816 research outputs found
3D N = 1 SYM Chern-Simons theory on the Lattice
We present a method to implement 3-dimensional N = 1 SUSY Yang-Mills theory
(a theory with two real supercharges containing gauge fields and an adjoint
Majorana fermion) on the lattice, including a way to implement the Chern-Simons
term present in this theory. At nonzero Chern-Simons number our implementation
suffers from a sign problem which will make the numerical effort grow
exponentially with volume. We also show that the theory with vanishing
Chern-Simons number is anomalous; its partition function identically vanishes.Comment: v2, minor changes: expanded discussion in section III c, typos
corrected, 17 pages, 9 figure
Echo spectroscopy and Atom Optics Billiards
We discuss a recently demonstrated type of microwave spectroscopy of trapped
ultra-cold atoms known as "echo spectroscopy" [M.F. Andersen et. al., Phys.
Rev. Lett., in press (2002)]. Echo spectroscopy can serve as an extremely
sensitive experimental tool for investigating quantum dynamics of trapped atoms
even when a large number of states are thermally populated. We show numerical
results for the stability of eigenstates of an atom-optics billiard of the
Bunimovich type, and discuss its behavior under different types of
perturbations. Finally, we propose to use special geometrical constructions to
make a dephasing free dipole trap
Prenatal micronutrient supplementation and postpartum depressive symptoms in a pregnancy cohort
Background Postpartum depression is a serious problem for women and their offspring. Micronutrient supplements are recommended for pregnant women because of their documented protective effects for the offspring, but their potential beneficial effects on maternal mental health are unknown. This study investigated the association between prenatal micronutrient supplementation and the risk for symptoms of postpartum depression in a longitudinal pregnancy cohort from the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) study. Methods Participants came from a cohort of the first 600 APrON women. Supplemental nutrient intake and symptoms of depression (measured with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)) were collected at each trimester and 12 weeks postpartum. Results Of the 475 participants who completed the EPDS at least twice in pregnancy and at 12 weeks postpartum, 416 (88%) scored <10 and 59 (12%) scored ≥10, where an EPDS ≥10 is considered to be “at least probable minor depression”. Mean nutrient intakes from supplements were higher in women with lower EPDS scores, particularly selenium (p = 0.0015) and omega-3s (p = 0.01). Bivariate analyses showed that several demographic and social/lifestyle variables were associated with EPDS ≥10: not having been born in Canada (p = 0.01), greater number of chronic conditions (p = 0.05), greater number of stressful life events during this pregnancy (p = 0.02), and lower prenatal and postnatal support (p = 0.0043 and p = 0.0001, respectively). Adjusting for covariates and nutrients known to be associated with postpartum depression, logistic regression showed that having a prenatal EPDS ≥ 10 increased the odds of postpartum depressive symptoms (second and third trimester OR = 3.29, 95% CI = 1.55 - 7.01, p = 0.004 and OR = 4.26, 95% CI = 2.05 - 8.85, p < 0.0001, respectively), while prenatal supplemental selenium (per 10 mcg, OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.74 - 0.78, p = 0.0019) and postnatal social support (OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.78 - 0.97, p = 0.0015) were protective. Conclusions Multiple factors, including supplementary selenium intake, are associated with the risk of postpartum depressive symptoms. Future research on dietary supplementation in pregnancy with special attention to selenium intake is warranted. Keywords: Postpartum depression, Dietary supplements, Selenium, Omega-
Coherent manipulation of atomic qubits in optical micropotentials
We experimentally demonstrate the coherent manipulation of atomic states in
far-detuned dipole traps and registers of dipole traps based on two-dimensional
arrays of microlenses. By applying Rabi, Ramsey, and spin-echo techniques, we
systematically investigate the dephasing mechanisms and determine the coherence
time. Simultaneous Ramsey measurements in up to 16 dipole traps are performed
and proves the scalability of our approach. This represents an important step
in the application of scalable registers of atomic qubits for quantum
information processing. In addition, this system can serve as the basis for
novel atomic clocks making use of the parallel operation of a large number of
individual clocks each remaining separately addressable.Comment: to be published in Appl. Phys.
Metabolic and physiological adjustment of Suaeda maritima to combined salinity and hypoxia
BACKGROUND AND AIMS:
Suaeda maritima is a halophyte commonly found on coastal wetlands in the intertidal zone. Due to its habitat S. maritima has evolved tolerance to high salt concentrations and hypoxic conditions in the soil caused by periodic flooding. In the present work, the adaptive mechanisms of S. maritima to salinity combined with hypoxia were investigated on a physiological and metabolic level.
METHODS:
To compare the adaptive mechanisms to deficient, optimal and stressful salt concentrations, S. maritima plants were grown in a hydroponic culture under low, medium and high salt concentrations. Additionally, hypoxic conditions were applied to investigate the impact of hypoxia combined with different salt concentrations. A non-targeted metabolic approach was used to clarify the biochemical pathways underlying the metabolic and physiological adaptation mechanisms of S. maritima .
KEY RESULTS:
Roots exposed to hypoxic conditions showed an increased level of tricarboxylic acid (TCA)-cycle intermediates such as succinate, malate and citrate. During hypoxia, the concentration of free amino acids increased in shoots and roots. Osmoprotectants such as proline and glycine betaine increased in concentrations as the external salinity was increased under hypoxic conditions.
CONCLUSIONS:
The combination of high salinity and hypoxia caused an ionic imbalance and an increase of metabolites associated with osmotic stress and photorespiration, indicating a severe physiological and metabolic response under these conditions. Disturbed proline degradation in the roots induced an enhanced proline accumulation under hypoxia. The enhanced alanine fermentation combined with a partial flux of the TCA cycle might contribute to the tolerance of S. maritima to hypoxic conditions
Domain wall fermion and chiral gauge theories on the lattice with exact gauge invariance
We discuss how to construct anomaly-free chiral gauge theories on the lattice
with exact gauge invariance in the framework of domain wall fermion. Chiral
gauge coupling is realized by introducing a five-dimensional gauge field which
interpolates between two different four-dimensional gauge fields at boundaries.
The five-dimensional dependence is compensated by a local and gauge-invariant
counter term. The cohomology problem to obtain the counter term is formulated
in 5+1 dimensional space, using the Chern-Simons current induced from the
five-dimensional Wilson fermion. We clarify the connection to the invariant
construction based on the Ginsparg-Wilson relation using overlap Dirac
operator. Formula for the measure and the effective action of Weyl fermions are
obtained in terms of five-dimensional lattice quantities.Comment: 46 pages, LaTeX, references added and updated, minor text correction
Pulsar-wind nebulae and magnetar outflows: observations at radio, X-ray, and gamma-ray wavelengths
We review observations of several classes of neutron-star-powered outflows:
pulsar-wind nebulae (PWNe) inside shell supernova remnants (SNRs), PWNe
interacting directly with interstellar medium (ISM), and magnetar-powered
outflows. We describe radio, X-ray, and gamma-ray observations of PWNe,
focusing first on integrated spectral-energy distributions (SEDs) and global
spectral properties. High-resolution X-ray imaging of PWNe shows a bewildering
array of morphologies, with jets, trails, and other structures. Several of the
23 so far identified magnetars show evidence for continuous or sporadic
emission of material, sometimes associated with giant flares, and a few
possible "magnetar-wind nebulae" have been recently identified.Comment: 61 pages, 44 figures (reduced in quality for size reasons). Published
in Space Science Reviews, "Jets and Winds in Pulsar Wind Nebulae, Gamma-ray
Bursts and Blazars: Physics of Extreme Energy Release
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