Noise Predictions for STM in Systems with Local Electron Nematic Order

We propose that thermal noise in local stripe orientation should be readily detectable via STM on systems in which local stripe orientations are strongly affected by quenched disorder. Stripes, a unidirectional, nanoscale modulation of electronic charge, are strongly affected by quenched disorder in two-dimensional and quasi-two-dimensional systems. While stripe orientations tend to lock to major lattice directions, dopant disorder locally breaks rotational symmetry. In a host crystal with otherwise $C_4$ rotational symmetry, stripe orientations in the presence of quenched disorder map to the random field Ising model. While the low temperature state of such a system is generally a stripe glass in two dimensional or strongly layered systems, as the temperature is raised, stripe orientational fluctuations become more prevalent. We propose that these thermally excited fluctuations should be readily detectable in scanning tunneling spectroscopy as {\em telegraph noise} in the high voltage part of the local $I(V)$ curves. We predict the spatial, temporal, and thermal evolution of such noise, including the circumstances under which such noise is most likely to be observed. In addition, we propose an in-situ test, amenable to any local scanning probe, for assessing whether such noise is due to correlated fluctuations rather than independent switchers.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure

Role of Investigating Thrombophilic Disorders in Young Stroke

Our knowledge about various inherited and acquired causes of thrombophilic disorders has increased significantly during the past decade. Technology for various diagnostic tests for these rare disorders has matched the rapid advances in our understanding about the thrombophilic disorders. Inherited thrombophilic disorders predispose young patients for various venous or arterial thrombotic and thromboembolic episodes. Our understanding has also improved about various gene-gene and gene-environment interactions and their impact on the resultant heterogenous clinical manifestations. We describe various thrombophilic disorders, their diagnostic tests, pathogenic potential in isolation or with other concurrent inherited/acquired defects and possible therapeutic and prophylactic strategies. Better understanding, optimal diagnostic and screening protocols are expected to improve the diagnostic yield and help to reduce morbidity, disability, and mortality in relatively younger patients harbouring these inherited and acquired thrombophilic disorders

Ambient particulate matter and biomass burning:an ecological time series study of respiratory and cardiovascular hospital visits in northern Thailand

Background Exposure to particulate matter (PM) emitted from biomass burning is an increasing concern, particularly in Southeast Asia. It is not yet clear how the source of PM influences the risk of an adverse health outcome. The objective of this study was to quantify and compare health risks of PM from biomass burning and non-biomass burning sources in northern Thailand. Methods We collected ambient air pollutant data (PM with a diameter of < 10 μm [PM10], PM2.5, Carbon Monoxide [CO], Ozone [O3], and Nitrogen Dioxide [NO2]) from ground-based monitors and daily outpatient hospital visits in Thailand during 2014–2017. Outpatient data included chronic lower respiratory disease (CLRD), ischaemic heart disease (IHD), and cerebrovascular disease (CBVD). We performed an ecological time series analysis to evaluate the association between daily air pollutants and outpatient visits. We used the 90th and 95th percentiles of PM10 concentrations to determine days of exposure to PM predominantly from biomass burning. Results There was significant intra annual variation in PM10 levels, with the highest concentrations occurring during March, coinciding with peak biomass burning. Incidence Rate Ratios (IRRs) between daily PM10 and outpatient visits were elevated most on the same day as exposure for CLRD = 1.020 (95% CI: 1.012 to 1.028) and CBVD = 1.020 (95% CI: 1.004 to 1.035), with no association with IHD = 0.994 (95% CI: 0.974 to 1.014). Adjusting for CO tended to increase effect estimates. We did not find evidence of an exposure response relationship with levels of PM10 on days of biomass burning. Conclusions We found same-day exposures of PM10 to be associated with certain respiratory and cardiovascular outpatient visits. We advise implementing measures to reduce population exposures to PM wherever possible, and to improve understanding of health effects associated with burning specific types of biomass in areas where such large-scale activities occur.This study was funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) (MR/R006210/1) and the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) (RDG603009)

