Nonextensive Quantum H-Theorem

A proof of the quantum $H$-theorem taking into account nonextensive effects on the quantum entropy $S^Q_q$ is shown. The positiveness of the time variation of $S^Q_q$ combined with a duality transformation implies that the nonextensive parameter $q$ lies in the interval [0,2]. It is also shown that the equilibrium states are described by quantum $q$-power law extensions of the Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein distributions. Such results reduce to the standard ones in the extensive limit, thereby showing that the nonextensive entropic framework can be harmonized with the quantum distributions contained in the quantum statistics theory.Comment: 5 pages, LaTe

Dark Matter and Dark Energy due to Photons that Attract or Repel Each Other

The Through a simple model we study the possibility of photon with mass and charge that can produce an attractive or repulsive force at galactic distances. The main source of the dark energy can be provided by the non-vanishing photon mass during the period of dark radiation of the Universe. A simple analysis shows that the non-vanishing photon mass of the order of is consistent with the current observations. For distances separating nearby galaxies dominates the force of Newtonian attraction between photonic masses (Dark Matter). For distant galaxies dominates the repulsive electrical force between photon charges (Dark Energy)

Alterations in white matter microstructure in neurofibromatosis-1.

Neurofibromatosis (NF1) represents the most common single gene cause of learning disabilities. NF1 patients have impairments in frontal lobe based cognitive functions such as attention, working memory, and inhibition. Due to its well-characterized genetic etiology, investigations of NF1 may shed light on neural mechanisms underlying such difficulties in the general population or other patient groups. Prior neuroimaging findings indicate global brain volume increases, consistent with neural over-proliferation. However, little is known about alterations in white matter microstructure in NF1. We performed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analyses using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) in 14 young adult NF1 patients and 12 healthy controls. We also examined brain volumetric measures in the same subjects. Consistent with prior studies, we found significantly increased overall gray and white matter volume in NF1 patients. Relative to healthy controls, NF1 patients showed widespread reductions in white matter integrity across the entire brain as reflected by decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) and significantly increased absolute diffusion (ADC). When radial and axial diffusion were examined we found pronounced differences in radial diffusion in NF1 patients, indicative of either decreased myelination or increased space between axons. Secondary analyses revealed that FA and radial diffusion effects were of greatest magnitude in the frontal lobe. Such alterations of white matter tracts connecting frontal regions could contribute to the observed cognitive deficits. Furthermore, although the cellular basis of these white matter microstructural alterations remains to be determined, our findings of disproportionately increased radial diffusion against a background of increased white matter volume suggest the novel hypothesis that one potential alteration contributing to increased cortical white matter in NF1 may be looser packing of axons, with or without myelination changes. Further, this indicates that axial and radial diffusivity can uniquely contribute as markers of NF1-associated brain pathology in conjunction with the typically investigated measures

Probing ferroelectricity in highly conducting materials through their elastic response: persistence of ferroelectricity in metallic BaTiO3-d

The question whether ferroelectricity (FE) may coexist with a metallic or highly conducting state, or rather it must be suppressed by the screening from the free charges, is the focus of a rapidly increasing number of theoretical studies and is finally receiving positive experimental responses. The issue is closely related to the thermoelectric and multiferroic (also magnetic) applications of FE materials, where the electrical conductivity is required or spurious. In these circumstances, the traditional methods for probing ferroelectricity are hampered or made totally ineffective by the free charges, which screen the polar response to an external electric field. This fact may explain why more than 40 years passed between the first proposals of FE metals and the present experimental and theoretical activity. The measurement of the elastic moduli, Young's modulus in the present case, versus temperature is an effective method for studying the influence of doping on a FE transition because the elastic properties are unaffected by electrical conductivity. In this manner, it is shown that the FE transitions of BaTiO3-d are not suppressed by electron doping through O vacancies; only the onset temperatures are depressed, but the magnitudes of the softenings, and hence of the piezoelectric activity, are initially even increased

Centrifugal force induced by relativistically rotating spheroids and cylinders

Starting from the gravitational potential of a Newtonian spheroidal shell we discuss electrically charged rotating prolate spheroidal shells in the Maxwell theory. In particular we consider two confocal charged shells which rotate oppositely in such a way that there is no magnetic field outside the outer shell. In the Einstein theory we solve the Ernst equations in the region where the long prolate spheroids are almost cylindrical; in equatorial regions the exact Lewis "rotating cylindrical" solution is so derived by a limiting procedure from a spatially bound system. In the second part we analyze two cylindrical shells rotating in opposite directions in such a way that the static Levi-Civita metric is produced outside and no angular momentum flux escapes to infinity. The rotation of the local inertial frames in flat space inside the inner cylinder is thus exhibited without any approximation or interpretational difficulties within this model. A test particle within the inner cylinder kept at rest with respect to axes that do not rotate as seen from infinity experiences a centrifugal force. Although the spacetime there is Minkowskian out to the inner cylinder nevertheless that space has been induced to rotate, so relative to the local inertial frame the particle is traversing a circular orbit.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure

Resposta de Pinus taeda L. na aplicação de cinza de biomassa vegetal em cambissolo húmico, em vaso.

Resumo

Resposta de Pinus taeda L. à aplicação de cinza de biomassa vegetal em Cambissolo Húmico, em vaso.

Foi avaliado o efeito de doses de cinza de biomassa vegetal, equivalentes a 0; 10; 20; 40 e 80 t.ha-1, sobre características químicas do solo e sobre o desenvolvimento e absorção de nutrientes por mudas de Pinus taeda L., em casa-de-vegetação da Embrapa Florestas, em Colombo, PR, em Cambissolo Húmico, coletado na camada de 0 a 20 cm, em Piraí do Sul, PR. Porções da amostra do solo foram colocadas em vasos, sendo as alíquotas de cada tratamento aplicadas na camada de 0 a 10 cm, após preencher os vasos com 20 cm de solo. Foram analisadas as acículas e o solo (camadas 0 a 10 cm, 10 cm a 20 cm e 20 cm a 30 cm). Avaliaram-se a altura, o diâmetro e as massas secas da parte aérea, da raiz - MSR e total. A aplicação da cinza diminuiu a acidez e o teor de Al, e aumentou os teores de Ca, Mg, K e P, com efeitos mais pronunciados na camada de 0 a 10 cm; não houve efeito dos tratamentos no desenvolvimento das mudas; o teor de Cu nas acículas foi diminuído com o aumento da dose de cinza