198 research outputs found
Observation of correlated spin-orbit order in a strongly anisotropic quantum wire system
Quantum wires with spin-orbit coupling provide a unique opportunity to
simultaneously control the coupling strength and the screened Coulomb
interactions where new exotic phases of matter can be explored. Here we report
on the observation of an exotic spin-orbit density wave in Pb-atomic wires on
Si(557) surfaces by mapping out the evolution of the modulated spin-texture at
various conditions with spin- and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy.
The results are independently quantified by surface transport measurements. The
spin polarization, coherence length, spin dephasing rate, and the associated
quasiparticle gap decrease simultaneously as the screened Coulomb interaction
decreases with increasing excess coverage, providing a new mechanism for
generating and manipulating a spin-orbit entanglement effect via electronic
interaction. Despite clear evidence of spontaneous spin-rotation symmetry
breaking and modulation of spin-momentum structure as a function of excess
coverage, the average spin-polarization over the Brillouin zone vanishes,
indicating that time-reversal symmetry is intact as theoretically predicted
Single spin-polarised Fermi surface in SrTiO thin films
The 2D electron gas (2DEG) formed at the surface of SrTiO(001) has
attracted great interest because of its fascinating physical properties and
potential as a novel electronic platform, but up to now has eluded a
comprehensible way to tune its properties. Using angle-resolved photoemission
spectroscopy with and without spin detection we here show that the band filling
can be controlled by growing thin SrTiO films on Nb doped SrTiO(001)
substrates. This results in a single spin-polarised 2D Fermi surface, which
bears potential as platform for Majorana physics. Based on our results it can
furthermore be concluded that the 2DEG does not extend more than 2 unit cells
into the film and that its properties depend on the amount of SrO at the
surface and possibly the dielectric response of the system
Observation of Wannier-Stark localization at the surface of BaTiO films by photoemission
Observation of Bloch oscillations and Wannier-Stark localization of charge
carriers is typically impossible in single-crystals, because an electric field
higher than the breakdown voltage is required. In BaTiO however, high
intrinsic electric fields are present due to its ferroelectric properties. With
angle-resolved photoemission we directly probe the Wannier-Stark localized
surface states of the BaTiO film-vacuum interface and show that this effect
extends to thin SrTiO overlayers. The electrons are found to be localized
along the in-plane polarization direction of the BaTiO film
Spin-resolved electronic response to the phase transition in MoTe
The semimetal MoTe is studied by spin- and angle- resolved photoemission
spectroscopy to probe the detailed electronic structure underlying its broad
range of response behavior. A novel spin-texture is uncovered in the bulk Fermi
surface of the non-centrosymmetric structural phase that is consistent with
first-principles calculations. The spin-texture is three-dimensional, both in
terms of momentum dependence and spin-orientation, and is not completely
suppressed above the centrosymmetry-breaking transition temperature. Two types
of surface Fermi arc are found to persist well above the transition
temperature. The appearance of a large Fermi arc depends strongly on thermal
history, and the electron quasiparticle lifetimes are greatly enhanced in the
initial cooling. The results indicate that polar instability with strong
electron-lattice interactions exists near the surface when the bulk is largely
in a centrosymmetric phase
Direct observation of the spin texture in strongly correlated SmB6 as evidence of the topological Kondo insulator
The concept of a topological Kondo insulator (TKI) has been brought forward
as a new class of topological insulators in which non-trivial surface states
reside in the bulk Kondo band gap at low temperature due to the strong
spin-orbit coupling [1-3]. In contrast to other three-dimensional (3D)
topological insulators (e.g. Bi2Se3), a TKI is truly insulating in the bulk
[4]. Furthermore, strong electron correlations are present in the system, which
may interact with the novel topological phase. Applying spin- and
angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (SARPES) to the Kondo insulator SmB6,
a promising TKI candidate, we reveal that the surface states of SmB6 are spin
polarized, and the spin is locked to the crystal momentum. Counter-propagating
states (i.e. at k and -k) have opposite spin polarizations protected by
time-reversal symmetry. Together with the odd number of Fermi surfaces of
surface states between the 4 time-reversal invariant momenta in the surface
Brillouin zone [5], these findings prove, for the first time, that SmB6 can
host non-trivial topological surface states in a full insulating gap in the
bulk stemming from the Kondo effect. Hence our experimental results establish
that SmB6 is the first realization of a 3D TKI. It can also serve as an ideal
platform for the systematic study of the interplay between novel topological
quantum states with emergent effects and competing order induced by strongly
correlated electrons.Comment: 4 figure
Prospective Assessment of Sex-Related Differences in Symptom Status and Health Perception Among Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.
We prospectively assessed sex-specific differences in health perception, overall symptom status, and specific symptoms in a large cohort of patients with atrial fibrillation.
