814 research outputs found
Enhancement of the upper critical field in codoped iron-arsenic high-temperature superconductors
We present the first study of codoped iron-arsenide superconductors of the
122 family (Sr/Ba)_(1-x)K_xFe_(2-y)Co_yAs_2 with the purpose to increase the
upper critical field H_c2 compared to single doped (Sr/Ba)Fe_2As_2 materials.
H_c2 was investigated by measuring the magnetoresistance in high pulsed
magnetic fields up to 64 T. We find, that H_c2 extrapolated to T = 0 is indeed
enhanced significantly to ~ 90 T for polycrystalline samples of
Ba_0.55K_0.45Fe_1.95Co_0.05As_2 compared to ~75 T for Ba_0.55K_0.45Fe_2As_2 and
BaFe_1.8Co_0.2As_2 single crystals. Codoping thus is a promising way for the
systematic optimization of iron-arsenic based superconductors for
magnetic-field and high-current applications.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Journal of Applied Physic
Huge First-Order Metamagnetic Transition in the Paramagnetic Heavy-Fermion System CeTiGe
We report on the observation of large, step-like anomalies in the
magnetization (\,/Ce), in the magnetostriction
(), and in the magnetoresistance in
polycrystals of the paramagnetic heavy-fermion system CeTiGe at a critical
magnetic field 12.5\,T at low temperatures. The size of
these anomalies is much larger than those reported for the prototypical
heavy-fermion metamagnet CeRuSi. Furthermore, hysteresis between
increasing and decreasing field data indicate a real thermodynamic, first-order
type of phase transition, in contrast to the crossover reported for
CeRuSi. Analysis of the resistivity data shows a pronounced decrease of
the electronic quasiparticle mass across . These results establish CeTiGe
as a new metamagnetic Kondo-lattice system, with an exceptionally large,
metamagnetic transition of first-order type at a moderate field.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Quantifying the improvement of surrogate indices of hepatic insulin resistance using complex measurement techniques
We evaluated the ability of simple and complex surrogate-indices to identify individuals from an overweight/obese cohort with hepatic insulin-resistance (HEP-IR). Five indices, one previously defined and four newly generated through step-wise linear regression, were created against a single-cohort sample of 77 extensively characterised participants with the metabolic syndrome (age 55.6±1.0 years, BMI 31.5±0.4 kg/m2; 30 males). HEP-IR was defined by measuring endogenous-glucose-production (EGP) with [6–62H2] glucose during fasting and euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamps and expressed as EGP*fasting plasma insulin. Complex measures were incorporated into the model, including various non-standard biomarkers and the measurement of body-fat distribution and liver-fat, to further improve the predictive capability of the index. Validation was performed against a data set of the same subjects after an isoenergetic dietary intervention (4 arms, diets varying in protein and fiber content versus control). All five indices produced comparable prediction of HEP-IR, explaining 39–56% of the variance, depending on regression variable combination. The validation of the regression equations showed little variation between the different proposed indices (r2 = 27–32%) on a matched dataset. New complex indices encompassing advanced measurement techniques offered an improved correlation (r = 0.75, P<0.001). However, when validated against the alternative dataset all indices performed comparably with the standard homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (r = 0.54, P<0.001). Thus, simple estimates of HEP-IR performed comparable to more complex indices and could be an efficient and cost effective approach in large epidemiological investigations
Peculiar long-range superexchange in Cu2A2O7 (A = P, As, V) as a key element of the microscopic magnetic model
A microscopic magnetic model for alpha-Cu2P2O7 is evaluated in a combined
theoretical and experimental study. Despite a dominant intradimer coupling J1,
sizable interdimer couplings enforce long-range magnetic ordering at T_N=27 K.
