Wigner crystal diode

We study the transport properties of a Wigner crystal in one- and two-dimensional asymmetric periodic potential. We show that the Aubry transition takes place above a certain critical amplitude of potential with the sliding and pinned phase below and above the transition. Due to the asymmetry the Aubry pinned phase is characterized by the diode charge transport of the Wigner crystal. We argue that the recent experimental observations of Aubry transition with cold ions and colloidal monolayers can be extended to asymmetric potentials making possible to observe Wigner crystal diode with these physical systems and electrons on liquid helium.Comment: 11 pages, 19 figures, accepted to Phys Rev

Elevated AKR1C3 expression promotes prostate cancer cell survival and prostate cell-mediated endothelial cell tube formation: implications for prostate cancer progressioan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Aldo-keto reductase (AKR) 1C family member 3 (AKR1C3), one of four identified human AKR1C enzymes, catalyzes steroid, prostaglandin, and xenobiotic metabolism. In the prostate, AKR1C3 is up-regulated in localized and advanced prostate adenocarcinoma, and is associated with prostate cancer (PCa) aggressiveness. Here we propose a novel pathological function of AKR1C3 in tumor angiogenesis and its potential role in promoting PCa progression.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To recapitulate elevated AKR1C3 expression in cancerous prostate, the human PCa PC-3 cell line was stably transfected with an AKR1C3 expression construct to establish PC3-AKR1C3 transfectants. Microarray and bioinformatics analysis were performed to identify AKR1C3-mediated pathways of activation and their potential biological consequences in PC-3 cells. Western blot analysis, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and an <it>in vitro </it>Matrigel angiogenesis assays were applied to validate the pro-angiogenic activity of PC3-AKR1C3 transfectants identified by bioinformatics analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Microarray and bioinformatics analysis suggested that overexpression of AKR1C3 in PC-3 cells modulates estrogen and androgen metabolism, activates insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and Akt signaling pathways, as well as promotes tumor angiogenesis and aggressiveness. Levels of IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and Akt activation as well as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and secretion were significantly elevated in PC3-AKR1C3 transfectants in comparison to PC3-mock transfectants. PC3-AKR1C3 transfectants also promoted endothelial cell (EC) tube formation on Matrigel as compared to the AKR1C3-negative parental PC-3 cells and PC3-mock transfectants. Pre-treatment of PC3-AKR1C3 transfectants with a selective IGF-1R kinase inhibitor (AG1024) or a non-selective phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) inhibitor (LY294002) abolished ability of the cells to promote EC tube formation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Bioinformatics analysis followed by functional genomics demonstrated that AKR1C3 overexpression promotes angiogenesis and aggressiveness of PC-3 cells. These results also suggest that AKR1C3-mediated tumor angiogenesis is regulated by estrogen and androgen metabolism with subsequent IGF-1R and Akt activation followed by VEGF expression in PCa cells.</p

Thermoelectric properties of Wigner crystal in two-dimensional periodic potential

9 pages, 9 figuresInternational audienceWe study numerically transport and thermoelectric properties of electrons placed in a two-dimensional (2D) periodic potential. Our results show that the transition from sliding to pinned phase takes place at a certain critical amplitude of lattice potential being similar to the Aubry transition for the one-dimensional Frenkel-Kontorova model. We show that the 2D Aubry pinned phase is characterized by high values of Seebeck coefficient S = 12. At the same time we find that the value of Seebeck coefficient is significantly influenced by the geometry of periodic potential. We discuss possibilities to test the properties of 2D Aubry phase with electrons on a surface of liquid helium

Thermoelectric properties of Wigner crystal in two-dimensional periodic potential

9 pages, 9 figuresWe study numerically transport and thermoelectric properties of electrons placed in a two-dimensional (2D) periodic potential. Our results show that the transition from sliding to pinned phase takes place at a certain critical amplitude of lattice potential being similar to the Aubry transition for the one-dimensional Frenkel-Kontorova model. We show that the 2D Aubry pinned phase is characterized by high values of Seebeck coefficient S = 12. At the same time we find that the value of Seebeck coefficient is significantly influenced by the geometry of periodic potential. We discuss possibilities to test the properties of 2D Aubry phase with electrons on a surface of liquid helium

Triple F-a comet nucleus sample return mission

The Triple F (Fresh From the Fridge) mission, a Comet Nucleus Sample Return, has been proposed to ESA’s Cosmic Vision program. A sample return from a comet enables us to reach the ultimate goal of cometary research. Since comets are the least processed bodies in the solar system, the proposal goes far beyond cometary science topics (like the explanation of cometary activity) and delivers invaluable information about the formation of the solar system and the interstellar molecular cloud from which it formed. The proposed mission would extract three sample cores of the upper 50 cm from three locations on a cometary nucleus and return them cooled to Earth for analysis in the laboratory. The simple mission concept with a touch-and-go sampling by a single spacecraft was proposed as an M-class mission in collaboration with the Russian space agency ROSCOSMOS.ISSN:0922-6435ISSN:1572-950

The Institutional Foundations of the Digital Economy in the 21st Century/ Elena G. Popkova, Artem Krivtsov, Aleksei V. Bogoviz.

