337 research outputs found
Small-q phonon-mediated superconductivity in organic \kappa-BEDT-TTF compounds
We propose a mew picture for superconductivity in
salts arguing that small-{\bf q} electron-phonon scattering dominates the
pairing. We reproduce the distinct X-shaped d-wave gap reported recently by
magnetooptic measurements and we argue that the softness of the momentum
structure of the gap and the near degeneracy of s- and d-wave gap states may be
at the origin of the experimental controversy about the gap symmetry. We show
that a magnetic field applied parallel to the planes may induce extended
gapless-regions on the FS accounting for the experimental signatures of a
Fulde-Ferrel-Larkin-Ovchinikov state and it may induce gap symmetry transitions
as well.Comment: 4 pages and 7 figure
Maternal and Paternal Risk Factors for Cryptorchidism and Hypospadias: A Case–Control Study in Newborn Boys
Little is known on environmental risk factors for cryptorchidism and hypospadias, which are among the most frequent congenital abnormalities. The aim of our study was to identify risk factors for cryptorchidism and hypospadias, with a focus on potential endocrine disruptors in parental diet and occupation. In a case–control study nested within a cohort of 8,698 male births, we compared 78 cryptorchidism cases and 56 hypospadias cases with 313 controls. The participation rate was 85% for cases and 68% for controls. Through interviews, information was collected on pregnancy aspects and personal characteristics, lifestyle, occupation, and dietary phytoestrogen intake of both parents. Occupational exposure to potential endocrine disruptors was classified based on self-reported exposure and ratings of occupational hygienists based on job descriptions. Our findings indicate that paternal pesticide exposure was associated with cryptorchidism [odds ratio (OR) = 3.8; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.1–13.4]. Smoking of the father was associated with hypospadias (OR = 3.8; 95% CI, 1.8–8.2). Maternal occupational, dietary, and lifestyle exposures were not associated with either abnormality. Both abnormalities were associated with suboptimal maternal health, a lower maternal education, and a Turkish origin of the parents. Being small for gestational age was a risk factor for hypospadias, and preterm birth was a risk factor for cryptorchidism. Because paternal pesticide exposure was significantly associated with cryptorchidism and paternal smoking was associated with hypospadias in male offspring, paternal exposure should be included in further studies on cryptorchidism and hypospadias risk factors
Comparison of the Fermi-surface topologies of kappa-(BEDT-TTF)_2 Cu(NCS)_2 and its deuterated analogue
We have measured details of the quasi one-dimensional Fermi-surface sections
in the organic superconductor kappa-(BEDT-TTF)_2 Cu(NCS)_2 and its deuterated
analogue using angle-dependent millimetre-wave techniques. There are
significant differences in the corrugations of the Fermi surfaces in the
deuterated and undeuterated salts. We suggest that this is important in
understanding the inverse isotope effect, where the superconducting transition
temperature rises on deuteration. The data support models for superconductivity
which invoke electron-electron interactions depending on the topological
properties of the Fermi surface
A statistical model for the intrinsically broad superconducting to normal transition in quasi-two-dimensional crystalline organic metals
Although quasi-two-dimensional organic superconductors such as
-(BEDT-TTF)Cu(NCS) seem to be very clean systems, with apparent
quasiparticle mean-free paths of several thousand \AA, the superconducting
transition is intrinsically broad (e.g K wide for K).
We propose that this is due to the extreme anisotropy of these materials, which
greatly exacerbates the statistical effects of spatial variations in the
potential experienced by the quasiparticles. Using a statistical model, we are
able to account for the experimental observations. A parameter , which
characterises the spatial potential variations, may be derived from
Shubnikov-de Haas oscillation experiments. Using this value, we are able to
predict a transition width which is in good agreement with that observed in MHz
penetration-depth measurements on the same sample.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, submitted to J. Phys. Condens. Matte
Thermal activation between Landau levels in the organic superconductor -(BEDT-TTF)SFCHCFSO
We show that Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations in the interlayer resistivity of
the organic superconductor -(BEDT-TTF)SF
CHCFSO become very pronounced in magnetic fields ~60~T.
