Origin of Hysteresis in a Proximity Josephson Junction

We investigate hysteresis in the transport properties of Superconductor - Normal metal - Superconductor (S-N-S) junctions at low temperatures by measuring directly the electron temperature in the normal metal. Our results demonstrate unambiguously that the hysteresis results from an increase of the normal metal electron temperature once the junction switches to the resistive state. In our geometry, the electron temperature increase is governed by the thermal resistance of the superconducting electrodes of the junction

Spectral analysis of the Forbush decrease of 13 July 1982

The maximum entropy method has been applied in the spectral analysis of high-energy cosmic-ray intensity during the large Forbush event of July 13, 1982. An oscillation with period of about 2 hours and amplitude of 1 to 3% was found to be present during the decrease phase. This oscillation can be related to a similar periodicity in the magnetospheric field. However, the variation was not observed at all neutron monitor stations. In the beginning of the recovery phase, the intensity oscillated with a period of about 10 hours and amplitude of 3%

A facility for investigation of multiple hadrons at cosmic-ray energies

An experimental arrangement for studying multiple hadrons produced in high-energy hadron-nucleus interactions is under construction at the university of Turku. The method of investigation is based on the detection of hadrons arriving simultaneously at sea level over an area of a few square meters. The apparatus consists of a hadron spectrometer with position-sensitive detectors in connection with a small air shower array. The position resolution using streamer tube detectors will be about 10 mm. Energy spectra of hadrons or groups of simultaneous hadrons produced at primary energies below 10 to the 16th power eV can be measured in the energy range 1 to 2000 GeV

Observations of cosmic-ray modulations in the fall, 1984

Modulation of cosmic-ray energy spectrum was studied by using the Turku double neutron monitor. The multiplicity region of detected neutrons produced by cosmic ray hadrons in the monitor was divided into seven categories corresponding to mean energies 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 3.2, 8.6, 21, and 94 GeV of hadrons at sea level. Based on 24-hour frequencies, a statistical analysis showed that modulation of the intensity in all categories occurred during several periods in the fall 1984. The magnitude of the variation was a few per cent

Investigation of cosmic rays in very short time scales

A fast databuffer system, where cosmic ray events in the Turku hadron spectrometer, including particle arrival times are recorded with time resolution of 100 ns was constructed. The databuffer can be read continuously by a microprocessor, which preanalyzes the data and transfers it to the main computer. The time span, that can be analyzed in every detail, is a few seconds. The high time resolution enables a study of time correlated groups of high energy particles. In addition the operational characteristics of the spectrometer can be monitored in detail

Platinum-group element contents of Karelian kimberlites: implications for the PGE budget of the sub-continental lithospheric mantle

We present high-precision isotope dilution data for Os, Ir, Ru, Pt, Pd and Re in Group I and Group II kimberlites from the Karelian craton, as well as 2 samples of the Premier Group I kimberlite pipe from the Kaapvaal craton. The samples have, on average, 1.38 ppb Pt and 1.33 ppb Pd, with Pt/Pd around unity. These PGE levels are markedly lower, by as much as 80%, than those reported previously for kimberlites from South Africa, Brazil and India, but overlap with PGE results reported recently from Canadian kimberlites. Primitive-mantle-normalised chalcophile element patterns are relatively flat from Os to Pt, but Cu, Ni and, somewhat less so, Au are enriched relative to the PGE (e.g., Cu/Pd > 25.000). Pd/Ir ratios are 3,6 on average, lower than in most other mantle melts. The PGE systematics can be largely explained by two components, (i) harzburgite/lherzolite detritus of the SCLM with relatively high IPGE (Os-Ir-Ru)/PPGE (Rh-Pt-Pd) ratios, and (ii) a melt component that has high PPGE/IPGE ratios. By using the concentrations of iridium in the kimberlites as a proxy for the proportion of mantle detritus in the magma, we estimate that the analysed kimberlites contain 3–27% entrained and partially dissolved detritus from the sub-continental lithospheric mantle, consistent with previous estimates of kimberlites elsewhere (Tappe S. et al., 2016, Chem. Geol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2016.08.019). The other major component in the samples is melt, modelled to contain an average of 0.85 ppb Pt and 1.09 ppb Pd. Assuming that Group II kimberlites are derived from relatively metasomatised SCLM, our data suggest that the metasomatised Karelian SCLM is relatively poor in Pt and Pd. If our data are representative of other Group II kimberlites elsewhere, this result could imply that the PGE enrichment in certain continental large igneous provinces, including Bushveld, is not derived from melting of metasomatised SCLM

Growing season precipitation in Finland under recent and projected climate

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Elevated serum YKL-40, IL-6, CRP, CEA, and CA19-9 combined as a prognostic biomarker panel after resection of colorectal liver metastases

Background The inflammatory biomarkers, YKL-40 and interleukin-6 (IL-6), are elevated in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. We examined their associations with relapse-free survival and overall survival in combination with serum C-reactive protein (CRP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and carbohydrate antigen 19–9 (CA19-9) in patients with colorectal liver metastases. Methods Altogether 441 consecutive patients undergoing liver resection at Helsinki University Hospital between 1998 and 2013 were included in the study. Pre- and postoperative YKL-40 and IL-6 were determined from serum samples with commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, and CRP, CEA, and CA19-9 by routine methods. Associations between these biomarkers and relapse-free and overall survival were examined using Cox regression analysis. Results Patients with 2–5 elevated biomarkers were at an increased risk of relapse compared to those with 0–1 elevated biomarkers, preoperatively (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.1–1.72) or postoperatively (HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.23–1.92). Patients with 2–5 elevated biomarkers were also at an increased risk of death compared to those with 0–1 elevated biomarkers, preoperatively (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.39–2.24) or postoperatively (HR 1.83, 95% CI 1.44–2.33). Conclusion The results suggest that a protein panel of the inflammatory biomarkers YKL-40, IL-6, and CRP, and the cancer biomarkers CEA and CA19-9 might identify patients that benefit from more aggressive treatment and surveillance, although the additional value of IL-6 and CRP in this aspect is limited.Peer reviewe

Calorimetric readout of a superconducting proximity-effect thermometer

A proximity-effect thermometer measures the temperature dependent critical supercurrent in a long superconductor - normal metal - superconductor (SNS) Josephson junction. Typically, the transition from the superconducting to the normal state is detected by monitoring the appearance of a voltage across the junction. We describe a new approach to detect the transition based on the temperature increase in the resistive state due to Joule heating. Our method increases the sensitivity and is especially applicable for temperatures below about 300 mK.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures. To appear in the proceedings of the Conference on Micro- and Nanocryogenics (LT25 satellite) organized in Espoo, Finland (2008