Exact Solutions of the Dirac Equation for Modified Coulombic Potentials

Exact solutions are found to the Dirac equation for a combination of Lorentz scalar and vector Coulombic potentials with additional non-Coulombic parts. An appropriate linear combination of Lorentz scalar and vector non-Coulombic potentials, with the scalar part dominating, can be chosen to give exact analytic Dirac wave functions. The method works for the ground state or for the lowest orbital state with l=j-{1/2}, for any j.Comment: 7 pages, Latex fil

Electronic procurement systems: identifying factors that foster their adoption

In this study, we developed a model to explain electronic-procurement systems (EPS) adoption, considering the technology-organization-environment framework as well as the institutional theory. This model was tested with data collected from the 2500 biggest companies operating in Portugal. Based on the t-test for equality of means we found evidence that EPS adoption is positively and significantly related to (1) firm size, (2) technological capabilities,(3) the perception companies have about the EPS success of their competitors, (4) the extent of adoption among competitors and (5) the trading partner readiness to perform electronic transactions. The logistic regression supplied further evidence that technological capabilities, firm size, extent of adoption among competitors and trading partner readiness provide a reasonable estimate for each firm’s likelihood to adopt EPS. We also found evidence that firms which main activity is commerce are more likely to adopt EPSs than companies from manufacturing or services industries

A molecular imprinted polymer based sensor for measuring phosphate in wastewater samples

Phosphate detection in water samples is still completed using colorimetric standard methods, which have a number of disadvantages, to such as being time consuming, requiring filtration, a number of different reagents, frequent calibration and proper disposal of waste chemicals generated. Hence, a simple cost effective analytical method and instrumentation is highly desirable to aid the optimisation of treatment processes and assist the water industry in their efforts to comply with stringent regulations such as the EU's Water Framework Directive. A sensor based on molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) and a conductance transducer was developed for direct and label-free detection of phosphate in water. The sensor was able to measure the presence of phosphate in wastewater samples with good reproducibility, a linear range of 0.66-8 mg P L-1 and a lower detection limit of 0.16 mg P L-1. The sensor was further tested to measure phosphate concentrations in unfiltered field samples such as domestic wastewater treatment influent and river water and demonstrated a close correlation with reference measurements. The phosphate MIP sensor offers a way forward as either a handheld sensor for use in the field, or as a potential solution for remote, continuous monitoring of phosphate

Where and Why are Women Being Murdered? Analysing Narratives of FEMICIDE in TJMG Decisions

The present work which is part of the research carried out for my master s degree aims to discuss the most common motivations and places of femicide in Minas Gerais according to an analysis of data from processes that reached the Jury Court between 2015 and 2019 From this analysis it is also possible to think about the importance of implementing public policies to combat it As a result of the research it is observed that femicide should be analysed as a social phenomenon that arises from a society that even today reveals asymmetries linked to gender understood here as an analytical category that expands the understanding of social relations and the construction learning of masculinity It is also noted that feminism had a great relevance against femicide and against other forms of violence against wome

Individual and community-level socioeconomic position and its association with adolescents experience of childhood sexual abuse : a multilevel analysis of six countries in Sub-Saharan Africa

Background: Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a substantial global health and human rights problem and consequently a growing concern in sub-Saharan Africa. We examined the association between individual and community-level socioeconomic status (SES) and the likelihood of reporting CSA. Methods: We applied multiple multilevel logistic regression analysis on Demographic and Health Survey data for 6,351female adolescents between the ages of 15 and 18 years from six countries in sub-Saharan Africa, between 2006 and 2008. Results: About 70% of the reported cases of CSA were between 14 and 17 years. Zambia had the highest proportion of reported cases of CSA (5.8%). At the individual and community level, we found that there was no association between CSA and socioeconomic position. This study provides evidence that the likelihood of reporting CSA cut across all individual SES as well as all community socioeconomic strata. Conclusions: We found no evidence of socioeconomic differentials in adolescents’ experience of CSA, suggesting that adolescents from the six countries studied experienced CSA regardless of their individual- and community-level socioeconomic position. However, we found some evidence of geographical clustering, adolescents in the same community are subject to common contextual influences. Further studies are needed to explore possible effects of countries’ political, social, economic, legal, and cultural impact on Childhood sexual abuse

Ultrasound Muscle Assessment and Nutritional Status in Institutionalized Older Adults: A Pilot Study

Muscle thickness, measured by ultrasonography, has been investigated for nutritional assessment in older adults, however the associations between muscle ultrasound parameters in the lower limb and nutritional status have not been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between muscle thickness echo intensity (EI), and nutritional status in home care residents. A cross sectional study was conducted involving 19 older adults from a home care in Malaga (Spain). We evaluated lower leg muscles by ultrasound, anthropometric data, physical function (measured by gait speed and the Short Physical Performance Battery), strength (handgrip and knee extensors strength) and nutritional status across the Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF). We found that muscle thickness assessed by ultrasonography independently predicts nutritional status by MNA-SF and after adjusting for handgrip strength or age and sex. As secondary findings, we found relations between strength, functional capacity and the MNA-SF test. These results suggest that lower leg muscle ultrasound parameters could be used as a low-cost objective method for muscle evaluation in nutritional assessment in older adults