Exponential Growth of Particle Number far from the Parametric Resonance Regime

Parametric resonance has received a considerable amount of interest as a good mathematical model to describe the initial stages of the reheating phase (matter creation) in inflationary cosmology. It is also known that exponential particle creation can occur in situations which do not fall in the parametric resonance regime characterized by oscillations of the inflaton field about its minimum. Here we present a new analytical approach to exponential particle production which can occur when the inflaton is far from the minimum of its potential. Crucial for this effect is a term in the equation of motion which acts like a negative mass square term, as occurs for tachyonic preheating and negative coupling particle production. Our techniques apply in models with a strong coupling between matter fields $\chi$ and the inflaton $\phi$, or in some models in which the inflaton has a large amplitude of oscillation. Note that our analysis yields results which are quite model dependent. Exponential growth occurs in a model with interaction Lagrangian $-g M_{pl}\phi\chi^2$. However, for the interaction Lagrangian $-g^2\phi^2\chi^2$, our formalism shows that in the large coupling limit there can only be exponential particle production when $\phi$ crosses 0.Parametric resonance has received a considerable amount of interest as a good mathematical model to describe the initial stages of the reheating phase (matter creation) in inflationary cosmology. It is also known that exponential particle creation can occur in situations which do not fall in the parametric resonance regime characterized by oscillations of the inflaton field about its minimum. Here we present a new analytical approach to exponential particle production which can occur when the inflaton is far from the minimum of its potential. Crucial for this effect is a term in the equation of motion which acts like a negative mass square term, as occurs for tachyonic preheating and negative coupling particle production. Our techniques apply in models with a strong coupling between matter fields $\chi$ and the inflaton $\phi$, or in some models in which the inflaton has a large amplitude of oscillation. Note that our analysis yields results which are quite model dependent. Exponential growth occurs in a model with interaction Lagrangian $-g M_{pl}\phi\chi^2$. However, for the interaction Lagrangian $-g^2\phi^2\chi^2$, our formalism shows that in the large coupling limit there can only be exponential particle production when $\phi$ crosses 0.Parametric resonance has received a considerable amount of interest as a good mathematical model to describe the initial stages of the reheating phase (matter creation) in inflationary cosmology. It is also known that exponential particle creation can occur in situations which do not fall in the parametric resonance regime characterized by oscillations of the inflaton field about its minimum. Here we present a new analytical approach to exponential particle production which can occur when the inflaton is far from the minimum of its potential. Crucial for this effect is a term in the equation of motion which acts like a negative mass square term, as occurs for tachyonic preheating and negative coupling particle production. Our techniques apply in models with a strong coupling between matter fields $\chi$ and the inflaton $\phi$, or in some models in which the inflaton has a large amplitude of oscillation. Note that our analysis yields results which are quite model dependent. Exponential growth occurs in a model with interaction Lagrangian $-g M_{pl}\phi\chi^2$. However, for the interaction Lagrangian $-g^2\phi^2\chi^2$, our formalism shows that in the large coupling limit there can only be exponential particle production when $\phi$ crosses 0.Parametric resonance has received a considerable amount of interest as a good mathematical model to describe the initial stages of the reheating phase (matter creation) in inflationary cosmology. It is also known that exponential particle creation can occur in situations which do not fall in the parametric resonance regime characterized by oscillations of the inflaton field about its minimum. Here we present a new analytical approach to exponential particle production which can occur when the inflaton is far from the minimum of its potential. Crucial for this effect is a term in the equation of motion which acts like a negative mass square term, as occurs for tachyonic preheating and negative coupling particle production. Our techniques apply in models with a strong coupling between matter fields $\chi$ and the inflaton $\phi$, or in some models in which the inflaton has a large amplitude of oscillation. Note that our analysis yields results which are quite model dependent. Exponential growth occurs in a model with interaction Lagrangian $-g M_{pl}\phi\chi^2$. However, for the interaction Lagrangian $-g^2\phi^2\chi^2$, our formalism shows that in the large coupling limit there can only be exponential particle production when $\phi$ crosses 0

Histological and ultrastructural feature and nitrite production of caprine preantral follicles in vitro cultured in the presence or absence of serum

