130 research outputs found
Anti-phase Modulation of Electron- and Hole-like States in Vortex Core of Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox Probed by Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy
In the vortex core of slightly overdoped Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox, the electron-like and
hole-like states have been found to exhibit spatial modulations in anti-phase
with each other along the Cu-O bonding direction. Some kind of
one-dimensionality has been observed in the vortex core, and it is more clearly
seen in differential conductance maps at lower biases below +-9 mV
Electron Positron Capture Rates and the Steady State Equilibrium Condition for Electron-Positron Plasma with Nucleons
The reaction rates of the beta processes for all particles at arbitrary
degeneracy are derived, and an {\it analytic} steady state equilibrium
condition which results from the equality of electron and
positron capture rates in the hot electron-positron plasma with nucleons is
also found, if the matter is transparent to neutrinos. This simple analytic
formula is valid only if electrons are nondegenerate or mildly degenerate,
which is generally satisfied in the hot electron-positron plasma. Therefore, it
can be used to efficiently determine the steady state of the hot matter with
plenty of positrons. Based on this analytic condition, given the baryon number
density and the temperature, if the nucleons are nondegenerate, only one
algebraic equation for determining the electron fraction is obtained, which
shows the great advantage of the analytic equilibrium condition.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Exact Solutions for Domain Walls in Coupled Complex Ginzburg - Landau Equations
The complex Ginzburg Landau equation (CGLE) is a ubiquitous model for the
evolution of slowly varying wave packets in nonlinear dissipative media. A
front (shock) is a transient layer between a plane-wave state and a zero
background. We report exact solutions for domain walls, i.e., pairs of fronts
with opposite polarities, in a system of two coupled CGLEs, which describe
transient layers between semi-infinite domains occupied by each component in
the absence of the other one. For this purpose, a modified Hirota bilinear
operator, first proposed by Bekki and Nozaki, is employed. A novel
factorization procedure is applied to reduce the intermediate calculations
considerably. The ensuing system of equations for the amplitudes and
frequencies is solved by means of computer-assisted algebra. Exact solutions
for mutually-locked front pairs of opposite polarities, with one or several
free parameters, are thus generated. The signs of the cubic gain/loss, linear
amplification/attenuation, and velocity of the coupled-front complex can be
adjusted in a variety of configurations. Numerical simulations are performed to
study the stability properties of such fronts.Comment: Journal of the Physical Society of Japan, in pres
Stability of Breakwater Armor Units against Tsunami Attacks
The design of breakwater armour units against tsunami attacks has received little attention in the past because of the comparative low frequency of these events and the rarity of structures designed specifically to withstand them. However, field surveys of recent events, such as the 2011 Great Eastern Japan Earthquake Tsunami and the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, have shown flaws in the design of protection structures. During these extreme events, many breakwaters suffered partial or catastrophic damage. Although it is to be expected that most normal structures fail due to such high order events, practicing engineers need to possess tools to design certain important breakwaters that should not fail even during level 2 events. Research into the design of critical structures that only partially fail (i.e., “resilient” or “tenacious” structures) during a very extreme level 2 tsunami event should be prioritized in the future, and in this sense the present paper proposes a formula that allows the estimation of armour unit damage depending on the tsunami wave height
Scanning tunneling spectroscopy of high-temperature superconductors
Tunneling spectroscopy played a central role in the experimental verification
of the microscopic theory of superconductivity in the classical
superconductors. Initial attempts to apply the same approach to
high-temperature superconductors were hampered by various problems related to
the complexity of these materials. The use of scanning tunneling
microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) on these compounds allowed to overcome the
main difficulties. This success motivated a rapidly growing scientific
community to apply this technique to high-temperature superconductors. This
paper reviews the experimental highlights obtained over the last decade. We
first recall the crucial efforts to gain control over the technique and to
obtain reproducible results. We then discuss how the STM/STS technique has
contributed to the study of some of the most unusual and remarkable properties
of high-temperature superconductors: the unusual large gap values and the
absence of scaling with the critical temperature; the pseudogap and its
relation to superconductivity; the unprecedented small size of the vortex cores
and its influence on vortex matter; the unexpected electronic properties of the
vortex cores; the combination of atomic resolution and spectroscopy leading to
the observation of periodic local density of states modulations in the
superconducting and pseudogap states, and in the vortex cores.Comment: To appear in RMP; 65 pages, 62 figure
Aqueous extracts from dietary supplements influence the production of inflammatory cytokines in immortalized and primary T lymphocytes
