199 research outputs found
Frustrated multiband superconductivity
We show that a clean multiband superconductor may display one or several
phase transitions with increasing temperature from or to frustrated
configurations of the relative phases of the superconducting order parameters.
These transitions may occur when more than two bands are involved in the
formation of the superconducting phase and when the number of repulsive
interband interactions is odd. These transitions are signalled by slope changes
in the temperature dependence of the superconducting gaps.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Toward Confined Carbyne with Tailored Properties
Confining carbyne to a space that allows for stability and controlled reactivity is a very appealing approach to have access to materials with tunable optical and electronic properties without rival. Here, we show how controlling the diameter of single-walled carbon nanotubes opens the possibility to grow a confined carbyne with a defined and tunable band gap. The metallicity of the tubes has a minimal influence on the formation of the carbyne, whereas the diameter plays a major role in the growth. It has been found that the properties of confined carbyne can be tailored independently from its length and how these are mostly determined by its interaction with the carbon nanotube. Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to interpret these findings. Furthermore, the choice of a single-walled carbon nanotube host has been proven crucial even to synthesize an enriched carbyne with the smallest energy gap currently reported and with remarkable homogeneity
Single nonmagnetic impurity resonance in FeSe-based 122-type superconductors as a probe for pairing symmetry
We study the effect of a single non-magnetic impurity in
AFeSe (A=K, Rb, or Cs) superconductors by considering
various pairing states based on a three-orbital model consistent with the
photoemission experiments. The local density of states on and near the impurity
site has been calculated by solving the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations
self-consistently. The impurity-induced in-gap bound states are found only for
attractive impurity scattering potential, as in the cases of doping of Co or
Ni, which is characterized by the strong particle-hole asymmetry, in the
nodeless wave pairing state. This property may be used to probe
the pairing symmetry of FeSe-based 122-type superconductors.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure
A role for SHPS-1/SIRPÎą in concanavalin A-dependent production of MMP-9
SHPSâ1/SIRPÎą1 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that belongs to the immunoglobulin (Ig) super family. In the present study, we show that SHPSâ1 strongly associates with Concanavalin A (Con A), a plant lectin obtained from jack beans. Further studies with SHPSâ1 mutants reveal that the extracellular domain of SHPSâ1 containing the Ig sequence is responsible for its association with Con A. Con A treatment induces crossâlinking and multimerization of the SHPSâ1 protein in the plasma membrane, accompanied by its tyrosine phosphorylation and recruitment of SHPâ2. In contrast, Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA), another lectin obtained from castor bean, does not bind or activate tyrosine phosphorylation of SHPSâ1. Moreover, Con A activates Akt in a SHPâ2âdependent manner. Treatment of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) with Con A induces secretion of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)â9, a phenomenon that is inhibited in cells expressing YF mutant of SHPSâ1, a dominant negative form of Akt or in cells preâtreated with an Akt inhibitor, LY294002 or extracellularâsignal regulated kinase (Erk) inhibitor, U0126. In addition, expression of the YF mutant of SHPSâ1 inhibits Con Aâdependent activation of Akt and Erk kinases. Taken together, our results suggest that SHPSâ1 is a receptor for Con A that mediates Con Aâdependent MMPâ9 secretion through SHPâ2âpromoted activation of both Akt and Erk pathways
Normal State Spin Dynamics of Five-band Model for Iron-pnictides
Normal state spin dynamics of the recently discovered iron-pnictide
superconductors is discussed by calculating spin structure factor S(q, omega)
in an itinerant five-band model within RPA approximation. Due to the
characteristic Fermi surface structure of iron-pnictide, column like response
is found at (pi, 0) in extended Brillouin zone in the undoped case, which is
consistent with the recent neutron scattering experiment. This indicates that
the localized spin model is not necessary to explain the spin dynamics of this
system. Furthermore, we show that the temperature dependence of inelastic
neutron scattering intensity can be well reproduced in the itinerant model. We
also study NMR 1/T_1T in the same footing calculation and show that the
itinerant model can capture the magnetic property of iron-pnictide
superconductors.Comment: 4 page
Can training non-physician clinicians/associate clinicians (NPCs/ACs) in emergency obstetric, neonatal care and clinical leadership make a difference to practice and help towards reductions in maternal and neonatal mortality in rural Tanzania? The ETATMBA project
Objectives
During late 2010, 36 trainees including 19 assistant medical officers (AMOs) 1 senior clinical officer (CO) and 16 nurse midwives/nurses were recruited from districts across rural Tanzania and invited to join the Enhancing Human Resources and Use of Appropriate Technologies for Maternal and Perinatal Survival in the sub-Saharan Africa (ETATMBA) training programme. The ETATMBA project was training associate clinicians (ACs) as advanced clinical leaders in emergency obstetric care. The trainees returned to health facilities across the country with the hope of being able to apply their new skills and knowledge. The main aim of this study was to explore the impact of the ETATMBA training on health outcomes including maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in their facilities. Secondly, to explore the challenges faced in working in these health facilities.
Design
The study is a pre-examination/postexamination of maternal and neonatal health indicators and a survey of health facilities in rural Tanzania. The facilities surveyed were those in which ETATMBA trainees were placed post-training. The maternal and neonatal indicators were collected for 2011 and 2013 and the survey of the facilities was in early 2014.
Results
16 of 17 facilities were surveyed. Maternal deaths show a non-significant downward trend over the 2â
years (282â232 cases/100â
000 live births). There were no significant differences in maternal, neonatal and birth complication variables across the time-points. The survey of facilities revealed shortages in key areas and some are a serious concern.
Conclusions
This study represents a snapshot of rural health facilities providing maternal and neonatal care in Tanzania. Enhancing knowledge, practical skills, and clinical leadership of ACs may have a positive impact on health outcomes. However, any impact may be confounded by the significant challenges in delivering a service in terms of resources. Thus, training may be beneficial, but it requires an infrastructure that supports it
A qualitative process evaluation of training for non-physician clinicians/associate clinicians (NPCs/ACs) in emergency maternal, neonatal care and clinical leadership, impact on clinical services improvements in rural Tanzania: the ETATMBA project: Table 1
Objectives
The Enhancing Human Resources and Use of Appropriate Training for Maternal and Perinatal Survival in sub-Saharan Africa (ETATMBA) project is training non-physician clinicians as advanced clinical leaders in emergency maternal and newborn care in Tanzania and Malawi. The main aims of this process evaluation were to explore the implementation of the programme of training in Tanzania, how it was received, how or if the training has been implemented into practice and the challenges faced along the way.
Design
Qualitative interviews with trainees, trainers, district officers and others exploring the application of the training into practice.
Participants
During late 2010 and 2011, 36 trainees including 19 assistant medical officers one senior clinical officer and 16 nurse midwives/nurses (anaesthesia) were recruited from districts across rural Tanzania and invited to join the ETATMBA training programme.
Results
Trainees (n=36) completed the training returning to 17 facilities, two left and one died shortly after training. Of the remaining trainees, 27 were interviewed at their health facility. Training was well received and knowledge and skills were increased. There were a number of challenges faced by trainees, not least that their new skills could not be practised because the facilities they returned to were not upgraded. Nonetheless, there is evidence that the training is having an effect locally on health outcomes, like maternal and neonatal mortality, and the trainees are sharing their new knowledge and skills with others.
Conclusions
The outcome of this evaluation is encouraging but highlights that there are many ongoing challenges relating to infrastructure (including appropriate facilities, electricity and water) and the availability of basic supplies and drugs. This cadre of workers is a dedicated and valuable resource that can make a difference, which with better support could make a greater contribution to healthcare in the country
Acute onset of intracranial subdural hemorrhage five days after spinal anesthesia for knee arthroscopic surgery: a case report
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Spinal anesthesia is a widely used general purpose anesthesia. However, serious complications, such as intracranial subdural hemorrhage, can rarely occur.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 73-year-old Japanese woman who had acute onset of intracranial subdural hemorrhage five days after spinal anesthesia for knee arthroscopic surgery.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This case highlights the need to pay attention to acute intracranial subdural hemorrhage as a complication after spinal anesthesia. If the headache persists even in a supine position or nausea occurs abruptly, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the brain should be conducted. An intracranial subdural hematoma may have a serious outcome and is an important differential diagnosis for headache after spinal anesthesia.</p
Transport and superconducting properties of Fe-based superconductors: SmFeAs(O1-x Fx) versus Fe1+y (Te1-x, Sex)
We present transport and superconducting properties - namely resistivity,
magnetoresistivity, Hall effect, Seebeck effect, thermal conductivity, upper
critical field - of two different families of Fe-based superconductors, which
can be viewed in many respects as end members: SmFeAs(O1-xFx) with the largest
Tc and the largest anisotropy and Fe1+y(Te1-x,Sex), with the largest Hc2, the
lowest Tc and the lowest anisotropy. In the case of the SmFeAs(O1-xFx) series,
we find that a single band description allows to extract an approximated
estimation of band parameters such as carrier density and mobility from
experimental data, although the behaviour of Seebeck effect as a function of
doping demonstrates that a multiband description would be more appropriate. On
the contrary, experimental data of the Fe1+y(Te1-x,Sex) series exhibit a
strongly compensated behaviour, which can be described only within a multiband
model. In the Fe1+y(Te1-x,Sex) series, the role of the excess Fe, tuned by Se
stoichiometry, is found to be twofold: it dopes electrons in the system and it
introduces localized magnetic moments, responsible for Kondo like scattering
and likely pair-breaking of Cooper pairs. Hence, excess Fe plays a crucial role
also in determining superconducting properties such as the Tc and the upper
critical field Bc2. The huge Bc2 values of the Fe1+y(Te1-x,Sex) samples are
described by a dirty limit law, opposed to the clean limit behaviour of the
SmFeAs(O1-xFx) samples. Hence, magnetic scattering by excess Fe seems to drive
the system in the dirty regime, but its detrimental pairbreaking role seems not
to be as severe as predicted by theory. This issue has yet to be clarified,
addressing the more fundamental issue of the interplay between magnetism and
superconductivity
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