Diffusion equation and spin drag in spin-polarized transport

We study the role of electron-electron interactions for spin polarized transport using the Boltzmann equation and derive a set of coupled transport equations. For spin polarized transport the electron-electron interactions are important, because they tend to equilibrate the momentum of the two spin species. This ``spin drag'' effect enhances the resistivity of the system. The enhancement is stronger the lower the dimension and should be measurable in for example a two dimensional electron gas with ferromagnetic contacts. We also include spin flip scattering which has two effects: it equilibrates the spin density imbalance and, provided it has a non s-wave component, also the current imbalance.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figur

Localized plasmons in graphene-coated nanospheres

We present an analytical derivation of the electromagnetic response of a spherical object coated by a conductive film, here exemplified by a graphene coating. Applying the framework of Mie-Lorenz theory augmented to account for a conductive boundary condition, we derive the multipole scattering coefficients, modified essentially through the inclusion of an additive correction in numerator and denominator. By reductionist means, starting from the retarded response, we offer simple results in the quasistatic regime by analyzing the multipolar polarizability and associated dispersion equation for the localized plasmons. We consider graphene coatings of both dielectric and conducting spheres, where in the former case the graphene coating introduces the plasmons and in the latter case modifies in interesting ways the existing ones. Finally, we discuss our analytical results in the context of extinction cross-section and local density of states. Recent demonstrations of fabricated spherical graphene nanostructures make our study directly relevant to experiments.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, 1 tabl

The Tolerance of Shewanella woodyi for Electric Potentials and Heavy Metals as Biofilms

Shewanella woodyi is a bioluminescent marine organism that is known to be metal tolerant and modulate the intensity of its luminescence with electrochemical potential. The viability of S. woodyi as a bioreporter for the toxic heavy metal zinc, copper, and silver was analyzed. Biofilms of S. woodyi was grown on marine broth agar plates and then exposed to various concentrations of each metal ion to evaluate biofilm response to the metal ions that were generated from an operating short circuited electrode containing either Zn, Cu, or Ag metal. The ability of the bacteria to tolerate the heavy metals and continue to luminesce was evaluated at designated distances from the electrode by ICP-OES. The possibility of an electricidal effect was determined to be insignificant near the electrodes. So, even though S. woodyi showed unprecedented tolerance for Zn(II), it would ultimately be a marginal living bioreporter without genetic modification

Generalized nonlocal optical response in nanoplasmonics

Metallic nanostructures exhibit a multitude of optical resonances associated with localized surface plasmon excitations. Recent observations of plasmonic phenomena at the sub-nanometer to atomic scale have stimulated the development of various sophisticated theoretical approaches for their description. Here instead we present a comparatively simple semiclassical generalized nonlocal optical response (GNOR) theory that unifies quantum-pressure convection effects and induced-charge diffusion kinetics, with a concomitant complex-valued GNOR parameter. Our theory explains surprisingly well both the frequency shifts and size-dependent damping in individual metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) as well as the observed broadening of the cross-over regime from bonding-dipole plasmons to charge-transfer plasmons in MNP dimers, thus unraveling a classical broadening mechanism that even dominates the widely anticipated short-circuiting by quantum tunneling. We anticipate that the GNOR theory can be successfully applied in plasmonics to a wide class of conducting media, including doped semiconductors and low-dimensional materials such as graphene.Comment: 7 pages, including 3 figures. Supplementary information is available upon request to author

Kerr nonlinearity and plasmonic bistability in graphene nanoribbons

We theoretically examine the role of Kerr nonlinearities for graphene plasmonics in nanostructures, specifically in nanoribbons. The nonlinear Kerr interaction is included semiclassically in the intraband approximation. The resulting electromagnetic problem is solved numerically by self-consistent iteration with linear steps using a real-space discretization. We derive a simple approximation for the resonance shifts in general graphene nanostructures, and obtain excellent agreement with numerics for moderately high field strengths. Near plasmonic resonances the nonlinearities are strongly enhanced due to field enhancement, and the total nonlinearity is significantly affected by the field inhomogeneity of the plasmonic excitation. Finally, we discuss the emergence of a plasmonic bistability which exists for frequencies redshifted relative to the linear resonance. Our results offer new insights into the role of nonlinear interaction in nanostructured graphene and paves the way for experimental investigation.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, and additional supplemental materia

Classical and Quantum Plasmonics in Graphene Nanodisks: the Role of Edge States

Edge states are ubiquitous for many condensed matter systems with multicomponent wave functions. For example, edge states play a crucial role in transport in zigzag graphene nanoribbons. Here, we report microscopic calculations of quantum plasmonics in doped graphene nanodisks with zigzag edges. We express the nanodisk conductivity $\sigma(\omega)$ as a sum of the conventional bulk conductivity $\sigma_{\scriptscriptstyle\text{B}}(\omega)$, and a novel term $\sigma_{\scriptscriptstyle\text{E}}(\omega)$, corresponding to a coupling between the edge and bulk states. We show that the edge states give rise to a red-shift and broadening of the plasmon resonance, and that they often significantly impact the absorption efficiency. We further develop simplified models, incorporating nonlocal response within a hydrodynamical approach, which allow a semiquantitative description of plasmonics in the ultrasmall size regime. However, the polarization dependence is only given by fully microscopic models. The approach developed here should have many applications in other systems supporting edge states.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Frequency Of Development Of Connective Tissue Disease In Statin-Users Versus Nonusers

Statins have pleiotropic properties that may affect the development of connective tissue diseases (CTD). The objective of this study was to compare the risk of CTD diagnoses in statin users and nonusers. This study was a propensity score-matched analysis of adult patients (30 to 85 years old) in the San Antonio military medical community. The study was divided into baseline (October 1, 2003 to September 30, 2005), and follow-up (October 1, 2005 to March 5, 2010) periods. Statin users received a statin prescription during fiscal year 2005. Nonusers did not receive a statin at any time during the study. The outcome measure was the occurrence of 3 diagnosis codes of the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification consistent with CTD. We described co-morbidities during the baseline period using the Charlson Comorbidity Index. We created a propensity score based on 41 variables. We then matched statin users and nonusers 1:1, using a caliper of 0.001. Of 46,488 patients who met study criteria (13,640 statin users and 32,848 nonusers), we matched 6,956 pairs of statin users and nonusers. Matched groups were similar in terms of patient age, gender, incidence of co-morbidities, total Charlson Comorbidity Index, health care use, and medication use. The odds ratio for CTD was lower in statin users than nonusers (odds ratio: 0.80; 95% confidence interval: 0.64 to 0.99; p = 0.05). Secondary analysis and sensitivity analysis confirmed these results. In conclusion, statin use was associated with a lower risk of CTD. Published by Elsevier Inc.Pharmac

Børn og voksnes kropslighed i daginstitutioner: Refleksion og viden om kroppens betydning i dagtilbuddet med særlig vægt på socialt udsatte børn

Denne artikel er udarbejdet i tilknytning til forskningsprojektet ”Handlekompetencer i pædagogisk arbejde med socialt udsatte børn og unge – indsats og effekt” (HPA-projektet), som er gennemført ved DPU og er finansieret af Det Strategiske Program for Velfærdsforskning (Socialministeriet) i perioden oktober 2005 frem til maj 2009.Projektets sigte er at udvikle metoder, der giver pædagoger mulighed for at udvikle deres pædagogiske handlekompetencer, så de kan fremme udsatte børns handlemuligheder og livschancer

Plasmonic eigenmodes in individual and bow-tie graphene nanotriangles

Serving as a new two-dimensional plasmonic material, graphene has stimulated an intensive study of its optical properties which benefit from the unique electronic band structure of the underlying honeycomb lattice of carbon atoms. In classical electrodynamics, nanostructured graphene is commonly modeled by the computationally demanding problem of a three-dimensional conducting film of atomic-scale thickness. Here, we propose an efficient alternative two-dimensional electrostatic approach where all the calculation procedures are restricted to the plane of the graphene sheet. To explore possible quantum effects, we perform tight-binding calculations, adopting a random-phase approximation. We investigate the multiple plasmon modes in triangles of graphene, treating the optical response classically as well as quantum mechanically in the case of both armchair and zigzag edge termination of the underlying atomic lattice. Compared to the classical plasmonic spectrum which is "blind" to the edge termination, we find that the quantum plasmon frequencies exhibit blueshifts in the case of armchair edge termination, while redshifts are found for zigzag edges. Furthermore, we find spectral features in the zigzag case which are associated with electronic edge states not present for armchair termination. Merging pairs of such triangles into dimers, the plasmon hybridization leads to energy splitting in accordance with plasmon-hybridization theory, with a lower energy for the antisymmetric modes and a smaller splitting for modes with less confinement to the gap region. The hybridization appears strongest in classical calculations while the splitting is lower for armchair edges and even more reduced for zigzag edges. Our various results illustrate a surprising phenomenon: Even 20 nm large graphene structures clearly exhibit quantum plasmonic features due to atomic-scale details in the edge termination.Comment: 27 pages including 7 figures. Supplementary information available upon request to author

Fish, Marine n−3 Fatty Acids, and Atrial Fibrillation – Experimental Data and Clinical Effects

Marine n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may have beneficial effects in relation to atrial fibrillation (AF) with promising data from experimental animal studies, however, results from studies in humans have been inconsistent. This review evaluates the mechanisms of action of marine n−3 PUFA in relation to AF based on experimental data and provides a status on the evidence obtained from observational studies and interventional trials. In conclusion, there is growing evidence for an effect of marine n−3 PUFA in prevention and treatment of AF. However, further studies are needed to establish which patients are more likely to benefit from n−3 PUFA, the timing of treatment, and dosages