Electron spectral function and algebraic spin liquid for the normal state of underdoped high TcT_c superconductors

We propose to describe the spin fluctuations in the normal state of underdoped high $T_{c}$ superconductors as a manifestation of an algebraic spin liquid. We have performed calculations within the slave-boson model to support our proposal. Under the spin-charge separation picture, the normal state (the spin-pseudogap phase) is described by massless Dirac fermions, charged bosons, and a gauge field. We find that the gauge interaction is a marginal perturbation and drives the mean-field free-spinon fixed point to a more complicated spin-quantum-fixed-point -- the algebraic spin liquid, where gapless excitations interact at low energies. The electron spectral function in the normal state was found to have a Luttinger-liquid-like line shape as observed in experiments. The spectral function obtained in the superconducting state shows how a coherent quasiparticle peak appears from the incoherent background as spin and charge recombine.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. published versio

Spin correlations in the algebraic spin liquid - implications for high Tc superconductors

We propose that underdoped high $T_c$ superconductors are described by an algebraic spin liquid (ASL) at high energies, which undergoes a spin-charge recombination transition at low energies. The spin correlation in the ASL is calculated via its effective theory - a system of massless Dirac fermions coupled to a U(1) gauge field. We find that without fine tuning any parameters the gauge interaction strongly enhances the staggered spin correlation even in the presence of a large single particle pseudo-gap. This allows us to show that the ASL plus spin-charge recombination picture can explain many highly unusual properties of underdoped high $T_c$ superconductors.Comment: 22 pages, 18 figures, submitted to PR

Association Between Chromosome 9p21 Variants and the Ankle-Brachial Index Identified by a Meta-Analysis of 21 Genome-Wide Association Studies

Genetic determinants of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) remain largely unknown. To identify genetic variants associated with the ankle-brachial index (ABI), a noninvasive measure of PAD, we conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association study data from 21 population-based cohorts

The algebraic spin liquid of a possible model description for the normal state of underdoped high temperature superconductors

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Physics, 2002.Includes bibliographical references (p. 92-95).16 years and counting ... In 1986 Bednorz and Muller discovered the layered perovskite structure (La - Ba)2Cu04 which showed the phenomenon of superconductivity at the unprecedented high temperature of Tc = 33 K. In the ensuing months and years it became more and more apparent that the cuprates, as the materials came to be known, show very peculiar correlations in their "normal" state at temperatures T > Tc. The majority of this thesis is concerned with this abnormal "normal" state, attempting to extract a coherent picture for the strange phenomenology. The underlying theoretical framework is a slave particle description of the tJ model proposed by Wen and Lee. The conceptual background is rooted in Anderson's proposal of spin charge separation as the key emergent phenomenon in cuprate physics. After a brief motivation we look at single particle tunneling into the cuprate's superconducting state from the perspective of both d-wave BCS and the SU(2) slave boson theory of Wen and Lee. Both approaches work well close to zero tunneling bias. The slave particle formulation however also naturally incorporates the particle/hole asymmetric background that is seen in experiments.(cont.) The question of single particle correlations studied experimentally via angle resolved photo emission experiments motivates the analysis of the next chapter. The broad spectral line-shapes seen experimentally imply the absence of well defined quasi-particles in the Fermi liquid sense. We study how gauge fluctuations arising from our use of slave particle coordinates affect the physical hole spectral function. The primary influence of gauge fluctuations turns out to be through their confining tendency on the vertex rather than as a scattering field for the slave particles. The last chapter discusses the effect of gauge fluctuations on the spin susceptibility and shows that they play a vital role in restoring Neel correlations. This allows us to give a natural explanation for the spin related phenomenology of underdoped cuprates.by Walter Rantner.Ph.D

Association between chromosome 9p21 variants and the ankle-brachial index identified by a meta-analysis of 21 genome-wide association studies.

