The influence of diet on the distribution of nitrogen isotopes in animals was investigated by analyzing animals grown in the laboratory on diets of constant nitrogen isotopic composition. 
The isotopic composition of the nitrogen in an animal reflects the nitrogen isotopic composition of its diet. The δ^(15)N values of the whole bodies of animals are usually more positive than those of their diets. Different individuals of a species raised on the same diet can have significantly different δ^(15)N values. The variability of the relationship between the δ^(15)N values of animals and their diets is greater for different species raised on the same diet than for the same species raised on different diets. Different tissues of mice are also enriched in ^(15)N relative to the diet, with the difference between the δ^(15)N values of a tissue and the diet depending on both the kind of tissue and the diet involved. The δ^(15)N values of collagen and chitin, biochemical components that are often preserved in fossil animal remains, are also related to the δ^(15)N value of the diet. 
The dependence of the δ^(15)N values of whole animals and their tissues and biochemical components on the δ^(15)N value of diet indicates that the isotopic composition of animal nitrogen can be used to obtain information about an animal's diet if its potential food sources had different δ^(15)N values. The nitrogen isotopic method of dietary analysis probably can be used to estimate the relative use of legumes vs non-legumes or of aquatic vs terrestrial organisms as food sources for extant and fossil animals. However, the method probably will not be applicable in those modern ecosystems in which the use of chemical fertilizers has influenced the distribution of nitrogen isotopes in food sources. 
The isotopic method of dietary analysis was used to reconstruct changes in the diet of the human population that occupied the Tehuacan Valley of Mexico over a 7000 yr span. Variations in the δ^(15)C and δ^(15)N values of bone collagen suggest that C_4 and/or CAM plants (presumably mostly corn) and legumes (presumably mostly beans) were introduced into the diet much earlier than suggested by conventional archaeological analysis.

Influence of Diet On the Distribtion of Nitrogen Isotopes in Animals

This article reviews the physics of high-temperature superconductors from the point of view of the doping of a Mott insulator. The basic electronic structure of cuprates is reviewed, emphasizing the physics of strong correlation and establishing the model of a doped Mott insulator as a starting point. A variety of experiments are discussed, focusing on the region of the phase diagram close to the Mott insulator (the underdoped region) where the behavior is most anomalous. The normal state in this region exhibits pseudogap phenomenon. In contrast, the quasiparticles in the superconducting state are well defined and behave according to theory. This review introduces Anderson's idea of the resonating valence bond and argues that it gives a qualitative account of the data. The importance of phase fluctuations is discussed, leading to a theory of the transition temperature, which is driven by phase fluctuations and the thermal excitation of quasiparticles. However, an argument is made that phase fluctuations can only explain pseudogap phenomenology over a limited temperature range, and some additional physics is needed to explain the onset of singlet formation at very high temperatures. A description of the numerical method of the projected wave function is presented, which turns out to be a very useful technique for implementing the strong correlation constraint and leads to a number of predictions which are in agreement with experiments. The remainder of the paper deals with an analytic treatment of the $t\text{\ensuremath{-}}J$ model, with the goal of putting the resonating valence bond idea on a more formal footing. The slave boson is introduced to enforce the constraint againt double occupation and it is shown that the implementation of this local constraint leads naturally to gauge theories. This review follows the historical order by first examining the U(1) formulation of the gauge theory. Some inadequacies of this formulation for underdoping are discussed, leading to the SU(2) formulation. Here follows a rather thorough discussion of the role of gauge theory in describing the spin-liquid phase of the undoped Mott insulator. The difference between the high-energy gauge group in the formulation of the problem versus the low-energy gauge group, which is an emergent phenomenon, is emphasized. Several possible routes to deconfinement based on different emergent gauge groups are discussed, which leads to the physics of fractionalization and spin-charge separation. Next the extension of the SU(2) formulation to nonzero doping is described with a focus on a part of the mean-field phase diagram called the staggered flux liquid phase. It will be shown that inclusion of the gauge fluctuation provides a reasonable description of the pseudogap phase. It is emphasized that $d$-wave superconductivity can be considered as evolving from a stable U(1) spin liquid. These ideas are applied to the high-${T}_{c}$ cuprates, and their implications for the vortex structure and the phase diagram are discussed. A possible test of the topological structure of the pseudogap phase is described.

