Some aspects of the synchronization in coupled maps

Through numerical simulations we analyze the synchronization time and the Lyapunov dimension of a coupled map lattice consisting of a chain of chaotic logistic maps exhibiting power law interactions. From the observed behaviors we find a lower bound for the size $N$ of the lattice, independent of the range and strength of the interaction, which imposes a practical lower bound in numerical simulations for the system to be considered in the thermodynamic limit. We also observe the existence of a strong correlation between the averaged synchronization time and the Lyapunov dimension. This is an interesting result because it allows an analytical estimation of the synchronization time, which otherwise requires numerical simulations.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure

Diffusion-weighted imaging with color-coded images: towards a reduction in reading time while keeping a similar accuracy

The aim of this study was to develop a diagnostic tool capable of providing diffusion and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map information in a single color-coded image and to assess the performance of color-coded images compared with their corresponding diffusion and ADC map. The institutional review board approved this retrospective study, which sequentially enrolled 36 head MRI scans. Diffusion-weighted images (DWI) and ADC maps were compared to their corresponding color-coded images. Four raters had their interobserver agreement measured for both conventional (DWI) and color-coded images. Differences between conventional and color-coded images were also estimated for each of the 4 raters. Cohen's kappa and percent agreement were used. Also, paired-samples t-test was used to compare reading time for rater 1. Conventional and color-coded images had substantial or almost perfect agreement for all raters. Mean reading time of rater 1 was 47.4 seconds for DWI and 27.9 seconds for color-coded images (P = .00007). These findings are important because they support the role of color-coded images as being equivalent to that of the conventional DWI in terms of diagnostic capability. Reduction in reading time (which makes the reading easier) is also demonstrated for one rater in this study.Departamento de Diagnóstico por Imagem da Escola Paulista de Medicina da UNIFESP, Rua Napoleão de Barros, 800 Vila Clementino, 04024-002 São Paulo, SP, BrazilDepartamento de Diagnóstico por Imagem da Escola Paulista de Medicina da UNIFESP, Rua Napoleão de Barros, 800 Vila Clementino, 04024-002 São Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Anti-hyperglycemic and antioxidant effect of fucoidan extract from Lessonia trabeculata in alloxan-induced diabetes rats

The objective of this research was to evaluate a nutritional strategy based on the consumption of a fucoidan extract from brown algae Lessonia trabeculata to control oxidative stress in experimental alloxan-induced insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus rats. Over 30 days, 75, 100, and 125 mg kg−1 of body weight of fucoidan doses were administered and both positive and negative control (n = 5 per group). Serum, liver, pancreas, and kidney biochemical indicators of oxidative stress improvement were evaluated. Measures included lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, and antioxidant activity by assessment of free radical scavenging power and histopathological changes. The results showed an increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes while reducing oxidative damage (lipid peroxidation index) in serum (p ≤ 0.05) and tissues (p ≤ 0.05). Further, no liver necrosis was observed in treated groups, unlike the Type 1 diabetes positive control group that presented mild necrosis and moderate congestion. In the pancreas, treated rats presented mild oedema, while the positive control group showed moderate oedema. A significant protective effect against oxidative stress caused by alloxan-induced diabetes was found in this model, therefore it can be concluded that fucoidan extracted from the Lessonia trabeculata algae could be considered a good functional compound for the control of oxidative stress in diabetic patients. Because diabetes is such a widespread public health issue, developing fucoidan-based products could be a natural way to improve patients' quality of life.Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga / CBUA This work was supported by grants from the following institutions: L.T.L-G., E.V.A.S., L.A.A-M. and J.A.C-P. are supported by Project “Desarrollo e Implementación de Procesos Tecnológicos de Validación Analítica y Bioactiva para fucoidano de algas pardas como suplementos nutricionales para humanos”, Convenio N°143-PNICP-PIAP-2015, INNOVATE-PERU. J.D. hold a “Miguel Servet” (CP21/00021) research contract from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) co-funded by European Social Fund (ESF), “Investing in your future”, Gobierno de España

Elasticidades de demanda de servicio telefónico básico en Argentina

Un estudio razonablemente completo de elasticidades de demanda de servicios telefónicos es importante tanto para la autoridad regulatoria como para las compañías prestatarias de estos servicios -ya sea que estén en la industria o sean ingresantes potenciales-. Las empresas necesitan de esta información para hacer sus estimaciones de pronósticos de la demanda con el fin de maximizar intertemporalmente los beneficios y cumplir con los objetivos de calidad de servicio en forma adecuada.publishedVersionFil: Neder, Ángel Enrique. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Abdala, Manuel Ángel. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Arrufat, José Luis. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Colomé, Rinaldo Antonio. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina

Continuous Catalyst-Free Esterification of Oleic Acid in Compressed Ethanol

The esterification of oleic acid in a continuous catalyst-free process using compressed ethanol was investigated in the present study. Experiments were performed in a tubular reactor and variables investigated were temperature, pressure, and oleic acid to ethanol molar ratio for different residence time. Results demonstrated that temperature, in the range of 473 K to 573 K, and pressure had a positive effect on fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) production. In the experimental range investigated, high conversions can be obtained at low ethanol concentrations in the reaction medium and it was observed that oleic acid to ethanol molar ratios greater than 1 : 6 show no significant increase in conversion. Nonnegligible reaction conversions (>90%) were achieved at 573 K, 20 MPa, oleic acid to ethanol molar ratio of 1 : 6, and 20 minutes of residence time

Dietary Use of the Microalga Chlorella fusca Improves Growth, Metabolism, and Digestive Functionality in Thick-Lipped Grey Mullet (Chelon labrosus, Risso 1827) Juveniles

In recent years, a clear emphasis has been placed on replacing fishmeal and fish oil in aquafeeds with other alternative ingredients, including algae, particularly in low trophic omnivorous fish species. This work aimed at evaluating the effects of moderate dietary supplementation with the green microalga Chlorella fusca on growth, metabolism, and digestive functionality in juvenile thick-lipped grey mullet (Chelon labrosus). Fish were fed a control diet (CT) or a diet containing 15% C. fusca (C-15) biomass during 90 days. C. labrosus fed with the C-15 diet showed higher growth performance (in terms of final weight and length, weight gain, and specific growth rate) than the control group. Somatic indices and muscle proximate composition were similar at the end of the feeding trial. Regarding fatty acids profile, C. fusca-fed fish showed a selective retention of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the liver, and arachidonic acid (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and DHA in the muscle. Dietary inclusion of this microalga significantly increased intestinal total alkaline protease, leucine aminopeptidase, and alkaline phosphatase activities in specimens fed with C-15 diet. Furthermore, intestine histological analysis revealed the absence of damage signs on gut morphology in fish fed the microalgae supplemented diet. Thick-lipped grey mullets fed the C-15 diet increased plasma glucose and decreased plasma lactate. Overall, the effects observed on liver (lipid metabolism, glycolysis and glycogenolysis) enzyme activities, together with adequate fatty acid profile, metabolic response, and gut morphology, and a significant increase in the intestinal mucosa's digestive and absorptive capacity, could explain the positive effects on growth performance obtained in fish fed the microalgae-supplemented diet. In conclusion, the results obtained showed that C. fusca is suitable as dietary ingredient for feeding thick-lipped grey mullet juveniles

Estabilidade em armazenamento da carne de tilápia‑do‑nilo mecanicamente separada, lavada, adicionada de conservantes e congelada

