K X-Ray Energies and Transition Probabilities for He-, Li- and Be-like Praseodymium ions

Theoretical transition energies and probabilities for He-, Li- and Be-like Praseodymium ions are calculated in the framework of the multi-configuration Dirac-Fock method (MCDF), including QED corrections. These calculated values are compared to recent experimental data obtained in the Livermore SuperEBIT electron beam ion trap facility

Interplay between chiral and axial symmetries in a SU(2) Nambu--Jona-Lasinio Model with the Polyakov loop

We consider a two flavor Polyakov--Nambu--Jona-Lasinio (PNJL) model where the Lagrangian includes an interaction term that explicitly breaks the U$_A(1)$ anomaly. At finite temperature, the restoration of chiral and axial symmetries, signaled by the behavior of several observables, is investigated. We compare the effects of two regularizations at finite temperature, one of them, that allows high momentum quarks states, leading to the full recovery of chiral symmetry. From the analysis of the behavior of the topological susceptibility and of the mesonic masses of the axial partners, it is found in the SU(2) model that, unlike the SU(3) results, the recovery of the axial symmetry is not a consequence of the full recovery of the chiral symmetry. Thus, one needs to use an additional idea, by means of a temperature dependence of the anomaly coefficient, that simulates instanton suppression effects.Comment: 21 pages, 5 figures; PRD versio

Building multiscalar sustainable ocean governance: How do global perspectives interact with the Portuguese national approach?

UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission launched the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development in 2021 to boost global and sustainable Ocean governance. The initiative resulted from historical and political dynamics at the global and lower political scales, with maritime environmental and economic concerns becoming more prominent in 2010. The Ocean Decade's pillars include science and research, sustainability, conservation, and bridging gaps for a global Ocean-Climate-Biodiversity nexus. The Sustainable Development Goals recognized the importance of oceans and marine resources, and the Ocean was officially perceived as a determining factor of Climate Change at CoP 21 in 2015. Portugal has built integrated and far-reaching policies for ocean governance, including significant involvement with an international perspective since the Lisbon World Exhibition in 1998. In addition, the national government established a Ministry of the Sea in 2015 to re-develop relations with its maritime space. This article analyzes and compares the discourse of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals reports and the Portuguese government programs (2005–2022) to explore the prominent trends in Portuguese Ocean governance discourse and how global and national perspectives interact. Through this case study, the research aims to develop insights into the multiscalar impacts of promoting global and sustainable Ocean governance and its interaction with national perspectives.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evolução da Sustentabilidade nas Regiões Vitícolas do Norte eAlentejo

The wine sector currently lacks nuclear fea-tures, which makes Portugal’s producing per-formance drift away from the frontline world-wide wine producers. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the evolution of the Portuguese wine industry’s performance through the world and national available statistical data. Also, this work tries to evaluate the sustainability dyna-mic regarding theNorth and Alentejo, using the Portuguese Farm Accountancy Data Network from 2001 to 2012. From the sustain-nability indicators, the results show that Alente-jo presents the best performance in terms of environmental sustainability. The North has an increasing economic dimension of sustainabil-ity and good social performance. The conclu-sions suggest that academic research can im-prove the wine industry’s overall orientation to sustainability.O setor vitivinícola carece atualmente de ca-racterísticas nucleares que fazem o desempenho produtivo do país afastar-se dos líderes da pro-dução mundial de vinho. O objetivo deste traba-lho consiste em avaliar a evolução do desempe-nho do setor vitivinícola português através dos dados estatísticos disponíveis, a nível mundial e nacional. Pretende-se ainda avaliar a dinâmica da sua sustentabilidade, no Norte e Alentejo, através dos dados da Rede de Informação de Contabilidade Agrícola de 2001 a 2012. Dos indicadores de sustentabilidade obtidos verifi-ca-se que o Alentejo obtém o melhor desempe-nho em termos de sustentabilidade ambiental. O Norte tem uma tendência para melhorar a di-mensão económica da sustentabilidade e revela bom desempenho social. As conclusões suge-rem que a investigação académica pode melho-rar a orientação geral desta indústria para a sua sustentabilidade.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prototypical dimensions of business opportunity in early stages of the entrepreneurial process

The purpose of this paper is to describe how individuals with no entrepreneurial experience use prototypical dimensions of business opportunities at the first two stages of the entrepreneurial process: recognition and decision to launch a venture. Previous studies have described the business opportunity prototype (Baron & Ensley, 2006); however, they do not describe how it is used and rely on retrospective data and entrepreneurs' prior experience. We intend to overcome these gaps by using two hypothetical scenarios and three conditions, creating a first entrepreneurial experience for individuals, having thus a 2 (scenario A and B) X 3 (condition: "Problem solving", "Cash flow", "Manageable risk") design plan with a total of six groups. Our results allow us to describe how individuals use the prototype in the first two stages of the entrepreneurial process. Specifically, we have a better understanding of the importance of risk, customers, and profit in both stages. Both in the recognition and the decision stages, risk is the most important factor, but profit and customers are considered differently in the two stages. In recognition, profit is more important than customers; however, in the decision stage, customers are a major concern for the participants. These results provide relevant information on the first entrepreneurial experience of individuals, which is crucial given the recognized need to promote entrepreneurial initiatives and behavior

