Neighborhood disadvantage across the transition from adolescence to adulthood and risk of metabolic syndrome

This study investigates the association between neighborhood disadvantage from adolescence to young adulthood and metabolic syndrome using a life course epidemiology framework. Data from the United States-based National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 9500)and a structural equation modeling approach were used to test neighborhood disadvantage across adolescence, emerging adulthood, and young adulthood in relation to metabolic syndrome. Adolescent neighborhood disadvantage was directly associated with metabolic syndrome in young adulthood. Evidence supporting an indirect association between adolescent neighborhood disadvantage and adult metabolic syndrome was not supported. Efforts to improve cardiometabolic health may benefit from strategies earlier in life

Quantum Chaos Border for Quantum Computing

We study a generic model of quantum computer, composed of many qubits coupled by short-range interaction. Above a critical interqubit coupling strength, quantum chaos sets in, leading to quantum ergodicity of the computer eigenstates. In this regime the noninteracting qubit structure disappears, the eigenstates become complex and the operability of the computer is destroyed. Despite the fact that the spacing between multi-qubit states drops exponentially with the number of qubits $n$, we show that the quantum chaos border decreases only linearly with $n$. This opens a broad parameter region where the efficient operation of a quantum computer remains possible.Comment: revtex, 4 pages, 5 figures, more details and data adde

The universe formation by a space reduction cascade with random initial parameters

In this paper we discuss the creation of our universe using the idea of extra dimensions. The initial, multidimensional Lagrangian contains only metric tensor. We have found many sets of the numerical values of the Lagrangian parameters corresponding to the observed low-energy physics of our universe. Different initial parameters can lead to the same values of fundamental constants by the appropriate choice of a dimensional reduction cascade. This result diminishes the significance of the search for the 'unique' initial Lagrangian. We also have obtained a large number of low-energy vacua, which is known as a 'landscape' in the string theory.Comment: 17 pages, 1 figur

Intersubband spin-density excitations in quantum wells with Rashba spin splitting

In inversion-asymmetric semiconductors, spin-orbit coupling induces a k-dependent spin splitting of valence and conduction bands, which is a well-known cause for spin decoherence in bulk and heterostructures. Manipulating nonequilibrium spin coherence in device applications thus requires understanding how valence and conduction band spin splitting affects carrier spin dynamics. This paper studies the relevance of this decoherence mechanism for collective intersubband spin-density excitations (SDEs) in quantum wells. A density-functional formalism for the linear spin-density matrix response is presented that describes SDEs in the conduction band of quantum wells with subbands that may be non-parabolic and spin-split due to bulk or structural inversion asymmetry (Rashba effect). As an example, we consider a 40 nm GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well, including Rashba spin splitting of the conduction subbands. We find a coupling and wavevector-dependent splitting of the longitudinal and transverse SDEs. However, decoherence of the SDEs is not determined by subband spin splitting, due to collective effects arising from dynamical exchange and correlation.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Staggered flux and stripes in doped antiferromagnets

We have numerically investigated whether or not a mean-field theory of spin textures generate fictitious flux in the doped two dimensional $t-J$-model. First we consider the properties of uniform systems and then we extend the investigation to include models of striped phases where a fictitious flux is generated in the domain wall providing a possible source for lowering the kinetic energy of the holes. We have compared the energetics of uniform systems with stripes directed along the (10)- and (11)-directions of the lattice, finding that phase-separation generically turns out to be energetically favorable. In addition to the numerical calculations, we present topological arguments relating flux and staggered flux to geometric properties of the spin texture. The calculation is based on a projection of the electron operators of the $t-J$ model into a spin texture with spinless fermions.Comment: RevTex, 19 pages including 20 figure

Affleck-Dine dynamics and the dark sector of pangenesis

Pangenesis is the mechanism for jointly producing the visible and dark matter asymmetries via Affleck-Dine dynamics in a baryon-symmetric universe. The baryon-symmetric feature means that the dark asymmetry cancels the visible baryon asymmetry and thus enforces a tight relationship between the visible and dark matter number densities. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the general dynamics of this scenario in more detail and to construct specific models. After reviewing the simple symmetry structure that underpins all baryon-symmetric models, we turn to a detailed analysis of the required Affleck-Dine dynamics. Both gravity-mediated and gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking are considered, with the messenger scale left arbitrary in the latter, and the viable regions of parameter space are determined. In the gauge-mediated case where gravitinos are light and stable, the regime where they constitute a small fraction of the dark matter density is identified. We discuss the formation of Q-balls, and delineate various regimes in the parameter space of the Affleck-Dine potential with respect to their stability or lifetime and their decay modes. We outline the regions in which Q-ball formation and decay is consistent with successful pangenesis. Examples of viable dark sectors are presented, and constraints are derived from big bang nucleosynthesis, large scale structure formation and the Bullet cluster. Collider signatures and implications for direct dark matter detection experiments are briefly discussed. The following would constitute evidence for pangenesis: supersymmetry, GeV-scale dark matter mass(es) and a Z' boson with a significant invisible width into the dark sector.Comment: 51 pages, 7 figures; v2: minor modifications, comments and references added; v3: minor changes, matches published versio

