On Kaluza-Klein relativity

Starting with the hypothesis that space-time is locally embedded in a (4+n)-dimensiorial flat spaceM _4+n, a geometric Kaluza-Klein theory is derived withSO(10) gauge symmetry and an additional spin-2 field represented by the second fundamental formb _ij . This quadratic form imposes a natural boundary on the complementary subspace orthogonal to the space-time, regarded as the internal space. The Gauss-Coddazi-Ricci equations are combined to produce low-energy field equations whereb _i enters as a source field. High-energy dynamics are described by a continuum of space-time perturbations inM _{4+ n} induced byb _ij , satisfying Einstein-Yang-Mills equations. The spaceM _4+n is regarded as a particular space representing the ground state of a more general theory yet to be constructed.Research supported in part by the CNPq (Brazil).     

The transmission of meningococcal infection: a mathematical study

The most common type of bacterial meningitis in the developed countries is caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria, which cause meningococcal meningitis. Case fatality rate can be between 3% and 10% in developed countries and as high as 20% in African countries. During epidemics in sub-Saharan countries, the so-called meningitis belt, the case fatality rate can peak to 70% or higher. Some people who have bacterial meningitis experience some form of after effects: epilepsy, damaged eyesight, hearing loss, brain damage. There is no immunity after infection. Approximately on average 10% of the population at any time carry the germs for days, weeks, or months. Carriers can infect other individuals by close contacts, even though they do not become ill themselves. An age-structured mathematical model is formulated that enables the understanding of the dynamics of the infection transmission. The model is used to study the conditions for the stability of the disease-free steady state (which imply extinction of the disease) and the existence of an endemic state (which leads to persistence of the disease in the population). The results of the model are applied to identify the contribution of the carriers to the transmission of the disease. Final epidemiological conclusions are given.     

Geometric Phase in Quaternionic Quantum Mechanics

Quaternion quantum mechanics is examined at the level of unbroken SU(2) gauge symmetry. A general quaternionic phase expression is derived from formal properties of the quaternion algebra.     

Rheological and thermal behavior of PLA modified by chemical crosslinking in the presence of ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylates

Crosslinking structures can be partly introduced into PLA by melt mixing in a twin screw extruder with dicumyl peroxide (DCP) and ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylates (Bis‐EMAs) as a crosslinking coagent. The study of DCP and Bis‐EMA contents on the melt rheology, thermal properties, dynamic mechanical properties and morphology of the reactive extruded pellets is presented. The results show that PLA with a DCP content higher than 3 phr exhibits increases in both the melt modulus and complex viscosity as compared with PLA. The introduction of DCP into PLA improved the thermal stability of the PLA. PLAs with various Bis‐EMA contents showed the optimum storage modulus and complex viscosity to occur at 5 phr Bis‐EMAs. Moreover, the glass transition, cold crystallization and melting temperature of PLAs decreased with increasing Bis‐EMA content. The crystallinity of the partly crosslinked PLAs was lower than that of PLA. Similar to the rheological results, the thermo‐mechanical properties showed that the storage modulus and loss modulus of the partly crosslinked PLAs increased with increasing Bis‐EMA contents up to 5 phr. In addition, these partly crosslinked PLAs showed rough surface or sea island‐like structure. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of pH on the incorporation and growth of Pb<Subscript>2</Subscript>CrO<Subscript>5</Subscript> crystallites in silica matrix

Pb₂CrO₅ nanoparticles were embedded in an amorphous SiO₂ matrix by the sol–gel process. The pH and heat treatment effects were evaluated in terms of structural, microstructural and optical properties from Pb₂CrO₅/SiO₂ compounds. X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and diffuse reflectance techniques were employed. Kubelka–Munk theory was used to calculate diffuse reflectance spectra that were compared to the experimental results. Finally, colorimetric coordinates of the Pb₂CrO₅/SiO₂ compounds were shown and discussed. In general, an acid pH initially dissolves Pb₂CrO₅ nanoparticles and following heat treatment at 600 °C crystallized into PbCrO₄ composition with grain size around 6 nm in SiO₂ matrix. No Pb₂CrO₅ solubilization was observed for basic pH. These nanoparticles were incorporated in silica matrix showing a variety of color ranging from yellow to orange.     

Linear and non-linear dynamics of entangled linear polymer melts by modified tunable coarse-grained level dissipative particle dynamics

Dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) is a well-known simulation method for soft materials and has been applied to a variety of systems. However, doubts have been cast recently on its adequacy because of upper coarse-graining limitations, which could prevent the method from being applicable to the whole mesoscopic range. This paper proposes a modified coarse-grained level tunable DPD method and demonstrates its performance for linear polymeric systems. The method can reproduce both static and dynamic properties of entangled linear polymer systems well. Linear and non-linear viscoelastic properties were predicted and despite being a mesoscale technique, the code is able to capture the transition from the plateau regime to the terminal zone with decreasing angular frequency, the transition from the Rouse to the entangled regime with increasing molecular weight and the overshoots in both shear stress and normal-stress differences upon start-up of steady shear.     

