Canonical transformation for stiff matter models in quantum cosmology

In the present work we consider Friedmann-Robertson-Walker models in the presence of a stiff matter perfect fluid and a cosmological constant. We write the superhamiltonian of these models using the Schutz's variational formalism. We notice that the resulting superhamiltonians have terms that will lead to factor ordering ambiguities when they are written as operators. In order to remove these ambiguities, we introduce appropriate coordinate transformations and prove that these transformations are canonical using the symplectic method.Comment: Revtex4 Class, 3 pages, No Figure

Effects of functional foods in diabetic patients: a systematic review

The control of Type II Diabetes Mellitus is directly related to the dietary profile, so an adequate diet for this group of patients must be implemented as soon as possible. But what foods can we use to facilitate glycemic and insulin control? Therefore, this study aims to systematically review the literature on the effects of functional foods in diabetic patients. Method: Systematic review of randomized clinical trials published between 2014 and 2021. Using as descriptors: Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 (Diabetes Mellitus Type 2), Functional Food. Results: Of the 566 articles found, 65 articles were selected, which passed the PEDro scale of methodological quality, and 11 articles were included. Of which they addressed different functional foods and their effects on different variables in diabetic patients. It can be concluded that several foods have beneficial effects on glycemic and insulin control in diabetic patients. Still, as a benefit, they had side effects in controlling dyslipidemia, blood pressure, and BMI

The Farther the Better: Effects of Multiple Environmental Variables on Reef Fish Assemblages along a Distance Gradient from River Influences

The conservation and management of site-attached assemblages of coastal reefs are particularly challenging because of the tremendous environmental variation that exists at small spatial scales. In this sense, understanding the primary sources of variation in spatial patterns of the biota is fundamental for designing effective conservation policies. We investigated spatial variation in fish assemblages around the windward and leeward sides of coastal islands situated across a gradient of riverine influence (13 km in length). Specifically, relationships between rocky reef fish assemblages and benthic, topographic and physical predictors were assessed. We hypothesized that river induced disturbances may overcome local habitat features in modeling spatial patterns of fish distribution. Fish assemblages varied primarily due to the strong directional gradient of riverine influence (22.6% of the estimated components of variation), followed by topographic complexity (15%), wave exposure (9.9%), and benthic cover (8%). The trophic structure of fish assemblages changed from having a high abundance of invertebrate feeders in macroalgae-dominated reefs close to river mouths to a high proportion of herbivores, planktivores and invertebrate feeder species in reefs with large boulders covered by epilithic algal matrices, as the distance from rivers increased. This gradient led to an increase of 4.5-fold in fish richness and fish trophic group diversity, 11-fold in fish biomass and 10-fold in fish abundance. Our results have implications for the conservation and monitoring of assemblages patchily distributed at small spatial scales. The major role of distance from river influences on fish assemblages rather than benthic cover and topographic complexity suggest that managing land-based activities should be a conservation priority toward reef restoration.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Univ Fed Rural Rio de Janeiro, Dept Biol Anim, Lab Ecol Peixes, Campus Seropedica, Seropedica, RJ, BrazilUniv Fed Rural Rio de Janeiro, Dept Ciencias Meio Ambiente, Campus Tres Rios, Seropedica, RJ, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Mar, Lab Ecol & Conservacao Marinha, Campus Baixada Santista, Santos, SP, BrazilLaboratório de Ecologia e Conservação Marinha, Instituto do Mar, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Baixada Santista, Santos, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Implantação de Controles Internos visando a atender a Lei SOX: Estoque de Produto de Revenda e Contas a Receber

A divulgação de contabilização de transações fraudentas de empresas com ações negociadas na bolsa de valores de New York, NYSE, visando a mostrar resultados para agradar investidores e justificar bônus a empregados, provocou uma queda generalizada nos preços das ações e o Senado Americano reagiu com muita seriedade promulgando a Lei Sarbanes-Oxley em 2002 para penalizar criminalmente o CEO e CFO por demonstrativos financeiros identificados como fraudulentos e designá-los responsáveis pelo controle interno da empresa. Por isso, as empresas listadas no NYSE e suas subsidiárias foram obrigadas a estabelecer e manter um adequado sistema de controle interno, com transparência e revisão periódica sobre a eficácia dos controles. A qualidade do controle interno passa a ser fundamental para a precisão dos demonstrativos financeiros e necessário para cada conta relevante do Balanço. Este trabalho relata de modo sucinto a maneira com que se implantou o exigido da subsidiária brasileira para as contas de Estoque de Produto para Revenda e Contas a Receber e confronta com a teoria sobre implantação de controles internos. O Relato foca o essencial para mostrar a solução encontrada e não tem a pretensão de cobrir com detalhes todo o processo de definição e formalização dos controles internos, mas trás uma contribuição aos que quiserem replicar a solução em suas empresas

EXPERIMENTAL MEASURES OF THE EFFECTIVE HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENTS IN AIR BLAST FREEZERS FOR THE PROCESSING OF FRUIT PULPS

