Superstripes and Complexity in High-Temperature Superconductors

While for many years the lattice, electronic and magnetic complexity of high-temperature superconductors (HTS) has been considered responsible for hindering the search of the mechanism of HTS, now the complexity of HTS is proposed to be essential for the quantum mechanism raising the superconducting critical temperature. The complexity is shown by the lattice heterogeneous architecture: heterostructures at atomic limit; (b)?electronic heterogeneity: multiple components in the normal phase; (c)?superconducting heterogeneity: multiple superconducting gaps in different points of the real space and of the momentum space. The complex phase separation forms an unconventional granular superconductor in a landscape of nanoscale superconducting striped droplets, which is called the ??superstripes?? scenario. The interplay and competition between magnetic orbital charge and lattice fluctuations seems to be essential for the quantum mechanism that suppresses thermal decoherence effects at an optimum inhomogeneity.     

Organogel-Based Emulsion Systems,Micro-Structural Features and Impact on In Vitro Digestion

Organogels based on edible oils and specific mixtures of phytosterols can serve as structured systems with a low saturated fat content. These low-SAFA organogels can be used also to create o/w emulsions. Little is known about the structures formed in these specific organogels and at the emulsion interface. We studied o/w organogels on different length scales to describe and understand their micro-structural features. Very basic processing conditions such as composition, temperature and storage time were taken into account. Two different types of structure were observed; at the smallest scale, long thin crystals are formed out of the oil phase into the continuous water phase. We propose that these are needle-like crystals. Next, tube-like structures are identified and can be visualized as tubular micelles. A model is proposed which fits the dimension (~7 nm) with the length scale of the molecular building blocks (TAGs and sterols). As edible fats from food products are enzymatically hydrolyzed in the gut prior to absorption, we also looked into the impact on the lipase reaction speed. Simple in vitro enzymatic hydrolysis experiments showed a slower enzymatic digestion. Organogel systems and emulsion made thereof have interesting food structuring properties with possible advantages in composition (low SAFA) and digestion speed. All authors were full time employees or trainee (MC) of Unilever during actual execution of this study.     

The role of V in rutile-type Sn/V/Nb/Sb mixed oxides, catalysts for propane ammoxidation to acrylonitrile

Rutile-type Sn/V/Nb/Sb mixed oxides of composition Sn/V/Nb/Sb 1/x/1/3 (atomic ratios) were prepared by co-precipitation from an alcoholic medium, characterized and tested as catalysts for the ammoxidation of propane to acrylonitrile. Vanadium had a relevant effect on chemical–physical and reactivity properties of catalysts. The latter consisted of Sn oxide incorporating Sb and Nb cations, of defective rutile-type V/Nb/Sb mixed oxide and of Sb oxide. Increasing amounts of V in samples caused an increase of the crystallinity and a corresponding decrease of the specific surface area. However, a relevant enhancement of the catalyst activity (rate of propane conversion per unit surface area) was observed. This was attributed to the generation of cationic vacancies, formed in the rutile-type V/Nb/Sb mixed oxide, that enhanced the intrinsic activity of V ions in the activation of the alkane. On the other hand, the selectivity to acrylonitrile declined considerably when the content of V in samples was increased, whereas the selectivity to carbon monoxide and that to cyanhydric acid increased.     

Radiative effects on natural convection in vertical convergent channels

Natural convection in air, in a convergent channel, uniformly heated at the principal walls, is experimentally investigated, in order to analyze the effects of the radiative heat transfer. Results in terms of wall temperature profiles as a function of the walls inclination angle, the spacing between the walls, the heat flux, are given for two values of the wall emissivity. Flow visualization is carried out to show the peculiar pattern of the flow between the plates in several configurations. The comparison between two wall emissivity values, 0.10 and 0.90, shows that the effect of thermal radiation is more pronounced for larger convergence angles. For a wall emissivity equal to 0.90 and for small values of the minimum channel spacing, heat transfer in slightly convergent vertical channels is stronger than in a vertical parallel channel. Flow visualization points out a recirculating zone in the upper part of the channel for small values of the minimum channel spacing and for converging angles equal to 5° and 10°. Nusselt numbers and dimensionless maximum temperatures are then evaluated and correlated to the Rayleigh number, in the investigated range from 5 to 5 × 10⁸ and 0° ? θ ? 10°. A very good agreement between experimental data and correlations is observed for the dimensionless parameters based on the maximum channel spacing. Comparisons between experimental and numerical data are also performed and a good relationship is observed.     

Is Cenobamate the Breakthrough We Have Been Wishing for?

Close to one-third of patients with epilepsies are refractory to current anti-seizure medications; however, trials with cenobamate suggest effectiveness in such patients with focal onset seizures. We searched for data published or otherwise reported on cenobamate and outlined these here. Despite being marketed in the USA, few studies are yet published in full, and trials are ongoing. Nevertheless, cenobamate showed potential for a high degree of efficacy in reducing seizures with an unprecedented seizure-free rate of up to 28%. Rare cases of hypersensitivity reactions seen in early trials seem to be avoided by the current recommended titration schedule. Other adverse events were rated mild-to-moderate and most commonly included dizziness, drowsiness, and headache. If data are confirmed in further published trials, cenobamate will be a welcome new treatment and further analyses may identify those that will benefit the most.     

Streamflow Trends and Climate Variability Impacts in Poyang Lake Basin, China

Under the background of global warming, does the effect of the rising global surface temperature accelerate the hydrological cycle? To address this issue, we use the hydro-climatic data from five sub-basins in Poyang Lake basin in the southeast China over the past 50 years, to investigate the annual and seasonal trends of streamflow and the correlations between streamflow and climatic variables. The Theil–Sen Approach and the non-parametric Mann–Kendall test are applied to identify the trends in the annual and seasonal streamflow, precipitation and evapotranspiration series. It was found that annual and seasonal streamflow of all the stations had increasing trends except Lijiadu station in wet season. Only 37.5% hydro-stations in annual streamflow increased significantly, while most stations increased at 95% significance level in dry season. Trends in annual and seasonal precipitation during the whole period were generally not as significant as those in evapotranspiration. The correlations between streamflow and climate variables (precipitation and evapotranspiration) were detected by the Pearson’s test. The results showed that streamflow in the Poyang Lake basin are more sensitive to changes in precipitation than potential evapotranspiration.     

Perturbation approach to the time-resolved transmittance for a spatially varying scattering inclusion in a diffusive slab

In the framework of the perturbation approach to the diffusion equation, an analytical expression is derived to describe the effects on the time-resolved transmittance due to the presence of a spatially varying scattering inclusion hidden inside a diffusive slab. This formula assumes that the reduced scattering coefficient of the inclusion is spatially Gaussian distributed and complements that obtained for the absorptive case. The accuracy and the application range of the perturbed transmittance are investigated through comparisons with the numerical solutions of the time-dependent diffusion equation given by using the finite-element method. The proposed perturbation model is validated through a fitting procedure that determines the relative error in retrieving the scattering perturbation parameter of the inclusion located at the midplane of the slab.     

Visualization and modeling of the hydrodynamics of an impinging microjet

The use of fluorescence confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) for flow visualization is described, with a focus on elucidating the pattern of flow in the microjet electrode (MJE). The MJE employs a nozzle, formed from a fine glass capillary, with an inner diameter of approximately 100 microm, to direct solution at an electrode surface, using high velocity but at moderate volume flow rates. For CLSM visualization, the jetted solution contains a fluorescent probe, fluorescein at high pH, which flows into a solution buffered at low pH, where the fluorescence is extinguished, thereby highlighting the flow field of the impinging microjet. The morphology of the microjet and the hydrodynamic boundary layer are shown to be highly sensitive to the volume flow rate, with a collimated jet and thin boundary layer formed at the faster flow rates (approximately 1 cm(3) min(-1)). In contrast, at lower flow rates and for relatively large substrates, an unusual recirculation zone is observed experimentally for the first time. This effect can be eliminated by employing small substrates. The experimental observations have been quantified through numerical solution of the Navier-Stokes equations of continuity and momentum balance. The new insights provided by CLSM imaging demonstrate that flow in the MJE, and impinging jets in general, are more complex than predicted by classical models but are well-defined and quantifiable.     

Characterization of Silver fir Wood Decay Classes Using Sugar Metabolites Detected with Ion Chromatography

Hunter’s classification is the most adopted method for describing coarse woody debris (CWD) decay stages; however, wood chemical characterization is often lacking. This study explores the sugar profiles of living silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) trees and CWD samples in Hunter’s five-decay stages, evaluating the trends and variability in sugar content in CWD samples during decomposition. Wood cores from living trees and CWD samples from two different forest sites in Trentino (Italy) were analyzed after extraction using ion-exchange chromatography, equipped with pulsed amperometric and charge aerosol detectors (IC-PAD-CAD). Detailed monosaccharides, disaccharides, and sugar alcohol profiles of living wood and CWD samples were described. Cellobiose, arabinose, maltose, and trehalose showed similar trend in both the sites. Principal component analysis (PCA) highlighted the good capability of sugar profiles to well characterize and discriminate silver fir wood samples among Hunter’s categories of wood decomposition.