Confusing the extragalactic neutrino flux limit with a neutrino propagation limit

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Light Front Boson Model Propagation

The scope and aim of this work is to describe the two-body interaction mediated by a particle (either the scalar or the gauge boson) within the light-front formulation. To do this, first of all we point out the importance of propagators and Green functions in Quantum Mechanics. Then we project the covariant quantum propagator onto the light front time to get the propagator for scalar particles in these coordinates. This operator propagates the wave function from x(+) = 0 to x(+) > 0. It corresponds to the definition of the time ordering operation in the light front time x(+). We calculate the light-front Green's function for 2 interacting bosons propagating forward in x(+). We also show how to write down the light front Green's function from the Feynman propagator and finally make a generalization to N bosons.

Morphological aspects of the propagation in Heliconia velloziana L. Emygd. (Zingiberales: Heliconiaceae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Orbital propagation for Brazilian satellites using NORAD models

The performance of the NORAD models for near Earth satellites (SGP, SGP4, SGP8) using two Brazilian flying satellites, SCD-1 and SCD-2, and the Chinese-Brazilian satellite CBERS-1 is compared. The achievable accuracy of such models is compared against the predicted 2-lines elements set for the satellites. Every week an updated fresh set of 2-lines elements for these satellites is made available through the Internet. About ten years of observations of the SCD-1 satellite are available and therefore solar activity influences on the orbit can be analyzed. Data are selected considering also orbital (for CBERS-1) and attitude (for SCD-2) maneuvers - (C) 2002 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Using error bounds to compare aggregated generalized transportation models

A comparative study of aggregation error bounds for the generalized transportation problem is presented. A priori and a posteriori error bounds were derived and a computational study was performed to (a) test the correlation between the a priori, the a posteriori, and the actual error and (b) quantify the difference of the error bounds from the actual error. Based on the results we conclude that calculating the a priori error bound can be considered as a useful strategy to select the appropriate aggregation level. The a posteriori error bound provides a good quantitative measure of the actual error.

Error function approximations of interest in electrochemistry.

The error function is present in several equations describing eletrode processes. But, only approximations of this function are used. In this work, these and other approximations are studied and evaluated according to precision.

Analytical attitude propagation with non-singular variables and gravity gradient torque for spin stabilized satellite

An analytical approach for the spin stabilized satellite attitude propagation is presented using the non-singular canonical variables to describe the rotational motion. Two sets of variables were introduced for Fukushima in 1994 by a canonical transformation and they are useful when the angle between z-satellite axis of a coordinate system fixed in artificial satellite and the rotational angular momentum vector is zero or when the angle between Z-equatorial axis and rotation angular momentum vector is zero. Analytical solutions for rotational motion equations and torque-free motion are discussed in terms of the elliptic functions and by the application of some simplification to get an approximated solution. These solutions are compared with a numerical solution and the results show a good agreement for many rotation periods. When the mean Hamiltonian associated with the gravity gradient torque is included, an analytical solution is obtained by the application of the successive approximations' method for the satellite in an elliptical orbit. These solutions show that the magnitude of the rotation angular moment is not affected by the gravity gradient torque but this torque causes linear and periodic variations in the angular variables, long and short periodic variations in Z-equatorial component of the rotation angular moment and short periodic variations in x-satellite component of the rotation angular moment. The goal of this analysis is to emphasize the geometrical and physical meaning of the non-singular variables and to validate the approximated analytical solution for the rotational motion without elliptic functions for a non-symmetrical satellite. The analysis can be applied for spin stabilized satellite and in this case the general solution and the approximated solution are coincidence. Then the results can be used in analysis of the space mission of the Brazilian Satellites. (C) 2007 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of direction and curvature on variable error pattern of reaching movements

A number of studies have analyzed various indices of the final position variability in order to provide insight into different levels of neuromotor processing during reaching movements. Yet the possible effects of movement kinematics on variability have often been neglected. The present study was designed to test the effects of movement direction and curvature on the pattern of movement variable errors. Subjects performed series of reaching movements over the same distance and into the same target. However, due either to changes in starting position or to applied obstacles, the movements were performed in different directions or along the trajectories of different curvatures. The pattern of movement variable errors was assessed by means of the principal component analysis applied on the 2-D scatter of movement final positions. The orientation of these ellipses demonstrated changes associated with changes in both movement direction and curvature. However, neither movement direction nor movement curvature affected movement variable errors assessed by area of the ellipses. Therefore it was concluded that the end-point variability depends partly, but not exclusively, on movement kinematics.