In English.The development of the Digital Economy has been a landmark breakthrough for economic systems in the 21st century, as it opens up opportunities for the full-scale implementation of new digital technologies and the optimization of economic activities. While the conceptual essence and specific features of the digital economy are described in detail in the existing literature, the practical foundations of its formation are poorly studied. In this book, the digital economy is studied from the perspective of neo-institutional economic theory. This allows for the tracking of the process of formation (institutionalization) of the digital economy, determining the basic institutions that are necessary for its formation and that exist in modern economic practice, and analyzing scenarios for the future development of the digital economy in the 21st century.Frontmatter -- Contents -- Digital Economy in the 21 Century: An Introduction to the Institutional Approach -- Part I: The Scientific Concept of the Digital Economy in the 21st Century -- 1 Digital Economy as a Modern Type of Economic System -- 2 “Digitalization”- Overcoming Institutional Barriers -- 3 Development of the Information Technologies Sector in Latvia under Globalization -- 4 The Principles of Functioning and Priorities of Development of the Digital Economy -- 5 Classification of Breakthrough Digital Technologies and the Perspectives of Their Application in Economy -- Part II: The Process of Digital Economy Institutionalization in the 21st Century -- 6 The Essence and Logic of the Process of Sectorial Markets' Digital Transformation -- 7 The Current Tendencies of Economy Digitalization in Developed and Developing Countries -- 8 The Main Stages of the Digital Modernization of Economy -- 9 Implementation of Cluster Initiatives in the Digital Sphere as a Tool of Digital Entrepreneurship's Institutionalization -- 10 Institutions of Support for Digital Entrepreneurship: Special Economic Zones, Innovative Networks and Technological Parks -- Part III: Meso-Level Institutions of the Digital Economy in the 21st Century -- 11 Digitalization of Regional Economy: Problems and Perspectives -- 12 The Institutional Model of the Digital Economy Creation in a Modern Region -- 13 Managing a Modern Region Based on Digital Technologies -- Part IV: Macro-Level Institutions of the Digital Economy in the 21st Century -- 14 State Institutional Regulation of Economy Digital Modernization -- 15 The Role of Financial Institutions in Supporting the Digital Economy -- 16 Digital Economy of the 21st Century: A View from the Positions of Developed and Developing Countries -- Part V: The Global Institutions of the Digital Economy in the 21st Century -- 17 International Trade in the Digital Sphere: Barriers and Prospects for Development -- 18 The Existing and Perspective International Institutions for Supporting Digital Transformation of Economy -- 19 The Scientific and Methodological Approach to Provision and Evaluation of the Digital Economy's Global Competitiveness -- 20 The Strategy of Optimal Development of the Digital Economy: A View from the Positions of Game Theory -- 21 The Institutional Model of Well-Balanced and Sustainable Digital Economy -- 22 The Institutional Mechanism of Managing the Digital Economy's Development -- Part VI: Case Studies of Institutions of the Digital Economy in the 21st Century -- 23 Problems and Prospects of Economic Cooperation Between Russia and Mexico -- 24 Innovative Critical Success Factors for Public - Private Partnerships (PPP) in Infrastructure Projects of Developing Countries. A Case of Zambia -- 25 Prediction Mechanism of the Territorial Socio-Economic Processes in Formation of the Information Systems -- 26 Specific Economic Security Regulations in the Context of Pathological Crises of Digital Transformation of Agricultural Organizations -- Conclusion: Institutional Perspectives of the Digital Economy's Development in the 21st Century -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- Index.1 online resource (XI, 258 p.)

Recent progress in L-H transition studies at JET: Tritium, Helium, Hydrogen and Deuterium

We present an overview of results from a series of L-II transition experiments undertaken at JET since the installation of the ITER-like-wall (JET-ILW), with beryllium wall tiles and a tungsten divertor. Tritium, helium and deuterium plasmas have been investigated. Initial results in tritium show ohmic L-H transitions at low density and the power threshold for the L-H transition (P-LH) is lower in tritium plasmas than in deuterium ones at low densities, while we still lack contrasted data to provide a scaling at high densities. In helium plasmas there is a notable shift of the density at which the power threshold is minimum ((n) over bar (e,min)) to higher values relative to deuterium and hydrogen references. Above (n) over bar (e,min) (He) the L-H power threshold at high densities is similar for D and He plasmas. Transport modelling in slab geometry shows that in helium neoclassical transport competes with interchange-driven transport, unlike in hydrogen isotopes. Measurements of the radial electric field in deuterium plasmas show that E-r shear is not a good indicator of proximity to the L-H transition. Transport analysis of ion heat flux in deuterium plasmas show a non-linearity as density is decreased below (n) over bar (e,min). Lastly, a regression of the JET-ILW deuterium data is compared to the 2008 ITPA scaling law