The Einstein-Friedrich-nonlinear scalar field system and the stability of scalar field Cosmologies

A frame representation is used to derive a first order quasi-linear symmetric hyperbolic system for a scalar field minimally coupled to gravity. This procedure is inspired by similar evolution equations introduced by Friedrich to study the Einstein-Euler system. The resulting evolution system is used to show that small nonlinear perturbations of expanding Friedman-Lema\^itre-Robertson-Walker backgrounds, with scalar field potentials satisfying certain future asymptotic conditions, decay exponentially to zero, in synchronous time.Comment: Version 4: Matches final published versio

On the non-linear stability of scalar field cosmologies

We review recent work on the stability of flat spatially homogeneous and isotropic backgrounds with a self-interacting scalar field. We derive a first order quasi-linear symmetric hyperbolic system for the Einstein-nonlinear-scalar field system. Then, using the linearized system, we show how to obtain necessary and sufficient conditions which ensure the exponential decay to zero of small non-linear perturbations.JAVK was supported by an EPSRC Advanced Research Fellowship and by a project research grant from the Leverhulme Trust (F/07 476/AI). AA and FM are supported by projects FCT/PTDC/MAT/108921/2008 and CERN/FP/116377/2010 and by CMAT, Univ. Minho, through FCT plurianual funding. AA thanks FCT grant SFRH/BD/48658/2008. FM thanks FCT grant SFRH/BSAB/967/2010

Contaminação por mercúrio em sedimento e moluscos da Bacia do rio Bento Gomes, MT.

Os níveis de mercúrio total detectados no sedimento e tecidos moles de moluscos gastrópodos provenientes da bacia hidrográfica do rio Bento Gomes, embora baixos, mostraram indícios de contaminação. De um total de 69 amostras de sedimento analisadas, 26% apresentaram níveis de mercúrio total variando de 0,01 a 0,25 µg.g-1 de mercúrio (peso úmido). Os níveis de mercúrio obtidos em 54 amostras dos moluscos Ampullaria scalaris; A. canaliculata e Marisa planogira evidenciaram que 39% estavam contaminadas com níveis variando de 0,02 a 1,6 µg.g-1 de peso úmido. Estes resultados indicam que o mercúrio utilizado na extração de ouro de aluvião está atingindo o ambiente aquático e contaminado o sedimento e os organismos bentônicos desta área do Pantanal.bitstream/item/37304/1/BP58.pd

Ageing of a giant: a stochastic population forecast for China, 2006-2060

This paper presents a stochastic population forecast for China with a special emphasis on population ageing. The so-called scaled model for error was used to quantify the uncertainty attached to the population predictions. Data scarcity was a major problem in the specification of the expected error of the population forecast. Therefore, the error structures estimated for European countries were used with some modifications, taking into account the large size and heterogeneity of the Chinese population. The stochastic forecast confirms the expectation of extremely rapid population ageing during the first half of the twenty-first century in China. The old age dependency ratio (OADR) will certainly increase. Simply maintaining the current demographic rates (no international migration) would drive the OADR to 0.42 in 2060, four times the current level. Including expected declines in mortality and net outmigration in the projection would increase the median OADR in 2060 to 0.59, with a 80% prediction interval of [0.47, 0.75]. In particular, the oldest-old population will grow much faster than any other age group. This development has major implications for policy-making in China. Keywords: Stochastic population forecast Predictive distribution Uncertainty Scaled model for error China Population ageing Low fertility Mortality decline

Assumptions for long-term stochastic population forecasts in 18 European countries: Hypothèses de projections stochastiquesàlong terme des populations de 18 pays européens

The aim of the ‘Uncertain Population of Europe’(UPE) project was to compute long-term stochastic (probabilistic) population forecasts for 18 European countries. We developed a general methodology for constructing predictive distributions for fertility, mortality and migration. The assumptions underlying stochastic population forecasts can be assessed by analysing errors in past forecasts or model-based estimates of forecast errors, or by expert judgement. All three approaches have been used in the project. This article summarizes and discusses the results of the three approaches. It demonstrates how the—sometimes conflicting—results can be synthesized into a consistent set of assumptions about the expected levels and the uncertainty of total fertility rate, life expectancy at birth of men and women, and net migration for 18 European countries

Criação e manejo de capivaras em pequenas propriedades rurais.

