Energy in an Expanding Universe in the Teleparallel Geometry

The main purpose of this paper is to explicitly verify the consistency of the energy-momentum and angular momentum tensor of the gravitational field established in the Hamiltonian structure of the Teleparallel Equivalent of General Relativity (TEGR). In order to reach these objectives, we obtained the total energy and angular momentum (matter plus gravitational field) of the closed universe of the Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW). The result is compared with those obtained from the pseudotensors of Einstein and Landau-Lifshitz. We also applied the field equations (TEGR) in an expanding FLRW universe. Considering the stress energy-momentum tensor for a perfect fluid, we found a teleparallel equivalent of Friedmann equations of General Relativity (GR).Comment: 19 pages, no figures. Revised in view of Referee's comments. Version to appear in the Brazilian Journal of Physic

A new data reduction scheme to obtain the mode II fracture properties of Pinus Pinaster wood

In this work a numerical study of the End Notched Flexure (ENF) specimen was performed in order to obtain the mode II critical strain energy released rate (GIIc) of a Pinus pinaster wood in the RL crack propagation system. The analysis included interface finite elements and a progressive damage model based on indirect use of Fracture Mechanics. The difficulties in monitoring the crack length during an experimental ENF test and the inconvenience of performing separate tests in order to obtain the elastic properties are well known. To avoid these problems, a new data reduction scheme based on the equivalent crack concept was proposed and validated. This new data reduction scheme, the Compliance-Based Beam Method (CBBM), does not require crack measurements during ENF tests and additional tests to obtain elastic properties.FCT - POCTI/EME/45573/200

Finite element analysis of the ECT test on mode III interlaminar fracture of carbon-epoxy composite laminates

In this work a parametric study of the Edge Crack Torsion (ECT) specimen was performed in order to maximize the mode III component (GIII) of the strain energy release rate for carbon-epoxy laminates. A three-dimensional finite element analysis of the ECT test was conducted considering a [90/0/(+45/-45)2/(-45/+45)2/0/90]S lay-up. The main objective was to define an adequate geometry to obtain an almost pure mode III at crack front. The geometrical parameters studied were specimen dimensions, distance between pins and size of the initial crack. The numerical results demonstrated that the ratio between the specimen length and the initial crack length had a significant effect on the strain energy release rate distributions. In almost all of the tested configurations, a mode II component occurred near the edges but it did not interfere significantly with the dominant mode III state.FCT - POCTI/EME/45573/200

Topological insulator particles as optically induced oscillators: towards dynamical force measurements and optical rheology

We report the first experimental study upon the optical trapping and manipulation of topological insulator (TI) particles. By virtue of the unique TI properties, which have a conducting surface and an insulating bulk, the particles present a peculiar behaviour in the presence of a single laser beam optical tweezers: they oscillate in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the laser propagation, as a result of the competition between radiation pressure and gradient forces. In other words, TI particles behave as optically induced oscillators, allowing dynamical measurements with unprecedented simplicity and purely optical control. Actually, optical rheology of soft matter interfaces and biological membranes, as well as dynamical force measurements in macromolecules and biopolymers, may be quoted as feasible possibilities for the near future.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. Correspondence and requests for Supplementary Material should be addressed to [email protected]

Genetic diversity in a jaborandi ( Pilocarpus microphyllus Stapf.) germplasm bank assessed by RAPD markers.

Diversidade genética em banco de germoplasma de jaborandi ( Pilocarpus microphyllus Stapf .) por meio de marcadores RAPD. O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar a presença de variabilidade genética no banco de germoplasma de P. microphyllus da Embrapa Amazônia Oriental por meio de marcadores RAPD. Foi extraído o DNA de 93 indivíduos, pertencentes a 12 áreas de coleta presentes no banco de germoplasma. Foram construídos dendrogramas entre indivíduos e entre áreas de coleta, usando os coeficientes de similaridade de Nei & Li por meio do programa NTSYS-pc. Para verificar a distribuição da variabilidade, foi realizada a análise de variância molecular (AMOVA), sendo obtidas as variâncias entre e dentro de áreas de coleta. Foi usado o índice de diversidade de Shannon, para medir a diversidade de cada área. Foi verificada uma boa amplitude de similaridades entre os indivíduos, sendo que o dendrograma não agrupou por completo os indivíduos de acordo com sua origem. A AMOVA obteve 24,16% de variação entre áreas e 75,84% dentro de áreas

Entropy diversity in multi-objective particle swarm optimization

Multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) is a search algorithm based on social behavior. Most of the existing multi-objective particle swarm optimization schemes are based on Pareto optimality and aim to obtain a representative non-dominated Pareto front for a given problem. Several approaches have been proposed to study the convergence and performance of the algorithm, particularly by accessing the final results. In the present paper, a different approach is proposed, by using Shannon entropy to analyzethe MOPSO dynamics along the algorithm execution. The results indicate that Shannon entropy can be used as an indicator of diversity and convergence for MOPSO problems

Dynamical modelling of a genetic algorithm

This work addresses the signal propagation and the fractional-order dynamics during the evolution of a genetic algorithm (GA). In order to investigate the phenomena involved in the GA population evolution, the mutation is exposed to excitation perturbations during some generations and the corresponding fitness variations are evaluated. Three distinct fitness functions are used to study their influence in the GA dynamics. The input and output signals are studied revealing a fractional-order dynamic evolution, characteristic of a long-term system memory

Manipulator trajectory planning using a MOEA

Generating manipulator trajectories considering multiple objectives and obstacle avoidance is a non-trivial optimization problem. In this paper a multi-objective genetic algorithm based technique is proposed to address this problem. Multiple criteria are optimized considering up to five simultaneous objectives. Simulation results are presented for robots with two and three degrees of freedom, considering two and five objectives optimization. A subsequent analysis of the spread and solutions distribution along the converged non-dominated Pareto front is carried out, in terms of the achieved diversity

Robotic synthesis using a hierarchical multi-objective evolutionary algorithm

This paper addresses the robotic manipulator synthesis problem considering multiple design criteria simultaneously. This is a complex problem suitable for the application of multi-objective genetic algorithms. Thus, an hierarchical multi-objective genetic algorithm is proposed to generate a robot structure and corresponding manipulating trajectories. The design aim is to minimize the trajectory space ripple, the initial and final torques while optimizing the mechanical structure. Simulation results are presented concerning the solution of a structure synthesis problem with the optimization of three objectives.N/