Thermodynamics of black holes in finite boxes

We analyze the thermodynamical behavior of black holes in closed finite boxes. First the black hole mass evolution is analyzed in an initially empty box. Using the conservation of the energy and the Hawking evaporation flux, we deduce a minimal volume above which one black hole can loss all of its mass to the box, a result which agrees with the previous analysis made by Page. We then obtain analogous results using a box initially containing radiation, allowed to be absorbed by the black hole. The equilibrium times and masses are evaluated and their behavior discussed to highlight some interesting features arising. These results are generalized to $N$ black holes + thermal radiation. Using physically simple arguments, we prove that these black holes achieve the same equilibrium masses (even that the initial masses were different). The entropy of the system is used to obtain the dependence of the equilibrium mass on the box volume, number of black holes and the initial radiation. The equilibrium mass is shown to be proportional to a {\it positive} power law of the effective volume (contrary to naive expectations), a result explained in terms of the detailed features of the system. The effect of the reflection of the radiation on the box walls which comes back into the black hole is explicitly considered. All these results (some of them counter-intuitive) may be useful to formulate alternative problems in thermodynamic courses for graduate and advanced undergraduate students. A handful of them are suggested in the Appendix.Comment: RevTex file, 2 .ps figures. Submitted to AmJPhy

Cosmological quintessence accretion onto primordial black holes : conditions for their growth to the supermassive scale

In this work we revisit the growth of small primordial black holes (PBHs) immersed in a quintessential field and/or radiation to the supermassive black hole (SMBHs) scale. We show the difficulties of scenarios in which such huge growth is possible. For that purpose we evaluated analytical solutions of the differential equations (describing mass evolution) and point out the strong fine tuning for that conclusions. The timescale for growth in a model with a constant quintessence flux is calculated and we show that it is much bigger than the Hubble time.The fractional gain of the mass is further evaluated in other forms, including quintessence and/or radiation. We calculate the cosmological density $\Omega$ due to quintessence necessary to grow BHs to the supermassive range and show it to be much bigger than one. We also describe the set of complete equations analyzing the evolution of the BH+quintessence universe, showing some interesting effects such the quenching of the BH mass growth due to the evolution of the background energy. Additional constraints obtained by using the Holographic Bound are also described. The general equilibrium conditions for evaporating/accreting black holes evolving in a quintessence/radiation universe are discussed in the Appendix.Comment: 21 pp., 2 Figures, To appear in IJMP

Bounds on the cosmological abundance of primordial black holes from diffuse sky brightness: single mass spectra

We constrain the mass abundance of unclustered primordial black holes (PBHs), formed with a simple mass distribution and subject to the Hawking evaporation and particle absorption from the environment. Since the radiative flux is proportional to the numerical density, an upper bound is obtained by comparing the calculated and observed diffuse background values, (similarly to the Olbers paradox in which point sources are considered) for finite bandwidths. For a significative range of formation redshifts the bounds are better than several values obtained by other arguments $\Omega_{pbh} \leq 10^{-10}$; and they apply to PBHs which are evaporating today.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures, to appear in PR

Multi-bit sigma-delta modulators with enhanced dynamic-range using non-linear DAC for hearing aids

15th IEEE International Conference on Electronics, Circuits and Systems, MaltaThis paper presents the possibility of employing nonlinear low-resolution DACs in the feedback paths of multi-bit second-order Sigma-Delta modulators. The proposed technique is particularly attractive in applications such as hearing aids, requiring a very large dynamic range and medium signal-tonoise-plus-distortion-ratio. As demonstrated through simulated results in which noise and mismatch effects are included, for the same over-sampling ratio, improvements in the order of 6-to-9 dB in the dynamic range can be achieved when comparing with the same topology employing linear-DACs

Evaluation of Libraries and Informations Units: A Proposition to Adopt Participatory Research Techniques In Order To Build Management Tools

Introduction. We report an investigation designed to present a specific model to build management tools for libraries and information units. A management evaluation model is shown to be necessary, because these units are undergoing transformations more sharply than other organizations, therefore changes and strategies need to be monitored and controlled. Method. Questionnaires, interviews, meetings and documentary research were conducted with a researcher at Brasíia University, Brasília, Brazil. Participative methodology was used for data collection in order to get staffs commitment and involvement in the process of building management tools. Participative research showed important because its use helped participants to solve problems as well as to deal with control and management tolls. Analysis. Transcription of the interviews, recorded tape of meetings, documents and questionnaires tabulation formed the data for analysis. Principles of grounded theory were adopted, notably coding that allows recursive data analysis to be used to obtain the consensus from participants about what need to be measured. Results. It proved possible to build management tools for libraries and information units applying participatory techniques. The investigation resulted in a set of coherent and fully contextualized indicators for a selected information unit. Conclusions. Participatory techniques appear to be appropriated to enable managers and employees to handle information in order to solve problems. Commitment and involvement of participants were observed, and this is the most important finding of this investigation

Holographic Principle bounds on Primordial Black Hole abundances

The generalized Second Law of thermodynamics and the Holographic Principle are combined to obtain the maximum mass of black holes formed inside a static spherical box of size $R$ filled with radiation at initial temperature $T_{i}$. The final temperature after the formation of black holes is evaluated, and we show that a critical threshold exists for the radiation to be fully consumed by the process. We next argue that if some form of Holographic Principle holds, upper bounds to the mass density of PBHs formed in the early universe may be obtained. The limits are worked out for inflationary and non-inflationary cosmological models. This method is independent of the known limits based on the background fluxes (from cosmic rays, radiation and other forms of energy) and applies to potentially important epochs of PBH formation, resulting in quite strong constraints to $\Omega_{pbh}$.Comment: Latex file, 2 .ps figures. To appear in Classical and Quantum Gravit

Searching for new sources of innovative products for the food industry within halophyte aromatic plants: In vitro antioxidant activity and phenolic and mineral contents of infusions and decoctions of Crithmum maritimum L.

