Local threshold field for dendritic instability in superconducting MgB2 films

Using magneto-optical imaging the phenomenon of dendritic flux penetration in superconducting films was studied. Flux dendrites were abruptly formed in a 300 nm thick film of MgB2 by applying a perpendicular magnetic field. Detailed measurements of flux density distributions show that there exists a local threshold field controlling the nucleation and termination of the dendritic growth. At 4 K the local threshold field is close to 12 mT in this sample, where the critical current density is 10^7 A/cm^2. The dendritic instability in thin films is believed to be of thermo-magnetic origin, but the existence of a local threshold field, and its small value are features that distinctly contrast the thermo-magnetic instability (flux jumps) in bulk superconductors.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Effects of low environmental salinity on the cellular profiles and expression of Na+, K+-ATPase and Na+, K+, 2Cl(-) cotransporter 1 of branchial mitochondrion-rich cells in the juvenile marine fish Monodactylus argenteus

The goal of this study was to determine the osmoregulatory ability of a juvenile marine fish, silver moony (), for the purpose of developing a new experimental species for ecophysiological research. In this study, was acclimated to freshwater (FW), brackish water (BW), or seawater (SW). The salinity tolerance of this euryhaline species was effective, and the fish survived well upon osmotic challenges. The largest apical surface of mitochondrion-rich cells was found in the FW individuals. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that Na+, K+-ATPase immunoreactive (NKA-IR) cells were distributed in the interlamellar region of the gill filaments of the silver moony in all experimental groups. In addition to the filaments, NKA-IR cells were also found in the lamellae of the FW individuals. The number of NKA-IR cells in the gills of the FW individuals exceeded that of the BW and SW individuals. The NKA-IR cells of FW and SW individuals exhibited bigger size than that of BW fish. The NKA activities and protein expression of the NKA alpha-subunit in the gills of the FW individuals were significantly higher than in the BW and SW groups. Additionally, the relative amounts of Na+, K+, 2Cl(-) cotransporter 1 (NKCC1) were salinity-dependent in the gills. Immunofluorescent signals of NKCC1 were localized to the basolateral membrane of NKA-IR cells in all groups. In the gills of the FW individuals, however, some NKA-IR cells did not exhibit a basolateral NKCC1 signal. In conclusion, the present study illustrated the osmoregulatory mechanisms of this easy- and economic-to-rear marine teleost with euryhaline capacity and proved the silver moony to be a good experimental animal

Numerical study of the effects of crack location on creep crack growth in weldment

A numerical study on the effects of crack location on creep crack growth, in a P91 weldment, was carried out using a finite element package (ABAQUS). Models of compact tension specimens were used. The obtained results showed that, the creep crack growth in the weld metal are much higher than that in the parent metal. However, the creep crack growth in cross-weld specimens is controlled by the properties of the weakest component of the weld. This highlights the importance of the heat affected zone (HAZ) as the weakest region of the weldment. Effects of the width of HAZ are presented, too

Salinity-dependent expression of the branchial Na+/K+/2Cl(-) cotransporter and Na+/K+-ATPase in the sailfin molly correlates with hypoosmoregulatory endurance

In the branchial mitochondrion-rich (MR) cells of euryhaline teleosts, the Na+/K+/2Cl(-)cotransporter (NKCC) is an important membrane protein that maintains the internal Cl -concentration, and the branchial Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) is crucial for providing the driving force for many other ion-transporting systems. Hence this study used the sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna), an introduced aquarium fish in Taiwan, to reveal that the potential roles of NKCC and NKA in sailfin molly were correlated to fish survival rates upon salinity challenge. Higher levels of branchial NKCC were found in seawater (SW)-acclimated sailfin molly compared to freshwater (FW)-acclimated individuals. Transfer of the sailfin molly from SW to FW revealed that the expression of the NKCC and NKA proteins in the gills was retained over 7 days in order to maintain hypoosmoregulatory endurance. Meanwhile, their survival rates after transfer to SW varied with the duration of FW-exposure and decreased significantly when the SW-acclimated individuals were acclimated to FW for 21 days. Double immunofluorescence staining showed that in SW-acclimated sailfin molly, NKCC signals were expressed on the basolateral membrane of MR cells, whereas in FW-acclimated molly, they were expressed on the apical membrane. This study illustrated the correlation between the gradual reductions in expression of branchial NKCC and NKA (i.e., the hypoosmoregulatory endurance) and decreasing survival rates after hyperosmotic challenge in sailfin molly

Bulk-sensitive photoemission spectroscopy of A_2FeMoO_6 double perovskites (A=Sr, Ba)

Electronic structures of Sr_2FeMoO_6 (SFMO) and Ba_2FeMoO_6 (BFMO) double perovskites have been investigated using the Fe 2p->3d resonant photoemission spectroscopy (PES) and the Cooper minimum in the Mo 4d photoionization cross section. The states close to the Fermi level are found to have strongly mixed Mo-Fe t_{2g} character, suggesting that the Fe valence is far from pure 3+. The Fe 2p_{3/2} XAS spectra indicate the mixed-valent Fe^{3+}-Fe^{2+} configurations, and the larger Fe^{2+} component for BFMO than for SFMO, suggesting a kind of double exchange interaction. The valence-band PES spectra reveal good agreement with the LSDA+U calculation.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

π+π+\pi^+\pi^+ and π+π−\pi^+\pi^- colliding in noncommutative space

By studying the scattering process of scalar particle pion on the noncommutative scalar quantum electrodynamics, the non-commutative amendment of differential scattering cross-section is found, which is dependent of polar-angle and the results are significantly different from that in the commutative scalar quantum electrodynamics, particularly when $\cos\theta\sim \pm 1$. The non-commutativity of space is expected to be explored at around $\Lambda_{NC}\sim$TeV.Comment: Latex, 12 page

Magnetic Fields, Relativistic Particles, and Shock Waves in Cluster Outskirts

It is only now, with low-frequency radio telescopes, long exposures with high-resolution X-ray satellites and gamma-ray telescopes, that we are beginning to learn about the physics in the periphery of galaxy clusters. In the coming years, Sunyaev-Zeldovich telescopes are going to deliver further great insights into the plasma physics of these special regions in the Universe. The last years have already shown tremendous progress with detections of shocks, estimates of magnetic field strengths and constraints on the particle acceleration efficiency. X-ray observations have revealed shock fronts in cluster outskirts which have allowed inferences about the microphysical structure of shocks fronts in such extreme environments. The best indications for magnetic fields and relativistic particles in cluster outskirts come from observations of so-called radio relics, which are megaparsec-sized regions of radio emission from the edges of galaxy clusters. As these are difficult to detect due to their low surface brightness, only few of these objects are known. But they have provided unprecedented evidence for the acceleration of relativistic particles at shock fronts and the existence of muG strength fields as far out as the virial radius of clusters. In this review we summarise the observational and theoretical state of our knowledge of magnetic fields, relativistic particles and shocks in cluster outskirts.Comment: 34 pages, to be published in Space Science Review

Impact loading during distracted running before and after auditory gait retraining.

Visual feedback gait retraining has been reported to successfully reduce impact loading in runners, even when the runners were distracted. However, auditory feedback is more feasible in real life application. Hence, this study compared the peak positive acceleration (PPA), vertical average (VALR) and instantaneous (VILR) loading rate during distracted running before and after a course of auditory feedback gait retraining in 16 runners. The runners were asked to land with softer footfalls with and without auditory feedback. Low or high sound pitch was generated according to the impact of particular footfall, when compared with the preset target. Runners then received a course of auditory gait retraining, and after the gait retraining, runners completed a reassessment. Runners before gait retraining exhibited lower PPA, VALR and VILR with augmented auditory feedback (p0.104). A small effect of auditory feedback on VILR in runners after gait retraining was observed (p=0.032). Real time auditory feedback gait retraining is effective in impact loading reduction, even when the runners were distracted

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic study of impregnated La0.4Sr0.6Ti0.8Mn0.2O3±d anode material for high temperature-operating solid oxide fuel cell

In this study, the chemical states of a powder type and an impregnated type of the La0.4Sr0.6Ti0.8Mn0.2O3±d (LSTM) oxide system were investigated along with its electrical conductivities in order to apply these materials as alternative anode materials for high temperature-operating Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (HT-SOFCs). The Ni/8YSZ samples with LSTM impregnated into the pores created by partially removing nickel, Ni/8YSZ (Ni (R)/8YSZ), showed much higher electrical conductivity values than those of unimpregnated Ni/8YSZ (Ni (E)/8YSZ) samples under dry H2 fuel condition. Reduction of Mn4+ to Mn3+ was observed when LSTM was reduced. Additional reduction properties of Mn2+ from Mn3+ and satellite peaks were found when impregnated LSTM was coated onto a Ni/8YSZ substrate. The reduction of the charge state of Ti contained in LSTM showed the same behavior as the reduction property of Mn. However, a satellite peak identified as metal Ti was only observed when impregnated LSTM was coated on a selectively Ni-removed Ni/8YSZ (Ni (R)/8YSZ) substrate