2,070 research outputs found
Dynamical typicality for initial states with a preset measurement statistics of several commuting observables
We consider all pure or mixed states of a quantum many-body system which
exhibit the same, arbitrary but fixed measurement outcome statistics for
several commuting observables. Taking those states as initial conditions, which
are then propagated by the pertinent Schr\"odinger or von Neumann equation up
to some later time point, and invoking a few additional, fairly weak and
realistic assumptions, we show that most of them still entail very similar
expectation values for any given observable. This so-called dynamical
typicality property thus corroborates the widespread observation that a few
macroscopic features are sufficient to ensure the reproducibility of
experimental measurements despite many unknown and uncontrollable microscopic
details of the system. We also discuss and exemplify the usefulness of our
general analytical result as a powerful numerical tool
Spin dynamics of the ordered dipolar octupolar pseudospin 1 2 pyrochlore Nd2Zr2O7 probed by muon spin relaxation
We present a muon spin relaxation study on the Ising pyrochlore Nd2Zr2O7 which develops an all in all out magnetic order below 0.4 K. At 20 mK, far below the ordering transition temperature, the zero field muon spin relaxation spectra showno static features and can be well described by a dynamical Gaussian broadened Gaussian Kubo Toyabe function indicating strong fluctuations of the ordered state. The spectra of the paramagnetic state below 4.2 K reveal anomalously slow paramagnetic spin dynamics and show only a small difference with the spectra of the ordered state.We find that the fluctuation rate decreases with decreasing temperature and becomes nearly temperature independent below the transition temperature, indicating persistent slow spin dynamics in the ground state. The field distribution width shows a small but sudden increase at the transition temperature and then becomes almost constant. The spectra in applied longitudinal fields are well fitted by the conventional dynamical Gaussian Kubo Toyabe function, which further supports the dynamical nature of the ground state. The fluctuation rate shows a peak as a function of external field which is associated with a field induced spin flip transition. The strong dynamics in the ordered state is attributed to the transverse coupling of the Ising spins introduced by the multipole interaction
Continuous monitoring reveals multiple controls on ecosystem metabolism in a suburban stream
1. Primary production and respiration in streams, collectively referred to as stream ecosystem metabolism, are fundamental processes that determine trophic structure, biomass and nutrient cycling. Few studies have used highâfrequency measurements of gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) over extended periods to characterise the factors that control stream ecosystem metabolism at hourly, daily, seasonal and annual scales.
2. We measured ecosystem metabolism at 5âmin intervals for 23âmonths in Shepherd Creek, a small suburban stream in Cincinnati, Ohio (U.S.A.).
3. Daily GPP was best predicted by a model containing light and its synergistic interaction with water temperature. Water temperature alone was not significantly related to daily GPP, rather high temperatures enhanced the capacity of autotrophs to use available light.
4. The relationship between GPP and light was further explored using photosynthesisâirradiance curves (PâI curves). Light saturation of GPP was evident throughout the winter and spring and the PâI curve frequently exhibited strong counterclockwise hysteresis. Hysteresis occurred when water temperatures were greater in the afternoon than in the morning, although light was similar, further suggesting that light availability interacts synergistically with water temperature.
5. Storm flows strongly depressed GPP in the spring while desiccation arrested aquatic GPP and ER in late summer and autumn.
6. Ecosystem respiration was best predicted by GPP, water temperature and the rate of water exchange between the surface channel and transient storage zones. We estimate that c. 70% of newly fixed carbon was immediately respired by autotrophs and closely associated heterotrophs.
