Mesoscopic Coulomb drag, broken detailed balance and fluctuation relations

When a biased conductor is put in proximity with an unbiased conductor a drag current can be induced in the absence of detailed balance. This is known as the Coulomb drag effect. However, even in this situation far away from equilibrium where detailed balance is explicitly broken, theory predicts that fluctuation relations are satisfied. This surprising effect has, to date, not been confirmed experimentally. Here we propose a system consisting of a capacitively coupled double quantum dot where the nonlinear fluctuation relations are verified in the absence of detailed balance.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Scattering theory of nonlinear thermoelectric transport

We investigate nonlinear transport properties of quantum conductors in response to both electrical and thermal driving forces. Within scattering approach, we determine the nonequilibrium screening potential of a generic mesoscopic system and find that its response is dictated by particle and entropic injectivities which describe the charge and entropy transfer during transport. We illustrate our model analyzing the voltage and thermal rectification of a resonant tunneling barrier. Importantly, we discuss interaction induced contributions to the thermopower in the presence of large temperature differences.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures; slightly shortened version to fulfill the journal's requirement

Are Sunscreen a New Environmental Risk Associated with Coastal Tourism?

The world coastal-zone population and coastal tourism are expected to grow during this century. Associated with that, there will be an increase in the use of sunscreens and cosmetics with UV-filters in their formulation, which will make coastal regions worldwide susceptible to the impact of these cosmetics. Recent investigations indicate that organic and inorganic UV-filters, as well as many other components that are constituents of the sunscreens, reach the marine environment - directly as a consequence of water recreational activities and/or indirectly from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) effluents. Toxicity of organic and inorganic UV filters has been demonstrated in aquatic organism. UV-filters inhibit growth in marine phytoplankton and tend to bioaccumulate in the food webs. These findings together with coastal tourism data records highlight the potential risk that the increasing use of these cosmetics would have in coastal marine areas. Nevertheless, future investigations into distribution, residence time, aging, partitioning and speciation of their main components and by-products in the water column, persistence, accumulation and toxicity in the trophic chain, are needed to understand the magnitude and real impact of these emerging pollutants in the marine system. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.D.S.-Q. was supported by the JAE-predoc program of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)Peer Reviewe

