Semiclassical description of Heisenberg models via spin-coherent states

We use spin-coherent states as a time-dependent variational ansatz for a semiclassical description of a large family of Heisenberg models. In addition to common approaches we also evaluate the square variance of the Hamiltonian in terms of coherent states. This quantity turns out to have a natural interpretation with respect to time-dependent solutions of the equations of motion and allows for an estimate of quantum fluctuations in a semiclassical regime. The general results are applied to solitons, instantons and vortices in several one- and two-dimensional models.Comment: 14 page

Genetic deficiency of aldose reductase counteracts the development of diabetic nephropathy in C57BL/6 mice

National Science Foundation of China [30770490]; 973 Program of China [2009CB941601]; Science Planning Program of Fujian Province [2009J1010]; Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province [2009J01180]; Fujian Provincial Department of Science and TechnoloThe aim of the study was to investigate the effects of genetic deficiency of aldose reductase in mice on the development of key endpoints of diabetic nephropathy. A line of Ar (also known as Akr1b3)-knockout (KO) mice, a line of Ar-bitransgenic mice and control C57BL/6 mice were used in the study. The KO and bitransgenic mice were deficient for Ar in the renal glomeruli and all other tissues, with the exception of, in the bitransgenic mice, a human AR cDNA knockin-transgene that directed collecting-tubule epithelial-cell-specific AR expression. Diabetes was induced in 8-week-old male mice with streptozotocin. Mice were further maintained for 17 weeks then killed. A number of serum and urinary variables were determined for these 25-week-old mice. Periodic acid-Schiff staining, western blots, immunohistochemistry and protein kinase C (PKC) activity assays were performed for histological analyses, and to determine the levels of collagen IV and TGF-beta 1 and PKC activities in renal cortical tissues. Diabetes-induced extracellular matrix accumulation and collagen IV overproduction were completely prevented in diabetic Ar-KO and bitransgenic mice. Ar deficiency also completely or partially prevented diabetes-induced activation of renal cortical PKC, TGF-beta 1 and glomerular hypertrophy. Loss of Ar results in a 43% reduction in urine albumin excretion in the diabetic Ar-KO mice and a 48% reduction in the diabetic bitransgenic mice (p < 0.01). Genetic deficiency of Ar significantly ameliorated development of key endpoints linked with early diabetic nephropathy in vivo. Robust and specific inhibition of aldose reductase might be an effective strategy for the prevention and treatment of diabetic nephropathy

Stereo structure of a norbornene diexo-condensed 1,3-oxazine (2,3-) isoindolone

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Calculating the surface temperature of the solid underlying surface by modified &apos;force-restore&apos; method

The calculation of rocky surface temperature encounters the problem of unrealistic results due to its large changes at the interface where the energy balance equation is applied. In order to avoid this, we have modified the &apos;force-restore&apos; method into a self-consistent procedure for simultaneous determination of both surface and the deep ground temperature. The approach is applicable to any celestial body where external radiation can be represented by an arbitrary periodic function. The method is tested with Earth based infrared observation on lunar surface temperature and it showed a high level of accuracy and a rather fast convergence of procedure. © Springer-Verlag 2000

The molecular structure of 3-phenyl-6,7-dimethoxyisoquinoline

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