Item does not contain fulltextBACKGROUND: Genetic determinants of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) remain largely unknown. To identify genetic variants associated with the ankle-brachial index (ABI), a noninvasive measure of PAD, we conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association study data from 21 population-based cohorts. METHODS AND RESULTS: Continuous ABI and PAD (ABI </=0.9) phenotypes adjusted for age and sex were examined. Each study conducted genotyping and imputed data to the approximately 2.5 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in HapMap. Linear and logistic regression models were used to test each SNP for association with ABI and PAD using additive genetic models. Study-specific data were combined using fixed effects inverse variance weighted meta-analyses. There were a total of 41 692 participants of European ancestry ( approximately 60% women, mean ABI 1.02 to 1.19), including 3409 participants with PAD and with genome-wide association study data available. In the discovery meta-analysis, rs10757269 on chromosome 9 near CDKN2B had the strongest association with ABI (beta=-0.006, P=2.46x10(-8)). We sought replication of the 6 strongest SNP associations in 5 population-based studies and 3 clinical samples (n=16 717). The association for rs10757269 strengthened in the combined discovery and replication analysis (P=2.65x10(-9)). No other SNP associations for ABI or PAD achieved genome-wide significance. However, 2 previously reported candidate genes for PAD and 1 SNP associated with coronary artery disease were associated with ABI: DAB21P (rs13290547, P=3.6x10(-5)), CYBA (rs3794624, P=6.3x10(-5)), and rs1122608 (LDLR, P=0.0026). CONCLUSIONS: Genome-wide association studies in more than 40 000 individuals identified 1 genome wide significant association on chromosome 9p21 with ABI. Two candidate genes for PAD and 1 SNP for coronary artery disease are associated with ABI

Second asymptomatic carotid surgery trial (ACST-2) : a randomised comparison of carotid artery stenting versus carotid endarterectomy

Background: Among asymptomatic patients with severe carotid artery stenosis but no recent stroke or transient cerebral ischaemia, either carotid artery stenting (CAS) or carotid endarterectomy (CEA) can restore patency and reduce long-term stroke risks. However, from recent national registry data, each option causes about 1% procedural risk of disabling stroke or death. Comparison of their long-term protective effects requires large-scale randomised evidence. Methods: ACST-2 is an international multicentre randomised trial of CAS versus CEA among asymptomatic patients with severe stenosis thought to require intervention, interpreted with all other relevant trials. Patients were eligible if they had severe unilateral or bilateral carotid artery stenosis and both doctor and patient agreed that a carotid procedure should be undertaken, but they were substantially uncertain which one to choose. Patients were randomly allocated to CAS or CEA and followed up at 1 month and then annually, for a mean 5 years. Procedural events were those within 30 days of the intervention. Intention-to-treat analyses are provided. Analyses including procedural hazards use tabular methods. Analyses and meta-analyses of non-procedural strokes use Kaplan-Meier and log-rank methods. The trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN21144362. Findings: Between Jan 15, 2008, and Dec 31, 2020, 3625 patients in 130 centres were randomly allocated, 1811 to CAS and 1814 to CEA, with good compliance, good medical therapy and a mean 5 years of follow-up. Overall, 1% had disabling stroke or death procedurally (15 allocated to CAS and 18 to CEA) and 2% had non-disabling procedural stroke (48 allocated to CAS and 29 to CEA). Kaplan-Meier estimates of 5-year non-procedural stroke were 2·5% in each group for fatal or disabling stroke, and 5·3% with CAS versus 4·5% with CEA for any stroke (rate ratio [RR] 1·16, 95% CI 0·86-1·57; p=0·33). Combining RRs for any non-procedural stroke in all CAS versus CEA trials, the RR was similar in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients (overall RR 1·11, 95% CI 0·91-1·32; p=0·21). Interpretation: Serious complications are similarly uncommon after competent CAS and CEA, and the long-term effects of these two carotid artery procedures on fatal or disabling stroke are comparable