Dynamic critical behavior of the Swendsen--Wang Algorithm for the three-dimensional Ising model

We have performed a high-precision Monte Carlo study of the dynamic critical behavior of the Swendsen-Wang algorithm for the three-dimensional Ising model at the critical point. For the dynamic critical exponents associated to the integrated autocorrelation times of the "energy-like" observables, we find z_{int,N} = z_{int,E} = z_{int,E'} = 0.459 +- 0.005 +- 0.025, where the first error bar represents statistical error (68% confidence interval) and the second error bar represents possible systematic error due to corrections to scaling (68% subjective confidence interval). For the "susceptibility-like" observables, we find z_{int,M^2} = z_{int,S_2} = 0.443 +- 0.005 +- 0.030. For the dynamic critical exponent associated to the exponential autocorrelation time, we find z_{exp} \approx 0.481. Our data are consistent with the Coddington-Baillie conjecture z_{SW} = \beta/\nu \approx 0.5183, especially if it is interpreted as referring to z_{exp}.Comment: LaTex2e, 39 pages including 5 figure

Extraction and characterization of chia (Salvia Hispanica l.) mucilage for application in food products

The present study aimed to carry out the extraction, characterization and comparison of oven-dried and freeze-dried chia mucilage, for use in food products. The chia seed mucilage was extracted and dried by two different methods: freeze-drying and conventional drying in an oven. The composition, microstructure and functional properties of the two mucilage were evaluated for application as food ingredients. The analyses held in the dried mucilage were % of yield, the determination of the functional properties: water holding capacity, oil retention capacity, emulsifying capacity and solubility, besides color and microscopy. The dried and freeze-dried chia mucilage showed similar proximal composition and distinct functional properties that confirm their use as ingredients in food products. The scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that the oven-dried mucilage has a structure similar to a film while the lyophilized mucilage has a fibrous and spongy structure

The ISO-SWS spectrum of planetary nebula NGC 7027

We present the infrared spectrum of the planetary nebula NGC7027 observed with the Short Wavelength Spectrometer (SWS), on board the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO). These data allow us to derive the electron density and, together with the IUE and optical spectra, the electron temperature for several ions. The nebular composition has: been determined, the evolutionary status of the central star is discussed and the element depletion in the nebula is given. We conclude that the progenitor was: a C-rich star with a mass: between 3 and 4 M-circle dot

Mitochondrial echoes of first settlement and genetic continuity in El Salvador

Background: From Paleo-Indian times to recent historical episodes, the Mesoamerican isthmus played an important role in the distribution and patterns of variability all around the double American continent. However, the amount of genetic information currently available on Central American continental populations is very scarce. In order to shed light on the role of Mesoamerica in the peopling of the New World, the present study focuses on the analysis of the mtDNA variation in a population sample from El Salvador. Methodology/Principal Findings: We have carried out DNA sequencing of the entire control region of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genome in 90 individuals from El Salvador. We have also compiled more than 3,985 control region profiles from the public domain and the literature in order to carry out inter-population comparisons. The results reveal a predominant Native American component in this region: by far, the most prevalent mtDNA haplogroup in this country (at ~90%) is A2, in contrast with other North, Meso- and South American populations. Haplogroup A2 shows a star-like phylogeny and is very diverse with a substantial proportion of mtDNAs (45%; sequence range 16090–16365) still unobserved in other American populations. Two different Bayesian approaches used to estimate admixture proportions in El Salvador shows that the majority of the mtDNAs observed come from North America. A preliminary founder analysis indicates that the settlement of El Salvador occurred about 13,400±5,200 Y.B.P.. The founder age of A2 in El Salvador is close to the overall age of A2 in America, which suggests that the colonization of this region occurred within a few thousand years of the initial expansion into the Americas. Conclusions/Significance: As a whole, the results are compatible with the hypothesis that today's A2 variability in El Salvador represents to a large extent the indigenous component of the region. Concordant with this hypothesis is also the observation of a very limited contribution from European and African women (~5%). This implies that the Atlantic slave trade had a very small demographic impact in El Salvador in contrast to its transformation of the gene pool in neighbouring populations from the Caribbean facade

In Vitro Comparative Acaricidal Efficacy of Azadirachtin A and Amitrax on Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus Larvae

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Protocol for studying cough frequency in people with pulmonary tuberculosis.

INTRODUCTION: Cough is a key symptom of tuberculosis (TB) as well as the main cause of transmission. However, a recent literature review found that cough frequency (number of coughs per hour) in patients with TB has only been studied once, in 1969. The main aim of this study is to describe cough frequency patterns before and after the start of TB treatment and to determine baseline factors that affect cough frequency in these patients. Secondarily, we will evaluate the correlation between cough frequency and TB microbiological resolution. METHODS: This study will select participants with culture confirmed TB from 2 tertiary hospitals in Lima, Peru. We estimated that a sample size of 107 patients was sufficient to detect clinically significant changes in cough frequency. Participants will initially be evaluated through questionnaires, radiology, microscopic observation drug susceptibility broth TB-culture, auramine smear microscopy and cough recordings. This cohort will be followed for the initial 60 days of anti-TB treatment, and throughout the study several microbiological samples as well as 24 h recordings will be collected. We will describe the variability of cough episodes and determine its association with baseline laboratory parameters of pulmonary TB. In addition, we will analyse the reduction of cough frequency in predicting TB cure, adjusted for potential confounders. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been obtained from the ethics committees at each participating hospital in Lima, Peru, Asociación Benéfica PRISMA in Lima, Peru, the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA. We aim to publish and disseminate our findings in peer-reviewed journals. We also expect to create and maintain an online repository for TB cough sounds as well as the statistical analysis employed

RISCO, VULNERABILIDADE E ADAPTAÇÃO ÀS MUDANÇAS CLIMÁTICAS: UMA ABORDAGEM INTERDISCIPLINAR

This study addresses risk, vulnerability, and their implications for the adaptation of communities to the problems they face in the everyday life and to those derived from climate change. Based on the literature about risk, vulnerability and adaptation to disasters and on a case study conducted in the Northern coast of São Paulo - Brazil, we summarize the converging themes in the analysis of vulnerability and adaptation to climate change, which are divided in three components: (i) interdisciplinarity for studies about environment and society, requiring multiscale analysis, (ii) the integration of land use management instruments, and (iii) risk governance and communication. Based on the results of a risk perception survey (914 interviewees), we analyze vulnerability according to three interconnected axes (physical risk, social vulnerability and protagonism) by emphasizing the role played by the population in face of physical risk situations, as a way to guide integrated and participatory work efforts to encourage the engagement of the population to cope with and reduce the risks derived from historical and recurrent problems - such as poverty, social and spatial segregation - or with those that are about to come, such as climate changes.Este artigo trata sobre risco, vulnerabilidade e suas implicações sobre a adaptação da população aos problemas já enfrentados em seu cotidiano e os advindos das mudanças climáticas. Com base na literatura sobre o tema e no estudo de caso no litoral norte de São Paulo - Brasil, o trabalho buscou sintetizar os temas que convergem na análise da vulnerabilidade e adaptação às mudanças climáticas, resumidos em três componentes: (i) a interdisciplinaridade para estudos em ambiente e sociedade, exigindo análise multiescalar, (ii) a integração de políticas de ordenamento territorial e (iii) a governança e comunicação de riscos. Com base em resultados de um levantamento de percepção de riscos (914 entrevistados), é apresentada uma reflexão para a análise da vulnerabilidade sob três eixos interconectados (risco físico, vulnerabilidade social e protagonismo), valorizando o grau de protagonismo da população que enfrenta as situações de riscos do meio físico, de maneira que sejam orientados esforços de trabalhos integrados e participativos que propiciem o envolvimento da população para enfrentar e reduzir os riscos advindos dos problemas recorrentes e históricos - pobreza, segregação social e espacial - ou daqueles que estão porvir, como os das mudanças climáticas.1929311

Grupo de troca de cartas: alternativas da atenção primária à saúde para lidar com o isolamento social: Letter exchange group: primary health care alternatives to deal with social isolation

O presente trabalho trata-se de um relato de experiência, em que elaborou-se um Grupo de Troca de Cartas com o objetivo de cumprir com os princípios da Atenção Primária à Saúde durante o isolamento social, em decorrência da pandemia da Covid-19. A escrita de cartas foi discutida pela equipe e comunidade de um serviço de Estratégia de Saúde da Família do Distrito Oeste de Ribeirão Preto, como uma opção potencial para proporcionar um processo grupal, respeitando o isolamento social. A atividade mostrou-se potente para proporcionar a socialização de pessoas que se encontravam afastadas fisicamente da unidade, mas que pertenciam à área de abrangência do serviço, e o utilizavam como rede de apoio e cuidado. O grupo teve funcionamento mensal. Os temas, pré-determinados, assim como o material para a escrita – papel e envelope – eram entregues no início do mês, em visita domiciliar. Ao final do mês, as cartas eram recolhidas, analisadas pelos profissionais coordenadores, e trocadas, gerando um espaço de comunicação e interação. Tal proposta resultou na participação de pacientes que não eram a pessoal-central de cuidado nas famílias acompanhadas pelo serviço. Além disso, trocas culturais, fortalecimento de redes de apoio e espaço com potencial terapêutico foram criados

Atenção integral à saúde: apontamentos das pessoas com deficiência a partir dos acompanhamentos vivenciados no contexto da estratégia de saúde da família: Comprehensive health care: notes of people with disabilities from the accompaniments experienced in the context of the family health strategy

Este estudo apresenta percepções das pessoas com deficiência inseridas em contexto de Estratégia de Saúde da Família, sobre os ideais de saúde e cidadania. A pesquisa pauta-se nos direitos e especificidades das pessoas com deficiência, na perspectiva da Atenção Integral à Saúde; e no papel da Estratégia de Saúde da Família. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo exploratório, no qual foram realizadas entrevistas em profundidade, com 4 pessoas com deficiência, usuárias de uma Unidade de Saúde da Família (USF) - Distrito Oeste de Ribeirão Preto. A escolha dos entrevistados deu-se por sorteio aleatório. As categorias temáticas foram: assistência à saúde; e identidade e cidadania. Como resultado, aspectos de vivência de integralidade no cuidado, acompanhamento longitudinal, profissional de referência, educação em saúde, grupos, rede de apoio, resolutividade, autonomia e reconhecimento foram identificados pelos sujeitos, para com eles e/ou suas famílias. Questões de maior acessibilidade física e facilidade em agendamentos foram significativamente apresentadas. Intersetorialmente, maior adaptação e inclusão social foram desejos narrados. Espera-se contribuir propagando boas práticas em saúde, com ênfase na ESF, assim como previstos na Política Nacional de Saúde da Pessoa com Deficiência; e com reflexões sobre os pontos de tensionamentos para o cumprimento do princípio da integralidade do cuidado

On the formal foundations of cash management systems

[EN] Cash management aims to find a balance between what is held in cash and what is allocated in other investments in exchange for a given return. Dealing with cash management systems with multiple accounts and different links between them is a complex task. Current cash management models provide analytic solutions without exploring the underlying structure of accounts and its main properties. There is a need for a formal definition of cash management systems. In this work, we introduce a formal approach to manage cash with multiple accounts based on graph theory. Our approach allows a formal reasoning on the relation between accounts in cash management systems. A critical part of this formal reasoning is the characterization of desirable and non-desirable cash management policies. Novel theoretical results guide cash managers in the analysis of complex cash management systems.This work is partially funded by projects Logistar (H2020-769142), AI4EU (H2020-825619) and 2017 SGR 172.Salas-Molina, F.; Rodriguez-Aguilar, JA.; Pla Santamaría, D.; Garcia-Bernabeu, A. (2021). On the formal foundations of cash management systems. Operational Research. 21(2):1081-1095. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12351-019-00464-6S10811095212Baccarin S (2009) Optimal impulse control for a multidimensional cash management system with generalized cost functions. Eur J Oper Res 196(1):198–206Bollobás B (2013) Modern graph theory, vol 184. Springer, BerlinBondy JA, Murty USR (1976) Graph theory with applications, vol 290. Macmillan, LondonChartrand G, Oellermann OR (1993) Applied and algorithmic graph theory, vol 993. McGraw-Hill, New YorkConstantinides GM, Richard SF (1978) Existence of optimal simple policies for discounted-cost inventory and cash management in continuous time. Oper Res 26(4):620–636da Costa Moraes MB, Nagano MS, Sobreiro VA (2015) Stochastic cash flow management models: a literature review since the 1980s. In: Guarnieri P (ed) Decision models in engineering and management. Springer, Berlin, pp 11–28de Avila Pacheco JV, Morabito R (2011) Application of network flow models for the cash management of an agribusiness company. Comput Ind Eng 61(3):848–857Golden B, Liberatore M, Lieberman C (1979) Models and solution techniques for cash flow management. Comput Oper Res 6(1):13–20Gormley FM, Meade N (2007) The utility of cash flow forecasts in the management of corporate cash balances. Eur J Oper Res 182(2):923–935Gregory G (1976) Cash flow models: a review. Omega 4(6):643–656Makridakis S, Wheelwright SC, Hyndman RJ (2008) Forecasting methods and applications. Wiley, New YorkRighetto GM, Morabito R, Alem D (2016) A robust optimization approach for cash flow management in stationery companies. Comput Ind Eng 99:137–152Salas-Molina F (2017) Risk-sensitive control of cash management systems. Oper Res. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12351-017-0371-0Salas-Molina F, Pla-Santamaria D, Rodriguez-Aguilar JA (2018) A multi-objective approach to the cash management problem. Ann Oper Res 267(1):515–529Srinivasan V, Kim YH (1986) Deterministic cash flow management: state of the art and research directions. Omega 14(2):145–166Valiente G (2013) Algorithms on trees and graphs. Springer, Berli