The Spin-SAF transition in NaV2O5 induced by spin-pseudospin coupling

We present microscopic estimates for the spin-spin and spin-speudospin interactions of the quarter-filled ladder compound NaV2O5, obtained by exactly diagonalizing appropriate clusters of the underlying generalized Hubbard Hamiltonian. We present evidence for a substantial interladder spin-pseudospin interaction term which would allow simultaneously for the superantiferroelectric (SAF) charge (pseudospin) ordering and spin dimerization. We discuss the values of the coupling constants appropriate for NaV2O5 and deduce the absence of a soft antiferroelectric mode

The role of dynamical polarization of the ligand to metal charge transfer excitations in {\em ab initio} determination of effective exchange parameters

The role of the bridging ligand on the effective Heisenberg coupling parameters is analyzed in detail. This analysis strongly suggests that the ligand-to-metal charge transfer excitations are responsible for a large part of the final value of the magnetic coupling constant. This permits to suggest a new variant of the Difference Dedicated Configuration Interaction (DDCI) method, presently one of the most accurate and reliable for the evaluation of magnetic effective interactions. This new method treats the bridging ligand orbitals mediating the interaction at the same level than the magnetic orbitals and preserves the high quality of the DDCI results while being much less computationally demanding. The numerical accuracy of the new approach is illustrated on various systems with one or two magnetic electrons per magnetic center. The fact that accurate results can be obtained using a rather reduced configuration interaction space opens the possibility to study more complex systems with many magnetic centers and/or many electrons per center.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Functional Interaction between CFTR and the Sodium-Phosphate Co-Transport Type 2a in Xenopus laevis Oocytes

A growing number of proteins, including ion transporters, have been shown to interact with Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane conductance Regulator (CFTR). CFTR is an epithelial chloride channel that is involved in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) when mutated; thus a better knowledge of its functional interactome may help to understand the pathophysiology of this complex disease. In the present study, we investigated if CFTR and the sodium-phosphate co-transporter type 2a (NPT2a) functionally interact after heterologous expression of both proteins in Xenopus laevis oocytes.NPT2a was expressed alone or in combination with CFTR in X. laevis oocytes. Using the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique, the inorganic phosphate-induced current (IPi) was measured and taken as an index of NPT2a activity. The maximal IPi for NPT2a substrates was reduced when CFTR was co-expressed with NPT2a, suggesting a decrease in its expression at the oolemna. This was consistent with Western blot analysis showing reduced NPT2a plasma membrane expression in oocytes co-expressing both proteins, whereas NPT2a protein level in total cell lysate was the same in NPT2a- and NPT2a+CFTR-oocytes. In NPT2a+CFTR- but not in NPT2a-oocytes, IPi and NPT2a surface expression were increased upon PKA stimulation, whereas stimulation of Exchange Protein directly Activated by cAMP (EPAC) had no effect. When NPT2a-oocytes were injected with NEG2, a short amino-acid sequence from the CFTR regulatory domain that regulates PKA-dependent CFTR trafficking to the plasma membrane, IPi values and NPT2a membrane expression were diminished, and could be enhanced by PKA stimulation, thereby mimicking the effects of CFTR co-expression.We conclude that when both CFTR and NPT2a are expressed in X. laevis oocytes, CFTR confers to NPT2a a cAMPi-dependent trafficking to the membrane. This functional interaction raises the hypothesis that CFTR may play a role in phosphate homeostasis

Derivation of spin Hamiltonians from the exact Hamiltonian: Application to systems with two unpaired electrons per magnetic site

International audienceThe foundations and limits of S=1/2 and S=1 spin Hamiltonians for systems with two unpaired electrons in two well-defined orbitals per site are discussed by merging accurate ab initio calculations in binuclear systems with the effective Hamiltonian theory. It is shown that, beyond the usual JijSi.Sj terms, the effective spin Hamiltonian necessarily introduces four-body spin operators in the S=1/2 case and biquadratic terms in the S=1 formalism. The order of magnitude of these additional terms can be rationalized from a quasidegenerate perturbation theory expansion starting from a Hubbard-type Hamiltonian. This permits to discuss the physical mechanisms governing the reduction from the all electron Hamiltonian to the spin-only Hamiltonians and the conditions under which a further reduction from a spin Hamiltonian to the simplest Heisenberg-Dirac-Van Vleck form is possible. The overall discussion is illustrated by numerical calculations of the magnetic coupling between two Ni2+ cations in the K2NiF4 perovskite and between triply bonded carbon atoms in poly-ynes

Are basic auditory processes involved in source-monitoring deficits in patients with schizophrenia?

