An exact master equation for the system-reservoir dynamics under the strong coupling regime and non-Markovian dynamics

In this paper we present a method to derive an exact master equation for a bosonic system coupled to a set of other bosonic systems, which plays the role of the reservoir, under the strong coupling regime, i.e., without resorting to either the rotating-wave or secular approximations. Working with phase-space distribution functions, we verify that the dynamics are separated in the evolution of its center, which follows classical mechanics, and its shape, which becomes distorted. This is the generalization of a result by Glauber, who stated that coherent states remain coherent under certain circumstances, specifically when the rotating-wave approximation and a zero-temperature reservoir are used. We show that the counter-rotating terms generate fluctuations that distort the vacuum state, much the same as thermal fluctuations.Finally, we discuss conditions for non-Markovian dynamics

A model to simulate the contribution of fibre reinforcement for the punching resistance of RC slabs

In this paper analytical formulations are developed for the prediction of the punching resistance of flat slabs 17 of steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) flexurally reinforced with steel bars. By performing statistical 18 analysis with a database that collects experimental results on the characterization of the post-cracking 19 behaviour of SFRC, equations are determined for the evaluation of the residual flexural tensile strength 20 parameters (fRi) from fundamental data that characterize steel fibres. The fRi strength parameters proposed by 21 CEB-FIP 2010 were used for the definition of the stress-crack width law (s-w) that simulates the fibre 22 reinforcement mechanisms in cement based materials. In the second part of the paper is described an 2 analytical formulation based on the concepts proposed by Muttoni and Ruiz, where 23 the s-w law is 24 conveniently integrated for the simulation of the contribution of steel fibres for the punching resistance of 25 SFRC slabs. By using a database composed of 154 punching tests with SFRC slabs, the good predictive 26 performance of the developed proposal is demonstrated. The good performance of this model is also 27 evidenced by comparing its predictions to those from other models.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

The predictive performance of design models for the punching resistance of SFRC slabs in inner column loading conditions

In the recent years steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC), in a volume percentage between 0.75 and 1.25, is being proposed to build slabs supported on piles and slabs supported on columns, where the unique conventional reinforcement is composed of some steel bars in the alignments of the columns/piles, designated as anti-progressive collapse bars. Punching resistance, however, can be a concern in this structural system. In fact, punching has a brittle failure character, and the prediction of the punching resistance is still a challenge, even in concrete slabs with traditional reinforcement systems. The difficulties on assessing the contribution of the reinforcement mechanisms of steel fibres for the flexural and shear resistance in the critical punching perimeter increase this complexity. The research carried out in this paper has the purpose of assessing the reliability of existing analytical models for the prediction of the punching resistance of SFRC slabs. For this purpose, a data-base of experimental tests with SFRC slabs failing in punching was built and the predictive performance of four analytical available models was assessed. In order to turn more practical the model that is more reliable from physical and mechanical point of views, the concepts proposed by Model Code 2010 for the characterization of the postcracking behaviour of FRC were introduced in this model

Adriamycin-induced Fetal Hydronephrosis

Introduction: At the end of pregnancy, the amniotic fluid (AF) depends basically on renal function, corresponding to fetal urine. Changes in AF, especially oligohydramnios, are reported in association with fetal hydronephrosis (FH). The experimental model using adriamycin in pregnant female rats has a teratogenic effect and has been classically employed to study esophageal atresia. Nevertheless, adriamycin promotes FH with high frequency as well. In the present study, using this animal model, we tried to identify the incidence and microscopic changes of FH, as well as its correlation with AF weight. Materials and Methods: Eight Spreague-Dawley pregnant female rats received adriamycin 2.2 mg/kg on the 8th and 9th gestational days (considering term gestation = 22 days). Those fetuses that received adriamycin (Adriamycin Group) were compared with fetuses from 2 female rats (Control Group), which received 0.9% saline solution. On the 21.5 gestational day, the fetuses were collected by cesarean incision, sacrificed, and examined for macro and microscopic changes in kidneys and ureters. Fetuses with bilateral hydronephrosis formed the Hydronephrosis Group. AF weight was determined as well. Results: Hydronephrosis occurred in 70 (95%) of the 74 fetuses in the adriamycin group against none of the 21 fetuses from the control group. The amniotic fluid weight was increased in the adriamycin group in relation to the control group (p < 0.001). The histomorphometric study revealed dilation of the renal pelvis and reduction of renal parenchyma in the hydronephrosis group in relation to the control group. Severe cortical atrophy, cortical tubular atrophy and medullar atrophy were observed in the hydronephrosis group. Conclusions: Slight renal lesions were in agreement with changes in AF weight, since they suggest that there was production of urine with the maintenance of AF.306508513Brace, R.A., Physiology of amniotic fluid volume regulation (1997) Clin. Obstet. Gynecol., 40, pp. 280-289Harrison, M.R., Nakayama, D.K., Noall, R., de Lorimier, A.A., Correction of congenital hydronephrosis in utero II. Decompression reverses the effects of obstruction on the fetal lung and urinary tract (1982) J. Pediatr. Surg., 17, pp. 965-974Chevalier, R.L., Thornhill, B.A., Chang, A.Y., Unilateral ureteral obstruction in neonatal rats leads to renal insufficiency in adulthood (2000) Kidney Int., 58, pp. 1987-1995Seseke, F., Thelen, P., Hemmerlein, B., Kliese, D., Zoller, G., Ringert, R.H., Histologic and molecular evidence of obstructive uropathy in rats with hereditary congenital hydronephrosis (2000) Urol. Res., 28, pp. 104-109Freedman, A.L., Bukowski, T.P., Smith, C.A., Evans, M.I., Johnson, M.P., Gonzalez, R., Fetal therapy for obstructive uropathy: Diagnosis specific outcomes (1996) J. Urol., 156 (2 PART 2), pp. 720-723. , [corrected]. discussion 723-4Erratum in: J Urol. 1996156: 1786Bernstein, J., Risdon, R.A., Gilbert-Barness, E., Renal System (1997) Potter's, Pathology of the Fetus and Infant, pp. 863-903. , Gilbert-Barness E (ed.), St Louis, MosbyBastide, A., Manning, F., Harman, C., Lange, I., Morrison, I., Ultrasound evaluation of amniotic fluid: Outcome of pregnancies with severe oligohydramnios (1986) Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 154, pp. 895-900Reddy, P.P., Mandell, J., Prenatal diagnosis. Therapeutic implications (1998) Urol. Clin. North Amer., 25, pp. 171-180Beasley, S.W., Diez Pardo, J., Qi, B.Q., Tovar, J.A., Xia, H.M., The contribution of the adriamycin-induced rat model of the VATER association to our understanding of congenital abnormalities and their embryogenesis (2000) Pediatr. Surg. Int., 16, pp. 465-472Merei, J., Hasthorpe, S., Farmer, P., Hutson, J.M., Visceral anomalies in prenatally adriamycin-exposed rat fetuses: A model for the VATER association (1999) Pediatr. Surg. Int., 15, pp. 11-16Merei, J., Batiha, A., Hani, I.B., El-Qudah, M., Renal anomalies in the VATER animal model (2001) J. Pediatr. Surg., 36, pp. 1693-1697Franca, W.M., Goncalves, A., Moraes, S.G., Pereira, L.A., Sbragia, L., Esophageal atresia and other visceral anomalies in a modified Adriamycin rat model and their correlations with amniotic fluid volume variations (2004) Pediatr. Surg. Int., 20, pp. 602-608Steinhardt, G.F., Liapis, H., Phillips, B., Vogler, G., Nag, M., Yoon, K.W., Insulin-like growth factor improves renal architecture of fetal kidneys with complete ureteral obstruction (1995) J. Urol., 154, pp. 690-693Steinhardt, G.F., Salinas-Madrigal, L., deMello, D., Farber, R., Phillips, B., Vogler, G., Experimental ureteral obstruction in the fetal Opossum: Histologic assessment (1994) J. Urol., 152, pp. 2133-2138Tewey, K.M., Rowe, T.C., Yang, L., Halligan, B.D., Liu, L.F., Adriamycin-induced DNA damage mediated by mammalian DNA topoisomerase II (1984) Science, 226 (4673), pp. 466-468Orford, J.E., Cass, D.T., Dose response relationship between adriamycin and birth defects in a rat model of VATER association (1999) J. Pediatr. Surg., 34, pp. 392-398Beasley, S.W., Diez Pardo, J., Qi, B.Q., Tovar, J.A., Xia, H.M., The contribution of the adriamycin-induced rat model of the VATER association to our understanding of congenital abnormalities and their embryogenesis (2000) Pediatr. Surg. Int., 16, pp. 465-472Kimble, R.M., Harding, J.E., Kolbe, A., Does gut atresia cause polyhydramnios? (1998) Pediatr. Surg. Int., 13, pp. 115-117Liu, M.I., Hutson, J.M., Cloacal and urogenital malformations in adriamycin-exposed rat fetuses (2000) BJU Int., 86, pp. 107-112Liu, M.I., Hutson, J.M., Zhou, B., Critical timing of bladder embryogenesis in an adriamycin-exposed rat fetal model: A clue to the origin of the bladder (1999) J. Pediatr. Surg., 34, pp. 1647-165

