Polytropic equation of state and primordial quantum fluctuations

We study the primordial Universe in a cosmological model where inflation is driven by a fluid with a polytropic equation of state $p = \alpha\rho + k\rho^{1 + 1/n}$. We calculate the dynamics of the scalar factor and build a Universe with constant density at the origin. We also find the equivalent scalar field that could create such equation of state and calculate the corresponding slow-roll parameters. We calculate the scalar perturbations, the scalar power spectrum and the spectral index.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figure

Sigatoka-negra e ferrugem-asiática: duas doenças de grande impacto econômico.

Duas doenças têm merecido especial atenção do Ministério da Agricultura e Abastecimento (MAPA): A Sigatoka-negra da banana e a Ferrugem-asiática da soja, causadas, pelos respectivos fungos exóticos atuais, Mycosphaerella fijiensis M. Morelet (Paracercospora fijiensis (M. Morelet) Deighton) e Phakopsora pachyrhizi Sydow & P. Sydow. Estes foram, recentemente, introduzidos no País, sendo que, o primeiro tem distribuição restrita e o segundo se encontra amplamente disseminado no território brasileiro.bitstream/CENARGEN/27989/1/doc167.pd

AN ATTEMPT TO LINK THE BRAZILIAN HEIGHT SYSTEM TO A WORLD HEIGHT SYSTEM

This paper deals with the geopotential approach to investigate the present BrazilianHeight System (BHS). Geopotential numbers are derived from Global PositioningSystem (GPS) satellite surveying and disturbing potential on selected benchmarks.A model for the disturbing potential can be obtained by an existing set of sphericalharmonic coefficients such as the Earth Gravity Model 2008 (EGM08). Theapproach provides absolute evaluation of local normal geopotential numbers (akaspheropotential numbers) related to a so-called World Height System (WHS). Totest the validity of the proposed methodology, a numerical experiment was carriedout related to a test region in Southern Brazil. The accuracy of the derivedgeopotential numbers was tested versus local normal geopotential numbers based on262 GPS/leveling points. The root mean square error (RMSE) value for metricoffset of BHS derived from geopotential numbers and the disturbing potentialmodeling in the test area was estimated to be near 0.224 meters in the absolute view.Therefore, since these spheropotential numbers are referred to a local datum, theseresults of comparisons may be an indicator of the mean bias of local network due tothe effect of local Sea Surface Topography (SSTop) and possible offset between theunknown reference for the BHS and the quasigeoid model in the region

Activation-Induced Cytidine Deaminase Does Not Impact Murine Meiotic Recombination

Activation-Induced Cytidine Deaminase (AID) was first described as the triggering enzyme of the B-cell-specific reactions that edit the immunoglobulin genes, namely somatic hypermutation, gene conversion and class switch recombination. Over the years, AID was also detected in cells other than lymphocytes, and it has been assigned additional roles in the innate defense against transforming retroviruses, in retrotransposition restriction and in DNA demethylation. Notably, AID expression was found in germline tissues, and in heterologous systems it can induce the double-strand breaks required for the initiation of meiotic recombination and proper gamete formation. However, since AID deficient mice are fully fertile, the molecule is not essential for meiosis. Thus, the remaining question that we addressed here is whether AID influences the frequency of meiotic recombination in mice. We measured the recombination events in the meiosis of male and female mice F1 hybrids of C57BL/6J and BALB/c, in Aicda(+/+) and Aicda(-/-) background using a panel of SNPs that distinguishes C57BL/6J from BALB/c genome across the 19 autosomes. In agreement with the literature, we found that the frequency of recombination in the female germline was higher than in male germline, both in the Aicda(+/+) and the Aicda(-/-) backgrounds. No statistical difference was found in the average recombination events between Aicda(+/+) and Aicda(-/-) animals, either in females or males. In addition, the recombination frequency between SNPs flanking the IgH and Igκ loci was also not different. We conclude that AID has a minor impact, if any, on the overall frequency of meiotic recombination.Marie Curie Reintegration grant: (PIRG03-GA-2008230967), FCT fellowship: (SFRH/BPD/66824/2009)

Avaliação da aderência pneu-pavimento para diferentes tipos de pavimentos utilizando o International Friction Index (IFI)

A condição superficial do pavimento é um fator importante para a avaliação da segurança viária por caracterizar diretamente os níveis de atrito, que condicionam as frenagens veiculares. No intuito de padronizar os diversos indicadores de aderência, desenvolveu-se o International Friction Index (IFI). O principal objetivo deste método é quantificar o atrito superficial, reportando-o como um índice em escala que possa ser utilizado internacionalmente. Neste contexto, o presente estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a aderência pneu-pavimento para diferentes tipos de pavimentos utilizados no Brasil. Para isso, consolidou-se um extenso banco de dados, obtidos a partir da revisão da literatura, de microtextura e de macrotextura, englobando aproximadamente dez técnicas diferentes de pavimentação. Desta análise, obtiveram-se curvas que correlacionam coeficiente de atrito e a velocidade, observando-se a preponderância da macrotextura do material no desempenho da aderência pneu-pavimento.Pavement’s surface condition is a key parameter to evaluate traffic safety because it directly characterizes friction levels, related to the quality of vehicular braking. Defined by both micro- and macrotexture, different techniques applied to determine skid resistance are documented in the literature. In order to standardized skid resistance, International Friction Index (IFI) was developed. Its main goal is to quantify frictional coefficient, reporting it as a single-scale indicator, which can be assessed worldwide. In this context, this paper’s mean objective is to assess skid resistance for different paving techniques. For that, an extent database of micro- and macrotexture was collected from the literature, counting on more than 10 different paving techniques. From this analysis, curves of frictional coefficient versus speed were plotted, observing macrotexture’s preponderance on skid resistance performance.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio