Dimension-independent Harnack inequalities for subordinated semigroups

Dimension-independent Harnack inequalities are derived for a class of subordinate semigroups. In particular, for a diffusion satisfying the Bakry-Emery curvature condition, the subordinate semigroup with power $\alpha$ satisfies a dimension-free Harnack inequality provided $\alpha \in(1/2, 1)$, and it satisfies the log-Harnack inequality for all $\alpha \in (0,1).$ Some infinite-dimensional examples are also presented

Glyphosate influence on nitrogen, manganese, iron, copper and zinc nutritional efficiency in glyphosate resistant soybean

Com o desenvolvimento da soja resistente ao glifosato, Roundup Ready (RR), observa-se um aumento considerável no uso desse herbicida, com aplicações de três a quatro vezes durante o ciclo da cultura. Dessa forma, essas aplicações podem estar influenciando a nutrição mineral da cultura. Objetivou-se realizar este experimento para avaliar a influência do glifosato na eficiência nutricional de N, Mn, Cu, Zn e Fe pela soja transgênica cv. 'P98R31 RR'. O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação, na ESALQ/USP, Piracicaba (SP), em 2009. A unidade experimental foi constituída por vaso contendo 11kg de substrato (NITOSSOLO VERMELHO Eutroférrico latossólico), com duas plantas por vaso. Os tratamentos foram arranjados em um esquema fatorial 5X5, com cinco níveis do fator Mn (0, 20, 40, 60 e 80mg dm-3) e cinco de glifosato (0; 0,648; 1,296; 1,944 e 2,592kg i.a. ha-1), sendo que o Mn foi fornecido a partir do sulfato de manganês (MnSO4.H2O). O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Não houve influência na resposta das plantas com relação ao fator Mn. A aplicação de glifosato interferiu de forma negativa na eficiência nutricional da planta e nos teores totais de N, Mn, Cu, Zn e Fe. A utilização de glifosato causou redução ao número de nódulos e redução na produção de massa seca.After development of glyphosate-resistant (GR) soybean, there is a considerable raise in the use of this herbicide, with three to four applications during the culture cycle. Thus, these applications may be influencing the mineral nutrition of the crop. So, the aim of this research was evaluate the glyphosate influence on uptake, translocation and use efficiency of N, Mn, Cu, Zn and Fe by (GR) soybean 'P98R31' cultivar. The experiment was conducted in the greenhouse at ESALQ/USP, Piracicaba, State of São Paulo, Brazil, in 2009. The experimental unit was formed by 11kg vase-1 of soil (Rhodic Paleudult) with two plants in each vase. The treatments have been arranged in a factorial pathway 5X5, with five levels of the factor Mn (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80mg dm-3) and five of glyphosate drifts (0; 0,648; 1,296; 1,944 e 2,592kg e.a. ha-1) and the Mn was supplied by the manganese sulfate (MnSO4.H2O). The experimental design was randomized blocks, with four repetitions. There was no influence on response from plants concerning the levels of Mn used into the experiment. The application of glyphosate interfered on mineral nutrition of soybean and the total contents of N, Mn, Cu, Zn and Fe. The use of glyphosate has caused reduction of the nodules number and reduced the output of dry mass

Sonographic findings in non-neoplastic testicular lesions

Pathological processes of the testis are very frequently found, and include non-tumoral and tumoral lesions. Ultra-sonography performed with a high-frequency transducer has become the imaging modality of choice for examination of these organs. This method is of help to improve intratesticular lesions characterization, and in many instances the findings suggest a more specific diagnosis, especially in the presence of similar clinical manifestations such as pain, swelling and local increase in volume. Color Doppler is an invaluable tool for demonstrating anomalous patterns of testicular perfusion and aids in the diagnosis of acute clinical conditions. In the present iconographic essay, the authors summarize the most frequent clinical, pathological findings as well as the main diagnostic features of benign intratesticular lesions such as microlithiasis, simple cysts, spermatocele, varicocele, tubular ectasia of the rete testis, orchitis, hematomas and more rare conditions. Familiarity with clinical and sonographic features is essential for the correct diagnosis and starting of the most effective therapy, as necessary.Processos patológicos dos testículos são muito comuns, incluindo-se lesões tumorais e não-tumorais neste contexto. A ultra-sonografia com transdutor de alta freqüência tornou-se a modalidade de imagem de escolha para a avaliação desses órgãos. Este método ajuda a melhor caracterizar lesões intratesticulares e em muitas situações sugere um diagnóstico mais específico, principalmente nos casos em que há manifestações clínicas similares, tais como dor, inchaço e aumento volumétrico locais. O mapeamento com Doppler colorido é importantíssimo para demonstrar padrões anormais de perfusão testicular e auxilia no diagnóstico de condições clínicas agudas. Neste ensaio iconográfico os autores sumarizam os mais comuns achados clínicos, patológicos e as principais características diagnósticas de lesões testiculares, tais como microlitíase, cisto simples, espermatocele, varicocele, ectasia tubular da rete testis, orquite, hematomas e condições mais raras. A familiaridade com as características ecográficas e clínicas destas alterações é essencial para o estabelecimento do diagnóstico correto e início da terapêutica mais eficaz, quando necessária.Colégio Brasileiro de Radiologia e Diagnóstico por imagemUniversidade Federal do TriânguloUniversidade Federal de Rondônia Faculdade de MedicinaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de Diagnóstico por ImagemUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de Diagnóstico por ImagemSciEL

ISML: an interface specification meta-language

In this paper we present an abstract metaphor model situated within a model-based user interface framework. The inclusion of metaphors in graphical user interfaces is a well established, but mostly craft-based strategy to design. A substantial body of notations and tools can be found within the model-based user interface design literature, however an explicit treatment of metaphor and its mappings to other design views has yet to be addressed. We introduce the Interface Specification Meta-Language (ISML) framework and demonstrate its use in comparing the semantic and syntactic features of an interactive system. Challenges facing this research are outlined and further work proposed

Smart Demand for Improving Short-term Voltage Control on Distribution Networks

Smart grids must involve active roles from end users in order to be truly smart. The energy consumption has to be done in a flexible and intelligent manner, in accordance with the current conditions of the power system. Moreover, with the advent of dispersed and renewable generation, increasing customer integration to aid power system performance is almost inevitable. This study introduces a new type of smart demand side technology, denoted demand as voltage controlled reserve (DVR), to improve short-term voltage control, where customers are expected to play a more dynamic role to improve voltage control. The technology can be provided by thermostatically controlled loads as well as other types of load. This technology is proven to be effective in case of distribution systems with a large composition of induction motors, where the voltage presents a slow recovery characteristic due to deceleration of the motors during faults. This study presents detailed models, discussion and simulation tests to demonstrate the technical viability and effectiveness of the DVR technology for short-term voltage control.3872473

Association between adiposity and systemic atherosclerosis: a protocol of a cross-sectional autopsy study.

IntroductionAdiposity has been associated with atherosclerosis in clinical studies. However, few autopsy studies have investigated this association, and they had only examined the coronary artery disease. Moreover, most studies had small sample sizes and were limited to middle-aged or young adults. Our aim is to investigate the association between adiposity and systemic atherosclerosis in an autopsy study.Methods and analysisA sample of 240 deceased with 30 years or more will be evaluated. The sample size was calculated using the lowest correlation coefficient found in previous studies (r=0.109), assuming a power of 90% and α=0.05. We will collect information about sociodemographics, frequency of previous contact of the deceased's next of kin and cardiovascular risk factors. We will measure neck, waist and hip circumferences, weight, height and abdominal subcutaneous tissue thickness, and then we will calculate the body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio and body shape index. We will also weigh the pericardial and abdominal visceral fat, the heart, and we will measure the left ventricular wall thickness. We will evaluate the presence of myocardial infarction, the degree of atherosclerosis in the aorta, carotid, coronary and cerebral arteries and plaque composition in carotid, coronary and cerebral arteries. For each individual, we will fix arterial and adipose tissue samples in 10% formalin and freeze another adipose tissue sample at -80°C for future studies.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Brazil. Results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal

AMBER/VLTI observations of 5 giant stars

While the search for exoplanets around main sequence stars more massive than the Sun have found relatively few such objects, surveys performed around giant stars have led to the discovery of more than 30 new exoplanets. The interest in studying planet hosting giant stars resides in the possibility of investigating planet formation around stars more massive than the Sun. Masses of isolated giant stars up to now were only estimated from evolutionary tracks, which led to different results depending on the physics considered. To calibrate the theory, it is therefore important to measure a large number of giant star diameters and masses as much as possible independent of physical models. We aim in the determination of diameters and effective temperatures of 5 giant stars, one of which is known to host a planet. AMBER/VLTI observations with the ATs were executed in low resolution mode on 5 giant stars. In order to measure high accurate calibrated squared visibilities, a calibrator-star-calibrator observational sequence was performed. We measured the uniform disk and limb-darkened angular diameters of 4 giant stars. The effective temperatures were also derived by combining the bolometric luminosities and the interferometric diameters. Lower effective temperatures were found when compared to spectroscopic measurements. The giant star HD12438 was found to have an unknown companion star at an angular separation of ~ 12 mas. Radial velocity measurements present in the literature confirm the presence of a companion with a very long orbital period (P ~ 11.4 years).}Comment: accepted for publication in A&

Características dos cortes comerciais da carne de tourinhos e novilhas cruzados, terminados em confinamento.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo principal avaliar os pesos dos cortes comerciais de carne de 27 tourinhos e 31 novilhas, filhos de vacas ½ Angus x ½ Nelore e vacas ½ Simental x ½ Nelore, inseminadas com sêmen de touros das raças Angus e Limousin. Os animais foram desmamados aproximadamente aos 250 dias de idade, distribuídos de acordo com sexo e grupo genético, confinados em baias individuais descobertas e com consumo ad libitum. Os machos apresentaram maiores médias (P≤0,05) que as fêmeas para o peso do dianteiro, do traseiro especial e da ponta de agulha. Os machos tiveram maiores médias (P≤0,05) para os cortes dianteiros (paleta, músculo, acém, pescoço, peito e ossos) que as fêmeas. Para os cortes traseiros (contrafilé, filé mignon, picanha, picanha grill, alcatra, coxão mole, coxão duro, lagarto, patinho e ossos), os machos também apresentaram maiores médias (P≤0,05) que as fêmeas. Já para aparas comestíveis (bananinha, músculo traseiro, aranha, capa do filé e cordão), as fêmeas apresentaram maiores médias (P≤0,05) que os machos. Em relação ao fraldão, os animais filhos de Angus tiveram maior média (P≤0,05) que os filhos de Limousin. Todos os cruzamentos avaliados possibilitaram o abate dos animais aos 12 meses de idade, independentemente do sexo