Topological defects: A problem for cyclic universes?

We study the behaviour of cosmic string networks in contracting universes, and discuss some of their possible consequences. We note that there is a fundamental time asymmetry between defect network evolution for an expanding universe and a contracting universe. A string network with negligible loop production and small-scale structure will asymptotically behave during the collapse phase as a radiation fluid. In realistic networks these two effects are important, making this solution only approximate. We derive new scaling solutions describing this effect, and test them against high-resolution numerical simulations. A string network in a contracting universe, together with the gravitational radiation background it has generated, can significantly affect the dynamics of the universe both locally and globally. The network can be an important source of radiation, entropy and inhomogeneity. We discuss the possible implications of these findings for bouncing and cyclic cosmological models.Comment: 11 RevTeX 4 pages, 6 figures; version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Kinetic energy driven superconductivity in doped cuprates

Within the t-J model, the mechanism of superconductivity in doped cuprates is studied based on the partial charge-spin separation fermion-spin theory. It is shown that dressed holons interact occurring directly through the kinetic energy by exchanging dressed spinon excitations, leading to a net attractive force between dressed holons, then the electron Cooper pairs originating from the dressed holon pairing state are due to the charge-spin recombination, and their condensation reveals the superconducting ground-state. The electron superconducting transition temperature is determined by the dressed holon pair transition temperature, and is proportional to the concentration of doped holes in the underdoped regime. With the common form of the electron Cooper pair, we also show that there is a coexistence of the electron Cooper pair and antiferromagnetic short-range correlation, and hence the antiferromagnetic short-range fluctuation can persist into the superconducting state. Our results are qualitatively consistent with experiments.Comment: 6 pages, Revtex, two figures are included, corrected typo

Spin-charge separation in the single hole doped Mott antiferromagnet

The motion of a single hole in a Mott antiferromagnet is investigated based on the t-J model. An exact expression of the energy spectrum is obtained, in which the irreparable phase string effect [Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 5102 (1996)] is explicitly present. By identifying the phase string effect with spin backflow, we point out that spin-charge separation must exist in such a system: the doped hole has to decay into a neutral spinon and a spinless holon, together with the phase string. We show that while the spinon remains coherent, the holon motion is deterred by the phase string, resulting in its localization in space. We calculate the electron spectral function which explains the line shape of the spectral function as well as the ``quasiparticle'' spectrum observed in angle-resolved photoemission experiments. Other analytic and numerical approaches are discussed based on the present framework.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures; references updated; to appear in Phys. Rev.

Big bang nucleosynthesis with a varying fine structure constant and non-standard expansion rate

We calculate primordial abundances of light elements produced during big bang nucleosynthesis when the fine structure constant and/or the cosmic expansion rate take non-standard values. We compare them with the recent values of observed D, He4 and Li7 abundances, which show slight inconsistency among themselves in the standard big bang nucleosynthesis scenario. This inconsistency is not solved by considering either a varying fine structure constant or a non-standard expansion rate separately but solutions are found by their simultaneous existence.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

f(R)f(R) gravity constrained by PPN parameters and stochastic background of gravitational waves

We analyze seven different viable $f(R)$-gravities towards the Solar System tests and stochastic gravitational waves background. The aim is to achieve experimental bounds for the theory at local and cosmological scales in order to select models capable of addressing the accelerating cosmological expansion without cosmological constant but evading the weak field constraints. Beside large scale structure and galactic dynamics, these bounds can be considered complimentary in order to select self-consistent theories of gravity working at the infrared limit. It is demonstrated that seven viable $f(R)$-gravities under consideration not only satisfy the local tests, but additionally, pass the above PPN-and stochastic gravitational waves bounds for large classes of parameters.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figure

Some remarks on the dynamical systems approach to fourth order gravity

Building on earlier work, we discuss a general framework for exploring the cosmological dynamics of Higher Order Theories of Gravity. We show that once the theory of gravity has been specified, the cosmological equations can be written as a first-order autonomous system and we give several examples which illustrate the utility of our method. We also discuss a number of results which have appeared recently in the literature.Comment: 19 pages, LaTe