The effective surface heat transfer coefficients during air blast freezing of plastic polyethylene packages containing fruit pulp models conditioned inside multi layer boxes were evaluated under conditions encountered in commercial practice. The results were presented as dimensionless correlations based on hydraulic diameter of the rectangular ducts. The effects on the surface heat transfer coefficient of the air temperature, air velocity, transducer position inside the boxes and box position in the pillage on the surface were analyzed. The results show: the effect of air-cooling temperature on the surface heat transfer is negligible in the range encountered in blast freezing practice. The effective surface heat transfer coefficients predicted by the non-dimensional correlations based on hydraulic diameter was successfully used to represent the bed irregularities, mainly in arrays of 5 and 3 layers. The effective surface heat transfer coefficients varied according to the position between the top and the bottom of the boxes and was influenced by the number of layers in the arrays

A canonical transformation and the tunneling probability for the birth of an asymptotically DeSitter universe with dust

In the present work, we study the quantum cosmology description of closed Friedmann-Robertson-Walker models in the presence of a positive cosmological constant and a generic perfect fluid. We work in the Schutz's variational formalism. If one uses the scale factor and its canonically conjugated momentum as the phase space variables that describe the geometrical sector of these models, one obtains Wheeler-DeWitt equations with operator ordering ambiguities. In order to avoid those ambiguities and simplify the quantum treatment of the models, we introduce new phase space variables. We explicitly demonstrate that the transformation leading from the old set of variables to the new one is canonical. In order to show that the above canonical transformations simplify the quantum treatment of those models, we consider a particular model where the perfect fluid is dust. We solve the Wheeler-DeWitt equation numerically using the Crank-Nicholson scheme and determine the time evolution of the initial wave function. Finally, we compare the results for the present model with the ones for another model where the only difference is the presence of a radiative perfect fluid, instead of dust.Comment: Revtex4, 18 pages, 2 EPS figure

Discrimination of complex visual stimuli in Cebus apella: identity matching with pictures

Do capuchin monkeys respond to photos as icons? Do they discriminate photos of capuchin monkeys' faces? Looking for answers to these questions we trained three capuchin monkeys in simple and conditional discrimination tasks and tested the discriminations when comparison stimuli were partially covered. Three capuchin monkeys experienced in simultaneous simple discrimination and IDMTS were trained with repeated shifts of simple discriminations (RSSD), with four simultaneous choices, and IDMTS (1 s delay, 4 choices) with pictures of known capuchins monkeys' faces. All monkeys did discriminate the pictures in both procedures. Performances in probes with partial masks with one fourth of the stimulus hidden were consistent with baseline level. Errors occurred when a picture similar to the correct one was available among the comparison stimuli, when the covered part was the most distinct, or when pictures displayed the same monkey. Capuchin monkeys do match pictures of capuchin monkeys' faces to the sample. The monkeys treated different pictures of the same monkey as equivalent, suggesting that they respond to the pictures as icons, although this was not true to pictures of other monkeys. Subsequent studies may bring more evidence that capuchin monkeys treat pictures as depictions of real scenes

Noncommutative Derivation of the Planck's Radiation Law

The Planck's radiation law for the blackbody radiation spectrum was capable to explain the experimentally-measured blackbody spectrum. In order to get this result, Planck proposed his radiation law in a two-fold way: 1) by an \textit{ad hoc} modification of the assumed connection between energy and entropy for thermal radiation; 2) by assuming that the calculation of the entropy of an oscillator in thermal equilibrium with radiation is carried out by discrete units of energy. As a consequence, the energy quantization, linear in frequency, was thus introduced into physics. However, the energy quantization of the simple harmonic oscillator was originally postulated by Planck in an incomplete way, i.e., the ground state energy was not assumed to be null. Of course, this issue has been solved in different ways over time. Despite of this, we propose an alternative way to fix this issue by describing harmonic oscillators at noncommutative(NC) framework, where the non-null ground state energy naturally arises as a NC contribution. With this approach, the Planck's quantum theory is updated and, consequently, becomes compatible with the quantum mechanics inaugurated in 1925

A Informática na educação

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia de Produção.A utilização de computadores na educação tem sido muito discutida ultimamente, consequentemente gerando muita inquietação no contexto educacional. O ensino e aprendizagem envolvem muitas variáveis, sendo um tema complexo que requer conhecimentos multidisciplinares. A determinação de quanto e como os computadores influenciam este processo pode ser feita de várias formas, sendo que cada uma delas pode percorrer caminhos distintos, revelando diferentes relações. A maioria dos trabalhos que envolvem computadores no processo de ensino e aprendizagem, extraem conclusões através de observações, sendo que em muitos casos a validade das pesquisas poderiam ser ampliadas com o uso de outros métodos. A informática na escola faz com que o computador enquanto ferramenta pedagógica, esteja aliado a educação e possibilite ao educando preparo para enfrentar a sociedade do século XXI. Sendo assim, o tema aqui abordado enfocará a introdução da informática na escola, sem a pretensão de esgotar o assunto, mas como um objeto de estudo para futuras reflexões