Exploratory Behavior, Trap Models and Glass Transitions

A random walk is performed on a disordered landscape composed of $N$ sites randomly and uniformly distributed inside a $d$-dimensional hypercube. The walker hops from one site to another with probability proportional to $\exp [- \beta E(D)]$, where $\beta = 1/T$ is the inverse of a formal temperature and $E(D)$ is an arbitrary cost function which depends on the hop distance $D$. Analytic results indicate that, if $E(D) = D^{d}$ and $N \to \infty$, there exists a glass transition at $\beta_d = \pi^{d/2}/\Gamma(d/2 + 1)$. Below $T_d$, the average trapping time diverges and the system falls into an out-of-equilibrium regime with aging phenomena. A L\'evy flight scenario and applications to exploratory behavior are considered.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, new versio

Suicide Pact

Objective: To determine the time of diagnosis of typical orofacial clefts in different Brazilian regions and its influence on age at surgical correction. Method: This was a prospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in medical centers in the Southeast, South, and Northeast of Brazil. Trained speech therapists and geneticists interviewed the parents of affected children using a previously validated questionnaire. Epi-Info and SPSS were used for data analysis. Significance level was set at 5% (p ≤ 0.05). Results: The sample consisted of 215 interviews conducted in the following regions: 21.9% (47) in the Southeast, 51.1% (110) in the South, and 27% (58) in the Northeast. Monthly family income was higher in the Southeast (p ≤ 0.05). Cleft lip and palate were found in 61.4% (132) of cases, cleft palate in 20.9% (45), and cleft lip in 17.7% (38). Diagnosis occurred in the maternity ward in 75.3% (162) of cases, during the prenatal period in 14% (30), and after hospital discharge in 10.2% (22). The Southeast had a higher frequency of prenatal diagnosis (27.7%), possibly related to greater purchasing power in this region and greater availability of prenatal investigation. Of all cases diagnosed in the maternity ward, 74.4% occurred in the Northeast. However, no significant difference was found when comparing time of diagnosis, region, and age at first surgery. Conclusion: Considering that diagnosis is more common in the maternity ward, local health care teams should be trained in order to effectively improve the initial care of these patients. Although time of diagnosis did not affect age at surgery, it favors the planning of neonatal care and treatment of affected infants. Copyright © 2011 by Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria.873225230Wyszynski, D.F., (2002) Cleft Lip and Palate: From Origin to Treatment, , New York: Oxford University PressMoore, K.L., Persaud, T.V., The Pharyngeal (Branchial) Apparatus (1998) The Developing Human Clinically Oriented Embryology, pp. 215-256. , Moore KL, Persaud TV. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB SaundersMossey, P.A., Little, J., Epidemiology of oral clefts: An international perspective (2002) Cleft Lip and Palate: from Origin to Treatment, pp. 127-158. , Wyszynski DF, editor. New York: Oxford University PressGlobal strategies to reduce the healthcare burden of craniofacial anomalies (2002) Report of WHO Meetings on International Collaborative Research on Craniofacial Anomalies, , Word Health Organization. Geneva: WHOStoll, C., Alembik, Y., Dott, B., Roth, M.P., Associated malformations in cases with oral clefts (2000) Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 37 (1), pp. 41-47Marazita, M.L., Mooney, M.P., Current concepts in the embryology and genetics of cleft lip and cleft palate (2004) Clin Plast Surg, 31, pp. 125-140Cohen Jr., M.M., Gorlin, R.J., Fraser, F.C., Craniofacial Disorders (1997) Emery and Rimoin's Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics, pp. 1121-1148. , Rimoin DL, Connor JM, Pyeritz RE, Korf BR, editors. New York: Churchill LivingstoneShprintzen, R.J., Siegel-Sadewitz, V.L., Amato, J., Goldberg, R.B., Anomalies associated with cleft lip, cleft palate, or both (1985) American Journal of Medical Genetics, 20 (4), pp. 585-595. , DOI 10.1002/ajmg.1320200404Offerdal, K., Jebens, N., Syvertsen, T., Blaas, H.G., Johansen, O.J., Eik-Nes, S.H., Prenatal ultrasound detection of facial clefts: A prospective study of 49,314 deliveries in a non-selected population in Norway (2008) Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol, 31, pp. 639-646Russell, K.A., Allen, V.M., MacDonald, M.E., Smith, K., Dodds, L., A population-based evaluation of antenatal diagnosis of orofacial clefts (2008) Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 45 (2), pp. 148-153. , DOI 10.1597/06-202.1Bunduki, V., Ruano, R., Sapienza, A.D., Hanaoka, B.Y., Zugaib, M., Diagnóstico pré-natal de fenda labial e palatina: Experiência de 40 casos (2001) RBGO, 23, pp. 561-566Grandjean, H., Larroque, D., Levi, S., The performance of routine ultrasonographic screening of pregnancies in the Eurofetus Study (1999) American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 181 (2), pp. 446-454. , DOI 10.1016/S0002-9378(99)70577-6Amstalden-Mendes, L.G., Magna, L.A., Gil-da-Silva-Lopes, V.L., Neonatal care of infants with cleft lip and/or palate: Feeding orientation and evolution of weight gain in a nonspecialized Brazilian hospital (2007) Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 44 (3), pp. 329-334. , DOI 10.1597/05-177Reid, J., A review of feeding interventions for infants with cleft palate (2004) Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 41 (3), pp. 268-278. , DOI 10.1597/02-148.1Shaw, W.C., Semb, G., Nelson, P., Brattström, V., Molsted, K., Prahl- Andersen, B., The Eurocleft Project 1996-2000: Overview (2001) J Cranio-maxillofacial Surgery, 29, pp. 131-140Chitty, L.S., Griffin, D.R., Anormalidades do lábio e do palato fetal: Diagnóstico ultra-sonográfico (2005) Tratamento de Fissura Labial e Fenda Palatina, pp. 107-116. , Watson AC, Sell DA, Grunwell P. São Paulo: Editora SantosHabel, A., O papel do pediatra (2005) Tratamento de Fissura Labial e Fenda Palatina, pp. 123-135. , Watson AC, Sell DA, Grunwell P. São Paulo: Editora SantosRibeiro-Roda, S., Gil-da-Silva-Lopes, V.L., Aspectos odontológicos das fendas labiopalatinas e orientações para cuidados básicos (2008) Rev Cienc Med, 17, pp. 95-103Monlleo, I.L., Gil-da-Silva-Lopes, V.L., Craniofacial anomalies: Description and evaluation of treatment under the Brazilian Unified Health System (2006) Cadernos de Saude Publica, 22 (5), pp. 913-922. , http://www.scielo.br/pdf/csp/v22n5/04.pdfLoffredo, L.C., Freitas, J.A., Grigolli, A.A., Prevalência das fissuras orais de 1975 a 1994 (2001) Rev Saude Publica, 35, pp. 571-575Nunes, L.M., Queluz, D.P., Pereira, A.C., Prevalência de fissuras labiopalatais no município de Campos dos Goytacazes-RJ, 1999-2004 (2007) Rev Bras Epidemiol, 10, pp. 109-116Cerqueira, M.N., Teixeira, S.C., Naressi, S.C., Ferrreira, A.P., Ocorrência de fissuras labiopalatais na cidade de São José dos Campos-SP (2005) Rev Bras Epidemiol, 8, pp. 161-166Di Ninno, C.Q., Santos, P.G., Bueno, M.G., Syrio, I.M., A influência da época do diagnóstico das fissuras labiopalatinas (2006) Rev Soc Bras Fonoaudiol, 11, pp. 75-81Jones, M.C., Prenatal diagnosis of cleft lip and palate: Detection rates, accuracy of ultrasonography, associated anomalies and strategies for counseling (2002) Cleft Palate Craniofac J, 39, pp. 169-173Johnson, N., Sandy, J.R., Prenatal diagnosis of cleft lip and palate (2003) Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 40 (2), pp. 186-189. , DOI 10.1597/1545-1569(2003)0402.0.CO;2Bradbury, E., Bannister, P., Aconselhamento pré-natal, perinatal e pós-natal (2005) Tratamento de Fissura Labial e Fenda Palatina, pp. 117-122. , Watson AC, Sell DA, Grunwell P. São Paulo: Editora SantosDi Ninno, C.Q., Gomes, R.O., Santos, P.G., Bueno, M.G., Galvão, D.A., Meira, A.L., O conhecimento de profissionais da área da saúde sobre fissura labiopalatina (2004) Rev Soc Bras Fonoaudiol, 9, pp. 93-101Schardosim, L.R., Nogueira, D.A., Bosco, V.L., Pereima, M.J., Bebês portadores de fissura labiopalatal: Satisfação dos pais com as orientações recebidas dos profissionais (2004) JBP Rev Ibero-am Odontopediatr Odontol Bebe, 7, pp. 568-573Amstalden-Mendes, L.G., Gil-da-Silva-Lopes, V.L., Fenda de lábio e ou palato: Recursos para alimentação antes da correção cirúrgica (2006) Rev Cienc Med, 15, pp. 437-448. , CampinasVieira, G.O., Martins, C.C., Vieira, T.O., De Oliveira, N.F., Silva, L.R., Factors predicting early discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding in the first month of life (2010) J Pediatr, 86, pp. 441-444. , Rio

