Linear Theory of Electron-Plasma Waves at Arbitrary Collisionality

The dynamics of electron-plasma waves are described at arbitrary collisionality by considering the full Coulomb collision operator. The description is based on a Hermite-Laguerre decomposition of the velocity dependence of the electron distribution function. The damping rate, frequency, and eigenmode spectrum of electron-plasma waves are found as functions of the collision frequency and wavelength. A comparison is made between the collisionless Landau damping limit, the Lenard-Bernstein and Dougherty collision operators, and the electron-ion collision operator, finding large deviations in the damping rates and eigenmode spectra. A purely damped entropy mode, characteristic of a plasma where pitch-angle scattering effects are dominant with respect to collisionless effects, is shown to emerge numerically, and its dispersion relation is analytically derived. It is shown that such a mode is absent when simplified collision operators are used, and that like-particle collisions strongly influence the damping rate of the entropy mode.Comment: 23 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication on Journal of Plasma Physic

Phenomenological viability of orbifold models with three Higgs families

We discuss the phenomenological viability of string multi-Higgs doublet models, namely a scenario of heterotic $Z_3$ orbifolds with two Wilson lines, which naturally predicts three supersymmetric families of matter and Higgs fields. We study the orbifold parameter space, and discuss the compatibility of the predicted Yukawa couplings with current experimental data. We address the implications of tree-level flavour changing neutral processes in constraining the Higgs sector of the model, finding that viable scenarios can be obtained for a reasonably light Higgs spectrum. We also take into account the tree-level contributions to indirect CP violation, showing that the experimental value of $\epsilon_K$ can be accommodated in the present framework.Comment: 31 pages, 12 figures. Comments and references added. Final version to be published in JHE

Size-dependent bandgap and particle size distribution of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals

A new analytical expression for the size-dependent bandgap of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals is proposed within the framework of the finite-depth square-well effective mass approximation in order to provide a quantitative description of the quantum confinement effect. This allows one to convert optical spectroscopic data (photoluminescence spectrum and absorbance edge) into accurate estimates for the particle size distributions of colloidal systems even if the traditional effective mass model is expected to fail, which occurs typically for very small particles belonging to the so-called strong confinement limit. By applying the reported theoretical methodologies to CdTe nanocrystals synthesized through wet chemical routes, size distributions are inferred and compared directly to those obtained from atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. This analysis can be used as a complementary tool for the characterization of nanocrystal samples of many other systems such as the II-VI and III-V semiconductor materials.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Crescimento e produção de matéria seca de mudas de dendezeiro em função do tempo de pré-viveiro e da percentagem de ocupação da bandeja pelos tubetes.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo verificar a influência do tempo de permanência das mudas no pré-viveiro e da percentagem de ocupação da bandeja pelos tubetes no crescimento e na partição de matéria seca de mudas de dendezeiro

Viveiro internacional de observação de arroz de sequeiro para América Latina - VIOAL-S/79.

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Evaluation of Microencapsulation of The UFV-AREG1 Bacteriophage in Alginate-Ca Microcapsules using Microfluidic Devices

The indiscriminate use of antibiotics and the emergence of resistant microorganisms have become a major challenge for the food industry. The purpose of this work was to microencapsulate the bacteriophage UFV-AREG1 in a calcium alginate matrix using microfluidic devices and to study the viability and efficiency of retention. The microcapsules were added to gel of propylene glycol for use as an antimicrobial in the food industry. The technique showed the number of the phage encapsulation, yielding drops with an average 100-250 $\mu$m of diameter, 82.1 $\pm$ 2% retention efficiency and stability in the gel matrix for 21 days. The gel added to the microencapsulated phage showed efficiency (not detectable on the surface) in reducing bacterial contamination on the surface at a similar level to antimicrobial chemicals (alcohol 70%). Therefore, it was possible to microencapsulate bacteriophages in alginate-Ca and apply the microcapsules in gels for use as sanitizers in the food industry.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Geometric approach to nonvariational singular elliptic equations

In this work we develop a systematic geometric approach to study fully nonlinear elliptic equations with singular absorption terms as well as their related free boundary problems. The magnitude of the singularity is measured by a negative parameter $(\gamma -1)$, for $0 < \gamma < 1$, which reflects on lack of smoothness for an existing solution along the singular interface between its positive and zero phases. We establish existence as well sharp regularity properties of solutions. We further prove that minimal solutions are non-degenerate and obtain fine geometric-measure properties of the free boundary $\mathfrak{F} = \partial \{u > 0 \}$. In particular we show sharp Hausdorff estimates which imply local finiteness of the perimeter of the region $\{u > 0 \}$ and $\mathcal{H}^{n-1}$ a.e. weak differentiability property of $\mathfrak{F}$.Comment: Paper from D. Araujo's Ph.D. thesis, distinguished at the 2013 Carlos Gutierrez prize for best thesis, Archive for Rational Mechanics and Analysis 201

Eficiência de Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch) sorokin no controle de cigarrinhas-das-pastagens (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) em Brachiaria bryzantha em Rondônia-Brasil.

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a eficiência de Metarhizium anisopliae (isolado ESALQ 1037) em diferentes formulações, dosagens de conídeos e número de aplicações no controle da cigarrinha-das-pastagens, conduzida em ensaio de campo em pastagem de capim-Marandu (Brachiaria bryzantha), no Município de Corumbiara, RO, no período de dezembro de 2007 a fevereiro de 2008. O isolado foi aplicado a partir das 17h, sob temperatura média de 18° C e umidade relativa de 69%. O volume de calda utilizado foi de 300 L/ ha-1, utilizando-se pulverizador a CO². As doses aplicadas foram de 0,5 x109, 1 x109, 2 x109 conídios viáveis/ha-1, com vazão de 300 litros/ha-1. As avaliações procederam-se aos 0, 15, 32, 45, 61 e 75 dias, sendo uma antes das aplicações, e cinco após as aplicações do entomopatógeno, contando-se as cigarrinhas (ninfas) por ponto de 0,0625 m² (quadrado de 0,25 m x 0,25 m). Aos 0 dias a infestação era de 153,6 ninfas/ m². Foi observado que os níveis de ninfas diminuíram com a aplicação de M. anisopliae em todos os tratamentos. Pelos resultados obtidos, o tratamento mais eficiente foi o Metarril SC 2 x109 conídios viáveis/ha-1, na formulação de óleo emulsionável, com duas aplicações (94,19%). Conclui-se que, o M. anisopliae (ESALQ 1037) constitui-se em uma alternativa promissora para o manejo integrado das cigarrinhaspastagens em capim-Marandu (B. brizantha) para a Agricultura Familiar em Rondônia