Some Remarks on a Generalized Vector Product

In this paper we use a generalized vector product to construct an exterior form $\wedge :(\mathbb{R}^{n}) ^{k}\to \mathbb{R}^{\binom{n}{k}}$, where $\binom{n}{k}=\frac{n!}{(n-k)!k!}$, $k\leq n$. Finally, for $n=k-1$ we introduce the reversing operation to study this generalized vector product over palindromic and antipalindromic vectors.Comment: 10 pages, 14 pages in the published version: Revista Integraci\'o

Multicomponent bionanocomposites based on clay nanoarchitectures for electrochemical devices

Based on the unique ability of defibrillated sepiolite (SEP) to form stable and homogeneous colloidal dispersions of diverse types of nanoparticles in aqueous media under ultrasonication, multicomponent conductive nanoarchitectured materials integrating halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and chitosan (CHI) have been developed. The resulting nanohybrid suspensions could be easily formed into films or foams, where each individual component plays a critical role in the biocomposite: HNTs act as nanocontainers for bioactive species, GNPs provide electrical conductivity (enhanced by doping with MWCNTs) and, the CHI polymer matrix introduces mechanical and membrane properties that are of key significance for the development of electrochemical devices. The resulting characteristics allow for a possible application of these active elements as integrated multicomponent materials for advanced electrochemical devices such as biosensors and enzymatic biofuel cells. This strategy can be regarded as an "a la carte" menu, where the selection of the nanocomponents exhibiting different properties will determine a functional set of predetermined utility with SEP maintaining stable colloidal dispersions of different nanoparticles and polymers in water

The Odyssey Approach for Optimizing Federated SPARQL Queries

Answering queries over a federation of SPARQL endpoints requires combining data from more than one data source. Optimizing queries in such scenarios is particularly challenging not only because of (i) the large variety of possible query execution plans that correctly answer the query but also because (ii) there is only limited access to statistics about schema and instance data of remote sources. To overcome these challenges, most federated query engines rely on heuristics to reduce the space of possible query execution plans or on dynamic programming strategies to produce optimal plans. Nevertheless, these plans may still exhibit a high number of intermediate results or high execution times because of heuristics and inaccurate cost estimations. In this paper, we present Odyssey, an approach that uses statistics that allow for a more accurate cost estimation for federated queries and therefore enables Odyssey to produce better query execution plans. Our experimental results show that Odyssey produces query execution plans that are better in terms of data transfer and execution time than state-of-the-art optimizers. Our experiments using the FedBench benchmark show execution time gains of at least 25 times on average.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figure

Putting medical devices in context: a systematic review of evidence on design targeting low-resource settings

Most medical devices are inaccessible to healthcare facilities in low-resource settings (LRSs), severely limiting medical care for a vast proportion of the world's population. This article characterises the process used for designing medical devices for LRSs and investigate how the context-of-use is integrated into the process. A systematic review of 64 papers was conducted to identify peer-reviewed studies of devices intended for LRSs. Using the biodesign process as an analytic framework, a qualitative meta-analysis was conducted. Findings show the studies predominantly describe the later stages of medical device design, whilst largely neglecting how knowledge of the context is considered. To support engineers and improve outcomes, it is imperative that an understanding of the context is integrated throughout the design and product development process. This article highlights this gap and hopes to stimulate research into how context can be better incorporated into the design process for medical devices targeting those populations most in need.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Inderscience Publishers via http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJDE.2015.07637

Towards a Soft Evaluation and Refinement of Tagging in Digital Humanities

In this paper we estimate the soundness of tagging in digital repositories within the field of Digital Humanities by studying the (semantic) conceptual structure behind the folksnonomy. The use of association rules associated to this conceptual structure (Stem and Luxenburger basis) allows to faithfully (from a semantic point of view) complete the tagging (or suggest such a completion).Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TIN2013-41086-PJunta de Andalucía TIC-606

A new method for the solution of the Schrodinger equation

We present a new method for the solution of the Schrodinger equation applicable to problems of non-perturbative nature. The method works by identifying three different scales in the problem, which then are treated independently: An asymptotic scale, which depends uniquely on the form of the potential at large distances; an intermediate scale, still characterized by an exponential decay of the wave function and, finally, a short distance scale, in which the wave function is sizable. The key feature of our method is the introduction of an arbitrary parameter in the last two scales, which is then used to optimize a perturbative expansion in a suitable parameter. We apply the method to the quantum anharmonic oscillator and find excellent results.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, RevTex

