227 research outputs found
Effects of surface roughness on the paramagnetic response of small unconventional superconductors
We theoretically study effects of surface roughness on the magnetic response
of small unconventional superconductors by solving the Eilenberger equation for
the quassiclassical Green function and the Maxwell equation for the vector
potential simultaneously and self-consistently. The paramagnetic phase of
spin-singlet -wave superconducting disks is drastically suppressed by the
surface roughness, whereas that of spin-triplet -wave disks is robust even
in the presence of the roughness. Such difference derives from the orbital
symmetry of paramagnetic odd-frequency Cooper pairs appearing at the surface of
disks. The orbital part of the paramagnetic pairing correlation is -wave
symmetry in the -wave disks, whereas it is -wave symmetry in the -wave
ones. Calculating the free-energy, we also confirm that the paramagnetic state
is more stable than the normal state, which indicates a possibility of
detecting the paramagnetic effect in experiments. Indeed our results are
consistent with an experimental finding on high- thin films.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figure
Quantization of Conductance Minimum and Index Theorem
We discuss the minimum value of the zero-bias differential conductance
in a junction consisting of a normal metal and a nodal
superconductor preserving time-reversal symmetry. Using the quasiclassical
Green function method, we show that is quantized at in the limit of strong impurity scatterings in the
normal metal. The integer represents the number of perfect
transmission channels through the junction. An analysis of the chiral symmetry
of the Hamiltonian indicates that corresponds to the
Atiyah-Singer index in mathematics.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur
Effects of the phase coherence on the local density of states in superconducting proximity structures
We theoretically study the local density of states in superconducting
proximity structure where two superconducting terminals are attached to a side
surface of a normal-metal wire. Using the quasiclassical Green's function
method, the energy spectrum is obtained for both of spin-singlet -wave and
spin-triplet -wave junctions. In both of the cases, the decay length of the
proximity effect at the zero temperature is limited by a depairing effect due
to inelastic scatterings. In addition to the depairing effect, in -wave
junctions, the decay length depends sensitively on the transparency at the
junction interfaces, which is a unique property to odd-parity superconductors
where the anomalous proximity effect occurs.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figure
Supercurrent reversal in Zeeman-split Josephson junctions
We study theoretically the shape of the current-phase relation in a Josephson
junction comprising the Zeeman-split superconductors (ZSs) and a normal metal
(N). We show that at low temperatures the Josephson current in the ZS/N/ZS
junctions exhibits an additional reversal in direction at a certain phase
difference . Calculating the spectral Josephson
current, the band-splitting due to the Zeeman interaction is shown to cause the
level crossing in the spectra of the Andreev bound states and the sign reversal
in the Josephson current. Additionally, we propose an alternative method to
electrically control the critical phase difference by tuning the
Rashba spin-orbit coupling, eliminating the need for manipulating
magnetizations.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figure
Adalimumab Monotherapy in a Patient with Psoriatic Arthritis Associated with Chronic Renal Failure on Hemodialysis: A Case Report and Literature Review
We report a patient with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who was successfully treated with adalimumab even while under hemodialysis therapy for associated chronic renal failure. Flow cytometry of circulating lymphocytes revealed an obvious decrease in both Th1 and Th17 cells after starting adalimumab. The latter returned to the pretreatment level in the course of adalimumab therapy, while the former did not. Adalimumab is a potent therapeutic option for PsA patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis, and Th1 in peripheral blood may reflect the disease activity
Marked shrinkage of amyloid lymphadenopathy after an intensive chemotherapy in a patient with IgM-associated AL amyloidosis
This is an electronic version of an article published in Amyloid 2009, Vol. 16, No. 3 : Pages 183-185. Amyloid is available online at: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/13506120903151825A male patient with primary AL amyloidosis who had been suffering from systemic lymphadenopathy with IgM kappa-type M-proteinemia received two courses of VAD and high-dose melphalan with in vivo elimination of CD20(+) cells using rituximab followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. Four years after complete hematological remission he showed marked reduction in size of the amyloid-laden lymph nodes. Deposits of AL amyloid may regress from the tissue if the chemotherapy succeeds in persistent inhibition of the production of amyloidogenic immunoglobulin light chains.ArticleAMYLOID. 16(3):183-185 (2009)journal articl
