9,070 research outputs found
Higher-Derivative Two-Dimensional Massive Fermion Theories
We consider the canonical quantization of a generalized two-dimensional
massive fermion theory containing higher odd-order derivatives. The
requirements of Lorentz invariance, hermiticity of the Hamiltonian and absence
of tachyon excitations suffice to fix the mass term, which contains a
derivative coupling. We show that the basic quantum excitations of a
higher-derivative theory of order 2N+1 consist of a physical usual massive
fermion, quantized with positive metric, plus 2N unphysical massless fermions,
quantized with opposite metrics. The positive metric Hilbert subspace, which is
isomorphic to the space of states of a massive free fermion theory, is selected
by a subsidiary-like condition. Employing the standard bosonization scheme, the
equivalent boson theory is derived. The results obtained are used as a
guideline to discuss the solution of a theory including a current-current
interaction.Comment: 23 pages, Late
Experimental determination of the non-extensive entropic parameter
We show how to extract the parameter from experimental data, considering
an inhomogeneous magnetic system composed by many Maxwell-Boltzmann homogeneous
parts, which after integration over the whole system recover the Tsallis
non-extensivity. Analyzing the cluster distribution of
LaSrMnO manganite, obtained through scanning tunnelling
spectroscopy, we measure the parameter and predict the bulk magnetization
with good accuracy. The connection between the Griffiths phase and
non-extensivity is also considered. We conclude that the entropic parameter
embodies information about the dynamics, the key role to describe complex
systems.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev. Let
Ab-initio study of the relation between electric polarization and electric field gradients in ferroelectrics
The hyperfine interaction between the quadrupole moment of atomic nuclei and
the electric field gradient (EFG) provides information on the electronic charge
distribution close to a given atomic site. In ferroelectric materials, the loss
of inversion symmetry of the electronic charge distribution is necessary for
the appearance of the electric polarization. We present first-principles
density functional theory calculations of ferroelectrics such as BaTiO3, KNbO3,
PbTiO3 and other oxides with perovskite structures, by focusing on both EFG
tensors and polarization. We analyze the EFG tensor properties such as
orientation and correlation between components and their link with electric
polarization. This work supports previous studies of ferroelectric materials
where a relation between EFG tensors and polarization was observed, which may
be exploited to study ferroelectric order when standard techniques to measure
polarization are not easily applied.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, 5 tables, corrected typos, as published in Phys.
Rev.
UVB irradiation as a tool to assess ROS-induced damage in human spermatozoa
One of the consequences of oxygen metabolism is the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which in a situation of imbalance
with antioxidants can damage several biomolecules, compromise cell function and even lead to cellular death. The particularities
of the sperm cell make it particularly vulnerable to ROS attack compromising its functionality, mirrored in terms of fertility
outcome and making the study of the origin of sperm ROS, as well as the alterations they cause very important. In the present work,
we used UVB irradiation, an easy experimental approach known as a potent inducer of ROS formation, to better understand the origin
of ROS damage without any confounding effects that usually exist in disease models in which ROS are reported to play a role. To
address these issues we evaluated sperm mitochondrial ROS production using the Mitosox Red Probe, mitochondrial membrane
potential using the JC-1 probe, lipid peroxidation through BODIPY probe and vitality using PI. We observed that UVB irradiation
leads to an increase in sperm mitochondrial ROS production and lipid peroxidation that occur previously to an observable mitochondrial
dysfunction. We concluded that sperm UVB irradiation appears to be a good and easily manipulated in vitro model system to
study mitochondria-induced oxidative stress in spermatozoa and its consequences, which may be relevant in terms of dissecting the
action pathways of many other pathologies, drugs and contaminants, including endocrine disruptors.S.A. is the recipient of a FCT fellowship (SFRH/BPD/
63190/2009). Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC)
funding is supported by FCT (PEst-C/SAU/LA0001/2011)
Caracterização térmica e reológica de filmes finos de amido de mandioca com adição de polpa de acerola liofilizada.
Universality Classes for Interface Growth with Quenched Disorder
We present numerical evidence that there are two distinct universality
classes characterizing driven interface roughening in the presence of quenched
disorder. The evidence is based on the behavior of , the coefficient
of the nonlinear term in the growth equation. Specifically, for three of the
models studied, at the depinning transition, while
for the two other models, .Comment: 11 pages and 3 figures (upon request), REVTeX 3.0, (submitted to PRL
Power Law Scaling for a System of Interacting Units with Complex Internal Structure
We study the dynamics of a system composed of interacting units each with a
complex internal structure comprising many subunits. We consider the case in
which each subunit grows in a multiplicative manner. We propose a model for
such systems in which the interaction among the units is treated in a mean
field approximation and the interaction among subunits is nonlinear. To test
the model, we identify a large data base spanning 20 years, and find that the
model correctly predicts a variety of empirical results.Comment: 4 pages with 4 postscript figures (uses Revtex 3.1, Latex2e,
multicol.sty, epsf.sty and rotate.sty). Submitted to PR
Conservação ambiental forte alcançada através de sistemas agroflorestais multiestratificados: 1 - agroflorestas e a restauração ecológica de florestas.
O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar se um sistema agroflorestal multiestratificado (agrofloresta) agroecológico pode ser considerado como tendo uma sustentabilidade ambiental forte, com base em uma análise dos serviços ecossistêmicos de restauração florestal. Para tanto, foi utilizado resultados de pesquisas que compararam agroflorestas e regenerações naturais. Os resultados sugerem que as agroflorestas apresentam uma sustentabilidade ambiental forte e potencial de promover a restauração florestal, no entanto, é um sistema produtivo e não uma metodologia de restauração. Este fato, ao mesmo tempo em que impõe desafios legais e conceituais, aponta para uma alternativa de restauração para as florestas brasileiras.Edição do 1º Seminário de Agroecologia da América do Sul; 5º Seminário de Agroecologia de Mato Grosso do Sul; 4º Encontro de Produtores Agroecológicos de Mato Grosso do Sul; 1º Seminário de Sistemas Agroflorestais em Bases Agroecológicas de Mato Grosso do Sul, 2014, Dourados, MS - AGROECOL
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