bitstream/item/201693/1/Criacao-e-manejo.pdf; bitstream/item/201693/1/Criacao-e-manejo.pd

Bat-species richness in the Pantanal floodplain and its surrounding uplands

Estudamos a fauna de morcegos na planície do Pantanal e nos planaltos de entorno no Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil, com base na coleção científica da Universidade Anhanguera – Uniderp e no banco de dados do Projeto Morcegos do Pantanal, UFMS, incluindo 9.037 capturas de 56 espécies, entre 1994 e 2007. Amostragens no Pantanal foram feitas nas sub-regiões da Nhecolândia, Aquidauana, Miranda e Paraguai; no planalto as amostragens foram realizadas nas formações de Maracaju, Bodoquena e Urucum. Espécies de morcegos foram registradas ao longo de 376 noites em 35 sítios, predominantemente com o uso de redes de neblina próximas a árvores frutíferas, abrigos e florestas. Na planície, foram registradas 46 espécies (n = 6.292 indivíduos) e no planalto 44 espécies (n = 2.745 indivíduos). Seis famílias foram encontradas: Phyllostomidae (30 espécies), Molossidae (12 espécies), Verpertilionidae (nove espécies), Noctilionidae (duas espécies), Emballorunidae (duas espécies) e Mormoopidae (uma espécie). A fauna de morcegos foi predominantemente composta de espécies insetívoras (32) e frugívoras (15). O frugívoro Artibeus planirostris (n = 3.101) foi a espécie mais comum na planície e no planalto. Outras espécies comuns foram Myotis nigricans (n = 762), Molossus molossus (n = 692), Noctilio albiventris (n = 681), Platyrrhinus lineatus (n = 633), Sturnira lilium (n = 461), Carollia perspicillata (n = 451), Glossophaga soricina (n = 436), Artibeus lituratus (n = 320) e Desmodus rotundus (n = 281). Na planície, ocorreram três espécies de morcegos insetívoros dentre as espécies mais comuns, contrastando com o planalto, onde houve dominância de frugívoros. A diversidade para os 35 sítios reunidos (H’ = 2,5) é comparável à encontrada em florestas tropicais. A fauna de morcegos apresentada aqui representa 34% das espécies brasileiras, e 62% das espécies já reportadas para a Bacia do Alto Paraguai. Adicionalmente, cinco espécies são reportadas pela primeira vez no Mato Grosso do Sul. ________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTWe studied the bat fauna of the Pantanal floodplain and its surrounding plateaus in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, based on the scientific collection at Universidade Anhanguera – Uniderp and on the Projeto Morcegos do Pantanal data bank at UFMS, comprising 9,037 captures of 56 species recorded from 1994 to 2007. The Pantanal surveys were carried out in the Nhecolândia, Aquidauana, Miranda, and Paraguai sub-regions; the uplands surveys took place in the Maracaju, Bodoquena, and Urucum formations. Bat specimens were mist-netted over 376 nights in 35 sites, predominantly near fruiting trees, bat shelters, and forest patches. In the floodplain 46 species were recorded (n = 6,292 individuals), and 44 species were found in the uplands (n = 2,745 individuals). Six families were recorded: Phyllostomidae (30 species), Molossidae (12 species), Verpertilionidae (nine species) Noctilionidae (two species), Emballorunidae (two species) and Mormoopidae (one species). The bat fauna was predominantly composed of insectivore (32) and frugivore (15) species. The frugivorous Artibeus planirostris (n = 3,101 individuals) was the commonest species in floodplain and uplands. Other common species were Myotis nigricans (n = 762), Molossus molossus (n = 692), Noctilio albiventris (n = 681), Platyrrhinus lineatus (n = 633), Sturnira lilium (n = 461), Carollia perspicillata (n = 451), Glossophaga soricina (n = 436), Artibeus lituratus (n = 320), and Desmodus rotundus (n = 281). In the floodplain there were three insectivores among the most common species, contrasting with the uplands dominated by the frugivores. The diversity for the 35 sites assembled (H’ = 2.5) is comparable to that recorded for tropical forests. The bat fauna presented here represents 34% of the Brazilian bat species, and 62% of species reported for the Upper Paraguay River Basin. Additionally, five species are reported for the first time in Mato Grosso do Sul

A holographic model for QCD in the Veneziano limit at finite temperature and density

Erratum: vol4, 124, 2014 DOI:10.1007/jhep02(2015)033Peer reviewe