Calibration of CRL all-sky imagers using an integrating sphere
As part of an international collaboration with the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska, we have developed two all-sky imagers (CRL-ASIs). A sensitivity calibration of the CRL-ASIs was performed using an integrating sphere belonging to the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR). The two-dimensional sensitivities of the CRL-ASIs produced symmetrical distributions. Using this sensitivity data, we converted airglow/aurora images into two-dimensional distributions of absolute intensity. The sensitivity of the CRL-ASIs was measured for 13 wavelengths between 427.8 nm and 866.5 nm, and the relationship between the sensitivity and the wavelength was investigated for both imagers. The peak sensitivity occurred at about 550 nm
The potential of disproportionate growth of tricuspid valve after decompression of the right ventricle in patients with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septa
ObjectiveTricuspid valve size is the major determinant of outcomes for patients with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum. Lack of right ventricle–pulmonary artery continuity is associated with poor tricuspid valve growth (decrement in Z-value). However, most reports did not show evidence for disproportionate growth of the tricuspid valve after establishment of right ventricle–pulmonary artery continuity.MethodsWe studied 40 patients with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum who underwent initial right ventricular decompression for planned staged repair. The initial Z-value of the tricuspid valve diameter (Zt1) was obtained from the echocardiography-derived normal value. The late Z-value (Zt2) was measured before definitive repair or the last available Z-value, if definitive repair was not yet reached. The factors associated with the changes of Z-values (Zt2 − Zt1) were analyzed.ResultsThe mean initial tricuspid Z-value (Zt1) was −6.2 ± 3.5. After treatment (Zt2), the mean Z-value was −6.0 ± 3.4 (n = 34). Overall, the tricuspid Z-values did not change. Individually, the change in Z-value (Zt2 − Zt1) was larger than +2 in 11 (32%) patients and smaller than −2 in 6 (18%) patients. Increases in Z-value (Zt2 − Zt1) were significantly associated with right ventricular pressure/left ventricular pressure ratio measured after initial palliation (r = −0.54; P = .001) and the initial tricuspid valve Z-value (Zt1) (r = −0.40; P = .02).ConclusionsDisproportional growth of the tricuspid valve can occur, especially in patients with small tricuspid valves and lower right ventricular pressures after decompression. The findings support the possibility of neonates with small tricuspid valves undergoing biventricular repair after right ventricular decompression surgery
Thin ZIF-8 nanosheets synthesized in hydrophilic TRAPs
The preparation method of nanosheets using hyperswollen lyotropic lamellar phases, the ‘two-dimensional reactor in amphiphilic phases (TRAP) method’, has successfully provided nanosheets of various non-layered materials. Previously reported examples started from a single hydrophobic or hydrophilic precursor and multiple hydrophobic precursors. Here, we propose a synthesis method of nanosheets of ZIF-8, zinc 2-methylimidazolate, with a sodalite-like framework. They grow up to a few nanometers of thickness and several hundred nanometers of width with neither aggregation nor impurities from multiple hydrophilic precursors in the stoichiometric ratio inside the hydrophilic TRAPs consisting of the amphiphile Brij L4. The thin nanosheets of ZIF-8 doped with Co2+(Co-ZIF-8) synthesized by the same method maintained a high specific surface area after calcination. Therefore, the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of the calcined Co-ZIF-8 NSs for fuel cells becomes higher than that of the calcined conventional Co-ZIF-8 crystals.Sasaki K., Okue T., Shu Y., et al. Thin ZIF-8 nanosheets synthesized in hydrophilic TRAPs. Dalton Transactions 50, 10394 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1039/d1dt01507a
Surgical removal of amyloid-laden lymph nodes: a possible therapeutic approach in a primary systemic AL amyloidosis patient with focal lymphadenopathy
We report a patient with primary systemic AL amyloidosis who suffered from remarkable bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy. Intensive chemotherapies, including two cycles of high-dose melphalan with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, were insufficiently effective for both the lymphadenopathy and amyloidogenic IgG lambda lambda-type M-protein in serum, but the patient showed complete haematological remission after extensive surgical removal of enlarged lymph nodes that had massive depositions of lambda lambda-type immunoglobulin light chain-derived amyloid. Lymphadenectomy may be a possible therapeutic approach with regard to both cosmetic and haematological aspects in primary systemic AL amyloidosis patients with focal lymphadenopathy.ArticleAMYLOID-JOURNAL OF PROTEIN FOLDING DISORDERS. 18(2):79-82 (2011)journal articl
- …