The influence of casein and urea as nitrogen sources on in vitro equine caecal fermentation

To access the fermentative response of equine caecal microbial population to nitrogen availability, an in vitro study was conducted using caecal contents provided with adequate energy sources and nitrogen as limiting nutrient. Two nitrogen (N) sources were provided, protein (casein) and non-protein (urea). Caecal fluid, taken from three cannulated horses receiving a hay–concentrate diet, was mixed with a N-free buffer–mineral solution. The influence of four N levels (3.7, 6.3, 12.5 or 25 mg of N in casein or urea) was studied using the gas production technique. Total volatile fatty acids (VFA), NH3-N and gas production were measured after a 24-h incubation period. Microbial biomass was estimated using adenine and guanine bases as internal markers, and ATP production was estimated stoichiometrically. Microbial growth efficiency (YATP) and gas efficiency (Egas) were estimated. Fermentation with casein as the sole N source was generally characterized by lower total VFA, NH3-N, total gas production and higher acetate : propionate (A : P) ratio and YATP than with urea. Results herein presented indicate that, under these in vitro conditions, caecal microbial population does in fact use urea N, but less efficiently than casein in terms of microbial growt

A dynamic neural field approach to natural and efficient human-robot collaboration

A major challenge in modern robotics is the design of autonomous robots that are able to cooperate with people in their daily tasks in a human-like way. We address the challenge of natural human-robot interactions by using the theoretical framework of dynamic neural fields (DNFs) to develop processing architectures that are based on neuro-cognitive mechanisms supporting human joint action. By explaining the emergence of self-stabilized activity in neuronal populations, dynamic field theory provides a systematic way to endow a robot with crucial cognitive functions such as working memory, prediction and decision making . The DNF architecture for joint action is organized as a large scale network of reciprocally connected neuronal populations that encode in their firing patterns specific motor behaviors, action goals, contextual cues and shared task knowledge. Ultimately, it implements a context-dependent mapping from observed actions of the human onto adequate complementary behaviors that takes into account the inferred goal of the co-actor. We present results of flexible and fluent human-robot cooperation in a task in which the team has to assemble a toy object from its components.The present research was conducted in the context of the fp6-IST2 EU-IP Project JAST (proj. nr. 003747) and partly financed by the FCT grants POCI/V.5/A0119/2005 and CONC-REEQ/17/2001. We would like to thank Luis Louro, Emanuel Sousa, Flora Ferreira, Eliana Costa e Silva, Rui Silva and Toni Machado for their assistance during the robotic experiment

Biometric conversion factors as a unifying platform for comparative assessment of invasive freshwater bivalves

Invasive bivalves continue to spread and negatively impact freshwater ecosystems worldwide. As different metrics for body size and biomass are frequently used within the literature to standardise bivalve-related ecological impacts (e.g. respiration and filtration rates), the lack of broadly applicable conversion equations currently hinders reliable comparison across bivalve populations. To facilitate improved comparative assessment among studies originating from disparate geographical locations, we report body size and biomass conversion equations for six invasive freshwater bivalves (or species complex members) worldwide: Corbicula fluminea, C. largillierti, Dreissena bugensis, D. polymorpha, Limnoperna fortunei and Sinanodonta woodiana, and tested the reliability (i.e. precision and accuracy) of these equations. Body size (length, width and height) and biomass metrics of living-weight (LW), wet-weight (WW), dry-weight (DW), dry shell-weight (SW), shell free dry-weight (SFDW) and ash-free dry-weight (AFDW) were collected from a total of 44 bivalve populations located in Asia, the Americas and Europe. Relationships between body size and individual biomass metrics, as well as proportional weight-to-weight conversion factors, were determined. For most species, although inherent variation existed between sampled populations, body size directional measurements were found to be good predictors of all biomass metrics (e.g. length to LW, WW, SW or DW: R2 = 0.82–0.96), with moderate to high accuracy for mean absolute error (MAE): ±9.14%–24.19%. Similarly, narrow 95% confidence limits and low MAE were observed for most proportional biomass relationships, indicating high reliability for the calculated conversion factors (e.g. LW to AFDW; CI range: 0.7–2.0, MAE: ±0.7%–2.0%). Synthesis and applications. Our derived biomass prediction equations can be used to rapidly estimate the biologically active biomass of the assessed species, based on simpler biomass or body size measurements for a wide range of situations globally. This allows for the calculation of approximate average indicators that, when combined with density data, can be used to estimate biomass per geographical unit-area and contribute to quantification of population-level effects. These general equations will support meta-analyses, and allow for comparative assessment of historic and contemporary data. Overall, these equations will enable conservation managers to better understand and predict ecological impacts of these bivalves. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Applied Ecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Ecological Societ