On the Omori-Yau Maximum Principle and Geometric Applications

We introduce a version of the Omori-Yau maximum principle which generalizes the version obtained by Pigola-Rigoli-Setti 21. We apply our method to derive a non-trivial generalization Jorge-Koutrofiotis Theorem 15 for cylindrically bounded submanifolds due to Alias-Bessa-Montenegro 2, we extend results due to Alias-Dajczer 5, Alias-Bessa-Dajczer 1 and Alias-Impera-Rigoli 6

Nectaries and reproductive biology of croton sarcopetalus (euphorbiaceae)

Flower morphology, nectary structure, nectar chemical composition, breeding system, floral visitors and pollination were analysed in Croton sarcopetalus, a diclinous-monoecious shrub from Argentina. Male flowers have five receptacular nectaries, with no special vascular bundles, that consist of a uniserial epidermis with stomata subtended by a secretory parenchyma. Female flowers bear two different types of nectaries: inner (IN) and outer (ON) floral nectaries. IN, five in all, are structurally similar to the nectaries of male flowers. The five ON are vascularized, stalked, and composed of secretory, column-shaped epidermal cells without stomata subtended by secretory and ground parenchyma. In addition, ON act as post-floral nectaries secreting nectar during fruit ripening. Extrafloral nectaries (EFN) are located on petioles, stipules and leaf margins. Petiolar EFN are patelliform, stalked and anatomically similar to the ON of the female flower. Nectar sampled from all nectary types is hexose dominant, except for the ON of the female flower at the post-floral stage that is sucrose dominant. The species is self-compatible, but geitonogamous fertilization is rarely possible because male and female flowers are not usually open at the same time in the same individual, i.e. there is temporal dioecism. Flowers are visited by 22 insect species, wasps being the most important group of pollinators. No significant differences were found in fruit and seed set between natural and hand pollinated flowers. This pattern indicates that fruit production in this species is not pollen/pollinator limited and is mediated by a wide array of pollinators. © 2001 The Linnean Society of London.Fil: Freitas, Leandro. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Bernardello, Gabriel Luis Mario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Galetto, Leonardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Paoli, Adelita. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasi

Over provisioning-centric QoS-routing mechanism for the communication paradigm of future internet 4WARD proposal

The FP7 4WARD clean-slate Project envisions overcoming the limitations of current Internet by redefining it to efficiently support complex value-added sessions and services, such as location-based, health-care, critical-mission, and geo processing. The list of networking innovations from 4WARD’s Future Internet (FI) proposal includes a new connectivity paradigm called Generic Path (GP), a common representation for all communications. From the networking point of view, a GP is mapped to a communication path for data propagation. For that, GP architecture relies on routing mechanism for selecting best communication paths. In order to assure reliable communications, the routing mechanism must efficiently provision QoS-aware multi-party capable paths, with robustness functions, while keeping network performance. Therefore, this paper proposes the QoS-Routing and Resource Control (QoS-RRC) mechanism to deal with the hereinabove requirements by means of an over provisioning-centric (bandwidth and paths) approach. QoS-RRC achieves scalability by avoiding per-flow operations (e.g., signaling, state storage, etc.). Initial QoS-RRC performance evaluation was carried out in Network Simulator v.2 (NS-2), enabling drastic reduction of overall signaling exchanges compared to per-flow solutions

Biologia da polinização de espécie arbórea de Cupania: dicogamia sincronizada, fenótipo generalista e predominância de abelhas sem ferrão

