Non-gapped Fermi surfaces, quasiparticles and the anomalous temperature dependence of the near-EFE_F electronic states in the CMR oxide La2−2x_{2-2x}Sr1+2x_{1+2x}Mn2_2O7_7 with x=0.36x=0.36

After years of research into colossal magnetoresistant (CMR) manganites using bulk techniques, there has been a recent upsurge in experiments directly probing the electronic states at or near the surface of the bilayer CMR materials La$_{2-2x}$Sr$_{1+2x}$Mn$_2$O$_7$ using angle-resolved photoemission or scanning probe microscopy. Here we report new, temperature dependent, angle resolved photoemission data from single crystals with a doping level of $x=0.36$. The first important result is that there is no sign of a pseudogap in the charge channel of this material for temperatures below the Curie temperature $T_C$. The second important result concerns the temperature dependence of the electronic states. The temperature dependent changes in the Fermi surface spectra both at the zone face and zone diagonal regions in $k$-space indicate that the coherent quasiparticle weight disappears for temperatures significantly above $T_C$, and that the $k$-dependence of the T-induced changes in the spectra invalidate an interpretation of these data in terms of the superposition of a `universal' metallic spectrum and an insulating spectrum whose relative weight changes with temperature. In this sense, our data are not compatible with a phase separation scenario.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Heritable functional architecture in human visual cortex

How much of the functional organization of our visual system is inherited? Here we tested the heritability of retinotopic maps in human visual cortex using functional magnetic resonance imaging. We demonstrate that retinotopic organization shows a closer correspondence in monozygotic (MZ) compared to dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs, suggesting a partial genetic determination. Using population receptive field (pRF) analysis to examine the preferred spatial location and selectivity of these neuronal populations, we estimate a heritability around 10–20% for polar angle preferences and spatial selectivity, as quantified by pRF size, in extrastriate areas V2 and V3. Our findings are consistent with heritability in both the macroscopic arrangement of visual regions and stimulus tuning properties of visual cortex. This could constitute a neural substrate for variations in a range of perceptual effects, which themselves have been found to be at least partially genetically determined. These findings also add convergent evidence for the hypothesis that functional map topology is linked with cortical morphology

Extrastriate projections in human visual system: Evidence from fMRI-informed tractography

The human optic radiation (OR) is the main pathway for conveying visual input to occipital cortex, but it is unclear whether it projects beyond primary visual cortex (V1). In this study, we used functional MRI mapping to delineate early visual areas in 30 healthy volunteers and determined the termination area of the OR as reconstructed with diffusion tractography. Direct thalamo-cortical projections to areas V2 and V3 were found in all hemispheres tested, with a distinct anatomical arrangement of superior–inferior fiber placement for dorsal and ventral projections, respectively, and a medio-lateral nesting arrangement for projections to V1, V2 and V3. Finally, segment-specific microstructure was examined, revealing sub-fascicular information. This is to date the first in vivo demonstration of direct extrastriate projections of the OR in humans

Can environmental DNA be used to detect first arrivals of the cane toad, Rhinella marina, into novel locations?

Eradicating invasive species is difficult, but success is more likely when populations are small after arrival. The cane toad, Rhinella marina, is an invasive pest species that threatens native fauna worldwide. Increasingly, environmental DNA (eDNA) is used as a technique to monitor the presence of invasive species given its power to detect low numbers of individuals. We aimed to investigate eDNA persistence in freshwater at three different temperatures (25, 30 and 35°C) and eDNA detection thresholds for R. marina using controlled experiments in aquaria. For the latter, two water volumes and two cane toad exposure times were used (800 or 200 L volume with 5 or 30 min exposure). A 15‐ml water sample was collected from each replicated aquaria and preserved with 5 ml Longmire's buffer. Environmental DNA was extracted and four technical quantitative PCR replicates were analyzed targeting the cane toad 16S rDNA mitochondrial gene. Environmental DNA decayed rapidly in water and was reliably detected for up to 3 days after cane toad removal, regardless of the temperature treatment. Also, cane toad eDNA was detected in the water after a 5‐min initial exposure of a single individual in 800 L of water. Under the physical parameters tested here, a positive detection means that a cane toad has been in contact with the water body between 1 and 3 days prior to the sampling event. The results of the present study show the importance of eDNA for determining the presence of a species that occurs at low abundance in a small water body, such as at the onset of a cane toad invasion

