Inequality, a scourge of the XXI century

Social and economic inequality is a plague of the XXI Century. It is continuously widening, as the wealth of a relatively small group increases and, therefore, the rest of the world shares a shrinking fraction of resources. This situation has been predicted and denounced by economists and econophysicists. The latter ones have widely used models of market dynamics which consider that wealth distribution is the result of wealth exchanges among economic agents. A simple analogy relates the wealth in a society with the kinetic energy of the molecules in a gas, and the trade between agents to the energy exchange between the molecules during collisions. However, while in physical systems, thanks to the equipartition of energy, the gas eventually arrives at an equilibrium state, in many exchange models the economic system never equilibrates. Instead, it moves toward a "condensed" state, where one or a few agents concentrate all the wealth of the society and the rest of agents shares zero or a very small fraction of the total wealth. Here we discuss two ways of avoiding the "condensed" state. On one hand, we consider a regulatory policy that favors the poorest agent in the exchanges, thus increasing the probability that the wealth goes from the richest to the poorest agent. On the other hand, we study a tax system and its effects on wealth distribution. We compare the redistribution processes and conclude that complete control of the inequalities can be attained with simple regulations or interventions

An international expansion plan of a Venezuelan company dedicated to the production of fertilizers: Cathequim, C.A.

This master's project has the objective to analyze the feasibility for a Venezuelan company dedicated to the fertilizers production (Cathequim C.A.) to expand its presence internationally by starting operations in neighboring markets, leveraging its value proposition on certain cost-related benefits offered by Venezuela For this project it has been identified the potential markets and verified the value of the product's portfolio offered by Cathequim C.A. To achieve this, it has been performed several analyses in which there have been included information relative to, on the one hand, the financial and operational performance of company itself, and on the other hand, the overall performance of Venezuela and another 4 interesting Latin-American markets. This will allow the assessment of the potential held by each market, so the company could ensure the selection that could benefit it the most. Within the project, it was defined a SWOT analysis which served as the foundation to define the positioning and generate multiple operational strategies to be use by the company in order to take full advantage of the opportunities available for the company abroad. Finally, it was provided a route map based on the information gathered and the results obtained from the multiple analyses performed, in which it was specified the most convenient market and the most favorable entry mode to adopt, given the company's strengths and weaknesses.Este projeto tem como objetivo realizar uma análise sobre a viabilidade de uma empresa venezuelana dedicada à produção de fertilizantes (Cathequim C.A.) para expandir sua presença internacionalmente, iniciando operações em mercados vizinhos, alavancando sua proposta de valor sobre certos benefícios relacionados a custos oferecidos pela Venezuela. Para este projeto foram identificados os mercados potenciais e verificado o valor da carteira de produtos oferecidos pela Cathequim C.A. Para isso, foram realizadas várias análises nas quais foram incluídas informações relativas, por um lado, ao desempenho financeiro e operacional da própria empresa e, por outro, ao desempenho global da Venezuela e de outros 4 mercados latinoamericanos interessantes. Isso permitirá avaliar o potencial de cada mercado, para que a empresa possa garantir a seleção que mais lhe beneficie. Foi realizada uma análise SWOT que serviu de base para definir o posicionamento e a política de marketing operacional a ser utilizada pela empresa a fim de aproveitar ao máximo as oportunidades disponíveis para a empresa no exterior. Finalmente, foi fornecido um mapa de rotas baseado nas informações coletadas e no resultado obtido a partir das múltiplas análises realizadas, no qual foi especificado o mercado mais conveniente e o modo de entrada mais favorável a ser adotado, dados os pontos fortes e fracos da empresa

Planejamento, elaboração e aplicação de um teste de desempenho clinico, baseado no PEG (performance evaluation guides), para a avaliação qualitativa de alunos de Graduação FOP-UNICAMP

Acompanha memorialTese (livre-docencia) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de PiracicabaResumo: Não informadoAbstract: Not informedLivre DocênciaOdontologia Legal e DeontologiaLivre docente em Odontologi

Barriers and challenges in the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of breast cancer patients

Breast cancer is the most common female cancer worldwide. This disease represents one of the main points of public health concern today, aggravating the situation due to the numerous barriers to preventing, treating, and rehabilitation patients affected by this health condition. In this way, this letter to the editor aims to discuss the barriers and challenges in preventing, treating, and rehabilitating breast cancer patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Influência do uso da água para irrigação no cálculo da energia firme de um sistema hidrelétrico interligado

