levonorgestrel releasing intrauterine system (Mirena) for heavy menstrual bleeding : systematic review and meta-analysis of data from individual patients
Peer reviewedPublisher PD
SME innovation and learning: the role of networks and crisis events
Purpose:
To contribute to the literature on innovation and entrepreneurial learning by exploring how SMEs learn and innovate, how they use of both formal and informal learning and in particular the role of networks and crisis events within their learning experience.
Design/methodology/approach:
Mixed method study, comprising 13 focus groups, over 1000 questionnaire responses from SME mangers, 13 focus groups and 20 case studies derived from semi-structured interviews.
Findings:
SMEs have a strong commitment to learning, and a shared vision. Much of this learning is informal through network events, mentoring or coaching. SMEs that are innovative are significantly more committed to learning than those which are less innovative, seeing employee learning as an investment. Innovative SMEs are more likely to have a shared vision, be open-minded and to learn from crises, being able to reflect on their experiences.
Implications for research:
There is a need for further process driven qualitative research to understand the interrelationship between, particularly informal, learning, crisis events and SME innovation.
Implications for practice:
SME owners need opportunities and time for reflection as a means of stimulating personal learning – particularly the opportunity to learn from crisis events. Access to mentors (often outside the business) can be important here, as are informal networks.
Originality/value:
This is one of the first mixed method large scale studies to explore the relationship between SME innovation and learning, highlighting the importance of informal learning to innovation and the need for SME leaders to foster this learning as part of a shared organisational vision
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