7. Interannual, seasonal, daily and hourly variability in ecosystem metabolism was attributable to a combination of light availability, water temperature, storm flow dynamics and desiccation. Human activities affect all these factors in urban and suburban streams, suggesting stream ecosystem processes are likely to respond in complex ways to changing land use and climate
Regulatory and market influences on innovation pathways for the development of new antimicrobial drugs
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Myths, Artifacts, and Fatal Flaws: Identifying Limitations and Opportunities in Vitamin C Research
Research progress to understand the role of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in human health has been slow in coming. This is predominantly the result of several flawed approaches to study design, often lacking a full appreciation of the redox chemistry and biology of ascorbic acid. In this review, we summarize our knowledge surrounding the limitations of common approaches used in vitamin C research. In human cell culture, the primary issues are the high oxygen environment, presence of redox-active transition metal ions in culture media, and the use of immortalized cell lines grown in the absence of supplemental ascorbic acid. Studies in animal models are also limited due to the presence of endogenous ascorbic acid synthesis. Despite the use of genetically altered rodent strains lacking synthesis capacity, there are additional concerns that these models do not adequately recapitulate the effects of vitamin C deprivation and supplementation observed in humans. Lastly, several flaws in study design endemic to randomized controlled trials and other human studies greatly limit their conclusions and impact. There also is anecdotal evidence of positive and negative health effects of vitamin C that are widely accepted but have not been substantiated. Only with careful attention to study design and experimental detail can we further our understanding of the possible roles of vitamin C in promoting human health and preventing or treating disease.This is the publisherâs final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the author(s) and published by MDPI. The published article can be found at: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients.Keywords: cell culture, animals, human, ascorbic acid, study design, vitamin CKeywords: cell culture, animals, human, ascorbic acid, study design, vitamin
Magnetic ground state of the Kitaev NaCoTeO spin liquid candidate
As a candidate Kitaev material, NaCoTeO exhibits intriguing
magnetism on a honeycomb lattice that is believed to be -symmetric. Here
we report a neutron diffraction study of high quality single crystals under
-axis magnetic fields. Our data support the less common notion of a magnetic
ground state that corresponds to a triple- magnetic structure with
symmetry, rather than the multi-domain zigzag structure typically assumed
in prototype Kitaev spin liquid candidates. In particular, we find that the
field is unable to repopulate the supposed zigzag domains, where the only
alternative explanation is that the domains are strongly pinned by hitherto
unidentified structural reasons. If the triple- structure is
correct then this requires reevaluation of many candidate Kitaev materials. We
also find that fields beyond about 10 Tesla suppress the long range
antiferromagnetic order, allowing new magnetic behavior to emerge different
from that expected for a spin liquid.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, plus Supplemental Materia
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Efficacy of Multivitamin/mineral Supplementation to Reduce Chronic Disease Risk: A Critical Review of the Evidence from Observational Studies and Randomized Controlled Trials
We reviewed recent scientific evidence regarding the effects of MVM [multivitamin/mineral] supplements on risk of chronic diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and age-related eye diseases. Data from both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational, prospective cohort studies were examined. The majority of scientific studies investigating the use of MVM supplements in chronic disease risk reduction reported no significant effect. However, the largest and longest RCT of MVM supplements conducted to date, the Physiciansâ Health Study II (PHS II), found a modest and significant reduction in total and epithelial cancer incidence in male physicians, consistent with the SupplĂ©mentation en Vitamines et MinĂ©raux Antioxydants (SU.VI.MAX) trial. In addition, PHS II found a modest and significant reduction in the incidence of nuclear cataract, in agreement with several other RCTs and observational, prospective cohort studies. The effects of MVM use on other subtypes of cataract and age-related macular degeneration remain unclear. Neither RCTs nor prospective cohort studies are without their limitations. The placebo-controlled trial design of RCTs may be inadequate for nutrient interventions, and residual confounding, measurement error, and the possibility of reverse causality are inherent to any observational study. National surveys show that micronutrient inadequacies are wide-spread in the U.S. and that dietary supplements, of which MVMs are the most common type, effectively fill most of these micronutrient gaps in both adults and children.Keywords: Prospective cohort studies, Chronic disease risk, Randomized controlled trials, Supplement, Micronutrient inadequacies, Multivitamin/minera
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