Asymmetric exclusion model with several kinds of impurities

We formulate a new integrable asymmetric exclusion process with $N-1=0,1,2,...$ kinds of impurities and with hierarchically ordered dynamics. The model we proposed displays the full spectrum of the simple asymmetric exclusion model plus new levels. The first excited state belongs to these new levels and displays unusual scaling exponents. We conjecture that, while the simple asymmetric exclusion process without impurities belongs to the KPZ universality class with dynamical exponent 3/2, our model has a scaling exponent $3/2+N-1$. In order to check the conjecture, we solve numerically the Bethe equation with N=3 and N=4 for the totally asymmetric diffusion and found the dynamical exponents 7/2 and 9/2 in these cases.Comment: to appear in JSTA

Phase transition and landscape statistics of the number partitioning problem

The phase transition in the number partitioning problem (NPP), i.e., the transition from a region in the space of control parameters in which almost all instances have many solutions to a region in which almost all instances have no solution, is investigated by examining the energy landscape of this classic optimization problem. This is achieved by coding the information about the minimum energy paths connecting pairs of minima into a tree structure, termed a barrier tree, the leaves and internal nodes of which represent, respectively, the minima and the lowest energy saddles connecting those minima. Here we apply several measures of shape (balance and symmetry) as well as of branch lengths (barrier heights) to the barrier trees that result from the landscape of the NPP, aiming at identifying traces of the easy/hard transition. We find that it is not possible to tell the easy regime from the hard one by visual inspection of the trees or by measuring the barrier heights. Only the {\it difficulty} measure, given by the maximum value of the ratio between the barrier height and the energy surplus of local minima, succeeded in detecting traces of the phase transition in the tree. In adddition, we show that the barrier trees associated with the NPP are very similar to random trees, contrasting dramatically with trees associated with the $p$ spin-glass and random energy models. We also examine critically a recent conjecture on the equivalence between the NPP and a truncated random energy model

A contribuição do município de Guarulhos (estado de São Paulo) para a qualidade da água no Sistema Alto Tietê

The population growth in Guarulhos (São Paulo State) has been above the average for the São Paulo Metropolitan Region (RMSP). The Baquirivu-Guaçu River Basin (BHRBG), where the Baquirivu-Guaçu River is located, is exactly the urban expansion vector of Guarulhos municipality and neighboring areas. This study presents an analysis of the quality of the Baquirivu-Guaçu River waters at the entrance and at the exit of the Guarulhos municipality, in order to assess the effects of the implementation of sewage treatment plants (STPs) and land use on the Baquirivu-Guaçu River water quality between 2010 and 2014. For that were prepared the land use maps in the period analyzed, an analysis of the functioning of STPs in the study area, a statistical analysis of the Water Quality Index (WQI) and its parameters at different points of the river. The data relative to the Baquirivu-Guaçu River physico-chemicals and microbiological analyses indicate a much lower water quality in the exit of the Guarulhos municipality (WQI=16), when compared to that coming from the Arujá municipality (WQI=32). The mean values highlighted for BOD, DO, TU, TS and FC parameters indicate a considerable worsening of the Baquirivu-Guaçu River waters at point BQGU 03850. The values of TN, TP and pH parameters both at the entrance and exit of the basin are close. The analysis of land use evolution and water quality shows the consequences of an improper process of urban growth in the basin and that the domestic and industrial polluting sources represent considerable risk to water quality, attesting that the sanitation works carried out up to now have not been effective in reducing the polluting charges launched in the Baquirivu-Guaçu River waters.A contribuição do município de Guarulhos (Estado de São Paulo) para a qualidade de água do Sistema Alto Tietê. Guarulhos (SP) tem apresentado índices de crescimento populacional acima da média da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo (RMSP). A Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Baquirivu Guaçu (BHRBG), onde se localiza o Rio Baquirivu Guaçu, é o vetor de expansão urbana do município e da região. Este trabalho apresenta uma análise da qualidade das águas do Rio Baquirivu-Guaçu na entrada e na saída do município de Guarulhos, avaliando os efeitos da implantação das ETEs e do uso da terra sobre a qualidade das águas do Rio Baquirivu-Guaçu, entre os anos de 2010 e 2014. Para isto foram elaborados os mapas de uso de terra no período analisado, uma análise do funcionamento das ETEs na área de estudo, e a análise estatística dos Índices de Qualidade de Águas (IQA) e de seus parâmetros nos diferentes pontos do rio. Os dados referentes às análises físico-química e microbiológica do Rio Baquirivu-Guaçu indicam uma qualidade de água na saída do município de Guarulhos (IQA=16), muito inferior àquela que recebe do município de Arujá (IQA=32). Os valores médios, em especial para os parâmetros DBO, OD, TU, ST e CF indicam uma piora na qualidade das águas do Rio Baquirivu-Guaçu no ponto BQGU03850. Os valores dos parâmetros NT, PT e pH foram muito próximos para ambos os pontos da entrada e saída da bacia. A análise entre a evolução do uso da terra e a qualidade da água demonstra as consequências do processo inadequado de crescimento urbano na bacia e que as fontes poluidoras domésticas e industriais representam considerável risco à qualidade das águas, demonstrando que as obras de saneamento realizadas até o momento não foram eficazes na redução de cargas poluidoras das águas do rio Baquirivu-Guaçu

Development of mechanical engineering curricula at the University of Minho

The implementation of the Bologna protocol in the European Union has set new goals for the whole higher education system as: (a) a quality assessment for university courses; (b) a framework for the exchange of students and academics; and (c) an opportunity for changing the teaching/learning procedures and methodologies. Within the context, the mechanical engineering curricula at the University of Minho have been comprehensively formulated in order to meet these and future challenges and expectations. The whole process has been based upon various cornerstones: the legal framework for the higher education system; the introduction of new learning methodologies and an accurate survey and understanding of the existing strong and week points of the previous experience. For this purpose, a comprehensive evaluation has been carried out with former students and a detailed map has been formulated regarding their professional careers and experiences. Furthermore, a discussion has been carried out in order to define the mission of the graduate in mechanical engineering. In brief, such mission may be referred by his ability to participate in the wealth creation through technology based innovation. Within this context, the curriculum has been structured in order to meet such goals. In addition to strong foundations in physics and mathematics, new subjects are introduced into the curriculum. The whole education is based upon project development which stimulates the students’ initiative, responsibility and their ability to integrate knowledge. Throughout the curriculum, students are enrolled into research projects developed in the department and it is expected that a few selected projects may be taken into a quasi industrial stage.(undefined

Biocompatible gels of chitosan-buriti oil for potential wound healing applications

The buriti oil (Mauritia flexuosa L.) can be associated with polymeric matrices for biomedical applications. This study aimed to evaluate the e ect of chitosan gel (CG) associated with buriti oil (CGB) as a healing agent. The fatty acids and volatile compounds composition of buriti oil were performed and the composite gels were characterized using FTIR and thermal analysis. Biological tests including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and healing e ects were also investigated. Buriti oil is composed of oleic and palmitic acids, and the main volatile compounds were identified. The buriti oil did not show antimicrobial activity, on the other hand, the composite gel (chitosan and oil) proved to be e cient against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia at the 10 mg/mL. Similar behavior was observed for antioxidant activity, determined by the -carotene bleaching assay, composite gels presenting higher activity and buriti oil showed anti-inflammatory activity, which may be related to the inhibition of the release of free radicals. Regarding wound healing performed using in vivo testing, the composite gel (CGB) was found to promote faster and complete wound retraction. The results indicated that the gel chitosan–buriti oil has a set of properties that improve its antibacterial, antioxidant and healing action, suggesting that this material can be used to treat skin lesions.Maria Onaira Gonçalves Ferreira acknowledges the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel, the Brazilian Ministry of Education, financial support for the scholarship, and other authors acknowledge to National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPQ) and Piauí State Research Support Foundation (FAPEPI).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Characterisation of the bacterial and fungal communities associated with different lesion sizes of Dark Spot Syndrome occurring in the Coral Stephanocoenia intersepta

The number and prevalence of coral diseases/syndromes are increasing worldwide. Dark Spot Syndrome (DSS) afflicts numerous coral species and is widespread throughout the Caribbean, yet there are no known causal agents. In this study we aimed to characterise the microbial communities (bacteria and fungi) associated with DSS lesions affecting the coral Stephanocoenia intersepta using nonculture molecular techniques. Bacterial diversity of healthy tissues (H), those in advance of the lesion interface (apparently healthy AH), and three sizes of disease lesions (small, medium, and large) varied significantly (ANOSIM R = 0.052 p,0.001), apart from the medium and large lesions, which were similar in their community profile. Four bacteria fitted into the pattern expected from potential pathogens; namely absent from H, increasing in abundance within AH, and dominant in the lesions themselves. These included ribotypes related to Corynebacterium (KC190237), Acinetobacter (KC190251), Parvularculaceae (KC19027), and Oscillatoria (KC190271). Furthermore, two Vibrio species, a genus including many proposed coral pathogens, dominated the disease lesion and were absent from H and AH tissues, making them candidates as potential pathogens for DSS. In contrast, other members of bacteria from the same genus, such as V. harveyii were present throughout all sample types, supporting previous studies where potential coral pathogens exist in healthy tissues. Fungal diversity varied significantly as well, however the main difference between diseased and healthy tissues was the dominance of one ribotype, closely related to the plant pathogen, Rhytisma acerinum, a known causal agent of tar spot on tree leaves. As the corals’ symbiotic algae have been shown to turn to a darker pigmented state in DSS (giving rise to the syndromes name), the two most likely pathogens are R. acerinum and the bacterium Oscillatoria, which has been identified as the causal agent of the colouration in Black Band Disease, another widespread coral disease

Heterogeneities in leishmania infantum infection : using skin parasite burdens to identify highly infectious dogs

Background: The relationships between heterogeneities in host infection and infectiousness (transmission to arthropod vectors) can provide important insights for disease management. Here, we quantify heterogeneities in Leishmania infantum parasite numbers in reservoir and non-reservoir host populations, and relate this to their infectiousness during natural infection. Tissue parasite number was evaluated as a potential surrogate marker of host transmission potential. Methods: Parasite numbers were measured by qPCR in bone marrow and ear skin biopsies of 82 dogs and 34 crab-eating foxes collected during a longitudinal study in Amazon Brazil, for which previous data was available on infectiousness (by xenodiagnosis) and severity of infection. Results: Parasite numbers were highly aggregated both between samples and between individuals. In dogs, total parasite abundance and relative numbers in ear skin compared to bone marrow increased with the duration and severity of infection. Infectiousness to the sandfly vector was associated with high parasite numbers; parasite number in skin was the best predictor of being infectious. Crab-eating foxes, which typically present asymptomatic infection and are non-infectious, had parasite numbers comparable to those of non-infectious dogs. Conclusions: Skin parasite number provides an indirect marker of infectiousness, and could allow targeted control particularly of highly infectious dogs