Testing some f(R,T) gravity models from energy conditions

We consider $f(R, T)$ theory of gravity, where $R$ is the curvature scalar and $T$ the trace of the energy momentum tensor. Attention is attached to the special case, $f(R, T)= R+2f(T)$ and two expressions are assumed for the function $f(T)$, $\frac{a_1T^n+b_1}{a_2T^n+b_2}$ and $a_3\ln^{q}{(b_3T^m)}$, where $a_1$, $a_2$, $b_1$, $b_2$, $n$, $a_3$, $b_3$, $q$ and $m$ are input parameters. We observe that by adjusting suitably these input parameters, energy conditions can be satisfied. Moreover, an analyse of the perturbations and stabilities of de Sitter solutions and power-law solutions is performed with the use of the two models. The results show that for some values of the input parameters, for which energy conditions are satisfied, de Sitter solutions and power-law solutions may be stables.Comment: 25 pages, 6 figures. Accepted for publication in Journal of Modern Physcis (JMP

Avaliação do Pronaf, grupo "B", em Minas Gerais.

Este estudo trata da análise de uma das linhas de crédito do Programa Nacional de Apoio à Agricultura Familiar (o Pronaf "B"), no Município de Porteirinha, MG, como instrumento de desenvolvimento socioeconômico do público beneficiário. Nele são analisadas tanto a evolução dos indicadores econômicos e sociais como a dos efeitos indiretos do programa, além da capacidade de pagamento do crédito obtido. Os resultados mostram pequenos acréscimos de produtividade na pecuária leiteira, na avicultura e na suinocultura; atividades essas diretamente beneficiadas pelo microcrédito do Pronaf ?B?. Constatou-se que, entre 2000 e 2004, em todas as três atividades que receberam crédito ? pecuária leiteira, suinocultura e avicultura ?, houve elevação da relação Margem Líquida Média Auferida e Crédito Médio Obtido: entre 2000 e 2004, tendência importante para as perspectivas de manutenção e de ampliação do referido programa

Parasitismo de larvas da mosca-do-mediterrâneo por Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) em diferentes cultivares de goiaba.

As moscas-das-frutas são as pragas que causam os maiores prejuízos à fruticultura mundial. Esses prejuízos podem ser diretos, com perdas na produção e indiretos. Por serem pragas quarentenárias, existem barreiras comerciais impostas pelos países importadores, limitando a exportação de frutos in natura. Apesar de o Brasil ser o terceiro maior produtor mundial de frutas, exporta-se apenas 2% dessa produção, enquanto que Diachasmimorpha longicaudata infestadas com larvas de Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Cinco lotes de oito frutos de goiaba, sendo dois frutos por cultivar, foram acondicionados em gaiolas contendo adultos de C. capitata, por 2h para oviposição. Após uma semana, quando as larvas já haviam se desenvolvido dentro dos frutos, estes foram expostos aos parasitóides durante 24h. Foram avaliados o peso médio dos frutos, a mortalidade das larvas, o número de pupários e as porcentagens de moscas e parasitóides emergidos

Troubles with quantum anistropic cosmological models: Loss of unitarity

The anisotropic Bianchi I cosmological model coupled with perfect fluid is quantized in the minisuperspace. The perfect fluid is described by using the Schutz formalism which allows to attribute dynamical degrees of freedom to matter. A Schr\"odinger-type equation is obtained where the matter variables play the role of time. However, the signature of the kinetic term is hyperbolic. This Schr\"odinger-like equation is solved and a wave packet is constructed. The norm of the resulting wave function comes out to be time dependent, indicating the loss of unitarity in this model. The loss of unitarity is due to the fact that the effective Hamiltonian is hermitian but not self-adjoint. The expectation value and the bohmian trajectories are evaluated leading to different cosmological scenarios, what is a consequence of the absence of a unitary quantum structure. The consistency of this quantum model is discussed as well as the generality of the absence of unitarity in anisotropic quantum models.Comment: Latex file, 18 pages. To appear in General Relativity and Gravitatio

