Statistical translation invariance protects a topological insulator from interactions

We investigate the effect of interactions on the stability of a disordered, two-dimensional topological insulator realized as an array of nanowires or chains of magnetic atoms on a superconducting substrate. The Majorana zero-energy modes present at the ends of the wires overlap, forming a dispersive edge mode with thermal conductance determined by the central charge $c$ of the low-energy effective field theory of the edge. We show numerically that, in the presence of disorder, the $c=1/2$ Majorana edge mode remains delocalized up to extremely strong attractive interactions, while repulsive interactions drive a transition to a $c=3/2$ edge phase localized by disorder. The absence of localization for strong attractive interactions is explained by a self-duality symmetry of the statistical ensemble of disorder configurations and of the edge interactions, originating from translation invariance on the length scale of the underlying mesoscopic array.Comment: 5+2 pages, 8 figure

Transcript of The Dory Derby Accident

This story is an excerpt from a longer interview that was collected as part of the Launching through the Surf: The Dory Fleet of Pacific City project. In this story, Don Grotjohn recounts an accident that occurred during a Dory Derby competition

Mean-field Study of Charge, Spin, and Orbital Orderings in Triangular-lattice Compounds ANiO2 (A=Na, Li, Ag)

We present our theoretical results on the ground states in layered triangular-lattice compounds ANiO2 (A=Na, Li, Ag). To describe the interplay between charge, spin, orbital, and lattice degrees of freedom in these materials, we study a doubly-degenerate Hubbard model with electron-phonon couplings by the Hartree-Fock approximation combined with the adiabatic approximation. In a weakly-correlated region, we find a metallic state accompanied by \sqroot3x\sqroot3 charge ordering. On the other hand, we obtain an insulating phase with spin-ferro and orbital-ferro ordering in a wide range from intermediate to strong correlation. These phases share many characteristics with the low-temperature states of AgNiO2 and NaNiO2, respectively. The charge-ordered metallic phase is stabilized by a compromise between Coulomb repulsions and effective attractive interactions originating from the breathing-type electronphonon coupling as well as the Hund's-rule coupling. The spin-orbital-ordered insulating phase is stabilized by the cooperative effect of electron correlations and the Jahn-Teller coupling, while the Hund's-rule coupling also plays a role in the competition with other orbital-ordered phases. The results suggest a unified way of understanding a variety of low-temperature phases in ANiO2. We also discuss a keen competition among different spin-orbital-ordered phases in relation to a puzzling behavior observed in LiNiO2

