Recent progress on color confinement

The status is reviewed of the dual superconductivity of QCD vacuum as a mechanism of color confinement.Comment: 8 pages. Invited talk at the conference QCD@Work 2007, Martina Franca (Italy) June 16-20 200

Arterial blood gas analysis: base excess and carbonate are predictive of noninvasive ventilation adaptation and survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Objective: To investigate the role of arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis parameters (blood carbon dioxide, pCO2; oxygen, pO2; carbonate, HCO3−; standard base excess, SBE) in monitoring respiratory f..

Phase-contrast breast CT: the effect of propagation distance

X-ray phase imaging has the potential to dramatically improve soft tissue contrast sensitivity, which is a crucial requirement in many diagnostic applications such as breast imaging. In this context, a program devoted to perform in-vivo phase-contrast synchrotron radiation breast computed tomography is ongoing at the Elettra facility (Trieste, Italy). The used phase-contrast technique is the propagation-based configuration, which requires a spatially coherent source and a sufficient object-to-detector distance. In this work the effect of this distance on image quality is quantitatively investigated scanning a large breast surgical specimen at 3 object-to-detector distances (1.6, 3, 9 m) and comparing the images both before and after applying the phase-retrieval procedure. The sample is imaged at 30 keV with a 60 \ub5m pixel pitch CdTe single-photon-counting detector, positioned at a fixed distance of 31.6~m from the source. The detector fluence is kept constant for all acquisitions. The study shows that, at the largest distance, a 20-fold SNR increase can be obtained by applying the phase-retrieval procedure. Moreover, it is shown that, for phase-retrieved images, changing the object-to-detector distance does not affect spatial resolution while boosting SNR (4-fold increase going from the shortest to the largest distance). The experimental results are supported by a theoretical model proposed by other authors, whose salient results are presented in this paper

A proposal for a quality control protocol in breast CT with synchrotron radiation

The SYRMA-3D collaboration is setting up the first clinical trial of phase-contrast breast CT with synchrotron radiation at the Elettra synchrotron facility in Trieste, Italy. In this communication, a quality control protocol for breast CT is proposed, and a first test of image quality measurements is performed by means of a custom-made radiographic phantom. Materials and methods A set of projections is acquired and used to perform a CT reconstruction of two selected portions of the phantom. Such portions contain a uniform layer of water and a set of radiographic inserts, respectively. Together, they allow to perform several image quality measurements, namely CT number linearity, reconstruction accuracy, uniformity, noise, and low contrast resolution. All measurements are repeated at different beam energies in the range of interest, and at two different dose values. Results Measurements show a good linearity in the soft tissue range, paired to a high accuracy of the CT number reconstruction. Uniformity and noise measurements show that reconstruction inhomogeneities are bound to a few percent of the average pixel values. However, low contrast detectability is limited to the higher portion of the explored energy range. Conclusions The results of the measurements are satisfactory in terms of their quality, feasibility and reproducibility. With minimal modifications, the phantom is promising to allow a set of image quality measurements to be used in the upcoming clinical trial

Métricas e Indicadores de Inovação: proposta de desenvolvimento de sistema de medição de desempenho da OI em EBTS de pequeno porte / Innovation Metrics and Indicators: Development Proposal for OI Performance Measurement System for Small EBTS

Vários estudos apontam as dificuldades das empresas em medir a inovação e, mais recentemente, a inovação aberta ou “OI”, práticas onde se obtém a inovação também por fontes externas e colaborativas. Este artigo, além de mapear os principais pesquisadores, suas descobertas e aplicações sobre o tema, propõe analisar essas práticas em empresas de base tecnológica (EBTs) tendo como foco, pequenas empresas. Baseado em pesquisa bibliográfica exploratória, documental aplicada em centros de inovação considerados "referências" no Brasil, como São José dos Campos, Itajubá e Santa Rita do Sapucaí e do mundo, com amostras de EBTs localizadas em Cambridge MA, propõe-se elaborar um constructo (questionários) para reconhecer e medir o impacto de atividades inovadoras. Com os estudos e práticas adotadas, foi possível verificar que o papel da "OI" é fortalecido nas empresas e que a disponibilidade desse conhecimento gera cada vez mais inovações originais, no entanto, ainda existem poucas ferramentas disponíveis e confiáveis e mínimas metodologias para medir essa inovação. Assim, procurou-se preencher essa lacuna identificando e discutindo a importância do desenvolvimento de “OI”. Sobre trabalhos futuros, espera-se multiplicar e consolidar a pesquisa, bem como testá-la em outros ambientes e empresas. 

