SnO₂ nanoparticles in silica: nanosized tools for femtosecond-laser machining of refractive index patterns

We show that SnO2 nanoclusters in silica interact with ultrashort infrared laser pulses focused inside the material generating a hydrostatic compression and photoelastic response of the surrounding glass. This effect, together with the laser-induced nanocluster amorphization, gives rise to positive or negative refractive-index changes, up to 10–2, depending on the beam-power density. This result points out a wide tuning of the refractive index patterns obtainable in silica-based optical technology

The significance of scale in the analysis of gentrification

As the nineteenth century entered its last decades and the years of Reconstruction receded into the past, New Orleans began anew its struggle to modernize its water infrastructure. The problem, as usual, was threefold: How would improvements be financed? What role would government play? How could the sheer physical challenges of the swampy terrain be met? Requirements of piped-in water and drainage of the land had been prior concerns, and a need for a sewer system was added to the priorities

The significance of scale in the analysis of gentrification

As the nineteenth century entered its last decades and the years of Reconstruction receded into the past, New Orleans began anew its struggle to modernize its water infrastructure. The problem, as usual, was threefold: How would improvements be financed? What role would government play? How could the sheer physical challenges of the swampy terrain be met? Requirements of piped-in water and drainage of the land had been prior concerns, and a need for a sewer system was added to the priorities

Vacuum stability, fixed points, and phases of QED3 at large Nf

We consider three-dimensional quantum electrodynamics in the presence of a Chern-Simons term at level k and Nf flavors, in the limit of large Nf and k with k/Nf fixed. We consider either bosonic or fermionic matter fields, with and without quartic terms at criticality: the resulting theories are critical and tricritical bosonic QED3, Gross-Neveu, and fermionic QED3. For all such theories we compute the effective potentials and the beta functions of classically marginal couplings, at the leading order in the large Nf limit and to all orders in k/Nf and in the couplings. We determine the renormalization group fixed points and discuss the quantum stability of the corresponding vacua. While critical bosonic and fermionic QED3 are always stable conformal field theories, we find that tricritical bosonic and Gross-Neveu QED3 exist as stable conformal field theories only for specific values of k/Nf. Finally, we discuss the phase diagrams of these theories as a function of their relevant deformations

A Probabilistic Approach for the Optimal Sizing of Storage Devices to Increase the Penetration of Plug-in Electric Vehicles in Direct Current Networks

The growing diffusion of electric vehicles connected to distribution networks for charging purposes is an ongoing problem that utilities must deal with. Direct current networks and storage devices have emerged as a feasible means of satisfying the expected increases in the numbers of vehicles while preserving the effective operation of the network. In this paper, an innovative probabilistic methodology is proposed for the optimal sizing of electrical storage devices with the aim of maximizing the penetration of plug-in electric vehicles while preserving efficient and effective operation of the network. The proposed methodology is based on an analytical solution of the problem concerning the power losses minimization in distribution networks equipped with storage devices. The closed-form expression that was obtained is included in a Monte Carlo simulation procedure aimed at handling the uncertainties in loads and renewable generation units. The results of several numerical applications are reported and discussed to demonstrate the validity of the proposed solution. Also, different penetration levels of generation units were analyzed in order to focus on the importance of renewable generation

Reversibility and Durability as Potential Indicators for Circular Building Technologies

According to the Circularity Gap Report 2020, a mere 8.6% of the global economy was circular in 2019. The Global Status Report 2018 declares that building construction and operations accounted for 36% of global final energy use and 39% of energy–related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The Paris Agreement demands that the building and construction sector decarbonizes globally by 2050. This requires strategies that minimize the environmental impact of buildings and practices extending the lifecycle of their constituents within a circular resource flow. To ensure that effective measures are applied, a suitable method is needed to assess compliance in materials, processes, and design strategies within circular economy principles. The study’s assumption is that synthetic and reliable indicators for that purpose could be based on reversibility and durability features. The paper provides an overview of building design issues within the circular economy perspective, highlighting the difficulty in finding circular technologies which are suitable to enhance buildings’ service life while closing material loops. The results identify reversibility and durability as potential indicators for assessing circular building technologies. The next research stage aims to further develop the rating of circularity requirements for both building technologies and entire buildings

Identificação de Brucella spp. por técnicas moleculares em carcaças de bovinos com lesões sugestivas de brucelose.

Dissertação (Mestrado em Ciência Animal. Área de concentração:Saúde Animal), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul. Programa de mestrado em ciência animal . Orientador: Dr. Cleber Oliveira Soares, CNPGC. Coorientadora: Drª. Grácia Maria Soares Rosinha, CNPGC

Root photosynthesis prevents hypoxia in the epiphytic orchid Phalaenopsis

Orchids (Phalaenopsis spp.) growing in tropical and subtropical regions are epiphytes. As such, they grow on trees with the root system utilised to anchor themselves to tree branches. These roots are highly specialised, display a large diameter and are often green, suggesting the ability to carry out photosynthesis. However, the role of photosynthesis in orchid roots is controversial. Orchids that are leafless can photosynthesise in their roots, thus indicating that some orchid roots carry out photosynthesis in a similar manner to leaves. However, the primary site of photosynthesis in orchids are in their leaves, and the roots of epiphytic orchids may mostly conduct internal refixation of respiratory CO2. Besides contributing to the overall carbon metabolism of orchid plants, oxygen produced through root photosynthesis may also be important by alleviating potential root hypoxia. The bulky tissue of most epiphytic orchid roots suggests that oxygen diffusion in these roots can be limited. Here, we demonstrate that the bulky roots of a widely commercially cultivated orchid belonging to the genus Phalaenopsis are hypoxic in the dark. These roots are photosynthetically active and produce oxygen when exposed to light, thus mitigating root hypoxia

Recent trends in power systems modeling and analysis

In recent years, the explosion of renewable energy sources, the increase in the demand for electrical energy, and several improvements in related technologies have fostered research in many relevant areas of interest