Bounds on gamma from CP violation measurements in B -> pi+ pi- and B -> psi K_S

We study the determination of gamma from CP-violating observables in B -> pi+ pi- and B -> psi K_S. This determination requires theoretical input to one combination of hadronic parameters. We show that a mild assumption about this quantity may allow bounds to be placed on gamma, but we stress the pernicious effects that an eightfold discrete ambiguity has on such an analysis. The bounds are discussed as a function of the direct (C) and interference (S) CP-violating observables obtained from time-dependent B -> pi+ pi- decays, and their behavior in the presence of new physics effects in B-Bbar mixing is studied. (V2: Misprints corrected. Slightly improved discussion.)Comment: 11 pages, RevTex 4, 5 eps figures include

Molecular gas and a new young stellar cluster in the far outer Galaxy

We investigate the star-formation ocurring in the region towards IRAS07527-3446 in the molecular cloud [MAB97]250.63-3.63, in the far outer Galaxy. We report the discovery of a new young stellar cluster, and describe its properties and those of its parent molecular cloud. Near-infrared JHKS images were obtained with VLT/ISAAC, and millimetre line CO spectra were obtained with the SEST telescope. VLA archive date were also used. The cloud and cluster are located at a distance of 10.3 kpc and a Galactocentric distance of 15.4 kpc, in the far outer Galaxy. Morphologically, IRAS 07527-3446 appears as a young embedded cluster of a few hundred stars seen towards the position of the IRAS source, extending for about 2-4 pc and exhibiting sub-clustering. The cluster contains low and intermediate-mass young reddened stars, a large fraction having cleared the inner regions of their circumstellar discs responsible for (H-Ks) colour excess. The observations are compatible with a < 5 Myr cluster with variable spatial extinction of between Av = 5 and Av = 11. Decomposition of CO emission in clumps, reveals a clump clearly associated with the cluster position, of mass 3.3 x 10^3 M(solar). Estimates of the slopes of the Ks-band luminosity function and of the star-formation efficiency yield values similar to those seen in nearby star-formation sites. These findings reinforce previous results that the distant outer Galaxy continues to be active in the production of new and rich stellar clusters, with the physical conditions required for the formation of rich clusters continuing to be met in the very distant environment of the outer Galactic disc.Comment: 11 pages, 13 figure

On the Stability of Fundamental Couplings in the Galaxy

Astrophysical tests of the stability of Nature's fundamental couplings are a key probe of the standard paradigms in fundamental physics and cosmology. In this report we discuss updated constraints on the stability of the fine-structure constant $\alpha$ and the proton-to-electron mass ratio $\mu=m_p/m_e$ within the Galaxy. We revisit and improve upon the analysis by Truppe {\it et al.} by allowing for the possibility of simultaneous variations of both couplings and also by combining them with the recent measurements by Levshakov {\it et al.} By considering representative unification scenarios we find no evidence for variations of $\alpha$ at the 0.4 ppm level, and of $\mu$ at the 0.6 ppm level; if one uses the Levshakov bound on $\mu$ as a prior, the$\alpha$ bound is improved to 0.1 ppm. We also highlight how these measurements can constrain (and discriminate among) several fundamental physics paradigms.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figur

The role played by knowledge intensive business services in knowledge economy: New faces and challenges

Knowledge is now perceived as the basic core of organizations, is becoming more a role in the recognition and capitalization of entrepreneurial opportunities. A growing number of researches have been show knowledge as basis for creation of new organizations. This study aims to evidence the role played by knowledge intensive businesses services (KIBS) today and to highlight their new faces and challenges for 21st century. More specifically, it highlights how several critical factors are involved in development of competitive and innovative system. We argue that the contribution of these organizations on economic development is not a simple process, and to recognize the specific characteristics of KIBS and linking them within a specific context will be an important step

Controlo da dor: aplicação do Toque Terapêutico num doente com ferida maligna

Dados do Instituto Nacional de Estatística no período de 2009-2011, destacam o cancro como a segunda causa de morte em Portugal logo atrás das doenças cardiovasculares. A ferida oncológica ou maligna constitui uma importante preocupação dos enfermeiros no controlo dos sinais e sintomas que delas resultam nomeadamente a dor, o exsudado, a hemorragia, a infeção, o prurido, e a necrose tecidular. O seu difícil controlo interfere na qualidade de vida da pessoa e família. A literatura tem demonstrado evidência no Toque Terapêutico (TT) como uma intervenção não farmacológica com eficácia no alívio e controlo da dor oncológica, quando associado a medidas farmacológicas já instituídas

Technical Inspection and Intervention Proposals for The Rehabilitation of a Multifamily Housing Building of the Decade of 60 of Last Century in Portugal

The Portuguese housing park, especially in what concerns to older buildings, is very degraded due to the lack of maintenance over the years, resulting in the depopulation of many historical centres of the country. The specialists usually characterize the housing park in different construction times, being based on the regulation and the implementation of different trends and technological evolutions in construction. In Portugal, the 60's decade of the twentieth century stands out by the construction of a significant number of multifamily residential buildings with a resistant reticulated structure and without concerns from the point of view of thermal behaviour. In this work, the case study of a multifamily building of the construction period mentioned previously, located in the city of Covilhã, in central Portugal, is presented. The analysis of the case study is divided into two main stages: technical inspection of the building and identification of intervention proposals based on the analysis of detected constructive fragilities. In the first phase of the study a technical inspection sheet adapted to multifamily buildings was created and applied, accompanied by a survey of the residents, in order to know the occupancy conditions, the sensitivity and the expectations about intervention. In addition, a thermal analysis was carried out with the support of thermography, data analysis of temperature and relative humidity measurements performed at certain periods of time and thermal quality evaluation based on the calculation methodologies for the energy certification of fractions. After analysing all the elements registered in the first phase of the case study, it was possible to propose duly substantiated intervention measures with the main concern of creating better access, use and comfort conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Isolated Taylor Bubbles in Co-Current with Shear Thinning CMC Solutions in Microchannels—A Numerical Study

Slug flow is a multiphase flow pattern characterized by the occurrence of long gas bubbles (Taylor bubbles) separated by liquid slugs. This multiphase flow regime is present in many and diversified natural and industrial processes, at macro and microscales, such as in eruption of volcanic magmas, oil recovery from pre-salt regions, micro heat exchangers, and small-sized refrigerating systems. Previous studies in the literature have been mostly focused on tubular gas bubbles flowing in Newtonian liquids. In this work, results from several numerical simulations of tubular gas bubbles flowing in a shear thinning liquid in microchannels are reported. To simulate the shear thinning behavior, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) solutions with different concentrations were considered. The results are compared with data from bubbles flowing in Newtonian liquids in identical geometric and dynamic conditions. The numerical work was carried out in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) package Ansys Fluent (release 16.2.0) employing the volume of fluid (VOF) methodology to track the volume fraction of each phase and the continuum surface force (CSF) model to insert the surface tension effects. The flow patterns, the viscosity distribution in the liquid, the liquid film thickness between the bubble and the wall, and the bubbles shape are analyzed for a wide range of shear rates. In general, the flow patterns are similar to those in Newtonian liquids, but in the film, where a high viscosity region is observed, the thickness is smaller. Bubble velocities are smaller for the non-Newtonian cases.</jats:p

The Organization of self-knowledge in adolescence: some contributions using the repertory grid technique

Background: This study aims to explore the usefulness of personal construct psychology as a comprehensive framework and assessment tool to embrace a diversity of self-knowledge organization constructs, and to account for developmental differences across adolescence. (2) Methods: The repertory grid technique was used to measure self-knowledge differentiation, polarization, discrepancies between Actual Self, Ideal Self, and Others, and implicative dilemmas, a particular kind of intrapersonal conflict. Data were collected from two samples of early and late adolescents, respectively. (3) Results: Globally, they showed that the organization of self-knowledge was different in both samples. In particular, older adolescents revealed a less polarized self-knowledge. In addition, they tended to construe higher Actual-Ideal self-discrepancies and to present more internal conflicts. No differences were found between early and late adolescents concerning global differentiation and the discrepancies between the self (Actual and Ideal) and the Others. (4) Conclusions: Despite the limitations of the study (e.g., small sample size, cross-sectional design), these novel results support the suitability of the repertory grid technique to capture developmental changes in self-knowledge organization during adolescence, as well as the explanatory potential of personal construct psychology to advance their understanding