Proximity effects at ferromagnet-superconductor interfaces

We study proximity effects at ferromagnet superconductor interfaces by self-consistent numerical solution of the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations for the continuum, without any approximations. Our procedures allow us to study systems with long superconducting coherence lengths. We obtain results for the pair potential, the pair amplitude, and the local density of states. We use these results to extract the relevant proximity lengths. We find that the superconducting correlations in the ferromagnet exhibit a damped oscillatory behavior that is reflected in both the pair amplitude and the local density of states. The characteristic length scale of these oscillations is approximately inversely proportional to the exchange field, and is independent of the superconducting coherence length in the range studied. We find the superconducting coherence length to be nearly independent of the ferromagnetic polarization.Comment: 13 Pages total. Compressed .eps figs might display poorly, but will print fin

Metabolic and miRNA Profiling of TMV Infected Plants Reveals Biphasic Temporal Changes

Plant viral infections induce changes including gene expression and metabolic components. Identification of metabolites and microRNAs (miRNAs) differing in abundance along infection may provide a broad view of the pathways involved in signaling and defense that orchestrate and execute the response in plant-pathogen interactions. We used a systemic approach by applying both liquid and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry to determine the relative level of metabolites across the viral infection, together with a miRs profiling using a micro-array based procedure. Systemic changes in metabolites were characterized by a biphasic response after infection. The first phase, detected at one dpi, evidenced the action of a systemic signal since no virus was detected systemically. Several of the metabolites increased at this stage were hormone-related. miRs profiling after infection also revealed a biphasic alteration, showing miRs alteration at 5 dpi where no virus was detected systemically and a late phase correlating with virus accumulation. Correlation analyses revealed a massive increase in the density of correlation networks after infection indicating a complex reprogramming of the regulatory pathways, either in response to the plant defense mechanism or to the virus infection itself. Our data propose the involvement of a systemic signaling on early miRs alteration

Incised valley paleoenvironments interpreted by seismic stratigraphic approach in Patos Lagoon, Southern Brazil

<div><p>ABSTRACT: The Rio Grande do Sul (RS) coastal plain area (33,000 km 2 ) had its physiography modified several times through the Quaternary, responding to allogenic and autogenic forcings. The Patos Lagoon covers a significant area of RS coastal plain (10,000 km 2 ), where incised valleys were identified in previous works. About 1,000 km of high resolution (3.5 kHz) seismic profiles, radiocarbon datings, Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and gravity cores were analyzed to interpret the paleoenvironmental evolution as preserved in incised valley infills. Seismic facies were recognized by seismic parameters. The sediment cores were used to ground-truth the seismic interpretations and help in the paleoenvironmental identification. Key surfaces were established to detail the stratigraphical framework, and seismic facies were grouped into four seismic units, which one classified in respective system tracts within three depositional sequences. The oldest preserved deposits are predominantly fluvial and estuarine facies, representing the falling stage and lowstand system tracts. The Holocene transgressive records are dominated by muddy material, mainly represented by estuarine facies with local variations. The transgression culminated in Late Holocene deposits of Patos Lagoon, representing the highstand system tract. The depositional pattern of the vertical succession was controlled by eustatic variations, while the autogenic forcing (paleogeography and sediment supply) modulated the local facies variation.</p></div

Superconductivity in filamentary eutectic composites. Progress report, June 1, 1980-May 31, 1980

Measurements of electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility have been performed as a function of temperature on samples of Nb-Th eutectic composite. Samples with Nb filament radii as small as 38A were used which is considerably less than the coherence length xi in Nb of approx. 380A. Surprisingly, measurements of all samples showed a drop in electrical resistance near the transition temperature of bulk Nb and an unmeasurably small resistance by approx. 8K. The magnetic susceptibility showed essentially perfect diamagnetism below approx. 7 to 9K even for samples with the smallest of filament radii. This is in contradiction to theories of the proximity effect which predict a sharp decrease in the transition temperature for samples with a radius smaller than xi. Some measurements in a static magnetic field have also been made