30 research outputs found
Phase Diagram of the Spin-Orbital model on the Square Lattice
We study the phase diagram of the spin-orbital model in both the weak and
strong limits of the quartic spin-orbital exchange interaction. This allows us
to study quantum phase transitions in the model and to approach from both sides
the most interesting intermediate-coupling regime and in particular the
SU(4)-symmetric point of the Hamiltonian. It was suggested earlier by Li et al
[Phys.Rev.Lett. vol. 81, 3527 (1999)] that at this point the ground state of
the system is a plaquette spin-orbital liquid. We argue that the state is more
complex. There is plaquette order, but it is anisotropic: bonds in one
direction are stronger than those in the perpendicular direction. This order is
somewhat similar to that found recently in the frustrated J_1-J_2 Heisenberg
spin model.Comment: 8 pages, 4 Postscript figure
The Heisenberg model on the 1/5-depleted square lattice and the CaV4O9 compound
We investigate the ground state structure of the Heisenberg model on the
1/5-depleted square lattice for arbitrary values of the first- and
second-neighbor exchange couplings. By using a mean-field Schwinger-boson
approach we present a unified description of the rich ground-state diagram,
which include the plaquette and dimer resonant-valence-bond phases, an
incommensurate phase and other magnetic orders with complex magnetic unit
cells. We also discuss some implications of ours results for the experimental
realization of this model in the CaV4O9 compound.Comment: 4 pages, Latex, 7 figures included as eps file
Paternal effect on genomic activation, clinical pregnancy and live birth rate after ICSI with cryopreserved epididymal versus testicular spermatozoa
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study takes an in depth look at embryonic development, implantation, pregnancy and live birth rates with frozen epididymal and testicular sperm from obstructed (OA) and non-obstructed (NOA) patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Paternal effect of sperm source on zygote formation, embryonic cleavage, and genomic activation were examined. Additional outcome parameters monitored were clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), implantation rate (IR) and live birth rate.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this report, we retrospectively analyzed 156 ICSI cycles using cryopreserved epididymal sperm (ES; n = 77) or testicular sperm (TESE; n = 79). The developmental potential of embryos did not appear to be influenced by the type of surgically retrieved sperm. The average number of blastomeres observed on Day 3 was not different among different groups; 7.5 +/- 1.7 (ES), 7.6 +/- 2.1 (TESE-OA) and 6.5 +/- 2.3 (TESE-NOA). Compaction and blastulation rates, both indicators of paternal genomic activation, were similar in embryos derived from ICSI with ES or TESE from OA as well as NOA men. The only parameter significantly affected in NOA-TESE cases was the fertilization rate. CPR and IR with cryopreserved TESE (TESE-OA 59%, 34%, and TESE-NOA 37%, 20%) were also not statistically different, from that achieved with cryopreserved ES (61% and 39%). Live birth rates also appeared to be independent of sperm type. The 87 clinical pregnancies established using cryopreserved TESE and ES, resulted in the birth of 115 healthy infants. No congenital anomalies were noted.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Zygotic activation seems to be independent of sperm origin and type of azoospermia.</p
Reduced density matrices and entanglement entropy in free lattice models
We review the properties of reduced density matrices for free fermionic or
bosonic many-particle systems in their ground state. Their basic feature is
that they have a thermal form and thus lead to a quasi-thermodynamic problem
with a certain free-particle Hamiltonian. We discuss the derivation of this
result, the character of the Hamiltonian and its eigenstates, the
single-particle spectra and the full spectra, the resulting entanglement and in
particular the entanglement entropy. This is done for various one- and
two-dimensional situations, including also the evolution after global or local
quenches.Comment: 33 pages, 18 figures, minor changes, references added. Review article
for the special issue "Entanglement entropy in extended systems" in J. Phys.
Long term effects of micro-surgical testicular sperm extraction on androgen status in patients with non obstructive azoospermia
BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to review the results of microsurgically performed testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and to evaluate its possible long term effects on serum testosterone (T). METHODS: We operated on 48 men (35 +/- 8 years) with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). If no spermatozoa were found following a micro epididymal sperm extraction (Silber et al., 1994) and testicular biopsy, testicular microdissection was performed or multiple microsurgical testicular biopsies were taken. The mean follow-up of the serum T was 2.4 +/- 1.1 years. RESULTS: Sperm was retrieved in 17/48 (35%) of the men. The per couple take home baby rate if sperm was retrieved was 4/17 (24%). Serum T decreased significantly at follow-up (p < 0.05) and 5/31 (16%) de novo androgen deficiencies developed CONCLUSION: In patients with non-obstructive azoospermia in whom no spermatozoa were found following a micro epididymal sperm aspiration and a simple testicular biopsy, we were able to retrieve spermatozoa in 35% of the men. The take home baby rate was 24% among couples with spermatozoa present upon TESE. De novo androgen deficiency occurred in 16% of the male patients following TESE indicating that, in men with NOA, long term hormonal follow up is recommended after TESE
Quantum phases and phase transitions of Mott insulators
This article contains a theoretical overview of the physical properties of
antiferromagnetic Mott insulators in spatial dimensions greater than one. Many
such materials have been experimentally studied in the past decade and a half,
and we make contact with these studies. The simplest class of Mott insulators
have an even number of S=1/2 spins per unit cell, and these can be described
with quantitative accuracy by the bond operator method: we discuss their spin
gap and magnetically ordered states, and the transitions between them driven by
pressure or an applied magnetic field. The case of an odd number of S=1/2 spins
per unit cell is more subtle: here the spin gap state can spontaneously develop
bond order (so the ground state again has an even number of S=1/2 spins per
unit cell), and/or acquire topological order and fractionalized excitations. We
describe the conditions under which such spin gap states can form, and survey
recent theories (T. Senthil et al., cond-mat/0312617) of the quantum phase
transitions among these states and magnetically ordered states. We describe the
breakdown of the Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson paradigm at these quantum critical
points, accompanied by the appearance of emergent gauge excitations.Comment: 51 pages, 13 figure
Severe male infertility after failed ICSI treatment-a phenomenological study of men's experiences
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Male-factor infertility underlies approximately 30% of infertility in couples seeking treatment; of which 10% is due to azoospermia. The development of assisted reproductive technology (ART), enabling the use of epididymal or testicular sperm for fertilization of the partner's oocytes, has made biological fatherhood possible for men with obstructive azoospermia. There is limited knowledge of men's experience of their own infertility. The aim of this study was to describe men's experiences of obstructive azoospermia infertility.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Eight men with obstructive azoospermia, who had terminated Swedish public health system ART treatment two years previously without subsequent childbirth, were interviewed using a descriptive phenomenological method.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The essence of the phenomenon is expressed with a metaphor: climbing a mountain step by step with the aim of reaching the top, i.e. having a child and thus a family with a child. Four constituents are included (1) inadequacy followed by a feeling of redress (2) marginalisation, (3) chivalry (4) extension of life and starting a family as driving forces.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Knowledge of men's experiences of their own infertility is important as a supporting measure to increase the quality of care of infertile couples. By adopting this facet of gender perspective in fertility treatment guidelines, care can hopefully be optimized.</p