The half-filled Hubbard chain in the Composite Operator Method: A comparison with Bethe Ansatz

The one-dimensional Hubbard model at half-filling is studied in the framework of the Composite Operator Method using a static approximation. A solution characterized by strong antiferromagnetic correlations and a gap for any nonzero on-site interaction U is found. The corresponding ground-state energy, double occupancy and specific heat are in excellent agreement with those obtained within the Bethe Ansatz. These results show that the Composite Operator Method is an appropriate framework for the half-filled Hubbard chain and can be applied to evaluate properties, like the correlation functions, which cannot be obtained by means of the Bethe Ansatz, except for some limiting cases.Comment: 7 pages, 3 embedded Postscript figures, EuroTeX, submitted to EuroPhysics Letter

Sensitivity to the Higgs sector of SUSY-seesaw models via LFV tau decays

Here we study and compare the sensitivity to the Higgs sector of the SUSY-seesaw models via the LFV tau decays: tau-> 3 mu, tau->K^{+}K^{-}, tau->mu eta and tau-> mu f_{0}. We emphasize that, at present, the two later channels are the most efficient ones to test indirectly the Higgs particles.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, conference SUSY09 Boston (M.Herrero

Virtual Hand Illusion Induced by Visuomotor Correlations

Background: Our body schema gives the subjective impression of being highly stable. However, a number of easily-evoked illusions illustrate its remarkable malleability. In the rubber-hand illusion, illusory ownership of a rubber-hand is evoked by synchronous visual and tactile stimulation on a visible rubber arm and on the hidden real arm. Ownership is concurrent with a proprioceptive illusion of displacement of the arm position towards the fake arm. We have previously shown that this illusion of ownership plus the proprioceptive displacement also occurs towards a virtual 3D projection of an arm when the appropriate synchronous visuotactile stimulation is provided. Our objective here was to explore whether these illusions (ownership and proprioceptive displacement) can be induced by only synchronous visuomotor stimulation, in the absence of tactile stimulation.Methodology/Principal Findings: To achieve this we used a data-glove that uses sensors transmitting the positions of fingers to a virtually projected hand in the synchronous but not in the asynchronous condition. The illusion of ownership was measured by means of questionnaires. Questions related to ownership gave significantly larger values for the synchronous than for the asynchronous condition. Proprioceptive displacement provided an objective measure of the illusion and had a median value of 3.5 cm difference between the synchronous and asynchronous conditions. In addition, the correlation between the feeling of ownership of the virtual arm and the size of the drift was significant.Conclusions/Significance: We conclude that synchrony between visual and proprioceptive information along with motor activity is able to induce an illusion of ownership over a virtual arm. This has implications regarding the brain mechanisms underlying body ownership as well as the use of virtual bodies in therapies and rehabilitation

Cell migration on material-driven fibronectin microenvironments

Cell migration is a fundamental process involved in a wide range of biological phenomena. However, how the underlying mechanisms that control migration are orchestrated is not fully understood. In this work, we explore the migratory characteristics of human fibroblasts using different organisations of fibronectin (FN) triggered by two chemically similar surfaces, poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA) and poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA); cell migration is mediated via an intermediate layer of fibronectin (FN). FN is organised into nanonetworks upon simple adsorption on PEA whereas a globular conformation is observed on PMA. We studied cell speed over the course of 24 h and the morphology of focal adhesions in terms of area and length. Additionally, we analysed the amount of cell-secreted FN as well as FN remodelling. Velocity of human fibroblasts was found to exhibit a biphasic behaviour on PEA, whereas it remained fairly constant on PMA. FA analysis revealed more mature focal adhesions on PEA over time contrary to smaller FAs found on PMA. Finally, human fibroblasts seemed to remodel adsorbed FN more on PMA than on PEA. Overall, these results indicate that the cell–protein–material interface affects cell migratory behaviour. Analysis of FAs together with FN secretion and remodelling were associated with differences in cell velocity providing insights into the factors that can modulate cell motility