Hydrodynamic theory of surface excitations of three-dimensional topological insulators

Edge excitations of a fractional quantum Hall system can be derived as surface excitations of an incompressible quantum droplet using one dimensional chiral bosonization. Here we show that an analogous approach can be developed to characterize surface states of three-dimensional time reversal invariant topological insulators. The key ingredient of our theory is the Luther's multidimensional bosonization construction.Comment: 4 pages, published versio

The massless Thirring model in spherical field theory

We use the massless Thirring model to demonstrate a new approach to non-perturbative fermion calculations based on the spherical field formalism. The methods we present are free from the problems of fermion doubling and difficulties associated with integrating out massless fermions. Using a non-perturbative regularization, we compute the two-point correlator and find agreement with the known analytic solution.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures, journal versio

Acute hypoglycemia impairs executive cognitive function in adults with and without type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE: Acute hypoglycemia impairs cognitive function in several domains. Executive cognitive function governs organization of thoughts, prioritization of tasks, and time management. This study examined the effect of acute hypoglycemia on executive function in adults with and without diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Thirty-two adults with and without type 1 diabetes with no vascular complications or impaired awareness of hypoglycemia were studied. Two hyperinsulinemic glucose clamps were performed at least 2 weeks apart in a single-blind, counterbalanced order, maintaining blood glucose at 4.5 mmol/L (euglycemia) or 2.5 mmol/L (hypoglycemia). Executive functions were assessed with a validated test suite (Delis-Kaplan Executive Function). A general linear model (repeated-measures ANOVA) was used. Glycemic condition (euglycemia or hypoglycemia) was the within-participant factor. Between-participant factors were order of session (euglycemia-hypoglycemia or hypoglycemia-euglycemia), test battery used, and diabetes status (with or without diabetes). RESULTS: Compared with euglycemia, executive functions (with one exception) were significantly impaired during hypoglycemia; lower test scores were recorded with more time required for completion. Large Cohen d values (>0.8) suggest that hypoglycemia induces decrements in aspects of executive function with large effect sizes. In some tests, the performance of participants with diabetes was more impaired than those without diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Executive cognitive function, which is necessary to carry out many everyday activities, is impaired during hypoglycemia in adults with and without type 1 diabetes. This important aspect of cognition has not received previous systematic study with respect to hypoglycemia. The effect size is large in terms of both accuracy and speed

Teaching the hidden symmetry of the Kepler problem in relativistic quantum mechanics - from Pauli to Dirac electron

Hidden symmetry in Coulomb interaction is one of the mysterious problems of modern physics. Additional conserved quantities associated with extra symmetry govern wide variety of physics problems, from planetary motion till fine and hyperfine structures of atomic spectra. In this paper we present a simple derivation of hidden symmetry operator in relativistic quantum mechanics for the Dirac equation in the Coulomb field. We established that this operator may be reduced to the one introduced by Johnson and Lippmann. It is worthwhile to notice that this operator was discussed in literature very rarely and so is not known well among physicists and was omitted even in the recent textbooks on relativistic quantum mechanics and/or quantum electrodynamics.Comment: 5 page

HQET chromomagnetic interaction at two loops

We present the coefficient of the chromomagnetic interaction operator, the only unknown coefficient in the Heavy Quark Effective Theory (HQET) lagrangian up to the $1/m$ level, with the two-loop accuracy by matching scattering amplitudes of an on-shell heavy quark in an external field in full QCD and HQET, and obtain the two-loop anomalous dimension of this operator in HQET.Comment: 10 pages, LaTeX2e, 2 eps figures included. Revised discussion of (n_f-1)-flavour HQET include

Penicillin allergy SHACK : Survey of hospital and community knowledge

Aim Penicillin allergy accounts for the majority of all reported adverse drug reactions in adults and children. Foregoing first-line antibiotic therapy due to penicillin allergy label is associated with an increased prevalence of infections by resistant organisms and longer hospitalisation. Clinician awareness of allergy assessment, referral indications, management of allergy and anaphylaxis is therefore vital but globally lacking. We aim to assess the knowledge of penicillin allergy, assessment and management in Western Australian health professionals. Methods An anonymous survey was distributed to pharmacists, nurses and physicians within Western Australian paediatric and adult Hospitals, Community and General Practice. Results In total, 487/611 were completed and included in the statistical analysis. Only 62% (301/487) of respondents routinely assessed for patient medication allergies. Of those who assessed allergy, 9% (28/301) of respondents met the Australian standards for allergy assessment. Only 22% (106/487) of participants correctly cited all indications for management with adrenaline in anaphylaxis to antibiotics and 67% (197/292) of physicians rarely or never referred to an allergy service. Paediatric clinicians had an increased understanding of allergy assessment and anaphylaxis management. Recent penicillin allergy education within a 5-year period led to significant improvements in allergy knowledge. Conclusion Overall, knowledge, assessment and management of penicillin allergies among practitioners in Western Australia are currently inadequate in adults and paediatric clinicians to provide safe and effective clinical care. The implementation of a targeted education program for WA health professionals is urgently required and is expected to improve clinician knowledge and aid standardised penicillin assessment (de-labelling) practices

The variability of currents and sea level in the upper Delaware estuary

The variability of currents and sea levels in the upper Delaware estuary are examined based on measurements from bottom mounted acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP) deployed at two sites (New Castle and Tinicum) from 18 March to 10 June 2003. New Castle is located 104 km from the mouth, and Tinicum is located another 32 km up-estuary. Supplemental data, including sea level at the mouth of the estuary, river discharge, and wind speed and direction, were also obtained from various federal agencies. The instantaneous current represents a superposition of variability driven by the tide, wind, and river discharge. Over the short (\u3c36 hr) time scale, the tide is the dominant forcing mechanism, with M2 being the principal tidal constituent. The amplitude of the M2 tide increases from the mouth to the upper estuary and gives rise to a vigorous M2 current of the order 80 cm s–1. On time scales of 36 to 120 hr, the effect of wind drives a weak subtidal current with a standard deviation of 2 cm s–1 in the upper estuary. At time scales longer than 120 hr, the subtidal current variability, with a standard deviation of 6 cm s–1, is dominated by the barotropic response of the upper estuary to variations in the river discharge. The upper estuary exhibits a strong down-estuary mean current of the order—15 cm s–1. At Tinicum, river discharge accounts for more than half of the mean current, which is characterized by down-estuary flow throughout the water column. The magnitude of the river discharge-induced mean current is reduced at New Castle, in direct response to the down-estuary increase in the cross-sectional area. Tidally rectified current accounts for the remainder of the overall mean flow at Tinicum, and the effect of tidal rectification may be more important than river discharge in producing the mean flow at New Castle. There is no evidence of a baroclinic gravitational circulation, as the salt intrusion generally does not extend into the upper estuary