Cuscuton kinks and branes

In this paper, we study a peculiar model for the scalar field. We add the cuscuton term in a standard model and investigate how this inclusion modifies the usual behavior of kinks. We find the first order equations and calculate the energy density and the total energy of the system. Also, we investigate the linear stability of the model, which is governed by a Sturm-Liouville eigenvalue equation that can be transformed in an equation of the Shcr\"odinger type. The model is also investigated in the braneworld scenario, where a first order formalism is also obtained and the linear stability is investigated.Comment: 21 pages, 9 figures; content added; to appear in NP

Gravitomagnetic Moments of the Fundamental Fields

The quadratic form of the Dirac equation in a Riemann spacetime yields a gravitational gyromagnetic ratio \kappa_S = 2 for the interaction of a Dirac spinor with curvature. A gravitational gyromagnetic ratio \kappa_S = 1 is also found for the interaction of a vector field with curvature. It is shown that the Dirac equation in a curved background can be obtained as the square--root of the corresponding vector field equation only if the gravitational gyromagnetic ratios are properly taken into account.Comment: 8 pages, RevTeX Style, no figures, changed presentation -- now restricted to fields of spin 0, 1/2 and 1 -- some references adde

Notes on <i>Chersodromia</i> from Portugal, Spain and France with the description of a new brachypterous species (Diptera, Hybotidae, Tachydromiinae)

Chersodromia squamata sp. nov. is described from Portugal and Spain. A key is given to the four known species of the Ch. curtipennis subgroup in the Ch. incana group. In addition Ch. incana Walker is re-illustrated and the species is recorded for the first time from France and Portugal. Chersodromia alata (Walker) (= Ch. difficilis Lundbeck) is also recorded for the first time from France and Spain

Vortices in Maxwell-Higgs models with a global factor

This paper deals with planar vortices in a generalized model that presents a global factor which depends on the scalar field in the Nielsen-Olesen Lagrange density. We show that the system supports a first order framework. Contrary to what occurs with kinks in the line, planar vortices require the presence of constraints that brings modifications into the first order equations. Novel features are unveiled, such as finite energy configurations with infinite energy density at the origin and the presence of parameters that modifies the energy, keeping the solutions unchanged.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Impaired placental perfusion and major fetal cardiac defects

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between fetal congenital heart defects (CHD) and placental perfusion assessed by uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) in relation to development of preeclampsia (PE). Methods: This was a prospective screening study in singleton pregnancies at 19-24 weeks’ gestation. Transvaginal ultrasound was used to measure the UtA-PI and the values were converted into multiples of the normal median (MoM). Median MoM values in pregnancies with fetuses with isolated major CHD were compared to those without CHD in relation to development of PE. Results: The 91,407 singleton pregnancies fulfilling the entry criteria included 206 (0.23%) with isolated major fetal CHD and 91,201 without CHD. The prevalence of PE was 4.4% in those with CHD and 2.7% in those without CHD (RR 1.6, 95% CI 0.84-3.04; p=0.150); the respective values for preterm-PE, with delivery at <37 weeks’ gestation, were 2.4% and 0.7%, (RR 3.4, 95% CI 1.42-8.09; p=0.006). In the total population, the median UtA-PI MoM was significantly higher in those that developed PE compared to those without PE (1.22, IQR 0.94-1.57 vs. 1.00, IQR 0.84-1.19; p<0.0001) and in the PE group the median UtA-PI MoM was inversely related to gestational age at delivery (r=-0.458; p<0.0001). The same pattern of inverse relationship between UtA-PI MoM and gestational age at delivery with PE was observed in pregnancies with and without CHD, but in the CHD group, compared to those without CHD, UtA-PI was significantly higher both in pregnancies with and in those without PE. Conclusions: In both pregnancies with and without fetal CHD that develop PE impedance to flow in the uterine arteries is increased and this increase is particularly marked in those with preterm-PE. The prevalence of preterm-PE is more than 3 times higher in pregnancies with than without fetal major CHD and the prevalence of major CHD in pregnancies with preterm-PE is also more than 3 times higher than in those without PE. However, >97% of pregnancies with fetal CHD do not develop preterm-PE and >99% of pregnancies with preterm-PE are not associated with fetal CHD

Avaliação da atividade inseticida de óleos essenciais de plantas da flora nordestina contra a mosca-branca (Bemisia argentifolii).

E conhecido que muitas plantas encerram micromoleculas oriundas do metabolismo secundario, tais como alcaloides, flavonoides, triterpenos, limnnoides, dentre outras, as quais apresentam funcao de protecao contra fitopatogenos e insetos fitofagos. Dos varios exemplos, podemos citar os glicoalcaloides em Solanaceace, os limonoides em Rutaceae, Meliaceae e Simarubaceae. Algumas dessas substancias sao conhecidas por suas propriedade inseticidas, dentre as quais podemos citar: rotenoides obtidos das especies de Lonchocarpus; nicotina de Nicotiana tabacum; precocenos de Ageratrum conyzoides e piretrinas de Crysanthemum cineraefolium (Craveiro e Machado, 1986).bitstream/CNPAT-2010/5858/1/Pa-080.pd