Band structure renormalization and weak pseudogap behavior in Na_{0.33}CoO_2: Fluctuation exchange study based on a single band model

Based on a single band Hubbard model and the fluctuation exchange approximation, the effective mass and the energy band renormalization in Na$_{0.33}$CoO$_2$ is elaborated. The renormalization is observed to exhibit certain kind of anisotropy, which agrees qualitatively with the angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements. Moreover, the spectral function and density of states (DOS) in the normal state are calculated, with a weak pseudogap behavior being seen, which is explained as a result of the strong Coulomb correlations. Our results suggest that the large Fermi surface (FS) associated with the $a_{1g}$ band plays likely a central role in the charge dynamics.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Orbital-transverse density-wave instabilities in iron-based superconductors

Besides the conventional spin-density-wave (SDW) state, a new kind of orbital-transverse density-wave (OTDW) state is shown to exist generally in multi-orbital systems. We demonstrate that the orbital character of Fermi surface nesting plays an important role in density responses. The relationship between antiferromagnetism and structural phase transition in LaFeAsO (1111) and BaFe$_2$As$_2$ (122) compounds of iron-based superconductors may be understood in terms of the interplay between the SDW and OTDW with a five-orbital Hamiltonian. We propose that the essential difference between 1111 and 122 compounds is crucially determined by the presence of the two-dimensional $d_{xy}$-like Fermi surface around (0,0) being only in 1111 parent compounds.Comment: several parts were rewritten for clarity. 6 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl

SkipNet: Learning Dynamic Routing in Convolutional Networks

While deeper convolutional networks are needed to achieve maximum accuracy in visual perception tasks, for many inputs shallower networks are sufficient. We exploit this observation by learning to skip convolutional layers on a per-input basis. We introduce SkipNet, a modified residual network, that uses a gating network to selectively skip convolutional blocks based on the activations of the previous layer. We formulate the dynamic skipping problem in the context of sequential decision making and propose a hybrid learning algorithm that combines supervised learning and reinforcement learning to address the challenges of non-differentiable skipping decisions. We show SkipNet reduces computation by 30-90% while preserving the accuracy of the original model on four benchmark datasets and outperforms the state-of-the-art dynamic networks and static compression methods. We also qualitatively evaluate the gating policy to reveal a relationship between image scale and saliency and the number of layers skipped.Comment: ECCV 2018 Camera ready version. Code is available at https://github.com/ucbdrive/skipne

Possible singlet and triplet superconductivity on honeycomb lattice

We study the possible superconducting pairing symmetry mediated by spin and charge fluctuations on the honeycomb lattice using the extended Hubbard model and the random-phase-approximation method. From $2\%$ to $20\%$ doping levels, a spin-singlet $d_{x^{2}-y^{2}}+id_{xy}$-wave is shown to be the leading superconducting pairing symmetry when only the on-site Coulomb interaction $U$ is considered, with the gap function being a mixture of the nearest-neighbor and next-nearest-neighbor pairings. When the offset of the energy level between the two sublattices exceeds a critical value, the most favorable pairing is a spin-triplet $f$-wave which is mainly composed of the next-nearest-neighbor pairing. We show that the next-nearest-neighbor Coulomb interaction $V$ is also in favor of the spin-triplet $f$-wave pairing.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

The juxtamembrane and carboxy-terminal domains of Arabidopsis PRK2 are critical for ROP-induced growth in pollen tubes.

Polarized growth of pollen tubes is a critical step for successful reproduction in angiosperms and is controlled by ROP GTPases. Spatiotemporal activation of ROP (Rho GTPases of plants) necessitates a complex and sophisticated regulatory system, in which guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RopGEFs) are key components. It was previously shown that a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase, Arabidopsis pollen receptor kinase 2 (AtPRK2), interacted with RopGEF12 for its membrane recruitment. However, the mechanisms underlying AtPRK2-mediated ROP activation in vivo are yet to be defined. It is reported here that over-expression of AtPRK2 induced tube bulging that was accompanied by the ectopic localization of ROP-GTP and the ectopic distribution of actin microfilaments. Tube depolarization was also induced by a potentially kinase-dead mutant, AtPRK2K366R, suggesting that the over-expression effect of AtPRK2 did not require its kinase activity. By contrast, deletions of non-catalytic domains in AtPRK2, i.e. the juxtamembrane (JM) and carboxy-terminal (CT) domains, abolished its ability to affect tube polarization. Notably, AtPRK2K366R retained the ability to interact with RopGEF12, whereas AtPRK2 truncations of these non-catalytic domains did not. Lastly, it has been shown that the JM and CT domains of AtPRK2 were not only critical for its interaction with RopGEF12 but also critical for its distribution at the plasma membrane. These results thus provide further insight into pollen receptor kinase-mediated ROP activation during pollen tube growth

Hidden Euclidean dynamical symmetry in the U(n+1) vibron model

Based on the boson realization of the Euclidean algebras, it is found that the E($n$) dynamical symmetry (DS) may emerge at the critical point of the U($n$)-SO($n+1$) quantum phase transition. To justify this finding, we provide a detailed analysis of the critical dynamics in the U($n+1$) vibron model in both quantal and classical ways. It is further shown that the low-lying structure of $^{82}$Kr may serve as an excellent empirical realization of the E(5) DS in experiments