Extended Seismic Source Characterisation using Linear Programming Inversion in a Dual Formulation

A linear programming (LP) inversion method in a dual formulation was applied to reconstruct the kinematics of finite seismic ruptures. In a general setting, this approach can yield results from several data sets: strong ground motion, teleseismic waveforms or/and geodesic data (static deformation). The dual formulation involves the transformation of a normal solution space into an equivalent but reduced space: the dual space. The practical result of this transformation is a simpler inversion problem that is therefore faster to resolve, more stable and more robust. The developed algorithm includes a forward problem that calculates Green’s functions using a finite differences method with a 3D structure model. To evaluate the performance of this algorithm, we applied it to the reconstitution of a realistic slip distribution model from a data set synthesised using this model, i.e., the solution of the forward problem. Several other standard inversion approaches were applied to the same synthetic data for comparison

Phonon-Coupled Electron Tunneling in Two and Three-Dimensional Tunneling Configurations

We treat a tunneling electron coupled to acoustical phonons through a realistic electron phonon interaction: deformation potential and piezoelectric, in two or three-dimensional tunneling configurations. Making use of slowness of the phonon system compared to electron tunneling, and using a Green function method for imaginary time, we are able to calculate the change in the transition probability due to the coupling to phonons. It is shown using standard renormalization procedure that, contrary to the one-dimensional case, second order perturbation theory is sufficient in order to treat the deformation potential coupling, which leads to a small correction to the transmission coefficient prefactor. In the case of piezoelectric coupling, which is found to be closely related to the piezoelectric polaron problem, vertex corrections need to be considered. Summing leading logarithmic terms, we show that the piezoelectric coupling leads to a significant change of the transmission coefficient.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figure

Dynamics of topological defects in a spiral: a scenario for the spin-glass phase of cuprates

We propose that the dissipative dynamics of topological defects in a spiral state is responsible for the transport properties in the spin-glass phase of cuprates. Using the collective-coordinate method, we show that topological defects are coupled to a bath of magnetic excitations. By integrating out the bath degrees of freedom, we find that the dynamical properties of the topological defects are dissipative. The calculated damping matrix is related to the in-plane resistivity, which exhibits an anisotropy and linear temperature dependence in agreement with experimental data.Comment: 4 pages, as publishe

Thrombus aspiration in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: results of a national registry of interventional cardiology.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the impact of thrombus aspiration (TA) during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (P-PCI) in 'real-world' settings. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study, using data from the National Registry of Interventional Cardiology (RNCI 2006-2012, Portugal) with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients treated with P-PCI. The primary outcome, in-hospital mortality, was analysed through adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS: We assessed data for 9458 STEMI patients that undergone P-PCI (35% treated with TA). The risk of in-hospital mortality with TA (aOR 0.93, 95%CI:0.54-1.60) was not significantly decreased. After matching patients through the propensity score, TA reduced significantly the risk of in-hospital mortality (OR 0.58, 95%CI:0.35-0.98; 3500 patients). CONCLUSIONS: The whole cohort data does not support the routine use of TA in P-PCI, but the results of the propensity-score matched cohort suggests that the use of selective TA may improve the short-term risks of STEMI.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

ANALYSIS OF NOx EMISSIONS AND SPECIFIC FUEL CONSUMPTION OF A DIESEL ENGINE OPERATING WITH DIESEL/BIODIESEL BLENDS

This study aims to examine experimentally the NOx emissions and the performance of a motor AGRALE M90, single cylinder, operating with diesel and biodiesel blends. The engine was linked to an electric generator, which provided 1500 W, 3000 W and 4500 W to an electrical system. The engine was tested with fuel blends containing different amounts of commercial diesel (B4) with palm biodiesel (B100). NOx emissions, as well as the specific fuel consumption of diesel, biodiesel and their mixtures were measured and analyzed. In this study, emissions of NOx have been prioritized over other pollutants by environmental issues and techniques. Air pollution by NOx causes serious respiratory problems. Furthermore, emissions of NOx enable a qualitative assessment of the combustion process. The results show that the commercial diesel has better performance in terms of energy efficiency and NOx emissions

Non-Markoffian effects of a simple nonlinear bath

We analyze a model of a nonlinear bath consisting of a single two-level system coupled to a linear bath (a classical noise force in the limit considered here). This allows us to study the effects of a nonlinear, non-Markoffian bath in a particularly simple situation. We analyze the effects of this bath onto the dynamics of a spin by calculating the decay of the equilibrium correlator of the spin's z-component. The exact results are compared with those obtained using three commonly used approximations: a Markoffian master equation for the spin dynamics, a weak-coupling approximation, and the substitution of a linear bath for the original nonlinear bath.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Aplicação do Radar de Penetração no Solo (GPR) na detecção de estruturas no âmbito nas Ciências Forenses

Na base do fulgurante desenvolvimento da ciência forense está a incorporação do conhecimento e técnicas de várias especialidades científicas, onde a física ocupa lugar de relevo. Um exemplo desta articulação é o GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar, Radar de Penetração no Solo), que assume hoje grande importância na detecção de objectos e cadáveres enterrados. Este trabalho descreve um estudo sobre os limites de aplicabilidade do GPR em investigação forense. Foram concebidos e desenvolvidos ensaios laboratoriais (para aferir parâmetros físicos e técnicas de tratamento de dados) e de campo (onde se estudaram as condições de detectabilidade de artefactos metálicos e cadáveres de porcos enterrados). Os resultados mostram o potencial de aplicação da técnica para este fim e a possibilidade de se estimar o estado de decomposição dos cadáveres

Berry's Phase in the Presence of a Stochastically Evolving Environment: A Geometric Mechanism for Energy-Level Broadening

The generic Berry phase scenario in which a two-level system is coupled to a second system whose dynamical coordinate is slowly-varying is generalized to allow for stochastic evolution of the slow system. The stochastic behavior is produced by coupling the slow system to a heat resevoir which is modeled by a bath of harmonic oscillators initially in equilibrium at temperature T, and whose spectral density has a bandwidth which is small compared to the energy-level spacing of the fast system. The well-known energy-level shifts produced by Berry's phase in the fast system, in conjunction with the stochastic motion of the slow system, leads to a broadening of the fast system energy-levels. In the limit of strong damping and sufficiently low temperature, we determine the degree of level-broadening analytically, and show that the slow system dynamics satisfies a Langevin equation in which Lorentz-like and electric-like forces appear as a consequence of geometrical effects. We also determine the average energy-level shift produced in the fast system by this mechanism.Comment: 29 pages, RevTex, submitted to Phys. Rev.