A Law of Large Numbers and Large Deviations for interacting diffusions on Erd\H{o}s-R\'enyi graphs

We consider a class of particle systems described by differential equations (both stochastic and deterministic), in which the interaction network is determined by the realization of an Erd\H{o}s-R\'enyi graph with parameter $p_n\in (0, 1]$, where $n$ is the size of the graph (i.e., the number of particles). If $p_n\equiv 1$ the graph is the complete graph (mean field model) and it is well known that, under suitable hypotheses, the empirical measure converges as $n\to \infty$ to the solution of a PDE: a McKean-Vlasov (or Fokker-Planck) equation in the stochastic case, or a Vlasov equation in the deterministic one. It has already been shown that this holds for rather general interaction networks, that include Erd\H{o}s-R\'enyi graphs with $\lim_n p_n n =\infty$, and properly rescaling the interaction to account for the dilution introduced by $p_n$. However, these results have been proven under strong assumptions on that initial datum which has to be chaotic, i.e. a sequence of independent identically distributed random variables. The aim of our contribution is to present results -- Law of Large Numbers and Large Deviation Principle -- assuming only the convergence of the empirical measure of the initial condition.Comment: 16 page

Cosimo togatus. Cosimo dei Medici nella poesia latina del Quattrocento

pp.101-119Secondo Alison Brown, Cosimo dei Medici sarebbe lodato come come un generoso mecenate e un governatore ‘augusteo’ dai poeti, a partire dal Marsuppini e dal Landino. Dalla familiarità scanzonata dell’approccio a Cosimo nel 1426 di Antonio Panormita nel suo Hermaphroditus al rispettoso eccesso dell’encomio nella Xandra di Cristoforo Landino, nell’arco di pochi anni, dalla citazione allusiva di Cicerone e dall’innominabilità di Augusto si è approdati all’onorevole menzione di Giulio Cesare: evoluzione dell’encomio a Cosimo.According to Alison Brown, Cosimo de’ Medici was praised as a generous patron and an 'Augustan' governor by poets, starting from Marsuppini and Landino. From the familiarity with Cosimo shown in 1426 by Antonio Panormita in his Hermaphroditus to the respectful excess of the encomium in Xandria by Cristoforo Landino, in a few years, from the allusive quotation of Cicero and from the non-mentionable Augustus to the honorable mention of Julius Caesar: evolution of the encomium to Cosimo

The development of early expressive vocabulary in children with Down Syndrome

A delay in expressive language in children with Down Syndrome (DS) is common, and often a major challenge of the condition. This study aimed to investigate the early expressive vocabulary skills of Maltese children with DS, whose first languages were either Maltese or English, while taking into account chronological age. Language preference was further explored in the context of a bilingual environment. A multi-method design was implemented across seven participants whose language abilities ranged from the expression of single words in isolation to simple word combinations. The expressive vocabularies of four boys and three girls between 2;10 and 11;9 years were assessed through caregiver report, picture naming and language sampling. Performance of the children was analysed in relation to local findings on lexical production in typically-developing children. The study revealed that productive vocabularies of Maltese bilingual children with DS escalated with increasing age, notwithstanding inevitable individual variation.peer-reviewe

Surface roughness evaluation and bleaching efficiency on tooth enamel after using whitening toothpaste : a randomized double-blinded study