Desfechos psicológicos em longo prazo após alta da terapia intensiva

Objective: To investigate the longterm psychological outcome in survivors of critical illness after intensive care unit discharge. Methods: A prospective cohort of survivors admitted to a mixed intensive care unit between January and September 2010 was evaluated six months and five years after hospital discharge. The Dementia Rating Scale-2, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Posttraumatic stress syndrome 14-questions inventory, the Euro Quality of Life 5 Dimensions (EQ-5-D), and the Visual Analogue Scale (EQ VAS) were assessed at both follow-up periods. Results: Of 267 patients, 25 patients were evaluated at 6 months after discharge (62 ± 16 years); 12 (48%) presented cognitive impairment, 6 (24%) anxiety, 4 (16%) depression, and 4 (16%) post-traumatic stress disorder. Among those re-evaluated five years after discharge (n = 17; 65 ± 15 years), the frequency of cognitive impairment dropped from 8 (47%) to 3 (18%) (p = 0.063), due to improvement in these patients over time, and other patients did not acquire any dysfunction after discharge. At five years after discharge, only two patients (12%) reported anxiety, and none had depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. No differences were found between the six-month and five-year follow-ups regarding EQ-5-D and EQ VAS. Conclusion: Survivors do not show a progressive decline in cognitive function or quality of life within five years after intensive care unit discharge. Psychopathological symptoms tend to decrease with time.Objetivo: Investigar o desfecho psicológico em longo prazo em sobreviventes de doenças críticas, após alta da unidade de terapia intensiva. Métodos: Avaliou-se coorte prospectiva de pacientes sobreviventes após admissão a uma unidade de terapia intensiva mista entre janeiro e setembro de 2010, 6 meses e 5 anos após a alta hospitalar. Aplicaram-se em todos os momentos as seguintes escalas: Dementia Rating Scale-2, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome 14-Questions Inventory, Euro Quality of Life 5 Dimensions (EQ-5-D) e Visual Analogue Scale (EQ VAS). Resultados: Dentre 267 pacientes, 25 foram avaliados após 6 meses (idade: 62 ± 16 anos). Aos 6 meses, 48% apresentavam comprometimento cognitivo; 24% ansiedade, 16% depressão e 16% transtorno de estresse pós-traumático. Foram reavaliados 5 anos após a alta 17 pacientes, com idade: 65 ± 15 anos. Dentre eles, a frequência de comprometimento cognitivo caiu de 47% para 18% (p = 0,063), em razão da melhora destes pacientes ao longo do tempo e do não surgimento desta condição em outros pacientes após a alta. Ainda após 5 anos, apenas 12% da amostra relatou ansiedade, e nenhum tinha depressão ou transtorno de estresse pós-traumático. Não se encontraram diferenças em termos das escalas EQ-5-D e EQ VAS entre as avaliações após 6 meses e 5 anos. Conclusão: Os sobreviventes não apresentaram declínio progressivo da função cognitiva ou da qualidade de vida dentro de 5 anos após a alta da unidade de terapia intensiva. Os sintomas psicopatológicos tenderam a diminuir com o tempo.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Environmental profile of the integrated production of ethanol and beef cattle in Brazil.

Abstract: Sugarcane outstands as an important renewable source of energy with expected steady production growth. However, expansion of sugarcane is critical, since the environmental performance of ethanol may be affected by GHG emissions derived from LUC. On the other hand, livestock farming currently practiced in Brazil is mainly extensive, occupying large areas and showing low productivity levels. Hence, in order to sustain the increase of ethanol production, mitigation of iLUC effects should be a priority on sugarcane expansion strategies. Integration of ethanol and beef cattle production can be part of this strategy by contributing to reduction of GHG emissions and improving land use management. This study made a comparative evaluation of the environmental profile of integrating ethanol and beef cattle production, considering different scenarios. The production chains were connected in such a way that the land used for biofuels would be converted from pre-existing extensive pasture, thereby minimizing iLUC and food vs. fuel competition. Results show that integrated production have better environmental performance for most LCA categories analyzed, but the relative differences between scenarios do not exceed 10%. The potential for mitigating GHG emissions through ethanol production and intensification of cattle husbandry became evident when they replace fossil resources and extensive production. Finally, it is important to remark that such integration can largely contribute to avoid iLUC and to support the achievement of the Brazilian emissions target from the Paris Agreement, especially through the increase of bioenergy participation in the Brazilian energy matrix and the restoration of degraded pasture areas

