Non-equilibrium transition from dissipative quantum walk to classical random walk

We have investigated the time-evolution of a free particle in interaction with a phonon thermal bath, using the tight-binding approach. A dissipative quantum walk can be defined and many important non-equilibrium decoherence properties can be investigated analytically. The non-equilibrium statistics of a pure initial state have been studied. Our theoretical results indicate that the evolving wave-packet shows the suppression of Anderson's boundaries (ballistic peaks) by the presence of dissipation. Many important relaxation properties can be studied quantitatively, such as von Neumann's entropy and quantum purity. In addition, we have studied Wigner's function. The time-dependent behavior of the quantum entanglement between a free particle -in the lattice- and the phonon bath has been characterized analytically. This result strongly suggests the non-trivial time-dependence of the off-diagonal elements of the reduced density matrix of the system. We have established a connection between the quantum decoherence and the dissipative parameter arising from interaction with the phonon bath. The time-dependent behavior of quantum correlations has also been pointed out, showing continuous transition from quantum random walk to classical random walk, when dissipation increases.Comment: Submitted for publication. 17 pages, 6 figure

When white people experience the weight of the past:The role of white identity strategies in linking colonialism to current racial inequalities

How do White Europeans address racial inequalities in times of burgeoningdiscussions about colonialism? The current research explores the strategies that White people in the Netherlands use to manage their racial-ethnic identity in relation to linking colonialism and current racial inequalities. With this, we examined how White identity strategies were related to ideologies legitimizing racial inequalities. Using mixed-methods consisting of qualitative interviews (N = 24) and quantitative surveys (N = 564), we found that White people exhibited different combinations of prideful (“I am a proud person of our ethnic heritage”), dissociated (“My ethnic group does not have a significant impact on how I see the world”), and power-cognizant (“I am a White person with privileges because of my ethnic group”) identity strategies. Moreover, these White identity strategies were associated withlinking colonialism and racial inequalities and, thereby, with ideologies legitimizing them. Specifically, White people holding prideful and dissociated strategies were less likely to link colonialism and racial inequalities than White people who exclusively endorsed powercognizance. Furthermore, power-cognizant people challenged current-day racial inequalities the most. We conclude by discussing how White European people legitimize or question racial inequalities by managing their whiteness and the theoretical and practical implications of these findings

Drag Force in a Charged N=4 SYM Plasma

Following recent developments, we employ the AdS/CFT correspondence to determine the drag force exerted on an external quark that moves through an N=4 super-Yang-Mills plasma with a non-zero R-charge density (or, equivalently, a non-zero chemical potential). We find that the drag force is larger than in the case where the plasma is neutral, but the dependence on the charge is non-monotonic.Comment: 16 pages, 1 eps figure; v2: references added, typos fixed; v3: more general ansatz, new nontrivial solution obtained, nonmonotonicity of the drag force made explicit in new figure, version to appear in JHE

WISE J061213.85-303612.5: a new T-dwarf binary candidate

Context. T and Y dwarfs are among the coolest and least luminous objects detected, and they can help to understand the properties of giant planets. Up to now, there are more than 350 T dwarfs that have been identified thanks to large imaging surveys in the infrared, and their multiplicity properties can shed light on the formation process. Aims. The aim of this work is to look for companions around a sample of seven ultracoool objects. Most of them have been discovered by the WISE observatory and have not been studied before for multiplicity. Methods. We observed a sample six T dwarfs and one L9 dwarf with the Laser Guide Star (LGS) and NAOS-CONICA, the adaptive optics (AO) facility, and the near infrared camera at the ESO Very Large Telescope. We observed all the objects in one or more near-IR filters (JHK_s). Results. From the seven observed objects, we have identified a subarcsecond binary system, WISE J0612-3036, composed of two similar components with spectral types of T6. We measure a separation of ρ = 350 ± 5 mas and a position angle of PA = 235 ± 1°. Using the mean absolute magnitudes of T6 dwarfs in the 2MASS JHK_s bands, we estimate a distance of d = 31 ± 6 pc and derive a projected separation of ρ ~ 11 ± 2 au. Another target, WISE J2255-3118, shows a very faint object at 1.̋3 in the K_s image. The object is marginally detected in H, and we derive a near infrared color of H − Ks> 0.1 mag. HST/WFC3 public archival data reveals that the companion candidate is an extended source. Together with the derived color, this suggests that the source is most probably a background galaxy. The five other sources are apparently single, with 3-σ sensitivity limits between H = 19–21 for companions at separations ≥ 0.̋5. Conclusions. WISE 0612-3036 is probably a new T-dwarf binary composed of two T6 dwarfs. As in the case of other late T-dwarf binaries, it shows a mass ratio close to 1, although its projected separation, ~11 au, is larger than the average (~5 au). Additional observations are needed to confirm that the system is bound

Forming double-barred galaxies from dynamically cool inner disks

About one-third of early-type barred galaxies host small-scale secondary bars. The formation and evolution of such double-barred (S2B) galaxies remain far from being well understood. In order to understand the formation of such systems, we explore a large parameter space of isolated pure-disk simulations. We show that a dynamically cool inner disk embedded in a hotter outer disk can naturally generate a steady secondary bar while the outer disk forms a large-scale primary bar. The independent bar instabilities of inner and outer disks result in long-lived double-barred structures whose dynamical properties are comparable to those in observations. This formation scenario indicates that the secondary bar might form from the general bar instability, the same as the primary bar. Under some circumstances, the interaction of the bars and the disk leads to the two bars aligning or single, nuclear, bars only. Simulations that are cool enough of the center to experience clump instabilities may also generate steady S2B galaxies. In this case, the secondary bars are “fast,” i.e., the bar length is close to the co-rotation radius. This is the first time that S2B galaxies containing a fast secondary bar are reported. Previous orbit-based studies had suggested that fast secondary bars were not dynamically possibl

Convexity in partial cubes: the hull number

We prove that the combinatorial optimization problem of determining the hull number of a partial cube is NP-complete. This makes partial cubes the minimal graph class for which NP-completeness of this problem is known and improves some earlier results in the literature. On the other hand we provide a polynomial-time algorithm to determine the hull number of planar partial cube quadrangulations. Instances of the hull number problem for partial cubes described include poset dimension and hitting sets for interiors of curves in the plane. To obtain the above results, we investigate convexity in partial cubes and characterize these graphs in terms of their lattice of convex subgraphs, improving a theorem of Handa. Furthermore we provide a topological representation theorem for planar partial cubes, generalizing a result of Fukuda and Handa about rank three oriented matroids.Comment: 19 pages, 4 figure

Does native Trypanosoma cruzi calreticulin mediate growth inhibition of a mammary tumor during infection?

Indexación: Web of Science.Background: For several decades now an antagonism between Trypanosoma cruzi infection and tumor development has been detected. The molecular basis of this phenomenon remained basically unknown until our proposal that T. cruzi Calreticulin (TcCRT), an endoplasmic reticulum-resident chaperone, translocated-externalized by the parasite, may mediate at least an important part of this effect. Thus, recombinant TcCRT (rTcCRT) has important in vivo antiangiogenic and antitumor activities. However, the relevant question whether the in vivo antitumor effect of T. cruzi infection is indeed mediated by the native chaperone (nTcCRT), remains open. Herein, by using specific modified anti-rTcCRT antibodies (Abs), we have neutralized the antitumor activity of T. cruzi infection and extracts thereof, thus identifying nTcCRT as a valid mediator of this effect. Methods: Polyclonal anti-rTcCRT F(ab')(2) Ab fragments were used to reverse the capacity of rTcCRT to inhibit EAhy926 endothelial cell (EC) proliferation, as detected by BrdU uptake. Using these F(ab')(2) fragments, we also challenged the capacity of nTcCRT, during T. cruzi infection, to inhibit the growth of an aggressive mammary adenocarcinoma cell line (TA3-MTXR) in mice. Moreover, we determined the capacity of anti-rTcCRT Abs to reverse the antitumor effect of an epimastigote extract (EE). Finally, the effects of these treatments on tumor histology were evaluated. Results: The rTcCRT capacity to inhibit ECs proliferation was reversed by anti-rTcCRT F(ab')(2) Ab fragments, thus defining them as valid probes to interfere in vivo with this important TcCRT function. Consequently, during infection, these Ab fragments also reversed the in vivo experimental mammary tumor growth. Moreover, anti-rTcCRT Abs also neutralized the antitumor effect of an EE, again identifying the chaperone protein as an important mediator of this anti mammary tumor effect. Finally, as determined by conventional histological parameters, in infected animals and in those treated with EE, less invasive tumors were observed while, as expected, treatment with F(ab')(2) Ab fragments increased malignancy. Conclusion: We have identified translocated/externalized nTcCRT as responsible for at least an important part of the anti mammary tumor effect of the chaperone observed during experimental infections with T. cruzi.http://bmccancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12885-016-2764-

Toxicidade de herbicidas pré-emergentes a plantas de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraés em área de produção de sementes.

O controle de plantas daninhas em campos de produção de sementes de forrageiras é dificultado por não existirem herbicidas registrados, além do escasso conhecimento acerca dos efeitos desses produtos quanto à fitotoxicidade, produtividade, bem como a qualidade das sementes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi selecionar herbicidas pré-emergentes para o controle de invasoras em área de produção de sementes de capim-xaraés. O ensaio foi instalado em 28/05/09, em Latossolo Vermelho Distroférrico (textura argilosa), em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições, parcelas de 2,5mx5m e 4 kg SPV/ha. Os seguintes produtos e doses (g i.a./ha) foram aplicados imediatamente após a semeadura: atrazina+simazina (1250+1250), atrazina (3080), flumioxazina (60), diclosulan (35), flumetsulan (108), diclosulan+flumetsulan (22+84), trifluralina (2400) e oxyfluorfen (720). Os herbicidas foram aplicados com pulverizador costal, pressurizado por CO2, (barra 2m, 4 bicos tipo leque 110.03) e volume de calda 200L/ha. Os valores de fitotoxicidade, avaliada por escala visual de 0 (nenhum sintoma visível de injúria) a 100% (morte da planta) aos 20, 30 e 40 dias após emergência (DAE), variaram de 7,5 a 98,5% e apenas os tratamentos atrazina (3080) e atrazina+simazina (1250+1250) resultaram em fitotoxicidade aceitável, respectivamente 7,5% e 20%. Os demais tratamentos proporcionaram fitotoxicidade acima de 40%, valor este considerado como padrão máximo aceitável para a pré-seleção dos herbicidas nesta fase do trabalho, situação em que a forrageira torna-se-ia passível de recuperação, sem perspectivas de redução no rendimento da planta. Os demais valores encontrados para fitotoxicidade foram 73,8%, 87,5%, 47,5%, 87,5%, 100% e 100%, para flumioxazina (60), diclosulan (35), flumetsulan (108), diclosulan+flumetsulan (22+84), trifluralina (2400) e oxyfluorfen (720). A biomassa seca da planta forrageira (aos 50 DAE) variou de 0 a 4,5g/0,25m2 e os melhores valores corresponderam aos melhores tratamentos quanto à seletividade (r=-0,8; p<0,01), ou seja, 4,51g e 3,07g/0,25m2, respectivamente para atrazina (3080) e atrazina+simazina (1250+1250)

Seletividade de herbicidas pré-emergentes a Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu em área de produção de sementes.

O controle de plantas daninhas em campos de produção de sementes de forrageiras tropicais é dificultado por não existirem herbicidas registrados, além do escasso conhecimento acerca dos efeitos desses produtos quanto à fitotoxicidade, produtividade e qualidade das sementes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi selecionar herbicidas pré-emergentes para utilização em área de produção de sementes do capim-marandu. O ensaio foi instalado em 28/05/09, em Latossolo Vermelho Distroférrico (textura argilosa), em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições e parcelas de 2,5mx5m, semeadas com 4 kg SPV/ha. Os seguintes produtos e doses (g i.a./ha) foram aplicados imediatamente após a semeadura: atrazina+simazina (1250+1250), atrazina (3080), flumioxazina (60), diclosulan (35), flumetsulan (108), diclosulan+flumetsulan (22+84), trifluralina (2400) e oxyfluorfen (720). Os herbicidas foram aplicados com pulverizador costal, pressurizado por CO2 (barra 2m, quatro bicos tipo leque 110.03) e volume de calda 200L/ha. A fitotoxicidade, avaliada por escala visual de 0 (nenhum sintoma visível de injúria do herbicida) a 100% (morte da planta) aos 20, 30 e 40 dias após emergência (DAE) variou de 5 a 100% e apenas atrazina (3080) e atrazina+simazina (1250+1250) resultaram em fitotoxicidade aceitável (ambos 5%). Os demais tratamentos proporcionaram fitotoxicidade acima de 40%, valor este considerado como padrão máximo aceitável para a pré-seleção dos herbicidas nesta fase do trabalho, situação em que a forrageira torna-se-ia passível de recuperação, sem perspectivas de redução no rendimento da planta. Os demais valores encontrados para fitotoxicidade foram 78,8%, 87,5%, 42,5%, 93,3%, 100% e 100% para flumioxazina (60), diclosulan (35), flumetsulan (108), diclosulan+flumetsulan (22+84), trifluralina (2400) e oxyfluorfen (720). A biomassa seca da planta forrageira (aos 50 DAE) variou de 0 a 8,6g/0,25m2 e os melhores valores encontrados corresponderam aos melhores tratamentos quanto à seletividade (r=- 0,8; p<0,01), ou seja, 8,6g e 7,2g/0,25m2, respectivamente para atrazina (3080) e atrazina+simazina (1250+1250)