Influence of Cu(II) in the SrSnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> crystallization

Perovskite type oxides have been intensively studied due to their interesting optical, electrical, and catalytic properties. Among perovskites the alkaline earth stannates stand out, being strontium stannates (SrSnO₃) the most important material in ceramic technology among them due to their wide application as dielectric component. SrSnO₃ has also been applied as stable capacitor and humidity sensor. In the present work, SrSnO₃:Cu was synthesized by polymeric precursor method and heat treated at 700, 800, and 900 °C for 4 h. After that, the material was characterized by thermal analysis (TG/DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy, and UV–vis spectroscopy. Results indicated three thermal decomposition steps and confirmed the presence of strontium carbonate and Cu²⁺ reduction to Cu⁺ at higher dopant amounts. XRD patterns indicated that the perovskite crystallization started at 700 °C with strontiatite (SrCO₃) and cassiterite (SnO₂) as intermediate phases, disappearing at higher temperatures. The amount of secondary phase was reduced with the increase in the Cu concentration.     

Use of different techniques in the evaluation of the oxidative stability of poultry fat biodiesel

The poultry fat methylic (BMF) and ethylic (BEF) biodiesels were synthesized through transesterification by homogeneous basic catalysis. The chromatographic analyses showed the palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic esters as majority components. Owing to its considerable amount of polyunsaturated fat acids, poultry fat usually leads to a biodiesel with low oxidative stability. In this study, the oxidation of their ethylic and methylic biodiesels was evaluated by Rancimat, PDSC, and PetroOxy. The OSI (Rancimat) was of 0.47 and 0.40 h for the ethylic and methylic biodiesel, respectively. In PDSC, both fuels presented an OT of about 120–123 °C. PetroOxy analysis indicated an OxyStab of 11 min for BEF and higher than 11 min for BMF. There was no correspondence among the oxidative stabilities of the employed techniques [OT(BEF) ≈ OT(BMF), OSI(BEF) > OSI(BMF), and OxyStab(BEF) < OxyStab(BMF)]. The discussion of these results was based on the indicator measured by each technique: enthalpic events are observed by PDSC; conductivity of volatile secondary oxidation products is measured by Rancimat; reduction of the oxygen pressure is determined by PetroOxy. This discussion showed that these different indicators do not reflect the same stage of the oxidative process as energy is release at the beginning of the propagation step, oxygen pressure decreases during the propagation step, and oxidation products are formed during the termination step.     

Influence of thermal degradation in the physicochemical properties of fish oil

Physicochemical and thermal analyses were undertaken to evaluate the influence of the temperature on the oxidation of sea fish oil once its polyunsaturated fatty acids deteriorate rapidly. Fish oil displayed four decomposition steps in synthetic air atmosphere and only one step in nitrogen atmosphere. The first step started at 189 and 222 °C for oxidizing and inert atmospheres, respectively. An OIT value of 53 min was measured at 100 °C. After the degradation process the peroxide index and the iodine index reduced from 35.38 to 9.85 meq × 1000 g^?1 and from 139.79 to 120.19 gI₂ × 100 g^?1, respectively. An increase of the free fatty acids amount from 0.07 to 0.17% was observed while viscosity increased from 57.2 to 58.0 cP. Absorption at 272 nm also increased. The thermogravimetric and spectroscopic techniques are reproducible and versatile being an option for characterization of edible oil oxidation.     

Antioxidant capacity and larvicidal and antifungal activities of essential oils and extracts from Piper krukoffii

The leaves and twigs of Piper krukoffii, collected in the Carajás National Forest, north Brazil, yielded essential oils (2.0% and 0.8%), the main constituents of which were myristicin (40.3% and 26.7%), apiole (25.4% and 34.1%) and elemicin (2.8% and 3.0%). The antioxidant activities of the oils, methanol extract and its sub-fractions were evaluated. The DPPH EC50 values varied from the ethyl acetate sub-fraction (73.4 +/- 3.7 microg/mL) to the methanol extract (24.9 +/- 0.8 microg/mL), and the ABTS TEAC values ranged in the same order from 265.7 to 349.2 microMol TE/g. These results indicated a significant antioxidant activity for the plant. The lignans (-)-kusunokin, yatein, (-)-hinokin and cubebin were identified in the methanol extract. The hydro-methanolic sub-fraction showed a high value for total phenol content (106.5 +/- 0.7 mg GAE/g), as well as 1H NMR signals for sugar moieties. Crude extracts and sub-fractions were also able to inhibit beta-carotene bleaching, varying from 22.4 to 47.1%. The oils from the leaves and twigs showed strong larvicidal (21.4 and 3.6 microg/mL) and fungicide (0.5 and 0.1 microg/mL) activities.