55 research outputs found
Evidence for core-hole-mediated inelastic x-ray scattering from metallic FeTe
We present a detailed analysis of resonant inelastic scattering (RIXS) from
FeTe with unprecedented energy resolution. In contrast to the sharp
peaks typically seen in insulating systems at the transition metal edge,
we observe spectra which show different characteristic features. For low energy
transfer, we experimentally observe theoretically predicted many-body effects
of resonant Raman scattering from a non-interacting gas of fermions.
Furthermore, we find that limitations to this many-body electron-only theory
are realized at high Raman shift, where an exponential lineshape reveals an
energy scale not present in these considerations. This regime, identified as
emission, requires considerations of lattice degrees of freedom to understand
the lineshape. We argue that both observations are intrinsic general features
of many-body physics of metals.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Temperature and time scaling of the peak-effect vortex configuration in FeTeSe
An extensive study of the magnetic properties of FeTeSe
crystals in the superconducting state is presented. We show that weak
collective pinning, originating from spatial variations of the charge carrier
mean free path ( pinning), rules in this superconductor. Our results
are compatible with the nanoscale phase separation observed on this compound
and indicate that in spite of the chemical inhomogeneity spatial fluctuations
of the critical temperature are not important for pinning. A power law
dependence of the magnetization vs time, generally interpreted as signature of
single vortex creep regime, is observed in magnetic fields up to . For
magnetic fields applied along the c axis of the crystal the magnetization
curves exhibit a clear peak effect whose position shifts when varying the
temperature, following the same dependence as observed in
YBaCuO. The time and temperature dependence of the peak
position has been investigated. We observe that the occurrence of the peak at a
given magnetic field determines a specific vortex configuration that is
independent on the temperature. This result indicates that the influence of the
temperature on the vortex-vortex and vortex-defect interactions leading to the
peak effect in FeTeSe is negligible in the explored range of
temperatures.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Optical properties of BaFeCoAs
We present detailed temperature dependent optical data on
BaFeCoAs (BCFA), with x = 0.14, between 4 meV and 6.5 eV.
We analyze our spectra to determine the main optical parameters and show that
in this material the interband conductivity already starts around 10 meV. We
determine the superfluid density to be 2.2 10^{7}\Delta_{1}\pm\Delta_{2}\pm$ 2 meV.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Physical properties of thermoelectric zinc antimonide using first-principles calculations
We report first principles calculations of the structural, electronic,
elastic and vibrational properties of the semiconducting orthorhombic ZnSb
compound. We study also the intrinsic point defects in order to eventually
improve the thermoelectric properties of this already very promising
thermoelectric material. Concerning the electronic properties, in addition to
the band structure, we show that the Zn (Sb) crystallographically equivalent
atoms are not exactly equivalent from the electronic point of view. Lattice
dynamics, elastic and thermodynamic properties are found to be in good
agreement with experiments and they confirm the non equivalency of the zinc and
antimony atoms from the vibrational point of view. The calculated elastic
properties show a relatively weak anisotropy and the hardest direction is the y
direction. We observe the presence of low energy modes involving both Zn and Sb
atoms at about 5-6 meV, similarly to what has been found in Zn4Sb3 and we
suggest that the interactions of these modes with acoustic phonons could
explain the relatively low thermal conductivity of ZnSb. Zinc vacancies are the
most stable defects and this explains the intrinsic p-type conductivity of
ZnSb.Comment: 33 pages, 8 figure
A common polymorphism in NR1H2 (LXRbeta) is associated with preeclampsia
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Preeclampsia is a frequent complication of pregnancy and a leading cause of perinatal mortality. Both genetic and environmental risk factors have been identified. Lipid metabolism, particularly cholesterol metabolism, is associated with this disease. Liver X receptors alpha (NR1H3, also known as LXRalpha) and beta (NR1H2, also known as LXRbeta) play a key role in lipid metabolism. They belong to the nuclear receptor superfamily and are activated by cholesterol derivatives. They have been implicated in preeclampsia because they modulate trophoblast invasion and regulate the expression of the endoglin (CD105) gene, a marker of preeclampsia. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between the <it>NR1H3 </it>and <it>NR1H2 </it>genes and preeclampsia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We assessed associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms of <it>NR1H3 </it>(rs2279238 and rs7120118) and <it>NR1H2 </it>(rs35463555 and rs2695121) and the disease in 155 individuals with preeclampsia and 305 controls. Genotypes were determined by high-resolution melting analysis. We then used a logistic regression model to analyze the different alleles and genotypes for those polymorphisms as a function of case/control status.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found no association between <it>NR1H3 </it>SNPs and the disease, but the <it>NR1H2 </it>polymorphism rs2695121 was found to be strongly associated with preeclampsia (genotype C/C: adjusted odds ratio, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.04-4.05; <it>p </it>= 0.039 and genotype T/C: adjusted odds ratio, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.01-3.42; <it>p </it>= 0.049).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study provides the first evidence of an association between the <it>NR1H2 </it>gene and preeclampsia, adding to our understanding of the links between cholesterol metabolism and this disease.</p
Skutterudites, a thermoelectric material investigated by high field Mössbauer spectroscopy
The response of tropical rainforests to drought : lessons from recent research and future prospects
Key message: we review the recent findings on the influence of drought on tree mortality, growth or ecosystem functioning in tropical rainforests. Drought plays a major role in shaping tropical rainforests and the response mechanisms are highly diverse and complex. The numerous gaps identified here require the international scientific community to combine efforts in order to conduct comprehensive studies in tropical rainforests on the three continents. These results are essential to simulate the future of these ecosystems under diverse climate scenarios and to predict the future of the global earth carbon balance. - Context: tropical rainforest ecosystems are characterized by high annual rainfall. Nevertheless, rainfall regularly fluctuates during the year and seasonal soil droughts do occur. Over the past decades, a number of extreme droughts have hit tropical rainforests, not only in Amazonia but also in Asia and Africa. The influence of drought events on tree mortality and growth or on ecosystem functioning (carbon and water fluxes) in tropical rainforest ecosystems has been studied intensively, but the response mechanisms are complex.- Aims: herein, we review the recent findings related to the response of tropical forest ecosystems to seasonal and extreme droughts and the current knowledge about the future of these ecosystems. - Results: this review emphasizes the progress made over recent years and the importance of the studies conducted under extreme drought conditions or in through-fall exclusion experiments in understanding the response of these ecosystems. It also points to the great diversity and complexity of the response of tropical rainforest ecosystems to drought. - Conclusion: the numerous gaps identified here require the international scientific community to combine efforts in order to conduct comprehensive studies in tropical forest regions. These results are essential to simulate the future of these ecosystems under diverse climate scenarios and to predict the future of the global earth carbon balance
Influence of Cr 3+ doping on the enhanced dielectric and nonlinear optical features of pyroelectric Pb 5 Ge 3 O 11 single crystals
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