Engineering elliptical spin-excitations by complex anisotropy fields in Fe adatoms and dimers on Cu(111)

We investigate the dynamics of Fe adatoms and dimers deposited on the Cu(111) metallic surface in the presence of spin-orbit coupling, within time-dependent density functional theory. The \textit{ab initio} results provide material-dependent parameters that can be used in semiclassical approaches, which are used for insightful interpretations of the excitation modes. By manipulating the surroundings of the magnetic elements, we show that elliptical precessional motion may be induced through the modification of the magnetic anisotropy energy. We also demonstrate how different kinds of spin precession are realized, considering the symmetry of the magnetic anisotropy energy, the ferro- or antiferromagnetic nature of the exchange coupling between the impurities, and the strength of the magnetic damping. In particular, the normal modes of a dimer depend on the initial magnetic configuration, changing drastically by going from a ferromagnetic metastable state to the antiferromagnetic ground state. By taking into account the effect of the damping into their resonant frequencies, we reveal that an important contribution arises for strongly biaxial systems and specially for the antiferromagnetic dimers with large exchange couplings. Counter intuitively, our results indicate that the magnetic damping influences the quantum fluctuations by decreasing the zero-point energy of the system

Proteomics analysis for amino acid misincorporation detection: mini review

Protein biosynthesis is a highly accurate biological process essential for life. Amino acid misincorporation errors (mistranslation) normally occur at low levels, but can increase sharply upon amino acid starvation, exposure to drugs, oxidative stress and other physiological perturbations. These processes disrupt protein function and are normally regarded as being deleterious, however, recent work has shown that they can also be regulated to produce advantageous phenotypes in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The biology of such unexpected adaptive mistranslation is poorly understood due to technical difficulties in the identification and quantification of amino acid misincorporations. In this mini-review, we describe proteome scale methodologies involving the use of massspectrometry and bioinformatics tools to directly detect and quantify mistranslation events and also indirect functional methods that permit sensitive, flexible and low-cost analysis of site specific amino acid variation.publishe

Adapted raised cosine window function for array factor control with dynamic range ratio limitation

The use of window functions to improve the side lobe level of antenna arrays is hindered by high value of excitation currents dynamic range ratio. This paper proposes a fast and iterative window function generation strategy aimed at achieving improved side lobe level starting from a preset current dynamic range ratio. Based on this strategy a new window function is developed for standard set of conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Marine Fishes of the Azores : annotated checklist and bibliography : a catalogue of the Azorean marine ichthyodiversity

A list of the marine fishes of the Azores is presented. The list is based on a review of the literature combined with an examination of selected specimens available from collections of Azorean fishes deposited in museums, including the collection of fish at the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries of the University of the Azores (Horta). Personal information collected over several years is also incorporated. The geographic area considered is the Economic Exclusive Zone of the Azores. The list is organised in Classes, Orders and Families according to Nelson (1994). The scientific names are, for the most part, those used in Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean (FNAM) (Whitehead et al. 1989), and they are organised in alphabetical order within the families. Clofnam numbers (see Hureau & Monod 1979) are included for reference. Information is given if the species is not cited for the Azores in FNAM. Vernacular names are always both presented in Portuguese (Azorean names) and English. Synonyms, misspellings and misidentifications found in the literature in reference to the occurrence of species in the Azores are also quoted. The 460 species listed, belong to 142 families; 12 species are cited for the first time for the Azores. Details are given for 23 other species cited for the first time for the Azores in the Red Book of Portuguese Vertebrates (ICN 1993). Fifty-four ambiguous and/or exceptional occurrences are included in an appendix. A second appendix contains the remaining corrections to the checklist of fish included in ICN (1993). The paper concludes with a synthesis and an annotated indexed bibliography of the marine fishes of the Azores. Most references are available through the library of the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries of the University of the Azores.The publication of the present work was funded by the Junta Nacional de Investigação Científica e Tecnológica (JNICT)- Lisboa. The research was made possible through grants received from Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Pescas-Horta (Açores), INVOTAN- Lisboa, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian- Lisboa, Fundação Luso-Americana para o Desenvolvimento- Lisboa. The work was developed at the Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas of the Universidade dos Açores

The influence of retropatellar fat preservation on the positioning of the tibial component of total knee arthroplasty

Background: The good clinical-functional outcomes of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) depend on several factors, such as the surgical time and the adequate positioning of the prosthesis components. The present study aims to evaluate whether the preservation of retropatellar fat pad during the surgical act influences the rotational alignment of the tibial component and the surgical time of the procedure. Methods: The study was carried out with 50 patients operated on by the main author, who were randomly divided into two groups, experimental and control. For the evaluation of the positioning of the tibial component, the patients underwent computed tomography (CT) four weeks after the surgery, on average. Casuistry was determined by pilot study with the first five patients of each group. For the sample calculation, the t-student test was used for two independent samples. Results: All patients presented internal rotation of the tibial component, with no statistical difference in mean rotation between the experimental and control groups. When there was complete detachment of the fat in the experimental group, the tibial component showed greater external rotation, with a statistical difference. Surgical time was shorter in the experimental group, varying in this group according to the degree of osteoarthrosis. Conclusions: Maintenance of retropatellar fat pad did not influence the rotational alignment of the tibial component; however, in patients with advanced osteoarthrosis, such maintenance increases the surgical time

