Mechanically-Induced Transport Switching Effect in Graphene-based Nanojunctions

We report a theoretical study suggesting a novel type of electronic switching effect, driven by the geometrical reconstruction of nanoscale graphene-based junctions. We considered junction struc- tures which have alternative metastable configurations transformed by rotations of local carbon dimers. The use of external mechanical strain allows a control of the energy barrier heights of the potential profiles and also changes the reaction character from endothermic to exothermic or vice-versa. The reshaping of the atomic details of the junction encode binary electronic ON or OFF states, with ON/OFF transmission ratio that can reach up to 10^4-10^5. Our results suggest the possibility to design modern logical switching devices or mechanophore sensors, monitored by mechanical strain and structural rearrangements.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Modular termination verification for non-blocking concurrency

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2016.We present Total-TaDA, a program logic for verifying the total correctness of concurrent programs: that such programs both terminate and produce the correct result. With Total-TaDA, we can specify constraints on a thread’s concurrent environment that are necessary to guarantee termination. This allows us to verify total correctness for nonblocking algorithms, e.g. a counter and a stack. Our specifications can express lock- and wait-freedom. More generally, they can express that one operation cannot impede the progress of another, a new non-blocking property we call non-impedance. Moreover, our approach is modular. We can verify the operations of a module independently, and build up modules on top of each other

Bloqueio Epidural Torácico em Cirurgia de Nuss: Caso de Sucesso

Os autores descrevem o caso c1ínico de um adolescente com o diagnóstico de pectus excavatum grave, submetido a cirurgia de Nuss sob controlo toracoscópico. Realizou-se anestesia combinada, com cateter epidural torácico que permitiu um periodo intra e pós-operatório estável, sem intercorrências e sem necessidade de suplementação analgésica

Rewriting Logic Semantics of a Plan Execution Language

The Plan Execution Interchange Language (PLEXIL) is a synchronous language developed by NASA to support autonomous spacecraft operations. In this paper, we propose a rewriting logic semantics of PLEXIL in Maude, a high-performance logical engine. The rewriting logic semantics is by itself a formal interpreter of the language and can be used as a semantic benchmark for the implementation of PLEXIL executives. The implementation in Maude has the additional benefit of making available to PLEXIL designers and developers all the formal analysis and verification tools provided by Maude. The formalization of the PLEXIL semantics in rewriting logic poses an interesting challenge due to the synchronous nature of the language and the prioritized rules defining its semantics. To overcome this difficulty, we propose a general procedure for simulating synchronous set relations in rewriting logic that is sound and, for deterministic relations, complete. We also report on two issues at the design level of the original PLEXIL semantics that were identified with the help of the executable specification in Maude

Evaporation of large black holes in AdS: greybody factor and decay rate

We consider a massless, minimally coupled scalar field propagating through the geometry of a black 3-brane in an asymptotically $AdS_5 \times S^5$ space. The wave equation for modes traveling purely in the holographic direction reduces to a Heun equation and the corresponding greybody factor is obtained numerically. Approximations valid in the low- and high-frequency regimes are also obtained analytically. The greybody factor is then used to determine the rate of evaporation of these large black holes in the context of the evaporon model proposed in \cite{Rocha:2008fe}. This setting represents the evolution of a black hole under Hawking evaporation with a known CFT dual description and is therefore unitary. Information must then be preserved under this evaporation process.Comment: 20 pages, 2 figures; v2: added references, published versio

Non-collinear coupling between magnetic adatoms in carbon nanotubes

The long range character of the exchange coupling between localized magnetic moments indirectly mediated by the conduction electrons of metallic hosts often plays a significant role in determining the magnetic order of low-dimensional structures. In addition to this indirect coupling, here we show that the direct exchange interaction that arises when the moments are not too far apart may induce a non-collinear magnetic order that cannot be characterized by a Heisenberg-like interaction between the magnetic moments. We argue that this effect can be manipulated to control the magnetization alignment of magnetic dimers adsorbed to the walls of carbon nanotubes.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures, submitted to PR

Constraints on changes in fundamental constants from a cosmologically distant OH absorber/emitter

We have detected the four 18cm OH lines from the $z \sim 0.765$ gravitational lens toward PMN J0134-0931. The 1612 and 1720 MHz lines are in conjugate absorption and emission, providing a laboratory to test the evolution of fundamental constants over a large lookback time. We compare the HI and OH main line absorption redshifts of the different components in the $z \sim 0.765$ absorber and the $z \sim 0.685$ lens toward B0218+357 to place stringent constraints on changes in $F \equiv g_p [\alpha^2/\mu]^{1.57}$. We obtain $[\Delta F/F] = (0.44 \pm 0.36^{\rm stat} \pm 1.0^{\rm syst}) \times 10^{-5}$, consistent with no evolution over the redshift range $0 < z < 0.7$. The measurements have a $2 \sigma$ sensitivity of $[\Delta \alpha/\alpha] < 6.7 \times 10^{-6}$ or $[\Delta \mu/\mu] < 1.4 \times 10^{-5}$ to fractional changes in $\alpha$ and $\mu$ over a period of $\sim 6.5$ Gyr, half the age of the Universe. These are among the most sensitive current constraints on changes in $\mu$.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Final version, with minor changes to match the version in print in Phys. Rev. Let

Magnetic-field effects on transport in carbon nanotube junctions

Here we address a theoretical study on the behaviour of electronic states of heterojunctions and quantum dots based on carbon nanotubes under magnetic fields. Emphasis is put on the analysis of the local density of states, the conductance, and on the characteristic curves of current versus voltage. The heterostructures are modeled by joining zigzag tubes through single pentagon-heptagon pair defects, and described within a simple tight binding calculation. The conductance is calculated using the Landauer formula in the Green functions formalism. The used theoretical approach incorporates the atomic details of the topological defects by performing an energy relaxation via Monte Carlo calculation. The effect of a magnetic field on the conductance gap of the system is investigated and compared to those of isolated constituent tubes. It is found that the conductance gap of the studied CNHs exhibits oscillations as a function of the magnetic flux. However, unlike the pristine tubes case, they are not Aharonov-Bohm periodic oscillations

Corioamnionite e Morbilidade Neonatal

CHORIOAMNIONITIS AND NEONATAL MORBIDITY Introduction - Several studies highlight the association between perinatal infection/ inflammation and neonatal morbidity, mainly bronchopulmonary dysplasia and periventricular leukomalacia. Aim – To evaluate the role of histological chorioamnionitis on the overall morbidity of preterm newborns. Methods – A retrospective study on preterm newborns less than 34 weeks gestational age at birth, and respective mothers, at three tertiary medical centers (Hospital de São João, Maternidade Júlio Dinis and Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia) in the north of Portugal, between January 2001 and December 2002. We evaluated the association between histological chorioamnionitis and the overall neonatal morbidity. The association between histological chorioamnionitis and acute (respiratory distress syndrome) and chronic (bronchopulmonary dysplasia) lung damage was also evaluated in the subgroup of less than 1000 g birthweight preterm neonates. Results – 452 [ M 253 / F 217; birthweight 1440 (515 – 2620) g; gestational age 31 (23 – 33) weeks] preterm newborns were included. The association between histological chorioamnionitis and the overall neonatal morbidity was: respiratory distress syndrome OR 1,5 (95% CI 0,94 – 2,31); bronchopulmonary dysplasia OR 2,6 (95% CI 1,16 – 6,03); patent ductus arteriosus OR 2,5 (95% CI 1,17 – 5,44); sepsis OR 1,2 (95% CI 0,9 – 2,13); necrotizing enterocolitis OR 1,4 (95% CI 0,9 – 1,76); intraventricular hemorrhage grades III-IV OR 2,5 (1,20 – 5,11); cystic periventricular leukomalacia OR 3,0 (1,5 – 6,07); retinopathy of prematurity OR 1,4 (95% CI 0,8 – 1,35). The association adjusted to birthweight and gestational age was: bronchopulmonary dysplasia OR 1,2 (95% CI 0,51 – 2,95); patent ductus arteriosus OR 0,9 (95% CI 0,4 – 2,35); intraventricular hemorrhage grades III-IV OR 0,9 (95% CI 0,39 – 2,28); cystic periventricular leukomalacia OR 2,2 (95% CI 1,03 – 4,61). The association between histological chorioamnionitis and lung damage in the subgroup of less than 1000 g birthweight preterm neonates was: respiratory distress syndrome OR 0,23 (95% CI 0,01 – 2,51); bronchopulmonary dysplasia OR 1,61 (95% CI 0,38 – 6,97). Conclusion – This study confirms the association between histological chorioamnionitis and cystic periventricular leukomalacia of the preterm newborn

Relativistic O(q4)O(q^4) two-pion exchange nucleon-nucleon potential: configuration space

We have recently performed a relativistic $O(q^4)$ chiral expansion of the two-pion exchange $NN$ potential, and here we explore its configuration space content. Interactions are determined by three families of diagrams, two of which involve just $g_A$ and $f_{\pi}$, whereas the third one depends on empirical coefficients fixed by subthreshold $\pi N$ data. In this sense, the calculation has no adjusted parameters and gives rise to predictions, which are tested against phenomenological potentials. The dynamical structure of the eight leading non-relativistic components of the interaction is investigated and, in most cases, found to be clearly dominated by a well defined class of diagrams. In particular, the central isovector and spin-orbit, spin-spin, and tensor isoscalar terms are almost completely fixed by just $g_A$ and $f_{\pi}$. The convergence of the chiral series in powers of the ratio (pion mass/nucleon mass) is studied as a function of the internucleon distance and, for $r>$ 1 fm, found to be adequate for most components of the potential. An important exception is the dominant central isoscalar term, where the convergence is evident only for $r>$ 2.5 fm. Finally, we compare the spatial behavior of the functions that enter the relativistic and heavy baryon formulations of the interaction and find that, in the region of physical interest, they differ by about 5%.Comment: 27 pages, 33 figure