Desempenho ambiental da cana-de-açúcar: avaliação regional do ciclo de vida

Resumo: O setor sucroalcooleiro cumpre um papel estratégico para a segurança energética. Os produtos energéticos da cana-de-açúcar são responsáveis por 15,7% de toda a oferta de energia do país. Devido à importante participação do setor sucroalcooleiro na matriz energética brasileira e à crescente preocupação com os impactos ambientais, estudos de Avaliação de Ciclo de Vida tornam-se importantes para a análise do desempenho ambiental dos sistemas de produção de cana-de-açúcar. A elaboração de inventários de ciclo de vida (ICV) representativos é um grande desafio, considerando as diferentes regiões produtoras e suas características específicas de clima, solo e nível tecnológico. O objetivo deste trabalho foi elaborar inventários regionalizados da produção de cana-de-açúcar na região Centro-Sul do país. Além disso, foi gerado o perfil ambiental dos sistemas típicos das regiões produtoras de cana-de-açúcar. Foram utilizados dados do IDEA (2014) validados por especialistas do setor e compatibilizados para a composição de ICV médios. As emissões foram estimadas segundo Nemecek e Schnetzer (2011), Canals (2003) e Novaes et al. (2016). Analisando os resultados da avaliação de impacto ambiental normalizados, observou-se que, dentre as 14 categorias de impacto analisadas, as mais significativas foram Eutrofização de Água Doce, Toxicidade Humana e Formação de Material Particulado. Por fim, foi possível destacar a importância da elaboração destes ICVs regionalizados para melhor representar os processos agrícolas do setor canavieiro no Brasil e possibilitar avaliações mais confiáveis no âmbito da ACV. Abstract: The sugar ethanol industry plays a strategic role in energy security. Energy products of sugarcane account for 15.7% of the national energy matrix. Due to the important role of this sector in the Brazilian energy matrix and the growing concern about the environmental impacts, Life Cycle Assessment studies become important for analyzing the environmental performance of sugarcane production systems. The development of Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) representative is a big challenge, considering the different producing regions and their specific features of climate, soil and technological level. The main purpose of this study was to create regionalized inventories of sugarcane production in the South-Central region. Moreover, it was generated the environmental profile of the typical systems of the sugarcane producing regions. IDEA data were used (2014) validated by industry experts and matched to the composition of average LCI. The emissions were estimated according Nemecek and Schnetzer (2011), Canals (2003) and Novaes et al. (2016). Analyzing the results of the environmental impact assessment, normalized, it was observed that among the 14 impact categories analyzed, the most significant were Freshwater Eutrophication, Human Toxicity and Particulate Matter Formation. In conclusion, it was possible to highlight the importance of developing these regionalized life cycle inventories to better reflect the sugarcane sector in Brazil and to allow more reliable assessments under the scope of LCA

Measurement of the cross-section and charge asymmetry of WW bosons produced in proton-proton collisions at s=8\sqrt{s}=8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

This paper presents measurements of the $W^+ \rightarrow \mu^+\nu$ and $W^- \rightarrow \mu^-\nu$ cross-sections and the associated charge asymmetry as a function of the absolute pseudorapidity of the decay muon. The data were collected in proton--proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV with the ATLAS experiment at the LHC and correspond to a total integrated luminosity of 20.2~\mbox{fb^{-1}}. The precision of the cross-section measurements varies between 0.8% to 1.5% as a function of the pseudorapidity, excluding the 1.9% uncertainty on the integrated luminosity. The charge asymmetry is measured with an uncertainty between 0.002 and 0.003. The results are compared with predictions based on next-to-next-to-leading-order calculations with various parton distribution functions and have the sensitivity to discriminate between them.Comment: 38 pages in total, author list starting page 22, 5 figures, 4 tables, submitted to EPJC. All figures including auxiliary figures are available at https://atlas.web.cern.ch/Atlas/GROUPS/PHYSICS/PAPERS/STDM-2017-13

Search for chargino-neutralino production with mass splittings near the electroweak scale in three-lepton final states in √s=13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for supersymmetry through the pair production of electroweakinos with mass splittings near the electroweak scale and decaying via on-shell W and Z bosons is presented for a three-lepton final state. The analyzed proton-proton collision data taken at a center-of-mass energy of √s=13  TeV were collected between 2015 and 2018 by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139  fb−1. A search, emulating the recursive jigsaw reconstruction technique with easily reproducible laboratory-frame variables, is performed. The two excesses observed in the 2015–2016 data recursive jigsaw analysis in the low-mass three-lepton phase space are reproduced. Results with the full data set are in agreement with the Standard Model expectations. They are interpreted to set exclusion limits at the 95% confidence level on simplified models of chargino-neutralino pair production for masses up to 345 GeV

Internet-based medical education: a realist review of what works, for whom and in what circumstances

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