Bound states and Josephson current in mesoscopic s-wave superconductor–normal-metal–d-wave superconductor junctions

We have investigated the superconducting phase difference dependence of Andreev levels and Josephson current through a mesoscopic normal-metal layer in contact with two superconducting electrodes with s-wave and d-wave pairing symmetry (SsNSd junction). It is shown that, regardless of the junction length, due to the sign change of the d-wave order parameter under suitable arrangements, the zero-energy point of Andreev levels for the negative process appears at Φ=0. In particular, at zero temperature, the amplitude of the total Josephson current through the point contact SsNSd junction could be enhanced by the sign change of the d-wave order parameter. However, for an SsNSd junction of special length, the amplitude of Josephson current may be suppressed by this sign change. Moreover, as a special case, the midgap surface states discovered by Hu [Phys. Rev. Lett. 72, 1526 (1994)] are recovered naturally. © 1996 The American Physical Society.published_or_final_versio

Supercurrent and quasiparticle interference between two d-wave superconductors coupled by a normal metal or insulator

In the presence of an elastic barrier at both interfaces of a mesoscopic d-wave superconductor-normalmetal-d-wave superconductor (DND junction), the Josephson current at zero temperature is studied by using a simple matrix method. As a limiting case, the tunneling between two d-wave superconductors coupled by a insulator barrier (DID structure) is particularly addressed. The effects of sign change and anisotropic gap structure of the d x2-y2 superconductor are carefully considered in the Andreev reflection. The coupling of forward-moving quasiparticles and backward-moving quasiparticles with different pair potentials leads to contrasting Andreev spectra in different motion angle regions, which is specific to our model. Unlike conventional superconducting point-contact junctions, the conduction crossing the Fermi surface plays an important role in determining the critical current. Our theoritical results suggest that the dependence of the critical current on the grain boundary tilt angle provides a clue to identify the pairing symmetry of high-T c. superconductors.published_or_final_versio

The influence of endogenous hormones on the formation of buds from stems of bitter melon (Momordıca charantıa L.)

Stems of bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) cv. Dabai were used to establish in vitro cultures. The endogenous hormone concentrations (indoleacetic acid [IAA], abscisic acid [ABA], gibberellins 3 [GA3], zeatin [ZT]) of the calluses were determined by means of high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The endogenous ZT was higher in the stem calluses that had formed buds, and there was a higher IAA/ZT ratio and GA3/ZT ratio in the calluses having no capacity for buds formation. The results showed that addition of plant growth regulator influences endogenous hormone status and it will be helpful for in vitro propagation of bitter melon.Key words: Endogenous phytohormones, high pressure liquid chromatography, in vitro culture, bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.)

Optimized system for plant regeneration of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thumb.)

The objective of this study was to establish an efficient and reproducible in vitro plant regeneration for Citrullus lanatus cv. Zaojia. To achieve optimal conditions for adventitious shoot induction, five explants (entire cotyledons, distal cotyledons, proximal cotyledons, cotyledonary node A and cotyledonary node B) were tested on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of growth regulators (0 to 0.2 mg/L IAA and 1.0 to 5.0 mg/L BA), the results showed that entire cotyledons cultured in MS + BA (2.0mg/L) + IAA(0.2mg/L) achieved the highest regenerated rate (89.67%) and the optimal protocol screened in this experiment had 7.69 ± 0.10 shoots per explants. Adventitious shoots were able to elongate both on MS medium with 0.2 mg/L KT and 0.2 mg/L NAA; IBA 0.3mg/L was found to be effective in the production of root. Acclimatized plantlets transferred to pot resumed growth, and their stems and leaves elongated and expanded in one month.Key words: Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thumb.), optimized system, regeneration, cotyledon explants, cotyledonary node

Optimization of RAPD-PCR reaction system for genetic relationships analysis of 15 camellia cultivars

With orthogonal analysis by L27(36), the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR optimization reaction system for camellia were obtained. Results showed that the optimization system was 10×PCR Buffer (2.5 L), 25 mM MgCl2 (2.5 L), 2.5 mM dNTPs (2.0 L), 20 M primer (1.0 L), Tag (1.5 U), temple DNA (40 ng or so) and added ddH2O to the total volume 25 uL; suitable annealing temperature was 36°C. With the optimized system and fifteen 10 nt random primers, we analyzed 15 camellia cultivars and observed 102 clear amplified loci, in which polymorphic loci were 79 while the percentage of polymorphic loci were 77.54%. Cluster analysis showed that the four groups were divided at the point 0.75 of similarity coefficient, indicating relatively high genetic diversity. We also found that the gene controlling petal color may play an important role in RAPD analysis. Moreover, genetic diversities based on RAPD analysis could be clearly reflected by morphological traits among 15 camellia cultivars. This study showed the RAPD optimization system was suitable and RAPD molecular marker was effective and useful tool for detection of genetic relationships among camellia cultivars

Efficient inverted polymer solar cells with thermal-evaporated and solution-processed small molecular electron extraction layer

Efficient inverted polymer solar cell is reported upon by integrating with a small molecular 1,3,5-tri(phenyl-2-benzimi-dazolyl)-benzene (TPBi) electron extraction layer (EEL) at low processing temperature with thermal-evaporation and solution-process, resulting in the power conversion efficiencies of 3.70 and 3.47, respectively. The potential of TPBi as an efficient EEL is associated with its suitable electronic energy level for electron extraction and hole blocking from the active layer to the indium tin oxide cathode. © 2013 American Institute of Physics

Exploiting Locally Imposed Anisotropies in (Ga,Mn)As: a Non-volatile Memory Device

Progress in (Ga,Mn)As lithography has recently allowed us to realize structures where unique magnetic anisotropy properties can be imposed locally in various regions of a given device. We make use of this technology to fabricate a device in which we study transport through a constriction separating two regions whose magnetization direction differs by 90 degrees. We find that the resistance of the constriction depends on the flow of the magnetic field lines in the constriction region and demonstrate that such a structure constitutes a non-volatile memory device

Evidence for reversible control of magnetization in a ferromagnetic material via spin-orbit magnetic field

Conventional computer electronics creates a dichotomy between how information is processed and how it is stored. Silicon chips process information by controlling the flow of charge through a network of logic gates. This information is then stored, most commonly, by encoding it in the orientation of magnetic domains of a computer hard disk. The key obstacle to a more intimate integration of magnetic materials into devices and circuit processing information is a lack of efficient means to control their magnetization. This is usually achieved with an external magnetic field or by the injection of spin-polarized currents. The latter can be significantly enhanced in materials whose ferromagnetic properties are mediated by charge carriers. Among these materials, conductors lacking spatial inversion symmetry couple charge currents to spin by intrinsic spin-orbit (SO) interactions, inducing nonequilibrium spin polarization tunable by local electric fields. Here we show that magnetization of a ferromagnet can be reversibly manipulated by the SO-induced polarization of carrier spins generated by unpolarized currents. Specifically, we demonstrate domain rotation and hysteretic switching of magnetization between two orthogonal easy axes in a model ferromagnetic semiconductor.Comment: 10 pages including supplemental materia

Nosocomial Co-Transmission of Avian Influenza A(H7N9) and A(H1N1)pdm09 Viruses between 2 Patients with Hematologic Disorders

A nosocomial cluster induced by co-infections with avian influenza A(H7N9) and A(H1N1)pdm09 (pH1N1) viruses occurred in 2 patients at a hospital in Zhejiang Province, China, in January 2014. The index case-patient was a 57-year-old man with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who had been occupationally exposed to poultry. He had co-infection with H7N9 and pH1N1 viruses. A 71-year-old man with polycythemia vera who was in the same ward as the index case-patient for 6 days acquired infection with H7N9 and pH1N1 viruses. The incubation period for the second case-patient was estimated to be <4 days. Both case-patients died of multiple organ failure. Virus genetic sequences from the 2 case-patients were identical. Of 103 close contacts, none had acute respiratory symptoms; all were negative for H7N9 virus. Serum samples from both case-patients demonstrated strong proinflammatory cytokine secretion but incompetent protective immune responses. These findings strongly suggest limited nosocomial co-transmission of H7N9 and pH1N1 viruses from 1 immunocompromised patient to another.published_or_final_versio

Candidate Screening of the TRPC3 Gene in Cerebellar Ataxia

The hereditary cerebellar ataxias are a diverse group of neurodegenerative disorders primarily characterised by loss of balance and coordination due to dysfunction of the cerebellum and its associated pathways. Although many genetic mutations causing inherited cerebellar ataxia have been identified, a significant percentage of patients remain whose cause is unknown. The transient receptor potential (TRP) family member TRPC3 is a non-selective cation channel linked to key signalling pathways that are affected in cerebellar ataxia. Furthermore, genetic mouse models of TRPC3 dysfunction display cerebellar ataxia, making the TRPC3 gene an excellent candidate for screening ataxic patients with unknown genetic aetiology. Here, we report a genetic screen for TRPC3 mutations in a cohort of 98 patients with genetically undefined late-onset cerebellar ataxia and further ten patients with undefined episodic ataxia. We identified a number of variants but no causative mutations in TRPC3. Our findings suggest that mutations in TRPC3 do not significantly contribute to the cause of late-onset and episodic human cerebellar ataxias