Exchange narrowing of NMR line shapes in randomly diluted magnetic systems

An analysis of 19F NMR linewidths in the randomly diluted magnetic system KMnxMg1-xF3 is presented. It is shown that good agreement with measured linewidths can be obtained if in the usual asymptotic spin-diffusion assumption for the spin autocorrelation function 〈Siα(τ)Siα(0)〉avατ-d(x)/2, d(x) is taken to be independent of x above the percolation concentration. Experimental results in the system KNixMg1-xF3 are also presented. These data exhibit striking differences with the behavior of isostructural KMnxMg1-xF3 whose origin is discussed

The Top Window for dark matter

We investigate a scenario that the top quark is the only window to the dark matter particle. We use the effective Lagrangian approach to write down the interaction between the top quark and the dark matter particle. Requiring the dark matter satisfying the relic density we obtain the size of the effective interaction. We show that the scenario can be made consistent with the direct and indirect detection experiments by adjusting the size of the effective coupling. Finally, we calculate the production cross section for $t\bar t + \chi \bar \chi$ at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which will give rise to an interesting signature of a top-pair plus large missing energy.Comment: 17 pages including 8 figures; added references and a footnot

Assessing health system responsiveness in primary health care facilities in Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Health system performance is one of the important components of the health care delivery; its achievement depends on the quality of services rendered and the health system responsiveness of its beneficiaries. Health system responsiveness is a multi-dimensional concept and is usually measured through several domains. Health system responsiveness (HSR) remains to be a key indicator for evaluation of health system performance in any settings. This study aimed at assessing the situation of health system responsiveness in primary health facilities in Tanzania prior to introduction of the Direct Health Facility Financing (DHFF) program. METHODS: This was a cross sectional study conducted between January and February in 2018. We collected data from 42 primary health facilities (14 health centers and 28 dispensaries) where a questionnaire was administered to a total of 422 participants. The questionnaire collected information on attention, respect to dignity, clear communication, autonomy, access to care, respect to confidentiality and basic amenities. Descriptive analysis was done to determine the distribution of the variables whereas ANOVA and linear regression analysis was employed to discern the association between variables. RESULTS: More than 67% of participants had visited the same health facility more than 5 times. Sixty seven percent of the patients were residing within 5kms from the public primary health care facilities. The geographical access to health care scored the lowest (43.5% for Dispensaries and 36% for Health center) mean as compared to other domains of health system responsiveness. The highest score was in respect to confidentiality (86.7%) followed by respect to dignity (81.4%). Linear regression analysis revealed no statistical association between any of the social demographic features with the overall HSR performances. However, in post hoc analysis, Pwani and Shinyanga regions didn't differ significantly in terms of their performances whereas those two regions differ from all other regions. CONCLUSION: Based on the study findings health system responsiveness domains has performed relatively poor in many regions except for respect of dignity and confidentiality scored high of all the domains. Shinyanga and Pwani regions scored relatively well in all domains this could have been due to the effect of Results Based financing (RBF) in the respective regions. All in all the Government and other stakeholders in the health sector they should deliberately invest on the access to care domain as seem to be a challenge as compared to others

Monitoria de laboratório-Aulas experimentais no ensino de Biologia

O presente trabalho vem trazer a vivência em laboratório nas aulas de biologia na Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará, campus Marabá. Com o Coordenador do Projeto Ulisses Brigatto Albino e a Monitora Istephani Carolini G. O Lopes. O objetivo do projeto foi mostrar aos discentes como é o funcionamento de um laboratório e ao mesmo tempo, introduzir conteúdos que normalmente em período de pandemia seriam teóricos. O projeto teve grande êxito, proporcionando um contato direto com elementos de estudo

Decision intelligence in street lighting management

The European Union has been making efforts to increase energy efficiency within its member states, in line with most of the industrialized countries. In these efforts, the energy consumed by public lighting networks is a key target as it represents approximately 50% of the electricity consumption of European cities. In this paper we propose an approach for the autonomous management of public lighting networks in which each luminary is managed individually and that takes into account both their individual characteristics as well as ambient data. The approach is compared against a traditional management scheme, leading to a reduction in energy consumption of 28%.This work is co-funded by Fundos Europeus Estruturais e de Investimento (FEEI) through Programa Operacional Regional Norte, in the scope of project NORTE01-0145-FEDER-023577 and by national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia through projects UID/CEC/00319/2019 and UIDB/04728/2020

Changes in vector species composition and current vector biology and behaviour will favour malaria elimination in Santa Isabel Province, Solomon Islands

Background: In 2009, Santa Isabel Province in the Solomon Islands embarked on a malaria elimination programme. However, very little is known in the Province about the anopheline fauna, which species are vectors, their bionomics and how they may respond to intensified intervention measures. The purpose of this study was to provide baseline data on the malaria vectors and to ascertain the possibility of successfully eliminating malaria using the existing conventional vector control measures, such as indoor residual spraying (IRS) and long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN). Methods. Entomological surveys were undertaken during October 2009. To determine species composition and distribution larval surveys were conducted across on the whole island. For malaria transmission studies, adult anophelines were sampled using human landing catches from two villages - one coastal and one inland. Results: Five Anopheles species were found on Santa Isabel: Anopheles farauti, Anopheles hinesorum, Anopheles lungae, Anopheles solomonis, and Anopheles nataliae. Anopheles hinesorum was the most widespread species. Anopheles farauti was abundant, but found only on the coast. Anopheles punctulatus and Anopheles koliensis were not found. Anopheles farauti was the only species found biting in the coastal village, it was incriminated as a vector in this study; it fed early in the night but equally so indoors and outdoors, and had a low survival rate. Anopheles solomonis was the main species biting humans in the inland village, it was extremely exophagic, with low survival rates, and readily fed on pigs. Conclusion: The disappearance of the two major vectors, An. punctulatus and An. koliensis, from Santa Isabel and the predominance of An. hinesorum, a non-vector species may facilitate malaria elimination measures. Anopheles farauti was identified as the main coastal vector with An. solomonis as a possible inland vector. The behaviour of An. solomonis is novel as it has not been previously found biting humans in any numbers. Both species appear to be short-lived, a characteristic that will limit their transmission potential. The early night feeding behaviour and a degree of outdoor biting seen in An. farauti and particularly in An. solomonis will require that their response to IRS and LLIN be closely monitored. In coastal villages, where large, favourable breeding sites allow for high numbers of An. farauti may require the addition of larval control to achieve elimination