Quantum Perfect-Fluid Kaluza-Klein Cosmology

The perfect fluid cosmology in the 1+d+D dimensional Kaluza-Klein spacetimes for an arbitrary barotropic equation of state $p= n \rho$ is quantized by using the Schutz's variational formalism. We make efforts in the mathematics to solve the problems in two cases. For the first case of the stiff fluid $n=1$ we exactly solve the Wheeler-DeWitt equation when the $d$ space is flat. After the superposition of the solutions we analyze the Bohmian trajectories of the final-stage wave-packet functions and show that the flat $d$ spaces and the compact $D$ spaces will eventually evolve into finite scale functions. For the second case of $n \approx 1$, we use the approximated wavefunction in the Wheeler-DeWitt equation to find the analytic forms of the final-stage wave-packet functions. After analyzing the Bohmian trajectories we show that the flat $d$ spaces will be expanding forever while the scale function of the contracting $D$ spaces would not become zero within finite time. Our investigations indicate that the quantum effect in the quantum perfect-fluid cosmology could prevent the extra compact $D$ spaces in the Kaluza-Klein theory from collapsing into a singularity or that the "crack-of-doom" singularity of the extra compact dimensions is made to occur at $t=\infty$.Comment: Latex 18 pages, add section 2 to introduce the quantization of perfect flui

Determinação experimental da retenção do parafuso ortopédico em cortex ósseo

Cylindrical specimens of bone measuring 15 mm in diameter were obtained from the lateral cortical layer of 10 pairs of femurs and tibias. A central hole 3.2 mm in diameter was drilled in each specimen. The hole was tapped, and a 4.5 mm cortical bone screw was inserted from the outer surface. The montage was submitted to push-out testing up to a complete strip of the bone threads. The cortical thickness and rupture load were measured, and the shear stress was calculated. The results were grouped according to the bone segment from which the specimen was obtained. The results showed that bone cortex screw holding power is dependent on the bone site. Additionally, the diaphyseal cortical bone tissue is both quantitatively and qualitatively more resistant to screw extraction than the metaphyseal tissue.Foram retirados corpos de prova cilíndricos de 15 mm de diâmetro da camada cortical da face lateral de 10 pares de fêmures e tíbias oriundos de peças anatômicas. No centro de cada um destes foi feito um orifício de 3,2 mm e nele inserido, a partir da superfície externa, um parafuso cortical de 4,5 mm de diâmetro após rosqueamento com macho. Este conjunto foi submetido a um ensaio mecânico no qual o parafuso foi extraído. A espessura da camada cortical e a carga de ruptura foram medidas e a tensão de cisalhamento foi calculada. Os resultados foram agrupados de acordo com o segmento do osso de onde provinham. Os ensaios mostraram que a retenção cortical do parafuso varia ao longo do osso e que o tecido ósseo da córtex diafisária é tanto quantitativamente quanto qualitativamente mais resistente à extração do parafuso que o tecido metafisário

Acúmulo de compostos fenólicos na indução de resistência a Phakopsora pachyrhizi.

Poster

Does Quantum Cosmology Predict a Constant Dilatonic Field?

Quantum cosmology may permit to determine the initial conditions of the Universe. In particular, it may select a specific model between many possible classical models. In this work, we study a quantum cosmological model based on the string effective action coupled to matter. The Schutz's formalism is employed in the description of the fluid. A radiation fluid is considered. In this way, a time coordinate may be identified and the Wheeler-DeWitt equation reduces in the minisuperspace to a Schr\"odinger-like equation. It is shown that, under some quite natural assumptions, the expectation values indicate a null axionic field and a constant dilatonic field. At the same time the scale factor exhibits a bounce revealing a singularity-free cosmological model. In some cases, the mininum value of the scale factor can be related to the value of gravitational coupling.Comment: Latex file, 14 page