Gravitational deflection of massive particles in classical and semiclassical general relativity

We calculate the gravitational deflection of massive particles moving with relativistic velocity in the solar system to second post-Newtonian order. For a particle passing close to the Sun with impact parameter b, the deflection in classical general relativity is Phi(C)[GRAPHICS]where v(0) is the particle speed at infinity and M is the Sun's mass. We compute afterwards the gravitational deflection of a spinless neutral particle of mass m in the same static gravitational field as above, treated now as an external field. For a scalar boson with energy E, the deflection in semiclassical general relativity (SGR) is Phisc[GRAPHICS]This result shows that the propagation of the =2E spinless massive boson produces inexorably dispersive effects. It also shows that the semiclassical prediction is always greater than the geometrical one, no matter what the boson mass is. In addition, it is found that SGR predicts a deflection angle of similar to2.6 arcsec for a nonrelativistic spinless massive boson passing at the Sun's limb.

Bending of light in the framework of R + R2 gravity

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

Measurement of direct photon pair production cross sections in p(p)over-bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

SEMICLASSICAL VIOLATION of THE EQUIVALENCE PRINCIPLE IN THE GRAVITATIONAL LENSES REALM

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Non-linear dynamics of a tower orchard sprayer based on an inverted pendulum model

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

Structural variations among monocot emergent and amphibious species from lakes of the semi-arid region of Bahia, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Treatment of snoring and sleep apnea syndrome with a removable mandibular advancement device in patients without TMD

INTRODUCTION: Among the sleep disorders reported by the American Academy of Sleep, the most common is obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), which is caused by difficulties in air passage and complete interruption of air flow in the airway. This syndrome is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in apneic individuals. OBJECTIVE: It was the objective of this paper to evaluate a removable mandibular advancement device as it provides a noninvasive, straightforward treatment readily accepted by patients. METHODS: In this study, 15 patients without temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and with excessive daytime sleepiness or snoring were evaluated. Data were collected by means of: Polysomnography before and after placement of an intraoral appliance, analysis of TMD signs and symptoms using a patient history questionnaire, muscle and TMJ palpation. RESULTS: After treatment, the statistical analysis (t-test, and the before and after test) showed a mean reduction of 77.6% (p=0.001) in the apnea-hypopnea index, an increase in lowest oxyhemoglobin saturation (p=0.05), decrease in desaturation (p=0.05), decrease in micro-awakenings or EEG arousals (p=0.05) and highly significant improvement in daytime sleepiness (p=0.005), measured by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. No TMD appeared during the monitoring period. CONCLUSION: The oral device developed in this study was considered effective for mild to moderate OSAHS.

Comparison of behavioral and clinical effects of intravenous amitraz or romifidine administration in horses

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

Metallic powder injection molding using low pressure

The demand by high performance materials that have to support severe service conditions at a reasonable cost has been forcing the powder metallurgy to improve constantly. The most recent and more important innovation in the area is the process of powder injection.Powder injection molding (PIM) is a technology capable of producing a new range of components from powders. This advanced technology overcomes the existent limitations in the forming of products with complex geometry. The process presents countless variations which are used in the industry today. Invariably, it consists of mixing the powders and a thermo-plastic binder, injecting the mass in the mold in the wanted form, debinding, sintering and making optional secondary operations, as for example, machinery.The purpose of this work is to review the metal injection molding techniques and apply the low pressure injection molding process to family of parts using metallic powder with 10 mum particle size. This work also comments the design and construction of a low pressure injection machine and injection molds. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Investigations on the stability of plasma modified silicone surfaces

In this work it was investigated the effect of the exposure to different plasmas on the wettability of silicone samples. We have observed that oxygen. argon, and hydrogen glow discharges are quite effective in reducing the water contact angle of such polymer. However, indifferently to efficiency of the treatment, practically all the modified surfaces recovered great part of their original hydrophobicity. We have investigated this hydrophobic recovery using surface energy measurements and theoretical simulations based on the exponential decay of the population of polar groups on the surface. According to our results such recovery can be attributed to the decrease of polar species at the interface water-polymer surface.