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência do processo de lavagem e da adição de eritorbato de sódio e tripolifosfato de sódio na estabilidade de carne mecanicamente separada (CMS), obtida a partir de resíduos da filetagem de tilápia‑do‑nilo (Oreochromis niloticus). Foram avaliados quatro tratamentos, em triplicata: CMS, lavada ou não e armazenada, com ou sem a adição de conservantes, durante 180 dias de armazenamento a ‑18ºC. Para a avaliação da estabilidade, foram realizadas análises microbiológicas de nitrogênio não proteico, bases nitrogenadas voláteis, oxidação lipídica pelo índice de Tbars, valor de pH e perda de líquido por descongelamento ("drip"). O processo de lavagem elevou o teor de umidade e diminuiu os teores de proteína bruta, lipídios e cinzas na CMS, bem como os níveis de nitrogênio não proteico, bases nitrogenadas voláteis e oxidação lipídica após a lavagem. Durante o armazenamento, não foram detectadas diferenças nos teores de nitrogênio não proteico, pH e "drip", mas houve aumento nos valores de bases nitrogenadas voláteis. O processo de lavagem favorece a estabilidade da CMS de tilápia, e a adição de tripolifosfato e eritorbato de sódio reduz a oxidação lipídica do produto não lavado.The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of the washing process and of the addition of sodium erythorbate and sodium tripolyphosphate on the stability of mechanically separated meat (MSM), obtained from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) filleting waste. Four treatments were evaluated, in triplicate: washed or nonwashed MSM, stored with or without the addition of preservatives, during 180 day storage at ‑18ºC. To evaluate stability, microbiological, nonprotein nitrogen, volatile basic nitrogen, lipid oxidation by Tbars index, pH value, and drip loss analyses were carried out. The washing process increased moisture content and decreased crude protein, fat, and ash contents in MSM, as well as the levels of nonprotein nitrogen, volatile basic nitrogen, and lipid oxidation after washing. During storage, no differences were detected for nonprotein nitrogen levels, pH values, and drip loss, but there was an increase in volatile basic nitrogen values. The washing process favors tilapia MSM stability, and the addition of sodium tripolyphosphate and erythorbate reduces lipid oxidation of the unwashed product

APICAMPUS, a project on Urban beekeeping developed at the University of Malaga

Urban beekeeping has ourished in the last years, with many institutions interested in creating colonies on their roofs. Bees and other animal pollinators contribute to increase food production, making bees essential for agriculture and plant life, in general. And, as bee populations decline, the need for secondary sources of pollinators for agricultural production grows. The Vice-rectorate of Smart-Campus of the University of Malaga focuses on two fundamen tal aspects: understanding the UMA campus as a Smart City in itself and marking new lines of action at the academic level that will make the UMA an international benchmark in Sustainability. Framed in the program above mentioned, APICAMPUS is a pilot and interdisciplinary project that involves researchers and students belonging to 4 departments of 2 university faculties together with Bee Garden Malaga, a multi-disciplinary environmental company with thematic areas on beekeeping. The project aims to promote the development of beekeeping in urban environments, raising awareness about the importance of the bees as pollinating insects, as well as the use of the beehive products. For the above mentioned, two beehives Langstroth type, were installed at the roof of the Faculty of Science, a traditional wooden one, and another made of polystyrene. The main interest of this project lies in the monitoring of the hives by means of temperature and humidity sensors, electronic scales for weight control, video cameras located inside and outside of them, together with the use of bee-marking systems. Additionally, analysis for characterizing and study the origin and the properties of the beehive products will be carried out, as well as field monitoring to highlight the situation of pollinators at the University Campus of Teatinos. Although the samplings have barely begun, this communication intends to be the offcial presentation of the project APICAMPUS to the scientific community.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

The roots of future rice harvests

The authors thank the Global Rice Science Partnership and Agropolis Fondation (Special grant n° 1400–009 and Rhizopolis grant n° 1001–005) benefiting from a national ANR Investissement d’Avenir” grant ANR-10-LABX-001-01) for supporting the workshop. They acknowledge the assistance of Nathalie Pivot, Cirad and Véronique Rafin, INRA in workshop organization. The root research at Cirad and University of Aberdeen is supported by the European Grant (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n° 289300.27 EURoot “Enhancing resource Uptake from ROOTs under stress in cereal crops”. Research at IRRI is supported by the Generation Challenge Program and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. J.X. is supported by the AcRF Tier 2 grant (MOE2009-T2-1-060) from the Ministry of Education of Singapore and National Research Foundation Singapore under its Competitive Research Programme (CRP Award No. NRF2010 NRF-CRP002-018). Doan Trung Luu is supported by the EU Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship 'ORYZAQUA – Cell Biology of Rice Aquaporins' (PIOF-GA-2011-300150). AP acknowledges the Generation Challenge Programme funded project “Targeting drought avoidance root traits to enhance rice productivity under water limited environments”. Financial support for A.G. Diedhiou was provided by the Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD, VE12/13, CpVIII-Ar4 ) and GRISP. *This paper is dedicated to the late memory of Pr Ping Wu who passed away in a tragic car accident on June 12th, 2014.Peer reviewedPublisher PD