0-pi transitions in Josephson junctions with antiferromagnetic interlayers

We show that the dc Josephson current through superconductor-antiferromagnet-superconductor (S/AF/S) junctions manifests a remarkable atomic scale dependence on the interlayer thickness. At low temperatures the junction is either a 0- or pi-junction depending on whether the AF interlayer consists of an even or odd number of atomic layers. This is associated with different symmetries of the AF interlayers in the two cases. In the junction with odd AF interlayers an additional pi-0 transition can take place as a function of temperature. This originates from the interplay of spin-split Andreev bound states. Experimental implications of these theoretical findings are discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

The role of podocytes dysfunction in chronic glomerulonephritis progression

In the review, the mechanisms of podocytes damage underlying the development of proteinuria and progression of glomerulosclerosis in chronic glomerulonephritis are discussed in detail. The results of experimental and clinical studies are presented. Under the different immune and non-immune factors the podocytes form a stereotyped response to damage consisting in the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, foot process effacement, the detachment of podocytes from the glomerular basement membrane, and the appearance of specific podocyte proteins and whole cells (podocyturia) in the urine. Massive podocyturia in a limited proliferative capacity of podocytes leads to reduce their total count in the glomerulus (podocytopenia) and the development of glomerulosclerosis. The authors describe the line of markers of the podocyte injury and invasive and non-invasive methods of their assessment. In addition, the relationship of podocyturia level with proteinuria and renal dysfunction are discussed, the prospects of assessment the podocyte proteins in urine for assessing of glomerular damage severity and glomerulosclerosis risk are examined

Low-energy quasiparticle states at superconductor-CDW interfaces

Quasiparticle bound states are found theoretically on transparent interfaces of d-wave superconductors (dSC) with charge density wave solids (CDW), as well as s-wave superconductors (sSC) with d-density waves (DDW). These bound states represent a combined effect of Andreev reflection from the superconducting side and an unconventional quasiparticle Q-reflection from the density wave solid. If the order parameter for a density wave state is much less than the Fermi energy, bound states with almost zero energy take place for an arbitrary orientation of symmetric interfaces. For larger values of the order parameter, dispersionless zero-energy states are found only on (110) interfaces. Two dispersive energy branches of subgap quasiparticle states are obtained for (100) symmetric interfaces. Andreev low-energy bound states, taking place in junctions with CDW or DDW interlayers, result in anomalous junction properties, in particular, the low-temperature behavior of the Josephson critical current.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure

ОЦЕНКА ВЗАИМОСВЯЗИ МЕЖДУ ОСНОВНЫМИ ХОЗЯЙСТВЕННО ЦЕННЫМИ ПРИЗНАКАМИ РАЗНОВИДНОСТЕЙ САЛАТА ЛАТУКА

Expanding the range of vegetable crops, including green ones, through the introduction of new varieties into production is an important task. The study and evaluation of the original material of the salad, the features of cultivation in different periods, will allow to identify samples of a complex of economically valuable traits for the selection of culture, which is relevant for the creation of varieties in Belarus. Research was carried out on the experimental field of the Department of horticulture of the Belarusian state agricultural Academy in 2013-2015. The article assesses the relationship between the main economically valuable features of varieties of lettuce when grown in the spring (seedling method) and spring and summer sowing in the open ground. In lettuce plants of the headed variety, the sign “the mass of the vegetative part of the plant” strongly depends on the sign “diameter of the head” (r=0.640 - with the seedling method and r=0.809 - with the spring sowing period), “leaf width” (r=0.685 and r=0.790, respectively). A high connection is also established between the signs "leaf length" and "leaf width" (r=0.702 - with the spring sowing period and r=0.749 - with the seedling method). In leaf lettuce plants, a strong correlation was noted between the signs “leaf length” and “plant height” (r=0.706 for summer and r=0.810 for spring planting), diameter of the rosette of leaves (r=0.564 for summer and r=0.810 - at the spring sowing time). The average feedback for leaf lettuce varieties is revealed between the signs “leaf width” and “number of leaves” (r=-0.444 - for spring and r=-0.458 - for summer sowing time). The majority of morphological signs, depending on the time of cultivation, are related to each other by average correlation links (the correlation coefficient ranged from 0.458 to 0.531).Расширение ассортимента овощных культур, в том числе и зеленных, за счет внедрения в производство новых сортов, является важной задачей. Изучение и оценка исходного материала салата, особенностей выращивания в различные сроки, позволит выделить образцы по комплексу хозяйственно ценных признаков для селекции культуры, что является актуальным для создания сортов в Беларуси. Исследования проводили на опытном поле кафедры плодоовощеводства УО «Белорусская государственная сельскохозяйственная академия» в 2013-2015 годах. В статье дана оценка взаимосвязей между основными хозяйственно ценными признаками разновидностей салата-латука при выращивании в весенний (рассадный способ) и весенний и летний посев в открытом грунте. У растений салата кочанной разновидности признак «масса вегетативной части растения» в сильной степени зависит от признака «диаметр кочана» (r=0,640 – при рассадном способе и r=0,809 – при весеннем сроке посева), «ширина листа» (r=0,685 и r= 0,790, соответственно). Высокая связь установлена также между признаками «длина листа» и «ширина листа» (r =0,702 – при весеннем сроке посева и r=0,749 – при рассадном способе). У растений листового салата сильная корреляционная зависимость отмечена между признаками «длина листа» и «высота растения» (r=0,706 – при летнем и r= 0,810 – при весеннем сроке посева), «диаметр розетки листьев» (r=0,564 – при летнем и r=0,810 – при весеннем сроках посева). Средняя обратная связь у сортов салата листового выявлена между признаками «ширина листа» и «количество листьев» (r=-0,444 – при весеннем и r=-0,458 – при летнем сроке посева). Большинство морфологических признаков в зависимости от сроков выращивания связаны друг с другом средними корреляционными связями (коэффициент корреляции составил от 0,458 до 0,531)

Identification of risk zones according to the rate of total mortality and lifestyle factors at the regional level

The aim of the work was to identify the risk zones according to the level of total mortality rates of the population of municipalities of the Irkutsk region and the relationship of the index with lifestyle factors.Цель работы − выявить зоны риска по уровню коэффициентов общей смертности населения муниципальных образований Иркутской области и связь показателя с факторами образа жизни

Nephrological aspects of surgical weight correction in morbid obesity

Obesity, including morbid obesity, is a growing worldwide problem. The adverse effect of obesity on the kidneys is associated with the development of comorbid conditions, such as insulin resistance (IR), metabolic syndrome (MS), diabetes mellitus (DM), arterial hypertension (AH), which are the recognized risk factors of chronic kidney disease (СKD). Obesity also causes direct kidney damage with the development of non-immune focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. The leading pathophysiological mechanisms of kidney damage in obesity are intrarenal hemodynamic disorders with the formation of hyperfiltration and damaging effects of adipokines produced by adipose tissue. Bariatric surgery (BS) has taken a leading position in the treatment of morbid obesity, demonstrating its effectiveness not only in long-term weight loss, but also in the correction of IR, MS, DM, AH. Nephroprotective effect of significant and persistent weight loss is caused by the elimination of hyperfiltration and damaging effect of adipokines. Results of the observational studies of the immediate and long-term effects of BS have demonstrated positive renal outcomes, in particular, the decrease in albuminuria/proteinuria, the improvement or stabilization of glomerular filtration rate, the delay of end-stage renal failure development; surgical correction of body weight in dialysis patients with morbid obesity lets them realize subsequent kidney transplantation. Large, randomized prospective studies with a longer follow-up are needed; analysis of the long-term renal consequences of BS in obesity patients with pre-existing renal impairment, including dialysis patients, is required; stratification of the BS risk of renal complications (acute kidney damage, nephrolithiasis, nephrocalcinosis) and effective strategy for managing these risks need to be developed

Leading Factors of Progression in Patients with Cardiac Amyloidosis

Aim. To describe prognostic meaning of cardiac and other principal clinical manifestations of systemic AL-amyloidosis in their interrelations.Material and methods. It has been made long-time survival analysis of 147 patients with systemic AL-amyloidosis. In the special investigation group (n=58) of AL (n=55) and ATTR (n=3) amyloidotic cardiopathy patients there were evaluated prognostically important structural and functional changes in myocardium with standard and impulse-wave tissue dopplerometric echocardiography in comparison with NTproBNP serum levels.Results. Even though significantly increased nowadays surviving of AL-amylodotic patients (Me=90 months) it has been found that as at previously time orthostatic hypotension and amyloid cardiopathy are being most severe initial syndromes (median 25 months), but after 1 year from diagnosis influence of these syndromes on surviving had decreased and most low surviving was more common in patients with CKD 3-5 (median 28 months). Influence of CKD 3-5 on surviving was associated predominantly with intracardial hemodynamics deterioration. Together with decreased systolic shortening strain rate (48,5%) decreased filtration rate (47,9%) was second of main factors contributing into NTproBNP increasing in effective multiple regression model (R=0,702, F(4,21)=5,095, p=0,005). NTproBNP level in less degree depended on renal clearance.Conclusion. Heart damage is one of the most prognostically unfavorable manifestations of systemic amyloidosis due to a sharp deterioration in the elastic properties of the myocardium, in the process of further development of amyloidosis, the leading factor in progression is the deterioration of the profile of cardiorenal interactions, the marker of which is the level of NTproBNP

Получение и исследование фотокаталитических свойств CeO2-TiO2 композитов для очистки воды от органических загрязнителей

Photocatalytically active CeO2-TiO2 composites have been prepared by the sol-gel method from inorganic precursors with varied СеО2/ТiO2 ratio. Their catalytic activity has been shown to be higher than that for individual СеО2 or TiO2 oxides and can be used for photocatalytic water purification.Фотокаталитически активные нанокомпозиты CeO2-TiO2 изготовлены золь-гель методом из неорганических прекурсоров с различным соотношением СеО2/TiO2. Обладают более высокой каталитической эффективностью, чем индивидуальные оксиды СеО2 или TiO2 и могут быть использованы для фотокаталитической очистки воды. Наиболее каталитически активны композиты с низким содержанием CeO2

Bound states at the interface between antiferromagnets and superconductors

We present a detailed theoretical investigation of interfaces and junctions involving itinerant antiferromagnets. By solving the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations with a tight-binding model on a square lattice, we study both the self-consistent order parameter fields proximate to interfaces between antiferromagnets (AF) and s-wave (sSC) or d-wave (dSC) superconductors, the dispersion of quasiparticle subgap states at interfaces and interlayers, and the local density of states (LDOS) as a function of distance from the interface. In addition, we present the quasiclassical approach to interfaces and junctions involving itinerant antiferromagnets developed in an earlier paper. Analytical results are in excellent agreement with what we obtain numerically. Strong effects of pair breaking in the presence of low-energy interface Andreev states are found in particular for AF/sSC interfaces when interface potentials are not too high. Potential barriers induce additional extrema in the dispersive quasiparticle spectra with corresponding peaks in the LDOS. Discrete quasiparticle dispersive levels in AF - normal metal (N) - AF systems are found to strongly depend on the misorientation angle of the magnetizations in the two antiferromagnets.Comment: 21 pp, 21 postscript figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.