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

Graviton resonances on two-field thick branes

This work presents new results about the graviton massive spectrum in two-field thick branes. Analyzing the massive spectra with a relative probability method we have firstly showed the presence of resonance structures and obtained a connection between the thickness of the defect and the lifetimes of such resonances. We obtain another interesting results considering the degenerate Bloch brane solutions. In these thick brane models, we have the emergence of a splitting effect controlled by a degeneracy parameter. When the degeneracy constant tends to a critical value, we have found massive resonances to the gravitational field indicating the existence of modes highly coupled to the brane. We also discussed the influence of the brane splitting effect over the resonance lifetimes.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figure

Desenho preliminar de uma coleção nuclear de mandioca dentro do banco ativo de germoplasma da Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental.

A mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) destaca-se como um dos cultivos mais importantes na Amazônia, tanto para a segurança alimentar regional como no comércio. A Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental organizou um Banco Ativo de Germoplasma (BAG) para fins de melhoramento e conservação in vivo da variabilidade genética da mandioca, por meio da coleta de germoplasma em diferentes localidades no Estado do Amazonas, visando reunir a diversidade encontrada na região amazônica. O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenhar uma coleção nuclear de mandioca com base em dados geográficos, morfo-agronômicos e genético-moleculares. Decidiu-se que a Coleção Nuclear deveria conter 50 amostras, representando 15% do BAG e serão representadas por acessos coletados nas calhas dos principais rios Negro, Solimões, Purus, Amazonas e Madeira. As localidades super-representadas no BAG serão alocadas à CN logaritmicamente, enquanto que as localidades sub-representadas serão alocadas proporcionalmente. As amostras selecionadas para a Coleção devem possuir boa produtividade (>13,3 t/há), raízes com polpa de coloração amarelada, teores de HCN acima de 100 mg/kg e divergência genético-moleculares satisfatórias

IT governance mechanisms at universities: an exploratory study

The pervasive use of technology has created a critical dependency on IT that requires particular attention to IT Governance (ITG). A set of ITG mechanisms involving structures, processes and relational mechanisms can be considered to implement IT governance and enhance business/IT alignment. Universities are organizations with a specific context and depend on IT for the success in teaching and learning, research and service. However, ITG implementation in universities has not received much attention and research in this type of organization is scarce. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to identify the most appropriate set of ITG mechanisms for universities. Semi-structured interviews with CIOs in ten universities from five countries were carried out. This research proposes six new ITG mechanisms to be added to the current set of ITG mechanisms. This research concludes by presenting the limitations and future work.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

The Regulation of Axon Diameter: From Axonal Circumferential Contractility to Activity-Dependent Axon Swelling

In the adult nervous system axon caliber varies widely amongst different tracts. When considering a given axon, its diameter can further fluctuate in space and time, according to processes including the distribution of organelles and activity-dependent mechanisms. In addition, evidence is emerging supporting that in axons circumferential tension/contractility is present. Axonal diameter is generically regarded as being regulated by neurofilaments. When neurofilaments are absent or low, microtubule-dependent mechanisms can also contribute to the regulation of axon caliber. Despite this knowledge, the fine-tune mechanisms controlling diameter and circumferential tension throughout the lifetime of an axon, remain largely elusive. Recent data supports the role of the actin-spectrin-based membrane periodic skeleton and of non-muscle myosin II in the control of axon diameter. However, the cytoskeletal arrangement that underlies circumferential axonal contraction and expansion is still to be discovered. Here, we discuss in a critical viewpoint the existing knowledge on the regulation of axon diameter, with a specific focus on the possible role played by the axonal actin cytoskeleton.This work from the authors’ group was supported by Prémio Melo e Castro—Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa; by the Infrastructure for NMR, EM and X-rays for Translational Research (iNEXT); and by FEDER—Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional funds through the Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), Portugal 2020, and by Portuguese funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior in the framework of the project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-028623. AC and RP-C are funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia—FCT (fellowships SFRH/BPD/114912/2016 and SFRH/BD/112112/2015, respectively)

Scavenger Receptors: Promiscuous Players during Microbial Pathogenesis

Innate immunity is the most broadly effective host defense, being essential to clear the majority of microbial infections. Scavenger Receptors comprise a family of sensors expressed in a multitude of host cells, whose dual role during microbial pathogenesis gained importance over recent years. SRs regulate the recruitment of immune cells and control both host inflammatory response and bacterial load. In turn, pathogens have evolved different strategies to overcome immune response, avoid recognition by SRs and exploit them to favor infection. Here, we discuss the most relevant findings regarding the interplay between SRs and pathogens, discussing how these multifunctional proteins recognize a panoply of ligands and act as bacterial phagocytic receptors.This work received funding from Norte-01–0145-FEDER-000012– Structured program on bioengineered therapies for infectious diseases and tissue regeneration, supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). R.P received an FCT Doctoral Fellowship [SFRH/BD/89542/2012] through FCT/MEC co-funded by QREN and POPH (Programa Operacional Potencial Humano). SS was supported by FCT Investigator program (COMPETE, POPH, and FCT)

Working conditions and health complaints in urban refuse collection: the role of experience

The growing attention given to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) has contributed to the general decline of work accidents in the most part of European countries in last century (Hofmann, Burke, & Zohar, 2017). Despite that, according to Portuguese official data (MTSSS, 2016; Eurostat, 2016), accompanying the economic recovery, we witnessed a slight increase of accidents incidence rate (4.415 in 2013, 4.523 in 2014 and 4.582 in 2015). This corresponds to a total of 5.459.744 (in 2015) lost working days, not considering the lost working days due to work-related diseases. For that reason, OHS is a huge concern for organizations, with strong impacts on costs, productivity or turnover (Malek, El-Safty, El-Safety, & Sorce, 2010); and for workers, in their quality of life (Keogh, Nuwayhid, Gordon, & Gucer, 2000), in their social interaction (Strunin & Boden, 2004), and also in their financial stability (Lawrence, Paustian-Underdahl, & Halbesleben, 2013) and work ability. This proposal describes an action-research, based on a demand from a specific organization (a public company of urban refuse collection and other municipality services) with a high rate of work-related accidents and health complaints, which aims to understand the factors that can explain this situation. Following the theoretical background of work psychology and ergonomics, we designed a mixed method approach centred on workers’ activity (Béguin, 2006; Schwartz, 2005), to investigate the demands, constraints and risk factors that characterize this work situation. The methodology includes documental analysis, observation, individual interviews and a questionnaire, giving special emphasis to the diversity of “ways of doing” the activity among different workers, teams and waste collection modes. Data analysis is currently being conducted, through qualitative (content analysis) and quantitative techniques. Preliminary findings indicate some interesting differences associated with the specific activity of workers – drivers and collectors – showing that it has implications on the type of risk exposure, nature of accidents, and health complaints. Also, results show that workers’ experience seems to influence the way of performing the activity, highlighting the development of health protection strategies over time.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Proper incorporation of self-adjoint extension method to Green's function formalism : one-dimensional δ′\delta^{'}-function potential case

One-dimensional $\delta^{'}$-function potential is discussed in the framework of Green's function formalism without invoking perturbation expansion. It is shown that the energy-dependent Green's function for this case is crucially dependent on the boundary conditions which are provided by self-adjoint extension method. The most general Green's function which contains four real self-adjoint extension parameters is constructed. Also the relation between the bare coupling constant and self-adjoint extension parameter is derived.Comment: LATEX, 13 page