Enhancement of electron-positron pair creation due to transient excitation of field-induced bound states

We study the creation of electron-positron pairs induced by two spatially separated electric fields that vary periodically in time. The results are based on large-scale computer simulations of the time-dependent Dirac equation in reduced spatial dimensions. When the separation of the fields is very large, the pair creation is caused by multiphoton transitions and mainly determined by the frequency of the fields. However, for small spatial separations a coherence effect can be observed that can enhance or reduce the particle yield compared to the case of two infinitely separated fields. If the travel time for a created electron or positron between both field locations becomes comparable to the period of the oscillating fields, we observe peaks in the energy spectrum which can be explained in terms of field-induced transient bound states

Effect of montmorillonite on arsenic accumulation in common carp

The effect of montmorillonite (MMT) on dietary arsenic (As(III)) accumulation in tissues of common carp was investigated. Growth rates and survival do not appear to be sensitive indicators of dietary As(III) toxicity under lower exposure concentration. However, the toxicity increases as As(III) exposure concentration increase, and this can be alleviated with added MMT concentration. Exposure of common carp to dietary As(III) resulted in a significant As(III) accumulation in the tissues of common carp in the order: intestine>bone>gill>liver>muscle>brain (P<0.05), indicating accumulation of these tissues. When fed with MMT, there was a reduction in As(III) concentration of these tissues compared with the control group. The ratio of oxidized glutathione to reduced glutathione (GSSG/GSH) revealed a significant effect with MMT concentration (1.0%) (p<0.05) and post-hoc analysis also revealed that the group treated with MMT exhibited a decrease in the ratio of GSSG/GSH when compared to the fish not treated with MMT. Moreover, the addition of MMT to the diet with As(III) decreased metallothionein concentration. The added dietary MMT was therefore clearly protective against the bioaccumulation of As(III).Key words: Montmorillonite, arsenic, common carp

Pressure shift of the superconducting T_c of LiFeAs

The effect of hydrostatic pressure on the superconductivity in LiFeAs is investigated up to 1.8 GPa. The superconducting transition temperature, T_c, decreases linearly with pressure at a rate of 1.5 K/GPa. The negative pressure coefficient of T_c and the high ambient pressure T_c indicate that LiFeAs is the high-pressure analogue of the isoelectronic SrFe_2As_2 and BaFe_2As_2.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figure

The struggle of a good friend getting old:cellular senescence in viral responses and therapy

Cellular senescence is a state of stable cell cycle arrest associated with macromolecular alterations and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and molecules. Senescence-associated phenotypes restrict damage propagation and activate immune responses, two essential processes involved in response to viral infections. However, excessive accumulation and persistence of senescent cells can become detrimental and promote pathology and dysfunctions. Various pharmacological interventions, including antiviral therapies, lead to aberrant and premature senescence. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms by which viral infections and antiviral therapy induce senescence. We highlight the importance of these processes in attenuating viral dissemination and damage propagation, but also how prematurely induced senescent cells can promote detrimental adverse effects in humans. We describe which sequelae due to viral infections and treatment can be partly due to excessive and aberrant senescence. Finally, we propose that pharmacological strategies which eliminate senescent cells or suppress their secretory phenotype could mitigate side effects and alleviate the onset of additional morbidities. These strategies can become extremely beneficial in patients recovering from viral infections or undergoing antiviral therapy

Suppression of pair creation due to a steady magnetic field

We investigate the electron-positron pair creation process in a supercritical static electric field in the presence of a static magnetic field that is perpendicular. If both fields vary spatially in one direction the dynamics can be reduced to a set of one-dimensional systems. Using a generalized computational quantum field theoretical procedure, we calculate the time dependence of the spatial density for the created electrons. In the presence of the magnetic field, a significant amount of suppression of pair creation is observed in the simulations and confirmed by an analytical analysis for the limits of short-range fields and long interaction times. This suppression might be interpreted in terms of Pauli blocking by the electron during its return to the creation region as it performs a cyclotronlike motion in the magnetic field

Momentum-Resolved Electronic Structure of the High-TcT_{c} Superconductor Parent Compound BaBiO3_{3}

We investigate the band structure of BaBiO$_{3}$, an insulating parent compound of doped high-$T_{c}$ superconductors, using \emph{in situ} angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy on thin films. The data compare favorably overall with density functional theory calculations within the local density approximation, demonstrating that electron correlations are weak. The bands exhibit Brillouin zone folding consistent with known BiO$_{6}$ breathing distortions. Though the distortions are often thought to coincide with Bi$^{3+}$/Bi$^{5+}$ charge ordering, core level spectra show that bismuth is monovalent. We further demonstrate that the bands closest to the Fermi level are primarily oxygen derived, while the bismuth $6s$ states mostly contribute to dispersive bands at deeper binding energy. The results support a model of Bi-O charge transfer in which hole pairs are localized on combinations of the O $2p$ orbitals.Comment: minor changes to text and other figures; includes link to online Supplemental Material; accepted to Phys. Rev. Let