Good potentials for almost isomorphism of countable state Markov shifts

Almost isomorphism is an equivalence relation on countable state Markov shifts which provides a strong version of Borel conjugacy; still, for mixing SPR shifts, entropy is a complete invariant of almost isomorphism. In this paper, we establish a class of potentials on countable state Markov shifts whose thermodynamic formalism is respected by almost isomorphism

Almost isomorphism for countable state Markov shifts

Countable state Markov shifts are a natural generalization of the well-known subshifts of finite type. They are the subject of current research both for their own sake and as models for smooth dynamical systems. In this paper, we investigate their almost isomorphism and entropy conjugacy and obtain a complete classification for the especially important class of strongly positive recurrent Markov shifts. This gives a complete classification up to entropy conjugacy of the natural extensions of smooth entropy expanding maps, including all smooth interval maps with non-zero topological entropy

Photoinduced Electron Pairing in a Driven Cavity

We demonstrate how virtual scattering of laser photons inside a cavity via two-photon processes can induce controllable long-range electron interactions in two-dimensional materials. We show that laser light that is red (blue) detuned from the cavity yields attractive (repulsive) interactions whose strength is proportional to the laser intensity. Furthermore, we find that the interactions are not screened effectively except at very low frequencies. For realistic cavity parameters, laser-induced heating of the electrons by inelastic photon scattering is suppressed and coherent electron interactions dominate. When the interactions are attractive, they cause an instability in the Cooper channel at a temperature proportional to the square root of the driving intensity. Our results provide a novel route for engineering electron interactions in a wide range of two-dimensional materials including AB-stacked bilayer graphene and the conducting interface between LaAlO3 and SrTiO3

Visually-impaired people studying via ebook: investigating current use and potential for improvement

Everyday activities and tasks should be easy to perform for everyone, especially in an educational context, in order to foster inclusivity and assure equal opportunities for all. In this paper, we investigate strategies and issues experienced by visually impaired people when studying via eBook. An online survey was designed to investigate preferences regarding the different formats and understand what types of actions are possible and desirable when using eBooks in an educational context. We collected the views and experiences of 75 visually-impaired people, which revealed the need to develop tools that can provide both full accessibility and high usability when reading for study. Visually impaired people would like to rely on the same widely used strategies that sighted people use when studying a text. In addition, 92% of the visually-impaired people participating in the online survey declared they were interested in a (new) reading app. The results could orient the design of new digital reading tools and functionalities that can improve interaction

Numerical study of a banded precipitation event over Italy

Satellite images of 30 October 2008 show the development over north-central Italy of rainbands and multiple waves during a strong south-westerly wind episode associated with a deepening synoptic trough and cold front passage. The event was studied by means of the ISAC model chain constituted of the hydrostatic model BOLAM and the nested non-hydrostatic model MOLOCH at 1.1 km resolution. Diagnostics of model output was performed to reveal the physical origin of the dynamical features and precipitation field as simulated. Based on our results we propose a theoretical framework in which symmetric instability underlies some of the observed precipitation patterns

Numerical study of a banded precipitation event over Italy

Satellite images of 30 October 2008 show the development over north-central Italy of rainbands and multiple waves during a strong south-westerly wind episode associated with a deepening synoptic trough and cold front passage. The event was studied by means of the ISAC model chain constituted of the hydrostatic model BOLAM and the nested non-hydrostatic model MOLOCH at 1.1 km resolution. Diagnostics of model output was performed to reveal the physical origin of the dynamical features and precipitation field as simulated. Based on our results we propose a theoretical framework in which symmetric instability underlies some of the observed precipitation patterns

Augmented contents as assistive technology to make more inclusive everyday objects for visually impaired people

This study investigates how to exploit technologies for making society more inclusive by increasing the usability of artefacts that may be not accessible to people with disabilities. Accessing everyday objects can be a challenge for blind and visually impaired people. Although digital calendars are available, a tangible paper-based calendar can be more suitable or preferred by users, in specific contexts. Such a calendar should be as inclusive as possible. This paper shares the experience of designing an inclusive paper-based calendar conceived in codesign sessions with blind and visually impaired users

The pathophysiology of migraine: year 2005

Migraine is a complex patholophysiology in which both central and peripheral components of the trigeminal pain pathway probably play a significant role, both in the symptoms and signs of the attack and in the mechanisms of action of antimigraine compounds, such as triptans, which constitute the most important therapy for aborting migraine pain and posses several mechanisms on 5–HT receptor–mediated actions. The experimental neurogenic inflammation model represents a simple procedure to obtain preliminary information on well characterized receptortargeted drugs. The apparent paradox observed with certain drugs that are shown to be effective in this model but not in clinical trials offers the opportunity to better manipulate structure–activity to obtain the best pharmacological profile using an array of experimental models. The observation that nitric oxide donors induce migraine–like pain in migraineours and that nitric oxide plays a pivotal role in the control of several functions in the central nervous system, has prompted the use of such molecules for better understanding the pathophysiology of migraine attacks. A link between central and peripheral components of the trigeminal pain pathway is provided by the observation that cortical spreading depression in the rat activates trigeminovascular afferents and induces a series of cortical meningeal and brainstem events consistent with the development of headache. Studies in humans support the hypothesis that cortical spreading depression underlies migraine.aura. Therefore, tt is possible that visual, motor or sensory aura might be responsible for the generation of the pain through the above mechanism