Reply to "Comment on Renormalization group picture of the Lifshitz critical behaviors"

We reply to a recent comment by Diehl and Shpot (cond-mat/0305131) criticizing a new approach to the Lifshitz critical behavior just presented (M. M. Leite Phys. Rev. B 67, 104415(2003)). We show that this approach is free of inconsistencies in the ultraviolet regime. We recall that the orthogonal approximation employed to solve arbitrary loop diagrams worked out at the criticized paper even at three-loop level is consistent with homogeneity for arbitrary loop momenta. We show that the criticism is incorrect.Comment: RevTex, 6 page

Susceptibility Amplitude Ratios Near a Lifshitz Point

The susceptibility amplitude ratio in the neighborhood of a uniaxial Lifshitz point is calculated at one-loop level using field-theoretic and $\epsilon_{L}$-expansion methods. We use the Schwinger parametrization of the propagator in order to split the quadratic and quartic part of the momenta, as well as a new special symmetry point suitable for renormalization purposes. For a cubic lattice (d = 3), we find the result $\frac{C_{+}}{C_{-}} = 3.85$.Comment: 7 pages, late

Susceptibility amplitude ratio for generic competing systems

We calculate the susceptibility amplitude ratio near a generic higher character Lifshitz point up to one-loop order. We employ a renormalization group treatment with $L$ independent scaling transformations associated to the various inequivalent subspaces in the anisotropic case in order to compute the ratio above and below the critical temperature and demonstrate its universality. Furthermore, the isotropic results with only one type of competition axes have also been shown to be universal. We describe how the simpler situations of $m$-axial Lifshitz points as well as ordinary (noncompeting) systems can be retrieved from the present framework.Comment: 20 pages, no figure

Surface critical exponents at a uniaxial Lifshitz point

Using Monte Carlo techniques, the surface critical behaviour of three-dimensional semi-infinite ANNNI models with different surface orientations with respect to the axis of competing interactions is investigated. Special attention is thereby paid to the surface criticality at the bulk uniaxial Lifshitz point encountered in this model. The presented Monte Carlo results show that the mean-field description of semi-infinite ANNNI models is qualitatively correct. Lifshitz point surface critical exponents at the ordinary transition are found to depend on the surface orientation. At the special transition point, however, no clear dependency of the critical exponents on the surface orientation is revealed. The values of the surface critical exponents presented in this study are the first estimates available beyond mean-field theory.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures include

Critical behavior at m-axial Lifshitz points: field-theory analysis and ϵ\epsilon-expansion results

The critical behavior of d-dimensional systems with an n-component order parameter is reconsidered at (m,d,n)-Lifshitz points, where a wave-vector instability occurs in an m-dimensional subspace of ${\mathbb R}^d$. Our aim is to sort out which ones of the previously published partly contradictory $\epsilon$-expansion results to second order in $\epsilon=4+\frac{m}{2}-d$ are correct. To this end, a field-theory calculation is performed directly in the position space of $d=4+\frac{m}{2}-\epsilon$ dimensions, using dimensional regularization and minimal subtraction of ultraviolet poles. The residua of the dimensionally regularized integrals that are required to determine the series expansions of the correlation exponents $\eta_{l2}$ and $\eta_{l4}$ and of the wave-vector exponent $\beta_q$ to order $\epsilon^2$ are reduced to single integrals, which for general m=1,...,d-1 can be computed numerically, and for special values of m, analytically. Our results are at variance with the original predictions for general m. For m=2 and m=6, we confirm the results of Sak and Grest [Phys. Rev. B {\bf 17}, 3602 (1978)] and Mergulh{\~a}o and Carneiro's recent field-theory analysis [Phys. Rev. B {\bf 59},13954 (1999)].Comment: Latex file with one figure (eps-file). Latex file uses texdraw to generate figures that are included in the tex

The fraction of cancer attributable to ways of life, infections, occupation, and environmental agents in Brazil in 2020

Many human cancers develop as a result of exposure to risk factors related to the environment and ways of life. The aim of this study was to estimate attributable fractions of 25 types of cancers resulting from exposure to modifiable risk factors in Brazil. The prevalence of exposure to selected risk factors among adults was obtained from population-based surveys conducted from 2000 to 2008. Risk estimates were based on data drawn from metaanalyses or large, high quality studies. Population-attributable fractions (PAF) for a combination of risk factors, as well as the number of preventable deaths and cancer cases, were calculated for 2020. The known preventable risk factors studied will account for 34% of cancer cases among men and 35% among women in 2020, and for 46% and 39% deaths, respectively. The highest attributable fractions were estimated for tobacco smoking, infections, low consumption of fruits and vegetables, excess weight, reproductive factors, and physical inactivity. This is the first study to systematically estimate the fraction of cancer attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors in Brazil. Strategies for primary prevention of tobacco smoking and control of infection and the promotion of a healthy diet and physical activity should be the main priorities in policies for cancer prevention in the country. \ua9 2016 Azevedo e Silva et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited

Quantitative determination of amlodipine besylate in tablets by high performance liquid chromatography and UV spectrophotometry

