Dyon condensation in topological Mott insulators

We consider quantum phase transitions out of topological Mott insulators in which the ground state of the fractionalized excitations (fermionic spinons) is topologically non-trivial. The spinons in topological Mott insulators are coupled to an emergent compact U(1) gauge field with a so-called "axion" term. We study the confinement transitions from the topological Mott insulator to broken symmetry phases, which may occur via the condensation of dyons. Dyons carry both "electric" and "magnetic" charges, and arise naturally in this system because the monopoles of the emergent U(1) gauge theory acquires gauge charge due to the axion term. It is shown that the dyon condensate, in general, induces simultaneous current and bond orders. To demonstrate this, we study the confined phase of the topological Mott insulator on the cubic lattice. When the magnetic transition is driven by dyon condensation, we identify the bond order as valence bond solid order and the current order as scalar spin chirality order. Hence, the confined phase of the topological Mott insulator is an exotic phase where the scalar spin chirality and the valence bond order coexist and appear via a single transition. We discuss implications of our results for generic models of topological Mott insulators.Comment: 14 pages, accepted to the New Journal of Physic

Completability and optimal factorization norms in tensor products of Banach function spaces

[EN] Given s-finite measure spaces ( 1, 1, mu 1) and ( 2, 2, mu 2), we consider Banach spaces X1(mu 1) and X2(mu 2), consisting of L0(mu 1) and L0(mu 2) measurable functions respectively, and study when the completion of the simple tensors in the projective tensor product X1(mu 1). p X2(mu 2) is continuously included in the metric space of measurable functions L0(mu 1. mu 2). In particular, we prove that the elements of the completion of the projective tensor product of L p-spaces are measurable functions with respect to the product measure. Assuming certain conditions, we finally showthat given a bounded linear operator T : X1(mu 1). p X2(mu 2). E (where E is a Banach space), a norm can be found for T to be bounded, which is ` minimal' with respect to a given property (2-rectangularity). The same technique may work for the case of n-spaces.J. M. Calabuig and M. Fernandez-Unzueta were supported by Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad (Spain) under project MTM2014-53009-P. M. Fernandez-Unzueta was also suported by CONACyT 284110. F. Galaz-Fontes was supported by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (Spain) and FEDER under project MTM2009-14483-C02-01. E. A. Sanchez Perez was supported by Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad (Spain) and FEDER under project MTM2016-77054-C2-1-P.Calabuig, JM.; Fernández-Unzueta, M.; Galaz-Fontes, F.; Sánchez Pérez, EA. (2019). Completability and optimal factorization norms in tensor products of Banach function spaces. Revista de la Real Academia de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales Serie A Matemáticas. 113(4):3513-3530. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13398-019-00711-7S351335301134Abramovich, Y.A., Aliprantis, C.D.: An invitation to operator theory. Graduate Studies in Mathematics, Vol 50, AMS (2002)Bennett, C., Sharpley, R.: Interpolation of Operators. Academic Press, Boston (1988)Bu, Q., Buskes, G., Kusraev, A.G.: Bilinear maps on products of vector lattices: a survey. In: Boulabiar, K., Buskes, G., Triki, A. (eds.) Positivity-Trends in Mathematics. Birkhäser Verlag AG, Basel, pp. 97–26 (2007)Buskes, G., Van Rooij, A.: Bounded variation and tensor products of Banach lattices. Positivity 7, 47–59 (2003)Calabuig, J.M., Fernández-Unzueta, M., Galaz-Fontes, F., Sánchez-Pérez, E.A.: Extending and factorizing bounded bilinear maps defined on order continuous Banach function spaces. RACSAM 108(2), 353–367 (2014)Calabuig, J.M., Fernández-Unzueta, M., Galaz-Fontes, F., Sánchez-Pérez, E.A.: Equivalent norms in a Banach function space and the subsequence property. J. Korean Math. Soc. https://doi.org/10.4134/JKMS.j180682Curbera, G.P., Ricker, W.J.: Optimal domains for kernel operators via interpolation. Math. Nachr. 244, 47–63 (2002)Curbera, G.P., Ricker, W.J.: Vector measures, integration and applications. In: Positivity. Birkhäuser Basel, pp. 127–160 (2007)Gil de Lamadrid, J.: Uniform cross norms and tensor products. J. Duke Math. 32, 797–803 (1965)Dunford, N., Schwartz, J.: Linear Operators, Part I: General Theory. Interscience Publishers Inc., New York (1958)Fremlin, D.H.: Tensor products of Archimedean vector lattices. Am. J. Math. 94(3), 777–798 (1972)Fremlin, D.H.: Tensor products of Banach lattices. Math. Ann. 211(2), 87–106 (1974)Yew, K.L.: Completely $$p$$-summing maps on the operator Hilbert space OH. J. Funct. Anal. 255, 1362–1402 (2008)Kwapien, S., Pelczynski, A.: The main triangle projection in matrix spaces and its applications. Stud. Math. 34(1), 43–68 (1970)Lindenstrauss, J., Tzafriri, L.: Classical Banach spaces II. Springer, Berlin (1979)Luxemburg, W.A.J., Zaanen, A.C.: Riesz Spaces I. North-Holland Publishing Company, Amsterdam (1971)Milman, M.: Some new function spaces and their tensor products. Depto. de Matemática, Facultad de Ciencias, U. de los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela (1978)Okada, S., Ricker, W.J., Sánchez Pérez, E.A.: Optimal domain and integral extension of operators acting in function spaces. Oper. Theory Adv. Appl., vol. 180. Birkhäuser, Basel (2008)Schep, A.R.: Factorization of positive multilinear maps. Illinois J. Math. 579–591 (1984)Zaanen, A.C.: Integration. North-Holland Publishing Company, Amsterdam-New York (1967)Zaanen, A.C.: Riesz Spaces II. North-Holland Publishing Company, Amsterdam (1983

