Comment on the existence of a long range correlation in the geomagnetic disturbance storm time (Dst) index

Very recently (Banerjee et al. in Astrophys. Space, doi:1007/s10509-011-0836-1, 2011) the statistics of geomagnetic Disturbance storm (Dst) index have been addressed, and the conclusion from this analysis suggests that the underlying dynamical process can be modeled as a fractional Brownian motion with persistent long-range correlations. In this comment we expose several misconceptions and flaws in the statistical analysis of that work. On the basis of these arguments, the former conclusion should be revisited

The roundtable: an abstract model of conversation dynamics

Is it possible to abstract a formal mechanism originating schisms and governing the size evolution of social conversations? In this work we propose a constructive solution to this problem: an abstract model of a generic N-party turn-taking conversation. The model develops from simple yet realistic assumptions derived from experimental evidence, abstracts from conversation content and semantics while including topological information, and is driven by stochastic dynamics. We find that a single mechanism, namely the dynamics of conversational party's individual fitness as related to conversation size, controls the development of the self-organized schisming phenomenon. Potential generalizations of the model - including individual traits and preferences, memory effects and more elaborated conversational topologies - may find important applications also in other fields of research, where dynamically-interacting and networked agents play a fundamental role

Effects of Cold-Water Immersion (CWI) on Intermittent Fasting (IF) induced Ketogenesis.

The effects of cold-water immersion (CWI) and intermittent fasting (IF)/ketosis have been extensively investigated independently. However, the primary objective of this study is to explore potential links between the two. Cold-water immersion is known for diverse benefits, such as aiding athlete recovery, enhancing cognitive function, and contributing to mental health improvement. This research aimed to assess ketone levels in six individuals (four males and two females) across various fasting states (8- and 12- hours, and 8-hours with a ketone ester supplement), exposing them to a 15-minute head-out immersion at 50ºF (10ºC). Although no significant differences in ketone levels were observed across the three trials, this pilot study, involving six participants, unveils potential trends between CWI and capillary ketone levels during a fasted state. Additionally, the introduction of a ketone ester supplement resulted in elevated ketone levels. It is important to note that further research and data are required to draw conclusive insights into the observed 38% increase in our pilot trial.No embargoAcademic Major: Biolog

Trato de las asimetrías en el MERCOSUR: el caso de Paraguay : Del reconocimiento hacia la construcción de una agenda prepositiva

Una de las características más latentes entre los países miembros del bloque sigue siendo las profundas asimetrías que caracterizan sus economías. Pese a que apenas en 2003 hubo un reconocimiento explícito de esas disparidades, y en el año siguiente se aprobó la creación del Fondo de Convergencia Estructural (FOCEM), sus resultados siguen siendo lentos y poco alentadores. En estas circunstancias, Paraguay inauguró una nueva política pendular: no más entre Brasil y Argentina, sino entre el ALCA y el MERCOSUR.Mesa Relaciones Económicas Internacionales: IntegraciónInstituto de Relaciones Internacionale

Phase transitions in number theory: from the birthday problem to Sidon sets

In this work, we show how number theoretical problems can be fruitfully approached with the tools of statistical physics. We focus on g-Sidon sets, which describe sequences of integers whose pairwise sums are different, and propose a random decision problem which addresses the probability of a random set of k integers to be g-Sidon. First, we provide numerical evidence showing that there is a crossover between satisfiable and unsatisfiable phases which converts to an abrupt phase transition in a properly defined thermodynamic limit. Initially assuming independence, we then develop a mean-field theory for the g-Sidon decision problem. We further improve the mean-field theory, which is only qualitatively correct, by incorporating deviations from independence, yielding results in good quantitative agreement with the numerics for both finite systems and in the thermodynamic limit. Connections between the generalized birthday problem in probability theory, the number theory of Sidon sets and the properties of q-Potts models in condensed matter physics are briefly discusse

