Critical currents for vortex defect motion in superconducting arrays

We study numerically the motion of vortices in two-dimensional arrays of resistively shunted Josephson junctions. An extra vortex is created in the ground states by introducing novel boundary conditions and made mobile by applying external currents. We then measure critical currents and the corresponding pinning energy barriers to vortex motion, which in the unfrustrated case agree well with previous theoretical and experimental findings. In the fully frustrated case our results also give good agreement with experimental ones, in sharp contrast with the existing theoretical prediction. A physical explanation is provided in relation with the vortex motion observed in simulations.Comment: To appear in Physical Review

Defect Motion and Lattice Pinning Barrier in Josephson-Junction Ladders

We study motion of domain wall defects in a fully frustrated Josephson-unction ladder system, driven by small applied currents. For small system sizes, the energy barrier E_B to the defect motion is computed analytically via symmetry and topological considerations. More generally, we perform numerical simulations directly on the equations of motion, based on the resistively-shunted junction model, to study the dynamics of defects, varying the system size. Coherent motion of domain walls is observed for large system sizes. In the thermodynamical limit, we find E_B=0.1827 in units of the Josephson coupling energy.Comment: 7 pages, and to apear in Phys. Rev.

Resilient High Catalytic Performance of Platinum Nanocatalysts with Porous Graphene Envelope.

Despite the innumerable developments of nanosized and well dispersed noble metal catalysts, the degradation of metal nanoparticle catalysts has proven to be a significant obstacle for the commercialization of the hydrogen fuel cell. Here, the formation of Pt nanoparticle catalysts with a porous graphene envelope has been achieved using a single step low temperature vaporization process. While these Pt-Gr core-shell nanoparticles possess superior resilience to degradation, it comes at the cost of degraded overall catalyst efficacy. However, it is possible to combat this lower overall performance through inclusion of low concentrations of nitrogen precursor in the initial stage of single-step synthesis, inhibiting the formation of complete graphene shells, as verified by atomic resolution aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy (AC-TEM) imaging. The resultant porous graphene encapsulated Pt catalysts are found to have both the high peak performance of the bare Pt nanoparticle catalysts and the increased resilience of the fully shielded Pt-Gr core-shells, with the optimal N-doped Pt-Gr yielding a peak efficiency of 87% compared to bare Pt, and maintaining 90% of its catalytic activity after extended potential cycling. The nitrogen treated Pt-Gr core-shells thus act as an effective substitute catalyst for conventional bare Pt nanoparticles, maintaining their catalytic performance over prolonged use

Chemosensitization as a Means to Augment Commercial Antifungal Agents

Antimycotic chemosensitization and its mode of action are of growing interest. Currently, use of antifungal agents in agriculture and medicine has a number of obstacles. Foremost of these is development of resistance or cross-resistance to one or more antifungal agents. The generally high expense and negative impact, or side effects, associated with antifungal agents are two further issues of concern. Collectively, these problems are exacerbated by efforts to control resistant strains, which can evolve into a treadmill of higher dosages for longer periods. This cycle in turn, inflates cost of treatment, dramatically. A further problem is stagnation in development of new and effective antifungal agents, especially for treatment of human mycoses. Efforts to overcome some of these issues have involved using combinations of available antimycotics (e.g., combination therapy for invasive mycoses). However, this approach has had inconsistent success and is often associated with a marked increase in negative side effects. Chemosensitization by natural compounds to increase effectiveness of commercial antimycotics is a somewhat new approach to dealing with the aforementioned problems. The potential for safe natural products to improve antifungal activity has been observed for over three decades. Chemosensitizing agents possess antifungal activity, but at insufficient levels to serve as antimycotics, alone. Their main function is to disrupt fungal stress response, destabilize the structural integrity of cellular and vacuolar membranes or stimulate production of reactive oxygen species, augmenting oxidative stress and apoptosis. Use of safe chemosensitizing agents has potential benefit to both agriculture and medicine. When co-applied with a commercial antifungal agent, an additive or synergistic interaction may occur, augmenting antifungal efficacy. This augmentation, in turn, lowers effective dosages, costs, negative side effects and, in some cases, countermands resistance

Agency Costs And Corporate Financial Policies: A Simultaneous Equations Approach

Financial economists have devoted great attention to corporate financial policies, such as the firm’s capital structure. It is also understood that these policies are not determined independently, but jointly with other corporate policies such as dividend policy and ownership structure. The purpose of this paper is to incorporate the pension funding decision into this policy mix. The design and administration of a firm’s pension fund affects the firm because of the size and risks of the pension fund. The degree of funding of a defined benefit plan affects the value and risk of a company’s common shares. This paper simultaneously explains leverage, dividend policy, ownership structure, and pension funding using several independent variables that, based on agency theory, should affect these policies. The results are significant and reinforce the notion of simultaneous determination of corporate policies

Kondo-like behaviors in magnetic and thermal properties of single crystal Tm5Si2Ge2

We grew the single crystal of stoichiometric Tm5Si2.0Ge2.0 using a Bridgeman method and performed XRD, EDS, magnetization, ac and dc magnetic susceptibilities, specific heat, electrical resistivity and XPS experiments. It crystallizes in orthorhombic Sm5Ge4-type structure. The mean valence of Tm ions in Tm5Si2.0Ge2.0 is almost trivalent. The 4f states is split by the crystalline electric field. The ground state exhibits the long range antiferromagnetic order with the ferromagnetically coupled magnetic moments in the ac plane below 8.01 K, while the exited states exhibit the reduction of magnetic moment and magnetic entropy and -log T-behaviors observed in Kondo materials.Comment: 8 pages, 13 figure