We performed a prospective multicenter observational cohort study of 1553 patients with atrial fibrillation. Patients completed questionnaires about personal characteristics, comorbidities, and symptoms on a yearly basis. Mean age was 70±11 years among women and 67±12 years among men. Health perception on a visual analogue scale ranging from 0 to 100 (with higher scores indicating better health perception) was significantly lower in women than in men (70 [interquartile range: 50-80] versus 75 [interquartile range: 60-85]; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@29592a5d <0.0001). More women than men had any symptoms (85.0% versus 68.3%; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@7ac0b4e4 <0.0001), palpitations (65.2% versus 44.4%; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@41229466 <0.0001), dizziness (25.6% versus 13.5%; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@61871784 <0.0001), dyspnea (35.7% versus 21.8%; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@16cc22b <0.0001), and fatigue (25.3% versus 19.1%; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@7ef43176 =0.006). At 1-year follow-up, symptoms decreased in both sexes but remained more frequent in women (49.1% versus 32.6%, javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@2b200b6a <0.0001). In multivariable adjusted longitudinal regression models, female sex remained an independent predictor for lower health perception (ß=-4.8; 95% CI, -6.5 to -3.1; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@72c212bd <0.0001), any symptoms (odds ratio [OR]: 2.6; 95% CI, 2.1-3.4; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@15d8fb54 <0.0001), palpitations (OR: 2.6; 95% CI, 2.1-3.2; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@4af80718 <0.0001), dizziness (OR: 2.9; 95% CI, 2.1-3.9; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@61282e76 <0.0001), dyspnea (OR: 2.1; 95% CI, 1.6-2.8; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@31d9f14 <0.0001), fatigue (OR: 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2-2.2; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@51cdd678 =0.0008), and chest pain (OR: 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3-2.6; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@5b87db9e =0.001).
Women with atrial fibrillation have a substantially higher symptom burden and lower health perception than men. These relationships persisted after multivariable adjustment and during prospective follow-up
Transcultural adaptation and validation of a French version of the Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility 12-item Short-Form (PLUS-M/FC-12) in active amputees.
The PLUS-M 12-item Short-Form is a self-questionnaire that assesses the perceived capacity of lower limb amputees (LLAs) to perform a number of daily-life activities. Its psychometric properties are excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]>0.9, fast administration and scoring, normative data available), and it can be used in clinical practice or for research purposes.
We aimed to develop a French version of this questionnaire and to assess its psychometric properties.
We followed international recommendations for translation and cross-cultural validation of questionnaires. In total, 52 LLAs (age 53±16, 40 males, 28/12/12 transtibial/Gritti-Stokes/transfemoral, 20/28/4 ischemic/traumatic/other) participated. Criterion and construct validities were assessed with the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) between the PLUS-M 12-item Short-Form and other constructs (Prosthetic-Profile-of-the-Amputee-Locomotor Capabilities Index, Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale, 2-min walking test and Timed Up and Go test), internal consistency with the Cronbach α and reliability with the ICC in 46 individuals who completed the questionnaire twice in a 7-day interval.
The mean (SD) PLUS-M 12-item Short-Form T-score was 56.1 (7.8; range 40.3 to 71.4). Construct and criterion validity, internal consistency and reliability ranged from low to excellent (r=0.43 to 0.84, P<10 <sup>-2</sup> to 0.002; Cronbach α=0.90, ICC=0.89 [0.81-0.94]). We found no floor or ceiling effect.
The French version of the PLUS-M 12-item Short-Form has good to excellent psychometric properties, comparable to those of the original version. Its use could definitely be proposed for both clinical and research purposes, once its validation is completed by assessing other psychometric qualities, especially sensitivity to change
Extended versus standard lymph node dissection for pancreatic head and periampullary adenocarcinoma: systematic review
Rifting under steam – how rift magmatism triggers methane venting from sedimentary basins
During opening of a new ocean magma intrudes into the surrounding sedimentary basins. Heat provided by the intrusions matures the host rock creating metamorphic aureoles potentially releasing large amounts of hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons may migrate to the seafloor in hydrothermal vent complexes in sufficient volumes to trigger global warming, e.g. during the Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). Mound structures at the top of buried hydrothermal vent complexes observed in seismic data off Norway were previously interpreted as mud volcanoes and the amount of released hydrocarbon was estimated based on this interpretation. Here, we present new geophysical and geochemical data from the Gulf of California suggesting that such mound structures could in fact be edifices constructed by the growth of black-smoker type chimneys rather than mud volcanoes. We have evidence for two buried and one active hydrothermal vent system outside the rift axis. The vent releases several hundred degrees Celsius hot fluids containing abundant methane, mid-ocean-ridge-basalt (MORB)-type helium, and precipitating solids up to 300 m high into the water column. Our observations challenge the idea that methane is emitted slowly from rift-related vents. The association of large amounts of methane with hydrothermal fluids that enter the water column at high pressure and temperature provides an efficient mechanism to transport hydrocarbons into the water column and atmosphere, lending support to the hypothesis that rapid climate change such as during the PETM can be triggered by magmatic intrusions into organic-rich sedimentary basins
Tectonic Controls on Gas Hydrate Distribution off SW Taiwan
The northern part of the South China Sea is characterized by widespread occurrence of bottom simulating reflectors (BSR) indicating the presence of marine gas hydrate. Because the area covers both a tectonically inactive passive margin and the termination of a subduction zone, the influence of tectonism on the dynamics of gas hydrate systems can be studied in this region. Geophysical data show that there are multiple thrust faults on the active margin while much fewer and smaller faults exist in the passive margin. This tectonic difference matches with a difference in the geophysical characteristics of the gas hydrate systems. High hydrate saturation derived from ocean bottom seismometer data and controlled source electromagnetic data and conspicuous high‐amplitude reflections in P‐Cable 3D seismic data above the BSR are found in the anticlinal ridges of the active margin. In contrast all geophysical evidence for the passive margin points to normal to low hydrate saturations. Geochemical analyses of gas samples collected at seep sites on the active margin show methane with heavy δ13C isotope composition, while gas collected at the passive margin shows light carbon isotope composition. Thus, we interpret the passive margin as a typical gas hydrate province fuelled by biogenic production of methane and the active margin gas hydrate system as a system that is fuelled not only by biogenic gas production but also by additional advection of thermogenic methane from the subduction system
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