82 research outputs found
Breakdown of the Mott insulator: Exact solution of an asymmetric Hubbard model
The breakdown of the Mott insulator is studied when the dissipative tunneling
into the environment is introduced to the system. By exactly solving the
one-dimensional asymmetric Hubbard model, we show how such a breakdown of the
Mott insulator occurs. As the effect of the tunneling is increased, the Hubbard
gap is monotonically decreased and finally disappears, resulting in the
insulator-metal transition. We discuss the origin of this quantum phase
transition in comparison with other non-Hermitian systems recently studied.Comment: 7 pages, revte
Nonequilibrium wetting
When a nonequilibrium growing interface in the presence of a wall is
considered a nonequilibrium wetting transition may take place. This transition
can be studied trough Langevin equations or discrete growth models. In the
first case, the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equation, which defines a very robust
universality class for nonequilibrium moving interfaces, with a soft-wall
potential is considered. While in the second, microscopic models, in the
corresponding universality class, with evaporation and deposition of particles
in the presence of hard-wall are studied. Equilibrium wetting is related to a
particular case of the problem, it corresponds to the Edwards-Wilkinson
equation with a potential in the continuum approach or to the fulfillment of
detailed balance in the microscopic models. In this review we present the
analytical and numerical methods used to investigate the problem and the very
rich behavior that is observed with them.Comment: Review, 36 pages, 16 figure
Soliton approach to the noisy Burgers equation: Steepest descent method
The noisy Burgers equation in one spatial dimension is analyzed by means of
the Martin-Siggia-Rose technique in functional form. In a canonical formulation
the morphology and scaling behavior are accessed by mean of a principle of
least action in the asymptotic non-perturbative weak noise limit. The ensuing
coupled saddle point field equations for the local slope and noise fields,
replacing the noisy Burgers equation, are solved yielding nonlinear localized
soliton solutions and extended linear diffusive mode solutions, describing the
morphology of a growing interface. The canonical formalism and the principle of
least action also associate momentum, energy, and action with a
soliton-diffusive mode configuration and thus provides a selection criterion
for the noise-induced fluctuations. In a ``quantum mechanical'' representation
of the path integral the noise fluctuations, corresponding to different paths
in the path integral, are interpreted as ``quantum fluctuations'' and the
growth morphology represented by a Landau-type quasi-particle gas of ``quantum
solitons'' with gapless dispersion and ``quantum diffusive modes'' with a gap
in the spectrum. Finally, the scaling properties are dicussed from a heuristic
point of view in terms of a``quantum spectral representation'' for the slope
correlations. The dynamic eponent z=3/2 is given by the gapless soliton
dispersion law, whereas the roughness exponent zeta =1/2 follows from a
regularity property of the form factor in the spectral representation. A
heuristic expression for the scaling function is given by spectral
representation and has a form similar to the probability distribution for Levy
flights with index .Comment: 30 pages, Revtex file, 14 figures, to be submitted to Phys. Rev.
Photonic quantum technologies
The first quantum technology, which harnesses uniquely quantum mechanical
effects for its core operation, has arrived in the form of commercially
available quantum key distribution systems that achieve enhanced security by
encoding information in photons such that information gained by an eavesdropper
can be detected. Anticipated future quantum technologies include large-scale
secure networks, enhanced measurement and lithography, and quantum information
processors, promising exponentially greater computation power for particular
tasks. Photonics is destined for a central role in such technologies owing to
the need for high-speed transmission and the outstanding low-noise properties
of photons. These technologies may use single photons or quantum states of
bright laser beams, or both, and will undoubtably apply and drive
state-of-the-art developments in photonics
Antiracist Feminism and the Politics of Solidarity in Neoliberal Times
The chapter analyses the establishment and expansion of antiracist feminism in the last decade throughout the Nordic region, with new groups, media sites, and public events organised, especially in the large cities. Keskinen examines antiracist feminist and queer of colour activism in which the main or sole actors belong to groups racialised as non-white or ‘others’ in Nordic societies. A fundamental argument developed in the chapter is the central role and potential of these emerging social movements in the reconfiguring of political agendas and tackling pressing societal issues, due to its capacity to overlap and connect the borders of antiracist, feminist, and (to some extent) class-based politics. The chapter further argues for the usefulness of theorising the neoliberal turn of racial capitalism as the societal condition in which feminist activism takes place.Peer reviewe
The Impact of Entrepreneurship Education in Higher Education: A Systematic Review and Research Agenda
Using a teaching model framework, we systematically review empirical evidence on the impact of entrepreneurship education (EE) in higher education on a range of entrepreneurial outcomes, analyzing 159 published articles from 2004 to 2016. The teaching model framework allows us for the first time to start rigorously examining relationships between pedagogical methods and specific outcomes. Reconfirming past reviews and meta-analyses, we find that EE impact research still predominantly focuses on short-term and subjective outcome measures and tends to severely underdescribe the actual pedagogies being tested. Moreover, we use our review to provide an up-to-date and empirically rooted call for less obvious, yet greatly promising, new or underemphasized directions for future research on the impact of university-based entrepreneurship education. This includes, for example, the use of novel impact indicators related to emotion and mind-set, focus on the impact indicators related to the intention-to-behavior transition, and exploring the reasons for some contradictory findings in impact studies including person-, context-, and pedagogical model-specific moderator
Genome-wide meta-analysis of 241,258 adults accounting for smoking behaviour identifies novel loci for obesity traits
Few genome-wide association studies (GWAS) account for environmental exposures, like smoking, potentially impacting the overall trait variance when investigating the genetic contribution to obesity-related traits. Here, we use GWAS data from 51,080 current smokers and 190,178 nonsmokers (87% European descent) to identify loci influencing BMI and central adiposity, measured as waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio both adjusted for BMI. We identify 23 novel genetic loci, and 9 loci with convincing evidence of gene-smoking interaction (GxSMK) on obesity-related traits. We show consistent direction of effect for all identified loci and significance for 18 novel and for 5 interaction loci in an independent study sample. These loci highlight novel biological functions, including response to oxidative stress, addictive behaviour, and regulatory functions emphasizing the importance of accounting for environment in genetic analyses. Our results suggest that tobacco smoking may alter the genetic susceptibility to overall adiposity and body fat distribution.Peer reviewe
Hypofibrinolysis in diabetes: a therapeutic target for the reduction of cardiovascular risk
An enhanced thrombotic environment and premature atherosclerosis are key factors for the increased cardiovascular risk in diabetes. The occlusive vascular thrombus, formed secondary to interactions between platelets and coagulation proteins, is composed of a skeleton of fibrin fibres with cellular elements embedded in this network. Diabetes is characterised by quantitative and qualitative changes in coagulation proteins, which collectively increase resistance to fibrinolysis, consequently augmenting thrombosis risk. Current long-term therapies to prevent arterial occlusion in diabetes are focussed on anti-platelet agents, a strategy that fails to address the contribution of coagulation proteins to the enhanced thrombotic milieu. Moreover, antiplatelet treatment is associated with bleeding complications, particularly with newer agents and more aggressive combination therapies, questioning the safety of this approach. Therefore, to safely control thrombosis risk in diabetes, an alternative approach is required with the fibrin network representing a credible therapeutic target. In the current review, we address diabetes-specific mechanistic pathways responsible for hypofibrinolysis including the role of clot structure, defects in the fibrinolytic system and increased incorporation of anti-fibrinolytic proteins into the clot. Future anti-thrombotic therapeutic options are discussed with special emphasis on the potential advantages of modulating incorporation of the anti-fibrinolytic proteins into fibrin networks. This latter approach carries theoretical advantages, including specificity for diabetes, ability to target a particular protein with a possible favourable risk of bleeding. The development of alternative treatment strategies to better control residual thrombosis risk in diabetes will help to reduce vascular events, which remain the main cause of mortality in this condition
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