Two-dimensional Quantum Black Holes, Branes in BTZ and Holography

We solve semiclassical Einstein equations in two dimensions with a massive source and we find a static, thermodynamically stable, quantum black hole solution in the Hartle-Hawking vacuum state. We then study the black hole geometry generated by a boundary mass sitting on a non-zero tension 1-brane embedded in a three-dimensional BTZ black hole. We show that the two geometries coincide and we extract, using holographic relations, information about the CFT living on the 1-brane. Finally, we show that the quantum black hole has the same temperature of the bulk BTZ, as expected from the holographic principle.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, RevTex, ``point particle of mass \mu '' changed with ``massive boundary source'' for better clarity. Action in (50) written in Z_2 symmetric form. Appendix clarified. Minor corrections and references added. Version accepted for pubblication in PRD15 (2006

Casimir-like tunneling-induced electronic forces

We study the quantum forces that act between two nearby conductors due to electronic tunneling. We derive an expression for these forces by calculating the flux of momentum arising from the overlap of evanescent electronic fields. Our result is written in terms of the electronic reflection amplitudes of the conductors and it has the same structure as Lifshitz's formula for the electromagnetically mediated Casimir forces. We evaluate the tunneling force between two semiinfinite conductors and between two thin films separated by an insulating gap. We discuss some applications of our results.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figs, submitted to Proc. of QFEXT'05, to be published in J. Phys.

Cobertura do solo e área foliar de uma cultivar de soja de hábito determinado cultivada no sistema de plantio cruzado.

O sistema denominado Plantio Cruzado surgiu no Brasil com o objetivo de aumentar a densidade de plantas de soja sem concentrar demasiadamente as plantas na linha, o que acarretaria em competição intraespecífica muito intensa. Com essa técnica, alguns produtores de diversas regiões do Brasil têm conseguido superar a marca de 6 t ha-1 de grãos de soja. A partir desse contexto, objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar a cobertura do solo e a área foliar da cultivar de soja de hábito determinado, BRS 294 RR, cultivada nos sistemas de plantio cruzado e não cruzado. O experimento foi conduzido na Fazenda Experimental da Embrapa Soja, Londrina, PR, durante o período de outubro de 2011 a março de 2012. Utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso em esquema fatorial 2 x 2 x 2, com três repetições. Os tratamentos foram formados pela combinação de dois espaçamentos entre fileiras (0,4 e 0,6 m), duas densidades de semeadura (375.000 e 562.500 sementes por hectare) e dois sistemas de plantio (plantio cruzado e não cruzado). Em geral, o plantio cruzado, o aumento da densidade de plantas e a redução do espaçamento entre fileiras proporcionaram incrementos na cobertura do solo pelas plantas de soja da cultivar BRS 294 RR. O plantio cruzado não afetou a área foliar por planta, mas aumentou a porcentagem de solo descoberto com palha ou plantas de soja no início do ciclo de desenvolvimento da cultura

Cobertura do solo e área foliar de uma cultivar de soja de hábito indeterminado cultivada no sistema de plantio cruzado.

A modificação do arranjo espacial das plantas de soja pode ser a forma mais rápida de aumento da média de rendimento de grãos de soja, sem alterações na sustentabilidade dos sistemas de produção. A partir desse cenário, objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar a cobertura do solo e a área foliar de uma cultivar de soja de hábito indeterminado, BRS 359 RR, cultivada no sistema de plantio cruzado e não cruzado. O experimento foi realizado a campo localizado na Fazenda Experimental da Embrapa Soja em Londrina-PR, durante o período de outubro de 2011 a março de 2012. Utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso em esquema fatorial 2 x 2 x 2, com três repetições. Os tratamentos foram formados pela combinação de dois espaçamentos (0,4 e 0,6 m), duas densidades de semeadura (375.000 e 562.500 sementes por hectare) e dois sistemas de plantio (plantio cruzado e não cruzado). No plantio cruzado, o aumento da densidade de plantas e a redução do espaçamento entre fileiras proporcionaram incrementos na cobertura do solo pelas plantas de soja da cultivar BRS 359 RR. O plantio cruzado aumentou a porcentagem de solo descoberto por palha e plantas de soja no início do ciclo de desenvolvimento da cultura

Murchison Widefield Array and XMM-Newton observations of the Galactic supernova remnant G5.9+3.1

In this paper we discuss the radio continuum and X-ray properties of the so-far poorly studied Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) G5.9+3.1. We present the radio spectral energy distribution (SED) of the Galactic SNR G5.9+3.1 obtained with the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA). Combining these new observations with the surveys at other radio continuum frequencies, we discuss the integrated radio continuum spectrum of this particular remnant. We have also analyzed an archival XMM-Newton observation, which represents the first detection of X-ray emission from this remnant. The SNR SED is very well explained by a simple power-law relation. The synchrotron radio spectral index of G5.9+3.1, is estimated to be 0.42$\pm$0.03 and the integrated flux density at 1GHz to be around 2.7Jy. Furthermore, we propose that the identified point radio source, located centrally inside the SNR shell, is most probably a compact remnant of the supernova explosion. The shell-like X-ray morphology of G5.9+3.1 as revealed by XMM-Newton broadly matches the spatial distribution of the radio emission, where the radio-bright eastern and western rims are also readily detected in the X-ray while the radio-weak northern and southern rims are weak or absent in the X-ray. Extracted MOS1+MOS2+PN spectra from the whole SNR as well as the north, east, and west rims of the SNR are fit successfully with an optically thin thermal plasma model in collisional ionization equilibrium with a column density N_H~0.80x$10^{22}$ cm$^{-2}$ and fitted temperatures spanning the range kT~0.14-0.23keV for all of the regions. The derived electron number densities n_e for the whole SNR and the rims are also roughly comparable (ranging from ~$0.20f^{-1/2}$ cm$^{-3}$ to ~$0.40f^{-1/2}$ cm$^{-3}$, where f is the volume filling factor). We also estimate the swept-up mass of the X-ray emitting plasma associated with G5.9+3.1 to be ~$46f^{-1/2}M_{\odot}$.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&