The spin model for alpha-Cu2P2O7 is compared to the models of the isostructural
beta-Cu2V2O7 and alpha-Cu2As2O7 systems. As a surprise, coupled dimers in
alpha-Cu2P2O7 and alternating chains in alpha-Cu2As2O7 contrast with a
honeycomb lattice in beta-Cu2V2O7. We find that the qualitative difference in
the coupling regime of these isostructural compounds is governed by the nature
of AO4 side groups: d-elements (A = V) hybridize with nearby O atoms forming a
Cu-O-A-O-Cu superexchange path, while for p-elements (A = P, As) the
superexchange is realized via O-O edges of the tetrahedron. Implications for a
broad range of systems are discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, 1 table; discussion extende
The role of hyperfine coupling in magnetic and quadrupolar ordering of Pr3Pd20Si6
We study the ternary clathrate Pr3Pd20Si6 in specific heat and
AC-susceptibility measurements on a high-quality single crystal, distinguishing
antiferromagnetic (AFM) and antiferroquadrupolar (AFQ) ordering on two
sublattices of inequivalent Pr sites. The specific heat shows the direct
involvement of nuclear spin degrees of freedom in the AFM ordering, which is
well supported by our calculation of the hyperfine level scheme without
adjustable parameters. Pr3Pd20Si6 is therefore one of the rare materials where
the nuclear moments are involved in the formation of the magnetic ground state.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure
The health benefits of dietary fibre
Background: Dietary fibre consists of non-digestible forms of carbohydrate, usually as polysaccharides that originate from plant-based foods. Over recent decades, our diet within Westernised societies has changed radically from that of our hominid ancestors, with implications for our co-evolved gut microbiota. This includes increased ingestion of ultra-processed foods that are typically impoverished of dietary fibre, and associated reduction in the intake of fibre-replete plant-based foods. Over recent decades, there has been a transformation in our understanding of the health benefits of dietary fibre. Objective: To explore the current medical literature on the health benefits of dietary fibre, with a focus on overall metabolic health. Data Sources: We performed a narrative review, based on relevant articles written in English from a PubMed search, using the terms ‘dietary fibre and metabolic health’. Results: In the Western world, our diets are impoverished of fibre. Dietary fibre intake associates with overall metabolic health (through key pathways that include insulin sensitivity) and a variety of other pathologies that include cardiovascular disease, colonic health, gut motility and risk for colorectal carcinoma. Dietary fibre intake also correlates with mortality. The gut microflora functions as an important mediator of the beneficial effects of dietary fibre, including the regulation of appetite, metabolic processes and chronic inflammatory pathways. Conclusions: Multiple factors contribute to our fibre-impoverished modern diet. Given the plethora of scientific evidence that corroborate the multiple and varied health benefits of dietary fibre, and the risks associated with a diet that lacks fibre, the optimization of fibre within our diets represents an important public health strategy to improve both metabolic and overall health. If implemented successfully, this strategy would likely result in substantial future health benefits for the population. View Full-Tex
Circulating vaspin is unrelated to insulin sensitivity in a cohort of nondiabetic humans
Objective: To study the association of vaspin with glucose metabolism.
Design: Cross-sectional and intervention study.
Subjects and methods: The association of serum vaspin with metabolic and anthropometric characteristics was investigated in 108 volunteers. Euglycemic–hyperinsulinemic clamps (EHC) were performed in 83 of the participants. Changes of circulating vaspin levels were additionally studied in a crossover study using 300 min EHC with lipid versus saline infusion (n=10).
Results: Neither glucose tolerance status nor insulin sensitivity, both as measured using EHCs and using homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), was significantly associated with serum vaspin in the cross-sectional study. Furthermore, there was no effect of short-term lipid-induced insulin resistance due to a 300 min intravenous lipid challenge on circulating vaspin. However, circulating vaspin levels were significantly elevated in women using oral contraceptives (OC), both compared to women without OC intake (1.17±0.26 vs 0.52±0.09 ng/ml, P=0.02) and males (1.17±0.26 vs 0.29±0.04 ng/ml, P=0.01). After exclusion of OC using females and stratification according to body mass index (BMI), a significant sexual dimorphism in subjects with a BMI <25 kg/m2 was observed (males 0.21±0.04 ng/ml versus females 0.70±0.16 ng/ml, P=0.009).
Conclusion: Our results support the existence of a sexual dimorphism regarding circulating vaspin. The lack of an association of serum vaspin with HOMA-IR and M value indicates, however, no major role for vaspin concerning insulin sensitivity in nondiabetic humans
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