Background and aims: We know little about the pollination biology of tropical tree species associated with the pollination system by diverse insects (DI). We studied the floral biology, breeding system, and floral visitors of Cupania oblongifolia. M&M: Experiments and observations were carried out in an area of the Atlantic Forest. Results: The flowers are small and greenish and produce little nectar. The species is diclinous-monoecious but the anthesis of female and male flowers is temporally separated into the inflorescences, with little or no overlap (i.e., synchronized dichogamy). Fruit set did not differ after cross- and self-pollinations and natural conditions, indicating the absence of both self-incompatibility and pollen limitation. Flowers of C. oblongifolia were visited by 87 species of Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Coleoptera. Male flowers were more visited and 20 species visited the two morphs. Floral visitors were mostly rare and about 80% of the visits were made by Hymenoptera, mainly stingless bees. Two species of Scaptotrigona were eudominant. Conclusions: The floral phenotype fits on the description of DI systems. Many species of insects were recorded but stingless bees predominated. Meliponini constitutes the most abundant anthophilous group in Neotropical forests, thus pollination systems associated with them are expected. Based on our results, it is possible to forecast that some species classified as DI based on floral phenotype and visitor richness may be strongly associated with a certain group of pollinators, denoting a lower degree of generalizationIntrodução e objetivos: Pouco sabemos acerca da biologia da polinização de espécies arbóreas tropicais com sistema de polinização por diversos insetos (DI). Estudamos a biologia floral, o sistema reprodutivo e os visitantes florais de Cupania oblongifolia. M&M: Experimentos e observações foram feitos em uma área de Mata Atlântica. Resultados: As flores são pequenas e esverdeadas e secretam pouco néctar. A espécie é díclina-monóica, mas a antese das flores femininas e masculinas é separada temporalmente nas inflorescências, com pouca ou sem sobreposição (i.e., dicogamia sincronizada). A produção de frutos não diferiu após polinização cruzada, autopolinização e condições naturais, indicando não haver autoincompatibilidade nem limitação polínica. A espécie foi visitada por 87 espécies de Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera e Coleoptera. Flores masculinas foram mais visitadas e 20 espécies visitaram os dois morfos florais. A maioria dos visitantes florais foi rara e cerca de 80% das visitas foram de Hymenoptera, em particular abelhas sem ferrão. Duas espécies de Scaptotrigona foram eudominantes. Conclusões: O fenótipo floral se encaixa na descrição do sistema DI. Muitos insetos foram registrados, mas abelhas sem ferrão predominaram. Meliponini constitui o grupo antófilo mais abundante nas florestas neotropicais, portanto, sistemas de polinização associados a elas são esperados. A partir de nossos resultados se pode projetar que parte das espécies classificadas como DI com base no fenótipo floral e riqueza de visitantes podem estar fortemente associadas a um grupo específico de polinizadores, o que denotaria um menor grau de generalização

Analysis of human activities and identification of uncertain situations in context-aware systems

One of the main obstacles faced by context-aware systems developed for human activities recognition is related to dealing with incomplete data for decision making. Problems from several sources contribute to this phenomenon. Imprecise acquisition of data from sensors and the system’s design issues are among them. This paper presents an approach to tackle this trouble by dividing it into three parts. The first one refers to the validation of context data through an Attribute Grammar. The formalism and expressiveness provided a grammar, enriched with attribute evaluation rules and contextual constraints, ensures that the system will use only valid data for reasoning. Anomalous data will be detected, and the situation will be signalized. Also, the analysis of Quality of Context is provided, considering a set of characteristics, vouching that only useful information will be considered. At last, the identification of the sources of uncertain situations followed by a sequence of actions aiming to minimize the negative impacts of it helps the system to work with more complete sets of data. The formalization of the approach is provided together with an algorithm to validate it.FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/202

Brazil s regional horizon and the construction of South America

No artigo se procura demonstrar que o horizonte regional do Brasil delimitou-se, nos últimos anos, pela América do Sul, tendo se respaldado por uma séria de ações que operacionalizam a retórica diplomática e vão além da esfera econômico-comercial. A pesquisa aponta, entretanto, que a América do Sul ainda é uma região em construção e iniciativas como a do Brasil podem fortalecer esse processo.This article seeks to show that South America characterizes the actual Brazil s regional horizon. The Brazil s foreign policy implements several actions that lend a practical face to the diplomatic rhetorical and surpass the economic-commercial sphere. Therefore, the research points that South America is still a region in construction, and Estates initiatives, as Brazilian s, can deeply contribute to this process