3,470 research outputs found
Quantum simulation of exotic PT-invariant topological nodal loop bands with ultracold atoms in an optical lattice
Since the well-known PT symmetry has its fundamental significance and
implication in physics, where PT denotes the combined operation of
space-inversion P and time-reversal T, it is extremely important and intriguing
to completely classify exotic PT-invariant topological metals and to physically
realize them. Here we, for the first time, establish a rigorous classification
of topological metals that are protected by the PT symmetry using KO-theory. As
a physically realistic example, a PT-invariant nodal loop (NL) model in a 3D
Brillouin zone is constructed, whose topological stability is revealed through
its PT-symmetry-protected nontrivial Z2 topological charge. Based on these
exact results, we propose an experimental scheme to realize and to detect
tunable PT-invariant topological NL states with ultracold atoms in an optical
lattice, in which atoms with two hyperfine spin states are loaded in a
spin-dependent 3D OL and two pairs of Raman lasers are used to create
out-of-plane spin-flip hopping with site-dependent phase. Such a realistic
cold-atom setup can yield topological NL states, having a tunable ring-shaped
band-touching line with the two-fold degeneracy in the bulk spectrum and
non-trivial surface states. The states are actually protected by the combined
PT symmetry even in the absence of both P and T symmetries, and are
characterized by a Z2-type invariant (a quantized Berry phase). Remarkably, we
demonstrate with numerical simulations that (i) the characteristic NL can be
detected by measuring the atomic transfer fractions in a Bloch-Zener
oscillation; (ii) the topological invariant may be measured based on the
time-of-flight imaging; and (iii) the surface states may be probed through
Bragg spectroscopy. The present proposal for realizing topological NL states in
cold atom systems may provide a unique experimental platform for exploring
exotic PT-invariant topological physics.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures; accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Do stocking densities affect the gut microbiota of gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) cultured in ponds?
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the intestinal microbial communities of gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) cultivated in two beach ponds at different stocking densities. The two ponds were both ~3.33 hm2 in acreage and ~1.5 m in depth. The stocking densities included one intensive with 2 fish m–3 while the other treated as semi-intensive with 1 fish m–3. The gut microbiota (both allochthonous and autochthonous) were sampled after 135 days of feeding. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene segments was used to evaluate the bacterial community. Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, Fusobacteria, Proteobacteria and some unclassified_bacteria taxa were identified in gut samples and feed. Similar bacterial communities (Cs=0.83) were observed with respect to the autochthonous and allochthonous gut microbiota of gibel carp cultured in the intensive culture pond. In contrast to these results, some difference (Cs=0.61) was observed in the gut microbiota of fish reared in the semi-intensive culture pond. Our results indicated that the difference in the bacterial communities between allochthonous bacteria and gut associated bacteria of gibel carp was not constant and was modulated by the stocking density
Transitions To the Long-Resident State in coupled chaotic oscillators
The behaviors of coupled chaotic oscillators before complete synchronization
were investigated. We report three phenomena: (1) The emergence of long-time
residence of trajectories besides one of the saddle foci; (2) The tendency that
orbits of the two oscillators get close becomes faster with increasing the
coupling strength; (3) The diffusion of two oscillator's phase difference is
first enhanced and then suppressed. There are exact correspondences among these
phenomena. The mechanism of these correspondences is explored. These phenomena
uncover the route to synchronization of coupled chaotic oscillators.Comment: 3 pages, 5 figure
Evolution of the Chern-Simons Vortices
Based on the gauge potential decomposition theory and the -mapping
theory, the topological inner structure of the Chern-Simons-Higgs vortex has
been showed in detail. The evolution of CSH vortices is studied from the
topological properties of the Higgs scalar field. The vortices are found
generating or annihilating at the limit points and encountering, splitting or
merging at the bifurcation points of the scalar field Comment: 10 pages, 10 figure
Synuclein gamma predicts poor clinical outcome in colon cancer with normal levels of carcinoembryonic antigen
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Synuclein gamma (SNCG), initially identified as a breast cancer specific gene, is aberrantly expressed in many different malignant tumors but rarely expressed in matched nonneoplastic adjacent tissues. In this study, we investigated the prognostic potential of SNCG in colon cancer particularly in the patients with normal carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>SNCG levels were assessed immunohistochemically in cancer tissues from 229 colon adenocarcinoma patients with a mean follow-up of 44 months. Correlations between SNCG levels and clinicopathologic features, preoperative serum CEA level, and clinical outcome were analyzed statistically using SPSS.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>SNCG levels in colon adenocarcinoma were closely associated with intravascular embolus and tumor recurrence but independent of preoperative serum CEA levels. SNCG expression was an independent prognostic factor of a shorter disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) (<it>P </it>< 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that both tissue SNCG and serum CEA were independent prognostic factors of DFS (<it>P </it>= 0.001, <0.0001, respectively) for 170 patients with colon adenocarcinomas. Importantly, SNCG remained a prognostic determinant of DFS and OS (<it>P </it>= 0.001, 0.002) for 97 patients with normal preoperative serum CEA level.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results suggest for the first time that SNCG is a new independent predicator for poor prognosis in patients with colon adenocarcinoma, including those with normal CEA levels. Combination of CEA with SNCG improves prognostic evaluation for patients with colon adenocarcinoma.</p
Manipulating Multiple Order Parameters via Oxygen Vacancies: The case of Eu0.5Ba0.5TiO3-{\delta}
Controlling functionalities, such as magnetism or ferroelectricity, by means
of oxygen vacancies (VO) is a key issue for the future development of
transition metal oxides. Progress in this field is currently addressed through
VO variations and their impact on mainly one order parameter. Here we reveal a
new mechanism for tuning both magnetism and ferroelectricity simultaneously by
using VO. Combined experimental and density-functional theory studies of
Eu0.5Ba0.5TiO3-{\delta}, we demonstrate that oxygen vacancies create Ti3+ 3d1
defect states, mediating the ferromagnetic coupling between the localized Eu
4f7 spins, and increase an off-center displacement of Ti ions, enhancing the
ferroelectric Curie temperature. The dual function of Ti sites also promises a
magnetoelectric coupling in the Eu0.5Ba0.5TiO3-{\delta}.Comment: Accepted by Physical Review B, 201
Plasmoid ejection and secondary current sheet generation from magnetic reconnection in laser-plasma interaction
Reconnection of the self-generated magnetic fields in laser-plasma
interaction was first investigated experimentally by Nilson {\it et al.} [Phys.
Rev. Lett. 97, 255001 (2006)] by shining two laser pulses a distance apart on a
solid target layer. An elongated current sheet (CS) was observed in the plasma
between the two laser spots. In order to more closely model magnetotail
reconnection, here two side-by-side thin target layers, instead of a single
one, are used. It is found that at one end of the elongated CS a fan-like
electron outflow region including three well-collimated electron jets appears.
The ( MeV) tail of the jet energy distribution exhibits a power-law
scaling. The enhanced electron acceleration is attributed to the intense
inductive electric field in the narrow electron dominated reconnection region,
as well as additional acceleration as they are trapped inside the rapidly
moving plasmoid formed in and ejected from the CS. The ejection also induces a
secondary CS
Parallel momentum distribution of the Si fragments from P
Distribution of the parallel momentum of Si fragments from the breakup
of 30.7 MeV/nucleon P has been measured on C targets. The distribution
has the FWHM with the value of 110.5 23.5 MeV/c which is consistent
quantitatively with Galuber model calculation assuming by a valence proton in
P. The density distribution is also predicted by Skyrme-Hartree-Fock
calculation. Results show that there might exist the proton-skin structure in
P.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Earth fissures triggered by groundwater withdrawal and coupled by geological structures in Jiangsu Province, China
Earth fissures in Jiangsu Province, China have caused serious damages to properties, farmlands, and infrastructures and adversely affected the local or regional economic development. Under the geological and environmental background in Jiangsu Province, this paper presents the earth fissures caused by excessive groundwater withdrawal and coupled by distinctive geological structures such as Ancient Yellow River Fault in Xuzhou karst area, and Ancient Yangtze River Course and bedrock hills in Suzhou, Wuxi, and Changzhou area. Although all the earth fissures are triggered by groundwater exploitation, the characteristics are strongly affected by the specific geological and hydrogeological settings. In particular, in the water-thirsty Xuzhou city, the cone of depression caused by groundwater extraction enlarged nearly 20 times and the piezometric head of groundwater declined 17 m over a decade. As groundwater is extracted from the shallowly buried karst strata in the Ancient Yellow River Fault zone, the development of earth fissures is highly associated with the development of karstic cavities and sinkholes and their distribution is controlled by the Ancient Yellow River Fault with all the 17 sinkholes on the fault. On the other hand, in the rapidly developing Southern Jiangsu Province, groundwater is mainly pumped from the second confined aquifer in the Quaternary, which is distributed neither homogeneously nor isotropically. The second confined aquifer comprises more than 50 m thick sand over the Ancient Yangtze River Course, but this layer may completely miss on the riverbank and bedrock hills. With a typical drawdown rate of 4-6 m per annum, the piezometric head of groundwater in the second confined aquifer has declined 76 m at Maocunyuan since 1970s and 40 m at Changjing since mid-1980s, and a large land subsidence, e.g., 1,100 mm at Maocunyuan, is triggered. Coupled with the dramatic change of the bedrock topography that was revealed through traditional geological drilling and modern seismic reflection methods, the geological-structure-controlled differential settlement and earth fissures are phenomenal in this area. © 2008 Springer-Verlag
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