Kalman Filtering in the Air Quality Monitoring

Data assimilation is a process where an improved prediction is obtained from a weighted combination between experimental measurements and mathematical model data. In the present work this procedure is applied to pollutant atmospheric dispersion by using a Kalman filter (KF). This is interesting approach, because the KF gives an output in which the balance between the data from the diffusion model and the experimental data is done automaticaly, through the Kalman gain. In addition, the Kalman filter computes the propagation of the error

Different Responses in Geographic Range Shifts and Increase of Niche Overlap in Future Climate Scenario of the Subspecies of Melipona quadrifasciata Lepeletier

Climate change is suggested to be one of the possible drivers of decline in pollinators. In this paper, we applied an ecological niche model to modeling distributional responses in face of climate changes for the subspecies of Melipona quadrifasciata Lepeletier. This species is divided into two subspecies based on difference in the yellow tergal stripes, which are continuous in M. q. quadrifasciata and interrupted in M. q. anthidioides. The geographic distribution of each subspecies is also distinct. M. q. quadrifasciata is found in colder regions in the Southern states of Brazil, whereas M. q. anthidioides is found in habitats with higher temperatures, suggesting that ecological features, such as adaption to distinct climatic conditions may take place. Thus, the possibility of having diff erent responses in geographic range shifts to future climate scenario would be expected. This study aimed to investigate the eff ects of climate changes on the distribution of the two M. quadrifasciata subspecies in Brazil, using an ecological niche model by the MaxEnt algorithm. Our results indicate that the subspecies showed clear diff erences in geographic shift patterns and increased climate niche overlap in the future scenarios. M. q. anthidioides will have the potential for an increase of suitable climatic conditinos in the Atlantic Forest, and towards the Pampa biome, while M. q. quadrifasciata will suffer a reduction of adequate habitats in almost all of its current geographic distribution. Given the potential adverse eff ects of climate changes for this subspecies, conservation actions are urgently needed to avoid that it goes extinct

Barreiras em relação aos exames de rastreamento do câncer de próstata

With the aim of describing barriers to screening for prostate cancer, a domicile survey was carried out covering 160 men of a Family Health Strategy (FHS) area. Slightly over half had undergone the examination. Regarding beliefs related to the disease, 95% of the men believed there is a cure if detected early, 29.4% mentioned the possibility of a normal life while ill, 56.3% believed it may be asymptomatic, 36.1% agreed/disagreed that the treatment is worse than the disease and 34.4% agreed that the examination affects masculinity and that if you are well it is not necessary to perform it. Regarding barriers, 15% reported that the physician had never requested it, 10.9% did not consider it important and 16.9% were afraid to take the examination. While not the sole determinant, the dissemination of adequate knowledge regarding the examination can constitute a key strategy for the formation of a positive attitude in relation to early detection.Con el objetivo de describir barreras sobre rastreo del cáncer de próstata, se realizó una encuesta domiciliar abarcando 160 hombres de una área de la Estrategia de Salud de la Familia (ESF). Poco más de la mitad ya había realizado el examen. En relación a las creencias sobre la enfermedad, 95% de ellos creen en la cura si es detectado precozmente, 29,4% refirieron la posibilidad de vida normal a pesar de estar enfermo, 56,3% creen que puede ser asintomático, 36,1% está de acuerdo/no está de acuerdo que el tratamiento es peor que la enfermedad y 34,4% está de acuerdo que el examen afecta la masculinidad y si estuviese bien no sería necesario hacerlo. En cuanto a las barreras, 15% informaron que el médico nunca lo solicitó, 10,9% no lo encuentran importante y 16,9% tiene miedo de hacer el examen. A pesar de que no es el único determinante, diseminar los conocimientos adecuados sobre el examen puede constituirse en una estrategia fundamental para la formación de una actitud positiva en relación a la detección precoz.Com o objetivo de descrever barreiras sobre rastreamento do câncer de próstata, realizou-se inquérito domiciliar, abrangendo 160 homens, de uma área da Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF). Pouco mais da metade já havia realizado o exame. Em relação às crenças sobre a doença, 95% deles acreditam na cura se detectado precocemente, 29,4% referiram possibilidade de vida normal embora doente, 56,3% acreditam que pode ser assintomático, 36,1% concordam/discordam que o tratamento é pior que a doença e 34,4% concordam que o exame afeta a masculinidade e, se estiver bem, não é necessário fazê-lo. Quanto às barreiras, 15% informaram que o médico nunca solicitou, 10,9% não acham importante e 16,9% têm medo de fazer o exame. Embora não seja o único determinante, disseminar conhecimentos adequados sobre o exame pode se constituir em estratégia fundamental para a formação de atitude positiva em relação à detecção precoce

Optimal Ensemble Control of Matter-Wave Splitting in Bose-Einstein Condensates

We present a framework for designing optimal optical pulses for the matter-wave splitting of a Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC) under the influence of experimental inhomogeneities, so that the sample is transferred from an initial rest position into a singular higher diffraction order. To represent the evolution of the population of atoms, the Schroedinger's equation is reinterpreted as a parameterized ensemble of dynamical units that are disparately impacted by the beam light-shift potential in a continuous manner. The derived infinite-dimensional coupled Raman-Nath equations are truncated to a finite system of diffraction levels, and we suppose that the parameter that defines the inhomogeneity in the control applied to the ensemble system is restricted to a compact interval. We first design baseline square pulse sequences for the excitation of BEC beam-splitter states following a previous study, subject to dynamic constraints for either a nominal system assuming no inhomogeneity or for several samples of the uncertain parameter. We then approximate the continuum state-space of the ensemble of dynamics using a spectral approach based on Legendre moments, which is truncated at a finite order. Control functions that steer the BEC system from an equivalent rest position to a desired final excitation are designed using a constrained optimal control approach developed for handling nonlinear dynamics. This representation results in a minimal dimension of the computational problem and is shown to be highly robust to inhomogeneity in comparison to the baseline approach. Our method accomplishes the BEC-splitting state transfer for each subsystem in the ensemble, and is promising for precise excitation in experimental settings where robustness to environmental and intrinsic noise is paramount

Soroprevalência da Hepatite C e fatores associados em usuários de crack

OBJETIVO: investigar la seroprevalencia de la Hepatitis C en usuarios de crack del estado de Piauí. Método: se trata de una investigación seroepidemiológico, desarrollado en los Centros de Atención Psicosocial Alcohol y Drogas de Piauí entre diciembre del 2011 y mayo del 2012. Fue aplicado formulario y colectada muestra sanguínea para investigación serológica. Fue utilizado el test exacto de Fisher y de Mann-Whitney con nivel de significancia (pOBJETIVO: investigar a soroprevalência da Hepatite C em usuários de crack do Estado do Piauí. MÉTODO: trata-se de um inquérito soroepidemiológico, desenvolvido nos Centro de Atenção Psicossocial Álcool e Drogas do Piauí, nos meses de dezembro de 2011 a maio de 2012. Aplicou-se formulário e coletou-se amostra sanguínea para pesquisa sorológica. Utilizou-se o teste exato de Fisher e de Mann-Whitney com nível de significância pOBJECTIVE: to investigate the seroprevalence of hepatitis C in crack users in Piauí. METHOD: seroepidemiological survey, undertaken in the Psycho-Social Care Centers for Drugs and Alcohol (CAPS AD) in Piauí in the period December 2011 to May 2012. A questionnaire was administered and blood samples were collected for serological research. Fisher's exact test and the Mann-Whitney test were used, with a level of significance of (