Phase-tunable Josephson thermal router

Since the the first studies of thermodynamics, heat transport has been a crucial element for the understanding of any thermal system. Quantum mechanics has introduced new appealing ingredients for the manipulation of heat currents, such as the long-range coherence of the superconducting condensate. The latter has been exploited by phase-coherent caloritronics, a young field of nanoscience, to realize Josephson heat interferometers, which can control electronic thermal currents as a function of the external magnetic flux. So far, only one output temperature has been modulated, while multi-terminal devices that allow to distribute the heat flux among different reservoirs are still missing. Here, we report the experimental realization of a phase-tunable thermal router able to control the heat transferred between two terminals residing at different temperatures. Thanks to the Josephson effect, our structure allows to regulate the thermal gradient between the output electrodes until reaching its inversion. Together with interferometers, heat diodes and thermal memories, the thermal router represents a fundamental step towards the thermal conversion of non-linear electronic devices, and the realization of caloritronic logic components.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

0-π\pi phase-controllable thermalthermal Josephson junction

Two superconductors coupled by a weak link support an equilibrium Josephson electrical current which depends on the phase difference $\varphi$ between the superconducting condensates [1]. Yet, when a temperature gradient is imposed across the junction, the Josephson effect manifests itself through a coherent component of the heat current that flows oppositely to the thermal gradient for $\varphi <\pi/2$ [2-4]. The direction of both the Josephson charge and heat currents can be inverted by adding a $\pi$ shift to $\varphi$. In the static electrical case, this effect was obtained in a few systems, e.g. via a ferromagnetic coupling [5,6] or a non-equilibrium distribution in the weak link [7]. These structures opened new possibilities for superconducting quantum logic [6,8] and ultralow power superconducting computers [9]. Here, we report the first experimental realization of a thermal Josephson junction whose phase bias can be controlled from $0$ to $\pi$. This is obtained thanks to a superconducting quantum interferometer that allows to fully control the direction of the coherent energy transfer through the junction [10]. This possibility, joined to the completely superconducting nature of our system, provides temperature modulations with unprecedented amplitude of $\sim$ 100 mK and transfer coefficients exceeding 1 K per flux quantum at 25 mK. Then, this quantum structure represents a fundamental step towards the realization of caloritronic logic components, such as thermal transistors, switches and memory devices [10,11]. These elements, combined with heat interferometers [3,4,12] and diodes [13,14], would complete the thermal conversion of the most important phase-coherent electronic devices and benefit cryogenic microcircuits requiring energy management, such as quantum computing architectures and radiation sensors.Comment: 10 pages, 9 color figure

A non-persistently transmitted-virus induces a pull?push strategy inits aphid vector to optimize transmission and spread

Plant viruses are known to modify the behaviour of their insect vectors, both directly and indirectly,generally adapting to each type of virus?vector relationship in a way that enhances transmissionefficiency. Here, we report results of three different studies showing how a virus transmitted in a non-persistent (NP) manner (Cucumber mosaic virus; CMV, Cucumovirus) can induce changes in its host plant,cucumber (Cucumis sativus cv. Marumba) that modifies the behaviour of its aphid vector (Aphis gossypiiGlover; Hemiptera: Aphididae) in a way that enhances virus transmission and spread non-viruliferousaphids changed their alighting, settling and probing behaviour activities over time when exposed toCMV-infected and mock-inoculated cucumber plants. Aphids exhibited no preference to migrate fromCMV-infected to mock-inoculated plants at short time intervals (1, 10 and 30 min after release), butshowed a clear shift in preference to migrate from CMV-infected to mock-inoculated plants 60 min afterrelease. Our free-choice preference assays showed that A. gossypii alates preferred CMV-infected overmock-inoculated plants at an early stage (30 min), but this behaviour was reverted at a later stage andaphids preferred to settle and reproduce on mock-inoculated plants. The electrical penetration graph(EPG) technique revealed a sharp change in aphid probing behaviour over time when exposed to CMV-infected plants. At the beginning (first 15 min) aphid vectors dramatically increased the number of shortsuperficial probes and intracellular punctures when exposed to CMV-infected plants. At a later stage (sec-ond hour of recording) aphids diminished their feeding on CMV-infected plants as indicated by much lesstime spent in phloem salivation and ingestion (E1 and E2). This particular probing behaviour includingan early increase in the number of short superficial probes and intracellular punctures followed by aphloem feeding deterrence is known to enhance the transmission efficiency of viruses transmitted in aNP manner. We conclude that CMV induces specific changes in a plant host that modify the alighting,settling and probing behaviour of its main vector A. gossypii, leading to optimum transmission and spreadof the virus. Our findings should be considered when modelling the spread of viruses transmitted in a NPmanner

`Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus´ titers in citrus and acquisition rates by Diaphorina citri are decreased by higher temperature

`Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus´ is the most prevalent Liberibacter sp. associated with huanglongbing (HLB) in Brazil. Within São Paulo state (SP), HLB has spread more rapidly to and reached higher incidence in regions with relatively mild (cooler) summer temperatures. This suggests that climate can influence disease spread and severity. ?Ca. L. asiaticus? titers on soft, immature leaves from infected ?Valencia? sweet orange plants exposed to different temperature regimes and adult Diaphorina citri fed for 48 h on these plants for ?Ca. L. asiaticus? acquisition were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in two experiments. The first experiment included plants with three levels of infection, three incubation periods (IPs), and air temperatures favorable (14.6 to 28°C) and unfavorable (24 to 38°C) to ?Ca. L. asiaticus?. The second included plants with severe late-stage infections, 10 IPs (based on 3-day intervals over 27 days), and three air temperature regimes (12 to 24, 18 to 30, and 24 to 38°C). Overall, ?Ca. L. asiaticus? titers and the percentages of ?Ca. L. asiaticus?-positive psyllids were lower in plants maintained at the warmer temperature regime (24 to 38°C) than in plants maintained in the cooler regimes. The results suggest that the lower incidence and slower spread of ?Ca. L. asiaticus? to warmer regions of SP are related to the influence of ambient temperatures on titers of ?Ca. L. asiaticus? in leaves