Fractionalization patterns in strongly correlated electron systems: Spin-charge separation and beyond

We discuss possible patterns of electron fractionalization in strongly interacting electron systems. A popular possibility is one in which the charge of the electron has been liberated from its Fermi statistics. Such a fractionalized phase contains in it the seed of superconductivity. Another possibility occurs when the spin of the electron, rather than its charge, is liberated from its Fermi statistics. Such a phase contains in it the seed of magnetism, rather than superconductivity. We consider models in which both of these phases occur and study possible phase transitions between them. We describe other fractionalized phases, distinct from these, in which fractions of the electron themselves fractionalize, and discuss the topological characterization of such phases. These ideas are illustrated with specific models of p-wave superconductors, Kondo lattices, and coexistence between d-wave superconductivity and antiferromagnetism.Comment: 28 pages, 11 fig

Visible and dark matter from a first-order phase transition in a baryon-symmetric universe

The similar cosmological abundances observed for visible and dark matter suggest a common origin for both. By viewing the dark matter density as a dark-sector asymmetry, mirroring the situation in the visible sector, we show that the visible and dark matter asymmetries may have arisen simultaneously through a first-order phase transition in the early universe. The dark asymmetry can then be equal and opposite to the usual visible matter asymmetry, leading to a universe that is symmetric with respect to a generalised baryon number. We present both a general structure, and a precisely defined example of a viable model of this type. In that example, the dark matter is atomic as well as asymmetric, and various cosmological and astrophysical constraints are derived. Testable consequences for colliders include a Z' boson that couples through the B-L charge to the visible sector, but also decays invisibly to dark sector particles. The additional scalar particles in the theory can mix with the standard Higgs boson and provide other striking signatures.Comment: 26 pages, comments and references added, JCAP versio

Various correlations in a Heisenberg XXZ spin chain both in thermal equilibrium and under the intrinsic decoherence

In this paper we discuss various correlations measured by the concurrence (C), classical correlation (CC), quantum discord (QD), and geometric measure of discord (GMD) in a two-qubit Heisenberg XXZ spin chain in the presence of external magnetic field and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) anisotropic antisymmetric interaction. Based on the analytically derived expressions for the correlations for the cases of thermal equilibrium and the inclusion of intrinsic decoherence, we discuss and compare the effects of various system parameters on the correlations in different cases. The results show that the anisotropy Jz is considerably crucial for the correlations in thermal equilibrium at zero temperature limit but ineffective under the consideration of the intrinsic decoherence, and these quantities decrease as temperature T rises on the whole. Besides, J turned out to be constructive, but B be detrimental in the manipulation and control of various quantities both in thermal equilibrium and under the intrinsic decoherence which can be avoided by tuning other system parameters, while D is constructive in thermal equilibrium, but destructive in the case of intrinsic decoherence in general. In addition, for the initial state $|\Psi_1(0) > = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} (|01 > + |10 >)$, all the correlations except the CC, exhibit a damping oscillation to a stable value larger than zero following the time, while for the initial state $|\Psi_2(0) > = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} (|00 > + |11 >)$, all the correlations monotonously decrease, but CC still remains maximum. Moreover, there is not a definite ordering of these quantities in thermal equilibrium, whereas there is a descending order of the CC, C, GMD and QD under the intrinsic decoherence with a nonnull B when the initial state is $|\Psi_2(0) >$.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure

Hipervitaminose D em animais

Por meio de revisão da literatura, são apresentados dados referentes ao metabolismo da vitamina D, bem como aos principais aspectos toxicológicos, clínicos, bioquímicos, macroscópicos, microscópicos, ultraestruturais, imuno-histoquímicos e radiográficos de animais intoxicados natural e experimentalmente por essa vitamina, em diferentes espécies. Este estudo objetiva demonstrar a existência de muitas lacunas no conhecimento sobre mineralização fisiológica e patológica, em especial na mediação hormonal do fenômeno, bem como alertar para os riscos de ocorrência dessa intoxicação