Functional Optimization in Complex Excitable Networks

We study the effect of varying wiring in excitable random networks in which connection weights change with activity to mold local resistance or facilitation due to fatigue. Dynamic attractors, corresponding to patterns of activity, are then easily destabilized according to three main modes, including one in which the activity shows chaotic hopping among the patterns. We describe phase transitions to this regime, and show a monotonous dependence of critical parameters on the heterogeneity of the wiring distribution. Such correlation between topology and functionality implies, in particular, that tasks which require unstable behavior --such as pattern recognition, family discrimination and categorization-- can be most efficiently performed on highly heterogeneous networks. It also follows a possible explanation for the abundance in nature of scale--free network topologies.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

Lifetimes of Confined Acoustic Phonons in Ultra-Thin Silicon Membranes

We study the relaxation of coherent acoustic phonon modes with frequencies up to 500 GHz in ultra-thin free-standing silicon membranes. Using an ultrafast pump-probe technique of asynchronous optical sampling, we observe that the decay time of the first-order dilatational mode decreases significantly from \sim 4.7 ns to 5 ps with decreasing membrane thickness from \sim 194 to 8 nm. The experimental results are compared with theories considering both intrinsic phonon-phonon interactions and extrinsic surface roughness scattering including a wavelength-dependent specularity. Our results provide insight to understand some of the limits of nanomechanical resonators and thermal transport in nanostructures

SACY - a Search for Associations Containing Young stars

The scientific goal of the SACY (Search for Associations Containing Young-stars) was to identify possible associations of stars younger than the Pleiades Association among optical counterparts of the ROSAT X-ray bright sources. High-resolution spectra for possible optical counterparts later than G0 belonging to HIPPARCOS and/or TYCHO-2 catalogs were obtained in order to assess both the youth and the spatial motion of each target. More than 1000 ROSAT sources were observed, covering a large area in the Southern Hemisphere. The newly identified young stars present a patchy distribution in UVW and XYZ, revealing the existence of huge nearby young associations. Here we present the associations identified in this survey.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, to appear in the Proceedings of Open Issues in Local Formation and Early Stellar Evolution, Ouro Preto, Brazi

Spin precession and spin Hall effect in monolayer graphene/Pt nanostructures

Spin Hall effects have surged as promising phenomena for spin logics operations without ferromagnets. However, the magnitude of the detected electric signals at room temperature in metallic systems has been so far underwhelming. Here, we demonstrate a two-order of magnitude enhancement of the signal in monolayer graphene/Pt devices when compared to their fully metallic counterparts. The enhancement stems in part from efficient spin injection and the large resistivity of graphene but we also observe 100% spin absorption in Pt and find an unusually large effective spin Hall angle of up to 0.15. The large spin-to-charge conversion allows us to characterise spin precession in graphene under the presence of a magnetic field. Furthermore, by developing an analytical model based on the 1D diffusive spin-transport, we demonstrate that the effective spin-relaxation time in graphene can be accurately determined using the (inverse) spin Hall effect as a means of detection. This is a necessary step to gather full understanding of the consequences of spin absorption in spin Hall devices, which is known to suppress effective spin lifetimes in both metallic and graphene systems.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures. Accepted in 2D Materials. https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1583/aa882

The Brightest Cluster Galaxy in Abell 85: The Largest Core Known so far

We have found that the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) in Abell~85, Holm 15A, displays the largest core so far known. Its cusp radius, $r_{\gamma} = 4.57 \pm 0.06$ kpc ($4.26^{\prime\prime}\pm 0.06^{\prime\prime}$), is more than 18 times larger than the mean for BCGs, and $\geq1$ kpc larger than A2261-BCG, hitherto the largest-cored BCG (Postman, Lauer, Donahue, et al. 2012) Holm 15A hosts the luminous amorphous radio source 0039-095B and has the optical signature of a LINER. Scaling laws indicate that this core could host a supermassive black hole (SMBH) of mass $M_{\bullet}\thicksim (10^{9}-10^{11})\,M_{\odot}$. We suggest that cores this large represent a relatively short phase in the evolution of BCGs, whereas the masses of their associated SBMH might be set by initial conditions.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figure, 2 tables, accepted for publication in ApJ Letters on October 6th, 2014, replacement of previous manuscript submitted on May 30th, 2014 to astro-p