Associations between body mass index and serum levels of C-reactive protein

Background. Obesity leads to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and glucose intolerance, which are phenomena of chronic inflammation. This study was performed to determine whether a higher body mass index (BMI) and central obesity are associated with low-grade inflammation.Methods. An analysis of 8 453 adults aged .20 years was performed. Every subject completed a household interview and a questionnaire regarding personal health, and their BMI and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level were measured. The BMI data were divided into quintiles, using multiple linear regression to estimate the relationship between CRP level and BMI quintiles. An extended-model approach was used forcovariate adjustment. The association between central obesity and CRP level was examined by this method as well.Results. After controlling for demographics, chronic diseases, health behaviours and levels of folate and vitamin B12, the ƒÀ coefficient (which represents the change of naturallog- transformed levels of CRP for each kg/m2 increase in BMI) was 0.078 (

An efficient scheme for numerical simulations of the spin-bath decoherence

We demonstrate that the Chebyshev expansion method is a very efficient numerical tool for studying spin-bath decoherence of quantum systems. We consider two typical problems arising in studying decoherence of quantum systems consisting of few coupled spins: (i) determining the pointer states of the system, and (ii) determining the temporal decay of quantum oscillations. As our results demonstrate, for determining the pointer states, the Chebyshev-based scheme is at least a factor of 8 faster than existing algorithms based on the Suzuki-Trotter decomposition. For the problems of second type, the Chebyshev-based approach has been 3--4 times faster than the Suzuki-Trotter-based schemes. This conclusion holds qualitatively for a wide spectrum of systems, with different spin baths and different Hamiltonians.Comment: 8 pages (RevTeX), 3 EPS figure

Study of composition of cosmic rays with energy .7 E 3 Ee

The longitudinal shower development of extensive air showers (EAS) observed in the fly's eye is used to determine the distribution of X sub max, the depth in the atmosphere of the EAS maximum. Data and Monte Carlo simulations of proton and iron primaries are compared. A substantial contribution from light primaries is noted

Algorithm for Linear Response Functions at Finite Temperatures: Application to ESR spectrum of s=1/2 Antiferromagnet Cu benzoate

We introduce an efficient and numerically stable method for calculating linear response functions $\chi(\vec{q},\omega)$ of quantum systems at finite temperatures. The method is a combination of numerical solution of the time-dependent Schroedinger equation, random vector representation of trace, and Chebyshev polynomial expansion of Boltzmann operator. This method should be very useful for a wide range of strongly correlated quantum systems at finite temperatures. We present an application to the ESR spectrum of s=1/2 antiferromagnet Cu benzoate.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Practical solution to the Monte Carlo sign problem: Realistic calculations of 54Fe

We present a practical solution to the "sign problem" in the auxiliary field Monte Carlo approach to the nuclear shell model. The method is based on extrapolation from a continuous family of problem-free Hamiltonians. To demonstrate the resultant ability to treat large shell-model problems, we present results for 54Fe in the full fp-shell basis using the Brown-Richter interaction. We find the Gamow-Teller beta^+ strength to be quenched by 58% relative to the single-particle estimate, in better agreement with experiment than previous estimates based on truncated bases.Comment: 11 pages + 2 figures (not included

Ground state parameters, finite-size scaling, and low-temperature properties of the two-dimensional S=1/2 XY model

We present high-precision quantum Monte Carlo results for the S=1/2 XY model on a two-dimensional square lattice, in the ground state as well as at finite temperature. The energy, the spin stiffness, the magnetization, and the susceptibility are calculated and extrapolated to the thermodynamic limit. For the ground state, we test a variety of finite-size scaling predictions of effective Lagrangian theory and find good agreement and consistency between the finite-size corrections for different quantities. The low-temperature behavior of the susceptibility and the internal energy is also in good agreement with theoretical predictions.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figure