15,881 research outputs found
Emergence of topological electronic phases in elemental lithium under pressure
Lithium, a prototypical simple metal under ambient conditions, has a
surprisingly rich phase diagram under pressure, taking up several structures
with reduced symmetry, low coordination numbers, and even semiconducting
character with increasing density. Using first-principles calculations, we
demonstrate that some predicted high-pressure phases of elemental Li also host
topological electronic structures. Beginning at 80 GPa and coincident with a
transition to the Pbca phase, we find Li to be a Dirac nodal line semimetal. We
further calculate that Li retains linearly-dispersive energy bands in
subsequent predicted higher pressure phases, and that it exhibits a Lifshitz
transition between two Cmca phases at 220 GPa. The Fd-3m phase at 500 GPa forms
buckled honeycomb layers that give rise to a Dirac crossing 1 eV below the
Fermi energy. The well-isolated topological nodes near the Fermi level in these
phases result from increasing p-orbital character with density at the Fermi
level, itself a consequence of rising 1s core wavefunction overlap, and a
preference for nonsymmorphic symmetries in the crystal structures favored at
these pressures. Our results provide evidence that under pressure, bulk 3D
materials with light elements, or even pure elemental systems, can undergo
topological phase transitions hosting nontrivial topological properties near
the Fermi level with measurable consequences; and that, through pressure, we
can access these novel phases in elemental lithium.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publicatio
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Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Management Challenge: Prioritizing range-shifting invasive plants High-impact species coming to the Northeast
Prevention of new invasions is a cost-effective way to manage invasive species and is most effective when emerging invaders are identified and prioritized before they arrive. Climate change is projected to bring nearly 100 new invasive plants to the Northeast. However, these plants are likely to have different types of impacts, making some a higher concern than others. Here, we summarize the results of original RISCC research that identifies high priority, range-shifting invasive plants based on their potential impacts
The reduced cost of providing a nationally recognised service for familial hypercholesterolaemia
OBJECTIVE: Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) affects 1 in 500 people in the UK population and is associated with premature morbidity and mortality from coronary heart disease. In 2008, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended genetic testing of potential FH index cases and cascade testing of their relatives. Commissioners have been slow to respond although there is strong evidence of cost and clinical effectiveness. Our study quantifies the recent reduced cost of providing a FH service using generic atorvastatin and compares NICE costing estimates with three suggested alternative models of care (a specialist-led service, a dual model service where general practitioners (GPs) can access specialist advice, and a GP-led service).METHODS: Revision of existing 3?year costing template provided by NICE for FH services, and prediction of costs for running a programme over 10?years. Costs were modelled for the first population-based FH service in England which covers Southampton, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth (SHIP). Population 1.95 million.RESULTS: With expiry of the Lipitor (Pfizer atorvastatin) patent the cost of providing a 10-year FH service in SHIP reduces by 42.5% (£4.88 million on patent vs £2.80 million off patent). Further cost reductions are possible as a result of the reduced cost of DNA testing, more management in general practice, and lower referral rates to specialists. For instance a dual-care model with GP management of patients supported by specialist advice when required, costs £1.89 million.CONCLUSIONS: The three alternative models of care are now <50% of the cost of the original estimates undertaken by NICE
Identifying Human Strategies for Generating Word-Level Adversarial Examples
Adversarial examples in NLP are receiving increasing research attention. One line of investigation is the generation of word-level adversarial examples against fine-tuned Transformer models that preserve naturalness and grammaticality. Previous work found that human- and machine-generated adversarial examples are comparable in their naturalness and grammatical correctness. Most notably, humans were able to generate adversarial examples much more effortlessly than automated attacks. In this paper, we provide a detailed analysis of exactly how humans create these adversarial examples. By exploring the behavioural patterns of human workers during the generation process, we identify statistically significant tendencies based on which words humans prefer to select for adversarial replacement (e.g., word frequencies, word saliencies, sentiment) as well as where and when words are replaced in an input sequence. With our findings, we seek to inspire efforts that harness human strategies for more robust NLP models
SPS: A software simulator for the Herschel-SPIRE photometer
Instrument simulators are becoming ever more useful for planning and
analysing large astronomy survey data. In this paper we present a simulator for
the Herschel-SPIRE photometer. We describe the models it uses and the form of
the input and output data. The SPIRE photometer simulator is a software package
which uses theoretical models, along with flight model test data, to perform
numerical simulations of the output time-lines from the instrument in operation
on board the Herschel space observatory. A description of the types of uses of
the simulator are given, along with information on its past uses. These include
example simulations performed in preparation for a high redshift galaxy survey,
and a debris disc survey. These are presented as a demonstration of the sort of
outputs the simulator is capable of producing.Comment: Accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysic
Single-particle and collective excitations in a charged Bose gas at finite temperature
The main focus of this work is on the predictions made by the dielectric
formalism in regard to the relationship between single-particle and collective
excitation spectra in a gas of point-like charged bosons at finite temperature
below the critical region of Bose-Einstein condensation. Illustrative
numerical results at weak coupling () are presented within the Random
Phase Approximation. We show that within this approach the single-particle
spectrum forms a continuum extending from the transverse to the longitudinal
plasma mode frequency and leading to a double-peak structure as increases,
whereas the density fluctuation spectrum consists of a single broadening peak.
We also discuss the momentum distribution and the superfluidity of the gas.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure
A Planetary Companion to gamma Cephei A
We report on the detection of a planetary companion in orbit around the
primary star of the binary system Cephei. High precision radial
velocity measurements using 4 independent data sets spanning the time interval
1981--2002 reveal long-lived residual radial velocity variations superimposed
on the binary orbit that are coherent in phase and amplitude with a period or
2.48 years (906 days) and a semi-amplitude of 27.5 m s. We performed a
careful analysis of our Ca II H & K S-index measurements, spectral line
bisectors, and {\it Hipparcos} photometry. We found no significant variations
in these quantities with the 906-d period. We also re-analyzed the Ca II
8662 {\AA} measurements of Walker et al. (1992) which showed possible
periodic variations with the ``planet'' period when first published. This
analysis shows that periodic Ca II equivalent width variations were only
present during 1986.5 -- 1992 and absent during 1981--1986.5. Furthermore, a
refined period for the Ca II 8662 {\AA} variations is 2.14 yrs,
significantly less than residual radial velocity period. The most likely
explanation of the residual radial velocity variations is a planetary mass
companion with sin = 1.7 and an orbital semi-major axis
of 2.13 AU. This supports the planet hypothesis for the residual
radial velocity variations for Cep first suggested by Walker et al.
(1992). With an estimated binary orbital period of 57 years Cep is the
shortest period binary system in which an extrasolar planet has been found.
This system may provide insights into the relationship between planetary and
binary star formation.Comment: 19 pages, 15 figures, accepted in Ap. J. Includes additional data and
improved orbital solutio
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