Disorder-sensitive superconductivity in the iron silicide Lu2_2Fe3_3Si5_5 studied by the Lu-site substitutions

We studied effect of non-magnetic and magnetic impurities on superconductivity in Lu$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$ by small amount substitution of the Lu site, which investigated structural, magnetic, and electrical properties of non-magnetic (Lu$_{1-x}$Sc$_x$)$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$, (Lu$_{1-x}$Y$_x$)$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$, and magnetic (Lu$_{1-x}$Dy$_x$)$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$. The rapid depression of $T_c$ by non-magnetic impurities in accordance with the increase of residual resistivity reveals the strong pair breaking dominated by disorder. We provide compelling evidence for the sign reversal of the superconducting order parameter in Lu$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Seismogenic-influenced fluid transport on low angle faults to the mofettes of Caprese Michelangelo (Northern Apennines)

The reservoirs feeding those mofettes are trapped over-pressurized fluids, discovered by a deep borehole in the near vicinity. Chemical and isotope data of both the venting gases and gases from the drilled well provide indications about their origin. We discuss a fault-valve behavior during the rupture process as responsible mechanism for a co-seismic fluid migration along reactivated fractures zones. A migration of hypocenters towards the surface along the fault gives further indications for a pore pressure diffusion process. At the surface, the mofettes changed their morphological features macroscopically due to this enhanced gas dynamic. The phenomenological observation of post-seismic fluid expulsion 18 months after the seismic crisis suggests the interpretation of a long-term fluid transport process forced by pressure pulse propagation. This result was achieved by a new approach using photographical times series. The proposed model could help to explain a complex scenario of a long-term fluid transport from the trapped fluid reservoir through the seismogenic zone up to the gas emission sites at Caprese Michelangelo

Dynamical Quasicondensation of Hard-Core Bosons at Finite Momenta

Long-range order in quantum many-body systems is usually associated with equilibrium situations. Here, we experimentally investigate the quasicondensation of strongly-interacting bosons at finite momenta in a far-from-equilibrium case. We prepare an inhomogeneous initial state consisting of one-dimensional Mott insulators in the center of otherwise empty one-dimensional chains in an optical lattice with a lattice constant $d$. After suddenly quenching the trapping potential to zero, we observe the onset of coherence in spontaneously forming quasicondensates in the lattice. Remarkably, the emerging phase order differs from the ground-state order and is characterized by peaks at finite momenta $\pm (\pi/2) (\hbar / d)$ in the momentum distribution function.Comment: See also Viewpoint: Emerging Quantum Order in an Expanding Gas, Physics 8, 99 (2015

Morphological plasticity in Cladosporium sphaerospermum

A morphologically distinct isolate of Cladosporium sphaerospermum from a North American patent collection, referenced as Cladosporium lignicola in the patent, was examined. Generic affinity was confirmed by scanning electron microscopic examination of conidiogenous loci and conidial hila. Species identity as C. sphaerospermum was indicated by DNA sequence data derived from actin and translation elongation factor 1-α genes, and the internal transcribed spacer region. The isolate broadens the morphological limits of C. sphaerospermum by production of obclavate, occasionally transversely septate conidia with subrostrate conidiogenous apices (‘alternarioid’ conidia), and by production of conidia larger than those in prior standard descriptions. Type material of C. lignicola was re-examined and compared with the North American fungus, from which it is morphologically distinct. The decision to reduce C. lignicola to synonymy under C. herbarum was confirmed

Diffusion in a strongly correlated anisotropic overlayer

We study the collective diffusion in chain structures on anisotropic substrates like (112) bcc and (110) fcc surfaces with deep troughs in the substrate potential corrugation. These chain structures are aligned normal to the troughs and can move only along the troughs. In a combination of theoretical arguments and of numerical simulations, we study the mass transport in these anisotropic systems. We find that a mechanism similar to soliton diffusion, instead of single particle diffusion, is still effective at temperatures well above the melting temperature of the ordered chain structures. This mechanism is directly correlated with the ordered phases that appear at much lower temperatures. As a consequence, also the influence of frozen disorder is still visible above the melting temperature. Theoretically we predict a strong dependence of the pre-exponential factor and weak dependence of the activation energy on the concentration of frozen surface defects. These predictions are confirmed by the simulations.Comment: Latex file, 18 pages and 9 eps figures include

Bilateral congenital lacrimal fistula in a Brown Swiss bull

A five-year-old Brown Swiss bull was referred to the Department of Farm Animals, University of Zurich, because of bilateral epiphora that was unresponsive to treatment. Clinical examination revealed a fistulous opening medial to the medial canthus of both eyes and mucopurulent discharge from both openings. Attempts to flush the nasolacrimal duct via the lacrimal points resulted in the fluid exiting via the fistulous opening. Retrograde flushing of the nasolacrimal duct from the nasolacrimal opening resulted in the flush fluid flowing back out the nasolacrimal opening. Bilateral lacrimal fistula medial to the medial canthus of the eye was diagnosed based on the findings. The same anomaly was diagnosed a year later in 4 related female animals referred to our Department for other reasons. Three of the cases were sired by the bull described above and one was sired by his half-brother. Therefore, an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance of this anomaly was assumed. Clinical, epidemiological and molecular studies of the offspring of both bulls are underway to further investigate this anomaly