International audiencePatients with schizophrenia (SZ) display deficits in both basic non-verbal auditory processing and source-monitoring of speech. To date, the contributions of basic auditory deficits to higher-order cognitive impairments, such as source-monitoring, and to clinical symptoms have yet to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the deficits and relationships between basic auditory functions, source-monitoring performances, and clinical symptom severity in SZ. Auditory processing of 4 psychoacoustic features (pitch, intensity, amplitude, length) and 2 types of source-monitoring (internal and reality monitoring) performances were assessed in 29 SZ and 29 healthy controls. Clinical symptoms were evaluated in patients with the Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale. Compared to the controls, SZ individuals in showed significant reductions in both global basic auditory processing (p < .0005, d = 1.16) and source-monitoring (p < .0005, d = 1.24) abilities. Both deficits correlated significantly in patients and across groups (all p < .05). Pitch processing skills were negatively correlated with positive symptom severity (r = -0.4, p < .05). A step-wise regression analysis showed that pitch discrimination was a significant predictor of source-monitoring performance. These results suggest that cognitive mechanisms associated with the discrimination of basic auditory features are most compromised in patients with source-monitoring disability. Basic auditory processing may index pathophysiological processes that are critical for optimal source-monitoring in schizophrenia and that are involved in positive symptoms

Derivation of spin Hamiltonians from the exact Hamiltonian: Application to systems with two unpaired electrons per magnetic site

The foundations and limits of S=1/2 and S=1 spin Hamiltonians for systems with two unpaired electrons in two well-defined orbitals per site are discussed by merging accurate ab initio calculations in binuclear systems with the effective Hamiltonian theory. It is shown that, beyond the usual JijSi.Sj terms, the effective spin Hamiltonian necessarily introduces four-body spin operators in the S=1/2 case and biquadratic terms in the S=1 formalism. The order of magnitude of these additional terms can be rationalized from a quasidegenerate perturbation theory expansion starting from a Hubbard-type Hamiltonian. This permits to discuss the physical mechanisms governing the reduction from the all electron Hamiltonian to the spin-only Hamiltonians and the conditions under which a further reduction from a spin Hamiltonian to the simplest Heisenberg-Dirac-Van Vleck form is possible. The overall discussion is illustrated by numerical calculations of the magnetic coupling between two Ni2+ cations in the K2NiF4 perovskite and between triply bonded carbon atoms in poly-ynes

Caminhos que levam a Roma: recursos culturais e redefinições da excelência religiosa

A centralidade da aquisição de recursos sociais variados através de processos de internacionalização marca tendência generalizada na dinâmica de recomposição das elites e grupos dirigentes, inclusive a Igreja católica. Dentro desse campo de discussões, o artigo apresenta resultados que buscam dar respostas às seguintes questões: como se encaixaria, nesse processo, uma instituição profissional de caráter supranacional, sediada no Vaticano, com critérios e códigos próprios de recrutamento, seleção e ascensão tal como a Igreja católica? Quais as formas e o peso da circulação internacional na formação de seu corpo religioso e nas lutas pela definição de novas hierarquias de saberes? Que destinos, experiências e competências culturais se impuseram como mais valorizados no atual estado da instituição e como se distribuem as chances de acesso a esses recursos entre seus membros? Por fim, como são vividas e percebidas diferentes experiências de internacionalização de profissionais da Igreja e que lugar tal fenômeno ocupa entre os instrumentos de legitimação da instituição no espaço do poder?<br>The central part played by internationalization in the acquisition of multiple social resources appears as a general trend in the dynamics of recomposition of the elites, including the Catholic Church. In this field of debate, this article seeks to answer the following questions: what is the place of this process in the case of a Vatican-based, supranational professional institution, which has its own codes and criteria of recruitment, selection and ascension? Which are the forms of international circulation and what is its role in the training of the religious body and also in the struggles for the definition of new hierarchies of knowledge? Which destinations, cultural experiences and skills are more valued on the current status of the institution and how is the access to these assets distributed among its members? Finally, how are experienced and perceived the different ways of internationalization of the high clergy and what is the place it takes among the instruments of legitimation within the field of power

Derivation of spin Hamiltonians from the exact Hamiltonian: Application to systems with two unpaired electrons per magnetic site

The foundations and limits of S=1/2 and S=1 spin Hamiltonians for systems with two unpaired electrons in two well-defined orbitals per site are discussed by merging accurate ab initio calculations in binuclear systems with the effective Hamiltonian theory. It is shown that, beyond the usual JijSi.Sj terms, the effective spin Hamiltonian necessarily introduces four-body spin operators in the S=1/2 case and biquadratic terms in the S=1 formalism. The order of magnitude of these additional terms can be rationalized from a quasidegenerate perturbation theory expansion starting from a Hubbard-type Hamiltonian. This permits to discuss the physical mechanisms governing the reduction from the all electron Hamiltonian to the spin-only Hamiltonians and the conditions under which a further reduction from a spin Hamiltonian to the simplest Heisenberg-Dirac-Van Vleck form is possible. The overall discussion is illustrated by numerical calculations of the magnetic coupling between two Ni2+ cations in the K2NiF4 perovskite and between triply bonded carbon atoms in poly-ynes