Critical Entanglement for the Half-Filled Extended Hubbard Model

We study the ground state of the one-dimensional extended Hubbard model at half-filling using the entanglement entropy calculated by Density Matrix Renormalization Group (DMRG) techniques. We apply a novel curve fitting and scaling method to accurately identify a $2^{nd}$ order critical point as well as a Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) critical point. Using open boundary conditions and medium-sized lattices with very small truncation errors, we are able to achieve similar accuracy to previous authors. We also report observations of finite-size and boundary effects that can be remedied with careful pinning.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figure

Risk Factors Associated with Weight Change in Undergraduate, Graduate, and Medical Students

Graduate Applie

MTL-CEBPA, a Small Activating RNA Therapeutic Upregulating C/EBP-α, in Patients with Advanced Liver Cancer: A First-in-Human, Multicenter, Open-Label, Phase I Trial.

PURPOSE: Transcription factor C/EBP-α (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha) acts as a master regulator of hepatic and myeloid functions and multiple oncogenic processes. MTL-CEBPA is a first-in-class small activating RNA oligonucleotide drug that upregulates C/EBP-α. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a phase I, open-label, dose-escalation trial of MTL-CEBPA in adults with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with cirrhosis, or resulting from nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or with liver metastases. Patients received intravenous MTL-CEBPA once a week for 3 weeks followed by a rest period of 1 week per treatment cycle in the dose-escalation phase (3+3 design). RESULTS: Thirty-eight participants have been treated across six dose levels (28-160 mg/m2) and three dosing schedules. Thirty-four patients were evaluable for safety endpoints at 28 days. MTL-CEBPA treatment-related adverse events were not associated with dose, and no maximum dose was reached across the three schedules evaluated. Grade 3 treatment-related adverse events occurred in nine (24%) patients. In 24 patients with HCC evaluable for efficacy, an objective tumor response was achieved in one patient [4%; partial response (PR) for over 2 years] and stable disease (SD) in 12 (50%). After discontinuation of MTL-CEBPA, seven patients were treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs); three patients had a complete response with one further PR and two with SD. CONCLUSIONS: MTL-CEBPA is the first saRNA in clinical trials and demonstrates an acceptable safety profile and potential synergistic efficacy with TKIs in HCC. These encouraging phase I data validate targeting of C/EBP-α and have prompted MTL-CEBPA + sorafenib combination studies in HCC

Potential Pathways to Restore β-Cell Mass: Pluripotent Stem Cells, Reprogramming, and Endogenous Regeneration

Currently available β-cell replacement therapies for patients with diabetes, including islet and pancreas transplantation, are largely successful in restoring normal glucose metabolism, but the scarcity of organ donors restricts their more widespread use. To solve this supply problem, several different strategies for achieving β-cell mass restoration are being pursued. These include the generation of β cells from stem cells and their subsequent transplantation, or regeneration-type approaches, such as stimulating endogenous regenerative mechanisms or inducing reprogramming of non-β cells into β cells. Because these strategies would ultimately generate allogeneic or syngeneic β cells in humans, the control of alloimmunity and/or autoimmunity in addition to replacing lost β cells will be of utmost importance. We briefly review the recent literature on these three promising strategies toward β-cell replacement or restoration and point out the major issues impacting their translation to treating human diabetes

Rehabilitation versus surgical reconstruction for non-acute anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL SNNAP): a pragmatic randomised controlled trial

BackgroundAnterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a common debilitating injury that can cause instability of the knee. We aimed to investigate the best management strategy between reconstructive surgery and non-surgical treatment for patients with a non-acute ACL injury and persistent symptoms of instability.MethodsWe did a pragmatic, multicentre, superiority, randomised controlled trial in 29 secondary care National Health Service orthopaedic units in the UK. Patients with symptomatic knee problems (instability) consistent with an ACL injury were eligible. We excluded patients with meniscal pathology with characteristics that indicate immediate surgery. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) by computer to either surgery (reconstruction) or rehabilitation (physiotherapy but with subsequent reconstruction permitted if instability persisted after treatment), stratified by site and baseline Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score—4 domain version (KOOS4). This management design represented normal practice. The primary outcome was KOOS4 at 18 months after randomisation. The principal analyses were intention-to-treat based, with KOOS4 results analysed using linear regression. This trial is registered with ISRCTN, ISRCTN10110685, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02980367.FindingsBetween Feb 1, 2017, and April 12, 2020, we recruited 316 patients. 156 (49%) participants were randomly assigned to the surgical reconstruction group and 160 (51%) to the rehabilitation group. Mean KOOS4 at 18 months was 73·0 (SD 18·3) in the surgical group and 64·6 (21·6) in the rehabilitation group. The adjusted mean difference was 7·9 (95% CI 2·5–13·2; p=0·0053) in favour of surgical management. 65 (41%) of 160 patients allocated to rehabilitation underwent subsequent surgery according to protocol within 18 months. 43 (28%) of 156 patients allocated to surgery did not receive their allocated treatment. We found no differences between groups in the proportion of intervention-related complications.InterpretationSurgical reconstruction as a management strategy for patients with non-acute ACL injury with persistent symptoms of instability was clinically superior and more cost-effective in comparison with rehabilitation management

Discutindo a educação ambiental no cotidiano escolar: desenvolvimento de projetos na escola formação inicial e continuada de professores

A presente pesquisa buscou discutir como a Educação Ambiental (EA) vem sendo trabalhada, no Ensino Fundamental e como os docentes desta escola compreendem e vem inserindo a EA no cotidiano escolar., em uma escola estadual do município de Tangará da Serra/MT, Brasil. Para tanto, realizou-se entrevistas com os professores que fazem parte de um projeto interdisciplinar de EA na escola pesquisada. Verificou-se que o projeto da escola não vem conseguindo alcançar os objetivos propostos por: desconhecimento do mesmo, pelos professores; formação deficiente dos professores, não entendimento da EA como processo de ensino-aprendizagem, falta de recursos didáticos, planejamento inadequado das atividades. A partir dessa constatação, procurou-se debater a impossibilidade de tratar do tema fora do trabalho interdisciplinar, bem como, e principalmente, a importância de um estudo mais aprofundado de EA, vinculando teoria e prática, tanto na formação docente, como em projetos escolares, a fim de fugir do tradicional vínculo “EA e ecologia, lixo e horta”.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Extended Hubbard Model: Studies on Quantum Information and Disorder

The simplest way to add interactions to a single-band model of spinful electrons hopping on a crystal lattice is the Hubbard model, and the next simplest model is the extended Hubbard model (EHM). The EHM is useful for modeling superconductive electron pairing and emergent insulating phases including a dimerized phase called the "Bond Order Wave". In this thesis, I present two projects. In the first, I applied the numerical method of Density Matrix Renormalization Group to study the entanglement entropy at critical points of the clean EHM in one dimension near the BOW phase. In the second project, I applied analytical renormalization group approaches to study the phase diagram of the one dimensional model with weak disorder at weak coupling

Homodyne target tracking for direct drive laser inertial fusion

Direct drive inertial fusion energy (IFE) requires the injection, tracking, and engagement (illumination with high-powered lasers) of reflective spherical shells (targets) in order to produce fusion ignition and energy gain. Targets need to be tracked with 10-μm precision for this method of IFE to succeed. In this paper, one method for tracking targets is investigated, including a brief overview of existing tracking technology, analytical investigation of precision and design, and the results of a small-scale laboratory demonstration. This homodyne displacement measuring interferometer technique is labeled "fringe counting," and although the laboratory demonstration had mixed results, fringe counting may be capable of providing 10-micron precision measurements of target motion along the direction of travel for IFE. Robustness of the system is a serious concern. Suggestions for future improvement are provided. The conclusion includes an initial design for a full scale IFE fringe count system that incorporates many of the suggested improvements from this thesis. In addition to the main body material, several appendices are included. One examines potential for larger-scale injection/tracking demonstrations; another examines the Cat's eye retro- reflector and its invaluable use as an alignment tool for interferometers. And finally, a heterodyne system based on the concept of Zeeman splitting is investigate