663 research outputs found
Quantum fluctuations of polarons on molecules
The dynamic Jahn-Teller splitting of the six equivalent polarons due
to quantum fluctuations is studied in the framework of the Bogoliubov-de Gennes
formalism. The tunneling induced level splittings are determined to be and for and
, respectively, which should give rise to observable effects in
experiments.Comment: REVTEX 3.0, 13 pages, to be published in Phys. Rev.
Thermodynamically stable noncomposite vortices in mesoscopic two-gap superconductors
In mesoscopic two-gap superconductors with sizes of the order of the
coherence length noncomposite vortices are found to be thermodynamically stable
in a large domain of the phase diagram. In these phases the vortex
cores of one condensate are spatially separated from the other condensate ones,
and their respective distributions can adopt distinct symmetries. The
appearance of these vortex phases is caused by a non-negligible effect of the
boundary of the sample on the superconducting order parameter and represents
therefore a genuine mesoscopic effect. For low values of interband Josephson
coupling vortex patterns with can arise in addition to the
phases with , where and are total vorticities in the two
condensates. The calculations show that noncomposite vortices could be observed
in thin mesoscopic samples of MgB.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, to be published in Europhysics Letter
JahnâTeller instability in cationic boron and carbon buckyballs B<sub>80</sub><sup>+</sup> and C<sub>60</sub><sup>+</sup>: a comparative study
This paper investigates the JahnâTeller effect in the icosahedral cation B80+ and compares the descent in symmetry with that in C60+. For both cations the icosahedral ground state is a 2Hu state, which exhibits a H [multiply sign in circle] (g â 2h) JahnâTeller instability. A detailed construction of the potential energy surface of B80+ using different DFT methods including B3LYP/6-31G(d), VWN/6-31G(d), PBE/TZP and PBE/6-31G(d) shows that, contrary to C60+, which prefers D5d symmetry, the ground state of B80+ adopts S6 point group symmetry. A D3d structure is identified as a saddle point among the S6 minima of B80+. The distortion of D3d to S6 in B80+ is attributed to a superposition of JahnâTeller and pseudo-JahnâTeller effects. Imaginary modes, transforming as the gg representation, which are present in neutral icosahedral B80, form the dominant symmetry breaking active modes. The pronounced difference between the JT effects in the boron and carbon buckyball cations is due to the plasticity of the boron caps. The calculated JahnâTeller stabilization of B80+ is nearly 1549 cmâ1 (PBE/TZP), which exceeds the stabilization of 596 cmâ1 computed for C60+ at the same level
Dynamical Jahn-Teller Effect and Berry Phase in Positively Charged Fullerene I. Basic Considerations
We study the Jahn-Teller effect of positive fullerene ions C
and C. The aim is to discover if this case, in analogy with the
negative ion, possesses a Berry phase or not, and what are the consequences on
dynamical Jahn-Teller quantization. Working in the linear and spherical
approximation, we find no Berry phase in C, and
presence/absence of Berry phase for coupling of one hole to an
/ vibration. We study in particular the special equal-coupling case
(), which is reduced to the motion of a particle on a 5-dimensional
sphere. In the icosahedral molecule, the final outcome assesses the
presence/absence of a Berry phase of for the hole coupled to
/ vibrations. Some qualitative consequences on ground-state symmetry,
low-lying excitations, and electron emission from C are spelled out.Comment: 31 pages (RevTeX), 3 Postscript figures (uuencoded
Theory of Spontaneous Polarization of Endohedral Fullerenes
A pseudo-Jahn-Teller model describing central atom distortions is proposed
for endohedral fullerenes of the form A@C where A is either a rare gas
or a metal atom. A critical (dimensionless) coupling is found, below
which the symmetric configuration is stable and above which inversion symmetry
is broken. Vibronic parameters are given for selected endohedral fullerenes.Comment: 4 pages, REVTEX, 1 Postscript figure. [Phys. Rev. Lett. (in press)
Enhanced ozone strongly reduces carbon sink strength of adult beech (Fagus sylvatica) â Resume from the free-air fumigation study at Kranzberg Forest
Ground-level ozone (O3) has gained awareness as an agent of climate change. In this respect, key results are comprehended from a unique 8-year free-air O3-fumigation experiment, conducted on adult beech (Fagus sylvatica) at Kranzberg Forest (Germany). A novel canopy O3 exposure methodology was employed that allowed whole-tree assessment in situ under twice-ambient O3 levels. Elevated O3 significantly weakened the C sink strength of the treeâsoil system as evidenced by lowered photosynthesis and 44% reduction in whole-stem growth, but increased soil respiration. Associated effects in leaves and roots at the gene, cell and organ level varied from year to year, with drought being a crucial determinant of O3 responsiveness. Regarding adult individuals of a late-successional tree species, empirical proof is provided first time in relation to recent modelling predictions that enhanced ground-level O3 can substantially mitigate the C sequestration of forests in view of climate change
Effects of climate warming and declining species richness in grassland model ecosystems: acclimation of CO2 fluxes
To study the effects of warming and declining species richness on the carbon balance of grassland communities, model ecosystems containing one, three or nine species were exposed to ambient and elevated (ambient +3°C) air temperature. In this paper, we analyze measured ecosystem CO2 fluxes to test whether ecosystem photosynthesis and respiration had acclimated to warming after 28 months of continuous heating, and whether the degree of acclimation depended on species richness. In order to test whether acclimation occurred, short term temperature response curves were established for all communities in both treatments. At similar temperatures, lower flux rates in the heated communities as compared to the unheated communities would indicate thermal acclimation. Because plant cover was significantly higher in the heated treatment, we normalized the data for plant cover. Subsequently, down-regulation of both photosynthesis and respiration was observed. Although CO2 fluxes were larger in communities with higher species richness, species richness did not affect the degree of acclimation to warming. These results imply that models need to take thermal acclimation into account to simulate photosynthesis and respiration in a warmer world.This research was funded by the Fund for
Scientific Research â Flanders (Belgium) as project âeffects of biodiversity loss and climate warming on carbon sequestration
mechanisms in terrestrial ecosystemsâ, contract #G.0434.03N. H. J. De Boeck holds a grant from the Institute for the Promotion
of Innovation by science and Technology in Flanders. P. Serrano-Ortiz benefits from a pre-doctoral grant from the Junta
de AndalucĂa
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Swiss pregnant and breastfeeding women - a cross-sectional study covering the first pandemic wave.
Information on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnancy and breastfeeding experiences, as well as on perinatal mental health in Switzerland is limited. In Switzerland, there are few national studies and little information. Using an anonymous online survey accessible after the first wave of the outbreak in Switzerland, we have investigated how this pandemic affected pregnant and breastfeeding women. Among women who completed the survey, 69.0% (1050/1518) indicated the first wave of the pandemic affected their personal habits, 61.0% (689/1131) were affected in their work and 40.0% (632/1573) reported impaired relations with healthcare services (different denominators correspond to the number of participants who answered the question). 36.8% (110/299) of women reported an impact of the pandemic on their current pregnancy experience or breastfeeding experience (8.2%, 46/555). Overall, 11.6% (170/1467) of participants who completed the validated screening tests for mental health symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7, Perceived Stress Scale) presented a score compatible with symptoms of major depression, severe anxiety or high perceived stress, which is higher than in the pre-pandemic period according to literature. Risk factors independently associated with impaired mental health were being hospitalized, having symptoms of COVID-19, living with a person with COVID-19 symptoms, having comorbidities, having experienced reduced healthcare services, having restricted usual activities and being a housewife. Protective factors independently associated were a high level of education and living with a partner. Our findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic might have significantly affected the well-being and mental health of pregnant and breastfeeding women, directly in the case of exposure, and indirectly as a result of the potential modifications in their life habits and in healthcare facilities
Complete right-to-left shunt on lung perfusion SPECT results in the detection of a persistent left vena cava superior draining to the left atrium
In order to exclude acute pulmonary embolism, a lung perfusion scintigraphy was performed in a 53-year-old male, with a history of Fallotâs tetralogy. He had been immobilized because of a tibial fracture and complained of worsening chest pain and dyspnea
Atmospheric drivers of storage water use in Scots pine
International audienceIn this study we determined the microclimatic drivers of storage water use in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in a temperate climate. The storage water use was modeled using the ANAFORE model, integrating a dynamic water flow and ? storage model with a process-based transpiration model. The model was calibrated and validated with sap flow measurements for the growing season of 2000 (26 May?18 October). Because there was no severe soil drought during the study period, we were able to study atmospheric effects. Incoming radiation was the main driver of storage water use. The general trends of sap flow and storage water use are similar, and follow more or less the pattern of incoming radiation. Nevertheless, considerable differences in the day-to-day pattern of sap flow and storage water use were observed, mainly driven by vapour pressure deficit (VPD). During dry atmospheric conditions (high VPD) storage water use was reduced. This reduction was disproportionally higher than the reduction in measured sap flow. Our results suggest that the trees did not rely more on storage water during periods of atmospheric drought, without severe soil drought. A third important factor was the tree water deficit. When storage compartments were depleted beyond a threshold, storage water use was limited due to the low water potential in the storage compartments. The maximum relative contribution of storage water to daily transpiration was also constrained by an increasing tree water deficit
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