Observation of a parity oscillation in the conductance of atomic wires

Using a scanning tunnel microscope or mechanically controlled break junctions, atomic contacts of Au, Pt and Ir are pulled to form chains of atoms. We have recorded traces of conductance during the pulling process and averaged these for a large amount of contacts. An oscillatory evolution of conductance is observed during the formation of the monoatomic chain suggesting a dependence on even or odd numbers of atoms forming the chain. This behaviour is not only present in the monovalent metal Au, as it has been previously predicted, but is also found in the other metals which form chains suggesting it to be a universal feature of atomic wires

Discontinuities without discontinuity: The Weakly-enforced Slip Method

Tectonic faults are commonly modelled as Volterra or Somigliana dislocations in an elastic medium. Various solution methods exist for this problem. However, the methods used in practice are often limiting, motivated by reasons of computational efficiency rather than geophysical accuracy. A typical geophysical application involves inverse problems for which many different fault configurations need to be examined, each adding to the computational load. In practice, this precludes conventional finite-element methods, which suffer a large computational overhead on account of geometric changes. This paper presents a new non-conforming finite-element method based on weak imposition of the displacement discontinuity. The weak imposition of the discontinuity enables the application of approximation spaces that are independent of the dislocation geometry, thus enabling optimal reuse of computational components. Such reuse of computational components renders finite-element modeling a viable option for inverse problems in geophysical applications. A detailed analysis of the approximation properties of the new formulation is provided. The analysis is supported by numerical experiments in 2D and 3D.Comment: Submitted for publication in CMAM

Bounds on the dipole moments of the tau-neutrino via the process e+e−→ννˉγe^{+}e^{-}\rightarrow \nu \bar \nu \gamma in a 331 model

We obtain limits on the anomalous magnetic and electric dipole moments of the $\nu_{\tau}$ through the reaction $e^{+}e^{-}\rightarrow \nu \bar \nu \gamma$ and in the framework of a 331 model. We consider initial-state radiation, and neglect $W$ and photon exchange diagrams. The results are based on the data reported by the L3 Collaboration at LEP, and compare favorably with the limits obtained in other models, complementing previous studies on the dipole moments.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, to be published in The European Physical J C. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:hep-ph/060527

Bose-Einstein Condensate Driven by a Kicked Rotor in a Finite Box

We study the effect of different heating rates of a dilute Bose gas confined in a quasi-1D finite, leaky box. An optical kicked-rotor is used to transfer energy to the atoms while two repulsive optical beams are used to confine the atoms. The average energy of the atoms is localized after a large number of kicks and the system reaches a nonequilibrium steady state. A numerical simulation of the experimental data suggests that the localization is due to energetic atoms leaking over the barrier. Our data also indicates a correlation between collisions and the destruction of the Bose-Einstein condensate fraction.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure

Structural fluctuations and quantum transport through DNA molecular wires: a combined molecular dynamics and model Hamiltonian approach

Charge transport through a short DNA oligomer (Dickerson dodecamer) in presence of structural fluctuations is investigated using a hybrid computational methodology based on a combination of quantum mechanical electronic structure calculations and classical molecular dynamics simulations with a model Hamiltonian approach. Based on a fragment orbital description, the DNA electronic structure can be coarse-grained in a very efficient way. The influence of dynamical fluctuations arising either from the solvent fluctuations or from base-pair vibrational modes can be taken into account in a straightforward way through time series of the effective DNA electronic parameters, evaluated at snapshots along the MD trajectory. We show that charge transport can be promoted through the coupling to solvent fluctuations, which gate the onsite energies along the DNA wire

Prolactin responses to stress induced by a competitive swimming effort

Purpose:The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes in prolactin (PRL) plasma concentrations induced by competitive swimming practice. Methods:Twenty-three males, 13 trained swimmers (experimental group) and 10 sedentary and healthy students (age-matched control group) took part in this investigation. The swimmers were assessed at three points: basal conditions, pre-and post-swimming competition (100 m freestyle), whereas subjects from the control group only undertook the basal trial. The variables analysed were: several body composition measures, anxiety level (STAI questionnaire), PRL and lactic acid concentrations. Results:No statistical differences were observed in PRL basal levels between groups. An evident PRL response to pre-competition psychological stress was observed in the experimental group, since the PRL plasma concentration rosefrom 4.02±0.53 ng/ml (basal conditions) to 5.52±0.53 ng/ml (p≤0.05). The PRL response to the competitive effort produced an important increase in its plasma concentration (10.07±1.59 ng/ml), showed statistical differences from pre-competition (p≤0.01) and from basal conditions (p≤0.001). A significant rise in plasma lactate levels just at the end of the effort was found, although it did not correlate with PRL levels in the same situation. Conclusion:While we observed a remarkable response of PRL to psychological and physiological stress induced by a short term competitive effort in swimming, no changes in PRL basal levels were exhibitedwith swim training. More research is needed to clarify these findings

Optimización de tratamientos a baja temperatura para incrementar fenoles hidrofílicos en la fracción líquida de Alperujo

Hydrophilic phenols are the main bioactive compounds in alperujo. Among them, 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG), Hydroxytyrosol (HT) and Tyrosol (Ty), are the most relevant and deeply studied. These compounds exhibit high antioxidant capacity and a wide range of health benefits as well as technologically promising properties. Given that, their recovery represents an attractive opportunity to valorize this by-product. In this work low thermal treatments were applied to alperujo in order to obtain phenol-enriched liquid fractions. Optimization assays combining different levels of temperature (30 to 90 ºC), time (60 to 180 min) and water content (70 to 90%), followed by response surface methodologies were performed. The results indicated that by applying optimal conditions, is possible to obtain theoretical yields of Total phenols, DHPG, HT and Ty of 2.4, 957.8, 3.4 and 6.4 times greater, respectively, than raw dry alperujo. Interestingly, all the evaluated conditions can be reproduced with low investment in a standard olive oil industry.Los fenoles hidrofílicos representan los principales compuestos bioactivos del alperujo. Los más relevantes son 3,4-Dihidroxifenilglicol (DHFG), Hidroxitirosol (HT) y Tirosol (Ti). Estos compuestos presentan alta capacidad antioxidante, beneficios para la salud e importantes propiedades tecnológicas, por ello su recuperación representa una alternativa para la valorización de este subproducto. En este trabajo, se aplicaron al alperujo tratamientos térmicos para obtener fracciones líquidas enriquecidas con compuestos fenólicos. Se realizaron ensayos combinando niveles de temperatura (30 ºC a 90 ºC), tiempo (60 min a 180 min) y humedad del alperujo (70 % a 90 %), seguidos de metodologías de superficie de respuesta. Los resultados indicaron que, mediante la aplicación de las condiciones óptimas, es posible obtener rendimientos teóricos de fenoles totales, DHFG, HT y Ti, 2.4, 957.8, 3.4 y 6.4 veces superiores a los obtenidos a partir del alperujo inicial. Es destacable que las condiciones establecidas, se pueden reproducir con bajo costo en una industria olivícola estándar