Quantum Metallicity on the High-Field Side of the Superconductor-Insulator Transition

We investigate ultrathin superconducting TiN films, which are very close to the localization threshold. Perpendicular magnetic field drives the films from the superconducting to an insulating state, with very high resistance. Further increase of the magnetic field leads to an exponential decay of the resistance towards a finite value. In the limit of low temperatures, the saturation value can be very accurately extrapolated to the universal quantum resistance h/e^2. Our analysis suggests that at high magnetic fields a new ground state, distinct from the normal metallic state occurring above the superconducting transition temperature, is formed. A comparison with other studies on different materials indicates that the quantum metallic phase following the magnetic-field-induced insulating phase is a generic property of systems close to the disorder-driven superconductor-insulator transition.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, published versio

Feasibility of mini combined cycles for naval applications

The objective of energy production with low environmental impact will have, in the near future, high potential of development also for naval applications. The containment of pollutant emissions can be achieved by the combined use of an innovative mini gas-steam combined cycle with thermal energy cogeneration to feed the ship thermal utilities, in place of the current Diesel engine application, and liquefied natural gas as fuel (LNG). The present work is focused on the definition of the architecture of the plant, by selecting optimal distribution of pressure and temperature and repartition of power between Gas Turbine (GT), Steam Turbine (ST) and thermal utilities, as well as on the choice and sizing of the individual components. The main purpose is the definition of a compact, high efficiency, system. The proposed basic mini-cycle ranges from 2 MW to 10 MW electric power. Thanks to the combined heat and power cogeneration plant adopted, for an overall electrical efficiency of about 30%, a total return (thermal + electricity) of about 75% can be achieved. An example of plant providing large power, in a partially modular arrangement is also proposed

Bullous lesions at polyethylene glycol interferon-alpha-2a inoculation site in a hepatitis C virus-infected subject.

Sir, The recent introduction of polyethylene glycol interferon (PEG-IFN) for treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has led to reports of both widespread and localized dermatological manifestations as side-effects. Widespread manifestations comprise hair loss, pruritus, generalized eczema, hyperpigmentation tongue, vitiligo and cutaneous sarcoidosis (1–4). Localized manifestations include cutaneous ulcerations and cutaneous local necrosis at the inoculation site, with both non-pegylated IFN (5) and PEG-IFN-α-2b (6, 7). We report here a case of bullous lesion at the inoculation site of PEG-IFN-α-2a in a patient with chronic HCV-correlated hepatopathy

Diffusion and activation of n-type dopants in germanium

The diffusion and activation of $n$-type impurities (P and As) implanted into $p$-type Ge(100) substrates were examined under various dose and annealing conditions. The secondary ion mass spectrometry profiles of chemical concentrations indicated the existence of a sufficiently high number of impurities with increasing implanted doses. However, spreading resistance probe profiles of electrical concentrations showed electrical concentration saturation in spite of increasing doses and indicated poor activation of As relative to P in Ge. The relationships between the chemical and electrical concentrations of P in Ge and Si were calculated, taking into account the effect of incomplete ionization. The results indicated that the activation of P was almost the same in Ge and Si. The activation ratios obtained experimentally were similar to the calculated values, implying insufficient degeneration of Ge. The profiles of P in Ge substrates with and without damage generated by Ge ion implantation were compared, and it was clarified that the damage that may compensate the activated $n$-type dopants has no relationship with the activation of P in Ge.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Formation mechanisms and phase stability of solid-state grown cspbi3 perovskites

CsPbI3 inorganic perovskite is synthesized by a solvent-free, solid-state reaction, and its structural and optical properties can be deeply investigated using a multi-technique approach. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Raman measurements, optical absorption, steady-time and time-resolved luminescence, as well as High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) imaging, were exploited to understand phase evolution as a function of synthesis time length. Nanoparticles with multiple, well-defined crystalline domains of different crystalline phases were observed, usually surrounded by a thin, amorphous/out-of-axis shell. By increasing the synthesis time length, in addition to the pure α phase, which was rapidly converted into the δ phase at room temperature, a secondary phase, Cs4PbI6, was observed, together with the 715 nm-emitting γ phase

Raman spectra and vibrational analysis of CsPbI3: a fast and reliable technique to identify lead halide perovskite polymorphs

A major issue in the development of Lead halide perovskites is the assessment of the crystal structure of the samples, due to their typically limited time-stability, and the understanding of the role of external factors that can induce a crystal phase transformation (such as humidity, intense light flux, temperature, etc.). In this perspective, it is of utmost importance to have at disposal a fast and reliable experimental tool able to give an immediate indication of the polymorph of the sample with the possibility to integrate in-situ measurements for constant monitoring. In this paper we propose Raman spectroscopy as the ideal technique to solve this problem. The vibrational analysis of CsPbI3 in the α-phase and δ-phase and of the Cs4PbI6 secondary phase is reported and all the vibrational modes are assigned by comparing experimental spectra of the phases to Raman modes calculated within the DFT framework. Finally, the mechanism of laser induced phase degradation was studied using in-situ Raman measurements providing new insights on the secondary phase generated during the process

Fibre types in skeletal muscles of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients related to respiratory function and exercise tolerance.

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the relationship between skeletal muscle, fibre type composition, functional respiratory impairment and exercise tolerance in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A group of 22 COPD patients and 10 healthy control subjects were studied. In COPD patients, vital capacity (VC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were reduced to 79% and 51%, respectively. Diffusion indices (transfer factor of the lung for carbon monoxide (TL,CO) and carbon monoxide transfer coefficient (KCO)) were also reduced. Arterial oxygen tension (Pa,O2) was normal or slightly altered. A maximal exercise test was performed and anaerobic threshold was calculated. Muscle samples from vastus lateralis were obtained by needle biopsy. Myosin heavy chain (MHC) and light chain (MLC) isoforms were separated by gel electrophoresis and quantified by densitometry. MHC isoforms were considered as molecular markers of fibre types. The proportion of the fast MHC-2B isoform was increased in COPD patients. TL,CO, KCO, VC and FEV1 were positively correlated with slow MHC isoform content. TL,CO and KCO were also negatively correlated with the content of the fast MHC-2B isoform. No correlation was found between exercise parameters and MHC isoform composition. The co-ordinated expression between MHC and MLC isoforms was altered in COPD patients. We conclude that reduced oxygen availability, probably in combination with muscle disuse, may determine muscle alterations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. The altered correlations between myosin heavy chain and light chain isoforms suggest that co-ordinated protein expression is lost in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease muscles

Soft x-ray spectroscopy experiments on the near K-edge of B in MB2 (M=Mg, Al, Ta, and Nb)

Soft X-ray absorption and emission measurements are performed for the K- edge of B in MB$_2$ (M=Mg, Al, Ta and Nb). Unique feature of MgB$_2$ with a high density of B 2$p_{xy}(\sigma)$-state below and above the Fermi edge, which extends to 1 eV above the edge, is confirmed. In contrast, the B 2$p$ density of states in AlB$_2$ and TaB$_2$, both of occupied and unoccupied states, decreased linearly towards the Fermi energy and showed a dip at the Fermi energy. Furthermore, there is a broadening of the peaks with $p\sigma$-character in XES and XAS of AlB$_2$, which is due to the increase of three dimensionality in the $p\sigma$-band in AlB$_2$. The DOS of NbB$_2$ has a dip just below the Fermi energy. The present results indicate that the large DOS of B-2$p\sigma$ states near the Fermi energy are crucial for the superconductivity of MgB$_2$.Comment: 3 pages text and 4 pages figures. accepted for publication to Phys. Rev.

Haemolymphatic cancer among children in Sardinia, Italy: 1974-2003 incidence

Objectives To explore the time trend and geographical distribution of childhood leukaemia incidence over the territory of the Italian region of Sardinia. Setting All hospitals departments, diagnostic centres and social security agencies in Sardinia were regularly screened in 1974-2003 to identify, register and review the diagnoses of incident cases of haematological malignancies (HM). Participants The whole child population aged 0-14 resident in Sardinia. Primary and secondary outcome measures Incidence and time trend of childhood HM and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) over the study period, and use of Bayesian methods to plot the probability of areas with excess incidence on the regional map. Results Overall, 675 HM cases, including 378 ALL cases, occurred among children aged 0-14 years resident in Sardinia in 1974-2003, with an incidence rate of 6.97×10-5 (95% CI 6.47 to 7.51) and 3.85×10-5 (95% CI 3.48 to 4.26), respectively. Incidence of HM and ALL showed an upward trend along the study period especially among females. Three communes out of the 356 existing in 1974, namely Ittiri, Villa San Pietro and Carbonia, stand out as areas with excess incidence of HM and ALL in particular and another, Carloforte, for ALL only. Conclusions Our results might serve as convincing arguments for extending the coverage of routine cancer registration over the whole Sardinian population, while prompting further research on the genetic and environmental determinants in the areas at risk