Long time behaviour and self-similarity in an addition model with slow Input of monomers

We consider a coagulation equation with constant coefficients and a time dependent power law input of monomers. We discuss the asymptotic behaviour of solutions as $t \to \infty$, and we prove solutions converge to a similarity profile along the non-characteristic direction

Effect of Acidity Reduction and Anticaking Use on the Hygroscopic Behavior of Tamarind Pulp Powder

The high acid content in tamarind pulp can inhibit consumer sensory acceptance of its products and cause problems during lyophilization, resulting in a powder with high hygroscopicity, and which is prone to caking due to its hydrophilic nature. Tamarind pulp, in turn, has great nutritional potential, and stands out in relation to other pulps because of its functional attributes that are under investigation due to its low glycemic index. This study sought to characterize tamarind pulp and the effects of acidity reduction on hygroscopic behavior. Tamarind pulp powder was evaluated by analyzing moisture content, hygroscopicity, degree of caking, and adsorption isotherms, by fitting experimental data to the GAB, BET, Henderson, and Oswin mathematical models. The results demonstrated that all tamarind powder treatments resulted in low moisture content and hygroscopicity values, but a high degree of caking. The GAB model represented the best fit to the adsorption isotherms, with coefficients of determination (R2) between 0.97 and 0.99 and average errors (E) < 5.67 %, presenting a type III behavior, characteristic of foods rich in sugar, and it is recommended to store this product in environments with a relative humidity below 60 %

Is there association between chronic kidney disease and dental caries? A case-controlled study

The purpose of this study was to assess the association between chronic kidney diseases (CKD) and dental caries. 107 patients with CKD and 107 with no systemic alteration were randomly included. DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth), plaque index, colony-forming units (CFU) of Streptococcus mutans and salivary composition (IgA total, IgA anti- Streptococcus mutans, calcium and urea) were evaluated. McNemar and Wilcoxon tests were used to compare test and control groups. Spearman test was used to correlate time of hemodialysis and variables studied. Associations between variables were evaluated by logistic regression analysis. The number of filled teeth, the amount of IgA anti-Streptococcus mutans, salivary urea, education level, monthly income and the amount of CFU of Streptococcus mutans were statistically different between groups. There was a positive correlation between the duration of hemodialysis (Hd) and the amount of IgA anti-Streptococcus mutans, urea in saliva, and the number of CFU of Streptococcus mutans. In the adjusted model, a higher incidence of CFU mutans streptococci, elevated salivary urea, smaller number of filled teeth, lower DMFT, and less calcium salivary were associated with CKD. Programs to prevent and treat oral problems and regular follow-up at the beginning of dialysis are necessary to increase patients? awareness of their condition

Extracción de aceite de bacaba (Oenocarpus bacaba) con CO2 supercrítico: Isotermas de rendimiento global, composición de ácidos grasos, calidad funcional, estabilidad oxidativa, perfil espectroscópico y actividad antioxidante

Bacaba is widely consumed by the Amazonian population, and is promising for the production of cooking oil. The objective of this research was to determine the parameters of bacaba oil extraction with supercritical CO2: the fatty acid composition, functional quality, oxidative stability, spectroscopic profile and antioxidant activity of the extracted oil. Extractions of bacaba (Oenocarpus bacaba) oil were performed with supercritical CO2 at temperatures of 40 and 60 ºC, with pressures varying from 120 to 420 bar. The highest mass yield was 60.39 ± 0.72% on a dry basis, obtained in the isotherm of 60 °C and 420 bar. Oleic acid was the major compound. The Infrared spectroscopic profile showed the predominance of unsaturated fatty acids. The results indicate that bacaba oil presents good functional quality.La bacaba es muy consumida por la población amazónica, constituyendo una promesa para una producción de aceite de cocina. El objetivo de esta investigación es determinar parámetros de la extracción de aceite de bacaba con CO2 supercrítico, la composición de ácidos grasos, evaluar su calidad funcional, la estabilidad oxidativa, el perfil espectroscópico y la actividad antioxidante del aceite. Las extracciones de aceite de bacaba (Oenocarpus bacaba) se realizaron con CO2 supercrítico a temperaturas de 40 y 60 ºC y presiones de 120 a 420 bar. El mayor rendimiento en masa fue de 60.39 ± 0.72% en base seca, obtenido en la isoterma de 60 °C y 420 bar. El ácido oleico fue el compuesto mayoritario. El perfil espectroscópico infrarrojo mostró el predominio de ácidos grasos no saturados. Los resultados indicaron que el aceite de bacaba presenta buena calidad funcional

Theoretical description of phase coexistence in model C60

We have investigated the phase diagram of the Girifalco model of C60 fullerene in the framework provided by the MHNC and the SCOZA liquid state theories, and by a Perturbation Theory (PT), for the free energy of the solid phase. We present an extended assessment of such theories as set against a recent Monte Carlo study of the same model [D. Costa et al, J. Chem. Phys. 118:304 (2003)]. We have compared the theoretical predictions with the corresponding simulation results for several thermodynamic properties. Then we have determined the phase diagram of the model, by using either the SCOZA, or the MHNC, or the PT predictions for one of the coexisting phases, and the simulation data for the other phase, in order to separately ascertain the accuracy of each theory. It turns out that the overall appearance of the phase portrait is reproduced fairly well by all theories, with remarkable accuracy as for the melting line and the solid-vapor equilibrium. The MHNC and SCOZA results for the liquid-vapor coexistence, as well as for the corresponding critical points, are quite accurate. All results are discussed in terms of the basic assumptions underlying each theory. We have selected the MHNC for the fluid and the first-order PT for the solid phase, as the most accurate tools to investigate the phase behavior of the model in terms of purely theoretical approaches. The overall results appear as a robust benchmark for further theoretical investigations on higher order C(n>60) fullerenes, as well as on other fullerene-related materials, whose description can be based on a modelization similar to that adopted in this work.Comment: RevTeX4, 15 pages, 7 figures; submitted to Phys. Rev.

Soil biochemistry and microbial activity in vineyards under conventional and organic management at Northeast Brazil.

The São Francisco Submedium Valley is located at the Brazilian semiarid region and is an important center for irrigated fruit growing. This region is responsible for 97% of the national exportation of table grapes, including seedless grapes. Based on the fact that orgThe São Francisco Submedium Valley is located at the Brazilian semiarid region and is an important center for irrigated fruit growing. This region is responsible for 97% of the national exportation of table grapes, including seedless grapes. Based on the fact that organic fertilization can improve soil quality, we compared the effects of conventional and organic soil management on microbial activity and mycorrhization of seedless grape crops. We measured glomerospores number, most probable number (MPN) of propagules, richness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species, AMF root colonization, EE-BRSP production, carbon microbial biomass (C-MB), microbial respiration, fluorescein diacetate hydrolytic activity (FDA) and metabolic coefficient (qCO2). The organic management led to an increase in all variables with the exception of EE-BRSP and qCO2. Mycorrhizal colonization increased from 4.7% in conventional crops to 15.9% in organic crops. Spore number ranged from 4.1 to 12.4 per 50 g-1 soil in both management systems. The most probable number of AMF propagules increased from 79 cm-3 soil in the conventional system to 110 cm-3 soil in the organic system. Microbial carbon, CO2 emission, and FDA activity were increased by 100 to 200% in the organic crop. Thirteen species of AMF were identified, the majority in the organic cultivation system. Acaulospora excavata, Entrophospora infrequens, Glomus sp.3 and Scutellospora sp. were found only in the organically managed crop. S. gregaria was found only in the conventional crop. Organically managed vineyards increased mycorrhization and general soil microbial activity

Relic neutrino masses and the highest energy cosmic rays

We consider the possibility that a large fraction of the ultrahigh energy cosmic rays are decay products of Z bosons which were produced in the scattering of ultrahigh energy cosmic neutrinos on cosmological relic neutrinos. We compare the observed ultrahigh energy cosmic ray spectrum with the one predicted in the above Z-burst scenario and determine the required mass of the heaviest relic neutrino as well as the necessary ultrahigh energy cosmic neutrino flux via a maximum likelihood analysis. We show that the value of the neutrino mass obtained in this way is fairly robust against variations in presently unknown quantities, like the amount of neutrino clustering, the universal radio background, and the extragalactic magnetic field, within their anticipated uncertainties. Much stronger systematics arises from different possible assumptions about the diffuse background of ordinary cosmic rays from unresolved astrophysical sources. In the most plausible case that these ordinary cosmic rays are protons of extragalactic origin, one is lead to a required neutrino mass in the range 0.08 eV - 1.3 eV at the 68 % confidence level. This range narrows down considerably if a particular universal radio background is assumed, e.g. to 0.08 eV - 0.40 eV for a large one. The required flux of ultrahigh energy cosmic neutrinos near the resonant energy should be detected in the near future by AMANDA, RICE, and the Pierre Auger Observatory, otherwise the Z-burst scenario will be ruled out.Comment: 19 pages, 22 figures, REVTeX

Kaluza-Klein Cosmology With Modified Holographic Dark Energy

We investigate the compact Kaluza-Klein cosmology in which modified holographic dark energy is interacting with dark matter. Using this scenario, we evaluate equation of state parameter as well as equation of evolution of the modified holographic dark energy. Further, it is shown that the generalized second law of thermodynamics holds without any constraint.Comment: 13 pages, accepted for publication in Gen. Relativ. Gravi