ROLE OF CHOLINERGIC AND ADRENERGIC PATHWAYS OF THE MEDIAL SEPTAL AREA IN THE WATER-INTAKE AND PRESSOR-RESPONSE TO CENTRAL ANGIOTENSIN-II AND CARBACHOL IN RATS

In the present study, we investigated the effect of previous injection of either prazosin (alpha 1-adrenergic antagonist) or atropine (muscarinic cholinergic antagonist) into the medial septal area (MSA) on the presser and dipsogenic responses induced by intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of carbachol (cholinergic agonist) and angiotensin II (ANGII) in rats. The presser and dipsogenic responses to ICV carbachol (7 nmol) were reduced after previous treatment of the MSA with atropine (0.5 to 5 nmol), but not prazosin (20 and 40 nmol). The dipsogenic response to ICV ANGII (25 ng) was reduced after prazosin (40 nmol) into the MSA. The presser response to ICV ANGII was not changed either by previous treatment of the MSA with prazosin or atropine. The present results suggest a dissociation among the pathways subserving the control of dipsogenic and presser responses to central cholinergic or angiotensinergic activation.

LARVAL DISPERSION OF ORMIA-DEPLETA (TOWNS) (DIPT, TACHINIDAE)

The dispersion patterns of the larval planidia of Ormia depleta was studied in circular arenas. After placing 25 larvae in the center of the arena, their angle of distribution and distance travelled was recorded 15 min later. No innate directional orientations were evidenced, nor was evidence found for either positive or negative orientation to point sound and light sources. In all cases, dispersion was bimodal, with most dispersing only 1 cm, and a much smaller peak found at 10 cm. The bimodality of dispersal distances may be a response to the sexual behavior of its host, mole crickets of the genus Scapteriscus.

Comparison of metallic and ceramic tubes as atomization cells for tin determination by TS-FF-AAS

This work describes the development of an analytical procedure for on-line tin determination using thermospray flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (TS-FF-AAS). Two tubes were evaluated as atomization cells: a metallic tube (Ni-Cr, principal components composition: 73.95% Ni and 16.05% Cr) and a ceramic tube (99.8% Al2O3). The use of air as the carrier was made by employing a Rheodyne valve to inject the samples, allowing an analytical frequency of 90 h(-1) and avoiding sample dispersion. The carrier flow rate (air), sample volume injected, and acid concentration (HCl) were evaluated for the optimization of the TS-FF-AAS system. The sensitivity for 50 mL of analytical solution with TS-FF-AAS was 2 and 5 times higher (to metallic and ceramic tube, respectively) than using an acetylene-nitrous oxide flame with pneumatic aspiration (requiring a sample volume of approximately 20 times higher.

THE CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF BENZOYL-HISTIDINE MONOHYDRATE

The crystal structure of benzoyl-histidine monohydrate (BYLH hereafter), C-13H-12N-3O-3. H2O was determined from three dimensional data of 3012 independent reflections measured on a Enraf-Nonius (CAD4) single crystal diffractometer. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with cell dimensions alpha = 7.102(1) angstrom, b = 13.783(3) angstrom, c = 14.160(4) angstrom, V = 1385.92 angstrom-3, F.W. = 277.28, F(000) = 584 Q(calc) = 1.32 g cm-3 and Z = 4.The structure was solved with direct methods. All positional and anisotropic thermal parameters were refined by full-matrix least-squares calculations. The final reliability factor was R = 0.040, while the weighted one was Rw = 0.034. The H atoms found in the difference Fourier map were refined isotropically.The compound consists of a histidine molecule bound to a benzoyl group. There is also a cocrystallized water molecule stabilized through a hydrogen bridge.The 5-membered ring of the histidine has its tautomeric form, after the transfer of the H atom from the N(delta) to the N(epsilon) atom of the ring. There is an sp2 conformation around C6 while the conformation around C3 is that of sp3. The histidine ring forms with the benzene ring a dihedral angle of 109.8(1)-degree.All angle values and bond distances agree very well with the expected values in the literature.

Microscopical aspects od accessory air breathing through a modified stomach in the armoured catfish Liposarcus anisitsi (Siluriformes, Loricariidae)

The presence of an accessory air breathing mechanism as verified by several authors, is widespread among Loricariidae, where modified parts of the digestive tract act primarily as oxygen-exchange organs. An anatomical and histological analysis was carried out on the stomach and intestine of the armoured catfish Liposarcus anisitsi. The data support the assumption that the modified stomach is responsible for holding air and allows blood oxygenation under hypoxia. Experiments demonstrating survival of air breathing Liposarcus in severely hypoxic water support the hypothesis and are discussed.