Dynamical amplification of magnetoresistances and Hall currents up to the THz regime

Spin-orbit-related effects offer a highly promising route for reading and writing information in magnetic units of future devices. These phenomena rely not only on the static magnetization orientation but also on its dynamics to achieve fast switchings that can reach the THz range. In this work, we consider Co/Pt and Fe/W bilayers to show that accounting for the phase difference between different processes is crucial to the correct description of the dynamical currents. By tuning each system towards its ferromagnetic resonance, we reveal that dynamical spin Hall angles can non-trivially change sign and be boosted by over 500%, reaching giant values. We demonstrate that charge and spin pumping mechanisms can greatly magnify or dwindle the currents flowing through the system, influencing all kinds of magnetoresistive and Hall effects, thus impacting also dc and second harmonic experimental measurements.Comment: 19 pages, 4 figures, Supplementary Informatio

Influence of web thickness reduction in the shear resistance of non-prismatic tapered plate girders

The evaluation of deteriorated members with corrosion, and consequent potential degradation of strength, is found in existing plate girder bridges. This difficult engineer’s task is based in a low level of information concerning the shear behaviour of corroded web panels. This insecurity in the evaluation of deterioration members of plate girders bridges must be minimized by using models based on sound theoretical principles, validated by extensive and reliable data. In this paper are presented the results of degradation of strength, for critical and ultimate shear load, on tapered plate girders with local corrosion (web or flanges), using a nonlinear finite element analysis. In this way, it is also presented the development of a data base with several scenarios of degradation for the creation of predictive models for critical and ultimate shear stress in tapered webs, taking into account different scenarios of thickness reduction. In order to analyze the data generated in the finite element model, Data Mining techniques (e.g., Neural Networks) have been used

Strength of corroded tapered plate girders under pure shear

Corrosion is one of the most important causes of deterioration of steel girder bridges. The lack of information concerning the behaviour of corroded web panels makes difficult the civil engineer’s task of evaluating the deteriorated member. An in-depth study in front of serviceability and ultimate limit states is necessary to develop efficient techniques to evaluate the structural integrity and safety. By combining information on the rate and location of an eventual corrosion in web and flange panels, it is possible to predict elastic critical shear buckling stress and ultimate shear stress. Nonlinear analyses have been conducted in a three-dimensional finite element model of transversely stiffened corroded tapered plate girders, simulated by thickness reduction, subjected to pure shear. In this paper is presented a finite element model of corroded girder panels (web and flanges), and an application of Data Mining techniques (e.g., Neural Networks) to analyze the data generated in the analytical study to find new and novel knowledge for condition assessment.Community’s Sixth Framework Programme -Sustainable Bridges - FP6-PLT-0165

HEI teaching mobility: looking for dynamics in a seven-year period

Higher Education Institutions are currently embracing mobility as an imperative goal, particularly and most impressively in the European Union countries where programs such as Erasmus+ strongly encourage students and staff to participate. This exploratory research aims to characterize teaching mobility in one university, identify facilitators, determine outcomes of repeated mobility, and provide clues on mobility dynamics over time. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from application forms and final reports submitted by 107 outgoing and 58 incoming teachers in one university between 2009 and 2016. It was observed that teaching mobility covers diversified profiles (e.g., gender, seniority, and fields of study). 23 out of 71 outgoing teachers participated in more than one mobility program during that period. A deeper analysis on the mobility champions reveals both individual and team initiatives. The results provide some interesting data on facilitators and consequences of teaching mobility.publishe

Peixes marinhos costeiros da ilha de São Tomé (Golfo da Guiné).

Since the early works of Balthazar Osório, at the turn of the century, only few papers have been published on the ichthyofauna of São Tomé island. The papers dealing with these fishes were compilations of previous works or the results of a few scientific expeditions (e.g. "Galathea" and "Calypso"). In this paper, we present the results of several surveys carried out from the island over the last decade, together with an annotated revision of the known bibliography for the area. The result is an inventory of the coastal fish of São Tomé island. Our records (124 species belonging to 59 families) are based on fish captured, photographed or observed whilst diving and also on those landed by local artisanal fishermen. In this paper we report a total of 185 confirmed coastal species and 67 families. Twenty-seven of these are reported for the first time for the area, and three other unidentified species may represent new species to science. The best represented families are Carangidae (14 species), Serranidae (11 species), Gobiidae and Scombridae (8 species each). Despite its proximity to the African Continent, it is clear that these islands harbour a particular fish fauna, including several amphiatlantic species, which, in the eastern Atlantic, occur only around oceanic islands (e.g., Epinephelus ascencionis, Paranthias furcifer, Mulloidychtis martinicus, Bodianus pulchellus, Chromis multilineata, Gnatholepis thomsoni, Melychthis niger). The coastal ichthyodiversity of São Tomé is apparently poorer than that of the adjacent coasts, showing a significant influence of the islands further west, St. Helena and Ascencion