Hadrons in AdS/QCD models

We discuss applications of gauge/gravity duality to describe the spectrum of light hadrons. We compare two particular 5-dimensional approaches: a model with an infrared deformed Anti-de Sitter metric and another one based on a dynamical AdS/QCD framework with back-reacted geometry in a dilaton/gravity background. The models break softly the scale invariance in the infrared region and allow mass gap for the field excitations in the gravity description, while keeping the conformal property of the metric close to the four-dimensional boundary. The models provide linear Regge trajectories for light mesons, associated with specially designed infrared gravity properties. We also review the results for the decay widths of the f0's into two pions, as overlap integrals between mesonic string amplitudes, which are in qualitative agreement with data

Vortex and gap generation in gauge models of graphene

Effective quantum field theoretical continuum models for graphene are investigated. The models include a complex scalar field and a vector gauge field. Different gauge theories are considered and their gap patterns for the scalar, vector, and fermion excitations are investigated. Different gauge groups lead to different relations between the gaps, which can be used to experimentally distinguish the gauge theories. In this class of models the fermionic gap is a dynamic quantity. The finite-energy vortex solutions of the gauge models have the flux of the "magnetic field" quantized, making the Bohm-Aharonov effect active even when external electromagnetic fields are absent. The flux comes proportional to the scalar field angular momentum quantum number. The zero modes of the Dirac equation show that the gauge models considered here are compatible with fractionalization

Integrating social concerns into electricity planning

This paper deals with the complexity of the social issues surrounding electricity planning. A methodology is presented establishing a possible way of allocating weights to the most important social impacts of the electricity generation options and extending these results to the evaluation of future electricity plans. The process combined Delphi method with the Analytic Hierarchy Process, for the pairwise comparison of the electricity generation technologies against the social criteria. A social impact score was then derived and assigned to each technology. In order to obtain a final ranking of future feasible plans, these overall social scores of the electricity generation alternatives were aggregated using an additive function. The final output of the social analysis is an Average Social Index of each possible electricity generation mix

The impacts of wind power on power systems operation

The wind power sector is growing rapidly in Portugal and the National objectives for energy include a significant increase of wind power during the next years. The large penetration of wind power in Portugal will influence significantly the energy system cost, but it seems also essential to materialize the international energetic and environmental commitments. This paper focuses on the impact of large scale wind scenarios on the power system operation. CO2 abatement potential is estimated along with the effects on the operating costs of thermal power plants. Simulations for different wind scenarios were run for 2016, assuming the possibility of exports. According to the results, it seems that about 20% of wind power penetration may be achieved in Portugal with minor losses of efficiency of the global system

Contribuição para o estudo dos capilares e das anastomoses arterio-venosa "in vivo"

BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertaçõe

An overview of the Portuguese wind power sector

In the following paper the present situation of the electricity production from Renewable energy Sources (RES) in Portugal is analysed, giving particular attention to the wind power sector due to its increasing importance. The evolution of the electricity system is presented along with the strategies for the sector, and future prospects for the RES. Although the high interest of private companies in the wind sector the administrative and grid barriers represent major obstacles to the wind power development. The problem of the wind intermittency and uncertainty is also discussed. The improvement of interconnection capacity and the increase of power reserve are identified as key requirements for ensuring the security of supply. A clear comprehension of all these aspects is fundamental to aim for an integrated multidimensional wind power planning.(undefined

The conservation of energy-momentum and the mass for the graviton

In this work we give special attention to the bimetric theory of gravitation with massive gravitons proposed by Visser in 1998. In his theory, a prior background metric is necessary to take in account the massive term. Although in the great part of the astrophysical studies the Minkowski metric is the best choice to the background metric, it is not possible to consider this metric in cosmology. In order to keep the Minkowski metric as background in this case, we suggest an interpretation of the energy-momentum conservation in Visser's theory, which is in accordance with the equivalence principle and recovers naturally the special relativity in the absence of gravitational sources. Although we do not present a general proof of our hypothesis we show its validity in the simple case of a plane and dust-dominated universe, in which the `massive term' appears like an extra contribution for the energy density.Comment: 9 pages, accepted for publishing in GR

