374 research outputs found
Superconductivity emerging near quantum critical point of valence transition
The nature of the quantum valence transition is studied in the
one-dimensional periodic Anderson model with Coulomb repulsion between f and
conduction electrons by the density-matrix renormalization group method. It is
found that the first-order valence transition emerges with the quantum critical
point and the crossover from the Kondo to the mixed-valence states is strongly
stabilized by quantum fluctuation and electron correlation. It is found that
the superconducting correlation is developed in the Kondo regime near the sharp
valence increase. The origin of the superconductivity is ascribed to the
development of the coherent motion of electrons with enhanced valence
fluctuation, which results in the enhancement of the charge velocity, but not
of the charge compressibility. Statements on the valence transition in
connection with Ce metal and Ce compounds are given.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure
Signatures of valence fluctuations in CeCu2Si2 under high pressure
Simultaneous resistivity and a.c.-specific heat measurements have been
performed under pressure on single crystalline CeCu2Si2 to over 6 GPa in a
hydrostatic helium pressure medium. A series of anomalies were observed around
the pressure coinciding with a maximum in the superconducting critical
temperature, . These anomalies can be linked with an abrupt change
of the Ce valence, and suggest a second quantum critical point at a pressure
GPa, where critical valence fluctuations provide the
superconducting pairing mechanism, as opposed to spin fluctuations at ambient
pressure. Such a valence instability, and associated superconductivity, is
predicted by an extended Anderson lattice model with Coulomb repulsion between
the conduction and f-electrons. We explain the T-linear resistivity found at
in this picture, while other anomalies found around can be
qualitatively understood using the same model.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Mass Enhancement in an Intermediate-Valent Regime of Heavy-Fermion Systems
We study the mechanism of the mass enhancement in an intermediate-valent
regime of heavy-fermion materials. We find that the crossovers between the
Kondo, intermediate valent, and almost empty f-electron regimes become sharp
with the Coulomb interaction between the conduction and f electrons. In the
intermediate-valent regime, we find a substantial mass enhancement, which is
not expected in previous theories. Our theory may be relevant to the observed
nonmonotonic variation in the effective mass under pressure in CeCu2Si2 and the
mass enhancement in the intermediate-valent compounds alpha-YbAlB4 and
beta-YbAlB4.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Gutzwiller Method for an Extended Periodic Anderson Model with the c-f Coulomb Interaction
We study an extended periodic Anderson model with the Coulomb interaction Ucf
between conduction and f electrons by the Gutzwiller method. The crossovers
between the Kondo, intermediate-valence, and almost empty f-electron regimes
become sharper with Ucf, and for a sufficiently large Ucf, become first-order
phase transitions. In the Kondo regime, a large enhancement in the effective
mass occurs as in the ordinary periodic Anderson model without Ucf. In
addition, we find that a large mass enhancement also occurs in the
intermediate-valence regime by the effect of Ucf.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure
Valence Fluctuations Revealed by Magnetic Field Scan: Comparison with Experiments in YbXCu_4 (X=In, Ag, Cd) and CeYIn_5 (Y=Ir, Rh)
The mechanism of how critical end points of the first-order valence
transitions (FOVT) are controlled by a magnetic field is discussed. We
demonstrate that the critical temperature is suppressed to be a quantum
critical point (QCP) by a magnetic field. This results explain the field
dependence of the isostructural FOVT observed in Ce metal and YbInCu_4.
Magnetic field scan can lead to reenter in a critical valence fluctuation
region. Even in the intermediate-valence materials, the QCP is induced by
applying a magnetic field, at which the magnetic susceptibility also diverges.