Anticipation of 'ubá' mango ripening with preharvest ethephon application

Preharvest application of ethephon, a compound that releases ethylene when hydrolyzed, can anticipate and standardize mango harvesting. In this study, the effects of different doses of ethephon, applied at preharvest, on harvest anticipation of 'Ubá' mango were evaluated. On the 17th week after anthesis, 25 mango trees, five per treatment, were sprayed with ethephon at 0, 250, 500, 750 and 1000mg L-1, plus 0.5% of mineral oil. Five fruits from each plant were harvested daily until full ripening, and evaluated. Except, for dose 0mg L-1, in which six days after ethephon application (DAAE), harvest was carried out weekly up to 41DAAE The treated fruit presented a more intense flesh color than the non-treated, particularly at the doses of 500 and 750mg L-1. Fruit treated with 500, 750 and 1000mg L-1showed abrupt firmness reduction from the 1st DAAE and TSS higher than 18°Brix on the 6th DAAE. Non-treated fruit presented slower firmness reduction and reached 18°Brix on the 35th DAAE. The dose of 1000mg L-1 of ethephon resulted in premature fall and low fruit quality. Application of 500 or 750mg L-1 of ethephon allowed to anticipate and to standardize mango harvesting. These doses also allowed harvesting fruit with the best commercial quality and without the need of climatization after harvest.A aplicação pré-colheita de ethephon, composto que libera etileno quando hidrolisado, pode antecipar e uniformizar a colheita de manga. Neste trabalho foram avaliados os efeitos de diferentes doses de ethephon, aplicadas na pré-colheita, sobre a antecipação da colheita de manga 'Ubá'. Na 17ª semana após a antese, 25 mangueiras, sendo cinco por tratamento, foram pulverizadas com ethephon nas doses 0, 250, 500, 750 e 1000L-1, acrescido de 0,5% de óleo mineral. Foram colhidos 10 frutos de cada planta, diariamente, até o completo amadurecimento, com exceção da dose 0L-1, em que, a partir de 6 dias após aplicação do ethephon (DAAE), a colheita foi semanal até 42DAAE. Dos 10 frutos colhidos, cinco foram analisados no dia da colheita e cinco armazenados a 20±080°C e 90±5% UR e avaliados após o completo amadurecimento. Frutos tratados apresentaram coloração de polpa mais intensa que os não tratados, especialmente na dose 500L-1. Frutos tratados com 500, 750 e 1000L-1 apresentaram brusca queda da firmeza a partir do 1ºDAAE, e SST superiores a 18°brix no 6ºDAAE, enquanto nos não tratados, a queda da firmeza foi mais lenta e atingiram 18°brix aos 35ºDAAE. A dose de 1000L-1 de ethephon resultou em queda prematura e má qualidade final dos frutos. Frutos colhidos no 3oDAAE e armazenados atingiram o completo amadurecimento com 12, 7, 6, 4 e 6 dias para as doses 0, 250, 500, 750 e 1000L-1, respectivamente. A aplicação de 500 ou 750L-1 de ethephon, seguida da colheita no 3oDAAE, permitiu a obtenção de frutos com qualidade comercial, além de dispensar a climatização após a colheita

Bespoke library docking for 5-HT2A receptor agonists with antidepressant activity

There is considerable interest in screening ultralarge chemical libraries for ligand discovery, both empirically and computationally1–4. Efforts have focused on readily synthesizable molecules, inevitably leaving many chemotypes unexplored. Here we investigate structure-based docking of a bespoke virtual library of tetrahydropyridines—a scaffold that is poorly sampled by a general billion-molecule virtual library but is well suited to many aminergic G-protein-coupled receptors. Using three inputs, each with diverse available derivatives, a one pot C–H alkenylation, electrocyclization and reduction provides the tetrahydropyridine core with up to six sites of derivatization5–7. Docking a virtual library of 75 million tetrahydropyridines against a model of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR) led to the synthesis and testing of 17 initial molecules. Four of these molecules had low-micromolar activities against either the 5-HT2A or the 5-HT2B receptors. Structure-based optimization led to the 5-HT2AR agonists (R)-69 and (R)-70, with half-maximal effective concentration values of 41 nM and 110 nM, respectively, and unusual signalling kinetics that differ from psychedelic 5-HT2AR agonists. Cryo-electron microscopy structural analysis confirmed the predicted binding mode to 5-HT2AR. The favourable physical properties of these new agonists conferred high brain permeability, enabling mouse behavioural assays. Notably, neither had psychedelic activity, in contrast to classic 5-HT2AR agonists, whereas both had potent antidepressant activity in mouse models and had the same efficacy as antidepressants such as fluoxetine at as low as 1/40th of the dose. Prospects for using bespoke virtual libraries to sample pharmacologically relevant chemical space will be considered

The onset of the non-linear regime in unified dark matter models

We discuss the onset of the non-linear regime in the context of unified dark matter models involving a generalised Chaplygin gas. We show that the transition from dark matter-like to dark energy-like behaviour will never be smooth. In some regions of space the transition will never take place while in others it may happen sooner or later than naively expected. As a result the linear theory used in previous studies may break down late in the matter dominated era even on large cosmological scales. We study the importance of this effect showing that its magnitude depends on the exact form of the equation of state in the low density regime. We expect that our results will be relevant for other unified dark matter scenarios particularly those where the quartessence candidate is a perfect fluid.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure