Brazilian elections: voting for a scaling democracy

The proportional elections held in Brazil in 1998 and 2002 display identical statistical signatures. In particular, the distribution of votes among candidates includes a power-law regimen. We suggest that the rationale behind this robust scaling invariance is a multiplicative process in which the voter's choice for a candidate is governed by a product of probabilities.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Etnoepidemiología y salud mental: perspectivas desde América Latina

In this essay, I explore methodological as well as theoretical implications of an ethno-epidemiological approach, aiming to integrate research findings in mental health into new conceptual models. With this objective, I first evaluate the roots and uses of the term “ethnoepidemiology” to designate three research strategies for scientific knowledge production: type I (studies of sociocultural risk factors and ethnically defined risk groups); type II (studies of lay models of distribution and occurrence of illness in populations); type III (ethnographic studies of projects and areas of epidemiologic research). As an illustration, selected methodological features of three studies in which I have participated are presented and discussed. I then elaborate upon methodological developments derived from this experience of doing research, generating new models for transcultural transdisciplinary research of mental health practices. Lastly, I comment on some broad implications of studying mental health problems from an integrated ethnographical and epidemiological point of view, in diverse and deeply unequal societies such as those of contemporary Latin America.En este ensayo, exploro las implicaciones teóricas y metodológicas de un abordaje etnoepidemiológico, que busca integrar hallazgos de investigaciones en salud mental con nuevos modelos conceptuales. Con este propósito, en primer lugar, evalúo las raíces y los usos del término “etnoepidemiología” para designar tres tipos de estrategias de investigación para la producción de conocimiento científico: tipo I (estudios de factores de riesgo socioculturales y grupos de riesgo definidos étnicamente); tipo II (estudios de modelos populares de distribución y ocurrencia de enfermedades en poblaciones); y tipo III (estudios etnográficos de proyectos y líneas de investigación epidemiológica). Como ejemplo, se presentan y discuten características metodológicas seleccionadas de tres estudios en los que he participado. Posteriormente detallo los desarrollos metodológicos derivados de esta experiencia de hacer investigación, generando nuevos modelos para la investigación transcultural y transdisciplinaria de las prácticas en salud mental y, por último, en las conclusiones, comento algunas implicaciones generales del estudio de los problemas de salud mental desde un punto de vista etnográfico y epidemiológico integrado, en sociedades diversas y profundamente desiguales, como las de la América Latina contemporánea

Towards a Unified Theory of Health-Disease: I. Health as a complex model-object

A elaboração de teorias constitui um dos desafios mais cruciais enfrentados pela pesquisa básica, clínica e populacional que forma as bases científicas das práticas de saúde nas sociedades contemporâneas. O objetivo deste estudo é propor uma teoria unificada da saúde-doença como ferramenta conceitual para a modelagem da saúde-doença-cuidado à luz de abordagens da complexidade. Discute-se a base epistemológica do trabalho teórico no campo da saúde bem como conceitos relacionados à teoria da complexidade aplicada a problemas de saúde. Em segundo lugar, os conceitos de objeto-modelo, multi-planos de ocorrência, modos de saúde e complexo doença-enfermidade-moléstia são introduzidos e integrados numa estrutura teórica unificada. Finalmente, à luz de desenvolvimentos epistemológicos recentes, atualiza-se o conceito de integrais de saúde-doença-cuidado como um complexo objeto de referência ajustado para a modelagem de processos e fenômenos relacionados com a saúde.El desarrollo teórico es uno de los más importantes retos que enfrenta la investigación básica, clínica y poblacional que constituye la fundamentación científica de las prácticas de salud en las sociedades contemporáneas. En este artículo se presenta una propuesta para una teoría unificada de la salud-enfermedad como herramienta para el modelado conceptual de los enfoques de atención de la salud-enfermedad a la luz de la complejidad. Con ese objetivo, se discuten las bases epistemológicas de la labor teórica en el campo de la salud, así como conceptos relacionados con la teoría de la complejidad aplicados a problemas de salud. En segundo lugar, los conceptos de objeto-modelo, múltiples planos de ocurrencia, modos de salud y complejo enfermedad-moléstia-padecimiento se introducen y se integran en una estructura teórica unificada. Por último, a la luz de los desarrollos epistemológicos más recientes, se actualiza el concepto de integral de salud-enfermedad-cuidado como un complejo objeto de referencia para el modelado de procesos y fenómenos relacionados con la salud.Theory building is one of the most crucial challenges faced by basic, clinical and population research, which form the scientific foundations of health practices in contemporary societies. The objective of the study is to propose a Unified Theory of Health-Disease as a conceptual tool for modeling health-disease-care in the light of complexity approaches. With this aim, the epistemological basis of theoretical work in the health field and concepts related to complexity theory as concerned to health problems are discussed. Secondly, the concepts of model-object, multi-planes of occurrence, modes of health and disease-illness-sickness complex are introduced and integrated into a unified theoretical framework. Finally, in the light of recent epistemological developments, the concept of Health-Disease-Care Integrals is updated as a complex reference object fit for modeling health-related processes and phenomena