Nitrogen uptake and internal recycling in Zostera marina exposed to oyster farming: eelgrass potential as a natural biofilter

Oyster farming in estuaries and coastal lagoons frequently overlaps with the distribution of seagrass meadows, yet there are few studies on how this aquaculture practice affects seagrass physiology. We compared in situ nitrogen uptake and the productivity of Zostera marina shoots growing near off-bottom longlines and at a site not affected by oyster farming in San Quintin Bay, a coastal lagoon in Baja California, Mexico. We used benthic chambers to measure leaf NH4 (+) uptake capacities by pulse labeling with (NH4)-N-15 (+) and plant photosynthesis and respiration. The internal N-15 resorption/recycling was measured in shoots 2 weeks after incubations. The natural isotopic composition of eelgrass tissues and vegetative descriptors were also examined. Plants growing at the oyster farming site showed a higher leaf NH4 (+) uptake rate (33.1 mmol NH4 (+) m(-2) day(-1)) relative to those not exposed to oyster cultures (25.6 mmol NH4 (+) m(-2) day(-1)). We calculated that an eelgrass meadow of 15-16 ha (which represents only about 3-4 % of the subtidal eelgrass meadow cover in the western arm of the lagoon) can potentially incorporate the total amount of NH4 (+) excreted by oysters (similar to 5.2 x 10(6) mmol NH4 (+) day(-1)). This highlights the potential of eelgrass to act as a natural biofilter for the NH4 (+) produced by oyster farming. Shoots exposed to oysters were more efficient in re-utilizing the internal N-15 into the growth of new leaf tissues or to translocate it to belowground tissues. Photosynthetic rates were greater in shoots exposed to oysters, which is consistent with higher NH4 (+) uptake and less negative delta C-13 values. Vegetative production (shoot size, leaf growth) was also higher in these shoots. Aboveground/belowground biomass ratio was lower in eelgrass beds not directly influenced by oyster farms, likely related to the higher investment in belowground biomass to incorporate sedimentary nutrients

Photodynamic therapy augments the efficacy of oncolytic vaccinia virus against primary and metastatic tumours in mice

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Massive hemoptysis and deep venous thrombosis presenting in a woman with Hughes-Stovin syndrome: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Hughes-Stovin syndrome is a very rare disease with fewer than 30 cases reported in the literature. The disease is thought to be a variant of Behcet's disease and is defined by the presence of pulmonary artery aneurysm in association with peripheral venous thrombosis.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A previously healthy 23-year-old Saudi woman presented with massive hemoptysis a day prior to her admission to our hospital. She had a six-month history of recurrent fever, cough, dyspnea, and recurrent oral ulceration. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan of her chest and pulmonary angiogram demonstrated a single right-lower lobe pulmonary artery aneurysm. She underwent thoracotomy and right lower lobe resection. Her postoperative course was complicated by deep vein thrombosis. She also developed headache and papilledema, while a magnetic resonance imaging of her brain suggested vasculitis. Based on these clinical presentations, she was diagnosed and treated with Hughes-Stovin syndrome.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The majority of cases of Hughes-Stovin syndrome are reported among men, with only two cases occurring in women. A case of Hughes-Stovin syndrome occurring in a woman is presented in this report. She was treated successfully with multimodality treatment that includes surgery, steroids and cytotoxic agents.</p