On the Complexity of Shared Conceptualizations

In the Social Web, folksonomies and other similar knowledge organization techniques may suffer limitations due to both different users’ tagging behaviours and semantic heterogeneity. In order to estimate how a social tagging network organizes its resources, focusing on sharing (implicit) conceptual schemes, we apply an agent-based reconciliation knowledge system based on Formal Concept Analysis. This article describes various experiments that focus on conceptual structures of the reconciliation process as applied to Delicious bookmarking service. Results will show the prevalence of sharing tagged resources in order to be used by other users as recommendations.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TIN2009-09492Junta de Andalucía TIC-606

Weak Mixing Angle and Higgs Mass in Gauge-Higgs Unification Models with Brane Kinetic Terms

We show that the idea of Gauge-Higgs unification(GHU) can be rescued from the constraint of weak mixing angle by introducing localized brane kinetic terms in higher dimensional GHU models with bulk and simple gauge groups. We find that those terms lead to a ratio between Higgs and W boson masses, which is a little bit deviated from the one derived in the standard model. From numerical analysis, we find that the current lower bound on the Higgs mass tends to prefer to exceptional groups E(6), E(7), E(8) rather than other groups like SU(3l), SO(2n+1), G(2), and F(4) in 6-dimensional(D) GHU models irrespective of the compactification scales. For the compactification scale below 1 TeV, the Higgs masses in 6D GHU models with SU(3l), SO(2n+1), G(2), and F(4) groups are predicted to be less than the current lower bound unless a model parameter responsible for re-scaling SU(2) gauge coupling is taken to be unnaturally large enough. To see how the situation is changed in more higher dimensional GHU model, we take 7D S^{3}/ Z_{2} and 8D T^{4}/ Z_{2} models. It turns out from our numerical analysis that these higher dimensional GHU models with gauge groups except for E(6) can lead to the Higgs boson whose masses are predicted to be above the current lower bound only for the compatification scale above 1 TeV without taking unnaturally large value of the model parameter, whereas the Higgs masses in the GHU models with E(6) are compatible with the current lower bound even for the compatification scale below 1 TeV.Comment: 22 pages, 4 figure

Comparación entre nutrición enteral precoz y nutrición enteral tardía en el estado nutricional de pacientes gastrectomizados

Indexación: ScieloLa nutrición enteral (NE) es un método efectivo para cubrir los requerimientos nutricionales en pacientes que presentan un estado nutricional deteriorado. Objetivos: Comparar la Nutrición Enteral Precoz (NEP) versus Nutrición Enteral Tardía (NET) en la evolución clínica y nutricional de pacientes sometidos a gastrectomía total por Cáncer Gástrico. Material y Método: 18 pacientes con cáncer gástrico resecable, fueron estudiados con parámetros antropométricos, funcionales y bioquímicos que evalúan el estado nutricional, en el período preoperatorio y postoperatorio. Recibieron una fórmula enteral polimérica (1 kcal/ml) en el período postoperatorio. De manera aleatoria fueron asignados al tipo de nutrición (precoz o tardía). Resultados: El grupo con NEP presentó mejoría significativa del porcentaje de adecuación del pliegue bicipital y dinamometría. El grupo con NET presentó disminución significativa de la albuminemia. La distensión abdominal fue más frecuente en grupo con NEP. Conclusión: La Nutrición Enteral Precoz es un soporte nutricional seguro, eficaz y que trae consigo ventajas nutricionales en comparación con la Nutrición Enteral Tardía en el grupo de pacientes gastrectomizados totales por presentar cáncer gástrico.Enteral nutrition (EN) is an effective method to meet the nutritional requirements in patients who have a deteriorated nutritional status. Objectives: To compare clinical and nutritional performance oftwo groups: Early Enteral Nutrition (EEN) versus Late Enteral Nutrition (LEN) of patients undergoing to total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Material and Methods: 18 patients with resectable gastric cancer were studied with anthropometric, functional and biochemical parameters to assess nutritional status in the preoperative and postoperative period. They received a polimeric enteral formula (1 kcal/ml) in the postoperative period. They were randomly assigned to the type of nutrition (early or late). Results: The group with EEN had a significant improvement in the bicipital fold adequacy percentage and dynamometry. The LEN group had a significant decrease of albumin. The bloating was more fre quent in the group with EEN. Conclusion: Early enteral nutrition is a safe nutritional support, effective and that brings nutritional benefits compared with late enteral nutrition in patients undergoing to total gastrectomy for gastric cancer.http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0717-75182009000100002&nrm=is