Condensation in randomly perturbed zero-range processes

The zero-range process is a stochastic interacting particle system that exhibits a condensation transition under certain conditions on the dynamics. It has recently been found that a small perturbation of a generic class of jump rates leads to a drastic change of the phase diagram and prevents condensation in an extended parameter range. We complement this study with rigorous results on a finite critical density and quenched free energy in the thermodynamic limit, as well as quantitative heuristic results for small and large noise which are supported by detailed simulation data. While our new results support the initial findings, they also shed new light on the actual (limited) relevance in large finite systems, which we discuss via fundamental diagrams obtained from exact numerics for finite systems.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figure

Neutral Hydrogen and Optical Observations of Edge-on Galaxies: Hunting for Warps

We present 21-cm HI line and optical R-band observations for a sample of 26 edge-on galaxies. The HI observations were obtained with the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope, and are part of the WHISP database (Westerbork HI Survey of Spiral and Irregular Galaxies). We present HI maps, optical images, and radial HI density profiles. We have also derived the rotation curves and studied the warping and lopsidedness of the HI disks. 20 out of the 26 galaxies of our sample are warped, confirming that warping of the HI disks is a very common phenomenon in disk galaxies. Indeed, we find that all galaxies that have an extended HI disk with respect to the optical are warped. The warping usually starts around the edge of the optical disk. The degree of warping varies considerably from galaxy to galaxy. Furthermore, many warps are asymmetric, as they show up in only one side of the disk or exhibit large differences in amplitude in the approaching and receding sides of the galaxy. These asymmetries are more pronounced in rich environments, which may indicate that tidal interactions are a source of warp asymmetry. A rich environment tends to produce larger warps as well. The presence of lopsidedness seems to be related to the presence of nearby companions.Comment: To appear in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Work restructuring and changing craft identity: the Tale of the Disaffected Weavers (or what happens when the rug is pulled from under your feet)

This article explores the changes in worker identity that can occur during manufacturing restructuring – specifically those linked to the declining status of craft work – through an in-depth case study of Weaveco, a UK carpet manufacturer. An analysis of changes in the labour process is followed by employee reactions centred on the demise of the traditional craft identity of male carpet weavers. The voices of the weavers dramatize the tensions involved in reconstructing their masculine identity, and we consider the implications this has for understanding gendered work relations

Signatures of SN Ia in the galactic thick disk

We present the first results of a larger study into the stellar abundances and chemical trends in long-lived dwarf stars in the solar neighbourhood that belong to (based on their kinematics) the thin and thick galactic disk, respectively. We confirm that the trends of alpha-elements in the thin and thick disk are distinct (this has previously been shown for Mg by Fuhrmann 1998, but e.g. Chen et al. 2000 claimed the trends to follow smoothly upon each other). We find that the thick disk show the typical signature of contribution from SN Ia (i.e. the ``knee'') to the enrichment of the interstellar gas out of which the later generations of thick disk stars formed. The trend starts out as [Mg/Fe] ~0.35 at [Fe/H] ~ -0.7 and continue on this level with increasing [Fe/H] until -0.4 dex where a decline in [Mg/Fe] starts and steadily continues down to 0 dex at solar metallicity. The same is true for the other alpha-elements (e.g. Si). Using ages from the literature we find that the thick disk in the mean is older than the thin disk. Combining our results with other observational facts we suggest that the most likely formation scenario for the thick disk is, still, a violent merger event. We also suggest that there might be tentativeevidence for diffusion of orbits in todays thin disk (based on kinematics in combination with elemental abundances).Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, A&A Letter in pres