A pilot study on brain plasticity of functional connectivity modulated by cognitive training in mild Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment

Alzheimer's disease (AD) alters the functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN) but also the topological properties of the functional connectome. Cognitive training (CT) is a tool to slow down AD progression and is likely to impact on functional connectivity. In this pilot study, we aimed at investigating brain functional changes after a period of CT and active control (AC) in a group of 26 subjects with mild AD (mAD), 26 with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and a control group of 29 healthy elderly (HE) people. They all underwent a CT and AC in a counterbalanced order following a crossover design. Resting-state functional MRI and neuropsychological testing were acquired before and after each period. We tested post-CT and post-AC changes of cognitive abilities, of the functional connectivity of the DMN, and of topological network properties derived from graph theory and network-based statistics. Only CT produced functional changes, increasing the functional connectivity of the posterior DMN in all three groups. mAD also showed functional changes in the medial temporal lobe and topological changes in the anterior cingulum, whereas aMCI showed more widespread topological changes involving the frontal lobes, the cerebellum and the thalamus. Our results suggest specific functional connectivity changes after CT for aMCI and mAD

Teorias e práticas relacionadas ao empreendedorismo e inovação no cps: projetos dessa natureza que envolvem pessoas, instituições de ensino e empresas em um levantamento teórico-prático / Theories and Practices Related to Entrepreneurship and Innovation in CPS: Projects of this nature that involve people, educational institutions and companies in a theoretical and practical survey

Pequenos negócios respondem por mais de um quarto do PIB brasileiro, entretanto, vários estudos mostram que no Brasil são muitas as dificuldades das pessoas para iniciarem empresas, praticar o empreendedorismo. Projetos em parceria com escolas, universidades, grandes empresas e poder público, propõe estudos, análise e capacitação que oportunizam os indivíduos, primeiros passos, direcionando-os ao empreendedorismo e inovação, proporcionado uma experiência em que, diante do talento, esforço e até mesmo, “sorte”, esses consigam o sucesso. O Centro Paula Souza, com as unidades de ETECs e FATECs, possuem vários desses projetos e iniciativas cujo propósito é incentivar o empreendedorismo e a inovação, que visam disponibilizar o ferramental necessário básico para a formação empreendedora de alunos, ex-alunos e, pessoas da comunidade, facilitando e desenvolvendo seu entorno sócio econômico. A escrita deste artigo aborda esse tema, inovação e empreendedorismo em instituições de ensino através de projetos integradores e, utilizando de pesquisa exploratória, bibliográfica e documental, teve-se como objetivo, além de propor uma atualização teórica, apresentar prática, explorando e incentivando novos projetos alicerçados nessa temática, estabelecendo assim, um suporte ao aluno, ex-aluno, ou membro da comunidade. Com teoria e prática conseguiu-se aprimorar a elaboração de projetos, desenvolver habilidades de pesquisa, promover trabalhos em equipe, assim como, desenvolver a escrita acadêmica e, aproveitar a oportunidade de participação em um congresso internacional

Historical pictures for acting on the view of mathematics

The article illustrates the underlying philosophy of an in progress book in which pictures taken from historical books are used to hint some fundamental ideas of the history of mathematics. Both epistemological and disciplinary issues are taken into account. The aim of the book is to let its potential readers know different aspects of mathematics as a science operating inside the socio-cultural context