Validation of a compact microwave imaging system for bone fracture detection

This work presents a systematic evaluation of the effectiveness of an air-operated microwave imaging (MWI) system for detection of arbitrarily oriented thin fractures in superficial bones, like the tibia. This includes the proposal of a new compact, portable setup where a single Vivaldi antenna performs a semi-cylindrical scan of the limb. The antenna is operated in monostatic radar mode, near the skin but without contact, thus ensuring hygiene and patient comfort during the exam. The image is reconstructed using a wave-migration algorithm in the frequency domain combined with an adaptative algorithm based on singular value decomposition to remove the skin artifact, dealing with non-uniform bone profile and tissue cover. The study investigates the system resolution, the robustness of the method to the uncertainty of the permittivity and thickness of the involved tested tissues, as well as the robustness to involuntary patient movement. The experimental validation was performed for the first time on an integral ex-vivo animal leg, with all tissues present, including skin and fur. It confirmed both the effectiveness of the method, and the feasibility of the setup.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Avaliação e seleção de bulbos de cebola de baixo teor de ácido pirúvico de cultivares adaptadas ao Nordeste.

Diferente de outros países, o Brasil não desenvolveu populações de cebola com baixa pungência, o que poderia aumentar o consumo nacional e criar novas oportunidades para os agricultores. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o teor de ácido pirúvico em algumas populações de cebola desenvolvidas para o Nordeste brasileiro para orientar trabalhos de melhoramento da espécie. Foram avaliados bulbos de cinco variedades de cebola cultivados nos Campos Experimentais de Bebedouro e Mandacaru/Embrapa Semiárido, em 2010. As condições de cultivo e manejo de fertilizantes foram semelhantes nos dois locais. Os bulbos foram quantificados para o teor de ácido pirúvico por espectrofotometria, sendo selecionados aqueles com teor menor que 5 μmol/mL. Dos 206 bulbos de Bebedouro, os teores de ácido pirúvico variaram de 3,02 μmol/mL a 14,22 μmol/mL de suco de cebola, dos quais selecionou-se 14 (6,8%). Dos 360 bulbos, colhidos no Campo Experimental de Mandacaru, os teores de ácido pirúvico variaram de 3,65 μmol/mL a 18,52 μmol/mL de suco de cebola; destes 13 (3,6%) foram selecionados. Obteve-se sementes em 18 plantas dos 27 bulbos selecionados, o que possibilitará um novo ciclo de seleção recorrente, visando o desenvolvimento de populações de cebola com baixos teores de ácido pirúvico para o Nordeste brasileiro

Feasibility of bone fracture detection using microwave imaging

This paper studies the feasibility of Microwave Imaging (MWI) for detection of fractures in superficial bones like the tibia, using a simple and practical setup. First-responders could use it for fast preliminary diagnosis in emergency locations, where X-Rays are not available. It may prove valuable also for cases where X-ray are not recommended, e.g., length pregnant women or children. The method is inspired on the synthetic aperture radar technique. A single Vivaldi antenna is used to linearly scan the bone in the 8.3-11.1 GHz frequency range and collect the scattered fields. The system is operated in air, without the need for impractical impedance-matching immersion liquids. The image is reconstructed using a Kirchhoff migration algorithm. A Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) strategy is used to remove skin and background artifacts. To test this technique, a set of full-wave simulations and experiments were conducted on a multilayer phantom and on an ex-vivo animal bone. Results show that the system can detect and locate bone transverse fractures as small as 1 mm width and 13 mm deep, even when the bone is wrapped by 2 mm thick skin.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Experimental evaluation of thin bone fracture detection using microwave imaging

Microwave imaging is a promising candidate modality for the detection of fractures in superficial bones. We propose a simple dedicated experimental setup and use it to evaluate experimentally the feasibility of detection and location of thin transversal fractures in an animal bone. A single small Vivaldi antenna scans the bone along its length in two longitudinal planes, and collects the monostatic scattered fields in the 8.3-11.1 GHz frequency range. The image is reconstructed using a wave migration algorithm. Tests were carried on an ex-vivo animal leg bone with an induced transversal fracture. The results showed that transversal bone fractures can be detected down to 0.35 mm thickness. The system is attractive for a practical application because it is contactless, operated in air, non-ionizing, simple and comfortable for the patient. It can be used e.g. by first responders in the field, or in low-income settings.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio