Stabilized jellium model and structural relaxation effects on the fragmentation energies of ionized silver clusters

Using the stabilized jellium model in two schemes of `relaxed' and `rigid', we have calculated the dissociation energies and the fission barrier heights for the binary fragmentations of singly-ionized and doubly-ionized Ag clusters. In the calculations, we have assumed spherical geometries for the clusters. Comparison of the fragmentation energies in the two schemes show differences which are significant in some cases. This result reveals the advantages of the relaxed SJM over the rigid SJM in dynamical processes such as fragmentation. Comparing the relaxed SJM results and axperimental data on fragmentation energies, it is possible to predict the sizes of the clusters just before their fragmentations.Comment: 9 pages, 12 JPG figure

Monitoring biofilm formation by using cyclic voltametry: effect of the experimental conditions on biofilm removal and activity

The effect of experimental conditions on cyclic voltammetry experiments on platinum electrodes covered with biofilms formed by Pseudomonas fluorescens for 2 hours was investigated. Results show that recycling the potencial stabilizes the shape of the cyclic voltammogram after 130 cycles, but the observation of this electrode by epifluorescence microscopy showed that cells are still adhered to the platinum surface. Some experimental conditions were changed during the electrochemical measurements – sweep rate, pH of the buffer and applied potential range. Some of these parameters had a strong impact on the bacteria that are adhered to the surface, increasing the death and removal in some circumstances.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Hydrological and erosion response at micro-plot to -catchment scale following forest wildfire, north-central Portugal

Wildfires can have important impacts on hydrological and soil erosion processes, due to the destruction of vegetation cover and changes to soil properties. According to Shakesby and Doerr (2006), these wildfire effects are: i) much better known at small spatial scales (especially erosion plots) than at the scale of catchments; ii) much better studied with respect to overland flow and streamflow (and, then, especially peak discharges) than to soil erosion. Following up on a precursor project studying runoff generation and the associated soil losses from micro-plot to slope-scale in Portuguese eucalypt forests, the EROSFIRE-II project addresses the connectivity of these processes across hillslopes as well as within the channel network. This is done in the Colmeal study area in central Portugal, where the outlet of an entirely burnt catchment of roughly 10 ha was instrumented with a gauging station continuously recording water level and tubidity, and five slopes were each equipped with 4 runoff plots of < 0,5 m2 (“micro-plot”) and 4 slope-scale plots as well as 1 slope-scale sediment fence. Starting one month after the August 2008 wildfire, the plots were monitored at 1- to 2-weekly intervals, depending on the occurrence of rainfall. The gauging station became operational at the end of November 2008, since the in-situ construction of an H-flume required several weeks. A preliminary analysis of the data collected till the end of 2008, focusing on two slopes with contrasting slope lengths as well as the gauging station: revealed clear differences in runoff and erosion between: (i) the micro-plot and slope-scale plots on the same hillslope; (ii) the two slopes; (iii) an initial dry period and a subsequent much wetter period; (iv) the slopes and the catchment-scale, also depending on the sampling period. These results suggest that the different processes govern the hydrological and erosion response at different spatial scales as well as for different periods, with soil water repellency playing a role during the initial post-fire period. The current presentation will review these preliminary results based on the data collected during the first year after the wildfire

Direct observation of melting in a 2-D superconducting vortex lattice

Topological defects such as dislocations and disclinations are predicted to determine the twodimensional (2-D) melting transition. In 2-D superconducting vortex lattices, macroscopic measurements evidence melting close to the transition to the normal state. However, the direct observation at the scale of individual vortices of the melting sequence has never been performed. Here we provide step by step imaging through scanning tunneling spectroscopy of a 2-D system of vortices up to the melting transition in a focused-ion-beam nanodeposited W-based superconducting thin film. We show directly the transition into an isotropic liquid below the superconducting critical temperature. Before that, we find a hexatic phase, characterized by the appearance of free dislocations, and a smectic-like phase, possibly originated through partial disclination unbinding. These results represent a significant step in the understanding of melting of 2-D systems, with impact across several research fields, such as liquid crystal molecules, or lipids in membranes.Comment: Submitted to Nature Physic

Magnetic and superconducting phase diagrams in ErNi2B2C

We present measurements of the superconducting upper critical field Hc2(T) and the magnetic phase diagram of the superconductor ErNi2B2C made with a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). The magnetic field was applied in the basal plane of the tetragonal crystal structure. We have found large gapless regions in the superconducting phase diagram of ErNi2B2C, extending between different magnetic transitions. A close correlation between magnetic transitions and Hc2(T) is found, showing that superconductivity is strongly linked to magnetism.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

The child in charge: The case of child-participatory design of an environmental sustainability serious game

In a technology-advanced world, it is known that children are growing up surrounded by electronic devices such as computers, mobile phones, and tablets, and eventually use them in their daily routines. Whereas the accessibility of these powerful tools is a long-standing issue, there is the need to conduct further studies including children during the design process. In this paper we explore a child-centred design approach through a serious game on sustainability. Participatory design, prototyping and evaluation are part of the process where we explore behaviour and feedback regarding the requested tasks. The preliminary results indicate that the children actively engaged with the prototypes, giving feedback and new ideas to make the serious game more engaging and easier for other children.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio