Normal zone in YBa2Cu3O6+xYBa_2Cu_3O_{6+x}-coated conductors

We consider the distribution of an electric field in YBCO-coated conductors for a situation in which the DC transport current is forced into the copper stabilizer due to a weak link -- a section of the superconducting film with a critical current less than the transport current. The electric field in the metal substrate is also discussed. The results are compared with recent experiments on normal zone propagation in coated conductors for which the substrate and stabilizer are insulated from each other. The potential difference between the substrate and stabilizer, and the electric field in the substrate outside the normal zone can be accounted for by a large screening length in the substrate, comparable to the length of the sample. During a quench, the electric field inside the interface between YBCO and stabilizer, as well as in the buffer layer, can be several orders of magnitude greater than the longitudinal macroscopic electric field inside the normal zone. We speculate on the possibility of using possible microscopic electric discharges caused by this large ($\sim$kV/cm) electric field as a means to detect a quench.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Fidelity and quantum phase transitions

It is shown that the fidelity, a basic notion of quantum information science, may be used to characterize quantum phase transitions, regardless of what type of internal order is present in quantum many-body states. If the fidelity of two given states vanishes, then there are two cases: (1) they are in the same phase if the distinguishability results from irrelevant local information; or (2) they are in different phases if the distinguishability results from relevant long-distance information. The different effects of irrelevant and relevant information are quantified, which allows us to identify unstable and stable fixed points (in the sense of renormalization group theory). A physical implication of our results is the occurrence of the orthogonality catastrophe near the transition points.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Field-Induced Magnetization Steps in Intermetallic Compounds and Manganese Oxides: The Martensitic Scenario

Field-induced magnetization jumps with similar characteristics are observed at low temperature for the intermetallic germanide Gd5Ge4and the mixed-valent manganite Pr0.6Ca0.4Mn0.96Ga0.04O3. We report that the field location -and even the existence- of these jumps depends critically on the magnetic field sweep rate used to record the data. It is proposed that, for both compounds, the martensitic character of their antiferromagnetic-to-ferromagnetic transitions is at the origin of the magnetization steps.Comment: 4 pages,4 figure

Use of Trusted Software Modules for Emergency-Integrity Display

This report provides summary of the interface, mechanisms and semantics for high integrity display of information in a secure computer system, based on the use of a high assurance separation kernel and trusted software modules in both the application domain and the trusted software domain.Grant number: CNS-0430566 and CNS-0430598.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Cortical topological network changes following optic neuritis

OBJECTIVE: To differentiate between visual cortical network topology changes following optic neuritis (ON) stemming from different inflammatory disease types, we used mathematical graph theory-based tools to analyze functional imaging data. METHODS: Sixty-two patients were recruited into this cross-sectional study, 23 of whom had neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) with ON, 18 with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS)-ON, and 21 with other CIS episodes. Twenty-six healthy controls (HCs) were also recruited. All participants underwent resting-state functional MRI. Visual networks were defined using 50 visual regions of interest. Analysis included graph theory metrics, including degree, density, modularity, and local and global efficiency. RESULTS: Visual network density shows decreased connectivity in all patient groups compared with controls. A higher degree of connections is seen in both ON groups (CIS and NMOSD) compared with the the non-ON group. This pattern is most pronounced in dorsal-lateral regions. Information transfer efficiency and modularity were reduced in both CIS groups, but not in the NMOSD group, compared with the HC group. CONCLUSIONS: Visual network density appears affected by the neurologic deficit sustained (ON), and connectivity changes are more evident in dorsal-lateral regions. Efficiency and modularity appear to be associated with the specific disease type (CIS vs NMOSD). Thus, topological cortical changes in the visual system are associated with the type of neurologic deficit within the limits set on them by the underlying pathophysiology. We suggest that cortical patterns of activity should be considered in the outcome of the patients despite the localized nature of ON

N-Methylimidazole Promotes The Reaction Of Homophthalic Anhydride With Imines

The addition of N-methylimidazole (NMI) to the reaction of homophthalic anhydride with imines such as pyridine-3-carboxaldehyde-N-trifluoroethylimine (9) reduces the amount of elimination byproduct and improves the yield of the formal cycloadduct, tetrahydroisoquinolonic carboxylate 10. Carboxanilides of such compounds are of interest as potential antimalarial agents. A mechanism that rationalizes the role of NMI is proposed, and a gram-scale procedure for the synthesis and resolution of 10 is also described

Statement on imaging and pulmonary hypertension from the Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute (PVRI)

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is highly heterogeneous and despite treatment advances it remains a life-shortening condition. There have been significant advances in imaging technologies, but despite evidence of their potential clinical utility, practice remains variable, dependent in part on imaging availability and expertise. This statement summarizes current and emerging imaging modalities and their potential role in the diagnosis and assessment of suspected PH. It also includes a review of commonly encountered clinical and radiological scenarios, and imaging and modeling-based biomarkers. An expert panel was formed including clinicians, radiologists, imaging scientists, and computational modelers. Section editors generated a series of summary statements based on a review of the literature and professional experience and, following consensus review, a diagnostic algorithm and 55 statements were agreed. The diagnostic algorithm and summary statements emphasize the key role and added value of imaging in the diagnosis and assessment of PH and highlight areas requiring further research

Adaptive partitioning of real-time tasks on multiple processors

This paper presents a new algorithm for scheduling real-time tasks on multiprocessor/multicore systems. This new algorithm is based on combining EDF scheduling with a migration strategy that moves tasks only when needed. It has been evaluated through an extensive set of simulations that showed good performance when compared with global or partitioned EDF: a worst-case utilisation bound similar to partitioned EDF for hard real-time tasks, and a tardiness bound similar to global EDF for soft real-time tasks. Therefore, the proposed scheduler is effective for dealing with both soft and hard real-time workloads

Efficient Generalized Least Squares Method for Mixed Population and Family‐based Samples in Genome‐wide Association Studies

Genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) that draw samples from multiple studies with a mixture of relationship structures are becoming more common. Analytical methods exist for using mixed‐sample data, but few methods have been proposed for the analysis of genotype‐by‐environment (G×E) interactions. Using GWAS data from a study of sarcoidosis susceptibility genes in related and unrelated African Americans, we explored the current analytic options for genotype association testing in studies using both unrelated and family‐based designs. We propose a novel method—generalized least squares (GLX)—to estimate both SNP and G×E interaction effects for categorical environmental covariates and compared this method to generalized estimating equations (GEE), logistic regression, the Cochran–Armitage trend test, and the W QLS and M QLS methods. We used simulation to demonstrate that the GLX method reduces type I error under a variety of pedigree structures. We also demonstrate its superior power to detect SNP effects while offering computational advantages and comparable power to detect G×E interactions versus GEE. Using this method, we found two novel SNPs that demonstrate a significant genome‐wide interaction with insecticide exposure—rs10499003 and rs7745248, located in the intronic and 3' UTR regions of the FUT9 gene on chromosome 6q16.1.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/107571/1/gepi21811.pd