5,607 research outputs found
Wavepacket scattering on graphene edges in the presence of a (pseudo) magnetic field
The scattering of a Gaussian wavepacket in armchair and zigzag graphene edges
is theoretically investigated by numerically solving the time dependent
Schr\"odinger equation for the tight-binding model Hamiltonian. Our theory
allows to investigate scattering in reciprocal space, and depending on the type
of graphene edge we observe scattering within the same valley, or between
different valleys. In the presence of an external magnetic field, the well know
skipping orbits are observed. However, our results demonstrate that in the case
of a pseudo-magnetic field, induced by non-uniform strain, the scattering by an
armchair edge results in a non-propagating edge state.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure
Wave packet dynamics and valley filter in strained graphene
The time evolution of a wavepacket in strained graphene is studied within the
tight-binding model and continuum model. The effect of an external magnetic
field, as well as a strain-induced pseudo-magnetic field, on the wave packet
trajectories and zitterbewegung are analyzed. Combining the effects of strain
with those of an external magnetic field produces an effective magnetic field
which is large in one of the Dirac cones, but can be practically zero in the
other. We construct an efficient valley filter, where for a propagating
incoming wave packet consisting of momenta around the K and K' Dirac points,
the outgoing wave packet exhibits momenta in only one of these Dirac points,
while the components of the packet that belong to the other Dirac point are
reflected due to the Lorentz force. We also found that the zitterbewegung is
permanent in time in the presence of either external or strain-induced magnetic
fields, but when both the external and strain-induced magnetic fields are
present, the zitterbewegung is transient in one of the Dirac cones, whereas in
the other cone the wave packet exhibits permanent spatial oscillations.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figure
All-strain based valley filter in graphene nanoribbons using snake states
A pseudo-magnetic field kink can be realized along a graphene nanoribbon
using strain engineering. Electron transport along this kink is governed by
snake states that are characterized by a single propagation direction. Those
pseudo-magnetic fields point towards opposite directions in the K and K'
valleys, leading to valley polarized snake states. In a graphene nanoribbon
with armchair edges this effect results in a valley filter that is based only
on strain engineering. We discuss how to maximize this valley filtering by
adjusting the parameters that define the stress distribution along the graphene
ribbon.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure
Electrostatics of electron-hole interactions in van der Waals heterostructures
The role of dielectric screening of electron-hole interaction in van der
Waals heterostructures is theoretically investigated. A comparison between
models available in the literature for describing these interactions is made
and the limitations of these approaches are discussed. A simple numerical
solution of Poissons equation for a stack of dielectric slabs based on a
transfer matrix method is developed, enabling the calculation of the
electron-hole interaction potential at very low computational cost and with
reasonable accuracy. Using different potential models, direct and indirect
exciton binding energies in these systems are calculated within Wannier-Mott
theory, and a comparison of theoretical results with recent experiments on
excitons in two-dimensional materials is discussed.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figure
Conditions for non-monotonic vortex interaction in two-band superconductors
We describe a semi-analytic approach to the two-band Ginzburg-Landau theory,
which predicts the behavior of vortices in two-band superconductors. We show
that the character of the short-range vortex-vortex interaction is determined
by the sign of the normal domain - superconductor interface energy, in analogy
with the conventional differentiation between type-I and type-II
superconductors. However, we also show that the long-range interaction is
determined by a modified Ginzburg-Landau parameter , different from
the standard of a bulk superconductor. This opens the possibility for
non-monotonic vortex-vortex interaction, which is temperature-dependent, and
can be further tuned by alterations of the material on the microscopic scale
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Characterization of between-group inequality of longevity in European Union countries
Comparisons of differential survival by country are useful in many domains. In the area of public policy, they help policymakers and analysts assess how much various groups benefit from public programs, such as social security and health care. In financial markets and especially for actuaries, they are important for designing annuities and life insurance products. This paper presents a method for clustering information about differential mortality by country. The approach is then used to group mortality surfaces for European Union (EU) countries. The aim of this paper is to measure between-group inequality in mortality experience in EU countries through a range of mortality indicators. Additionally, the indicators permit the characterization of each group. It is important to take into account characteristics such as sex; therefore, this study differentiates between males and females in order to detect whether their patterns and characterizations are different. It is concluded that there are clear differences in mortality between the east and west of the EU that are more important than the traditional south-north division, with a significant disadvantage for Eastern Europe, and especially for males in Baltic countries. We find that the mortality indicators have evolved in all countries in such a way that the gap between groups has been maintained, both in terms of the differences in mortality levels and variability
Linfagioma QuÃstico MediastÃnico: Um Caso ClÃnico
Os autores referem o caso clÃnico de uma criança de 2 anos, sexo masculino e raça negra, que apresentava estridor desde os 2 meses de idade e na qual foi diagnosticado um linfangioma quÃstico mediastÃnico. A remoção cirúrgica levou ao desaparecimento da sintomatologia. É feita uma revisão teórica sobre esta temática abrangendo aspectos epidemiológicos, clÃnicos e terapêuticos. Salientam a importância
dos diferentes exames complementares para o diagnóstico definitivo
Topological confinement in graphene bilayer quantum rings
We demonstrate the existence of localized electron and hole states in a
ring-shaped potential kink in biased bilayer graphene. Within the continuum
description, we show that for sharp potential steps the Dirac equation
describing carrier states close to the K (or K') point of the first Brillouin
zone can be solved analytically for a circular kink/anti-kink dot. The
solutions exhibit interfacial states which exhibit Aharonov-Bohm oscillations
as functions of the height of the potential step and/or the radius of the ring
Anatase crystals of unusual habit in quartz veins from the Diamantina region (Espinhaço Range, Minas Gerais)
The corticotrophin-releasing factor/urocortin system regulates white fat browning in mice through paracrine mechanisms
Objectives:
The corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF)/urocortin system is expressed in the adipose tissue of mammals, but its functional role in this tissue remains unknown.
Methods:
Pharmacological manipulation of the activity of CRF receptors, CRF1 and CRF2, was performed in 3T3L1 white pre-adipocytes and T37i brown pre-adipocytes during in vitro differentiation. The expression of genes of the CRF/urocortin system and of markers of white and brown adipocytes was evaluated along with mitochondrial biogenesis and cellular oxygen consumption. Metabolic evaluation of corticosterone-deficient or supplemented Crhr1-null (Crhr1−/−) mice and their wild-type controls was performed along with gene expression analysis carried out in white (WAT) and brown (BAT) adipose tissues.
Results:
Peptides of the CRF/urocortin system and their cognate receptors were expressed in both pre-adipocyte cell lines. In vitro pharmacological studies showed an inhibition of the expression of the CRF2 pathway by the constitutive activity of the CRF1 pathway. Pharmacological activation of CRF2 and, to a lesser extent, inhibition of CRF1 signaling induced molecular and functional changes indicating transdifferentiation of white pre-adipocytes and differentiation of brown pre-adipocytes. Crhr1−/− mice showed increased expression of CRF2 and its agonist Urocortin 2 in adipocytes that was associated to brown conversion of WAT and activation of BAT. Crhr1−/− mice were resistant to diet-induced obesity and glucose intolerance. Restoring physiological circulating corticosterone levels abrogated molecular changes in adipocytes and the favorable phenotype of Crhr1−/− mice.
Conclusions:
Our findings suggest the importance of the CRF2 pathway in the control of adipocyte plasticity. Increased CRF2 activity in adipocytes induces browning of WAT, differentiation of BAT and is associated with a favorable metabolic phenotype in mice lacking CRF1. Circulating corticosterone represses CRF2 activity in adipocytes and may thus regulate adipocyte physiology through the modulation of the local CRF/urocortin system. Targeting CRF receptor signaling specifically in the adipose tissue may represent a novel approach to tackle obesity
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