A proposal for a first class conversion formalism based on the symmetries of the Wess-Zumino terms

We propose a new procedure to embed second class systems by introducing Wess-Zumino (WZ) fields in order to unveil hidden symmetries existent in the models. This formalism is based on the direct imposition that the new Hamiltonian must be invariant by gauge-symmetry transformations. An interesting feature in this approach is the possibility to find a representation for the WZ fields in a convenient way, which leads to preserve the gauge symmetry in the original phase space. Consequently, the gauge-invariant Hamiltonian can be written only in terms of the original phase-space variables. In this situation, the WZ variables are only auxiliary tools that permit to reveal the hidden symmetries present in the original second class model. We apply this formalism to important physical models: the reduced-SU(2) Skyrme model, the Chern-Simons-Proca quantum mechanics and the chiral bosons field theory. In all these systems, the gauge-invariant Hamiltonians are derived in a very simple way.Comment: Revised version. Title changed for Gauging by symmetries. To appear in IJMP

Ancient Amazonian populations left lasting impacts on forest structure

Amazonia contains a vast expanse of contiguous tropical forest and is influential in global carbon and hydrological cycles. Whether ancient Amazonia was highly disturbed or modestly impacted, and how ancient disturbances have shaped current forest ecosystem processes, is still under debate. Amazonian Dark Earths (ADEs), which are anthropic soil types with enriched nutrient levels, are one of the primary lines of evidence for ancient human presence and landscape modifications in settings that mostly lack stone structures and which are today covered by vegetation. We assessed the potential of using moderate spatial resolution optical satellite imagery to predict ADEs across the Amazon Basin. Maximum entropy modeling was used to develop a predictive model using locations of ADEs across the basin and satellite‐derived remotely sensed indices. Amazonian Dark Earth sites were predicted to be primarily along the main rivers and in eastern Amazonia. Amazonian Dark Earth sites, when compared with randomly selected forested sites located within 50 km of ADE sites, were less green canopies (lower normalized difference vegetation index) and had lower canopy water content. This difference was accentuated in two drought years, 2005 and 2010. This is contrary to our expectation that ADE sites would have nutrient‐rich soils that support trees with greener canopies and forests on ADE soils being more resilient to drought. Biomass and tree height were lower on ADE sites in comparison with randomly selected adjacent sites. Our results suggested that ADE‐related ancient human impact on the forest is measurable across the entirety of the 6 million km2 of Amazon Basin using remotely sensed data

On a study and applications of the Concentration-compactness type principle for Systems with critical terms in RN\mathbb{R}^{N}

In this paper, we obtain some important variants of the Lions and Chabrowski Concentration-compactness principle, in the context of fractional Sobolev spaces with variable exponents, especially for nonlinear systems. As an application of the results, we show the existence and assymptotic behaviour of nontrivial solutions for elliptic systems involving a new class of general nonlocal integrodifferential operators with exponent variables and critical growth conditions in $\mathbb{R}^{N}$

Metastability in the BCS model

We discuss metastable states in the mean-field version of the strong coupling BCS-model and study the evolution of a superconducting equilibrium state subjected to a dynamical semi-group with Lindblad generator in detailed balance w.r.t. another equilibrium state. The intermediate states are explicitly constructed and their stability properties are derived. The notion of metastability in this genuine quantum system, is expressed by means of energy-entropy balance inequalities and canonical coordinates of observables

A higher quantum bound for the V\'ertesi-Bene-Bell-inequality and the role of POVMs regarding its threshold detection efficiency

Recently, V\'{e}rtesi and Bene [Phys. Rev. A. {\bf 82}, 062115 (2010)] derived a two-qubit Bell inequality, $I_{CH3}$, which they show to be maximally violated only when more general positive operator valued measures (POVMs) are used instead of the usual von Neumann measurements. Here we consider a general parametrization for the three-element-POVM involved in the Bell test and obtain a higher quantum bound for the $I_{CH3}$-inequality. With a higher quantum bound for $I_{CH3}$, we investigate if there is an experimental setup that can be used for observing that POVMs give higher violations in Bell tests based on this inequality. We analyze the maximum errors supported by the inequality to identify a source of entangled photons that can be used for the test. Then, we study if POVMs are also relevant in the more realistic case that partially entangled states are used in the experiment. Finally, we investigate which are the required efficiencies of the $I_{CH3}$-inequality, and the type of measurements involved, for closing the detection loophole. We obtain that POVMs allow for the lowest threshold detection efficiency, and that it is comparable to the minimal (in the case of two-qubits) required detection efficiency of the Clauser-Horne-Bell-inequality.Comment: 11 Pages, 16 Figure

Body composition evaluated by skinfolds, bioimpedance and body mass index in adults

El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar la composición corporal por pliegues cutáneos (DC) por bioimpedancia eléctrica(BIA) y el índice de masa corporal(IMC). Se hizo un trabajo de campo con 153 militares usando los siguientes equipos: balanza Wiso; estadiómetro WCS; adipómetro Cescorf científico y Malton BF-900 para bioimpedancia eléctrica. La densidad corporal se consiguió por la ecuación de Jackson&Pollock y la clasificación delporcentaje de grasa corporal siguiendo Pollock&Wilmore. Para verificar la correlación se usó el test de Spearman. Los resultados promedios (± desviación estándar) hallados para edad, peso, estatura e IMC, fueron: 19 años (±1,8 años), 70,9Kg (±9,55), 1,74 metros (±0.06) y 23,9 kg/m² (±2,76) respectivamente. El porcentaje de grasa corporal por DC y BIA fueron respectivamente 12,78 (±5,45); 16,29 (±4,02). Concluí que la composición corporal por el método de DC, BIA e IMC presentó datos que se correlacionan, siendo que el uso de la bioimpedancia fue más indicada en grupos cuyo porcentaje de grasa corporal variaba entre 18-20%.The aim of this study was to compare body composition by skinfold thickness (DC) by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and body mass index (BMI). Research was carried out with 153 soldiers with the equipment: balance Wiso; WCS stadiometer; adipometer Cescorf Malton scientific and BF-900 to bioelectrical impedance analysis. Body density was obtained by the equation of Jackson&Pollock and classification of the percentage of fat by following Pollock&Wilmore. To check the correlation was used Spearman's test. The average results (±standard deviation) found for age, weight, height and BMI were: 19 years (±1.8years), 70.9 kg (±9.55), 1.74 meters (±0.06) and 23.9 kg/m² (±2.76), respectively. The fat percentage by BIA and DC were respectively 12.78 (±5.45) and 16.29 (±4.02). Concluded that body composition by the method of DC, BIA and BMI have data that correlate, and the use of bioimpedance was indicated in most groups whose fat percentage ranged around 18-20%.Gracias CAPES para la inversión financiera en forma de beca en el Programa de Posgrado en Ingeniería Eléctrica e Informática Industrial (CPGEI) de la Universidad Tecnológica Federal de Paraná (UTFPR)