A new picture on (3+1)D topological mass mechanism

We present a class of mappings between the fields of the Cremmer-Sherk and pure BF models in 4D. These mappings are established by two distinct procedures. First a mapping of their actions is produced iteratively resulting in an expansion of the fields of one model in terms of progressively higher derivatives of the other model fields. Secondly an exact mapping is introduced by mapping their quantum correlation functions. The equivalence of both procedures is shown by resorting to the invariance under field scale transformations of the topological action. Related equivalences in 5D and 3D are discussed. A cohomological argument is presented to provide consistency of the iterative mapping.Comment: 13 page

Topological mass mechanism and exact fields mapping

We present a class of mappings between models with topological mass mechanism and purely topological models in arbitrary dimensions. These mappings are established by directly mapping the fields of one model in terms of the fields of the other model in closed expressions. These expressions provide the mappings of their actions as well as the mappings of their propagators. For a general class of models in which the topological model becomes the BF model the mappings present arbitrary functions which otherwise are absent for Chern-Simons like actions. This work generalizes the results of [1] for arbitrary dimensions.Comment: 11 page

Aflatoxins: contamination, analysis and control.

Projeto: 11.11.11.111

A candidate for a background independent formulation of M theory

A class of background independent membrane field theories are studied, and several properties are discovered which suggest that they may play a role in a background independent form of M theory. The bulk kinematics of these theories are described in terms of the conformal blocks of an algebra G on all oriented, finite genus, two-surfaces. The bulk dynamics is described in terms of causal histories in which time evolution is specified by giving amplitudes to certain local changes of the states. Holographic observables are defined which live in finite dimensional states spaces associated with boundaries in spacetime. We show here that the natural observables in these boundary state spaces are, when G is chosen to be Spin(D) or a supersymmetric extension of it, generalizations of matrix model coordinates in D dimensions. In certain cases the bulk dynamics can be chosen so the matrix model dynamics is recoverd for the boundary observables. The bosonic and supersymmetric cases in D=3 and D=9 are studied, and it is shown that the latter is, in a certain limit, related to the matrix model formulation of M theory. This correspondence gives rise to a conjecture concerning a background independent form of M theory in terms of which excitations of the background independent membrane field theory that correspond to strings and D0 branes are identified.Comment: Latex 46 pages, 21 figures, new results included which lead to a modification of the statement of the basic conjecture. Presentation improve

An Italian foreign policy of religious engagement: challenges and prospects

A new awareness of the role of religion in international relations has started to inform concrete policy discussions in several Western Ministries of Foreign Affairs under the heading of ‘religious engagement’ in foreign policy. Italy is no exception, but as the country which hosts the Holy See, it represents a special case. As the approach to religion found in the historical record of Italian foreign policy shows, Italy has a comparative advantage and could well develop a unique model of religious engagement by strengthening the central structures involved in religious matters and foreign policy, as well as by using the vast network of Rome-based religious non-state actors as a forum of consultation and policy advice

Kant, race, and natural history

This article presents a new argument concerning the relation between Kant’s theory of race and aspects of the critical philosophy. It argues that Kant’s treatment of the problem of the systematic unity of nature and knowledge in the Critique of Pure Reason and the Critique of the Power of Judgment can be traced back a methodological problem in the natural history of the period – that of the possibility of a natural system of nature. Kant’s transformation of the methodological problem from natural history into a set of philosophical (and specifically epistemological) problems proceeds by way of the working out of his own problem in natural history – the problem of the natural history of the human races – and specifically the problem of the unity in diversity of the human species, in response to which he develops a theory of race. This theory of race is, further, the first developed model of the use of teleological judgment in Kant’s work. The article thus argues that Kant’s philosophical position on the systematic unity of nature and of knowledge in the first and third Critiques, and his account and defense of teleological judgment, are developed out of problems first articulated in his solution to the problem of the unity in diversity of the human species – that is, in his theory of race. The article does not seek to establish that these aspects of the critical philosophy are therefore racialised. But it does demonstrate, against those who deny its salience to his philosophy, how the problem of the unity in diversity of the human species and Kant’s theory of race is significant for the development of aspects of the critical philosophy and thus contributes to their philosophical problematics

Identificação de áreas de preservação permanente (APPs) por meio de geotecnologias frente às áreas de vinhedo no município de Monte Belo do Sul, Brasil.

A região da Serra Gaúcha é uma importante área de produção de uvas e vinhos no sul do Brasil e busca reconhecimento através das Indicações Geográficas (IG) para vinhos finos. A preservação ambiental constitui um requisito importante para definir uma IG. No contexto de um projeto de pesquisa desenvolvido na Embrapa Uva e Vinho, um dos objetivos foi localizar áreas de preservação permanente (APPs) de acordo com o Código Florestal Brasileiro, com o auxílio de técnicas de sensoriamento remoto e geoprocessamento no intuito de identificar os vinhedos em APPs. Para isto foi utilizado o mosaico de fotografias aéreas com resolução espacial de 2 metros. Foi gerado o modelo digital de elevação da rede de drenagem, sendo as áreas de vinhedos obtidas a partir do cadastro de vinhedos pré-existentes do município. A partir do cruzamento das áreas dos vinhedos com as APPs, foram identificados 31% dos vinhedos em área de conflito.Resumo

Identificação de áreas de preservação permanente (APPs) frente às áreas de vinhedos por meio de geotecnologias no município de Monte Belo do Sul, Brasil.

Esta pesquisa objetivou identificar possíveis zonas de conflito entre áreas de preservação permanente (APPs), referentes à faixa marginal dos cursos d‟-água e entorno de nascentes e os vinhedos pertencentes à futura Indicação Geográfica (IG) Monte Belo, localizados no Município de Monte Belo do Sul, RS.Resumo

Sustainable Viticulture: geotechnology for characterization of land use and identification of permanent preservation areas in the Serra Gaúcha, Brazil.

The Serra Gaúcha wine region is important for production of grapes and wines in Brazil and it is looking for recognition by geographical indications (GI) for wines. Environmental preservation is an important requirement to set a GI. In the research project developed by Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, one objective was to identify permanent preservation areas (PPA) in accordance with the Brazilian Forest Code and Environmental Laws. The geotechnologies were applied to identify the vineyards into PPA from high resolution aerial photographs to generate digital elevation model (DEM) and land use survey. The vineyards areas were obtained from the register of vineyards. From the intersection of vineyards and PPA, were identified the percentage of vineyards belonging to the GI located in the PPA. This work was identifying vineyards located in PPA areas within the Vale dos Vinhedos, Monte Belo and Pinto Bandeira GI. The studies were developed in the GIS laboratory of Embrapa Grape and Wine. First, were prepared the slope and distances maps and was elaborated the map of PPA, areas with slopes exceeding 47% and drainage, as well as the map of vineyards obtained by vectorization upon the aerial image. The map of conflict areas was generated by crossing the PPA and vineyards maps, showing vineyards deployed in conservation areas. The conflict area was characterized mostly by few vineyards deployed across drainage and the three GI areas showed a good preservation for the cultivation of the vine and the conflict areas must be converted in reclamation areas