Orientador: Luis Alexandre Maffei Sartini PaulilloTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de PiracicabaResumo: O clareamento dental é o tratamento mais conservador em casos de escurecimento dos dentes e pode ser realizado por meio de técnicas em consultório, caseira, e ainda, pela utilização de cremes dentais branqueadores. O mecanismo de ação dos dentifrícios clareadores baseia-se na remoção de pigmentos extrínsecos através de abrasivos em sua composição que podem causar alterações na superfície do esmalte dental e/ou restaurações. O objetivo deste estudo duplo-cego randomizado foi avaliar a rugosidade superficial do esmalte e a alteração de cor após um mês de uso dos dentifrícios branqueadores e a durabilidade da cor obtida 1 mês após a interrupção do uso desse tipo de dentifrício. Foram selecionados 3 dentifrícios sendo 2 clareadores Colgate Luminous White (LW) e Sensodyne Branqueador Extra Fresh (SB) e 1 convencional ¿ controle- Colgate Total 12 Clean Mint (TD). Trinta voluntários foram distribuídos, por sorteio, em 3 grupos (n=10) correspondentes aos dentifrícios, que foram previamente colocados em tubos identificados por códigos por um profissional que não participou da pesquisa. Dessa forma o avaliador e os voluntários não tinham conhecimento à qual grupo experimental pertenciam ¿ estudo duplo cego randomizado. Uma semana antes do início da fase experimental foi realizada a adequação do meio bucal através de profilaxia com pedra-pomes, raspagem de cálculo supragengival e polimento coronário, também foi entregue aos voluntários uma escova de dentes e um dentifrício não clareador, diferente do dentifrício controle, Sorriso Dentes Brancos, para padronização do meio bucal (wash-out). Após uma semana, os voluntários foram moldados com silicone de adição para obtenção de uma réplica do incisivo central superior em resina epóxica para avaliação da rugosidade superficial inicial e foi realizada a avaliação da cor inicial dos incisivos centrais e caninos superiores com um espectrofotômetro. Nesse momento cada voluntário recebeu o dentifrício correspondente à seu grupo e foi orientado a usá-lo durante um mês. Após 1 mês, a cor dos incisivos centrais e caninos foi mensurada e os voluntários moldados novamente para se obter uma segunda réplica do incisivo central superior para avaliação da rugosidade final. Os dentifrícios clareadores foram recolhidos e os voluntários voltaram a utilizar um dentifrício não clareador usado no wash-out. Um mês após, foi realizada nova avaliação de cor para se analisar a alteração da cor. A avaliação da rugosidade superficial foi feita em 3 pontos equidistantes em uma área de 25mm2 na face vestibular das réplicas em resina epóxi do incisivo central superior usando um perfilômetro. Para análise estatística, os dados foram submetidos a análise de variância em esquema fatorial com medidas repetidas (p?0,05). Os resultados mostraram que não houve diferença estatística entre os dentifrícios estudados em relação à variação de cor e rugosidade superficial para todas as condições estudadas. Assim foi possível concluir que os cremes dentais clareadores utilizados neste estudo não foram capazes de alterar a cor inicial de dentes e não causaram mudanças na rugosidade superficial do esmalteAbstract: Dental bleaching is the most conservative treatment in cases of tooth discoloration and can be performed through at-home and in-office bleaching techniques and also by the use of whitening toothpastes. The mechanism of action of whitening dentifrices is based on the removal of extrinsic pigments through abrasive components that can cause changes in the surface of the tooth and/or restorations. The aim of this randomized double-blind study was to evaluate the enamel surface roughness and the color change after one month of whitening toothpaste use and the color stability obtained 1 month after its interruption. Three dentifrices were selected, which two were whitening dentifrices, Colgate Luminous White and Sensodyne Whitening Extra Fresh, and one was a conventional dentifrice - Colgate Total 12 Clean Mint. 30 volunteers were divided into 3 groups (n = 10) corresponding to the dentifrices, which were previously placed in encoded tubes by a professional who did not participate in the research. Thus, the evaluator and the volunteers had no knowledge to which experimental group they belonged - randomized double-blinded study. One week before the beginning of the experimental phase, it was performed pumice prophylaxis, supragingival calculus removal and crown polishing. A toothbrush and a different non-bleaching dentifrice, Sorriso Dentes Brancos, were also given to the volunteers for the research standardization (wash-out). After one week, the volunteers were molded with addition silicone to obtain an epoxy resin replica of the upper central incisor for the initial surface roughness evaluation Also, the initial color of the incisors and canines was evaluated with a spectrophotometer. At that moment, each volunteer received the dentifrice corresponding to their group and were instructed to use it for a month. After 1 month, the color of the central incisors and canines was measured and the volunteers were molded again to obtain a second replica of the upper central incisor to evaluate the final roughness. The whitening dentifrices were collected and the volunteers received the non-bleaching dentifrice used in the wash-out. One month later, a new color evaluation was performed to analyze the color variation. The evaluation of the surface roughness was performed in 3 equidistant points from a 25 mm2 area in the vestibular tooth surface of the epoxy resin replicas using a profilometer. For statistical analysis, the data were submitted to a two-way repeated-measures ANOVA (p?0.05). The results showed that there was no statistical difference between the dentifrices for color difference and surface roughness for all the studied conditions. Thus, it was possible to conclude that the whitening dentifrices used in this study were not able to alter the initial color of the teeth and did not cause changes in the surface roughness of the enamelDoutoradoDentísticaDoutor em Clínica Odontológica141975/2014-8CNP

Influência do condicionamento ácido do ângulo cavosuperficial nas propriedades mecânicas e nanoinfiltração de restaurações após envelhecimento termomecânico

Orientador: Luís Alexandre Maffei Sartini PaulilloDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de PiracicabaResumo: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cavosuperficial enamel acid-etching influence in class I cavities, filled with composites on microtensile bond strength, Knoop microhardness and nanoleakage after thermomechanic ageing. It was selected 76 sound molar splitted on: 32 teeth to microtensile test (n=8); 32 teeth to Knoop microhardness (n=8); and 12 teeth (n=3) to nanoleakage analysis. The cavities were prepared on a standard cavity preparation machine. Half of the teeth had the cavosuperficial enamel etched with 35% phosphoric acid and restored with a Silorane restorative system or a Methacrylate restorative system. After the conclusion of the restoration procedures, the teeth were taken to a thermomechanic cycling machine where the artificial ageing was performed with 200.000 mechanical cycles with an 80 N load in a 2HZ frequency and thermocycling by filling the chambers for 30 seconds and 15 seconds drainage with the temperatures varying between 5ºC and 55ºC. The samples were submitted to the microtensile bond strength test, Knoop microhardness and nanoleakage evaluation. To statistical analysis it was performed the ANOVA two-way and Tuckey test (p ? 0,05). The group restored with methacrylate without acid-etching showed the lowest values of microtensile bond strength and it was statistically different to the other groups that have no difference between them. The methacrylate composite presented statistically higher values on Knoop microhardness compared to silorane composite. The nanoleakage analysis showed low infiltration to silorane restorative system and moderate infiltration to the methacrylate restorative system. The methacrylate group restored without enamel acid-etching showed the formation of Water Trees. It can be concluded that the acid-etching improved the bond strength to the methacylate system. The methacrylate composite has bigger Knoop microhardness than silorane composite. The methacrylate restorative system showed moderate infiltration on nanoleakage analysisAbstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cavosuperficial enamel acid-etching influence in class I cavities, filled with composites on microtensile bond strength, Knoop microhardness and nanoleakage after thermomechanic ageing. It was selected 76 sound molar splitted on: 32 teeth to microtensile test (n=8); 32 teeth to Knoop microhardness (n=8); and 12 teeth (n=3) to nanoleakage analysis. The cavities were prepared on a standard cavity preparation machine. Half of the teeth had the cavosuperficial enamel etched with 35% phosphoric acid and restored with a Silorane restorative system or a Methacrylate restorative system. After the conclusion of the restoration procedures, the teeth were taken to a thermomechanic cycling machine where the artificial ageing was performed with 200.000 mechanical cycles with an 80 N load in a 2HZ frequency and thermocycling by filling the chambers for 30 seconds and 15 seconds drainage with the temperatures varying between 5ºC and 55ºC. The samples were submitted to the microtensile bond strength test, Knoop microhardness and nanoleakage evaluation. To statistical analysis it was performed the ANOVA two-way and Tuckey test (p ? 0,05). The group restored with methacrylate without acid-etching showed the lowest values of microtensile bond strength and it was statistically different to the other groups that have no difference between them. The methacrylate composite presented statistically higher values on Knoop microhardness compared to silorane composite. The nanoleakage analysis showed low infiltration to silorane restorative system and moderate infiltration to the methacrylate restorative system. The methacrylate group restored without enamel acid-etching showed the formation of Water Trees. It can be concluded that the acid-etching improved the bond strength to the methacylate system. The methacrylate composite has bigger Knoop microhardness than silorane composite. The methacrylate restorative system showed moderate infiltration on nanoleakage analysisMestradoDentísticaMestre em Clínica Odontológic

Preface "Operational oceanography in the Mediterranean Sea: the second stage of development"

The papers of this special issue overview some of the scientific results of the second phase of development of the Mediterranean Forecasting System (MFS) realised during the EU project "Mediterranean ocean Forecasting System: Toward Environmental Predictions-MFSTEP" that started 1 March 2003 and ended in June 2006. The MFS oceanographic service that is now operational in the Mediterranean Sea was developed, implemented and quality assessed during MFSTEP. MFS is composed of: a) a near real time observing system with satellite and in situ elements; b) a numerical ocean forecasting system at basin scale, assimilating all data available in real time, and a set of limited area forecasting models in different sub-regional and shelf areas; c) biochemical models for algal biomass forecasting; d) a product dissemination system. Moreover, the products of MFS are used to develop downstream services, such as oil spill drift and dispersion, sediment transport in the coastal areas and fish stock assessment that demonstrate the value of the operational service for end-users. MFSTEP contained several phases of development and realised a demonstration exercise, the so-called Targeted Operational Period-TOP that started in September 2004 and ended in March 2005. During TOP all possible observing platforms were active, the numerical models were capable to assimilate the observations and the all models were running in forecast mode, from the basin scale to the shelf areas. The deployed observing and modelling components of MFS are now part of a sustained operational oceanographic service for the Mediterranean Sea, so-called Mediterranean Operational Oceanography Network (MOON, http: //www.moon-oceanforecasting.eu)

The Hobbit : an expected movie

The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien, is a literary work dated from 1937 and written aimed to the child public. In 2012, the book had its first adaptation to the cinema, altogether the novel was split in a trilogy and the other movies were released in the two successive years. This adaptation, made by Peter Jackson, brings some characteristic aspects of the cinema, as well as the novel has its own literary characteristics. These elements will be analyzed and commented from a perspective that takes literature and cinema into consideration. The purpose of this work is to analyze how the adaptation of the plot, the songs and some of the characters was made by Peter Jackson. Furthermore, explain possible reasons that could have influenced the changes made by the producer and screenwriter of the movie

Scurvy in children with autistic spectrum disorder : not such a rarity

Scurvy is an uncommon nutritional deficiency that results from low serum levels of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Part of human history since ancient times, its incidence rapidly decreased following the discovery by Sir James Lind that citrus fruits can prevent it. Despite this scurvy still exists today within certain predisposed groups. We report three cases of scurvy that presented within a short time frame to the Paediatric Department in Mater Dei Hospital (MDH), Malta. All three children were known to have autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) with restricted diets. A high index of suspicion together with appropriate history and examination can lead to timely diagnosis of this disease. In children deemed at-risk of developing scurvy we recommend routine screening for low serum levels of vitamin C.peer-reviewe