Surface characterization and surface electronic structure of organic quasi-one-dimensional charge transfer salts

We have thoroughly characterized the surfaces of the organic charge-transfer salts TTF-TCNQ and (TMTSF)2PF6 which are generally acknowledged as prototypical examples of one-dimensional conductors. In particular x-ray induced photoemission spectroscopy turns out to be a valuable non-destructive diagnostic tool. We show that the observation of generic one-dimensional signatures in photoemission spectra of the valence band close to the Fermi level can be strongly affected by surface effects. Especially, great care must be exercised taking evidence for an unusual one-dimensional many-body state exclusively from the observation of a pseudogap.Comment: 11 pages, 12 figures, v2: minor changes in text and figure labellin

String theory duals of Lifshitz-Chern-Simons gauge theories

We propose candidate gravity duals for a class of non-Abelian z=2 Lifshitz Chern-Simons (LCS) gauge theories studied by Mulligan, Kachru and Nayak. These are nonrelativistic gauge theories in 2+1 dimensions in which parity and time-reversal symmetries are explicitly broken by the presence of a Chern-Simons term. We show that these field theories can be realized as deformations of DLCQ N=4 super Yang-Mills theory. Using the holographic dictionary, we identify the bulk fields that are dual to these deformations. The geometries describing the groundstates of the non-Abelian LCS gauge theories realized here exhibit a mass gap.Comment: 25+14 pages, 3 figures; v2: significant corrections regarding IR geometry, resulting in new section 5; journal versio

Large-density field theory, viscosity, and "2kF2k_F" singularities from string duals

We analyze systems where an effective large-N expansion arises naturally in gauge theories without a large number of colors: a sufficiently large charge density alone can produce a perturbative string ('tHooft) expansion. One example is simply the well-known NS5/F1 system dual to $AdS_3\times T^4\times S^3$, here viewed as a 5+1 dimensional theory at finite density. This model is completely stable, and we find that the existing string-theoretic solution of this model yields two interesting results. First, it indicates that the shear viscosity is not corrected by $\alpha'$ effects in this system. For flow perpendicular to the F1 strings the viscosity to entropy ratio take the usual value $1/4\pi$, but for flow parallel to the F1's it vanishes as $T^2$ at low temperature. Secondly, it encodes singularities in correlation functions coming from low-frequency modes at a finite value of the momentum along the $T^4$ directions. This may provide a strong coupling analogue of finite density condensed matter systems for which fermionic constituents of larger operators contribute so-called "$2k_F$" singularities. In the NS5/F1 example, stretched strings on the gravity side play the role of these composite operators. We explore the analogue for our system of the Luttinger relation between charge density and the volume bounded by these singular surfaces. This model provides a clean example where the string-theoretic UV completion of the gravity dual to a finite density field theory plays a significant and calculable role.Comment: 28 pages. v2: added reference

Cube law, condition factor and weight-length relationships: history, meta-analysis and recommendations

This study presents a historical review, a meta-analysis, and recommendations for users about weight–length relationships, condition factors and relative weight equations. The historical review traces the developments of the respective concepts. The meta-analysis explores 3929 weight–length relationships of the type W = aLb for 1773 species of fishes. It shows that 82% of the variance in a plot of log a over b can be explained by allometric versus isometric growth patterns and by different body shapes of the respective species. Across species median b = 3.03 is significantly larger than 3.0, thus indicating a tendency towards slightly positive-allometric growth (increase in relative body thickness or plumpness) in most fishes. The expected range of 2.5 < b < 3.5 is confirmed. Mean estimates of b outside this range are often based on only one or two weight–length relationships per species. However, true cases of strong allometric growth do exist and three examples are given. Within species, a plot of log a vs b can be used to detect outliers in weight–length relationships. An equation to calculate mean condition factors from weight–length relationships is given as Kmean = 100aLb−3. Relative weight Wrm = 100W/(amLbm) can be used for comparing the condition of individuals across populations, where am is the geometric mean of a and bm is the mean of b across all available weight–length relationships for a given species. Twelve recommendations for proper use and presentation of weight–length relationships, condition factors and relative weight are given

