3 research outputs found
Braiding Interactions in Anyonic Quantum Walks
The anyonic quantum walk is a dynamical model describing a single anyon
propagating along a chain of stationary anyons and interacting via mutual
braiding statistics. We review the recent results on the effects of braiding
statistics in anyonic quantum walks in quasi-one dimensional ladder geometries.
For anyons which correspond to spin-1/2 irreps of the quantum groups ,
the non-Abelian species gives rise to entanglement between the
walker and topological degrees of freedom which is quantified by quantum link
invariants over the trajectories of the walk. The decoherence is strong enough
to reduce the walk on the infinite ladder to classical like behaviour. We also
present numerical results on mixing times of or Ising model anyon
walks on cyclic graphs. Finally, the possible experimental simulation of the
anyonic quantum walk in Fractional Quantum Hall systems is discussed.Comment: 13 pages, submitted to Proceedings of the 2nd International
Conference on Theoretical Physics (ICTP 2012
Epigenetics and developmental programming of welfare and production traits in farm animals
The concept that postnatal health and development can be influenced by events that occur in utero originated from epidemiological studies in humans supported by numerous mechanistic (including epigenetic) studies in a variety of model species. Referred to as the ‘developmental origins of health and disease’ or ‘DOHaD’ hypothesis, the primary focus of large-animal studies until quite recently had been biomedical. Attention has since turned towards traits of commercial importance in farm animals. Herein we review the evidence that prenatal risk factors, including suboptimal parental nutrition, gestational stress, exposure to environmental chemicals and advanced breeding technologies, can determine traits such as postnatal growth, feed efficiency, milk yield, carcass composition, animal welfare and reproductive potential. We consider the role of epigenetic and cytoplasmic mechanisms of inheritance, and discuss implications for livestock production and future research endeavours. We conclude that although the concept is proven for several traits, issues relating to effect size, and hence commercial importance, remain. Studies have also invariably been conducted under controlled experimental conditions, frequently assessing single risk factors, thereby limiting their translational value for livestock production. We propose concerted international research efforts that consider multiple, concurrent stressors to better represent effects of contemporary animal production systems