Characterization of Vehicle Behavior with Information Theory

This work proposes the use of Information Theory for the characterization of vehicles behavior through their velocities. Three public data sets were used: i.Mobile Century data set collected on Highway I-880, near Union City, California; ii.Borl\"ange GPS data set collected in the Swedish city of Borl\"ange; and iii.Beijing taxicabs data set collected in Beijing, China, where each vehicle speed is stored as a time series. The Bandt-Pompe methodology combined with the Complexity-Entropy plane were used to identify different regimes and behaviors. The global velocity is compatible with a correlated noise with f^{-k} Power Spectrum with k >= 0. With this we identify traffic behaviors as, for instance, random velocities (k aprox. 0) when there is congestion, and more correlated velocities (k aprox. 3) in the presence of free traffic flow

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Psychosis. What's the evidence?

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Age-related differences in conditioned pain modulation of sensitizing and desensitizing trends during response dependent stimulation

The current study evaluated age differences in conditioned pain modulation using a test stimulus that provided the opportunity to evaluate changes in heat pain sensitivity, sensitization, and desensitization within the same paradigm. During this psychophysical test, pain intensity clamping uses REsponse Dependent STIMulation (REDSTIM) methodology to automatically adjust stimulus intensity to maintain a desired pain rating set-point. Specifically, stimulus intensity increases until a pre-defined pain rating (the setpoint) is exceeded, and then decreases until pain ratings fall below the setpoint, with continued increases and decreases dictated by ratings. The subjects are blinded in terms of the setpoint and stimulus intensities. Younger and older subjects completed two test sessions of two REDSTIM trials, with presentation of conditioning cold stimulation between the trials of one session but not the other. The results indicated that conditioning cold stimulation similarly decreased the overall sensitivity of younger and older subjects, as measured by the average temperature that maintained a setpoint rating of 20 (on a scale of 0-100). The conditioning stimulus also significantly enhanced sensitization following ascending stimulus progressions and desensitization following descending stimulus progressions in older subjects relative to younger subjects. Thus, older subjects experienced greater swings in sensitivity in response to varying levels of painful stimulation. These results are discussed in terms of control over pain intensity by descending central modulatory systems. These findings potentially shed new light on the central control over descending inhibition and facilitation of pain

Topological speckles

The time evolution of a topological Su-Schrieffer-Heeger chain is analyzed through the statistics of speckle patterns. The emergence of topological edge states dramatically affects the dynamical fluctuations of the wavefunction. The intensity statistics is found to be described by a family of noncentral chi-squared distributions, with the noncentrality parameter reflecting on the degree of edge-state localization. The response of the speckle contrast with respect to the dimerization of the chain is explored in detail as well as the role of chiral symmetry-breaking disorder, number of edge states, their energy gap, and the locations between which the transport occurs. In addition to providing a venue for speckle customization, our results appeal to the use of speckle patterns for characterization of nontrivial topological properties.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Sensing Structure based on Surface Plasmonic Resonance in Single Mode Optical Fibers Chemically Etched

Many optical systems based on Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) have been developed for work as refractometers, chemical sensors or even for measure the thickness of metal and dielectric thin films. These kinds of systems are usually large, expensive and cannot be used for remote sensing. Optical fiber sensors based on SPR has been widely studied for the last 20 years with several configurations mostly using multimode optical fibers with large cores and plastic claddings. Sensors based on SPR present very high sensitivity to refractive index variations when compared to the traditional refractive index sensors. Here we propose a SPR sensor based in a single mode fiber. The fiber end is chemically etched by emersion in a 48% hydrofluoric acid solution, resulting a single mode fiber with the cladding removed in a small section. A resonance dip around 1580 nm was attained in good agreement with the simulation scenario that takes into account the real characteristics of the fiber

Family Podocnemididae.