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Congaplex<sup>® </sup>and Immuplex<sup>® </sup>are dietary supplements that have been traditionally used to support immune system function. The purpose of these experiments was to determine whether Congaplex<sup>® </sup>and Immuplex<sup>® </sup>affect immune function using primary and immortalized T lymphocytes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Immortalized CEM and Jurkat T lymphocytes and primary peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMCs) were treated with the aqueous extracts from Congaplex<sup>® </sup>and Immuplex<sup>® </sup>to determine the effects of these products on cytokine production in activated T lymphocytes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Congaplex<sup>® </sup>enhanced phytohemagglutinin/phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PHA/PMA) stimulation of both CEM and Jurkat cells as measured by the production of cytokines, while Immuplex<sup>® </sup>suppressed PHA/PMA-induced production of cytokines, with the exception of interleukin (IL)-8 which was enhanced by Immuplex<sup>®</sup>. <it>In vitro </it>treatment of PBMCs from 10 healthy donors with Congaplex<sup>® </sup>or Immuplex<sup>® </sup>decreased PHA-stimulated production of interferon (IFN)-γ but increased the production of IL-13.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>While the effects of Congaplex<sup>® </sup>and Immuplex<sup>® </sup>differed in these two models, these data demonstrate that the aqueous extracts from these two dietary supplements can affect the inflammatory response of T lymphocytes.</p
Ageing exacerbates damage of systemic and salivary neutrophils from patients presenting Candida-related denture stomatitis
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ageing leads to a decline in the function of the immune system, increasing the body's susceptibility to infections through the impairment of T-cells, macrophages, neutrophils and dendritic cells Denture stomatitis is a primary oral disease affecting elderly denture wearers. The major etiologic factor involved in this pathology is the infection by <it>Candida albicans</it>, an opportunistic pathogen that causes local and disseminated diseases in immunosuppressed humans. Neutrophils play a critical role in the immune response against <it>C. albicans </it>and are continually present in the salivary fluid and in the blood. The aim of this study was to determine ageing-related changes in salivary and blood neutrophils and their potential implications in <it>Candida</it>-related denture stomatitis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our results showed a lower number of neutrophils in the saliva from patients presenting <it>Candida</it>-related denture stomatitis in comparison to their matched controls. Furthermore, fewer neutrophils were isolated from the saliva of aged control individuals in comparison to matched younger subjects. CXCR1, CD62L and CD11b expression were significantly greater on systemic neutrophils from younger control individuals. Elderly individuals showed more apoptotic salivary neutrophils and lower GM-CSF levels than younger ones, regardless of the occurrence of <it>Candida </it>infection. On the other hand, CXCL-8 concentrations were higher in the saliva from elderly individuals. Besides, TNF-α was detected at elevated levels in the saliva from infected elderly subjects. Salivary neutrophils from elderly and young patients presented impaired phagocytic activity against <it>C. albicans</it>. However, just systemic neutrophils from elderly showed decreased phagocytosis when compared to the younger ones, regardless of the occurrence of infection. In addition, neutrophils from aged individuals and young patients presented low fungicidal activity.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The data suggests that the <it>Candida </it>related-denture stomatitis is associated to neutrophils function deficiency, and ageing drastically appears to alter important characteristics of such cells, facilitating the establishment of this infection.</p
Failure Mechanisms and Local Scour at Coastal Structures induced by Tsunamis
On March 11 2011, an exceptionally large tsunami event was triggered by a massive earthquake offshore, the northeast coast of Japan, which affected coastal infrastructure such as seawalls, coastal dikes and breakwaters in the Tohoku region. Such infrastructure was built to protect against the Level 1 tsunamis that previously hit the region, but not for events as significant as the 2011 Tohoku tsunami, which was categorized as a Level 2 tsunami [Shibayama et al. 2013]. The failure mechanisms of concrete-armoured dikes, breakwaters and seawalls due to Level 2 tsunamis are still not fully understood by researchers and engineers. This paper investigates the failure modes and mechanisms of damaged coastal structures in Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures, following the authors' post-disaster field surveys carried out between 2011 and 2013. Six significant failure mechanisms were identified for the coastal dikes and seawalls affected by this tsunami: 1) Leeward toe scour failure, 2) Crown armour failure, 3) Leeward slope armour failure, 4) Seaward toe and armour failure, 5) Overturning failure, and 6) Parapet wall failure, in which leeward toe scour being recognized as the major failure mechanism in most surveyed locations. The authors also propose a simple practical mathematical model for predicting the scour depth at the leeward toe of the coastal dikes, by considering the effects of the tsunami hydrodynamics, the soil properties and the type of structure. The key advantage of this model is that it depends entirely on quantities that are measurable in the field. Furthermore this model was further refined by conducting a series of hydraulic model experiments aimed to understand the governing factors of the leeward toe scour failure. Finally, based on the results obtained, key recommendations are given for the design of resilient coastal defence structures that can survive a level 2 tsunami event
Real-Space Renormalization Group Approach to Critical Dynamics: -- Migdal Approximation and Other New Methods --
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