On Higher Derivatives as Constraints in Field Theory: a Geometric Perspective

We formalize geometrically the idea that the (de Donder) Hamiltonian formulation of a higher derivative Lagrangian field theory can be constructed understanding the latter as a first derivative theory subjected to constraints.Comment: 7 page

Female Genital Mutilation: Knowledge from Health Professionals

Portugal is considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) a risk country for the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Objectives: To evaluate the knowledge that health professionals from Maternity Dr. Alfredo da Costa (MAC) have regarding FGM. Population and Methods: Analysis of surveys delivered to health professionals from MAC (a hospital dedicated to reproductive health), between April and June 2008, addressing issues related to the knowledge about FGM. Results: Authors collected 112 valid surveys involving 38 doctors, 48 nurses and 26 medical auxiliaries/administrative personnel. From the respondents, 106 (95%) had heard about FMG practice before, the media being the most reported source of information; 59 (53%) replied they could be able to recognize FGM cases in their clinical practice; however, only 31 (28%) claimed to know the FGM type classiication and 32 (29%) admitted to be prepared to recognize and manage these situations in their own clinical practice; 9 had been consulted explicitly by a FGM practice complication and 1 doctor had admitted having been asked to perform/execute FGM; 13 (12%) recognized that the Portuguese legislation its this practice. Regarding the practice of FGM, 100 (89%) of respondentes stated that it should not be maintained and 97 (87%) stated that it should not be tolerated. However, 42 (38%) considered that if these practices were a reality, then they should be medical assisted. Discussion: Health professionals can play an important role in eliminating the practice of FGM, not only by the proper clinical management of this situation, but also by preventing those communities at risk to resort to FGM. Most health professionals are not prepared to deal with FGM in their clinical practice. It is important to promote a better knowledge on the subject and to create protocols for proper clinical management

New properties of scalar field dynamics in brane isotropic cosmological models

Several aspects of scalar field dynamics on a brane which differs from corresponding regimes in the standard cosmology are investigated. We consider asymptotic solution near a singularity, condition for inflation and bounces and some detail of chaotic behavior in the brane model. Each results are compared with those known in the standard cosmology.Comment: 13 pages with 2 eps figures, submitted to Astronomy Letter

The spin glass transition of the three dimensional Heisenberg spin glass

It is shown, by means of Monte Carlo simulation and Finite Size Scaling analysis, that the Heisenberg spin glass undergoes a finite-temperature phase transition in three dimensions. There is a single critical temperature, at which both a spin glass and a chiral glass orderings develop. The Monte Carlo algorithm, adapted from lattice gauge theory simulations, makes possible to thermalize lattices of size L=32, larger than in any previous spin glass simulation in three dimensions. High accuracy is reached thanks to the use of the Marenostrum supercomputer. The large range of system sizes studied allow us to consider scaling corrections.Comment: 4 pages, 4 Postscript figures, version to be published in Physical Review Letter

HIV-1 mother-to-child transmission in Brazil (1994\u20132016): a time series modeling

HIV-1 mother-to-child transmission (HIV-1 MTCT), is an important cause of children mortality worldwide. Brazil has been traditionally praised by its HIV/Aids program, which provides free-of-charge care for people living with HIV-1. Using public epidemiology and demographic databases, we aimed at modeling HIV-1 MTCT prevalence in Brazil through the years (1994\u20132016) and elaborate a statistical model for forecasting, contributing to HIV-1 epidemiologic surveillance and healthcare decision-making. We downloaded sets of live births and mothers\u2019 data alongside HIV-1 cases notification in children one year old or less. Through time series modeling, we estimated prevalence along the years in Brazil, and observed a remarkable decrease of HIV-1 MTCT between 1994 (10 cases per 100,000 live births) and 2016 (five cases per 100,000 live births), a reduction of 50%. Using our model, we elaborated a prognosis for each Brazilian state to help HIV-1 surveillance decision making, indicating which states are in theory in risk of experiencing a rise in HIV-1 MTCT prevalence. Ten states had good (37%), nine had mild (33%), and eight had poor prognostics (30%). Stratifying the prognostics by Brazilian region, we observed that the Northeast region had more states with poor prognosis, followed by North and Midwest, Southeast and South with one state of poor prognosis each. Brazil undoubtedly advanced in the fight against HIV-1 MTCT in the past two decades. We hope our model will help indicating where HIV-1 MTCT prevalence may rise in the future and support government decision makers regarding HIV-1 surveillance and prevention

Topological insulator particles as optically induced oscillators: towards dynamical force measurements and optical rheology

We report the first experimental study upon the optical trapping and manipulation of topological insulator (TI) particles. By virtue of the unique TI properties, which have a conducting surface and an insulating bulk, the particles present a peculiar behaviour in the presence of a single laser beam optical tweezers: they oscillate in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the laser propagation, as a result of the competition between radiation pressure and gradient forces. In other words, TI particles behave as optically induced oscillators, allowing dynamical measurements with unprecedented simplicity and purely optical control. Actually, optical rheology of soft matter interfaces and biological membranes, as well as dynamical force measurements in macromolecules and biopolymers, may be quoted as feasible possibilities for the near future.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. Correspondence and requests for Supplementary Material should be addressed to [email protected]

Avaliação de cultivares de Coffea arabica L. ao parasitismo de Meloidogyne exigua.

Os nematóides podem causar grandes danos em cafezais no Brasil, dependendo da espécie e do tipo de solo. A espécie Meloidogyne exigua é a mais disseminada nas regiões cafeeiras, especialmente em lavouras mais velhas do Sul de Minas Gerais. As áreas com nematóides mostram redução tanto no desenvolvimento das plantas como na produção. Dentre as medidas de controle do nematóide, a que tem-se mostrado mais adequada é o uso de cultivares resistentes. O objetivo deste ensaio foi avaliar o comportamento de diferentes cultivares de Coffea arabica L. quando inoculados com M. exigua, visando a identificação de fontes de resistência. O ensaio foi instalado no setor de Nematologia da UFLA /Lavras-MG, em casa de vegetação, sob delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições e três plantas por parcela. Foram avaliadas 22 cultivares, utilizando-se a cultivar Acaiá 474/19 e IAPAR 59, como padrões de suscetibilidade e de resistência, respsctivamente. Cada planta foi inoculada 80 dias após transplantio com 5000 ovos de M. exigua e avaliadas 40 e 120 dias após inoculação quanto ao número de galhas por grama de raiz. A cultivar IAPAR 59 confirmou ser imune, já que nenhuma galha foi observada em seu sistema radicular. As cultivares Catucaí Vermelho 785/15 e Acauã apresentaram segregação sendo algumas plantas resistentes e outras de reduzida susceptibilidade. As cultivares Catucaí Vermelho 36/6, Siriema, Soledade, Bem-te-vi Amarelo, Catucaí Vermelho 20/15- cv 395, Catucaí Amarelo 3-5, Cultivar oriunda de Franca, Catucaí Vermelho 36/6- cv 470, Catucaí Amarelo 24/137, Sabiá Tardio, Catucaí Amarelo 2SL- cv 446, Catucaí Amarelo 3 SM, Catucaí Amarelo 20/15- 479, Icatu IAC 2944, IBC-Palma II, Canário, Catucaí Açu Vermelho, IBC-Palma I e Acaiá-IAC 474/19 foram classificadas como susceptíveis, embora tivessem apresentado na primeira avaliação baixos índices de infestação, quando comparadas a cultivar Acaiá-IAC 474/19, o que indica a possibilidade de diferentes níveis de susceptibilidade entre as mesmas