A statistical mechanical description of metastable states and hysteresis in the 3D soft-spin random-field model at T=0

We present a formalism for computing the complexity of metastable states and the zero-temperature magnetic hysteresis loop in the soft-spin random-field model in finite dimensions. The complexity is obtained as the Legendre transform of the free-energy associated to a certain action in replica space and the hysteresis loop above the critical disorder is defined as the curve in the field-magnetization plane where the complexity vanishes; the nonequilibrium magnetization is therefore obtained without having to follow the dynamical evolution. We use approximations borrowed from condensed-matter theory and based on assumptions on the structure of the direct correlation functions (or proper vertices), such as a local approximation for the self-energies, to calculate the hysteresis loop in three dimensions, the correlation functions along the loop, and the second moment of the avalanche-size distribution.Comment: 28 pages, 12 figure

Multidisciplinary investigation on the catfish parasite Hamatopeduncularia Yamaguti, 1953 (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae): description of two new species from India, and phylogenetic considerations

Hamatopeduncularia was erected with Hamatopeduncularis arii as the type species. This genus comprises monogenoidean species mostly found as ectoparasites of marine catfishes belonging to the Ariidae. There is a significant taxonomic ambiguity among Hamatopeduncularia species due to their morphological similarity, but so far only a few morphological studies have succeeded in addressing interspecific variation and relationships. Moreover, little molecular data is available for this genus. A multidisciplinary, integrated study consisting of morphological, morphometric and molecular analyses was conducted on different species of Hamatopeduncularia recovered from the gills of two marine catfishes, Arius jella Day and Plicofollis dussumieri (Valenciennes). Five species of Hamatopeduncularia, two of which represent new species, were investigated: H. arii, H. elongatum, H. thalassini, H. madhaviae sp. nov. and H. bifida sp. nov. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using the 18S rDNA sequence as a molecular marker. The most important results of the present work are: (1) the multidisciplinary description of two novel species; (2) the multidisciplinary redescription of two species and of the type species of the genus; (3) the first molecular characterisation of 18S rDNA sequences of five species of genus Hamatopeduncularia; and (4) molecular support for the monophyly of the genus. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1333F4CC-E497-4D0A-AD7D-276D44AE6413 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:43D18F75-6F4A-4F9B-8C00-6234E5BA652

The effect of thresholding on temporal avalanche statistics

We discuss intermittent time series consisting of discrete bursts or avalanches separated by waiting or silent times. The short time correlations can be understood to follow from the properties of individual avalanches, while longer time correlations often present in such signals reflect correlations between triggerings of different avalanches. As one possible source of the latter kind of correlations in experimental time series, we consider the effect of a finite detection threshold, due to e.g. experimental noise that needs to be removed. To this end, we study a simple toy model of an avalanche, a random walk returning to the origin or a Brownian bridge, in the presence and absence of superimposed delta-correlated noise. We discuss the properties after thresholding of artificial timeseries obtained by mixing toy avalanches and waiting times from a Poisson process. Most of the resulting scalings for individual avalanches and the composite timeseries can be understood via random walk theory, except for the waiting time distributions when strong additional noise is added. Then, to compare with a more complicated case we study the Manna sandpile model of self-organized criticality, where some further complications appear.Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures, submitted to J. Stat. Mech., special issue of the UPoN2008 conferenc

Second Life of Lithium-Ion Batteries of Electric Vehicles: A Short Review and Perspectives

Technological advancement in storage systems has currently stimulated their use in miscellaneous applications. The devices have gained prominence due to their increased performance and efficiency, together with the recent global appeal for reducing the environmental impacts caused by generating power or by combustion vehicles. Many technologies have been developed to allow these devices to be reused or recycled. In this sense, the use of lithium-ion batteries, especially in electric vehicles, has been the central investigative theme. However, a drawback of this process is discarding used batteries. This work provides a short review of the techniques used for the second-life batteries of electric vehicles and presents the current positioning of the field, the steps involved in the process of reuse and a discussion on important references. In conclusion, some directions and perspectives of the field are shown

Study of idfferential protein expression in healthy human skeletal muscles using electrophoresis bidimentional

Comunicaciones a congreso

Clinical and laboratory features of anti-MAG neuropathy without monoclonal gammopathy

Antibodies against myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) almost invariably appear in the context of an IgM monoclonal gammopathy associated neuropathy. Very few cases of anti-MAG neuropathy lacking IgM-monoclonal gammopathy have been reported. We investigated the presence of anti-MAG antibodies in 69 patients fulfilling diagnostic criteria for CIDP. Anti-MAG antibodies were tested by ELISA and confirmed by immunohistochemistry. We identified four (5.8%) anti-MAG positive patients without detectable IgM-monoclonal gammopathy. In two of them, IgM-monoclonal gammopathy was detected at 3 and 4-year follow-up coinciding with an increase in anti-MAG antibodies titers. In conclusion, anti-MAG antibody testing should be considered in chronic demyelinating neuropathies, even if IgM-monoclonal gammopathy is not detectable