Electricity power planning: the role of wind energy

Combining energy efficiency with renewable energy sources constitutes a key strategy for a sustainable future. The wind power sector stands out as a fundamental element for the achievement of the European renewable objectives and Portugal is no exception to the increase of the wind energy for the electricity generation. This work proposes an optimization model for the long range electricity power planning in a system similar to the Portuguese one, where the expected impacts of the increasing installed wind power on the operating performance of thermal power plants are taken into account. The main results indicate that the increasing penetration of wind power in the electricity system will have significant effects on the combined cycle gas power plants operation and on the theoretically expected cost reduction and environmental gains. This research demonstrated the need to address the impact that energy sources with variable output may have, not only on the short-term operational planning, but especially on the medium to long range planning activities, in order to meet the strategic objectives for the energy sector.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT)COMPETE – Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade under Research Project PTDC/SEN-ENR/099578/200

Controle de plantas daninhas em pastagens.

A pecuária bovina brasileira apresenta amplo potencial econômico, com o maior rebanho comercial do mundo, distribuído em vasta extensão territorial e representando grande importância na economia no País (CORRÊA, 2000). Dispondo de aproximadamente 170 milhões de hectares de pastagens tropicais (IBGE, 2007), dos quais mais de 120 milhões de hectares dessas pastagens são cultivadas, e rebanho aproximado de 190 milhões de cabeças, o Brasil tem ocupado, desde os últimos três anos, a posição de maior exportador de carne do mundo. A sustentabilidade da pecuária brasileira está baseada na pastagem, pois 90% da carne produzida no Brasil ocorre em sistemas de produção baseados, exclusivamente, em pasto (BARCELLOS et al., 2001; ANUALPEC, 2004; MACEDO, 2005) que, em relação aos sistemas confinados, conferem menores produtividades, mas oferecem grande vantagem competitiva, permitindo a produção de produtos com baixo custo e de boa qualidade (EUCLIDES et al., 2001). Assim, a rentabilidade da pecuária está diretamente relacionada à qualidade das pastagens, que aliada a fatores como melhoramento genético do rebanho, manejo e execução de programas profiláticos dos animais, dentre outros fatores, ditam as regras para o sucesso da atividade. Os problemas causados pelas invasoras são mais significativos em pastagens com algum grau de degradação, em geral devido ao manejo inadequado. Conforme Mascarenhas et al. (1999), dos 23 milhões de hectares de pastagens cultivadas em área originalmente sob floresta na Amazônia, em torno de 5 milhões de hectares encontram-se degradadas. No centro-oeste, estima-se que mais de 50% das pastagens cultivadas encontram-se degradadas ou em processo de degradação. Dias Filho (1998) relata que, além do manejo da pastagem, a competição imposta pelas plantas daninhas constitui em fator importante no processo da degradação. Pitelli (1989) descreve que o distúrbio provocado pelo pastoreio com carga excessiva de animais acelera a adaptação e a proliferação de algumas espécies daninhas. A aplicação dos diferentes métodos de controle de plantas daninhas em pastagem varia conforme a realidade local, ditada pelas características das invasoras, da pastagem, das condições edafoclimáticas, do tamanho da propriedade e do nível tecnológico empregado. Para a obtenção da eficiência no controle das invasoras, em qualquer situação, o principal requisito é o diagnóstico da comunidade infestante, ou seja, identificação das espécies, densidades e distribuição na área. Esses indicadores irão subsidiar o planejamento e a execução do método mais adequado. Ressalta-se, também, que sob o ponto de vista de controle de invasoras, a pastagem deve ser considerada sempre como uma cultura, tão importante como as produtoras de grãos ou fibra.bitstream/item/56278/1/DOC185-1.pd