Aromatic halophyte plants are an outstanding source of bioactive compounds and natural products with potential use in the food industry. This work reports the in vitro antioxidant activity, toxicity, poly phenolic profile and mineral contents of infusions and decoctions from stems, leaves and flowers of Crithmum maritimum L, an aromatic and edible maritime halophyte (sea fennel). Aspalathus linearis (Burm.f.) Dahlg. (rooibos) herbal tea was used as a reference. Sea fennel's tisanes, particularly from leaves, were rich in phenolic compounds and five of them (p-hydroxybenzoic and ferulic acids, epicatechin, pyrocatechol and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde) were here described in C maritimum for the first time. Chlorogenic acid was the dominant phenolic determined. Na was the most abundant mineral in all tisanes followed by Ca and Mg in leaves' tisanes and K in flowers. Sea fennel's samples had a similar antioxidant activity than those from A. linearis, and had no significant toxicity towards four different mammalian cell lines. Altogether, our results suggest that sea fennel can be a source of products and/or molecules for the food industry with antioxidant properties and minerals in the form, for example, of innovative health-promoting herbal beverages.FCT Investigator Programme [IF/00049/2012

Calibration of parameters in Dynamic Energy Budget models using Direct-Search methods

Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) theory aims to capture the quantitative aspects of metabolism at the individual level, for all species. The parametrization of a DEB model is based on information obtained through the observation of natural populations and experimental research. Currently the DEB toolbox estimates these parameters using the Nelder–Mead Simplex method, a derivative-free direct-search method. However, this procedure presents some limitations regarding convergence and how to address constraints. Framed in the calibration of parameters in DEB theory, this work presents a numerical comparison between the Nelder–Mead Simplex method and the SID-PSM algorithm, a Directional Direct-Search method for which convergence can be established both for unconstrained and constrained problems. A hybrid version of the two methods, named as Simplex Directional Direct-Search, provides a robust and efficient algorithm, able to solve the constrained optimization problems resulting from the parametrization of the biological models.authorsversionpublishe

Chemical profiling of infusions and decoctions of Helichrysum italicum subsp picardii by UHPLC-PDA-MS and in vitro biological activities comparatively with green tea (Camellia sinensis) and rooibos tisane (Aspalathus linearis)

Several medicinal plants are currently used by the food industry as functional additives, for example botanical extracts in herbal drinks. Moreover, the scientific community has recently begun focusing on halophytes as sources of functional beverages. Helichrysum italicum subsp. picardii (everlasting) is an aromatic halophyte common in southern Europe frequently used as spice and in traditional medicine. In this context, this work explored for the first time H. italicum subsp. picardii as a potential source of innovative herbal beverages with potential health promoting properties. For that purpose, infusions and decoctions were prepared from roots, vegetative aerial-organs (stems and leaves) and flowers and evaluated for in vitro antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities. Samples were also assessed for toxicity in different mammalian cell lines and chemically characterized by spectrophotometric methods and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography photo diode array mass-spectrometry (UHPLC-PDA-MS). Results were expressed relating to 'a cup-of-tea' and compared with those obtained with green tea (Camellia sinensis) and rooibos tisane (Aspalathus linearis). Tisanes from the everlasting's above-ground organs, particularly flowers, have high polyphenolic content and several phenolics were identified; the main compounds were chlorogenic and quinic acids, dicaffeoylquinic-acid isomers and gnaphaliin-A. The antioxidant activity of beverages from the everlasting's above-ground organs matched or surpassed that of green tea and rooibos. Its anti-diabetic activity was moderate and toxicity low. Overall, our results suggest that the everlasting is a potential source of innovative and functional herbal beverages. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.national funds through Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) [CCMAR/Multi/04326/2013]FCT [SFRH/BD/94407/2013, SFRH/BD/116604/2016]Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) [12M8315N]FCT Investigator Programme [IF/00049/2012]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Quality of life and place sustainability: a residents’ view

The concept of sustainability applied to the territories implies an integrated perspective considering the economic, the social, the environmental and the institutional dimensions. A vision of sustainability is nowadays crucial to the success of places, a condition in which the adoption of a Place Marketing Policy to create value and to emphasize identities is definitively interiorized by the literature. The success is achieved when the actors (citizens, visitants, business sector and all the actors that live the territory) obtain satisfaction from the territory performance and meet their expectations. A territory environmentally qualified, economically valuable, socially coherent and consistent in its heterogeneity, where the local agents are active participants and not spectators of the territory changes represents the objectives and the crucial condition for the development of a strategic marketing policy destination. A theoretical framework based on the contributions of Breakwell (1992, 1993), Hidalgo and Hernandez (2001), Twigger-Ross and Uzzell (1996) was developed and applied to Portimão a city located on south-western Algarve, Portugal. The study aims to describe and understand the causal relations between independent variables (individual characteristics, residential time and quality of life attributes) and dependent measures (place attachment and place-related identity)