Common features of vortex structure in long exponentially shaped Josephson junctions and Josephson junctions with inhomogeneities

We study vortex structure in three different models of long Josephson junctions: exponentially shaped Josephson junction and Josephson junctions with resistor and shunt inhomogeneities in barrier layer. Numerical calculations of the possible magnetic flux distributions and corresponding bifurcation curves have done. For these three models the critical curves ``critical current-magnetic field'' are constructed. We develop an idea of the equivalence of exponentially shaped Josephson junction and rectangular junction with distributed inhomogeneity and demonstrate that at some parameters of shunt and resistor inhomogeneities at the ends of the junction the corresponding critical curves are very close to the exponentially shaped one.Comment: Presented for M2S, Dresden, July 9-14, 200

A boundary value problem for nonlinear hyperbolic equations with order degeneration

AbstractIn this paper we study the equation L(u):=k(y)uxx−∂y(ℓ(y)uy)+a(x,y)ux+b(x,y)uy=f(x,y,u), where k(y)>0, ℓ(y)>0 for y>0, k(0)=ℓ(0)=0; it is strictly hyperbolic for y>0 and its order degenerates on the line y=0. Consider the boundary value problem Lu=f(x,y,u) in G, u|AC=0, where G is a simply connected domain in R2 with piecewise smooth boundary ∂G=AB∪AC∪BC; AB={(x,0):0⩽x⩽1}, AC:x=F(y)=∫0y(k(t)/ℓ(t))1/2dt and BC:x=1−F(y) are characteristic curves. If f(x,y,u)=g(x,y,u)−r(x,y)u|u|ρ, ρ⩾0, we obtain existence of generalized solution by a finite element method. The uniqueness problem is considered under less restrictive assumptions on f. Namely, we prove that if f satisfies Carathéodory condition and |f(x,y,z1)−f(x,y,z2)|⩽C(|z1|β+|z2|β)|z1−z2| with some constants C>0 and β⩾0 then there exists at most one generalized solution

How Useful are Localization Techniques in Botulinum Toxin Injections for Dystonia and Spasticity Indications?

There is irrefutable evidence for the effectiveness of botulinum toxin (BoNT) in the treatment of various disorders associated with excessive muscle contraction or autonomic dysfunction. One of the earliest indications as well as the most common BoNT treated movement disorder is dystonia, predominantly its focal forms, including blepharospasm, oromandibular, spasmodic, cervical and limb dystonia. Spastic disorders comprise another area where BoNT treatment has proved beneficial. Optimal therapeutic results, however, depend on several factors, including the BoNT serotype, dose, concentration, injected volume, frequency of application, as well as precise localization of the muscles producing the abnormal movement. The accuracy in targeting muscle localization is considered to be a key factor for determining the outcome of BoNT injections, even more important than dilution volume and dose. Various techniques to find the best injection site for the delivery of BoNT have been described in the literature. An attempt was made to summarize in one place the available evidence, and when possible to compare and point out the advantages and disadvantages of different techniques for localization of BoNT injections. The widely applied clinical indications for dystonia and spasticity have been specifically chosen as our focus in this present work

BPMN Analysis of Public Procurement

ACM Computing Classification System (1998): D.0, D.2.11.This paper formulates a realistic case study of a public procurement process, where the national legal system is taken in consideration. Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) is used for encoding processes related to the analysis of public procurement tasks. Critical elements in the public procurement process that affect time, quality and cost are identified at the organizational, process execution and system levels. The main phases of public procurement are described and problems related to each phase are distinguished. A BPMN collaboration diagram is used to show how different participants in a process are related and interact with each other. Choreography diagrams of the latest version of BPMN are being used to model the abstract behavior of the participants in business interactions for the purpose of providing a standard mapping to the Business Process Execution Language for Web Services (BPEL) and enable the execution of this behavior.This work is supported by the National Scientific Research Fund of Bulgaria under the Contract ДТК02-69/2009

Amyloid-β acts as a regulator of neurotransmitter release disrupting the interaction between synaptophysin and VAMP2.

