119 research outputs found
Fermionic coherent states for pseudo-Hermitian two-level systems
We introduce creation and annihilation operators of pseudo-Hermitian fermions
for two-level systems described by pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian with real
eigenvalues. This allows the generalization of the fermionic coherent states
approach to such systems. Pseudo-fermionic coherent states are constructed as
eigenstates of two pseudo-fermion annihilation operators. These coherent states
form a bi-normal and bi-overcomplete system, and their evolution governed by
the pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian is temporally stable. In terms of the
introduced pseudo-fermion operators the two-level system' Hamiltonian takes a
factorized form similar to that of a harmonic oscillator.Comment: 13 pages (Latex, article class), no figures; v2: some amendments in
section 2, seven new refs adde
Stochastic pump effect and geometric phases in dissipative and stochastic systems
The success of Berry phases in quantum mechanics stimulated the study of
similar phenomena in other areas of physics, including the theory of living
cell locomotion and motion of patterns in nonlinear media. More recently,
geometric phases have been applied to systems operating in a strongly
stochastic environment, such as molecular motors. We discuss such geometric
effects in purely classical dissipative stochastic systems and their role in
the theory of the stochastic pump effect (SPE).Comment: Review. 35 pages. J. Phys. A: Math, Theor. (in press
Characterization of prion disease associated with a two-octapeptide repeat insertion
Genetic prion disease accounts for 10–15% of prion disease. While insertion of four or more octapeptide repeats are clearly pathogenic, smaller repeat insertions have an unclear pathogenicity. The goal of this case series was to provide an insight into the characteristics of the 2-octapeptide repeat genetic variant and to provide insight into the risk for Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease in asymptomatic carriers. 2-octapeptide repeat insertion prion disease cases were collected from the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center (US), the National Prion Clinic (UK), and the National Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease Registry (Australia). Three largescale population genetic databases were queried for the 2-octapeptide repeat insertion allele. Eight cases of 2-octapeptide repeat insertion were identified. The cases were indistinguishable from the sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob cases of the same molecular subtype. Western blot characterization of the prion protein in the absence of enzymatic digestion with proteinase K revealed that 2-octapeptide repeat insertion and sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease have distinct prion protein profiles. Interrogation of large-scale population datasets suggested the variant is of very low penetrance. The 2-octapeptide repeat insertion is at most a low-risk genetic variant. Predictive genetic testing for asymptomatic blood relatives is not likely to be justified given the low risk
New data on the systematics and interrelationships of sawfishes (Elasmobranchii, Batoidea, Pristiformes)
New characters based on the arrangement and morphology of dermal denticles
show that sawfishes can be divided into two distinctive groups. The first
group, comprising the knifetooth sawfish Anoxypristis cuspidata, is
characterized by tricuspid denticles variably located on both dorsal and
ventral parts of the body. The second group is represented by species of the
genus Pristis, showing an uniform and homogenous dermal covering of
monocuspidate denticles on both dorsal and ventral sides of the body and within
the buccopharyngeal cavity. Pristis is further divided into two subgroups: the
first comprises species with denticles lacking any keels and furrows (the
smalltooth sawfish Pristis pectinata, the green sawfish Pristis zijsron and the
dwarf sawfish Pristis clavata); the second comprises species with denticles
presenting keels and furrows well differentiated on their anterior part (the
common sawfish Pristis pristis, the largetooth sawfish Pristis perotteti and
the greattooth sawfish Pristis microdon). This investigation of the dermal
covering provides results which agree with studies that separate the same two
species groups of Pristis on the basis of other morphological data
Morphological analysis and description of the ovaries of female silky sharks, Carcharhinus falciformis (Müller & Henle, 1839)
This work aims to study the female reproductive tract of silky sharks, Carcharhinus falciformis, captured in the South and
Equatorial Atlantic Ocean. Samples were collected between January 2008 and March 2010 through oceanic commercial vessels
that targeted tuna and swordfish, with a total of 17 females collected. The methodologies followed for analyzing the ovaries
of those females included both macroscopic and histological analysis. Macroscopically, it was possible to determine that the
ovaries on these sharks is suspended by mesenteries in the anterior section of the body cavity, heavily irrigated by blood
vessels, and contains a wide range of oocytes. Ovaries were found in three distinct maturational stages: Stage I (Immature),
Stage II (Maturing) and Stage III (Mature). Immature ovaries were small, with widths ranging from 1.0 to 3.1 cm, and had a
gelatinous or granulose internal structure; maturing ovaries were slightly larger, ranging in width between 5.2 and 6.0 cm;
mature ovaries ranged in width between 6.5 and 7.8 cm, and had a more rounded shape and the presence of large and well
developed oocytes. Under microscopic examination, it was observed that the ovaries were covered with simple epithelial
tissue during the early development stages and a simple cubic epithelium in the final stages of maturation. During the initial
maturation stages the epigonal organ was not differentiated from the ovary. In mature specimens, the ovary showed a simple
cubic epithelium and just below this epithelium there was a layer of dense connective tissue and muscle with the presence of
vitellogenic oocytes and fat cells. A thin yolk membrane enclosing the oocytes was also evident. Finally, it was possible to
distinguish a zona pellucida, separating the oocytes from the follicle wall and a basal lamina between the granular layers and
the teak layer.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light predicts longitudinal diagnostic change in patients with psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders
OBJECTIVE: People with neuropsychiatric symptoms often experience delay in accurate diagnosis. Although cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light (CSF NfL) shows promise in distinguishing neurodegenerative disorders (ND) from psychiatric disorders (PSY), its accuracy in a diagnostically challenging cohort longitudinally is unknown. METHODS: We collected longitudinal diagnostic information (mean = 36 months) from patients assessed at a neuropsychiatry service, categorising diagnoses as ND/mild cognitive impairment/other neurological disorders (ND/MCI/other) and PSY. We pre-specified NfL > 582 pg/mL as indicative of ND/MCI/other. RESULTS: Diagnostic category changed from initial to final diagnosis for 23% (49/212) of patients. NfL predicted the final diagnostic category for 92% (22/24) of these and predicted final diagnostic category overall (ND/MCI/other vs. PSY) in 88% (187/212), compared to 77% (163/212) with clinical assessment alone. CONCLUSIONS: CSF NfL improved diagnostic accuracy, with potential to have led to earlier, accurate diagnosis in a real-world setting using a pre-specified cut-off, adding weight to translation of NfL into clinical practice
Complex magnetic monopoles, geometric phases and quantum evolution in vicinity of diabolic and exceptional points
We consider the geometric phase and quantum tunneling in vicinity of diabolic
and exceptional points. We show that the geometric phase associated with the
degeneracy points is defined by the flux of complex magnetic monopole. In
weak-coupling limit the leading contribution to the real part of geometric
phase is given by the flux of the Dirac monopole plus quadrupole term, and the
expansion for its imaginary part starts with the dipolelike field. For a
two-level system governed by the generic non-Hermitian Hamiltonian, we derive a
formula to compute the non-adiabatic complex geometric phase by integral over
the complex Bloch sphere. We apply our results to to study a two-level
dissipative system driven by periodic electromagnetic field and show that in
the vicinity of the exceptional point the complex geometric phase behaves as
step-like function. Studying tunneling process near and at exceptional point,
we find two different regimes: coherent and incoherent. The coherent regime is
characterized by the Rabi oscillations and one-sheeted hyperbolic monopole
emerges in this region of the parameters. In turn with the incoherent regime
the two-sheeted hyperbolic monopole is associated. The exceptional point is the
critical point of the system where the topological transition occurs and both
of the regimes yield the quadratic dependence on time. We show that the
dissipation brings into existence of pulses in the complex geometric phase and
the pulses are disappeared when dissipation dies out. Such a strong coupling
effect of the environment is beyond of the conventional adiabatic treatment of
the Berry phase.Comment: 29 pages, 21 figure
Morphological Characters of the Thickbody Skate Amblyraja frerichsi (Krefft 1968) (Rajiformes: Rajidae), with Notes on Its Biology
Detailed descriptions of morphological features, morphometrics, neurocranium anatomy, clasper structure and egg case descriptions are provided for the thickbody skate Amblyraja frerichsi; a rare, deep-water species from Chile, Argentina and Falkland Islands. The species diagnosis is complemented from new observations and aspects such as colour, size and distribution are described. Geographic and bathymetric distributional ranges are discussed as relevant features of this taxońs biology. Additionally, the conservation status is assessed including bycatch records from Chilean fisheries
Resolving taxonomic uncertainty in vulnerable elasmobranchs : are the Madeira skate (Raja maderensis) and the thornback ray (Raja clavata) distinct species?
Skates and rays constitute the most speciose group of chondrichthyan fishes, yet are characterised by remarkable levels of morphological and ecological conservatism. They can be challenging to identify, which makes monitoring species compositions for fisheries management purposes problematic. Owing to their slow growth and low fecundity, skates are vulnerable to exploitation and species exhibiting endemism or limited ranges are considered to be the most at risk. The Madeira skate Raja maderensis is endemic and classified as ‘Data Deficient’ by the IUCN, yet its taxonomic distinctiveness from the morphologically similar and more wide-ranging thornback ray Raja clavate is unresolved. This study evaluated the sequence divergence of both the variable control region and cytochrome oxidase I ‘DNA barcode’ gene of the mitochondrial genome to elucidate the genetic differentiation of specimens identified as R. maderensis and R. clavate collected across much of their geographic ranges. Genetic evidence was insufficient to support the different species designations. However regardless of putative species identification, individuals occupying waters around the Azores and North African Seamounts represent an evolutionarily significant unit worthy of special consideration for conservation management
Can the reproductive system of a rare and narrowly endemic plant species explain its high genetic diversity?
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