1,444 research outputs found
Point-contact spectroscopy in heavy-fermion superconductors
We develop a minimal model to calculate point-contact spectra between a
metallic tip and a superconducting heavy-fermion system. We apply our tunneling
model to the heavy fermion CeCoIn5, both in the normal and superconducting
state. In point-contact and scanning tunneling spectroscopy many heavy-fermion
materials, like CeCoIn5, exhibit an asymmetric differential conductance, dI/dV,
combined with a strongly suppressed Andreev reflection signal in the
superconducting state. We argue that both features may be explained in terms of
a multichannel tunneling model in the presence of localized states near the
interface. We find that it is not sufficient to tunnel into two itinerant bands
of light and heavy electrons to explain the Fano line shape of the differential
conductance. Localized states in the bulk or near the interface are an
essential component for quantum interference to occur when an electron tunnels
from the metallic tip of the point contact into the heavy-fermion system.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures. Accepted for publication in Physical Review
Point-contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy of heavy-fermion-metal/superconductor junctions
Our previous point-contact Andreev reflection studies of the heavy-fermion
superconductor CeCoIn using Au tips have shown two clear features: reduced
Andreev signal and asymmetric background conductance [1]. To explore their
physical origins, we have extended our measurements to point-contact junctions
between single crystalline heavy-fermion metals and superconducting Nb tips.
Differential conductance spectra are taken on junctions with three
heavy-fermion metals, CeCoIn, CeRhIn, and YbAl, each with different
electron mass. In contrast with Au/CeCoIn junctions, Andreev signal is not
reduced and no dependence on effective mass is observed. A possible explanation
based on a two-fluid picture for heavy fermions is proposed. [1] W. K. Park et
al., Phys. Rev. B 72 052509 (2005); W. K. Park et al., Proc. SPIE-Int. Soc.
Opt. Eng. 5932 59321Q (2005); W. K. Park et al., Physica C (in press)
(cond-mat/0606535).Comment: 2 pages, 2 figures, submitted to the SCES conference, Houston, Texas,
USA, May 13-18, 200
Hall conductance of a pinned vortex lattice in a high magnetic field
We calculate the quasiparticle contribution to the zero temperature Hall
conductance of two-dimensional extreme type-II superconductors in a high
magnetic field, using the Landau basis. As one enters the superconducting phase
the Hall conductance is renormalized to smaller values, with respect to the
normal state result, until a quantum level-crossing transition is reached. At
high values of the order parameter, where the quasiparticles are bound to the
vortex cores, the Hall conductance is expected to tend to zero due to a theorem
of Thouless.Comment: To appear in Journ. Phys. : Cond. Matte
Non-verbal sound processing in the primary progressive aphasias
Little is known about the processing of non-verbal sounds in the primary progressive aphasias. Here, we investigated the processing of complex non-verbal sounds in detail, in a consecutive series of 20 patients with primary progressive aphasia [12 with progressive non-fluent aphasia; eight with semantic dementia]. We designed a novel experimental neuropsychological battery to probe complex sound processing at early perceptual, apperceptive and semantic levels, using within-modality response procedures that minimized other cognitive demands and matching tests in the visual modality. Patients with primary progressive aphasia had deficits of non-verbal sound analysis compared with healthy age-matched individuals. Deficits of auditory early perceptual analysis were more common in progressive non-fluent aphasia, deficits of apperceptive processing occurred in both progressive non-fluent aphasia and semantic dementia, and deficits of semantic processing also occurred in both syndromes, but were relatively modality specific in progressive non-fluent aphasia and part of a more severe generic semantic deficit in semantic dementia. Patients with progressive non-fluent aphasia were more likely to show severe auditory than visual deficits as compared to patients with semantic dementia. These findings argue for the existence of core disorders of complex non-verbal sound perception and recognition in primary progressive aphasia and specific disorders at perceptual and semantic levels of cortical auditory processing in progressive non-fluent aphasia and semantic dementia, respectively
Differential contractile response of critically ill patients to neuromuscular electrical stimulation
BACKGROUND:
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been investigated as a preventative measure for intensive care unit-acquired weakness. Trial results remain contradictory and therefore inconclusive. As it has been shown that NMES does not necessarily lead to a contractile response, our aim was to characterise the response of critically ill patients to NMES and investigate potential outcome benefits of an adequate contractile response.
METHODS:
This is a sub-analysis of a randomised controlled trial investigating early muscle activating measures together with protocol-based physiotherapy in patients with a SOFA score ≥ 9 within the first 72 h after admission. Included patients received protocol-based physiotherapy twice daily for 20 min and NMES once daily for 20 min, bilaterally on eight muscle groups. Electrical current was increased up to 70 mA or until a contraction was detected visually or on palpation. Muscle strength was measured by a blinded assessor at the first adequate awakening and ICU discharge.
RESULTS:
One thousand eight hundred twenty-four neuromuscular electrical stimulations in 21 patients starting on day 3.0 (2.0/6.0) after ICU admission were included in this sub-analysis. Contractile response decreased from 64.4% on day 1 to 25.0% on day 7 with a significantly lower response rate in the lower extremities and proximal muscle groups. The electrical current required to elicit a contraction did not change over time (day 1, 50.2 [31.3/58.8] mA; day 7, 45.3 [38.0/57.5] mA). The electrical current necessary for a contractile response was higher in the lower extremities. At the first awakening, patients presented with significant weakness (3.2 [2.5/3.8] MRC score). When dividing the cohort into responders and non-responders (> 50% vs. ≤ 50% contractile response), we observed a significantly higher SOFA score in non-responders. The electrical current necessary for a muscle contraction in responders was significantly lower (38.0 [32.8/42.9] vs. 54.7 [51.3/56.0] mA, p < 0.001). Muscle strength showed higher values in the upper extremities of responders at ICU discharge (4.4 [4.1/4.6] vs. 3.3 [2.8/3.8] MRC score, p = 0.036).
CONCLUSION:
Patients show a differential contractile response to NMES, which appears to be dependent on the severity of illness and also relevant for potential outcome benefits.
TRIAL REGISTRATION:
ISRCTN ISRCTN19392591 , registered 17 February 201
Climate-driven changes in chemical weathering and associated phosphorus release since 1850: Implications for the land carbon balance
Chemical weathering and associated nutrient release act as a control on atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration. To globally quantify the contribution of chemical weathering and associated phosphorus (P) release on the historical trend in terrestrial carbon uptake, we applied a weathering model under climate reconstructions from four Earth System Models. In these simulations, CO2 consumption and P release increased from 1850 to 2005 by 11 ± 3% and 12 ± 4%, respectively. Thereby the intensification of weathering due to climate change could have contributed to a small extent to the trend in terrestrial carbon uptake since the pre–Industrial Period. Using a back of the envelope calculation, we found a feedback strength of CO2 consumption and P release of −0.02 ± 0.01Wm−2K−1 and −0.02 ± 0.01Wm−2K−1, respectively. Although being one magnitude smaller than the carbon cycle feedback, the weathering feedbacks are comparable in strength to small second-order feedbacks such as methane, fire, or ozone
Spectroscopic Evidence for Multiple Order Parameter Components in the Heavy Fermion Superconductor CeCoIn_5
Point-contact spectroscopy was performed on single crystals of the
heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn_5 between 150 mK and 2.5 K. A pulsed
measurement technique ensured minimal Joule heating over a wide voltage range.
The spectra show Andreev-reflection characteristics with multiple structures
which depend on junction impedance. Spectral analysis using the generalized
Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk formalism for d-wave pairing revealed two coexisting
order parameter components, with amplitudes Delta_1 = 0.95 +/- 0.15 meV and
Delta_2 = 2.4 +/- 0.3 meV, which evolve differently with temperature. Our
observations indicate a highly unconventional pairing mechanism, possibly
involving multiple bands.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
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