Condensation of Vortex-Strings: Effective Potential Contribution Through Dual Actions

Topological excitations are believed to play an important role in different areas of physics. For example, one case of topical interest is the use of dual models of quantum cromodynamics to understand properties of its vacuum and confinement through the condensation of magnetic monopoles and vortices. Other applications are related to the role of these topological excitations, nonhomogeneous solutions of the field equations, in phase transitions associated to spontaneous symmetry breaking in gauge theories, whose study is of importance in phase transitions in the early universe, for instance. Here we show a derivation of a model dual to the scalar Abelian Higgs model where its topological excitations, namely vortex-strings, become manifest and can be treated in a quantum field theory way. The derivation of the nontrivial contribution of these vacuum excitations to phase transitions and its analogy with superconductivity is then made possible and they are studied here.Comment: 7 pages. Based on a talk given by R. O. Ramos at the Infrared QCD in Rio conference, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 5-9, 200

Estudio de la relación entre el bienestar personal y la adaptación de conducta en el marco de la escuela salugénica

Se ha estudiado la relación entre el bienestar y la adaptación en una muestra de 245 estudiantes de enseñanza secundaria. Utilizamos la escala de bienestar psicológico (EBP) y el inventario de adaptación de conducta (IAC). Los resultados revelan diferencias significativas en bienestar psicológico en función del nivel de adaptación, pero no en función del género ni de la edad. Se ha obtenido una alta correlación entre el bienestar psicológico y la adaptación global, personal, familiar, escolar y social. También se ha comprobado que el bienestar psicológico puede ser explicado a partir de la adaptación escolar y la adaptación social. Dentro del marco de la escuela salugénica, se concluye la necesidad de mejorar la adaptación de los escolares en los ámbitos anteriores, de cara a mejorar el bienestar personal y avanzar en el proceso de inclusión académica.S'ha estudiat la relació entre el benestar i l'adaptació en una mostra de 245 estudiants d'ensenyament secundari. Utilitzem l'escala de benestar psicològic (EBP) i l'inventari d'adaptació de conducta (IAC). Els resultats revelen diferències significatives en benestar psicològic en funció del nivell d'adaptació, però no en funció del gènere ni de l'edat. S'ha obtingut una alta correlació entre el benestar psicològic i l'adaptació global, personal, familiar, escolar i social. També s'ha comprovat que el benestar psicològic pot ser explicat a partir de l'adaptació escolar i l'adaptació social. Dins el marc de l'escola salugènica, es conclou la necessitat de millorar l'adaptació dels escolars en els àmbits anteriors, de cara a millorar el benestar personal i avançar en el procés d'inclusió escolar.We have studied the relationship between welfare and adaptation in a sample of 245 secondary school. We used the Psychological Well-being Scale (BCS) and the Adaptive Behavior Inventory (IAC). The results reveal significant differences in psychological wellbeing based on the level of adaptation, but not by gender or age. There have been a high correlation between psychological well-being and global adaptation, personal, family, school and social. Also the psychological well-being can be explained from the school adjustment and social adaptation. Within the framework of the school salugénica concluded the need to improve the adaptation of schoolchildren in the above areas in order to improve staff welfare and advance the process of school inclusion

Decision support system for university campus quality of life evaluation based on users’ perception : a case study applied to the Campus of the University of Minho

This paper presents the work that conduced to the development of an information system to evaluate and monitor university campi quality of life. The system embodies two main functions: to provide information to the community and to support campus planning and management. Using a scenario describing possible actions, some users evaluated how its implementation would interfere with the quality of life on the campus. Results showed that it would produce a global improvement, in comparison to the year of the study

University Campus information system to assess quality of life using users' perception : a case study applied on the University of Minho Campus

Nowadays, quality of life survey is one of the primary concerns in urban planning and management. Its evaluation and monitoring became a challenge that decision makers have to lead with. This paper presents the work that conduced to the development of an information system to evaluate and monitor university campi quality of the life. The system embodies two main functions: to inform, allowing any user to know how has evolved the quality of life on campus; to be a decision support tool, mainly for facilities planning and management, taking advantages of users participation, through individual evaluations, in getting a global quality of life users perception. The results of the application of that system in case study are also presented

Campus quality of life information system : a case study applied to the University of Minho

When analysing characteristics, form, dimension and organisation of university campi, it can be concluded that they can be seen as urban spaces. This fact is often enhanced due to their location: in urban areas or even merged in the city. In this context, a model for the evaluation of the quality of life based on concepts for urban spaces is presented in this paper. Its main purpose is to provide conceptual bases for the implementation of a decision support system that evaluates the university campus quality of life. The process integrates users’ perception and provides the ability to assess the impact of future interventions on the campus quality of life using scenarios. Those scenarios can be created by a tool included in the system and enabled to express through indicators values updates corresponding to possible changes in campus. The evaluation of the quality of life variation that would result from the scenario execution will serve as a decision support tool for campus management when studying several possibilities

Avaliação de zonas de criticidade acústica: aplicação das potencialidades de um SIG na avaliação do ruído de uma cidade de média dimensão

O crescimento urbano, pelas dimensões que actualmente assume, vem exercendo pressões de forma continuada nos recursos, nas infra-estruturas e nos equipamentos, afectando negativamente o standard de vida dos cidadãos. Neste contexto, a avaliação e monitorização da qualidade do ambiente urbano tornou se um tema de primordial importância quando considerado como um instrumento de apoio à decisão para a construção de cidades mais sustentáveis e com melhor qualidade de vida. Viana do Castelo é uma cidade de média dimensão localizada no litoral norte de Portugal e que aceitou o desafio de desenvolver uma programa para a melhoria da qualidade do seu ambiente urbano, com o objectivo de aderir ao Projecto Cidades Saudáveis e integrar a Rede Europeia das Cidades Saudáveis. Neste programa, a caracterização do ruído urbano, nomeadamente a determinação dos níveis de intensidade sonora na zona urbana e da exposição da população ao ruído ambiente, foi considerada uma das acções prioritárias. A ferramenta adoptada para desenvolver estes estudos inclui modelos de previsão de ruído numa plataforma de SIG. Com base em dados de tráfego e nas características físicas do local foram desenvolvidos mapas de ruído e procedeu-se ao seu cruzamento com o zonamento acústico do território e com a população residente. Esta combinação foi a base para a identificação das zonas de criticidade acústica, em termos de níveis de ruído e dos índices de exposição da população a esses níveis de ruído. O presente artigo apresenta uma abordagem deste problema, passando pelos fundamentos teóricos e pelo estudo desenvolvido para a cidade de Viana do Castelo

IEEE 1451 HTTP server implementation for marine data

Accessing real time data from a marine sensor network (MSN) can be a challenge. Open access to real time data using interoperable internet technologies is one of the major demands. The IEEE 1451 Smart Transducer Interface Standards [1,2,7] specify a standard API (application processor interface) process to discover and access sensor data by using an HTTP connection. This paper presents an HTTP Server for Marine Data coming from OBSEA[3,5] cabled Observatory at the Western Mediterranean Sea. The implementation was using LabVIEW Web Services.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version