Designing the stripe-ordered cuprate phase diagram through uniaxial-stress.

The ability to efficiently control charge and spin in the cuprate high-temperature superconductors is crucial for fundamental research and underpins technological development. Here, we explore the tunability of magnetism, superconductivity, and crystal structure in the stripe phase of the cuprate La[Formula: see text]Ba[Formula: see text]CuO[Formula: see text], with [Formula: see text] = 0.115 and 0.135, by employing temperature-dependent (down to 400 mK) muon-spin rotation and AC susceptibility, as well as X-ray scattering experiments under compressive uniaxial stress in the CuO[Formula: see text] plane. A sixfold increase of the three-dimensional (3D) superconducting critical temperature [Formula: see text] and a full recovery of the 3D phase coherence is observed in both samples with the application of extremely low uniaxial stress of [Formula: see text]0.1 GPa. This finding demonstrates the removal of the well-known 1/8-anomaly of cuprates by uniaxial stress. On the other hand, the spin-stripe order temperature as well as the magnetic fraction at 400 mK show only a modest decrease under stress. Moreover, the onset temperatures of 3D superconductivity and spin-stripe order are very similar in the large stress regime. However, strain produces an inhomogeneous suppression of the spin-stripe order at elevated temperatures. Namely, a substantial decrease of the magnetic volume fraction and a full suppression of the low-temperature tetragonal structure is found under stress, which is a necessary condition for the development of the 3D superconducting phase with optimal [Formula: see text]. Our results evidence a remarkable cooperation between the long-range static spin-stripe order and the underlying crystalline order with the three-dimensional fully coherent superconductivity. Overall, these results suggest that the stripe- and the SC order may have a common physical mechanism.

Prokinetic drug treatment (cisapride) is as effective as H2-blocking agent (ranitidine) in the treatment of gastric ulcer.

A double-blind, randomized, parallel-group multicenter study was conducted in 120 patients with gastric ulcer to compare cisapride, 10 mg t.i.d., and ranitidine, 150 mg b.i.d., administered over 8 weeks. No significant differences between the results of the two treatments were found in terms of ulcer healing or symptomatic relief. Endoscopy showed that the incidence of medium-sized or large ulcers was reduced from 85% at the start to 11% and 4%, respectively, after 4 and 8 weeks in the ranitidine group, and from 98% to 15% and 4%, respectively, in the cisapride group. By week 8, the ulcer was healed in 89% of the ranitidine patients, and in 86% of the cisapride patients. Moderate to severe diurnal epigastric pain--the predominant symptom--was reported by about 80% of the patients in week 8, and by less than 15% from week 4 on. The response to nocturnal epigastric pain, epigastric pressure, sensation of fullness and other symptoms was similar. Except for gastrointestinal symptoms in the cisapride patients--nearly always indicative of enhanced bowel contractions--the occurrence of adverse effects was similar in the two groups. The improvement in gastrointestinal motility under cisapride, would appear to be as effective as suppression of acid secretion in the treatment of gastric ulcer disease.