New materials for tunable plasmonic colloidal nanocrystals

We present a review on the emerging materials for novel plasmonic colloidal nanocrystals. We start by explaining the basic processes involved in surface plasmon resonances in nanoparticles and then discuss the classes of nanocrystals that to date are particularly promising for tunable plasmonics: non-stoichiometric copper chalcogenides, extrinsically doped metal oxides, oxygen-deficient metal oxides and conductive metal oxides. We additionally introduce other emerging types of plasmonic nanocrystals and finally we give an outlook on nanocrystals of materials that could potentially display interesting plasmonic properties

Compression of Ultrashort Laser Pulses via Gated Multiphoton Intrapulse Interference Phase Scans

Delivering femtosecond laser light in the focal plane of a high numerical aperture microscope objective is still a challenge, despite significant developments in the generation of ultrashort pulses. One of the most popular techniques, used to correct phase distortions resulting from propagation through transparent media, is the multiphoton intrapulse interference phase scan (MIIPS). The accuracy of MIIPS however is limited when higher order phase distortions are present. Here we introduce an improvement, called Gated-MIIPS, which avoids shortcomings of MIIPS, reduces the influence of higher order phase terms, and can be used to more efficiently compress broad band laser pulses even with a simple 4f pulse shaper setup. In this work we present analytical formulas for MIIPS and Gated-MIIPS valid for chirped Gaussian pulses; we show an approximated analytic expression for Gated-MIIPS valid for arbitrary pulse shapes; finally we demonstrate the increased accuracy of Gated-MIIPS via experiment and numerical simulation.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figure

Free space daylight ground-ground QKD in the near-IR

We report a daylight km-range free space QKD demonstration at 850nm obtaining a QBER of 1.9\% and a raw key-rate of 14 kbit/s. We used the BB84 protocol with polarisation encoding and two supporting optical beams for classical communication and clock synchronisation

Ultrafast carrier dynamics in gold/iron-oxide nanocrystal heterodimers

Colloidal nanocrystal heterodimers composed of a gold domain and an iron oxide domain have been investigated by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. The measured decay times were compared with the ones obtained from samples of "only" gold nanocrystals and iron oxide nanocrystals. Our results indicate that there is no significant charge transfer at the interface between gold and iron oxide in heterodimers

Revelar-se homossexual: percepções de jovens adultos brasileiros

Considering the new perspectives on male and female homosexuality and the coming out process, the aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions of young Brazilian homosexuals about the coming out on the family relationships. This is a study of multiple cases supported by the qualitative research approach. Eight homosexuals (five gays and three lesbians) were interviewed, with an average age of 26 years old. The interviews were submitted to content analysis, in which categories were constructed a posteriori, highlighting similarities and differences between the cases. In front of coming out process in a heterosexist context, the individual can make this event a moment of silence and shame, as well as deal with guilt. Family and friends constituted the main support network in front of homosexual disclosure, considered fundamental after coming out.En vista de las nuevas perspectivas sobre la homosexualidad masculina y femenina y del processo de coming out, el objetivo de este estudio fue investigar las percepciones de jóvenes homosexuales brasileños sobre la revelación de la orientación sexual en el contexto familiar. Se trata de un estudio de casos múltiples apoyado en el enfoque cualitativo. Fueron entrevistados ocho homosexuales (cinco gays y tres lesbianas), con edad media de 26 años. Las entrevistas fueron sometidas a análisis de contenido, en el que las categorías se construyeron a posteriori, destacando las similitudes y diferencias entre los casos. Ante el processo de coming out en un contexto heterosexista, el individuo puede hacer de ese evento un momento de silenciamiento y vergüenza, así como lidiar con el sentimiento de culpa. La familia y los amigos constituyeron la principal red de apoyo ante la revelación de la homosexualidad, red ésta considerada fundamental después del coming out.Considerando as novas perspectivas acerca da homossexualidade masculina e feminina e do processo de coming out, o objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar as percepções de jovens homossexuais brasileiros acerca do processo de revelação da orientação sexual no contexto familiar. Trata-se de um estudo de casos múltiplos qualitativo. Foram entrevistados oito homossexuais (cinco gays e três lésbicas), com idade média de 26 anos. As entrevistas foram submetidas à análise de conteúdo, na qual foram construídas categorias a posteriori, destacando-se semelhanças e diferenças entre os casos. Diante do processo de coming out em um contexto heterossexista, o indivíduo pode fazer desse evento um momento de silenciamento e vergonha, além de lidar com o sentimento de culpa. A família e os amigos constituíram a principal rede de apoio diante da revelação da homossexualidade, rede esta considerada fundamental após o coming out

Plasmonics in heavily-doped semiconductor nanocrystals

Heavily-doped semiconductor nanocrystals characterized by a tunable plasmonic band have been gaining increasing attention recently. Herein, we introduce this type of materials focusing on their structural and photo physical properties. Beside their continuous-wave plasmonic response, depicted both theoretically and experimentally, we also review recent results on their transient, ultrafast response. This was successfully interpreted by adapting models of the ultrafast response of gold nanoparticles.Comment: 20 pages review paper, 15 figure

Cortisol in hair: a comparison between wild and feral cats in the north-eastern Alps

The quantification of glucocorticoid metabolites in hair is a non-invasive tool that provides important information regarding the endocrine status and represents a valuable method for studying potential stressors that may affect carnivores under both natural and non-natural conditions. Cortisol is the main glucocorticoid hormone of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal gland axis and is considered a standard stress indicator for animal welfare. The current study aimed to compare cortisol levels extracted from hair of both dead, frozen European wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris) and living feral individuals (Felis silvestris catus) living in different environmental conditions. The results obtained revealed that wild individuals exhibited a significantly (p < 0.001) higher cortisol concentration (n = 15, mean \ub1 SD = 8.91 \ub1 4.48 pg/mg) than feral ones (n = 10, mean \ub1 SD = 3.57 \ub1 1.25 pg/mg), probably as a result of both the physiological and/or environmental factors to which each subspecies was subject. This is the first study in which cortisol concentrations have been compared within the Felis silvestris subspecies, thus enriching the scarce information available for the Felidae. Nevertheless, further research is needed to better understand the various physiological and ecological factors affecting the adrenocortical activity of species or populations living in different environmental contexts