Avaliou-se o efeito da adição de diferentes tipos e concentrações de soro sobre o desenvolvimento e a sobrevivência de folículos ovarianos pré-antrais (FOPA) caprinos in vitro. Além disso, verificou-se a relação entre as concentrações de nitrito presentes no meio de cultivo e a viabilidade folicular. Cada par ovariano foi dividido em 29 fragmentos, sendo um destinado ao controle. Os fragmentos foram cultivados por um ou sete dias em meio essencial mínimo suplementado (MEM+) ou MEM+ com diferentes concentrações (10 ou 20%) de soro fetal bovino (SFB), soro de cabra em estro (SCE) ou soro de cabra em diestro (SCD). Na análise morfológica após sete dias, apenas o tratamento com 10% de SFB apresentou percentual de FOPA normais similar ao MEM+ (P>0,05). A análise ultra-estrutural dos folículos cultivados por sete dias com MEM+ ou MEM+ com 10% de SFB mostrou danos oocitários, porém células da granulosa normais. A análise do meio de cultivo revelou correlação positiva entre a viabilidade folicular e a produção de nitrito. A suplementação com soro não melhorou a viabilidade de FOPA e a concentração de nitrito no meio de cultivo funcionou como um indicador da viabilidade das células da granulosa de FOPA caprinos cultivados in vitro. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThe effect of the addition of different types and concentrations of sera on the viability and development of caprine preantal follicles (PAF) in vitro cultured was analyzed. In addition, it was evaluated the correlation between nitrite concentrations in culture medium and folicular viability. Each ovarian pair was divided in 29 fragments and one was used as control. The fragments were cultured for one or seven days in minimal essential medium (MEM+) or MEM+ with different concentrations of (10 or 20%) bovine fetal serum (BFS), estrous goat serum (EGS), or diestrous goat serum (DGS). After seven days, the morphological analysis showed that only the treatment with 10% BFS maintained the percentage of normal PAF similar to MEM+ (P>0.05). The ultrastructural analysis of follicles cultured for seven days in MEM+ or MEM+ with 10% BFS showed some oocyte damage, although the granulosa cells were normal. Analysis of culture medium revealed a positive correlation between follicular viability and nitrite production. Supplementation with serum did not improve the viability of PAF and nitrite levels in culture medium served as an indicator of viability of granulose cells from caprine PAF in vitro cultured

A Systematic Review of Mosquito Coils and Passive Emanators: Defining Recommendations for Spatial Repellency Testing Methodologies.

Mosquito coils, vaporizer mats and emanators confer protection against mosquito bites through the spatial action of emanated vapor or airborne pyrethroid particles. These products dominate the pest control market; therefore, it is vital to characterize mosquito responses elicited by the chemical actives and their potential for disease prevention. The aim of this review was to determine effects of mosquito coils and emanators on mosquito responses that reduce human-vector contact and to propose scientific consensus on terminologies and methodologies used for evaluation of product formats that could contain spatial chemical actives, including indoor residual spraying (IRS), long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs) and insecticide treated materials (ITMs). PubMed, (National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), U.S. National Library of Medicine, NIH), MEDLINE, LILAC, Cochrane library, IBECS and Armed Forces Pest Management Board Literature Retrieval System search engines were used to identify studies of pyrethroid based coils and emanators with key-words "Mosquito coils" "Mosquito emanators" and "Spatial repellents". It was concluded that there is need to improve statistical reporting of studies, and reach consensus in the methodologies and terminologies used through standardized testing guidelines. Despite differing evaluation methodologies, data showed that coils and emanators induce mortality, deterrence, repellency as well as reduce the ability of mosquitoes to feed on humans. Available data on efficacy outdoors, dose-response relationships and effective distance of coils and emanators is inadequate for developing a target product profile (TPP), which will be required for such chemicals before optimized implementation can occur for maximum benefits in disease control

Naturalness Bounds on Dipole Moments from New Physics

Assuming naturalness that the quantum corrections to the mass should not exceed the order of the observed mass, we derive and apply model-independent bounds on the anomalous magnetic moments and electric dipole moments of leptons and quarks due to new physics.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Nanoindentation unidirectional sliding and lateral force microscopy: evaluation of experimental techniques to measure friction at the nanoscale

CNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPERG - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DO RIO GRANDE DO SULFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOLateral force microscopy (LFM) is an established technique to assess friction forces at the nanoscale. Nanoindentation followed by unidirectional sliding (NUS) is also used to evaluate friction forces at the micro/nanoscale. However, comparative studies between NUS and LFM evaluating the experimental results at different scales are still missing. In this work, a-C:D/H and a-C:H thin films with different [D]/[C] and [H]/[C] contents were used to analyze the friction forces by NUS and LFM. The results show that the friction behavior assessed by these two techniques in different scales is the same. The correlation between friction forces measured by NUS and LFM depends mainly on a contact area factor that makes invariant the friction force from nanoscale to microscale. Such behavior suggests a similar damping mechanism, probably phonon-coupling phenomena, for the friction force origin.812110CNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPERG - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DO RIO GRANDE DO SULFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPERG - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DO RIO GRANDE DO SULFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO465423/2014-0sem informação2012/10127-

Resistência de conídios do fungo Neozygites sp à luz ultravioleta.

O fungo Neozygites sp é um patógeno de ocorrência natural do ácaro verde da mandioca, Mononychellus tanajoa. No presente trabalho foi estudada a ação da irradiação de luz ultra violeta, dado ao duplo interesse: genético fundamental em ser utilizado como possível marcador e indutor de mutação, e aplicado, pela sobrevivência de conídios em campo. A sobrevivência de conídios primários foi avaliada pela posterior formação de capilliconidios ou conídios secundários, dado que a inviabilidade de conídios primários se reflete principalmente pela falta de formação dos secundários. Os conídios primários foram obtidos em Placa de Petri em agar agua, e submetidos as doses de 0, 10, 20, 30 e 40 segundos de irradiação no comprimento de onda curta de 254 nm. Houve um decréscimo da sobrevivência de conídios primários proporcional ao aumento das doses de irradiação, com variação das respostas para as mesmas doses. A sobrevivência dos conídios obtidos em diferentes tempos, nas mesmas condições mostraram diferentes DL 50, demonstrando existir uma variabilidade natural para o caráter em estudo

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

Evaluation of alternative mosquito sampling methods for malaria vectors in Lowland South - East Zambia.

Sampling malaria vectors and measuring their biting density is of paramount importance for entomological surveys of malaria transmission. Human landing catch (HLC) has been traditionally regarded as a gold standard method for surveying human exposure to mosquito bites. However, due to the risk of human participant exposure to mosquito-borne parasites and viruses, a variety of alternative, exposure-free trapping methods were compared in lowland, south-east Zambia. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention miniature light trap (CDC-LT), Ifakara Tent Trap model C (ITT-C), resting boxes (RB) and window exit traps (WET) were all compared with HLC using a 3 × 3 Latin Squares design replicated in 4 blocks of 3 houses with long lasting insecticidal nets, half of which were also sprayed with a residual deltamethrin formulation, which was repeated for 10 rounds of 3 nights of rotation each during both the dry and wet seasons. The mean catches of HLC indoor, HLC outdoor, CDC-LT, ITT-C, WET, RB indoor and RB outdoor, were 1.687, 1.004, 3.267, 0.088, 0.004, 0.000 and 0.008 for Anopheles quadriannulatus Theobald respectively, and 7.287, 6.784, 10.958, 5.875, 0.296, 0.158 and 0.458, for An. funestus Giles, respectively. Indoor CDC-LT was more efficient in sampling An. quadriannulatus and An. funestus than HLC indoor (Relative rate [95% Confidence Interval] = 1.873 [1.653, 2.122] and 1.532 [1.441, 1.628], respectively, P < 0.001 for both). ITT-C was the only other alternative which had comparable sensitivity (RR = 0.821 [0.765, 0.881], P < 0.001), relative to HLC indoor other than CDC-LT for sampling An. funestus. While the two most sensitive exposure-free techniques primarily capture host-seeking mosquitoes, both have substantial disadvantages for routine community-based surveillance applications: the CDC-LT requires regular recharging of batteries while the bulkiness of ITT-C makes it difficult to move between sampling locations. RB placed indoors or outdoors and WET had consistently poor sensitivity so it may be useful to evaluate additional alternative methods, such as pyrethrum spray catches and back packer aspirators, for catching resting mosquitoes

Genome of the Avirulent Human-Infective Trypanosome—Trypanosoma rangeli

Background: Trypanosoma rangeli is a hemoflagellate protozoan parasite infecting humans and other wild and domestic mammals across Central and South America. It does not cause human disease, but it can be mistaken for the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi. We have sequenced the T. rangeli genome to provide new tools for elucidating the distinct and intriguing biology of this species and the key pathways related to interaction with its arthropod and mammalian hosts.  Methodology/Principal Findings: The T. rangeli haploid genome is ,24 Mb in length, and is the smallest and least repetitive trypanosomatid genome sequenced thus far. This parasite genome has shorter subtelomeric sequences compared to those of T. cruzi and T. brucei; displays intraspecific karyotype variability and lacks minichromosomes. Of the predicted 7,613 protein coding sequences, functional annotations could be determined for 2,415, while 5,043 are hypothetical proteins, some with evidence of protein expression. 7,101 genes (93%) are shared with other trypanosomatids that infect humans. An ortholog of the dcl2 gene involved in the T. brucei RNAi pathway was found in T. rangeli, but the RNAi machinery is non-functional since the other genes in this pathway are pseudogenized. T. rangeli is highly susceptible to oxidative stress, a phenotype that may be explained by a smaller number of anti-oxidant defense enzymes and heatshock proteins.  Conclusions/Significance: Phylogenetic comparison of nuclear and mitochondrial genes indicates that T. rangeli and T. cruzi are equidistant from T. brucei. In addition to revealing new aspects of trypanosome co-evolution within the vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, comparative genomic analysis with pathogenic trypanosomatids provides valuable new information that can be further explored with the aim of developing better diagnostic tools and/or therapeutic targets