Studies on the proximity effect in Bi-based high-temperature superconductor/manganite heterostructures

The effect of proximity of the magnetism of the Pr-based manganite (Pr0.6Sr0.4MnO3) on the superconductivity of Bi-based high-temperature superconductor (Bi1.75Pb0.25Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+d) was studied based on the results obtained from the magnetotransport and magnetization measurements. Decrease in the values of the upper critical field (HC2(0)) and an increase in the width of the superconducting transition (Delta TC) of Bi1.75Pb0.25Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+d were observed in proximity with the manganite. The combined effect of magnetic exchange interaction arising from the manganite, the leakage of Cooper-pairs from the superconductor into the manganite, and the diffusion and transport of spin-polarized electrons from the manganite into the superconductor were found to modify the superconducting properties of Bi1.75Pb0.25Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+d. The stacking sequence of the individual layers in these heterostructures was found to dictate the ground state properties of the heterostructure. As a consequence of the proximity effect, the colossal-magnetoresistance (CMR) ratio as high as ~ 99 % observed in the heterostructure makes the thin film heterostructures promising candidates for potential technological applications.Comment: 29 pages, 14 figure

Evolution of Superconducting Properties of Coexistent Bi-2212 and Bi-2223 phases in BSCCO

391-397The evolution of superconducting properties of BSCCO superconductors, inadvertently hosting the two superconducting phases Bi-2212 and Bi-2223 have been investigated in pristine and Pb doped BSCCO. The superconducting transition temperature TC of Bi-2212 phase monotonically increases with increasing Bi-2223 phase fraction. On the other hand Bi-2223 phase exhibits depression in TC for its lower phase fractions (<24%) but attains its bulk value as Bi-2223 phase fraction is increased to 30%. This behavior has been rationalized by invoking the interplay of proximity effects between the two coexisting phases and establishment of Bi-2223 superconducting percolation path. In addition to aiding the formation of BSCCO with higher Bi-2223 phase fraction, the Pb substitution also leads to an enhancement of critical current density by the creation of pinning centres

High-resolution intravascular magnetic resonance quantification of atherosclerotic plaque at 3T

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The thickness of fibrous caps (FCT) of atherosclerotic lesions is a critical factor affecting plaque vulnerability to rupture. This study tests whether 3 Tesla high-resolution intravascular cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) employing tiny loopless detectors can identify lesions and accurately measure FCT in human arterial specimens, and whether such an approach is feasible <it>in vivo </it>using animal models.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Receive-only 2.2 mm and 0.8 mm diameter intravascular loopless CMR detectors were fabricated for a clinical 3 Tesla MR scanner, and the absolute signal-to-noise ratio determined. The detectors were applied in a two-step protocol comprised of CMR angiography to identify atherosclerotic lesions, followed by high-resolution CMR to characterize FCT, lesion size, and/or vessel wall thickness. The protocol was applied in fresh human iliac and carotid artery specimens in a human-equivalent saline bath. Mean FCT measured by 80 μm intravascular CMR was compared with histology of the same sections. <it>In vivo </it>studies compared aortic wall thickness and plaque size in healthy and hyperlipidemic rabbit models, with post-mortem histology.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Histology confirmed plaques in human specimens, with calcifications appearing as signal voids. Mean FCT agreed with histological measurements within 13% on average (correlation coefficient, <it>R </it>= 0.98; Bland-Altman analysis, -1.3 ± 68.9 μm). <it>In vivo </it>aortic wall and plaque size measured by 80 μm intravascular CMR agreed with histology.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Intravascular 3T CMR with loopless detectors can both locate atherosclerotic lesions, and accurately measure FCT at high-resolution in a strategy that appears feasible <it>in vivo</it>. The approach shows promise for quantifying vulnerable plaque for evaluating experimental therapies.</p

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the USA: a population-based disease burden and cost analysis

Background Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) contribute to disease and dysfunction and incur high associated costs (>1% of the gross domestic product [GDP] in the European Union). Exposure to EDCs varies widely between the USA and Europe because of differences in regulations and, therefore, we aimed to quantify disease burdens and related economic costs to allow comparison. Methods We used existing models for assessing epidemiological and toxicological studies to reach consensus on probabilities of causation for 15 exposure–response relations between substances and disorders. We used Monte Carlo methods to produce realistic probability ranges for costs across the exposure–response relation, taking into account uncertainties. Estimates were made based on population and costs in the USA in 2010. Costs for the European Union were converted to US$(€1=$1·33). Findings The disease costs of EDCs were much higher in the USA than in Europe ($340 billion [2·33$217 billion [1·28%]). The difference was driven mainly by intelligence quotient (IQ) points loss and intellectual disability due to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (11 million IQ points lost and 43 000 cases costing $266 billion in the USA vs 873 000 IQ points lost and 3290 cases costing$12·6 billion in the European Union). Accounting for probability of causation, in the European Union, organophosphate pesticides were the largest contributor to costs associated with EDC exposure ($121 billion), whereas in the USA costs due to pesticides were much lower ($42 billion). Interpretation EDC exposure in the USA contributes to disease and dysfunction, with annual costs taking up more than 2% of the GDP. Differences from the European Union suggest the need for improved screening for chemical disruption to endocrine systems and proactive prevention. Funding Endocrine Society, Ralph S French Charitable Foundation, and Broad Reach Foundation. © 2016 Elsevier Lt

IVUS-based imaging modalities for tissue characterization: similarities and differences

Gray-scale intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is the modality that has been established as the golden standard for in vivo imaging of the vessel wall of the coronary arteries. The use of IVUS in clinical practice is an important diagnostic tool used for quantitative assessment of coronary artery disease. This has made IVUS the de-facto invasive imaging method to evaluate new interventional therapies such as new stent designs and for atherosclerosis progression-regression studies. However, the gray-scale representation of the coronary vessel wall and plaque morphology in combination with the limited resolution of the current IVUS catheters makes it difficult, if not impossible, to identify qualitatively (e.g. visually) the plaque morphology similar as that of histopathology, the golden standard to characterize and quantify coronary plaque tissue components. Meanwhile, this limitation has been partially overcome by new innovative IVUS-based post-processing methods such as: virtual histology IVUS (VH-IVUS, Volcano Therapeutics, Rancho Cordova, CA, USA), iMAP-IVUS (Bostoc Scientific, Santa Clara, CA, USA), Integrated Backscatter IVUS (IB-IVUS) and Automated Differential Echogenicity (ADE)