Effect of annealing on a pseudogap state in untwinned YBa2Cu3O7-δ single crystals.

The effect of annealing both in the oxygen atmosphere and at room temperatures on physical properties such as the pseudogap (Δ*(T)) and excess conductivity (σ'(T)) of untwined YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) single crystal with a small deviation from oxygen stoichiometry is studied. It was revealed that as the charge carrier density, nf, increases, Тс also slightly increases, whereas the temperature of the pseudogap opening, T*, decreases noticeably, which is consistent with the phase diagram (PD) of cuprates. The excess conductivity in the vicinity of Tc is represented by the Aslamazov-Larkin and Hikami-Larkin fluctuation theories, illustrating the three-dimensional to two-dimensional (i.e. 3D-2D) crossover with an increase in temperature. The crossover temperature T0 determines the coherence length along the c axis is ξc(0) = 0.86 Å, that is 2.6 times larger than for optimally doped YBCO single crystals with defects. Taking into account the short coherence length in high-temperature superconductors, in the model of free charge carriers the phase relaxation time of fluctuating Cooper pairs is determined, τφ (100 K) = (4.55 ± 0.4) · 10-13 s, which is slightly (1.2 times) larger than in well-structured YBCO films, and as in films, does not depend on nf. It is shown that Δ*(T) at different annealing stages practically does not change its shape. As in the well-structured YBCO films, Δ*(T) demonstrates maximum at Tpair~124 K which depends weakly on nf. However, the maximum value of Δ*(Tpair) increases with increasing nf, as it follows from the PD of cuprates. Comparing the experimental data with the Peters-Bauer theory we estimated the density of local pairs ≈ 0.3 near Tc that is a common value for high-temperature superconductors.

Peculiarities of pseudogap in Y0.95Pr0.05Ba2Cu3O7-δ single crystals under pressure up to 1.7 GPa.

The effect of hydrostatic pressure up to P = 1.7 GPa on the fluctuation conductivity σ'(T) and pseudogap ∆*(T) in Y0.95Pr0.05Ba2Cu3O7-δ single crystal with critical temperature Тс = 85.2 K (at P = 0) was investigated. The application of pressure leads to the increase in Tc with dTc/dP = +1.82 K∙GPa-1 while the resistance decreases as dlnρ(100 K)/dP = -(10.5 ± 0.2) %∙GPa-1. Regardless of the pressure, in the temperature interval from Tc to T0 (~88 K at P = 0) the behaviour of σ'(T) is well described by the Aslamazov - Larkin (AL - 3D) fluctuation theory, and above the T0 by the Lawrence - Doniach theory (LD). The Maki-Thompson (MT - 2D) fluctuation contribution is not observed. This indicates the presence of structural defects in the sample induced by Pr. Here it is determined for the first time that when the pressure is applied to the Y1-xPrxBa2Cu3O7-δ single crystal, the pseudogap increases as dlnΔ*/dP = 0.17 GPa-1.

[Compensatory responses in lymph nodes following by prenatal indomethacin exposure]. / Kompensatornye reaktsii v limfaticheskikh uzlakh posle prenatal'nogo vozdeistviia indometatsina.

Retardation of development of the structures of mesenteric lymph nodes (maximum at first 1-2 wks) was discovered in rats treated with indometacin. It was dependent on the doze of preparations. Mast cells and eosinophilic reactions associated with normalization of the stroma structure and functional activity of lymph nodes nerve structures took place in the lymph node substance as adaptive processes on the background of lymphocytopenia and incomplete development of the lymph node B zone by weeks 2-3.

[The cerebral control of afferent somatosensory projections]. / Tserebral'nyi kontrol' afferentnykh somatosensornykh proektsii.

Cortical and dorsal column nuclei somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) induced by electrical stimulation of the median nerve were recorded and analysed in 16 healthy volunteers practising transcendental meditation (TM) for two years. The records were performed before and during TM. The SEP changes during TM consisted of an increase in early SEP components amplitude. There were no changes in early SEP components peak latencies during TM.