The conductivity minima exhibit thermally-activated behaviour that can be
explained simply by the presence of a Landau gap, with the
quasi-one-dimensional Fermi surface sheets contributing negligibly to the
conductivity. This observation, together with complete suppression of chemical
potential oscillations, is consistent with an incommensurate nesting
instability of the quasi-one-dimensional sheets.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
Cyclotron resonance in the layered perovskite superconductor Sr2RuO4
We report a detailed study of the magnetic-field-orientation dependence of
the millimetre-wave magnetoconductivity of the superconductor Sr2RuO4 We find
two harmonic series of cyclotron resonances. We assign the first, corresponding
to a quasiparticle mass of , where is the
free-electron mass, to the Fermi-surface section. We assign the second
series, which contains only odd harmonics, to cyclotron resonance of the
Fermi-surface section, yielding a quasiparticle mass of . A third, single cyclotron resonance, corresponding to a
quasiparticle mass of , is attributed to the
Fermi-surface section. In addition, we find a very strong absorption mode in
the presence of a magnetic field component parallel to the
quasi-two-dimensional planes of the sample. Its dependence on the orientation
of the magnetic field cannot be described in the context of conventional
cyclotron resonance, and the origin of this mode is not yet clear.Comment: Submitted to J. Phys. Cond. Ma
Anomalous behaviour of the in-plane electrical conductivity of the layered superconductor -(BEDT-TTF)Cu(NCS)
The quasiparticle scattering rates in high-quality crystals of the
quasi-two-dimensional superconductor -(BEDT-TTF)Cu(NCS) ~are
studied using the Shubnikov-de Haas effect and MHz penetration-depth
experiments. There is strong evidence that the broadening of the Landau-levels
is primarily caused by spatial inhomogeneities, indicating a quasiparticle
lifetime for the Landau states ps. In contrast to the predictions of
Fermi-liquid theory, the scattering time derived from the intralayer
conductivity is found to be much shorter ( ps)
5 Introducing Wiradjuri language in Parkes
OBJECTIVE: Iodine deficiency during pregnancy results in thyroid dysfunction and has been associated with adverse obstetric and foetal effects, leading to worldwide salt iodization programmes. As nowadays 69% of the world's population lives in iodine-sufficient regions, we investigated the effects of variation in iodine status on maternal and foetal thyroid (dys)function in an iodine-sufficient population. DESIGN, PARTICIPANTS AND MEASUREMENTS: Urinary iodine, serum TSH, free T4 (FT4) and TPO-antibody levels were determined in early pregnancy (13.3 (1.9) week; mean (SD)) in 1098 women from the population-based Generation R Study. Newborn cord serum TSH and FT4 levels were determined at birth. RESULTS: The median urinary iodine level was 222.5 mug/l, indicating an iodine-sufficient population. 30.8% and 11.5% had urinary iodine levels 500 mug/l, respectively. When comparing mothers with urinary iodine levels /=150 mug/l, and >500 vs 500 mug/l had a higher risk of a newborn with decreased cord TSH levels (5.6 +/- 1.4 (mean +/- SE) vs 2.1 +/- 0.5%, P = 0.04), as well as a higher risk of a hyperthyroid newborn (3.1 +/- 0.9 vs 0.6 +/- 0.3%, P = 0.02). These mothers had newborns with higher cord FT4 levels (21.7 +/- 0.3 vs 21.0 +/- 0.1 pm, P = 0.04). Maternal urinary iodine levels <150 mug/l were not associated with newborn thyroid dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: In an iodine-sufficient population, higher maternal urinary iodine levels are associated with an increased risk of a hyperthyroid newborn
The Dependence of the Superconducting Transition Temperature of Organic Molecular Crystals on Intrinsically Non-Magnetic Disorder: a Signature of either Unconventional Superconductivity or Novel Local Magnetic Moment Formation
We give a theoretical analysis of published experimental studies of the
effects of impurities and disorder on the superconducting transition
temperature, T_c, of the organic molecular crystals kappa-ET_2X and beta-ET_2X
(where ET is bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene and X is an anion eg I_3).
The Abrikosov-Gorkov (AG) formula describes the suppression of T_c both by
magnetic impurities in singlet superconductors, including s-wave
superconductors and by non-magnetic impurities in a non-s-wave superconductor.
We show that various sources of disorder lead to the suppression of T_c as
described by the AG formula. This is confirmed by the excellent fit to the
data, the fact that these materials are in the clean limit and the excellent
agreement between the value of the interlayer hopping integral, t_perp,
calculated from this fit and the value of t_perp found from angular-dependant
magnetoresistance and quantum oscillation experiments. If the disorder is, as
seems most likely, non-magnetic then the pairing state cannot be s-wave. We
show that the cooling rate dependence of the magnetisation is inconsistent with
paramagnetic impurities. Triplet pairing is ruled out by several experiments.
If the disorder is non-magnetic then this implies that l>=2, in which case
Occam's razor suggests that d-wave pairing is realised. Given the proximity of
these materials to an antiferromagnetic Mott transition, it is possible that
the disorder leads to the formation of local magnetic moments via some novel
mechanism. Thus we conclude that either kappa-ET_2X and beta-ET_2X are d-wave
superconductors or else they display a novel mechanism for the formation of
localised moments. We suggest systematic experiments to differentiate between
these scenarios.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figure
An aCGH classifier derived from BRCA1-mutated breast cancer and benefit of high-dose platinum-based chemotherapy in HER2-negative breast cancer patients
Background: Breast cancer cells deficient for BRCA1 are hypersensitive to agents inducing DNA double-strand breaks (DSB), such as bifunctional alkylators and platinum agents. Earlier, we had developed a comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) classifier based on BRCA1-mutated breast cancers. We hypothesised that this BRCA1-likeCGH classifier could also detect loss of function of BRCA1 due to other causes besides mutations and, consequently, might predict sensitivity to DSB-inducing agents
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