Immune-Complex Mimics as a Molecular Platform for Adjuvant-Free Vaccine Delivery

Protein-based vaccine development faces the difficult challenge of finding robust yet non-toxic adjuvants suitable for humans. Here, using a molecular engineering approach, we have developed a molecular platform for generating self-adjuvanting immunogens that do not depend on exogenous adjuvants for induction of immune responses. These are based on the concept of Immune Complex Mimics (ICM), structures that are formed between an oligomeric antigen and a monoclonal antibody (mAb) to that antigen. In this way, the roles of antigens and antibodies within the structure of immune complexes are reversed, so that a single monoclonal antibody, rather than polyclonal sera or expensive mAb cocktails can be used. We tested this approach in the context of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection by linking the highly immunogenic and potentially protective Ag85B with the oligomeric Acr (alpha crystallin, HspX) antigen. When combined with an anti-Acr monoclonal antibody, the fusion protein formed ICM which bound to C1q component of the complement system and were readily taken up by antigen-presenting cells in vitro. ICM induced a strong Th1/Th2 mixed type antibody response, which was comparable to cholera toxin adjuvanted antigen, but only moderate levels of T cell proliferation and IFN-γ secretion. Unfortunately, the systemic administration of ICM did not confer statistically significant protection against intranasal MTB challenge, although a small BCG-boosting effect was observed. We conclude that ICM are capable of inducing strong humoral responses to incorporated antigens and may be a suitable vaccination approach for pathogens other than MTB, where antibody-based immunity may play a more protective role

Retinal Muller Glia Initiate Innate Response to Infectious Stimuli via Toll-Like Receptor Signaling

Ocular surgeries and trauma predispose the eye to develop infectious endophthalmitis, which often leads to vision loss. The mechanisms of initiation of innate defense in this disease are not well understood but are presumed to involve retinal glial cells. We hypothesize that retinal Muller glia can recognize and respond to invading pathogens via TLRs, which are key regulators of the innate immune system. Using the mouse retinal sections, human retinal Muller cell line (MIO-M1), and primary mouse retinal Muller cells, we show that they express known human TLR1-10, adaptor molecules MyD88, TRIF, TRAM, and TRAF6, and co-receptors MD2 and CD14. Consistent with the gene expression, protein levels were also detected for the TLRs. Moreover, stimulation of the Muller glia with TLR 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9 agonists resulted in an increased TLR expression as assayed by Western blot and flow cytometry. Furthermore, TLR agonists or live pathogen (S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, & C. albicans)-challenged Muller glia produced significantly higher levels of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8), concomitantly with the activation of NF-κB, p38 and Erk signaling. This data suggests that Muller glia directly contributes to retinal innate defense by recognizing microbial patterns under infectious conditions; such as those in endophthalmitis

Autism as a disorder of neural information processing: directions for research and targets for therapy

The broad variation in phenotypes and severities within autism spectrum disorders suggests the involvement of multiple predisposing factors, interacting in complex ways with normal developmental courses and gradients. Identification of these factors, and the common developmental path into which theyfeed, is hampered bythe large degrees of convergence from causal factors to altered brain development, and divergence from abnormal brain development into altered cognition and behaviour. Genetic, neurochemical, neuroimaging and behavioural findings on autism, as well as studies of normal development and of genetic syndromes that share symptoms with autism, offer hypotheses as to the nature of causal factors and their possible effects on the structure and dynamics of neural systems. Such alterations in neural properties may in turn perturb activity-dependent development, giving rise to a complex behavioural syndrome many steps removed from the root causes. Animal models based on genetic, neurochemical, neurophysiological, and behavioural manipulations offer the possibility of exploring these developmental processes in detail, as do human studies addressing endophenotypes beyond the diagnosis itself

Development of a longitudinal integrated clerkship at an academic medical center

In 2005, medical educators at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), began developing the Parnassus Integrated Student Clinical Experiences (PISCES) program, a year-long longitudinal integrated clerkship at its academic medical center. The principles guiding this new clerkship were continuity with faculty preceptors, patients, and peers; a developmentally progressive curriculum with an emphasis on interdisciplinary teaching; and exposure to undiagnosed illness in acute and chronic care settings. Innovative elements included quarterly student evaluation sessions with all preceptors together, peer-to-peer evaluation, and oversight advising with an assigned faculty member. PISCES launched with eight medical students for the 2007/2008 academic year and expanded to 15 students for 2008/2009. Compared to UCSF's traditional core clerkships, evaluations from PISCES indicated significantly higher student satisfaction with faculty teaching, formal didactics, direct observation of clinical skills, and feedback. Student performance on discipline-specific examinations and United States Medical Licensing Examination step 2 CK was equivalent to and on standardized patient examinations was slightly superior to that of traditional peers. Participants' career interests ranged from primary care to surgical subspecialties. These results demonstrate that a longitudinal integrated clerkship can be implemented successfully at a tertiary care academic medical center