BAT-7, TEA abilities battery: description and psychometric

El BAT-7 es una nueva batería que permite estimar la inteligencia (factor general, g; inteligencia fluida, Gf; e inteligencia cristalizada, Gc) y evaluar 8 aptitudes cognitivas: razonamiento verbal (V), de razonamiento espacial (E), atención (A) y Concentración (Con), razonamiento abstracto (R), razonamiento numérico (N), razonamiento mecánico (M) y ortografía (O). Se compone de tres formas o niveles de dificultad creciente (Elemental, Medio y Superior) y está diseñada para la evaluación intelectual colectiva e individual de los estudiantes de E. Secundaria y universitarios, así como adultos con diferentes niveles educativos. El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo ofrecer una descripción del desarrollo de la prueba y de las principales características de la misma así como un resumen de sus propiedades psicométricas, fundamentalmente de su fiabilidad y validez. La muestra de tipificación española estuvo formada por 4.263 alumnos (de 1.º de ESO hasta 2.º de Bachillerato) y 1.507 adultos de diferente nivel educativo y edad. La fiabilidad fue estudiada por medio de las funciones de información y de los coeficientes alfa de Cronbach y alfa ordinal. La validez se exploró mediante análisis factoriales confirmatorios multigrupo (ACF). Los ítems que componen cada prueba muestran un buen ajuste al modelo TRI de tres parámetros utilizado. Los valores del alfa ordinal variaron de 0,79 hasta 0,91 para las puntuaciones de la prueba y 0,91-0,97 para las puntuaciones compuestas o índices. El modelo factorial basado en la teoría CHC mostró un buen ajuste a los datos observados (RMSEA = 0,034 ; SRMR = 0,026 ; CFI = 0,981). Los resultados obtenidos en términos de ajuste al modelo de TRI, fiabilidad y validez indican que el BAT-7 es una medida útil, flexible y altamente fiable para la evaluación de las aptitudes cognitivas y aportan evidencias que apoyan el uso de la batería para la evaluación de las aptitudes intelectuales en escolares y adultos. Igualmente, mediante su aplicación puede obtenerse una estimación de la capacidad general (g), de la inteligencia fluida (Gf) y de la inteligencia cristalizada (Gc).BAT-7 is a new psychometric tool for assessing three intellectual domains, general factor (g), fluid intelligence (Gf) and crystallized intelligence (Gc), and eight cognitive abilities: Verbal (V), Spatial (E), Attention (A) and Concentration (CON), Reasoning (R), Numerical (N), Mechanical (M) and Orthography (O). It consists of three forms of increasing difficulty (E, M and S) and it is focused on the assessment of school and college students, as well as adults with different educational background. The present study aims to provide a description of the BAT-7 development and the main features of it, and a summary of its psychometric properties, mainly its reliability and validity. BAT-7 was administered to a Spanish standardization sample of 4,263 students (age between 12 and 18) and 1,507 adults. Reliability was studied with ordinal alpha, Cronbach’s alpha and tests information functions. Validity was explored by multigroup CFA. 3P IRT model showed a statistical fit for all items. Ordinal alpha ranged from .79 to .91 for test scores and from .91 to .97 for composite scores. The model based on CHC theory showed a good fit to the observed data (RMSEA=.034; SRMR=.026; CFI=.981). The results, in terms of TRI model fitting, reliability and validity, suggest that the BAT-7 is a useful, flexible and highly reliable test for assessing the cognitive abilities, and provide evidences supporting the use of the battery for the assessment of intellectual abilities in children and adults. An estimate of general ability (g), fluid intelligence (Gf) and crystallized intelligence (Gc) also can be obtained by applying the BAT-7.peerReviewe

Juan de Arfe y la custodia de la Catedral de Ávila. Nuevos datos

En este estudio presentamos y analizamos nueva documentación sobre el platero Juan de Arfe y su trabajo en la custodia de la catedral de Ávila. El legajo, conservado en el Archivo Diocesano de Ávila, contiene un duplicado del contrato, correspondencia enviada por Arfe al cabildo, cartas de pago y de poder, y la tasación completa de la custodia. A través de estos documentos podremos conocer el nombre de algunos de los oficiales vinculados a su taller y detalles del proceso creativo de la pieza, ampliando significativamente el conocimiento de su primera gran obra

Teoría i fornaments filosòfics de l'espai europeu: El món occidental

Vuitenes Jornades de Foment de la Investigació de la FCHS (Any 2002-2003

On the validity and breakdown of the Onsager symmetry in mesoscopic conductors interacting with environments

We investigate magnetic-field asymmetries in the linear transport of a mesoscopic conductor interacting with its environment. Interestingly, we find that the interaction between the two systems causes an asymmetry only when the environment is out of equilibrium. We elucidate our general result with the help of a quantum dot capacitively coupled to a quantum Hall conductor and discuss the asymmetry dependence on the environment bias and induced dephasing.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures; discussions clarified; published versio

Self-Referencing Fiber-Optic Intensity Sensors Using Ring Resonators and Fiber Bragg Gratings

An improved ring resonator self-referencing technique in a new reflection configuration for remote fiber-optic intensity sensors is demonstrated using fiber Bragg gratings. Sensor sensitivity doubles and a single fiber lead is used. The sensor is interrogated at two subcarrier frequencies having a high rejection of interference from laser source intensity fluctuations and loss in the fiber lead. We experimentally demonstrate the efficiency of the new reflection configuration, the usefulness of the theoretical model proposed, and discuss design parameters for optimum insertion lossesThis work was supported in part by CICYT (TIC2003-03783 and TEC2006-13273-C03-03-MIC), in part by UC3M (FAVICOBIS), in part by CAM (FACTOTEM-CM:S-0505/ESP/000417), and in part by COST 299.Publicad