BACKGROUND: It is becoming increasingly evident that deficits in the cortex and hippocampus at early stages of dementia in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are associated with synaptic damage caused by oligomers of the toxic amyloid-β peptide (Aβ42). However, the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms behind these deficits are not fully understood. Here we provide evidence of a mechanism by which Aβ42 affects synaptic transmission regulating neurotransmitter release. METHODOLOGY/FINDINGS: We first showed that application of 50 nM Aβ42 in cultured neurones is followed by its internalisation and translocation to synaptic contacts. Interestingly, our results demonstrate that with time, Aβ42 can be detected at the presynaptic terminals where it interacts with Synaptophysin. Furthermore, data from dissociated hippocampal neurons as well as biochemical data provide evidence that Aβ42 disrupts the complex formed between Synaptophysin and VAMP2 increasing the amount of primed vesicles and exocytosis. Finally, electrophysiology recordings in brain slices confirmed that Aβ42 affects baseline transmission. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our observations provide a necessary and timely insight into cellular mechanisms that underlie the initial pathological events that lead to synaptic dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease. Our results demonstrate a new mechanism by which Aβ42 affects synaptic activity

Created-by-current states in long Josephson junctions

Critical curves "critical current - external magnetic field" of long Josephson junctions with inhomogeneity and variable width are studied. We demonstrate the existence of the regions of magnetic field where some fluxon states are stable only, if the external current through the junction is different from zero. Position and size of such regions depend on length of the junction, its geometry, parameters of inhomogeneity and form of the junction. The noncentral (left and right) pure fluxon states are appeared in the inhomogeneous Josephson junction with increase in the junction length. We demonstrate new bifurcation points with change in width of the inhomogeneity and amplitude of the Josephson current through the inhomogeneity.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure

Non-Motor Symptoms in Patients with Primary Dystonia

Isolated dystonia, previously referred to as primary, is the third most common movement disorder, characterized by involuntary muscle contractions causing abnormal movements and postures with or without the presence of tremor. No matter monogenic or sporadic, the form of dystonia is a growing evidence, suggesting the presence of non-motor components to the disorder. Dystonia patients suffer from reduced quality of life, which might be related not only to the dystonic movements itself but to different non-motor symptoms and signs, as well. Based on literature review, this chapter aims to focus on the association of different types of isolated/primary dystonia (forms of focal, segmental, and generalized dystonia) with some non-motor disorders, including sleep and psychiatric disorders, cognition, as though as pain and sensory symptoms, their pathophysiological and biochemical mechanisms, relations with the symptomatic treating strategies for the abnormal movements, and specific treatment for the non-motor signs

Vortex structure in exponentially shaped Josephson junctions

We report the numerical calculations of the static vortex structure and critical curves in exponentially shaped long Josephson junctions for in-line and overlap geometries. Each solution of the corresponding boundary value problem is associated with the Sturm-Liouville problem whose minimal eigenvalue allows to make a conclusion about the stability of the vortex. The change in width of the junction leads to the renormalization of the magnetic flux in comparison to the case of a linear one-dimensional model. We study the influence of the model's parameters and, particularly, the shape parameter on the stability of the states of the magnetic flux. We compare the vortex structure and critical curves for the in-line and overlap geometries. Our numerically constructed critical curve of the Josephson junction matches well with the experimental one.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figures, NATO Advanced Research Workshop on "Vortex dynamics in superconductors and other complex systems" Yalta, Crimea, Ukraine, 13-17 September 200

ПОПУЛАЦИОННА ПЛЪТНОСТ НА МАЛКИЯТ ЛЮЦЕРНОВ ЛИСТОВ ХОБОТНИК PHYTONOMUS VARIABILIS HRBST. И ЛЮЦЕРНОВИЯТ ЛИСТОЯД PHYTODECTA FORNICATA BRUGG. ПРИ МНОГОЛИСТНА И ТРИЛИСТНА ЛЮЦЕРНА ВЪВ ВРЪЗКА С АНАТОМИЧНИТЕ ОСОБЕНОСТИ НА ЛИСТАТА ИМ.

Two alfalfa cultivars - the multifoliolate “Mnogolistna 1” and the trifoliolate “Europe” were investigated for their resistance towards two main alfalfa defoliators Phytonomus variabilis Hrbst., 1795 and Phytodecta fornicata Brugg., 1873. The results of the two year study showed that the population density of both pests was higher in the“Mnogolistna 1” fields. The anatomical study of the leaves showed that multifoliolate alfalfa cultivar has narrower palisade and spongy parenchyma and thinner leaves and cuticle which make it less resistant to Ph. variabilis and Ph. fornicata.Проучени са популационната плътност и хранителните предпочитания на малкият люцернов листов хоботник (Phytonomus variabilis Hrbst., 1795) и на люцерновият листояд (Phytodecta fornicata Brugg., 1873) към два сорта люцерна – многолистният “Многолистна 1” и трилистният “Европа”. Две годишните наблюдения показват по- висока популационна плътност и на двата неприятеля при сорт “Многолистна 1”. Резултатите от анатомичните проучвания на листата показаха по-малка височина на гъбчестия и палисадния паренхим, по-тънки листни петури, а също и формирането на по-тънка кутикула при сорта “Многолистна 1” в сравнение с “Европа”, което очевидно я прави по-предпочитана от проучваните листогризещи неприятели