Ornithological bibliography of the Azores

Only scientific publications up to 1980 are included in this bibliography. Other old narrations containing information on Azorean ornithology are being assembled for future publication. Certain unpublished works will also be dealt with. The part for consultation has been arranged in three sections. The first presents a numbered list of papers and books in chronological order up to 1980. Last minute alterations obliged us to eliminate some items and to use «bis» for repeated numbers in some cases. The second section consists of the list of papers under their authors in alphabetical order. Finally, the third section consists of an index of the scientific names of the species cited. The index contains three types of entries: - The names of the genera, in capital letters, followed by the specific and subspecific names, which lead to their numbers in the chronological list. The latter are accompanied by the relevant page numbers, in brackets. - The names of the species, in small letters in bold-faced type, lead to the names of the genera. - The names of the subspecies, in normal small letters, lead to the genera and species. Example: Fringilla coelebs moreletti entered under FRINGILLA, coelebs and moreletti, with the bibliographical references only under the complete name. Papers of Nºs. 17, 41, 72, 74, 76 have not been consulted by us; all other works are available in our library

Avaliação do cálculo da resistência ao punçoamento centrado de lajes fungiformes reforçadas com fibras de aço : modelos teóricos

Desde 1979 que as fibras de aço vêm sendo estudadas como uma alternativa de reforço às estruturas de betão armado. No que diz respeito ao sistema estrutural de lajes fungiformes, os avanços conseguidos no campo da ciência dos materiais e das técnicas de construção já permitem a construção de estruturas onde as lajes são reforçadas praticamente apenas por fibras de aço. Para que este novo sistema construtivo possa competir com os métodos convencionais é necessário que os modelos teóricos que descrevem o complexo comportamento da ligação laje-pilar acompanhem a evolução destas técnicas construtivas. No entanto, ainda não existem regras de projeto que considerem a contribuição das fibras de aço na resistência ao punçoamento de lajes fungiformes. Com o intuito de contribuir para o aumento do conhecimento sobre o dimensionamento ao punçoamento centrado de lajes fungiformes de betão reforçado com fibras de aço (BRFA), o presente artigo apresenta e avalia o desempenho de quatro formulações semi-empíricas. Esse desempenho foi avaliado comparando-se os resultados previstos por cada modelo, Vteo, com as respostas experimentais, Vexp, de 154 lajes que compõem a base de dados (BD) construída para este efeito. As lajes da BD, além de terem rompido todas por punçoamento, também cobrem uma ampla faixa de resistência à compressão do betão, f c , de taxa de armadura de flexão, ρ, de altura útil das lajes, d, de percentagem volumétrica de fibras, Vf , e de esbelteza das fibras, L/D, em que L e D são o comprimento e o diâmetro da fibra. Além da avaliação da relação Vexp/Vteo, também foi avaliada a influência que os parâmetros f c , ρ, Vf e L/D exercem sobre a capacidade preditiva dos modelos considerados

Overcoming inertia : drivers of the outsourcing process

Almost all managers have directly or indirectly been involved in the practice of outsourcing in recent years. But as they know, outsourcing is not straightforward. Outsourcing inertia, when companies are slow to adapt to changing circumstances that accommodate higher outsourcing levels, may undermine a firm’s performance. This article investigates the presence of outsourcing inertia and the factors that help managers overcome it. Using statistical evidence, we show that positive performance effects related to outsourcing can accumulate when circumstances change. This is then followed by rapid increases in outsourcing levels (i.e. outsourcing processes). We investigate what gives rise to these outsourcing processes through follow-up interviews with sourcing executives, which suggest five drivers behind outsourcing processes: managerial initiative (using outside experience); hierarchy (foreign headquarters); imitation (of competitors and of similar firms); outsider advice (from external institutions); knowledge sources (using external information). These five drivers all offer scope for managerial action. We tie them to academic literatures and suggest ways of investigating their presence and impact on the outsourcing process. Overall, we conclude that while economizing factors play a key role in explaining how much firms outsource, it is socializing factors that tend to drive outsourcing processes