Moduli Spaces of Cold Holographic Matter

We use holography to study (3+1)-dimensional N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory with gauge group SU(Nc), in the large-Nc and large-coupling limits, coupled to a single massless (n+1)-dimensional hypermultiplet in the fundamental representation of SU(Nc), with n=3,2,1. In particular, we study zero-temperature states with a nonzero baryon number charge density, which we call holographic matter. We demonstrate that a moduli space of such states exists in these theories, specifically a Higgs branch parameterized by the expectation values of scalar operators bilinear in the hypermultiplet scalars. At a generic point on the Higgs branch, the R-symmetry and gauge group are spontaneously broken to subgroups. Our holographic calculation consists of introducing a single probe Dp-brane into AdS5 times S^5, with p=2n+1=7,5,3, introducing an electric flux of the Dp-brane worldvolume U(1) gauge field, and then obtaining explicit solutions for the worldvolume fields dual to the scalar operators that parameterize the Higgs branch. In all three cases, we can express these solutions as non-singular self-dual U(1) instantons in a four-dimensional space with a metric determined by the electric flux. We speculate on the possibility that the existence of Higgs branches may point the way to a counting of the microstates producing a nonzero entropy in holographic matter. Additionally, we speculate on the possible classification of zero-temperature, nonzero-density states described holographically by probe D-branes with worldvolume electric flux.Comment: 56 pages, 8 PDF images, 4 figure

Entanglement Entropy from a Holographic Viewpoint

The entanglement entropy has been historically studied by many authors in order to obtain quantum mechanical interpretations of the gravitational entropy. The discovery of AdS/CFT correspondence leads to the idea of holographic entanglement entropy, which is a clear solution to this important problem in gravity. In this article, we would like to give a quick survey of recent progresses on the holographic entanglement entropy. We focus on its gravitational aspects, so that it is comprehensible to those who are familiar with general relativity and basics of quantum field theory.Comment: Latex, 30 pages, invited review for Classical and Quantum Gravity, minor correction

COMPUTER-CONTROLLED GAS CHROMATOGRAPH CAPABLE OF ''REAL-TIME'' READOUT OF HIGH-PRECISION DATA.

A gas chromatograph has been assembled which provides computer control of sample injection, column temperature, and flow rate, plus direct computer readout of inlet pressure, mass flow rate, and detector response. Data processing yields, in real-time, a standard deviation of less than 0.05% in retention time, which is comparable to previous results obtained using an off-line computer. However, corrected retention volumes determined in real-time had a standard deviation of about 0.4% which reflected primarily the uncertainty in flow measurement

Enhanced multiplex genome engineering through co-operative oligonucleotide co-selection

Genome-scale engineering of living organisms requires precise and economical methods to efficiently modify many loci within chromosomes. One such example is the directed integration of chemically synthesized single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (oligonucleotides) into the chromosome of Escherichia coli during replication. Herein, we present a general co-selection strategy in multiplex genome engineering that yields highly modified cells. We demonstrate that disparate sites throughout the genome can be easily modified simultaneously by leveraging selectable markers within 500 kb of the target sites. We apply this technique to the modification of 80 sites in the E. coli genome.United States. Dept. of Energy. Genomes To Life (DE-FG02-03ER6344)National Science Foundation (U.S.). Genes and Genomes Systems Cluster (0719344)National Science Foundation (U.S.). Center for Bits and Atoms (0122419)National Science Foundation (U.S.). Synthetic Biology Engineering Research Center (0540879

Modified bases enable high-efficiency oligonucleotide-mediated allelic replacement via mismatch repair evasion

Genome engineering using single-stranded oligonucleotides is an efficient method for generating small chromosomal and episomal modifications in a variety of host organisms. The efficiency of this allelic replacement strategy is highly dependent on avoidance of the endogenous mismatch repair (MMR) machinery. However, global MMR inactivation generally results in significant accumulation of undesired background mutations. Here, we present a novel strategy using oligos containing chemically modified bases (2′-Fluoro-Uridine, 5-Methyl-deoxyCytidine, 2,6-Diaminopurine or Iso-deoxyGuanosine) in place of the standard T, C, A or G to avoid mismatch detection and repair, which we tested in Escherichia coli. This strategy increases transient allelic-replacement efficiencies by up to 20-fold, while maintaining a 100-fold lower background mutation level. We further show that the mismatched bases between the full length oligo and the chromosome are often not incorporated at the target site, probably due to nuclease activity at the 5′ and 3′ termini of the oligo. These results further elucidate the mechanism of oligo-mediated allelic replacement (OMAR) and enable improved methodologies for efficient, large-scale engineering of genomes.Synthetic Biology Engineering Research CenterNational Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant #SA5283-11210)United States. Dept. of Energy (Genomes to Life Center) (Grant #DE-FG02-03ER6344)Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineerin