Overcoming ambiguities in classical and quantum correlation measures

We identify ambiguities in the available frameworks for defining quantum, classical, and total correlations as measured by discordlike quantifiers. More specifically, we determine situations for which either classical or quantum correlations are not uniquely defined due to degeneracies arising from the optimization procedure over the state space. In order to remove such degeneracies, we introduce a general approach where correlations are independently defined, escaping therefore from a degenerate subspace. As an illustration, we analyze the trace-norm geometric quantum discord for two-qubit Bell-diagonal states.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures. v2: Minor corrections. Published versio

A intervenção da DGEMN nos Paços Arquiepiscopais de Braga: restaurar a memória da Nação

info:eu-repo/semantics/draf

Dark/Visible Parallel Universes and Big Bang Nucleosynthesis

We develop a model for visible matter-dark matter interaction based on the exchange of a massive gray boson called herein the Mulato. Our model hinges on the assumption that all known particles in the visible matter have their counterparts in the dark matter. We postulate six families of particles five of which are dark. This leads to the unavoidable postulation of six parallel worlds, the visible one and five invisible worlds. A close study of big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN), baryon asymmetries, cosmic microwave background (CMB) bounds, galaxy dynamics, together with the Standard Model assumptions, help us to set a limit on the mass and width of the new gauge boson. Modification of the statistics underlying the kinetic energy distribution of particles during the BBN is also discussed. The changes in reaction rates during the BBN due to a departure from the Debye-Hueckel electron screening model is also investigated.Comment: Invited talk at the Workshops "CompStar: the physics and astrophysics of compact stars", Tahiti, June 4-8, 2012, "New Directions in Nuclear Astrophysics", Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy, June 18-22, 2012, and "Carpathian Summer School of Physics", Sinaia, Romania, June 24 - July 7, 2012. To be published in AIP Proceeding

Geometric classical and total correlations via trace distance

We introduce the concepts of geometric classical and total correlations through Schatten 1-norm (trace norm), which is the only Schatten p-norm able to ensure a well-defined geometric measure of correlations. In particular, we derive the analytical expressions for the case of two-qubit Bell-diagonal states, discussing the superadditivity of geometric correlations. As an illustration, we compare our results with the entropic correlations, discussing both their hierarchy and monotonicity properties. Moreover, we apply the geometric correlations to investigate the ground state of spin chains in the thermodynamic limit. In contrast to the entropic quantifiers, we show that the classical correlation is the only source of 1-norm geometric correlation that is able to signaling an infinite-order quantum phase transition.Comment: v2: published versio

Erupted Complex Odontoma Mimicking a Mandibular Second Molar

Complex odontoma (CO) is considered one of the most common odontogenic lesions, composed by a miscellaneous of dental tissue such as enamel, dentin, pulp and sometimes cementum. They may interfere with the eruption of an associated tooth, being more prevalent in the posterior mandible. CO has been rarely reported as erupted, being considered an intraosseous lesion. This is a case report of a 17-year-old male with a benign fibro-osseous lesion consistent with CO that was located at the left second molar region, above the crown of the impacted mandibular second molar tooth. The lesion was surgically removed, and the tooth had to be extracted, since there was no indication that it could erupt naturally or with orthodontic traction. The histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of CO and after 6 months complete bone formation was observed radiographically. An early diagnosis will provide a better treatment option, avoiding tooth extraction or a more damaging surgery

Gold@mesoporous silica nanocarriers for the effective delivery of antibiotics and by-passing of β-lactam resistance

POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007265 PD/BD/142865/2018 CEECIND/00648/2017 UIDB/04077/2020 Sem PDF conforme despacho.Current antibiotics effectiveness relies on higher doses and administration frequency, which are responsible for the growth of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR is one of the major threatening issues of the century with last-line antibiotics already failing. To overcome such problems associated with bacterial infections, nanoparticles combined with antibiotics emerged as a promising strategy. In this work, nanocarriers comprising of gold–silica core–shell mesoporous nanoparticles (Au@MNs) and silica mesoporous nanoparticles (MNs) were synthesized, loaded with amoxicillin (Amox) and ofloxacin and investigated regarding its antibacterial activity towards S. aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), E. coli and P. aeruginosa. Both nanocarriers showed a beneficial role in the effective delivery of amoxicillin against MRSA and the well-known β-lactam resistant P. aeruginosa. Reductions of 10-fold (Amox@MNs) and 20-fold (Amox@Au@MNs) in the amount of antibiotic to treat P. aeruginosa; and a reduction of 20-fold (Amox@MNs) towards MRSA allied to a full reversion of resistance, strongly supports the promising potential of these nanocarriers to tackle antibiotics resistance.publishersversionpublishe