Presents a methodology to evaluation of water demand for irrigation use and its influence in an inter-connected hydropower system energy production. An application of the irrigation water evaluation using the São Francisco river-basin is presented verifying its influence over the electrical energy production in Northeast hydropower system (CHESF system).Apresenta-se uma metodologia para o cálculo da demanda de água para uso em irrigação e sua influência na produção de energia de um sistema hidrelétrico interligado. A aplicação do cálculo da demanda de água para irrigação foi feita para a bacia hidrográfica do rio São Francisco, e a verificação da influência dessa vazão derivada na produção de energia elétrica no sistema hidrelétrico do Nordeste (sistema CHESF)

The value of a head turn in neurolocalization

BACKGROUND: A head turn is a clinically relevant abnormality identified on neurological examination and historically has been an isolated or concomitant sign of ipsilateral forebrain dysfunction. Experimental studies in quadrupedal mammals suggest that changes in head posture may be identified as originating in other parts of the central nervous system (CNS).OBJECTIVES: To identify whether other locations within the CNS could give rise to a head turn and whether the head turn identified is isolated or concomitant with other deviations in head and body posture.ANIMALS: Forty-nine client-owned dogs with a presentation of a head turn, from 6 veterinary referral centers.METHODS: Multicenter observational prospective study including dogs with photographic evidence of a head turn, full neurological examination, and advanced imaging.RESULTS: Of the population, 15/49 had head turn only, 9/49 had head turn and head tilt only, 12/49 had head turn and body turn only, and 13/49 had head turn, head tilt, and body turn. Nearly all dogs with forebrain disease (23/24), and, all with brainstem and cerebellar disease, had an ipsilateral head turn and body turn (if present). In the cerebellar group, all head tilts were contralateral to the lesion location. In the cervical spinal cord group, all head turns, body turns and head tilts were contralateral to the lesion location.CONCLUSION: A head turn, although most likely associated with, is not exclusively seen with forebrain disease. Certain combinations of head turn, head tilt and body turn suggest a neurolocalization other than the forebrain, with appropriate classification needed.</p

Influence of coaches on sources of enjoyment in youth basketball

We examined the influence of coaches on sources of enjoyment of youth basketball players accounting for differences in chronological age, biological maturity status and years of training experience. Fifty-eight male basketball players aged 9.5 to 15.5 years were considered from a youth club. Three coaches supervising yearly age group teams from under 11 to under 15 teams were considered. Variables included chronological age, estimated age at peak height velocity, years of training experience, stature, body mass and sitting height by anthropometry; Sources of Enjoyment in Youth Sport Questionnaire was used. Multilevel modelling was used to partition variance between groups and control the influence of age and maturity status on enjoyment. Variance partition coefficients derived from multilevel null models showed a substantial variation by coach for age, maturity status and body dimensions. For the sources of enjoyment dimensions it was apparent an influence of the coach mostly for positive parental involvement. Controlling separately for age and somatic maturity status category, substantial variation by coach became apparent for self-referenced competencies and affiliation with peers, and the influence of coach was removed for positive parental involvement. After controlling variation associated to the coach the influence of age and maturity status remained present. The influence of the coach in the sources of enjoyment in adolescent basketball was apparent in adolescent basketball players. Furthermore, coaches' influence became more apparent after accounting for age and biological maturity status differences between players.El presente estudio investiga la influencia de los entrenadores en la satisfacción con la práctica deportiva en baloncesto juvenil, considerando las diferencias en la edad cronológica, maduración biológica y años de experiencia de entrenamiento. Los participantes (n = 58) de 9.5 a 15.5 años de un club de baloncesto juvenil participaron en el estudio. Tres entrenadores del club que conducirán equipas de sub-11 à sub-15 fueran considerados. Las variables incluyen la edad cronológica, edad estimada en el pico de crecimiento en la pubertad, años de experiencia de entrenamiento; estatura, masa corporal e altura sentado por antropometría; y el cuestionario Sources of Enjoyment in Youth Sport. Modelos multinivel fueran utilizados para investigar la variancia entre grupos y controlar el efecto de la edad y del estado de maduración en la satisfacción con la práctica deportiva. Los coeficientes de partición de la variancia resultantes de los modelos multinivel (modelos nulos) muestran una variación substancial cuando los jugadores están agrupados por entrenador para la edad, maduración biológica y tamaño corporal. En las dimensiones del Sources of Enjoyment in Youth Sport fue aparente una influencia del entrenador, sobretodo en el envolvimiento parental positivo. Controlando separadamente para la edad y de la maduración biológica, la influencia del entrenador se observa para las competencias auto referenciadas y para la afiliación con los pares, siendo removida la influencia del entrenador para el envolvimiento parental positivo. Después de controlar la variación asociada al entrenador la influencia de la edad e de la maduración biológica se mantenía. La influencia del entrenador en la satisfacción con la práctica deportiva en baloncesto juvenil fue aparente en lo presiente estudio, más cuando se controla la variación entre jugadores en la edad cronológica y la maduración biológica

Análise, classificação e tratamento de ruído em imagens de séries temporais NDWI do sensor MODIS na Ilha do Bananal

Monografia (graduação)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Humanas, Departamento de Geografia, 2013.O sensoriamento remoto permite estudar os fenômenos da superfície terrestre em diversas escalas espaciais e temporais, que, ao serem analisados a partir dos conceitos de paisagem e território usado, consistem em uma maneira de entender o espaço geográfico. A constante transformação dos ecossistemas, de forma abrupta ou contínua e de origem humana ou natural, cria a necessidade do desenvolvimento de técnicas que tenham a capacidade de detectar essas mudanças, identificar suas causas e monitorar o processo. Este trabalho se volta para as análises de séries temporais contínuas, que podem ser usadas no monitoramento de ecossistemas já que a continuidade dos dados permite traçar um perfil para o comportamento sazonal de cada fitofisionomia. Busca-se aqui aplicar técnicas de análise temporal para identificar as assinaturas temporais presentes na Ilha do Bananal no estado do Tocantins, a maior ilha fluvial do mundo. Formada pela bifurcação do rio Araguaia que corre no sentido sul-norte. Primeiramente será feita uma descrição das características da região, as quais se pretende identificar pelo método proposto. A partir disso, o trabalho será desenvolvido em quatro etapas de manipulação dos dados: 1) obtenção das imagens MODIS e montagem dos cubos temporais; 2) cálculo do índice NDWI; 3) tratamento de ruídos por meio da aplicação de filtros estatísticos utilizando os métodos da mediana e de Savitzky-Golay, e; 4) classificação por meio do ISODATA e do SAM. O filtro de mediana, utilizado da maneira correta, demonstrou a capacidade de eliminar picos ao mesmo tempo em que preserva os dados. Já o Savitzky-Golay se mostrou útil na suavização do perfil espectral, mantendo as formas e inflexões das assinaturas temporais. O classificador ISODATA identificou 5 classes, que serviram de base para a classificação espectral. A biblioteca espectral usada na classificação SAM discriminou 6 comportamentos distintos do índice NDWI. _________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTRemote sensing allows us to study the phenomena of the earth's surface at various spatial and temporal scales, which, when analyzed from the concepts of landscape and used territory, are a way of understanding the geographic space. The constant transformation of ecosystems, abruptly or continuously and human induced or from natural origin, creates the need to develop techniques that are able to detect these changes, identify their causes, and monitor the process. This paper turns to the analysis of continuous time series which can be used in the monitoring of ecosystems, given that the continuity of data allows tracing a profile for the seasonal behavior of each phytphysiognomy. We seek to apply temporal analysis techniques to identify temporal signatures present in the Bananal Island surface. It is the largest fluvial island in the world, formed by bifurcation of the Araguaia River which flows from south to north. Firstly there will be a description of the regions characteristics that are intended to be identified by the proposed method. From then on the work will be developed in four stages of data manipulation: 1) obtaining MODIS images and assembling temporal cubes; 2) NDWI index calculation; 3) noise treatment through the application of statistical filters, using the median method and Savitzky-Golay filter, and; 4) the classification by ISODATA and SAM. The median filter was applied correctly, demonstratingd the capacity of eliminating peaks while preserving the data. The Savitzky-Golay has been proved useful in the spectral profile smoothing, keeping the forms and inflections of time signatures. The ISODATA classifier identified five classes, which served as basis for spectral classification. The spectral library used in the SAM classification discriminated six different NDWI behaviors