Treatment of the Prominent Mandibular Angle by Using a Custom Made Surgical Splint

In this case report, we would like to present an alternative surgical technique for the treatment of the bilateral prominent mandibular angles by using a custom-made resin splint (template). The prefabricated template provided a precise outline for the osteotomy, which alleviated the uncertainty of the osseous cut. Furthermore, masseter muscle myomectomy was not necessary in this case which decreased morbidity, and procedure and recovery time, while assuring a more symmetric outcome

Antisymmetric tensor propagator with spontaneous Lorentz violation

In this work, we study the spontaneous Lorentz symmetry breaking due to an antisymmetric 2-tensor field in Minkowski spacetime. For a smooth quadratic potential, the spectrum of the theory exhibits massless and massive excitations. We show that the equations of motion for the free field obey some constraints which lead to the massive mode be non-propagating at leading order. Besides, there exists a massless mode in the theory which can be identified with the usual Kalb-Ramond field, carrying only one on-shell degree of freedom. The same conclusion holds when one analyses the pole structure of its Feynman propagator. A new complete set of spin-type operators is found, which was the requirement to evaluate the propagator of the Kalb-Ramond field modified by the presence of a nonzero vacuum expectation value responsible for the Lorentz violation.Comment: 13 pages. Some modifications to match published version in EuroPhysics Letter

Digital image processing and enhancement of gravity data as an aid to the definition of the structural framework of the north Tucano-Jatobá basins, Northeastern Brazil

Técnicas de processamento digital de imagens foram aplicadas a dados gravimétricos visando melhorar definição das principais feições estruturais na porção norte do Rift Recôncavo-Tucano-Jatobá. Os processamentos utilizados incluíram: (a) conversão de dados Bouguer e residual-Bouguer, no formato de grids, em imagens realçadas; (b) geração de composições falsa cor híbridas e (c) geração de modelos de elevação digital com visão em perspectiva. A análise integrada desse conjunto de dados permitiu reconhecer feições lineares e sutis variações espaciais nos dados gravimétricos, as quais foram associadas a unidades tectónicas no contexto do rift, tais como: plataformas em rampa, baixos e altos estruturais, horsts, grabens e falhas de borda.Digitally processed and enhanced gravity data in raster format were used to improve the definition of the main structural features in the northern part of the Reconcavo-Tucano-Jatoba Rift. Image processing techniques included: (a) conversion of Bouguer and residual-Bouguer gridded data into contrast-enhanced gray-level images; (b) generation of enhanced hybrid pseudo-color composites; and (c) generation of a gravity digital elevation model in perspective views. The integrated analysis of this dataset permitted the recognition of subtle trends and intensity-related spatial variations in gravity data, tentatively related to the following tectonic units of the RTJ Rift: ramp platforms, structural lows and highs, along-length horsts, grabens, faulted borders and extensional faults