/pdf/doping-a-mott-insulator-physics-of-high-temperature-55r49vtp31.pdf

Doping a Mott insulator: Physics of high-temperature superconductivity

The last decade witnessed significant progress in angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and its applications. Today, ARPES experiments with 2-meV energy resolution and $0.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ angular resolution are a reality even for photoemission on solids. These technological advances and the improved sample quality have enabled ARPES to emerge as a leading tool in the investigation of the high-${T}_{c}$ superconductors. This paper reviews the most recent ARPES results on the cuprate superconductors and their insulating parent and sister compounds, with the purpose of providing an updated summary of the extensive literature. The low-energy excitations are discussed with emphasis on some of the most relevant issues, such as the Fermi surface and remnant Fermi surface, the superconducting gap, the pseudogap and $d$-wave-like dispersion, evidence of electronic inhomogeneity and nanoscale phase separation, the emergence of coherent quasiparticles through the superconducting transition, and many-body effects in the one-particle spectral function due to the interaction of the charge with magnetic and/or lattice degrees of freedom. Given the dynamic nature of the field, we chose to focus mainly on reviewing the experimental data, as on the experimental side a general consensus has been reached, whereas interpretations and related theoretical models can vary significantly. The first part of the paper introduces photoemission spectroscopy in the context of strongly interacting systems, along with an update on the state-of-the-art instrumentation. The second part provides an overview of the scientific issues relevant to the investigation of the low-energy electronic structure by ARPES. The rest of the paper is devoted to the experimental results from the cuprates, and the discussion is organized along conceptual lines: normal-state electronic structure, interlayer interaction, superconducting gap, coherent superconducting peak, pseudogap, electron self-energy, and collective modes. Within each topic, ARPES data from the various copper oxides are presented.

https://arxiv.org/pdf/cond-mat/0208504.pdf

Angle-resolved photoemission studies of the cuprate superconductors

This article reviews the effort to understand the physics of high temperature superconductors from the point of view of doping a Mott insulator. The basic electronic structure of the cuprates is reviewed, emphasizing the physics of strong correlation and establishing the model of a doped Mott insulator as a starting point. A variety of experiments are discussed, focusing on the region of the phase diagram close to the Mott insulator (the underdoped region) where the behavior is most anomalous. We introduce Anderson's idea of the resonating valence bond (RVB) and argue that it gives a qualitative account of the data. The importance of phase fluctuation is discussed, leading to a theory of the transition temperature which is driven by phase fluctuation and thermal excitation of quasiparticles. We then describe the numerical method of projected wavefunction which turns out to be a very useful technique to implement the strong correlation constraint, and leads to a number of predictions which are in agreement with experiments. The remainder of the paper deals with an analytic treatment of the t-J model, with the goal of putting the RVB idea on a more formal footing. The slave-boson is introduced to enforce the constraint of no double occupation. The implementation of the local constraint leads naturally to gauge theories. We give a rather thorough discussion of the role of gauge theory in describing the spin liquid phase of the undoped Mott insulator. We next describe the extension of the SU(2) formulation to nonzero doping. We show that inclusion of gauge fluctuation provides a reasonable description of the pseudogap phase.

Doping a Mott Insulator: Physics of High Temperature Superconductivity

The magnetization of a magnetic material can be reversed by using electric currents that transport spin angular momentum. In the reciprocal process a changing magnetization orientation produces currents that transport spin angular momentum. Understanding how these processes occur reveals the intricate connection between magnetization and spin transport, and can transform technologies that generate, store or process information via the magnetization direction. Here we explain how currents can generate torques that affect the magnetic orientation and the reciprocal effect in a wide variety of magnetic materials and structures. We also discuss recent state-of-the-art demonstrations of current-induced torque devices that show great promise for enhancing the functionality of semiconductor devices.

https://physics.nyu.edu/kentlab/Papers/2012/NatureMaterials_11_372_2012.pdf

Current-induced torques in magnetic materials

The spin fluctuations in the extended t - J model have been investigated in the slave-boson mean-field theory by extending the early work by Suzumura et al. [J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 57 (1988) 2768] based on both uniform and singlet RVB (Resonating Valence Bond). By choosing the transfer integrals to reproduce the Fermi surface of LSCO and YBCO, which is essentially rotated by 45°, it is found that incommensurate spin fluctuations can be expected for the Fermi surface of LSCO type, whereas only commensurate ones for that of YBCO type, in agreement with experiments. Moreover, the Knight shift is shown to decrease as the temperature is lowered in the presence of the singlet RVB, while it is essentially independent of temperature in the uniform RVB state. These two cases correspond to, in our classification, T c =60 K and T c =90 K YBCO systems, which also agrees with the qualitative difference observed experimentally.

Fermi Surface and Spin Fluctuations in Extended t-J Model

Effects of conduction electrons on magnetization dynamics, represented by spin torques, are calculated microscopically in the first order in spatial gradient and time derivative of magnetization. Special attention is paid to the so-called β-term and the Gilbert damping, α, in the presence of electrons' spin-relaxation processes, which are modeled by quenched magnetic (and spin–orbit) impurities. It is shown that these two torque terms actually arise from the spin relaxation processes, both transverse and longitudinal, and their coefficients are different, α≠β, in general. These features hold for both localized and itinerant models for ferromagnetism.

Microscopic Calculation of Spin Torques in Disordered Ferromagnets(Condensed matter: electronic structure and electrical, magnetic, and optical properties)

Threshold current of domain wall motion under spin-polarized electric current in ferromagnets is theoretically studied based on the equation of motion of a wall in terms of collective coordinates. Effects of non-adiabaticity and a so-called $\beta$-term in Landau-Lifshitz equation, which are described by the same term in the equation of motion of a wall, are taken into account as well as extrinsic pinning. It is demonstrated that there are four different regimes characterized by different dependence of threshold on extrinsic pinning, hard-axis magnetic anisotropy, non-adiabaticity and $\beta$.

https://arxiv.org/pdf/cond-mat/0604310.pdf

Threshold Current of Domain Wall Motion under Extrinsic Pinning, $\beta$-Term and Non-Adiabaticity

The osteological development of elements forming the oral cavity was examined in early stage larvae of the grouper,Epinephelus coioides, from hatching to 242.5 hours after hatching. By the time of initial mouth opening, at 54 hours after hatching, the fundamental elements, composed of the trabecula, some components of the lower branchial and hyoid arches, the quadrate and symplectic-hyomandibular cartilages, maxilla and Meckel's cartilage, had appeared. No further elements were observed until 165 hours after initial mouth opening, except some components in the lower branchial arch and head region. The appearance of new elements and initial ossification of existing cartilage occurred thereafter, but all elements related to feeding either had not appeared or had not started ossifying until 188.5 hours after initial mouth opening. Based on the morphology and developmental modes of these elements, the feeding mode of grouper larvae was considered to be “sucking/grasping.” However, the appearance and ossification of elements occurred slowly, with no transitional phase from sucking to grasping modes of feeding being observed during the study; such delayed development of the feeding-related bony elements was considered to be a cause of the difficulty in rearing early stage grouper larvae.

Why is grouper larval rearing difficult?: an approach from the development of the feeding apparatus in early stage larvae of the grouper,Epinephelus coioides

Spin fluctuations in the extended t - J model have been investigated within the slave-boson mean-field approximation based on both uniform and singlet RVB states. By choosing the transfer integrals to reproduce the Fermi surface of LSCO and YBCO, we find that incommensurate spin fluctuations can be expected for the Fermi surface of LSCO-type, whereas only commensurate ones for that of YBCO-type, in agreement with experiments. Moreover effects of singlet RVB pairing have been explored and are shown to lead to the qualitative difference of the temperature dependences of the shift of nuclear magnetic resonance in the high and low doping regions as seen experimentally.

Hiroshi Kohno

Papers

Fermi Surface and Spin Fluctuations in Extended t-J Model

Microscopic Calculation of Spin Torques in Disordered Ferromagnets(Condensed matter: electronic structure and electrical, magnetic, and optical properties)

Threshold Current of Domain Wall Motion under Extrinsic Pinning, $\beta$-Term and Non-Adiabaticity

Why is grouper larval rearing difficult?: an approach from the development of the feeding apparatus in early stage larvae of the grouper,Epinephelus coioides

Magnetic Properties of Extended t-J Model. I. Static Properties