Finite-range effects in dilute Fermi gases at unitarity

We develop a theoretical method going beyond the contact-interaction approximation frequently used in mean-field theories of many-fermion systems, based on the low-energy T-matrix of the pair potential to rigorously define the effective radius of the interaction. One of the main consequences of our approach is the possibility to investigate finite-density effects, which are outside the range of validity of approximations based on delta-like potentials. We apply our method to the calculation of density dependent properties of an ultracold gas of 6Li atoms at unitarity, whose two-body interaction potential is calculated using ab initio quantum chemistry methods. We find that density effects will be significant in ultracold gases with densities one order of magnitude higher than those attained in current experiments.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures. v2: Corrected typos in the main text and in the reference

Heavy quark bound states in a quark-gluon plasma: dissociation and recombination

We present a comprehensive approach to the dynamics of heavy quarks in a quark gluon plasma, including the possibility of bound state formation and dissociation. In this exploratory paper, we restrict ourselves to the case of an Abelian plasma, but the extension of the techniques used to the non Abelian case is straightforward. A chain of well defined approximations leads eventually to a generalized Langevin equation, where the force and the noise terms are determined from a correlation function of the equilibrium plasma, and depend explicitly on the configuration of the heavy quarks. We solve the Langevin equation for various initial conditions, various numbers of heavy quark-antiquark pairs, and various temperatures of the plasma. Results of simulations illustrate various expected phenomena: dissociation of bound states as a result of combined effects of screening of the potential and collisions with the plasma constituent, formation of bound pairs (recombination) that occurs when enough heavy quarks are present in the system

Path-integral calculation of the third virial coefficient of quantum gases at low temperatures

We derive path-integral expressions for the second and third virial coefficients of monatomic quantum gases. Unlike previous work that considered only Boltzmann statistics, we include exchange effects (Bose-Einstein or Fermi-Dirac statistics). We use state-of-the-art pair and three-body potentials to calculate the third virial coefficient of 3He and 4He in the temperature range 2.6-24.5561 K. We obtain uncertainties smaller than those of the limited experimental data. Inclusion of exchange effects is necessary to obtain accurate results below about 7 K.Comment: The following article has been accepted by The Journal of Chemical Physics. After it is published, it will be found at http://jcp.aip.org/ Version 2 includes the corrections detailed in the Erratu

Silk reinforced with graphene or carbon nanotubes spun by spiders

Here, we report the production of silk incorporating graphene and carbon nanotubes directly by spider spinning, after spraying spiders with the corresponding aqueous dispersions. We observe a significant increment of the mechanical properties with respect to the pristine silk, in terms of fracture strength, Young's and toughness moduli. We measure a fracture strength up to 5.4 GPa, a Young's modulus up to 47.8 GPa and a toughness modulus up to 2.1 GPa, or 1567 J/g, which, to the best of our knowledge, is the highest reported to date, even when compared to the current toughest knotted fibres. This approach could be extended to other animals and plants and could lead to a new class of bionic materials for ultimate applications

Four-Body Nonadditive Potential Energy Surface and the Fourth Virial Coefficient of Helium

The four-body nonadditive contribution to the energy of four helium atoms is calculated and fitted for all geometries for which the internuclear distances exceed a small minimum value. The interpolation uses an active learning approach based on Gaussian processes. Asymptotic functions are used to calculate the nonadditive energy when the four helium atoms form distinct subclusters. The resulting four-body potential is used to compute the fourth virial coefficient D(T) for helium, at temperatures from 10 to 2000 K, with a path-integral approach that fully accounts for quantum effects. The results are in reasonable agreement with the limited and scattered experimental data for D(T), but our calculated results have much smaller uncertainties

Minimally-invasive treatments for benign thyroid nodules: a Delphi-based consensus statement from the Italian minimally-invasive treatments of the thyroid (MITT) group

Benign thyroid nodules are a common clinical occurrence and usually do not require treatment unless symptomatic. During the last years, ultrasound-guided minimally invasive treatments (MIT) gained an increasing role in the management of nodules causing local symptoms. In February 2018, the Italian MIT Thyroid Group was founded to create a permanent cooperation between Italian and international physicians dedicated to clinical research and assistance on MIT for thyroid nodules. The group drafted this list of statements based on literature review and consensus opinion of interdisciplinary experts to facilitate the diffusion and the appropriate use of MIT of thyroid nodules in clinical practice. (#1) Predominantly cystic/cystic symptomatic nodules should first undergo US-guided aspiration; ethanol injection should be performed if relapsing (level of evidence [LoE]: ethanol is superior to simple aspiration = 2); (#2) In symptomatic cystic nodules, thermal ablation is an option when symptoms persist after ethanol ablation (LoE = 4); (#3) Double cytological benignity confirmation is needed before thermal ablation (LoE = 2); (#4) Single cytological sample is adequate in ultrasound low risk (EU-TIRADS 643) and in autonomously functioning nodules (LoE = 2); (#5) Thermal ablation may be proposed as first-line treatment for solid, symptomatic, nonfunctioning, benign nodules (LoE = 2); (#6) Thermal ablation may be used for dominant lesions in nonfunctioning multinodular goiter in patients refusing/not eligible for surgery (LoE = 5); (#7) Clinical and ultrasound follow-up is appropriate after thermal ablation (LoE = 2); (#8) Nodule re-treatment can be considered when symptoms relapse or partially resolve (LoE = 2); (#9) In case of nodule regrowth, a new cytological assessment is suggested before second ablation (LoE = 5); (#10) Thermal ablation is an option for autonomously functioning nodules in patients refusing/not eligible for radioiodine or surgery (LoE = 2); (#11) Small autonomously functioning nodules can be treated with thermal ablation when thyroid tissue sparing is a priority and 6580% nodule volume ablation is expected (LoE = 3)

Designing graphene based nanofoams with nonlinear auxetic and anisotropic mechanical properties under tension or compression

N.M.P. is supported by the European Research Council (ERC StG Ideas 2011 BIHSNAM n. 279985, ERC PoC 2015 SILKENE nr. 693670) and by the European Commission under the Graphene Flagship (WP14 “Polymer composites”, no. 696656). S.T and G.G. acknowledge funding from this last grant