237 p. : ill. ; 26 cm. "Issued April 29, 2011."The family Podocnemididae consists of 20 genera and 30 species considered here as valid and diagnosable by cranial characters. Three of these genera and eight species persist into the Recent fauna, barely reflecting the evolutionary diversity and distribution of the group. The family extends from the late Cretaceous to the Recent and occurs in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. A phylogenetic analysis utilizes 31 podocnemidid taxa (30 named and one unnamed; a total of 37 taxa analyzed includes outgroups) in the Podocnemididae that are analyzed using PAUP. The resulting consensus of nine equally parsimonious cladograms is the basis for a new classification of the family. The family Podocnemididae is reconfirmed as monophyletic, using the unique possession of a cavum pterygoidei formed by the basisphenoid, pterygoid, prootic, and quadrate, underlain by the pterygoid and basisphenoid, among other characters. Much of our resolution agrees with that of França and Langer (2006), which can be modified and restated as follows: (Bauruemys (vilavilensis (Podocnemis (Peltocephalus, Erymnochelys)))). The two clades proposed by Broin (1991) and Lapparent de Broin (2000b, 2001, 2003a, 2003b), designated by her as the "subfamily Podocnemidinae" and the "subfamily Erymnochelinae," are inconsistent with our analysis. In our analysis the "Podocnemidinae" (sensu Broin, 1991) is paraphyletic, and the "Erymnochelinae" (sensu Broin, 1991) could be made monophyletic, with the important addition of Peltocephalus (placed in the "Podocnemidinae" by Broin). We add a number of new taxa to the basal Podocnemididae and to the broad-jawed subtribe Stereogenyina. Within the family Podocnemididae Cope, 1868, the sister taxon to all other podocnemidids and recognized as the subfamily Bauruemydinae, new, is Bauruemys elegans (Suárez, 1969a), known from associated skulls and shells. All other podocnemidids, the redefined subfamily Podocnemidinae Cope, 1868, are united by a slight to absent temporal emargination, a completely closed foramen jugulare posterius, and saddle-shaped cervical centra (modified as a separate state in Erymnochelys). A basal group of Cretaceous-Paleocene podocnemidids that are the sister group to all remaining podocnemidids, here termed the infrafamily Peiropemydodda, consisting of two taxa from the late Cretaceous of Brazil, Peiropemys mezzalirai, n. gen. et sp., and Pricemys caiera, n. gen. et sp., and Lapparentemys vilavilensis (Broin, 1971), n. gen., from the Paleocene of Bolivia. The resolution of the basal members of the family is: (Bauruemys (Pricemys (Lapparentemys, Peiropemys)) (Infrafamily Podocnemidodda)). The remaining podocnemidids form the infrafamily Podocnemidodda Cope, 1868, new rank, and is characterized by the possession of a cheek emargination that does not reach above the level of the orbit, the medial expansion of the triturating surfaces with a median maxillary ridge present, and the presence of accessory ridges on the triturating surfaces. This group contains the living podocnemidids and a series of extinct forms, including the marine broad-jawed taxa. Within the Podocnemidodda, the genus Podocnemis is the sister group to all the remaining taxa, which is the magnatribe Erymnochelydand. When only the living fauna is considered our results show Podocnemis as the sister taxon to Erymnochelys plus Peltocephalus, in common with Williams (1954c), Franc¸a and Langer (2006), Meylan et al. (2009), and Cadena et al. (2010). With the fossil taxa present, the Erymnochelydand is united only by the small to absent cheek emargination. However, some of the fossil taxa (i.e., Caninemys, Dacquemys), are not known for a number of characters, and, if the analysis is reduced to include only the living species, Erymnochelys and Peltocephalus are united by a greater number of characters: cavum pterygoidei with enlarged anterior opening, so that the foramen cavernosum enters the roof of the cavum pterygoidei, orbits facing anterolaterally, jugal-quadrate contact present, cheek emargination slight to absent, horizontal occipital shelf absent, premaxillae reach apertura narium interna (also in some Podocnemis), supraoccipital roof exposure slight or absent, chorda tympani enclosed in processus retroarticularis, neural series extends to costal six, and axillary musk duct not in bridge. When one considers just the Recent genera, none of the published molecular results reproduce the Gaffney and Meylan (1988) and Lapparent de Broin (2000b) resolution of (Erymnochelys (Podocnemis, Peltocephalus)); rather these publications show a preference for the (Peltocephalus (Podocnemis, Erymnochelys)) arrangement, while we, in agreement with Franc¸a and Langer (2006) and the earlier version of the present data set, Meylan et al. (2009), place our marbles with the third alternative, (Podocnemis (Peltocephalus, Erymnochelys)). This latter hypothesis has a number of characters favoring its resolution, even when fossils are excluded. One of the more compelling ones is the large cavum pterygoidei with an enlarged anterior opening and the foramen cavernosum containing the lateral head vein, entering the roof of the cavum pterygoidei. Within the magnatribe Erymnochelydand are the following taxa: Caninemys, Dacquemys, unnamed genus UCMP 42008, Albertwoodemys, Turkanemys, Peltocephalus, Erymnochelys, Neochelys, Papoulemys, and the members of the tribe Stereogenyini (see below). The resolution of Caninemys within the Erymnochelydand is not strongly supported; in only one step it becomes a multichotomy with Podocnemis and the infrafamily Peiropemydodda. Neochelys, Papoulemys (possibly a synonym of Neochelys), and Dacquemys, however, are strongly supported as part of the magnatribe Erymnochelydand, as proposed earlier (Broin, 1991; Lapparent de Broin, 2000b, 2001, 2003a, 2003b). A new shell-based taxon, Albertwoodemys testudinum, n. gen. et sp., and an unnamed skull and shell, UCMP 42008, are united by a high-domed shell with thick lateral ridges along the plastron and the absence/fusion of the pectoral scales. The skull of UCMP 42008 agrees with that in Dacquemys in having large parietals and a supraoccipital covering the posterior margin. Lacking a skull, Albertwoodemys is not entered into the data set, but the skull-shell specimen of the closely related UCMP 42008 is in the analysis. New skull material identifiable as Neochelys has been discovered associated with shells of ‘‘Podocnemis’’ fajumensis Andrews, 1903, resulting in the new combination Neochelys fajumensis (Andrews, 1903). Neochelys has the Erymnochelydand synapomorphy of a large cavum pterygoidei with an enlarged anterior opening and the foramen cavernosum entering the roof of the cavum pterygoidei, as in Peltocephalus and Erymnochelys. The European Neochelys species are Eocene and the African Fayum species is Early Oligocene, extending both spatial and temporal ranges of the genus. The tribe Stereogenyini has a dorsal process of the palatine that reaches the frontal in the septum orbitotemporale, the fossa precolumellaris is absent, and both foramina nervi hypoglossi are combined and recessed in a short canal that opens on the occipital surface. Within the tribe Stereogenyini, Mogharemys blanckenhorni Dacque´ (1912), n. gen., is the sister taxon to the welldefined subtribe Stereogenyina. Two groups are recognized within the subtribe Stereogenyina. The infratribe Bairdemydita contains Bairdemys Gaffney and Wood, Latentemys plowdeni, n. gen. et sp., Cordichelys antiqua (Andrews, 1903), n. gen. The infratribe Stereogenyita contains Brontochelys gaffneyi (Wood, 1970), n. gen., Lemurchelys diasphax, n. gen. et sp., Shweboemys Swinton, 1939, and Stereogenys Andrews, 1901. The subtribe Stereogenyina is strongly supported by a secondary palate with a median cleft, unique among turtles, as well as other characters. While the other Podocnemididae were apparently freshwater species, there is evidence that many or all of the subtribe Stereogenyina were marine or near-shore marine. Compared with a group such as the Bothremydidae, we see in the evolution of the Podocnemididae, a relatively conservative series of South American paraphyletic taxa with an unusually persistent cranial as well as shell morphology, beginning in the Late Cretaceous with Bauruemys, Peiropemys, and Pricemys, and continuing with the Paleocene Lapparentemys, culminating in the Recent Podocnemis. A monophyletic Tertiary group with more geographic, taxonomic, and morphologic diversity, the magnatribe Erymnochelydand, contains African, European, Asian, and South American taxa, as well as a radiation of marine, broad-jawed species in the mid-Tertiary. The living remnants of the Erymnochelydand are the South American Peltocephalus and the African Erymnochelys, close relatives despite their current geographic separation