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate analytical methods for determination of amlodipine besylate in tablets. Simple, accurate and precise liquid chromatographic and spectrophotometric methods are proposed. For the chromatographic method, the conditions were: a LiChrospher®100 RP-18 Merck® (125 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 µm) column; methanol/water containing 1 % of trietylamine adjusted to pH 5.0 with phosphoric acid (35:65) as mobile phase; a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and UV detector at 238 nm. Linearity was in the range of 50.0 - 350.0 µg/mL with a correlation coefficient (r) = 0.9999. For the spectrophotometric method, the first dilutions of samples were performed in methanol and the consecutives in ultrapure water. The quantitation was made at 364.4 nm. Linearity was determined within the range of 41.0 - 61.0 µg/mL with a correlation coefficient (r) = 0.9996. Our results demonstrate that both methods can be used in routine analysis for quality control of tablets containing amlodipine besylate.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Efeitos da quitosana no desenvolvimento in vitro de videiras cv. merlot e no crescimento micelial do fungo elsinoe ampelina.

Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, avaliar o efeito da quitosana no desenvolvimento in vitro de plântulas de videira cv. Merlot e sua atividade antifúngica sobre Elsinoe ampelina. No primeiro experimento, explantes da cultivar Merlot foram transferidos para meio de cultura DSD1, acrescido das concentrações 0; 25; 50,100; 150 e 200 mg L-1 de quitosana. Após 90 dias de cultivo in vitro, as plântulas foram avaliadas quanto ao número de raízes e de folhas, porcentagem de enraizamento e brotação, comprimento de raízes e de parte aérea, massa fresca da planta. No segundo experimento, incorporou-se às concentrações 0, 60, 120, 180, 240 e 300 mg L-1 de quitosana ao meio BDA, onde inoculou-se o fungo. Posteriormente, avaliou-se o crescimento micelial aos 6 e 9 dias de incubação a 25º C no escuro. No primeiro experimento para as variáveis comprimento médio da parte aérea, massa fresca da planta inteira, porcentagem de enraizamento e porcentagem de estacas brotadas houve decréscimo linear em função das concentrações de quitosana. No segundo experimento, houve efeito linear negativo em função das concentrações crescentes de quitosana, sendo que a inibição do crescimento micelial foi de 81,7%, demonstrando o grande potencial do uso de quitosana no controle da antracnose da videira

Retardadores de crescimento no desenvolvimento e na qualidade ornamental de Zinnia elegans Jacq. 'Lilliput' envasada

As zínias têm grande potencial como plantas floríferas envasadas e representam rápida fonte de novidade para a floricultura com o auxílio de retardadores de crescimento. Avaliaram-se os efeitos de retardadores de crescimento no desenvolvimento e na produção de plantas envasadas de porte baixo, compactas e atrativas de 'Lilliput' Zinnia elegans, cultivar altamente ornamental, com sementes de baixo custo. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, com dez tratamentos (controle e três concentrações de cada retardador: daminozide, paclobutrazol e chlormequat) e quatro repetições (dois vasos por unidade experimental, com uma planta por vaso de 0,6 L). Paclobutrazol (0,5; 0,75 e 1,0 mg i.a. por vaso) e chlormequat (1,0; 2,0 e 3,0 g L-1) foram aplicados ao substrato (40 mL por vaso), enquanto o daminozide (2,5; 3,75 e 5,0 g L-1) foi aplicado através de pulverização foliar (10 mL por vaso), no estádio de gema floral apical visível. Daminozide (2,5 e 3,75 g L-1), paclobutrazol (0,5; 0,75 e 1,0 mg i.a. por vaso) e 1,0 g L-1 de chlormequat reduziram significativamente a altura das plantas e o comprimento dos ramos laterais, sem afetar o diâmetro dos capítulos, atrasar o ciclo de produção e causar fitotoxicidade. Entretanto, as plantas não se apresentaram suficientemente baixas e compactas para atender às exigências de qualidade do mercado. Chlormequat (2,0 e 3,0 g L-1) causou fitotoxicidade e daminozide (5,0 g L-1) aumentou o ciclo de produção.Zinnias have good potential to be used as flowering, potted plants, being a quick source of novelty for the floriculture industry with the aid of growth retardants. This study evaluated the effect of growth retardants on development and production of short, compact and attractive plants of potted 'Lilliput' Zinnia elegans, a highly ornamental zinnia with low cost seeds. Trials were set up in randomized blocks, with ten treatments (control and three treatments of each retardant: daminozide, paclobutrazol and chlormequat) and four replications (two pots per experimental unit, with one plant per 0.6-L pot). Paclobutrazol (0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 mg a.i. per pot) and chlormequat (1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 g L-1) were applied as a single drench (40 mL per pot), and daminozide (2.5, 3.75 and 5.0 g L-1) as a single foliar spray to runoff (10 mL per pot), at apical flower bud stage. Daminozide (2.5 and 3.75 g L-1), paclobutrazol (0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 mg a.i. per pot) and chlormequat at 1.0 g L-1 significantly reduced plant height and side branches length, without affecting flower diameter, delaying production cycle and causing phytotoxicity symptoms. However, plants were not short and compact enough to meet market quality demand. Chlormequat (2.0 and 3.0 g L-1) caused phytotoxicity symptoms and daminozide (5.0 g L-1) delayed production cycle