Gauge field theory approach to spin transport in a 2D electron gas

We discuss the Pauli Hamiltonian including the spin-orbit interaction within an U(1) x SU(2) gauge theory interpretation, where the gauge symmetry appears to be broken. This interpretation offers new insight into the problem of spin currents in the condensed matter environment, and can be extended to Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit interactions. We present a few outcomes of the present formulation: i) it automatically leads to zero spin conductivity, in contrast to predictions of Gauge symmetric treatments, ii) a topological quantization condition leading to voltage quantization follows, and iii) spin interferometers can be conceived in which, starting from a arbitrary incoming unpolarized spinor, it is always possible to construct a perfect spin filtering condition.Comment: Invited contribution to Statphys conference, June 2009, Lviv (Ukraine

Activity Recognition for IoT Devices Using Fuzzy Spatio-Temporal Features as Environmental Sensor Fusion

The IoT describes a development field where new approaches and trends are in constant change. In this scenario, new devices and sensors are offering higher precision in everyday life in an increasingly less invasive way. In this work, we propose the use of spatial-temporal features by means of fuzzy logic as a general descriptor for heterogeneous sensors. This fuzzy sensor representation is highly efficient and enables devices with low computing power to develop learning and evaluation tasks in activity recognition using light and efficient classifiers. To show the methodology's potential in real applications, we deploy an intelligent environment where new UWB location devices, inertial objects, wearable devices, and binary sensors are connected with each other and describe daily human activities. We then apply the proposed fuzzy logic-based methodology to obtain spatial-temporal features to fuse the data from the heterogeneous sensor devices. A case study developed in the UJAmISmart Lab of the University of Jaen (Jaen, Spain) shows the encouraging performance of the methodology when recognizing the activity of an inhabitant using efficient classifiers

Characterisation of the Colour Fraction of Pedro Ximenez Andalusian Sweet Wines

Changes in colour fraction of commercially bottled Pedro Ximenez sweet wines, unaged and oxidatively agedin American oak casks and mostly produced in the Montilla-Moriles and Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Designations ofOrigin (Spain), have been studied. The total tannin content and the total polyphenol content (A280) increasedwith increased aging time, a trend clearly observed in the Jerez wines. Browning, as measured by the absorbanceat 420 nm, differed markedly between unaged and aged wines. Aged wines showed an increase in browning withtime and an increase in high molecular weight browning compounds, most probably Maillard compounds.Colour measurements based on the CIELab system showed a gradual decrease in hue and lightness with ageing

Is emamectin benzoate effective against the different stages of Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae)?

peer-reviewedThis work was partially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (project AGL 2007-66130-C03-02 to P. Medina). F. Amor and P. Bengochea acknowledge the ministry of Education and Culture and the Technical University of Madrid (UPM) for the doctoral fellowships. Special thanks to Syngenta Agro S.A. for their support.The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), is a major polyphagous pest in greenhouses and open fields worldwide and also a main problem in sweet pepper greenhouses. The effectiveness of the pesticide emamectin benzoate was tested in the laboratory on different stages of S. exigua using different concentrations and uptake routes. After dipping young (48-h-old) S. exigua eggs in emamectin benzoate at 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mg/L a.i. the chemical did not exhibit any ovicidal activity. There was, however, progressive neonate mortality at all concentrations, culminating at 72 hours after hatching, when 100% of the larvae from the treated young eggs died. Second and fourth instar S. exigua larvae did not exhibit significant mortality when exposed to the inert surfaces which were treated. In contrast, ingesting a diet contaminated with 0.5 mg/L a.i. of emamectin benzoate caused 100% mortality in L2 and L4 larvae 24 and 72 hours after ingestion, respectively. The LC50 value of the compound against L4 larvae that fed on sprayed sweet pepper leaves for 24 hours was 0.81 mg/L a.i.. When adults were fed on a solution of 0.5 mg/L a.i., there was a reduction in the female and male lifespan of 29.3% and 55.3%, respectively. Fecundity was reduced by more than 99%. These data suggest that emamectin benzoate is not only a useful insecticide when ingested by beet armyworm larvae but it also has ovolarvicidal and adult activity.Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovatio

Entanglement production under electron phonon interaction in a quantum dot

We consider the quantum dot entangler device introduced by Oliver et al. [1] coupled to a single phonon mode. While we take the phonon interaction to all orders, we perform a fourth order calculation in electron-dot coupling. Using the Von Neumann entropy we measure the degree of entanglement. We find that the phonon mechanism habilitates single electron processes which manifest themselves as decoherent processes

A Linear Time Algorithm for Counting #2SAT on Series-Parallel Formulas

Capítulo de libroAn O(m + n) time algorithm is presented for counting the number of models of a two Conjunctive Normal Form Boolean Formula whose constrained graph is represented by a Series-Parallel graph, where n is the number of variables and m is the number of clauses. To the best of our knowledge, no linear time algorithm has been developed for counting in this kind of formulas

Determinants of Metabolic Health Across Body Mass Index Categories in Central Europe: A Comparison Between Swiss and Czech Populations.

Comparisons among countries can help to identify opportunities for the reduction of inequalities in cardiometabolic health. The present cross-sectional analysis and meta-analysis aim to address to what extent obesity traits, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors determine poor metabolic health across body mass index (BMI) categories in two urban population-based samples from Central Europe. Data from the CoLaus (~6,000 participants; Lausanne, Switzerland) and the Kardiovize Brno 2030 (~2,000 participants; Brno, Czech Republic) cohorts. For each cohort, logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the main determinants of poor metabolic health overall and stratified by body mass index (BMI) categories. The results of each cohort were then combined in a meta-analysis. We first observed that waist circumference and body fat mass were associated with metabolic health, especially in non-obese individuals. Moreover, increasing age, being male, having low-medium educational level, abdominal obesity, and high body fat mass were the main determinants of the metabolically unhealthy profile in both cohorts. Meta-analysis stratified by BMI categories confirmed the previous results with slight differences across BMI categories. In fact, increasing age and being male were the main determinants of poor metabolic health independent of obesity status. In contrast, low educational level and current smoking were associated with poor metabolic health only in non-obese individuals. In line, public health strategies against obesity and related comorbidities should aim to improve social conditions and to promote healthy lifestyles before the progression of metabolic disorders