588 research outputs found
Type-III and IV interacting Weyl points
3+1-dimensional Weyl fermions in interacting systems are described by
effective quasi-relativistic Green's functions parametrized by a 16 element
matrix in an expansion around the Weyl point. The matrix
can be naturally identified as an effective tetrad field for
the fermions. The correspondence between the tetrad field and an effective
quasi-relativistic metric governing the Weyl fermions allows for
the possibility to simulate different classes of metric fields emerging in
general relativity in interacting Weyl semimetals. According to this
correspondence, there can be four types of Weyl fermions, depending on the
signs of the components and of the effective metric. In
addition to the conventional type-I fermions with a tilted Weyl cone and
type-II fermions with an overtilted Weyl cone for and respectively
or , we find additional "type-III" and "type-IV" Weyl
fermions with instabilities (complex frequencies) for
or , respectively. While the type-I and type-II Weyl points allow us
to simulate the black hole event horizon at an interface where changes
sign, the type-III Weyl point leads to effective spacetimes with closed
timelike curves.Comment: 7 pages; journal versio
An RG potential for the quantum Hall effects
The phenomenological analysis of fully spin-polarized quantum Hall systems,
based on holomorphic modular symmetries of the renormalization group (RG) flow,
is generalized to more complicated situations where the spin or other "flavors"
of charge carriers are relevant, and where the symmetry is different. We make
the simplest possible ansatz for a family of RG potentials that can interpolate
between these symmetries. It is parametrized by a single number and we show
that this suffices to account for almost all scaling data obtained to date. The
potential is always symmetric under the main congruence group at level two, and
when takes certain values this symmetry is enhanced to one of the maximal
subgroups of the modular group. We compute the covariant RG -function,
which is a holomorphic vector field derived from the potential, and compare the
geometry of this gradient flow with available temperature driven scaling data.
The value of is determined from experiment by finding the location of a
quantum critical point, i.e., an unstable zero of the -function given by
a saddle point of the RG potential. The data are consistent with , which together with the symmetry leads to a generalized
semi-circle law.Comment: 10 figures, sligthly updated discussion and refs, accepted for PR
Developing LCA-based benchmarks for sustainable consumption - for and with users
This article presents the development process of a consumer-oriented, illustrative benchmarking tool enabling consumers to use the results of environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) to make informed decisions. Active and environmentally conscious consumers and environmental communicators were identified as key target groups for this type of information. A brochure presenting the benchmarking tool was developed as an participatory, iterative process involving consumer focus groups, stakeholder workshops and questionnaire-based feedback. In addition to learning what works and what does not, detailed suggestions on improved wording and figures were obtained, as well as a wealth of ideas for future applications
Humoral immune response to heat shock protein 60 of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and cross-reactivity with malondialdehyde acetaldehyde-modified LDL
Publisher Copyright: Copyright: © 2020 Kyrklund et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease and major cause of mortality worldwide. One of the crucial steps for atherosclerotic plaque development is oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Through the oxidation, highly immunogenic epitopes are created and the immune system is activated. Association between atherosclerosis and periodontal diseases is well documented, and one of the main oral pathogens common in periodontitis is Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa). Heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) is an important virulence factor for Aa bacteria and a strong activator of the immune system. Cross-reactivity of HSP60 and oxidized LDL (OxLDL) antibodies could be a potential mechanism in the progression of atherosclerosis and one possible link between atherosclerosis and periodontitis. Human plasma samples from neonates and mothers were analyzed to determine if antibody titer to Aa-HSP60 protein is already present in newborns. Further objectives were to characterize antibody response in Aa-HSP60 immunized mice and to determine possible antibody cross-reaction with oxidized LDL. We demonstrated that newborns already have IgM antibody levels to Aa-HSP60. We also showed that in mice, Aa-HSP60 immunization provoked IgG and IgM antibody response not only to Aa-HSP60 but also to malondialdehyde acetaldehyde-modified LDL (MAA-LDL). Competition assay revealed that the antibodies were specific to Aa-HSP60 and cross-reacted with MAA-LDL. Our results suggest a possibility of molecular mimicry between Aa-HSP60 and MAA-LDL, making it intriguing to speculate on the role of HSP60 protein in atherosclerosis that manifests at young age.Peer reviewe