The driving force of the field-induced QCP is shown to be a cooperative
phenomenon of the Zeeman effect and the Kondo effect, which creates a distinct
energy scale from the Kondo temperature. The key concept is that the closeness
to the QCP of the FOVT is capital in understanding Ce- and Yb-based heavy
fermions. It explains the peculiar magnetic and transport responses in CeYIn_5
(Y=Ir, Rh) and metamagnetic transition in YbXCu_4 for X=In as well as the sharp
contrast between X=Ag and Cd.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures, OPEN SELECT in J. Phys. Soc. Jp
FoxM1 mediates the progenitor function of type II epithelial cells in repairing alveolar injury induced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Mice lacking FoxM1 specifically in progenitor-like type II alveolar epithelial cells exhibit defective alveolar barrier repair after microbe-induced lung injury
Advancing the application of systems thinking in health: why cure crowds out prevention
Selecting Indicator Portfolios for Marine Species and Food Webs: A Puget Sound Case Study
Ecosystem-based management (EBM) has emerged as a promising approach for maintaining the benefits humans want and need from the ocean, yet concrete approaches for implementing EBM remain scarce. A key challenge lies in the development of indicators that can provide useful information on ecosystem status and trends, and assess progress towards management goals. In this paper, we describe a generalized framework for the methodical and transparent selection of ecosystem indicators. We apply the framework to the second largest estuary in the United States – Puget Sound, Washington – where one of the most advanced EBM processes is currently underway. Rather than introduce a new method, this paper integrates a variety of familiar approaches into one step-by-step approach that will lead to more consistent and reliable reporting on ecosystem condition. Importantly, we demonstrate how a framework linking indicators to policy goals, as well as a clearly defined indicator evaluation and scoring process, can result in a portfolio of useful and complementary indicators based on the needs of different users (e.g., policy makers and scientists). Although the set of indicators described in this paper is specific to marine species and food webs, we provide a general approach that could be applied to any set of management objectives or ecological system
The influence of habitat structure on genetic differentiation in red fox populations in north-eastern Poland
The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) has the widest global distribution among terrestrial carnivore species, occupying most of the Northern Hemisphere in its native range. Because it carries diseases that can be transmitted to humans and domestic animals, it is important to gather information about their movements and dispersal in their natural habitat but it is difficult to do so at a broad scale with trapping and telemetry. In this study, we have described the genetic diversity and structure of red fox populations in six areas of north-eastern Poland, based on samples collected from 2002–2003. We tested 22 microsatellite loci isolated from the dog and the red fox genome to select a panel of nine polymorphic loci suitable for this study. Genetic differentiation between the six studied populations was low to moderate and analysis in Structure revealed a panmictic population in the region. Spatial autocorrelation among all individuals showed a pattern of decreasing relatedness with increasing distance and this was not significantly negative until 93 km, indicating a pattern of isolation-by-distance over a large area. However, there was no correlation between genetic distance and either Euclidean distance or least-cost path distance at the population level. There was a significant relationship between genetic distance and the proportion of large forests and water along the Euclidean distances. These types of habitats may influence dispersal paths taken by red foxes, which is useful information in terms of wildlife disease management
Gene expression in the prefrontal cortex during adolescence: implications for the onset of schizophrenia
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many critical maturational processes take place in the human brain during postnatal development. In particular, the prefrontal cortex does not reach maturation until late adolescence and this stage is associated with substantial white matter volume increases. Patients with schizophrenia and other major psychiatric disorders tend to first present with overt symptoms during late adolescence/early adulthood and it has been proposed that this developmental stage represents a "window of vulnerability".</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study we used whole genome microarrays to measure gene expression in post mortem prefrontal cortex tissue from human individuals ranging in age from 0 to 49 years. To identify genes specifically altered in the late adolescent period, we applied a template matching procedure. Genes were identified which showed a significant correlation to a template showing a peak of expression between ages 15 and 25.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Approximately 2000 genes displayed an expression pattern that was significantly correlated (positively or negatively) with the template. In the majority of cases, these genes in fact reached a plateau during adolescence with only subtle changes thereafter. These include a number of genes previously associated with schizophrenia including the susceptibility gene neuregulin 1 (NRG1). Functional profiling revealed peak expression in late adolescence for genes associated with energy metabolism and protein and lipid synthesis, together with decreases for genes involved in glutamate and neuropeptide signalling and neuronal development/plasticity. Strikingly, eight myelin-related genes previously found decreased in schizophrenia brain tissue showed a peak in their expression levels in late adolescence, while the single myelin gene reported increased in patients with schizophrenia was decreased in late adolescence.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The observed changes imply that molecular mechanisms critical for adolescent brain development are disturbed in schizophrenia patients.</p
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