Periodic waves and solitons of two-photon propagation

We study the two-photon propagation (TPP) modelling equations. The one-phase periodic solutions are obtained in an effective form. Their modulation is investigated by means of the Whitham method. The theory developed is applied to the problem of creation of TPP solitons on the sharp front of a long pulse.

Understorey fire propagation and tree mortality on adjacent areas to an Amazonian deforestation fire

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Forum: social network for the surveillance and prevention of workplace accidents

In 2008, academic researchers and public service officials created a university extension studies platform based on online and on-site meetings denominated "Work-Related Accidents Forum: Analysis, Prevention, and Other Relevant Aspects. Its aim was to help public agents and social partners to propagate a systemic approach that would be helpful in the surveillance and prevention of work-related accidents. This article describes and analyses such a platform. Online access is free and structured to: support dissemination of updated concepts; support on-site meetings and capacity to build educational activities; and keep a permanent space for debate among the registered participants. The desired result is the propagation of a social-technical-systemic view of work-related accidents that replaces the current traditional view that emphasizes human error and results in blaming the victims. The Forum uses an educational approach known as permanent health education, which is based on the experience and needs of workers and encourages debate among participants. The forum adopts a problematizing pedagogy that starts from the requirements and experiences of the social actors and stimulates support and discussions among them in line with an ongoing health educational approach. The current challenge is to turn the platform into a social networking website in order to broaden its links with society.

Use of the Normalized Absorbance Ratio as an Internal Standardization Approach To Minimize Measurement Error in Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays for Diagnosis of Human Papillomavirus Infection

The serological detection of antibodies against human papillomavirus (HPV) antigens is a useful tool to determine exposure to genital HPV infection and in predicting the risk of infection persistence and associated lesions. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) are commonly used for seroepidemiological studies of HPV infection but are not standardized. Intra-and interassay performance variation is difficult to control, especially in cohort studies that require the testing of specimens over extended periods. We propose the use of normalized absorbance ratios (NARs) as a standardization procedure to control for such variations and minimize measurement error. We compared NAR and ELISA optical density (OD) values for the strength of the correlation between serological results for paired visits 4 months apart and HPV-16 DNA positivity in cervical specimens from a cohort investigation of 2,048 women tested with an ELISA using HPV-16 virus-like particles. NARs were calculated by dividing the mean blank-subtracted (net) ODs by the equivalent values of a control serum pool included in the same plate in triplicate, using different dilutions. Stronger correlations were observed with NAR values than with net ODs at every dilution, with an overall reduction in nonexplained regression variability of 39%. Using logistic regression, the ranges of odds ratios of HPV-16 DNA positivity contrasting upper and lower quintiles at different dilutions and their averages were 4.73 to 5.47 for NARs and 2.78 to 3.28 for net ODs, with corresponding significant improvements in seroreactivity-risk trends across quintiles when NARs were used. The NAR standardization is a simple procedure to reduce measurement error in seroepidemiological studies of HPV infection.

Vegetative propagation of Mikania glomerata: Micro-propagation and cuttings

The scope of this work was to compare two systems for vegetative propagation: conventional one (from cut stems) and in vitro micropropagation from axillary buds. Nodal segments (1 cm) of Mikania glomerata were used as explants. The experiments were evaluated in relation to number of shoots; % of rooting; number of roots and total fresh weight. Multiple shoots developed in MS containing 0.5 mg/L BAP. Rooting was induced in the presence of 1.0 mg/L IBA. Stems with five buds and one pair of leaves were the most appropriate for the production of cuttings. The time necessary for developing a protocol for the production of M. glomerata micropropagated plantlets was 6 months, whereas only half time was required to produce plantlets from stem cuttings. The greatest problem met during micropropagation was the culture contamination by endophytic bacteria and fungi.