Bath generated work extraction in two-level systems

The spin-boson model, often used in NMR and ESR physics, quantum optics and spintronics, is considered in a solvable limit to model a spin one-half particle interacting with a bosonic thermal bath. By applying external pulses to a non-equilibrium initial state of the spin, work can be extracted from the thermalized bath. It occurs on the timescale T_2 inherent to transversal (`quantum') fluctuations. The work (partly) arises from heat given off by the surrounding bath, while the spin entropy remains constant during a pulse. This presents a violation of the Clausius inequality and the Thomson formulation of the second law (cycles cost work) for the two-level system.Comment: 5 pages Latex, uses aip-proceedings style files. Proceedings `Quantum Limits to the Second Law', San Diego, July 200

Association of Factor V Secretion with Protein Kinase B Signaling in Platelets from Horses with Atypical Equine Thrombasthenia.

BackgroundTwo congenital bleeding diatheses have been identified in Thoroughbred horses: Glanzmann thrombasthenia (GT) and a second, novel diathesis associated with abnormal platelet function in response to collagen and thrombin stimulation.Hypothesis/objectivesPlatelet dysfunction in horses with this second thrombasthenia results from a secretory defect.AnimalsTwo affected and 6 clinically normal horses.MethodsEx vivo study. Washed platelets were examined for (1) expression of the αIIb-β3 integrin; (2) fibrinogen binding capacity in response to ADP and thrombin; (3) secretion of dense and α-granules; (4) activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway; and (5) cellular distribution of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate-3-kinase, class 2B (PIK3C2B) and SH2 containing inositol-5'-phosphatase 1 (SHIP1).ResultsPlatelets from affected horses expressed normal amounts of αIIb-β3 integrin and bound fibrinogen normally in response to ADP, but bound 80% less fibrinogen in response to thrombin. α-granules only released 50% as much Factor V as control platelets, but dense granules released their contents normally. Protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation was reduced after thrombin activation, but mTOR Complex 2 (mTORC2) and phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK1) signaling were normal. SH2-containing inositol-5'-phosphatase 1 (SHIP1) did not localize to the cytoskeleton of affected platelets and was decreased overall consistent with reduced AKT phosphorylation.Conclusions and clinical significanceDefects in fibrinogen binding, granule secretion, and signal transduction are unique to this thrombasthenia, which we designate as atypical equine thrombasthenia

Spatial and temporal organization of a coastal lagoon fish community: Ria de Aveiro, Portugal

The fish community and its spatial and temporal organization were studied in the Ria de Aveiro. This lagoon system (43 km2 in area), has both marine and fluvial influences and is located between 40º 30’ - 40º 52’N and 8º35’ - 8º 47’W on the central coast of Portugal. The ichthyofauna was sampled monthly, from December 1996 to November 1997, at nine selected stations, with “chincha”, a traditionally-used beach-seine-type net of the region. A total of 14,598 specimens representing 43 species from 21 families were caught. The abiotic parameters (temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen) showed significant seasonal variations, although only salinity and transparency showed statistically significant trends among sampling stations. The diversity and evenness were greater at the borders of the lagoon. The species richness, diversity and evenness peaked in mid-Summer. Marine seasonal migrant species were the most numerous, and the marine juvenile and estuarine resident categories had the highest number of species. Species number and diversity of the ecological guilds showed some spatio-temporal patterns due to some particular dominant species. Mugilidae, Atherinidae, Moronidae and Clupeidae were the most abundant families. Six species were dominant and represented more than 74% of the total fish abundance, although they did not occur over the whole lagoon area or during the whole sampling period. The study concludes that the fish community of the Ria de Aveiro has well-defined seasonal and spatial patterns.Organis ation spatiale et temporelle de la communauté de poissons d’une lagune côtière – Ria de Aveiro, Portugal. La communauté de poissons et son organisation spatiale et temporelle ont été étudiées dans la Ria de Aveiro. Ce système de lagune (43 km2 de superficie) subit des influences maritimes et fluviales et est situé entre 40º 30’ - 40º 52’N et 8º35’ - 8º 47’W sur la côte centrale du Portugal. Des échantillons ont été prélevés mensuellement de décembre 1996 à novembre 1997, dans neuf stations, avec un filet de pêche traditionnel de la région, la “chincha”. Au total 14 2 598 spécimens ont été collectés représentant 43 espèces et 21 familles. Les paramètres abiotiques (température, salinité et oxygène dissou) ont montré des variations saisonnières significatives, tandis que sur l’ensemble des stations de prélèvement seules la salinité et la transparence ont présenté une variation significative. La diversité et l’équatibilité ont été maximales le long des rives de la lagune. La richesse en espèces, diversité et équatibilité ont leur maximum été. Les espèces marines étaient les plus nombreuses et les catégories “juvénile marin” et “résident estuarien” sont celles qui avaient le plus grand nombre d’espèces. Le nombre d’espèces et la diversité des catégories écologiques ont montré des patterns liés à certaines espèces dominantes. Mugilidae, Atherinidae, Moronidae et Clupeidae étaient les familles les plus abondantes. Six espèces dominaient, même si elles n’étaient pas présentes sur toute la superficie de la lagune ou durant toute la période des échantillons, représentant plus de 74% du total de l’abondance en poisson. Cette étude permet de conclure que la communauté de poisson de la Ria de Aveiro a des patrons saisonniers et spatiaux très bien définis

Keep them close: PRC2 poises enhancer-promoter interactions at anterior neuronal genes

Enhancers exist in different epigenetic states: active, primed, or poised. However, it is not yet understood how the different enhancer states influence gene activation. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Cruz-Molina et al. (2017) unravel how poised enhancers activate anterior neural genes and the role of Polycomb proteins in enhancer-promoter contacts

Technical analysis for profitable trading

This dissertation contributes to the current literature regarding the effectiveness of technical analysis as a trading tool and its usefulness for holding period return predictability. Using exclusively technical analysis patterns as input features, the author shows substantial minute holding period return predictability for the EUR/USD, USD/JPY and GBP/CHF exchange rates, during some periods in the first decade of the 21st century. The implemented investment strategies are based on a rolling window of logistic regression algorithms with an adjusted decision threshold. The models’ observed predictability was capable of being materialized in an intraday technical analysis trading strategy that would’ve produced wealth out-of-sample and after transaction costs. The confidence, predictability and profitability capacity of the models appears to be declining and may no longer exist.Esta dissertação contribui para estudos recentes relativos à eficácia de análise técnica como uma ferramenta de investimento e a sua utilidade na previsão de retornos do período de retenção. Utilizando exclusivamente padrões de análise técnica como variáveis independentes, o autor mostra previsibilidade substancial nos retornos de período de retenção ao minuto, para as taxas de câmbio EUR/USD, USD/JPY e GBP/CHF, durante alguns períodos da primeira década do século XXI. As estratégias de investimento implementadas são baseadas numa janela deslizante, que utiliza algoritmos de regressões logísticas com um limite de decisão ajustado. A previsibilidade de retornos observada pelos modelos foi materializada numa estratégia intradiária que teria produzido riqueza para o investidor, fora de amostra e após custos de transação. A confiança, capacidade de previsão e lucratividade dos modelos aparenta ter vindo a dissipar- -se, podendo já não existir

A finer print than TADs: PRC1-mediated domains

Polycomb proteins are well-known epigenetic repressors with unexplained roles in chromatin folding. In this issue of Molecular Cell, Kundu et al. (2017) investigate the structures of PRC1-mediated domains in stem cells and probe their changes upon differentiation and in PRC knockouts

Einstein-Maxwell-scalar black holes: classes of solutions, dyons and extremality

Spherical black hole (BH) solutions in Einstein-Maxwell-scalar (EMS) models wherein the scalar field is non-minimally coupled to the Maxwell invariant by some coupling function are discussed. We suggest a classification for these models into two classes, based on the properties of the coupling function, which, in particular, allow, or not, the ReissnerNordstr¨om (RN) BH solution of electrovacuum to solve a given model. Then, a comparative analysis of two illustrative families of solutions, one belonging to each class is performed: dilatonic versus scalarised BHs. By including magnetic charge, that is considering dyons, we show that scalarised BHs can have a smooth extremal limit, unlike purely electric or magnetic solutions. In particular, we study this extremal limit using the entropy function formalism, which provides insight on why both charges are necessary for extremal solutions to exist.publishe

A study on wear evaluation of railway wheels based on multibody dynamics and wear computation

The wear evolution of railway wheels is a very important issue in railway engineering. In the past, the reprofiling intervals of railway vehicle steel wheels have been scheduled according to designers' experience. Today, more reliable and accurate tools in predicting wheel wear evolution and wheelset lifetime can be used in order to achieve economical and safety benefits. In this work, a computational tool that is able to predict the evolution of the wheel profiles for a given railway system, as a function of the distance run, is presented. The strategy adopted consists of using a commercial multibody software to study the railway dynamic problem and a purpose-built code for managing its pre- and post-processing data in order to compute the wear. The tool is applied here to realistic operation scenarios in order to assess the effect of some service conditions on the wheel wear progression

MoCheQoS: Automated Analysis of Quality of Service Properties of Communicating Systems

We present MoCheQoS, a tool to analyse quality of service (QoS) properties of message-passing systems. Building on the logic and the choreographic model we defined in recently published work, MoCheQoS implements a bounded model checking algorithm. We discuss strengths and weaknesses of MoCheQoS through some case studies.Comment: 29 page

Posicionamentos no Parlamento Europeu sobre a adesão da Turquia à União Europeia

O pedido de adesão da Turquia à União Europeia tem-se revelado um dos processos de adesão mais controversos e que criou maior debate. Os últimos anos revelaram-se particularmente desafiadores para a relação entre a União Europeia e a Turquia, levando ao congelamento das negociações em 2018. Sendo o Parlamento Europeu um dos órgãos decisores no processo de alargamento da União Europeia, esta investigação pretende analisar quais os posicionamentos e argumentos dos eurodeputados face à adesão da Turquia à União Europeia no período entre 2004 e 2019. De igual modo, pretende-se analisar se existem variações nestas duas variáveis consoante o ano de intervenção, a posição dos eurodeputados no espectro político-partidário e o país de representação. Entre outras conclusões, pode-se destacar que se tem registado, desde 2013, um aumento de posicionamentos negativos face à adesão e de referências a argumentos relacionados com desrespeito de direitos humanos e fundamentais e com a erosão da democracia. De igual modo, denota-se que existe um maior número de posicionamentos contrários à adesão entre os eurodeputados de grupos políticos de extrema-direita.The request for Turkey's accession to the European Union has proved to be one of the main most controversial and debated adhesion process. The past few years have been particularly challenging for the relationship between the European Union and Turkey, leading to a freeze on negotiations in 2018. As the European Parliament is one of the decision-making bodies in the process of EU enlargement, this study aimed to analyse the positionings and arguments from the members of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2019. Likewise, one aimed to analyse if these variables vary according to the year of the intervention, the partisan position of the MEPs and the country they represent. Among other conclusions, one may highlight that, since 2013, there has been an increase on negative positions regarding the adhesion and on the use of arguments related with the disrespect for human and fundamental rights and with the erosion of democracy. Likewise, it is evident that there is a larger number of positionings against the adhesion among MEPs from far-right political groups.Mestrado em Ciência Polític