CMB Polarization Experiments

We discuss the analysis of polarization experiments with particular emphasis on those that measure the Stokes parameters on a ring on the sky. We discuss the ability of these experiments to separate the $E$ and $B$ contributions to the polarization signal. The experiment being developed at Wisconsin university is studied in detail, it will be sensitive to both Stokes parameters and will concentrate on large scale polarization, scanning a $47^o$ degree ring. We will also consider another example, an experiment that measures one of the Stokes parameters in a $1^o$ ring. We find that the small ring experiment will be able to detect cosmological polarization for some models consistent with the current temperature anisotropy data, for reasonable integration times. In most cosmological models large scale polarization is too small to be detected by the Wisconsin experiment, but because both $Q$ and $U$ are measured, separate constraints can be set on $E$ and $B$ polarization.Comment: 27 pages with 12 included figure

Editorial: New Training Strategies and Evaluation Methods for Improving Health and Physical Performance

Physical activity is among the most effective methods for improving health, body composition, and physical function, and its practice is suitable for every population [...]

New Perspective on Galaxy Clustering as a Cosmological Probe: General Relativistic Effects

We present a general relativistic description of galaxy clustering in a FLRW universe. The observed redshift and position of galaxies are affected by the matter fluctuations and the gravity waves between the source galaxies and the observer, and the volume element constructed by using the observables differs from the physical volume occupied by the observed galaxies. Therefore, the observed galaxy fluctuation field contains additional contributions arising from the distortion in observable quantities and these include tensor contributions as well as numerous scalar contributions. We generalize the linear bias approximation to relate the observed galaxy fluctuation field to the underlying matter distribution in a gauge-invariant way. Our full formalism is essential for the consistency of theoretical predictions. As our first application, we compute the angular auto correlation of large-scale structure and its cross correlation with CMB temperature anisotropies. We comment on the possibility of detecting primordial gravity waves using galaxy clustering and discuss further applications of our formalism.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review

Luminescent Optical Fiber Oxygen Sensor following Layer-by-layer Method

AbstractA sensor based on luminescence has been prepared depositing the luminescent complex platinum tetrakis pentrafluorophenyporphine (PtTFPP) onto a plastic-clad silica (PCS) optical fiber. The sensing film is constructed in terms of Layer-by-Layer method. A LED centered at 400nm was used to interrogate the sensor in a reflection configuration, registering a luminescent signal from the sensing material located at 648nm. The transduction principle is based on the quenching suffered by PtTFPP as the oxygen (O2) concentration increases. The sensor was characterized for O2 concentrations from 0% to 75%, showing a linear Stern–Volmer relationship (R2 = 0.9962)

SAXS study of ion tracks in San Carlos olivine and Durango apatite

Ion tracks were generated in crystalline San Carlos olivine (Mg,Fe) 2SiO 4 and Durango apatite Ca 10(PO 4) 6F 2 using different heavy ions ( 58Ni, 101Ru, 129Xe, 197Au, and 238U) with energies ranging between 185 MeV and 2.6 GeV. The tracks and their annealing behavior were studied by means of synchrotron based small angle X-ray scattering in combination with in situ annealing. Track radii vary as a function of electronic energy loss but are very similar in both minerals. Furthermore, the annealing behavior of the track radii has been investigated and preliminary results reveal a lower recovery rate of the damaged area in olivine compared with apatite

Tomografia sísmica da litosfera continental algarvia

RESUMO: O presente estudo de Tomografia é focado na região do Algarve. Para a localização dos eventos e determinação do modelo de velocidades, são utilizadas as ondas P e S. Os dados foram obtidos entre Janeiro/2006 e Julho/2007. As estimativa dos tempos de origem e coordenadas hipocentrais foram calculadas. A relocalização de eventos e inversão linear respeitaram dois passos: 1) determinação do modelo mínimo 1-D e 2) relocalização dos hipocentros e obtenção da estrutura 3-D em termos de velocidades das ondas P. ABSTRACT: The present Tomographic study is focused on Algarve region. For event location and velocity model determination P and S waves were used. Data was collected between January/2006 and July/2007. The estimation of origin times and hipocentral determination were calculated. Relocation of events and linear inversion respected two steps: 1) minimum velocity model determination and 2) hipocentral relocation and 3-D Earth structure determination in terms of P wave velocities

A Naturally Large Four-Point Function in Single Field Inflation

Non-Gaussianities of the primordial density perturbations have emerged as a very powerful possible signal to test the dynamics that drove the period of inflation. While in general the most sensitive observable is the three-point function in this paper we show that there are technically natural inflationary models where the leading source of non-Gaussianity is the four-point function. Using the recently developed Effective Field Theory of Inflation, we are able to show that it is possible to impose an approximate parity symmetry and an approximate continuos shift symmetry on the inflaton fluctuations that allow, when the dispersion relation is of the form $\omega\sim c_s k$, for a unique quartic operator, while approximately forbidding all the cubic ones. The resulting shape for the four-point function is unique. In the models where the dispersion relation is of the form $\omega\sim k^2/M$ a similar construction can be carried out and additional shapes are possible.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figure. v2: extended discussion on near-de-Sitter model

New Sources of Gravitational Waves during Inflation

We point out that detectable inflationary tensor modes can be generated by particle or string sources produced during inflation, consistently with the requirements for inflation and constraints from scalar fluctuations. We show via examples that this effect can dominate over the contribution from quantum fluctuations of the metric, occurring even when the inflationary potential energy is too low to produce a comparable signal. Thus a detection of tensor modes from inflation does not automatically constitute a determination of the inflationary Hubble scale.Comment: 32 pages, 1 figure. v2: JCAP published version; some overestimates corrected; main results unchange

Estudo da viabilidade de uma proteção capaz de interagir o medidor portátil de glicose e seus acessórios

O medidor de glicose, em geral dispõe de capa, já fornecida com o equipamento, ou estojo para assegurar a o transporte, contudo as capas não atendem adequadamente a função a qual se destinam. O objeto com a capa assume uma dimensão significativamente maior, comparado quando está sem a capa, além disso, pela característica do material empregado, torna-se sujo pelo constante manuseio, exigindo a lavagem do material. Considerando que os pacientes, em especial os mais jovens, já se sentem, de alguma forma, diferentes pela demanda do uso constante do medidor de glicose, o aspecto estético torna-se importante, podendo até mesmo ser considerado um elemento motivador para uso sem constrangimentos do medidor de glicose. Este estudo pretende desenvolver uma proteção capaz de integrar o medidor de glicose e seus acessórios, considerando todas as requisições consideradas importantes pelos seus usuários, que neste caso serão as crianças, identificadas como tal pelo Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente no Art. 2º que considera ser criança a pessoa até doze anos de idade incompletos. A inovação da capa de proteção para o aparelho surgiu, a partir da percepção apontada por profissionais da área de saúde que atendem pacientes diabéticos. A Dra. Raquel Barbosa Lima Schwab, especialista em Endocrinologia diz que “[...] muitas das crianças que atendo tem certa resistência ao uso do medidor de glicose, pois o consideram um incômodo. ” A partir deste ponto de vista entende-se ser possível que haja um grande número de pessoas, consideradas crianças, que têm dificuldades relacionadas ao transporte e manuseio do medidor de glicose, por não se sentirem confortáveis com o equipamento. Deste modo, o presente estudo propõe conhecer as demandas dos usuários infantis diabéticos em relação ao uso do equipamento e propor um sistema que qualifique o produto de acordo com os interesses de seus usuários