Diversidade Genética de bactérias endofíticas de Musa sp.

Foram isoladas 23 bactérias endofíticas de tecido foliar da cultivar Pacovan. A análise da diversidade genética foi realizada por meio das técnicas de ERIC e BOX-PCR a partir das quais foram obtidas 16 e 21 bandas polimórficas respectivamente. Os dados de similaridade com base na análise polifásica obtido pelo Coeficiente de Dice variaram entre 10% a 90% indicando alta diversidade genética entre os isolados analisados. Utilizando 60% de similaridade como critério para formação de OTUs (Operational Taxonomic Units) foram identificadas 7 possíveis OTUs

Calibration and Stokes Imaging with Full Embedded Element Primary Beam Model for the Murchison Widefield Array

15 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in PASA. © Astronomical Society of Australia 2017The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA), located in Western Australia, is one of the low-frequency precursors of the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project. In addition to pursuing its own ambitious science program, it is also a testbed for wide range of future SKA activities ranging from hardware, software to data analysis. The key science programs for the MWA and SKA require very high dynamic ranges, which challenges calibration and imaging systems. Correct calibration of the instrument and accurate measurements of source flux densities and polarisations require precise characterisation of the telescope's primary beam. Recent results from the MWA GaLactic Extragalactic All-sky MWA (GLEAM) survey show that the previously implemented Average Embedded Element (AEE) model still leaves residual polarisations errors of up to 10-20 % in Stokes Q. We present a new simulation-based Full Embedded Element (FEE) model which is the most rigorous realisation yet of the MWA's primary beam model. It enables efficient calculation of the MWA beam response in arbitrary directions without necessity of spatial interpolation. In the new model, every dipole in the MWA tile (4 x 4 bow-tie dipoles) is simulated separately, taking into account all mutual coupling, ground screen and soil effects, and therefore accounts for the different properties of the individual dipoles within a tile. We have applied the FEE beam model to GLEAM observations at 200 - 231 MHz and used false Stokes parameter leakage as a metric to compare the models. We have determined that the FEE model reduced the magnitude and declination-dependent behaviour of false polarisation in Stokes Q and V while retaining low levels of false polarisation in Stokes U.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

The Spectral Energy Distribution of Powerful Starburst Galaxies I: Modelling the Radio Continuum

We have acquired radio continuum data between 70\,MHz and 48\,GHz for a sample of 19 southern starburst galaxies at moderate redshifts ($0.067 < z < 0.227$) with the aim of separating synchrotron and free-free emission components. Using a Bayesian framework we find the radio continuum is rarely characterised well by a single power law, instead often exhibiting low frequency turnovers below 500\,MHz, steepening at mid-to-high frequencies, and a flattening at high frequencies where free-free emission begins to dominate over the synchrotron emission. These higher order curvature components may be attributed to free-free absorption across multiple regions of star formation with varying optical depths. The decomposed synchrotron and free-free emission components in our sample of galaxies form strong correlations with the total-infrared bolometric luminosities. Finally, we find that without accounting for free-free absorption with turnovers between 90 to 500\,MHz the radio-continuum at low frequency ($\nu < 200$\,MHz) could be overestimated by upwards of a factor of twelve if a simple power law extrapolation is used from higher frequencies. The mean synchrotron spectral index of our sample is constrained to be $\alpha=-1.06$, which is steeper then the canonical value of $-0.8$ for normal galaxies. We suggest this may be caused by an intrinsically steeper cosmic ray distribution

Current exposure of Italian women of reproductive age to PFOS and PFOA: a human biomonitoring study

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) concentrations were determined in serum samples collected in 2011-2012 from 549 nulliparous Italian women of reproductive age who resided in six different Italian Regions. Assessment of exposure to perfluorinated compounds was part of a large human biomonitoring study (Project Life Plus "Womenbiopop") that aimed at examining the exposure of women of reproductive age to priority organic pollutants. The median concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were 2.43, and 1.55ngg-1, respectively. Significant differences in the concentrations of both compounds were observed among the six Regions. Women from central Italy had the highest levels of both compounds, followed by women from northern Italy, and southern Italy. No differences in the PFOS concentrations were found between women from urban/industrial areas and women from rural areas, whereas the levels of PFOA were significantly higher in women residing in urban/industrial areas than in women residing in rural areas. Taken together, the observed concentrations confirm that the overall exposure of the Italian population is among the lowest observed in industrialized countries. A downward temporal trend in exposure was observed for both compounds when comparing the results from the present study with those assessed in a study conducted in 2008