A fractal model for the lightning induced current on a transmission line

This article presents a model of a tortuous lightning channel, and a study of the consequent electromagnetic coupling to a transmission line. We analyse the fractal dimension of the induced current on the line, compared with the fractal dimension of the lightning channel and the impinging electromagnetic field on the line. This comparison confirms our previous studies pointing out that the channel fractal dimension and the electromagnetic field fractal dimension are related (in particular, for typical lightning parameters they are the same). A comparison of simulated fields and line currents with experimental measurements is also attempte

The Conformal Window of deformed CFT's in the planar limit

We discuss in the planar approximation the effect of double-trace deformations on CFT's. We show that this large class of models posses a conformal window describing a non-trivial flow between two fixed points of the renormalization group, and reveal the presence of a resonance which we associate to the remnant of a dilaton pole. As the conformal window shrinks to zero measure the theory undergoes a conformal phase transition separating a symmetric from a nonsymmetric phase. The recently conjectured strongly coupled branch of non-supersymmetric, non-abelian gauge theories with a large number of flavors is analyzed in light of these results, and a model for the strong branch is proposed. Some phenomenological implications in the context of unparticle physics are also emphasized.Comment: 15 pages PRD class, 2 figures, to be published in PR

Bs oscillations at LHCb

The main results obtained by LHCb in the study on B0s oscillations and CP violation parameters using the 2010 data sample are presented

Durabilit\ue0 del legno lamellare rinforzato: un prodotto innovativo

La ricerca sviluppata nell\u2019ultimo decennio in edilizia si \ue8 orientata sempre pi\uf9 verso quei materiali, cosiddetti ecocompatibili o ecosostenibili, tali da dissipare il meno possibile le risorse naturali. In questo senso il legno, ed in particolare quello lamellare, \ue8 divenuto una valida alternativa alle tecnologie pi\uf9 usuali e tradizionali del cemento armato e del ferro, anche perch\ue9 rappresenta una delle poche materie prime rinnovabili. Il legno lamellare \ue8 un prodotto evoluto, un prodotto industriale che supera i difetti propri del legno massello con caratteristiche di resistenza meccanica e di durabilit\ue0 superiori, cos\uec da poter ottenere qualunque forma e dimensione. Presenta per\uf2 una rigidezza limitata rispetto ad altre tecnologie, aspetto quest\u2019ultimo, che ha determinato un vasto campo di ricerca basato sulla possibilit\ue0 di inserire elementi irrigidenti all\u2019interno della sezione resistente. La memoria presenta i risultati raggiunti nell\u2019ambito di un progetto di innovazione PIA che ha avuto l\u2019obbiettivo di sperimentare un prodotto innovativo che possa avere una maggiore rigidezza, e quindi maggiori prestazioni a parit\ue0 di costi. L\u2019impiego di materiali originali ha richiesto la verifica delle prestazioni attraverso test ciclici di prove integrate di resistenza meccanica e di invecchiamento accelerato che sono state svolte, rispettivamente, dal Dipartimento di Ingegneria Strutturale e Geotecnica e dal Dipartimento di Progetto e Costruzione Edilizia entrambi dell\u2019Universit\ue0 di Palermo. Nel seguito si illustrano le prove di invecchiamento artificiale eseguite per verificare la durabilit\ue0 dei prototipi innovativi da sperimentare

Evaluation of innovative thermal insulation systems for a sustainable envelope

La memoria presenta i risultati ottenuti su sistemi di isolamento termico per l\u2019involucro edilizio. Si presentano i risultati ottenuti tramite simulazioni informatiche che hanno consentito di verificare e ottimizzare la trasmissione del calore attraverso un sistema sottovuoto in vetro per le facciate trasparenti. Inoltre la possibilit\ue0 offerta dal riciclo del materiale di scarto della potatura dell\u2019Opunthia Ficus Indica (fichi d\u2019india) che,opportunamente trattato ha permesso di ottenere un materiale isolante (Brevetto n. 1402131), in forma di pannello o in grani sfusi, (valori di coibenza termica 0.071\uad0.057 W/mK).The paper presents the results of the research on thermal insulation systems for the building casing. We present the results of computer simulations that have enabled us to verify and optimize the transmission of heat through several innovative insulation systems, such as vacuum solutions for transparent fa\ue7ades, or the possibilities offered by the recycling of waste material of Opunthia Ficus Indica (prickly pear) pruning, which, properly treated, allowed to obtain an insulating material (Patent n. 1402131), in the form of panels or bulk grains (thermal coefficient values 0.0710.057 W/mK)

Distribution of Relaxation Times Based on Lasso Regression: A Tool for High-Resolution Analysis of IMPS Data in Photoelectrochemical Systems

Intensity-modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS) has been largely employed in semiconductor characterization for solar energy conversion devices to probe the operando behavior with widely available facilities. However, the implementation of IMPS data analysis to complex structures, whether based on the physical rate constant model (RCM) or the assumption-free distribution of relaxation times (DRT), is generally limited to a semi-quantitative description of the charge carrier kinetics of the system. In this study, a new algorithm for the analysis of IMPS data is developed, providing unprecedented time resolution to the investigation of μs to s charge carrier dynamics in semiconductor-based systems used in photoelectrochemistry and photovoltaics. The algorithm, based on the previously developed DRT analysis, is herein modified with a Lasso regression method and available to the reader free of charge. A validation of this new algorithm is performed on a α-Fe2O3 photoanode for photoelectrochemical water splitting, identified as a standard platform in the field, highlighting multiple potential-dependent charge transfer paths, otherwise hidden in the conventional IMPS data analysis

The FIT-pull Method: an experimental tool to monitor the track measurements and the B proper time.

In this note we describe a statistical tool, the \textit{FIT-pull method}, that can test the reliability of the measurements of the tracks and the vertices on real and Monte-Carlo data without knowledge of the truth information. The basic mathematical formalism is derived from the Lagrange Multipliers method and briefly described. Several tests are performed to prove its validity in different situations. %KDifferent useful examples are discussed. In particular, by using Monte-Carlo simulation, we demonstrate that the method can be applied to check if the measured tracks or vertices have biases or incorrect covariance matrices. For correct input measurements we obtain pull distributions with a normal Gaussian statistical form. In this case the B proper time value and its error, which is a function of the track and vertex measurements, are correctly calculated. However, in the case of incorrect measurements, for example due to a systematic error or to a scale factor of the covariance matrix, the pull distributions studied deviate from normal Gaussians and the B proper time measurement can be affected. In principle the method can, if necessary, be used to recover information from corrupted measurements. Its potential in this capacity is demonstrated for the particular case of the decay channel $B^0_d \to \pi^+ \pi^-$ with the reconstructed Monte-Carlo data produced in 2004

Birds, Ilha Grande, state of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil

We provide a list of bird species from our primary surveys and secondary data for an island (Ilha Grande) insoutheastern Brazil. The information derives mainly from primary data collected since 1995, particularly in the oceanicside of the island. The methodologies included capture-mark-recapture studies using mist nets, transects (visual andvocal records) and supplementary observations. Our total species list from primary data is 175 species (127 captured)and 47 species were added from secondary data. This represents 222 species from 58 families. Of this total, 44 areendemic to Atlantic forest and nine are threatened with extinction. Our results are discussed comparing our study areawith another large island included in the Serra do Mar corridor (Ilha de São Sebastião), and also a nearby continentalarea (Paraty). The results indicate the importance of Ilha Grande as a reservoir of bird species of Atlantic forest