Description of Sphaleroptera orientana meridionalis subs. n. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Cnephasiini) from the Pale di San Martino Mountain plateau (Dolomites, NE Italy)

On the base of newly collected material, a new subspecies of the alpine endemic moth Sphaleroptera orientana Whitebread, 2006 (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) from the Pale di San Martino Group (Dolomites, Northern Italy) is described. Morphological characters of the adults and DNA barcode suggests the presence of allopatric populations of S. orientana in the South-eastern Alps, attributable to two distinct subspecies: S. o. suborientana Whitebread, 2006 in the Catinaccio, the Sella, and the Fanes group, and Julian Alps, and S. o. meridionalis subs. nov. known from the Pale of San Martino group. The main biogeographic barrier is constituted by the complex of the Fiemme valleys-Val di Fassa-by the Pordoi Pass and by the Val Cordevole which from west to north to east separate the distribution area of S. o. suorientana from S.o. meridionalis

Chesias plumbeata Staudinger, 1901 (Geometridae Larentiinae Chesiadini) new species for the European fauna discovered on the island of Pantelleria (Italy, Sicily).

Chesias plumbeata Staudinger, 1901 is recorded for the first time from Europe based on some adults collected in the island of Pantelleria (Strait of Sicily, Italy), near Bagno dell’Acqua lake. The species was previously known from North Africa. Identification was confirmed by using morphological and molecular taxonomic characters. Male genitalia of C. plumbeata are here described for the first time. Biological information and illustrations useful for the moth identification are provided. The finding of this species shows that the inventorying of the lepidoptera fauna of Pantelleria, from where 152 species have so far been recorded, is still far away from completion and needs further efforts

Evaluando la evaluación en las clases prácticas de Contabilidad VIII (Auditoría)-FCE/UNLP

La presente propuesta de intervención se apoya en un ejercicio de reflexión acerca de las prácticas evaluativas en la cátedra de la materia “Contabilidad VIII, Auditoría”. Las instancias de acreditación vigentes en la misma, están diseñadas en pos de abarcar todas las temáticas desarrolladas a lo largo de la cursada, preponderando a su vez la masividad de los cursos. Esta situación generó dentro de la cátedra, la necesidad de repensar los procesos evaluativos con el propósito de conseguir una articulación de las nociones conceptuales de forma integral, ayudando a una mejor comprensión de los procesos de la Auditoría. Este trabajo acerca una propuesta de evaluación y acreditación más abarcativa, que involucra una evaluación formativa o de proceso, lo que supone su desarrollo durante todo el ciclo lectivo a partir de la elaboración conjunta entre docentes y alumnos de un trabajo final. El docente desempeña un rol fundamental estableciendo las condiciones necesarias para generar espacios de reflexión sobre la práctica del estudiante / futuro auditor, fomentando la cooperación y el trabajo en equipo. Si bien me centraré en la etapa de diseño de la propuesta de intervención, la misma podría llevarse a cabo en la comisión de práctica en la que me desempeño como ayudante a cargo. Y previo análisis en reunión de cátedra con todos los docentes de la asignatura, la intención es ponerla a disposición del equipo de cátedras para que la misma pueda ser replicada al resto de las comisiones.Facultad de Ciencias Económica

Contribution to the knowledge of South Italian Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea)

We provide data concerning 39 species of Gelechiidae collected in Calabria and Basilicata regions, Italy. Twenty-three species are new for the studied area and six new for southern Italy. Most interesting are the records of Cosmardia moritzella (Treitschke, 1835), recorded only in the Alps so far, Aroga pascuicola (Staudinger, 1871), Oxypteryx immaculatella (Douglas, 1850), and Helcystogramma lamprostoma (Zeller, 1847), new for the Italian mainland, and Aproaerema cinctelloides (Nel & Varenne, 2012), new for the Italian fauna.Vengono forniti dati relativi a 39 specie di Gelechiidae raccolte in due regioni italiane, Calabria e Basilicata. Ventitré specie sono nuove per l’area studiata e sei per l’Italia meridionale. Di particolare interesse sono irinvenimenti di Cosmardia moritzella (Treitschke, 1835), finora trovata solo sulle Alpi, Aroga pascuicola (Staudinger, 1871), Oxypteryx immaculatella (Douglas, 1850) e Helcystogramma lamprostoma (Zeller, 1847), nuove per l’Italia continentale, e Aproaerema cinctelloides (Nel & Varenne, 2012), nuova per la fauna italiana.Proporcionamos datos relativos a 39 especies de Gelechiidae recolectadas en las regiones de Calabria y Basilicata, Italia. Veintitrés especies son nuevas para la zona estudiada y seis nuevas para el sur de Italia. Los registros más interesantes son los de Cosmardia moritzella (Treitschke, 1835), nueva para el sur de Italia, Arogapascuicola (Staudinger, 1871), Oxypteryx immaculatella (Douglas, 1850) y Helcystogramma lamprostoma (Zeller,1847), nuevas para la Italia continental y Aproaerema cinctelloides (Nel & Varenne, 2012), nueva para la fauna italiana