Quantum Hertz entropy increase in a quenched spin chain

The classical Hertz entropy is the logarithm of the volume of phase space bounded by the constant energy surface; its quantum counterpart, the quantum Hertz entropy, is $\hat S = k_B \ln \hat N$, where the quantum operator $\hat N$ specifies the number of states with energy below a given energy eigenstate. It has been recently proved that, when an isolated quantum mechanical system is driven out of equilibrium by an external driving, the change in the expectation of its quantum Hertz entropy cannot be negative, and is null for adiabatic driving. This is in full agreement with the Clausius principle. Here we test the behavior of the expectation of the quantum Hertz entropy in the case when two identical XY spin chains initially at different temperatures are quenched into a single XY chain. We observed no quantum Hertz entropy decrease. This finding further supports the statement that the quantum Hertz entropy is a proper entropy for isolated quantum systems. We further quantify how far the quenched chain is from thermal equilibrium and the temperature of the closest equilibrium.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Work statistics, irreversible heat and correlations build-up in joining two spin chains

We investigate the influences of quantum many-body effects, such as criticality and the existence of factorisation fields, in the thermodynamic cost of establishing a bonding link between two independent quantum spin chains. We provide a physical interpretation of the behavior of irreversible work spent in such process by linking the phenomenology of such quantities to the properties of the spectrum of the systemComment: 9 pages, 8 figures. Contribution to the FQMT13 special volum

Fluctuation theorems for continuously monitored quantum fluxes

It is shown that quantum fluctuation theorems remain unaffected if measurements of any kind and number of observables are performed during the action of a force protocol. That is, although the backward and forward probabilities entering the fluctuation theorems are both altered by these measurements, their ratio remains unchanged. This observation allows to describe the measurement of fluxes through interfaces and, in this way, to bridge the gap between the current theory, based on only two measurements performed at the beginning and end of the protocol, and experiments that are based on continuous monitoring.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure. Accepted in Physical Review Letter

Geometric magnetism in open quantum systems

An isolated classical chaotic system, when driven by the slow change of several parameters, responds with two reaction forces: geometric friction and geometric magnetism. By using the theory of quantum fluctuation relations we show that this holds true also for open quantum systems, and provide explicit expressions for those forces in this case. This extends the concept of Berry curvature to the realm of open quantum systems. We illustrate our findings by calculating the geometric magnetism of a damped charged quantum harmonic oscillator transported along a path in physical space in presence of a magnetic field and a thermal environment. We find that in this case the geometric magnetism is unaffected by the presence of the heat bath.Comment: 7 pages. Signs corrected. v3 Accepted in Phys. Rev.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Detection in Keratotic Variants of Oral Lichen Planus: Negative Results in a Preliminary Open Study

Background During the last few decades, several researches have been identified HPV genomic sequences in Head Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas (HNSCC) and in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMD) hypothesizing a possible viral etiological role. However, the reported prevalence of HPV-DNA (varying from 0% to 100%) in these lesions result still very discordant. Objective Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) has been largely investigated but not so extensively with respect to its morphological/histopathological features. The possible influence of hyper-keratosis/parakeratosis in HPV detection for keratotic variants of OLP is here proposed and investigated. Materials and methods A total of 45 individuals with keratotic variants of OLP, clinically and histologically confirmed, were consecutively enrolled, before starting any treatment, and underwent oral brushing for HPV investigation. Viral DNA was extracted from oral brushed cells and HPV DNA researched by the combined use of the INNO-LiPA HPV Genotyping system (Innogenetics) and a PCR assay coupled with genome sequencing. Results None of cytological samples collected resulted HPV-positive. Conclusions In this preliminary study, oral HPV infection, investigated by means of a non-invasive oral sampling procedure and a standardized approach for HPV DNA detection, was not showed in any of the investigated cases. The presence of epithelial hyper-keratosis/parakeratosis in some variants of OLP could be a possible cause of impenetrability and/or difficult detection of the virus. Indeed, in case of keratotic variants of OLP, the possible potential false-negative results of HPV investigation by cytological procedure might be possible; on consequence, an alternative approach for viral detection (i.e. by histological sampling) should be considered

Efficient solar cells by space processing

Thin films of electron beam evaporated silicon were deposited on molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten and molybdenum disilicide under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. Mass spectra from a quadrapole residual gas analyzer were used to determine the partial pressure of 13 residual gases during each processing step. Surface contamination and interdiffusion were monitored by in situ Auger electron spectrometry. The presence of phosphorus in the silicon was responsible for attaining elevated temperatures with silicide formations. Heteroepitaxial silicon growth was sensitive to the presence of oxygen during deposition, the rate and length of deposition as well as the substrate orientation

Current Controversies in Classification, Management, and Prevention of Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

EDITORIA

Logarithmic oscillators: ideal Hamiltonian thermostats

A logarithmic oscillator (in short, log-oscillator) behaves like an ideal thermostat because of its infinite heat capacity: when it weakly couples to another system, time averages of the system observables agree with ensemble averages from a Gibbs distribution with a temperature T that is given by the strength of the logarithmic potential. The resulting equations of motion are Hamiltonian and may be implemented not only in a computer but also with real-world experiments, e.g., with cold atoms.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. v4: version accepted in Phys. Rev. Let

The discovery of plant biodiversity by children through the animated movies: Alice in Wonderland

The discovery of biodiversity in childs occurs through various channels: either through direct contact with the outside world, and indirectly through paintings, games and the media. Since 1937, Walt Disney Animation Studios realized animated movies inspired from novels. The first feature film was \u201cSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs\u201d. Since this, Disney\u2019s studios realized more than 10 dozen movies. The feature that distinguishes these works from a technical point of view is the attention to detail especially for the scene where the action takes place. Animals are often the protagonists of these stories, rarely plants. A good example of the latter is in \u201cAlice in wonderland\u201d, a movie distributed in 1951 that tells the story of the discovery by Alice of an unmusical, fantasy-filled world beyond her imagination populated by odd human and plant and animal characters. The plot of this film is taken from \u201cAlice's Adventures in Wonderland\u201d, an 1865 novel written by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll with several inclusions of the sequel \u201cThrough the Looking-Glass\u201d another novel by the same Lewis Carroll, published in 1871. Both are novels full of symbolism, mathematical allusions and satire and contain the customs of England in the Victorian Age. Alice, in the real and in in her imaginary world, moves within scenarios in which plants are the main background. But it happens in the scene in which Alice is in the flower garden that flowers come alive and become characters of the story. This scene is inspired by the second chapter of the \u201cThrough the Looking- Glass\u201d titled \u201cThe garden of live flowers\u201d. In the novel, Alice comes up a hill along a winding path, that houses a flower garden populated by daisies, a weeping willow, a lily, a rose, a larkspur and a violet. The real work of exaltation of plant biodiversity is made in the film by Walt Disney where in a scene of about 5 minutes more than 20 flowers are presented. In the scene are clearly identifiable: Bellis perennis, Cestrum elegans, Chrysanthemum indicum, Convallaria majalis, Cyclamen persicum, Delphinium sp., Hyancinthoides non-scripta, Ipomoea violacea, Iris germanica, Leucanthemum 7superbum, Leucanthemum vulgare, Lilium candidum, L. davidii, Narcissus incomparabilis, N. pseudonarcissus, Nelumbo nucifera, Ranunculus asiaticus, Rosa indica, Salix babylonica, Syringa vulgaris, Taraxacum sect. Taraxacum, Viola odorata, V. 7wittrockiana and Zinnia sp. It is a real triumph of sounds and colours that leave the spectator delighted. The theme of the plants between knowledge and representation has been the subject of international meetings and scientific contributions. Studies about the representation of plants in pre-Christian (1), during the Middle Ages and in European art of the XIV - XVII have been done (2). In our case the plants drawn in Alice in Wonderland seems to belong more to the plants cultivated in the Americans gardens of during 1950\u2019s, when the film was made, rather than to the English gardens of the Victorian era where the novel is set. Nevertheless these drawings approach children, and the adults accompanying them in the vision, to the biodiversity of flowering plants cultivated. Offering to the spectator a wide representation of plants commonly grown with their shape and colours. Certainly, "Alice in wonderland" is a good example of how even cartoons, such as fairy tales, can play an educational role, as they allow the child to learn while having fun. In particular, this cartoon can be a good teaching tool for knowledge of plant biodiversity. In fact, it can provide many ideas for developing a number of educational activities to be proposed in both the kindergarten and in the primary school, intended to make understand even the youngest children the meaning and the value of plant biodiversity, as well as to know some plants and their growth environments. Therefore, it would be desirable in the future to take into account such aspects, uncommon in animated films for children. In consideration of the now urgent need to fill several gaps of knowledge, widespread in the younger generation (3) in respect of the plants and the environment in general

Diode laser treatment of a large oral hemangioma

Background. Several options can be taken into account to treat hemangiomas; the most considered is the surgical excision, although total removal is not always possible, especially for large lesions, since vital structures can be involved. Another treatment includes the diode laser therapy. Objectives. The aim of this study was to report a clinical case of micro-invasive treatment of a large oral hemangioma in the buccal mucosa using a 900 nm diode laser. Case report. A 49-year-old female patient was referred to our sector of oral medicine reporting difficult chewing, swelling, and occasionally bleeding, from a congenital neoformation. Clinical examination revealed a dark blue and multiglobular (size 5x3 cm) lesion of the right buccal mucosa. After diascopy, loss of normal coloration in the place of the lesion was observed. After the eco-doppler evaluation, a diagnosis of congenital haemangioma was formulated, and the patient was treated by photocoagulation by diode laser at 900 nm wavelenght, and 2.5 W of power, in continuous wave mode for 90 s. Irradiation was delivered by means of a flexible quartz fiber that was kept 2-3 mm away from the lesion. Treatment was performed without topical, local, or general anesthesia, in six-monthly-sessions. All stages of treatment and healing were photographically documented. After the treatment, the lesion was blanched and visibile shrinkaged. No adverse effects (atrophy, scars, hyper- or hypopigmentation) were observed after the treatment. No intra and postoperative pain was reported by the patients. On 3-months follow-up, no recurrence was observed. Conclusions. Likewise reported by other studies, diode laser photocoagulation treatment proved to be an useful method for the treatment of oral hemangiomas. For the safety of use and the absence of intra and postoperative discomfort for patients, it would be considered a valuable tool in the treatment of large hemangiomas