Masses and Majorana fermions in graphene

We review the classification of all the 36 possible gap-opening instabilities in graphene, i.e., the 36 relativistic masses of the two-dimensional Dirac Hamiltonian when the spin, valley, and superconducting channels are included. We then show that in graphene it is possible to realize an odd number of Majorana fermions attached to vortices in superconducting order parameters if a proper hierarchy of mass scales is in place.Comment: Contribution to the Proceedings of the Nobel symposium on graphene and quantum matte

Measuring activity in patients with sarcoidosis - a pilot trial of two wrist-worn accelerometer devices

Introduction: Increasing physical activity is associated with health benefits. Reduced physical activity has been noted in sarcoidosis, particularly where fatigue co-exists. Monitoring physical activity is possible with wrist-worn devices. This study compared two available devices to determine patient preference and compare wear-time, with a secondary outcome of comparing device outputs with fatigue scores. Methods: Patients with sarcoidosis wore two wrist-worn activity monitors (GENEActiv actiwatch and Actigraph GT3X-bt) separately for seven days each. Participants were randomly allocated to receive either device first. Participants completed the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) questionnaire immediately before wearing the first device. All participants completed a questionnaire of their perception regarding each device after the wear period. Data from the devices was analysed for total wear time, time spent in moderate or vigorous activity (MVPA) and for time spent in sedentary behaviours. Results: Twelve patients with sarcoidosis were included. The GENEActiv device was preferred by ten (83.3%) participants. Wear time was greater with the GENEActiv device (1354 minutes/day vs 1079 minutes/day). Time spent in MVPA was slightly higher when recorded by the GENEActiv compared with the Actigraph. Moderately strong correlation was seen between FAS scores and sedentary time (r=-0.554), light activity (r=-0.585) and moderate activity (r=0.506). Discussion: A clear preference was demonstrated for the GENEActiv. This was reflected in higher wear time and suggests the device can be comfortably worn 24 hours per day. Data from this small cohort also suggests there is correlation between fatigue and activity scores in patients with sarcoidosis

Patient confidence and quality of life in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and sarcoidosis impact significantly on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). There are few studies on the impact of patient confidence on HRQOL in these conditions. Objectives: 1. To investigate whether patient confidence is associated with HRQOL, anxiety, depression, dyspnoea or fatigue. 2. To assess if patient confidence is associated with inpatient admissions, access to community healthcare and, for IPF patients, mortality and disease severity. Methods: Study participants self-completed seven questionnaires: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, EuroQol 5D (EQ5D), King’s Brief Interstitial Lung Disease questionnaire, St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire, MRC dyspnoea scale, Fatigue Assessment Scale and a non-validated questionnaire assessing patient confidence, symptom duration and access to community healthcare. Lung function and follow-up data were collected from hospital electronic databases. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients were calculated to assess for correlation between patient confidence, questionnaire variables and inpatient admissions. Chi-square tests were performed to assess for association between patient confidence, mortality and disease severity. Results: 75 IPF patients and 69 sarcoidosis patients were recruited to the study. Patient confidence in IPF was significantly negatively correlated with depression and fatigue, and significantly positively correlated with EQ5D scores, but not healthcare outcomes. No associations were found between confidence and any of the variables assessed in sarcoidosis. Conclusions: Lower levels of confidence in IPF patients are associated with higher levels of depression and fatigue and worse HRQOL. Efforts should be made to improve patient confidence to assess the impact on HRQOL

Shear-Wave Splitting and Mantle Flow Beneath the Colorado Plateau and its Boundary with the Great Basin

Shear-wave splitting measurements from SKS and SKKS phases show fast polarization azimuths that are subparallel to North American absolute plate motion within the central Rio Grande Rift (RGR) and Colorado Plateau (CP) through to the western rim of the CP, with anisotropy beneath the CP and central RGR showing a remarkably consistent pattern with a mean fast azimuth of 4 degrees +/- degrees 6 E of N. Approaching the rim from the southeast, fast anisotropic directions become north-northeast-south-southwest (NNE-SSW), rotate counter clockwise to north-south in the CP-GB transition, and then to NNW-SSE in the western Great Basin ( GB). This change is coincident with uppermost mantle S-wave velocity perturbations that vary from +4% beneath the western CP and the eastern edge of the Marysvale volcanic field to about -8% beneath the GB. Corresponding delay times average 1.5 sec beneath the central CP, decrease to approximately 0.8 sec near the CP-GB transition, and increase to about 1.2 sec beneath the GB. For the central CP, we suggest anisotropy predominantly controlled by North American plate motion above the asthenosphere. The observed pattern of westward-rotating anisotropy from the western CP through the CP-GB transition may be influenced to asthenospheric flow around a CP lithospheric keel and/or by vertical flow arising from edge-driven small-scale convection. The anisotropic transition from the CP to the GB thus marks a first-order change from absolute plate motion dominated lithosphere-asthenosphere shear to a new regime controlled by regional flow processes. The NNW-SSE anisotropic fast directions of split SKS waves in the eastern GB area are part of a broad circular pattern of seismic anisotropic fast direction in the central GB that has recently been hypothesized to be due to toroidal flow around the sinking Juan de Fuca-Gorda slab.National Science Foundation EAR 9706094, 9707188, 9707190, 0207812Los Alamos National Laboratory Institute of Geophysics and Planetary PhysicsNational Science Foundation Cooperative EAR-000430Department of Energy National Nuclear Security AdministrationGeological Science

Establishing Public Health Security in a Postwar Iraq: Constitutional Obstacles and Lessons for Other Federalizing States

The public health consequences of the conflict in Iraq will likely continue after the violence has subsided. Reestablishing public health security will require large investments in infrastructure and the creation of effective systems of governance. On the question of governance, the allocation of powers in the new constitution of Iraq is critical. Given the ease with which public health threats cross borders, the constitution needs to grant to the federal government the legal authority to manage such threats and simultaneously meet international requirements. Unfortunately, the draft constitution does not accomplish this objective. If politically possible, the constitution should be amended to provide the federal government with this authority. If not possible, the Iraqi federal government would have two options. It could attempt to use alternative constitutional powers, such as national security powers. This option would be contentious and the results uncertain. Alternatively, the federal government could attempt to establish collaborative relationships with regional governments. Residual sectarian tensions create potential problems for this option, however. Reflecting on the Iraqi situation, we conclude that other federalizing countries emerging from conflict should ensure that their constitutions provide the federal government with the necessary authority to manage threats to public health security effectively

The Spatial Distribution of Atomic Carbon Emission in the Giant Molecular Cloud NGC 604-2

We have mapped a giant molecular cloud in the giant HII region NGC 604 in M33 in the 492 GHz ^3P_1 -- ^3P_0 transition of neutral atomic carbon using the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope. We find the distribution of the [CI] emission to be asymmetric with respect to the CO J=1--0 emission, with the peak of the [CI] emission offset towards the direction of the center of the HII region. In addition, the line ratio I_{[CI]}/I_{CO} is highest (~ 0.2) facing the HII region and lowest (< 0.1) away from it. These asymmetries indicate an edge-on morphology where the [CI] emission is strongest on the side of the cloud facing the center of the HII region, and not detected at all on the opposite side This suggests that the sources of the incident flux creating C from the dissociation of CO are the massive stars of the HII region. The lowest line ratios are similar to what is observed in Galactic molecular clouds, while the highest are similar to starburst galaxies and other regions of intense star formation. The column density ratio, N(C)/N(H_2) is a few times 10^{-6}, in general agreement with models of photodissociation regions.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. 8 pages, 5 figures, 3 table