On the binary nature of 1RXS J162848.1-415241

We present spectroscopy of the optical counterpart to 1RXS J162848.1-41524, also known as the microquasar candidate MCQC J162847-4152. All the data indicate that this X-ray source is not a microquasar, and that it is a single-lined chromospherically active binary system with a likely orbital period of 4.9 days. Our analysis supports a K3IV spectral classification for the star, which is dominant at optical wavelengths. The unseen binary component is most likely a late-type (K7-M) dwarf or a white dwarf. Using the high resolution spectra we have measured the K3 star's rotational broadening to be vsini = 43 +/- 3 km/s and determined a lower limit to the binary mass ratio of q(=M2/M1)>2.0. The high rotational broadening together with the strong CaII H & K / Halpha emission and high-amplitude photometric variations indicate that the evolved star is very chromospherically active and responsible for the X-ray/radio emission.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

Hydro-economic model for the assessment of water resources allocation and availability impacts on agricultural income.

RESUMO: A sub-bacia hidrográfica do rio Buriti Vermelho (BHBV), localizada nas proximidades de Brasília, caracteriza-se por intensa atividade agrícola desenvolvida sob uma distribuição heterogênea de água ao longo do tempo e do espaço. Neswte contexto, o artigo desenvolve um modelo hidro-econômico para quantificação dos impactos de curto-prazo na renda regional agrícola de mudanças nos regimes de precipitação e de disponibilidade de água. O modelo econômico se baseia no método de Programação Matemática Positiva que possibilita a construção de funções de produção agrícolas específicas por cultura e por produtor rural, mesmo para pequenas áreas com poucas observações. Do lado hidrológico, um modelo de naturalização de vazões acoplado a um modelo de balanço de água no solo é utilizado para a estimativa da vazão do rio e dos canais de irrigação. Os modelos econômico e hidrológico são interligados e calibrados com dados primários coletados in situ. Considerando as características hídricas da região, as quais, em anos típicos, garantem uma oferta de água para irrigação nos reservatórios bem acima da demanda, e que culturas irrigadas tem um peso muito maior na composição da receita líquida da região do que culturas de sequeiro, os resultados preliminares indicam que uma redução de 5% na disponibilidade de água e na precipitação provocaria uma queda de apenas 1,2% na receita líquida da sub-bacia. Este porcentual, contudo, aumentaria para 11% e 32%, quando a disponibilidade de água e precipitação se reduzissem para 50 e 90%, respectivamente. ABSTRACT: The Buriti Vermelho experimental Basin (BHBV) is characterized by agricultural activities, seasonal water flow uncertainty and heterogeneous water allocation among rural farmers. In this context, this paper follows an interdisciplinary modeling approach that involves economics, hydrology and agronomy. The model developed is then used to evaluate the short-run impacts on agricultural income from changes on precipitation and irrigation water supply. The economic regional model follows a Positive Mathematical Programming approach which allows for the calibration of crop and farmer specific production functions. The hydrological model follows a water balance approach and yields water availability estimates on a proper time and spatial resolution. The two models are coupled together and calibrated with primary data collected in situ. Alternative temperature and precipitation regimes are simulated. Considering that the hydrologic characteristics of the region which, in normal years, guarantees a much higher supply of water for irrigation in the reservoirs relatively to demand and the fact that irrigated crops have a much heavier weight on the net revenue of the region than rainfed crops, a 5% decrease in water availability would be accompanied by a decrease of only 1.2% in the regional net revenue. This percentage, however, would increase to 11% and 32% when water availability reduces to 50 and 90% respectively. KEYWORDS: Water resources, agriculture, irrigation