Thermodynamics of the S=1 spin ladder as a composite S=2 chain model

A special class of S=1 spin ladder hamiltonians, with second- neighbor exchange interactions and with anisotropies in the $z$-direction, can be mapped onto one-dimensional composite S=2 (tetrahedral S=1) models. We calculate the high temperature expansion of the Helmoltz free energy for the latter class of models, and show that their magnetization behaves closely to that of standard XXZ models with a suitable effective spin $S_{eff}$, such that $S_{eff}(1+S_{eff})=$, where ${\bf S}_i$ refers to the components of spin in the composite model. It is also shown that the specific heat per site of the composite model, on the other hand, can be very different from that of the effective spin model, depending on the parameters of the hamiltonian.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures. Submitted for publicatio

Entropy Analysis of Univariate Biomedical Signals:Review and Comparison of Methods

International audienc

Probing singularities in quantum cosmology with curvature scalars

We provide further evidence that the canonical quantization of cosmological models eliminates the classical Big Bang singularity, using the {\it DeBroglie-Bohm} interpretation of quantum mechanics. The usual criterion for absence of the Big Bang singularity in Friedmann-Robertson-Walker quantum cosmological models is the non-vanishing of the expectation value of the scale factor. We compute the `local expectation value' of the Ricci and Kretschmann scalars, for some quantum FRW models. We show that they are finite for all time. Since these scalars are elements of general scalar polynomials in the metric and the Riemann tensor, this result indicates that, for the quantum models treated here, the `local expectation value' of these general scalar polynomials should be finite everywhere. Therefore, we have further evidence that the quantization of the models treated here eliminates the classical Big Bang singularity. PACS: 04.40.Nr, 04.60.Ds, 98.80.Qc.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

Variations In Desiccation Tolerance In Seeds Of Eugenia Pyriformis: Dispersal At Different Stages Of Maturation

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Eugenia pyriformis Cambess., known locally as uvaieira, a species of fruit-bearing tree with both pharmacological and gastronomic potential, has seeds which are sensitive to desiccation. The aim of this study was to analyse whether the degree of tolerance to desiccation of uvaieira seeds depends on the stage of maturation of the seeds at shedding. This, in turn, depends on the environmental conditions in which the seeds develop, including the accumulation of degree-days and rainfall in the period. Seeds were collected from the ripe fruit of parent plants located in the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, Brazil, submitted to drying and analysed for water content and germination. A completely randomised design was used in a 20 × 3 factorial scheme (source of material x level of drying). The degree of desiccation tolerance differs between region and period of collection, even for the same parent plant when the seeds are collected in different years. The water and thermal conditions of the environment during seed development modify the maturation cycle, the physiological quality and the acquisition of desiccation tolerance. In uvaieira seeds, desiccation tolerance depends on the physiological maturity of the seeds at the time of dispersal, which is associated with the environmental conditions.471118126CAPES, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível SuperiorCoordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

ESTUDO DE CAVERNAS EM ROCHAS NÃO CARBONÁTICAS DA AMAZÔNIA: CONTRIBUIÇÃO DA ANÁLISE GEOECOLÓGICA SOBRE A GEOMORFOLOGIA CÁRSTICA DA PROVÍNCIA ESPELEOLÓGICA ALTAMIRA – ITAITUBA (PARÁ)

A região Amazônica é rica em feições geomorfológicas resultantes da interação sistêmica de elementos da natureza entre os quais se destaca o patrimônio espeleológico. A pesquisa apresenta um estudo aprofundado sobre carste em rochas não carbonáticas da Província Espeleológica Altamira-Itaituba (Estado do Pará). Foi realizada uma análise geoecológica da paisagem da Província, por meio da utilização do enfoque sistêmico, com foco no estudo sobre carste em rochas não carbonáticas

The high temperature expansion of the classical XYZXYZ chain

We present the $\beta$-expansion of the Helmholtz free energy of the classical $XYZ$ model, with a single-ion anisotropy term and in the presence of an external magnetic field, up to order $\beta^{12}$. We compare our results to the numerical solution of Joyce's [Phys. Rev. Lett. 19, 581 (1967)] expression for the thermodynamics of the $XXZ$ classical model, with neither single-ion anisotropy term nor external magnetic field. This comparison shows that the derived analytical expansion is valid for intermediate temperatures such as $kT/J_x \approx 0.5$. We show that the specific heat and magnetic susceptibility of the spin-2 antiferromagnetic chain can be approximated by their respective classical results, up to $kT/J \approx 0.8$, within an error of 2.5%. In the absence of an external magnetic field, the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic chains have the same classical Helmholtz free energy. We show how this two types of media react to the presence of an external magnetic field

Estimating additive and dominance variances for complex traits in pigs combining genomic and pedigree information

Knowledge of dominance effects should improve ge-netic evaluations, provide the accurate selection of purebred animals, and enable better breeding strategies, including the exploitation of het-erosis in crossbreeds. In this study, we combined genomic and pedi-gree data to study the relative importance of additive and dominance genetic variation in growth and carcass traits in an F2 pig population. Two GBLUP models were used, a model without a polygenic effect (ADM) and a model with a polygenic effect (ADMP). Additive effects played a greater role in the control of growth and carcass traits than did dominance effects. However, dominance effects were important for all traits, particularly in backfat thickness. The narrow-sense and broad-sense heritability estimates for growth (0.06 to 0.42, and 0.10 to 0.51, respectively) and carcass traits (0.07 to 0.37, and 0.10 to 0.76, respec-tively) exhibited a wide variation. The inclusion of a polygenic effect in the ADMP model changed the broad-sense heritability estimates only for birth weight and weight at 21 days of age

PAISAGENS NATURAIS, GEOMORFOLOGIA COSTEIRA E DINÂMICA AMBIENTAL NO IGUAPE, AQUIRAZ-CE.

A planície litorânea do Iguape, Aquiraz-CE, constitui um ambiente de elevada vulnerabilidade ambiental, porém, vem sendo modificada sem um planejamento ambiental prévio, gerando desequilíbrios no ambiente. Avalia-se que o estudo sobre a área poderá subsidiar trabalhos de planejamento e gestão da comunidade levando em consideração suas potencialidades, fragilidades e limitações, e que possam ser realizadas ações que priorizem a conservação desses ambientes através de práticas menos impactantes

Censored Bayesian models for genetic evaluation of age at first calving in Brazilian Brahman cattle

We compared different Bayesian models to handle censored data for genetic parameters estimation of age at first calving (AFC) in Brazilian Brahman cattle. Data from females with AFC above 1825 days of age were assumed to have failed to calve and were considered as censored records. Data including information of 53, 703 cows were analyzed through the following methods: conventional linear model method (LM), which consider only uncensored records; simulation method (SM), in which the data were augmented by drawing random samples from positive truncated normal distributions; penalty method (PM), in which a constant of 21 days was added to censored records; and the bivariate threshold-linear method (TLcens). The LM was the most suited for genetic evaluation of AFC in Brazilian Brahman cattle based on the predictive ability evaluation through cross-validation analysis. The similar results for LM and PM regarding Spearman correlations, and the higher percentages of selected animals in common, indicated that there was not relevant reranking of animals when censored records were used. In summary, the heritability estimates for AFC ranged from 0.09 (TLcens) to 0.20 (LM). Given its poor predictive performance, the SM is not recommended for handling censored records for genetic evaluation of AFC