Local height probabilities in a composite Andrews-Baxter-Forrester model
We study the local height probabilities in a composite height model, derived
from the restricted solid-on-solid model introduced by Andrews, Baxter and
Forrester, and their connection with conformal field theory characters. The
obtained conformal field theories also describe the critical behavior of the
model at two different critical points. In addition, at criticality, the model
is equivalent to a one-dimensional chain of anyons, subject to competing two-
and three-body interactions. The anyonic-chain interpretation provided the
original motivation to introduce the composite height model, and by obtaining
the critical behaviour of the composite height model, the critical behaviour of
the anyonic chains is established as well. Depending on the overall sign of the
hamiltonian, this critical behaviour is described by a diagonal coset-model,
generalizing the minimal models for one sign, and by Fateev-Zamolodchikov
parafermions for the other.Comment: 34 pages, 5 figures; v2: expanded introduction, references added and
other minor change
Nonlinear two-level dynamics of quantum time crystals
A time crystal is a macroscopic quantum system in periodic motion in its ground state. In our experiments, two coupled time crystals consisting of spin-wave quasiparticles (magnons) form a macroscopic two-level system. The two levels evolve in time as determined intrinsically by a nonlinear feedback, allowing us to construct spontaneous two-level dynamics. In the course of a level crossing, magnons move from the ground level to the excited level driven by the Landau-Zener effect, combined with Rabi population oscillations. We demonstrate that magnon time crystals allow access to every aspect and detail of quantum-coherent interactions in a single run of the experiment. Our work opens an outlook for the detection of surface-bound Majorana fermions in the underlying superfluid system, and invites technological exploitation of coherent magnon phenomena – potentially even at room temperature
Collagenase-3 (MMP-13) is Expressed by Hypertrophic Chondrocytes, Periosteal Cells, and Osteoblasts During Human Fetal Bone Development
First report of "Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum" associated with psyllid-affected carrots in Sweden
Preoperative paroxysmal atrial fibrillation predicts high cardiovascular mortality in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis: CAREAVR study
Background Preoperative permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with impaired outcome after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). The impact of preoperative paroxysmal AF, however, has remained elusive. Purpose We assessed the impact of preoperative paroxysmal AF on outcome in patients undergoing SAVR with bioprosthesis. Methods A total of 666 patients undergoing isolated AVR with a bioprosthesis were included. Survival data was obtained from the national registry Statistics Finland. Patients were divided into three groups according to the preoperative rhythm: sinus rhythm (n = 502), paroxysmal AF (n = 90), and permanent AF (n = 74). Results Patients in the sinus rhythm and paroxysmal AF groups did not differ with respect to age (P = .484), gender (P = .402) or CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score (P = .333). At 12-month follow-up, AF was present in 6.2% of sinus rhythm patients and in 42.4% of paroxysmal AF patients (P <.001). During follow-up, incidence of fatal strokes in the paroxysmal AF group was higher compared to sinus rhythm group (1.9 vs 0.4 per 100 patient-years, HR 4.4 95% Cl 1.8-11.0, P = .001). Cardiovascular mortality was higher in the paroxysmal AF group than in the sinus rhythm group (5.0 vs 3.0 per 100 patient-years, HR 1.70 95% CI 1.05-2.76, P = .03) and equal to patients in the permanent AF (5.0 per 100 patient-years). Conclusion Patients undergoing SAVR with bioprosthesis and history of paroxysmal AF had higher risk of developing permanent AF, cardiovascular mortality and incidence of fatal strokes compared to patients with preoperative sinus rhythm. Life-long anticoagulation should be considered in patients with a history of preoperative paroxysmal AF.Peer reviewe
Risk management challenges of shared public services: a comparative analysis of Scotland and Finland
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