537 research outputs found
Behavior of quantum entropies in polaronic systems
Quantum entropies and state distances are analyzed in polaronic systems with
short range (Holstein model) and long range (Frhlich model)
electron-phonon coupling. These quantities are extracted by a variational wave
function which describes very accurately polaron systems with arbitrary size in
all the relevant parameter regimes. With the use of quantum information tools,
the crossover region from weak to strong coupling regime can be characterized
with high precision. Then, the linear entropy is found to be very sensitive to
the range of the electron-phonon coupling and the adiabatic ratio. Finally, the
entanglement entropy is studied as a function of the system size pointing out
that it not bounded, but scales as the logarithm of the size either for weak
electron-phonon coupling or for short range interaction. This behavior is
ascribed to the peculiar coupling induced by the single electron itinerant
dynamics on the phonon subsystem.Comment: 4 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev.
Preface
The aim of this volume is to advance the understanding of linear spaces of symmetric matrices. These seemingly simple objects play many different roles across several fields of mathematics.
For instance, in algebraic statistics these spaces appear as linear Gaussian covariance or concentration models, while in enumerative algebraic geometry they classically represent spaces of smooth quadrics satisfying certain tangency conditions. In semidefinite programming, linear spaces of symmetric matrices define the spectrahedra on which optimization problems are considered, and in nonlinear algebra they encode partially symmetric tensors.
It is often the case that one of the above-mentioned fields inspires or pro- vides tools for the advancement of the others. In the articles that follow, the reader will find several examples where this has happened through the common link of linear spaces of symmetric matrices.
This volume is the culmination of a collaboration project with the same name, which began at MPI Leipzig in June 2020. Over the course of several months, about 40 researchers gathered on-line to work on the ideas and projects that eventually became the articles of this special issue.
We are grateful to Bernd Sturmfels for initiating the project and for being its driving force, in particular for presenting the list of open problems that served as a starting point for the working groups that formed. Many of his conjectures became theorems in this volume.
We thank Biagio Ricceri and the editorial team of Le Matematiche for co- ordinating the publication of this volume. Finally, thanks to all participants for their contributions to the talks, discussions, and articles around the project
Rashba effect induced localization in quantum networks
We study a quantum network extending in one-dimension (chain of square loops
connected at one vertex) made up of quantum wires with Rashba spin-orbit
coupling. We show that the Rashba effect may give rise to an electron
localization phenomenon similar to the one induced by magnetic field. This
localization effect can be attributed to the spin precession due to the Rashba
effect. We present results both for the spectral properties of the infinite
chain, and for linear transport through a finite-size chain connected to leads.
Furthermore, we study the effect of disorder on the transport properties of
this network.Comment: To appear in Phys. Rev. Let
Rashba quantum wire: exact solution and ballistic transport
The effect of Rashba spin-orbit interaction in quantum wires with hard-wall
boundaries is discussed. The exact wave function and eigenvalue equation are
worked out pointing out the mixing between the spin and spatial parts. The
spectral properties are also studied within the perturbation theory with
respect to the strength of the spin-orbit interaction and diagonalization
procedure. A comparison is done with the results of a simple model, the
two-band model, that takes account only of the first two sub-bands of the wire.
Finally, the transport properties within the ballistic regime are analytically
calculated for the two-band model and through a tight-binding Green function
for the entire system. Single and double interfaces separating regions with
different strengths of spin-orbit interaction are analyzed injecting carriers
into the first and the second sub-band. It is shown that in the case of a
single interface the spin polarization in the Rashba region is different from
zero, and in the case of two interfaces the spin polarization shows
oscillations due to spin selective bound states
Rashba effect in quantum networks
We present a formalism to study quantum networks made up by single-channel
quantum wires in the presence of Rashba spin-orbit coupling and magnetic field.
In particular, linear transport through one-dimensional and two-dimensional
finite-size networks is studied by means of the scattering formalism. In some
particular quantum networks, the action of the magnetic field or of the Rashba
spin-orbit coupling induces localization of the electron wave function. This
phenomenon, which relies on both the quantum-mechanical interference and the
geometry of the network, is manifested through the suppression of the
conductance for specific values of the spin-orbit-coupling strength or of the
magnetic field. Furthermore, the interplay of the Aharonov-Bohm phases and of
the non-Abelian phases introduced by spin-orbit coupling, is discussed in a
number of cases.Comment: 8 pages and 6 figure
Radiogenomics in clear cell renal cell carcinoma: correlations between advanced CT imaging (texture analysis) and microRNAs expression
Purpose: A relevant challenge for the improvement of clear cell renal cell carcinoma management could derive from the identification of novel molecular biomarkers that could greatly improve the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment choice of these neoplasms. In this study, we investigate whether quantitative parameters obtained from computed tomography texture analysis may correlate with the expression of selected oncogenic microRNAs. Methods: In a retrospective single-center study, multiphasic computed tomography examination (with arterial, portal, and urographic phases) was performed on 20 patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma and computed tomography texture analysis parameters such as entropy, kurtosis, skewness, mean, and standard deviation of pixel distribution were measured using multiple filter settings. These quantitative data were correlated with the expression of selected microRNAs (miR-21-5p, miR-210-3p, miR-185-5p, miR-221-3p, miR-145-5p). Both the evaluations (microRNAs and computed tomography texture analysis) were performed on matched tumor and normal corticomedullar tissues of the same patients cohort. Results: In this pilot study, we evidenced that computed tomography texture analysis has robust parameters (eg, entropy, mean, standard deviation) to distinguish normal from pathological tissues. Moreover, a higher coefficient of determination between entropy and miR-21-5p expression was evidenced in tumor versus normal tissue. Interestingly, entropy and miR-21-5p show promising correlation in clear cell renal cell carcinoma opening to a radiogenomic strategy to improve clear cell renal cell carcinoma management. Conclusion: In this pilot study, a promising correlation between microRNAs and computed tomography texture analysis has been found in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. A clear cell renal cell carcinoma can benefit from noninvasive evaluation of texture parameters in adjunction to biopsy results. In particular, a promising correlation between entropy and miR-21-5p was found
Fractional Q-Switched 1064 nm laser for treatment of atrophic scars in asian skin
Background and Objectives: Asian patients with Fitzpatrick skin type III–IV are a less studied subtype of patients in the medical literature. Q-Switched, 1064 nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd: YAG) laser with a fractionated beam profile (QSF) is a new modality that was reported to be effective in the treatment of scars. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of QSF Nd: YAG laser in treating scars in Asian patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 29 Subjects were treated with 1064 nm QSF laser. Each patients had three treatments with a fractionated microlens array handpiece every 8 weeks). Efficacy of treatment was evaluated using the Goodman and Baron’s quantitative grading scale before and 3 months after the last treatment. Results: All 29 patients treated had significant improvement of acne scars according to Goodman and Baron’s Quantitative Global Acne Scarring Grading System. No side effect has been observed except some minor erythematous reactions in three patients. Conclusions: Our results confirm that the 1064 nm QSF Nd: YAG laser is a safe and effective technique for treating scars in Asians
Multiple double-exchange mechanism by Mn-doping in manganite compounds
Double-exchange mechanisms in REAEMnO manganites (where
RE is a trivalent rare-earth ion and AE is a divalent alkali-earth ion) relies
on the strong exchange interaction between two Mn and Mn ions
through interfiling oxygen 2p states. Nevertheless, the role of RE and AE ions
has ever been considered "silent" with respect to the DE conducting mechanisms.
Here we show that a new path for DE-mechanism is indeed possible by partially
replacing the RE-AE elements by Mn-ions, in La-deficient
LaMnO thin films. X-ray absorption spectroscopy demonstrated
the relevant presence of Mn ions, which is unambiguously proved to be
substituted at La-site by Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering. Mn is
proved to be directly correlated to the enhanced magneto-transport properties
because of an additional hopping mechanism trough interfiling Mn-ions,
theoretically confirmed by calculations within the effective single band model.
The very idea to use Mn both as a doping element and an ions
electronically involved in the conduction mechanism, has never been foreseen,
revealing a new phenomena in transport properties of manganites. More
important, such a strategy might be also pursed in other strongly correlated
materials.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
TOWARDS BENZ[A]ANTHRACENE XENOME ELUCIDATION IN PLANTS AND GREEN MICROALGAE
In only 12,000 years the Homo sapiens sapiens has completely modified the face of the Earth. The human pressure on the atmosphere, water and soil has been accelerate from the industrial revolution from which chemicals and energy have been released in the environment. Therefore, chemical environmental pollution and world climate changes are two of the main concerns that modern human must deal. Among chemicals released in the ecosystem the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) have gathered significant environment concerns for their detrimental biological effects, toxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity. The distribution of PAHs in the three environment compartments is related to the number of fused benzene rings. Two or three benzene rings have been occurring in the atmosphere whereas 5 or more rings are largely bounds in the soil particles. Intermediate, 4-rings, such as benz(a)anthracene (B[a]A) are partitioned between air and soil. The molecular mechanism involved to degrade PAHs into less toxic compounds by bacteria and fungi in soil has been elucidated. On the other hands, the metabolism of PAHs in plant and microalgae remain unknown. Signalling, transport, biotransformation of PAHs to less toxic molecules and compartmentalization are the main steps involved for their detoxification in photosynthetic cell. The expression of genes involved in these xenobiotics detoxification steps constitutes the xenome. The final aim of this work is to determine the B[a]A xenome in plants of tomato and in microalgae. So far, we have assessed the ability of tomato plants to grow in vitro and take up the B[a]A. Tomato seedlings were transplanted to MS medium added with 50 and 100 μg g -1 B[a]A and cultivated for 30 days. The detection of B[a]A in shoots infer a translocation from roots to shoots. However, the content of the PAH in shoots was much lower than in the root apparatus indicating that B[a]A was translocated very little from roots to shoots. The identification of microalgae species B[a]A capable of growing in presence of has been performed on 14 different species belonging to the genera Chlorella, Scenedesmus, Chlamydomonas, Ankistrodesmus, Botriococcus and Selenastrum, with six different concentrations of B[a]A. Four microalgae species showed a growth inhibition percentage less than 50% in a medium containing 43.8 μM B[a]A. The capacity to degrade B[a]A and affect the photosynthetic pigment content has been evaluated in the identified microalgae grown for 21 days in the medium containing B[a]A. The four microalgae strains reached 90% B[a]A degradation. Then, in silico analysis was carried out on C. reinhardtii proteome to identify potential laccase involved in the degradation process. Finally, the response of intracellular and extracellular activity in the absence and presence of the B[a]A was analysed by ABTS and 2,6-DMP assays
- …