Scaling and universality in the human voice

Speech is a distinctive complex feature of human capabilities. In order to understand the physics underlying speech production, in this work, we empirically analyse the statistics of large human speech datasets ranging several languages. We first show that during speech, the energy is unevenly released and powerlaw distributed, reporting a universal robust Gutenberg–Richter-like law in speech. We further show that such ‘earthquakes in speech’ show temporal correlations, as the interevent statistics are again power-law distributed. As this feature takes place in the intraphoneme range, we conjecture that the process responsible for this complex phenomenon is not cognitive, but it resides in the physiological (mechanical) mechanisms of speech production. Moreover, we show that these waiting time distributions are scale invariant under a renormalization group transformation, suggesting that the process of speech generation is indeed operating close to a critical point. These results are put in contrast with current paradigms in speech processing, which point towards low dimensional deterministic chaos as the origin of nonlinear traits in speech fluctuations. As these latter fluctuations are indeed the aspects that humanize synthetic speech, these findings may have an impact in future speech synthesis technologies. Results are robust and independent of the communication language or the number of speakers, pointing towards a universal pattern and yet another hint of complexity in human speech

First identification and molecular phylogeny of Sparganum proliferum from endangered felid (Panthera onca) and other wild definitive hosts in one of the regions with highest worldwide biodiversity

After decades of being neglected, broad tapeworms now attract growing attention thanks to the increasing number of reports from humans but also thanks to many advancements achieved by application of molecular methods in diagnosis and epidemiological studies. Regarding sparganosis, unfortunately general uniformity of most species, their high intraspecific variability and lack of agreement among researchers has led to confusion about the classification of Spirometra/Sparganum species. For the first time we determined adult, eggs and plerocercoid life cycle stages and the molecular phylogeny of Sparganum proliferum obtained from endangered wild felids (Panthera onca, Leopardus pardalis, Leopardus guttulus and Herpailurus yagoauroundi) in one of the largest continuous remnants of worldwide biodiversity, the Atlantic Forest from South America. Our results showed that at least 57% of total species of wild felids in this natural area could act as definitive hosts of Sparganum proliferum. We conclude that the availability of more morphological characteristics are needed in order to secure reliable characterization and diagnosis of sparganosis. The integration of these data with molecular analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences will be useful for species discrimination.Fil: Arrabal, Juan Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; ArgentinaFil: Pérez, Matías Gastón. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Arce, Lucas Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Kamenetzky, Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; Argentin

Extensive analysis of miRNA trimming and tailing indicates that AGO1 has a complex role in miRNA turnover

MicroRNAs are small regulatory RNAs involved in several processes in plants ranging from development and stress responses to defense against pathogens. In order to accomplish their molecular functions, miRNAs are methylated and loaded into one ARGONAUTE (AGO) protein, commonly known as AGO1, to stabilize and protect the molecule and to assemble a functional RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). A specific machinery controls miRNA turnover to ensure the silencing release of targeted-genes in given circumstances. The trimming and tailing of miRNAs are fundamental modifications related to their turnover and, hence, to their action. In order to gain a better understanding of these modifications, we analyzed Arabidopsis thaliana small RNA sequencing data from a diversity of mutants, related to miRNA biogenesis, action, and turnover, and from different cellular fractions and immunoprecipitations. Besides confirming the effects of known players in these pathways, we found increased trimming and tailing in miRNA biogenesis mutants. More importantly, our analysis allowed us to reveal the importance of ARGONAUTE 1 (AGO1) loading, slicing activity, and cellular localization in trimming and tailing of miRNAs.Fil: Giudicatti, Axel Joel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Tomassi, Ariel Hernán. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Manavella, Pablo Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Arce, Agustín Lucas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral; Argentin

Todo meme es político : Análisis discursivo y de imagen de memes sobre las temáticas aborto, FMI y #MacriTips en el segundo cuatrimestre de 2018

Los memes -imágenes alteradas que apelan a experiencias previas-son prácticas comunicativas que se han apropiado los/as jóvenes en las redes sociales, que se anclan en la interpelación y que ganaron amplio terreno en los vínculos cotidianos. Entendemos una “nueva” forma descentralizada de producción de humor como interpelador de sectores que, hasta hace relativamente poco, se autoexcluían de la política por la falta de identificación. Los analizaremos desde los conceptos teóricos de hegemonía (Williams), codificación / decodificación (Hall) y connotación / denotación (Barthes), como también los recursos literarios que se utilizan y reiteran en los diversos memes.El análisis de esta investigación se concentra en memes del segundo cuatrimestre del 2018 -de mayo a agosto-en torno a aborto, regreso del FMI y #MacriTips en Facebook y Twitter.Facultad de Periodismo y Comunicación Socia