Cohort profile: the 100 million Brazilian cohort

The creation of The 100 Million Brazilian Cohort was motivated by the availability of high quality but dispersed social and health databases in Brazil and the need to integrate data and evaluate the impact of policies aiming to improve the social determinants of health (e.g. social protection policies) on health outcomes, overall and in subgroups of interest in a dynamic cohort. • The baseline of The 100 Million Brazilian Cohort comprises 131 697 800 low-income individuals in 35 358 415 families from 2011 to 2018. The Cohort population is mostly composed of children and young adults, with a higher proportion of females than the general Brazilian population, who identify themselves as Brown and live in the urban area of the country. • Exposure to social protection and the follow-up of individuals are obtained through: (i) deterministic linkage using the Social Identification Number (NIS) to link the Cohort baseline to social protection programmes and to periodically renewed socioeconomic information in Cadatro U ́ nico datasets; and/or (ii) non-deterministic linkage using the CIDACS-RL non-deterministic linkage tool, to link the Cohort baseline to administrative health care datasets such as mortality (Mortality Information System, SIM), disease notification (Information System for Notifiable Diseases, SINAN), birth information (Live Birth Information System, SINASC) and nutrition status (Food and Nutrition Surveillance System, SISVAN). • So far, studies have used The 100 Million Brazilian Cohort to investigate the socioeconomic and demographic determinants of leprosy, leprosy treatment outcomes and low birthweight and to evaluate the impact of the Bolsa Familia Programme (BFP) on leprosy and child mortality. Other studies are now being conducted that are of utmost relevance to the health inequalities of Brazil and many low- and middle-income countries, and many research opportunities are being opened up with the linkage of a range of health outcomes