255 research outputs found
Undecidable properties of self-affine sets and multi-tape automata
We study the decidability of the topological properties of some objects
coming from fractal geometry. We prove that having empty interior is
undecidable for the sets defined by two-dimensional graph-directed iterated
function systems. These results are obtained by studying a particular class of
self-affine sets associated with multi-tape automata. We first establish the
undecidability of some language-theoretical properties of such automata, which
then translate into undecidability results about their associated self-affine
sets.Comment: 10 pages, v2 includes some corrections to match the published versio
Full Counting Statistics of Multiple Andreev Reflections in incoherent diffusive superconducting junctions
We present a theory for the full distribution of current fluctuations in
incoherent diffusive superconducting junctions, subjected to a voltage bias.
This theory of full counting statistics of incoherent multiple Andreev
reflections is valid for arbitrary applied voltage. We present a detailed
discussion of the properties of the first four cumulants as well as the low and
high voltage regimes of the full counting statistics. The work is an extension
of the results of Pilgram and the author, Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 086806 (2005).Comment: Included in special issue Spin Physics of Superconducting
heterostructures of Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processin
Stenting or balloon angioplasty of stenosed autologous saphenous vein grafts in pigs
In a model of early and aggressive vein graft stenosis in pigs, an intervention was performed with a single stent (n = 12 grafts), multiple stents (n = 6), or balloon angioplasty (n = 6), while grafts with mild stenoses were left untreated (n = 8). Four weeks after intervention, angiography showed that grafts with single stents, balloon angioplasty, or untreated grafts had patency rates of 92%, 83%, and 83%, respectively. Grafts receiving multiple stents, however, showed only a 17% patency rate (p < 0.05). Balloon dilatation or placement of a single stent improved the angiographic minimal diameter by 0.6 ± 0.2 and 0.8 ± 0.3 mm, respectively, over the short term, but this gain was lost during the follow-up period. Multiple stents showed a similar gain (0.5 ± 0.2 mm) but more loss occurred during the follow-up period (2.4 ± 0.2 mm). Histology revealed no significant differences between the treatment groups except for the prolonged presence of thrombus remnants in association with the stent wires. In conclusion, single stents and balloon angioplasty show good patency in early saphenous vein graft narrowing but multiple stents show a high occlusion rate
ac Josephson effect in the resonant tunneling through mesoscopic superconducting junctions
We investigate ac Josephson effect in the resonant tunneling through
mesoscopic superconducting junctions. In the presence of microwave irradiation,
we show that the trajectory of multiple Andreev reflections can be closed by
emitting or absorbing photons. Consequently, photon-assisted Andreev states are
formed and play the role of carrying supercurrent. On the Shapiro steps, dc
component appears when the resonant level is near a series of positions with
spacing of half of the microwave frequency. Analytical result is derived in the
limit of infinite superconducting gap, based on which new features of ac
Josephson effect are revealed.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure
Ceramides: A potential therapeutic target in pulmonary emphysema
Background: The aim of this manuscript was to characterize airway ceramide profiles in a rodent model of elastase-induced emphysema and to examine the effect of pharmacological intervention directed towards ceramide metabolism.Methods: Adult mice were anesthetized and treated with an intratracheal instillation of elastase. Lung function was measured, broncho-alveolar lavage fluid collected and histological and morphometrical analysis of lung tissue performed within 3 weeks after elastase injection, with and without sphingomyelinase inhibitors or serine palmitoyltransferase inhibitor. Ceramides in broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were quantified by tandem mass spectrometry.Results: BAL fluid showed a transient increase in total protein and IgM, and activated macrophages and neutrophils. Ceramides were transiently upregulated at day 2 after elastase treatment. Histology showed persistent patchy alveolar destruction at day 2 after elastase installation. Acid and neutral sphingomyelinase inhibitors had no effect on BAL ceramide levels, lung function or histology. Addition of a serine palmitoyltransferase inhibitor ameliorated lung function changes and reduced ceramides in BAL.Conclusions: Ceramides were increased during the acute inflammatory phase of elastase-induced lung injury. Since addition of a serine palmitoyltransferase inhibitor diminished the rise in ceramides and ameliorated lung function, ceramides likely contributed to the early phase of alveolar destruction and are a potential therapeutic target in the elastase model of lung emphysema
Hamiltonian approach to the ac Josephson effect in superconducting-normal hybrid systems
The ac Josephson effect in hybrid systems of a normal mesoscopic conductor
coupled to two superconducting (S) leads is investigated theoretically. A
general formula of the ac components of time-dependent current is derived which
is valid for arbitrary interactions in the normal region. We apply this formula
to analyze a S-normal-S system where the normal region is a noninteracting
single level quantum dot. We report the physical behavior of time-averaged
nonequilibrium distribution of electrons in the quantum dot, the formation of
Andreev bound states, and ac components of the time-dependent current. The
distribution is found to exhibit a population inversion; and all Andreev bound
states between the superconducting gap carry the same amount of
current and in the same flow direction. The ac components of time-dependent
current show strong oscillatory behavior in marked contrast to the subharmonic
gap structure of the average current.Comment: 23 pages, 10 figures, LaTe
Non-Equilibrium Quasiclassical Theory for Josephson Structures
We present a non-equilibrium quasiclassical formalism suitable for studying
linear response ac properties of Josephson junctions. The non-equilibrium
self-consistency equations are satisfied, to very good accuracy, already in
zeroth iteration. We use the formalism to study ac Josephson effect in a
ballistic superconducting point contact. The real and imaginary parts of the ac
linear conductance are calculated both analytically (at low frequencies) and
numerically (at arbitrary frequency). They show strong temperature, frequency,
and phase dependence. Many anomalous properties appear near phi = pi. We
ascribe them to the presence of zero energy bound states.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, Final version to appear in PR
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