High magnetic field thermal-expansion and elastic properties of CeRhIn5_5

We report high magnetic field thermal-expansion and magnetostriction results on CeRhIn$_5$ single crystals. Several transitions, both first and second order, are observed when the field is applied perpendicular to the crystallographic c-axis. The magnetic field dependence of the thermal-expansion coefficient above 15 K, where the magnetic correlations are negligible, can be explained supposing an almost pure $| \pm 5/2>$ ground state doublet, in apparent contradiction with neutron scattering experiments. Although the spin-lattice interaction is relevant in this compound, the effect of the magnetic correlations on the elastic properties is relatively weak, as revealed by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy experiments.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Folds and Buckles at the Nanoscale: Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of the Bending Properties of Graphene Membranes

The elastic properties of graphene crystals have been extensively investigated, revealing unique properties in the linear and nonlinear regimes, when the membranes are under either stretching or bending loading conditions. Nevertheless less knowledge has been developed so far on folded graphene membranes and ribbons. It has been recently suggested that fold-induced curvatures, without in-plane strain, can affect the local chemical reactivity, the mechanical properties, and the electron transfer in graphene membranes. This intriguing perspective envisages a materials-by-design approach through the engineering of folding and bending to develop enhanced nano-resonators or nano-electro-mechanical devices. Here we present a novel methodology to investigate the mechanical properties of folded and wrinkled graphene crystals, combining transmission electron microscopy mapping of 3D curvatures and theoretical modeling based on continuum elasticity theory and tight-binding atomistic simulations

Critical chain length and superconductivity emergence in oxygen-equalized pairs of YBa2Cu3O6.30

The oxygen-order dependent emergence of superconductivity in YBa2Cu3O6+x is studied, for the first time in a comparative way, on pair samples having the same oxygen content and thermal history, but different Cu(1)Ox chain arrangements deriving from their intercalated and deintercalated nature. Structural and electronic non-equivalence of pairs samples is detected in the critical region and found to be related, on microscopic scale, to a different average chain length, which, on being experimentally determined by nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR), sheds new light on the concept of critical chain length for hole doping efficiency.Comment: 7 RevTex pages, 2 Postscript figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev.

COVID-19 Related Hospital Re-organization and Trends in Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Admissions: Reflections From Portugal; [Reorganización hospitalaria relacionada con COVID-19 y tendencias en el diagnóstico y la hospitalización por tuberculosis: reflexiones desde Portugal]

[No abstract available]No specific funding was received for this work. However, Ana Aguiar holds a PhD Grant ( 2020.09390.BD ), cofunded by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) and the Fundo Social Europeu (FSE) Program

The Gateway approach providing EGEE/GLITE access to non-standard architectures

This paper describes the gateway architecture and the required modifications to the gLite Middleware to make available to the GRID computing machines whose hardware/software architecture is non directly supported by gLite. This work has been performed in the framework of the integration of ENEA-GRID and EGEE infrastructure

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis services

Background: In Portugal, Outpatient Tuberculosis Centres (OTBC) are responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, screening and prevention of tuberculosis (TB), and only severe or resistant cases are hospitalized. Aim: To understand how infection control norms and standards were applied and how these centres responded during the pandemic. Method: We sent an electronic questionnaire to all coordinators of OTBC. The questionnaire included questions on infection control during the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluation of the functioning of the OTBC in two periods: during the 1st National State of Emergency and after 1 year. Results: Thirty-two responses were obtained (52.5%). The infection control norms were globally applied; diagnosis, treatment, and prevention were kept, and contact screening was only affected during the 1st State of Emergency. However, half of the respondents (53.1%) believed that there were diagnostic delays during the 1st State of Emergency, rising to 68.8% after 1 year. Only 31.3% performed Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) in all patients during the 1st State of Emergency, and 59.4% after 1 year. Half the inquiries expected an increase in TB incidence in the near future. Conclusion: The pandemic affected OTBC functioning, although the services were kept open; diagnostic delay and DOT appliance were the most affected. © 2022 Sociedade Portuguesa de PneumologiaFunding text 1: No specific funding was received for this work. However, Ana Aguiar holds a PhD Grant (2020.09390.BD), co-funded by the FCT and the FSE Program. We would like to thank all of the coordinators of TB centres who have answered the questionnaire. This research initiative would not be possible without their participation. We would also like to thank Ana Isabel Ribeiro for drawing the map of Portugal's Region Health Administrations. The work is part of the scientific activities of Global Tuberculosis Network and of the WHO Collaborating Centre for TB and Lung Diseases in Tradate, Italy (ITA-80).; Funding text 2: No specific funding was received for this work. However, Ana Aguiar holds a PhD Grant (2020.09390.BD), co-funded by the FCT and the FSE Program