A Statistical Mechanics Approach to the Inherent States of Granular Media

We consider a Statistical Mechanics approach to granular systems by following the original ideas developed by Edwards. We use the concept of ``inherent states'', defined as the stable configurations in the potential energy landscape, introduced in the context of glasses. Under simplifying assumptions, the equilibrium inherent states can be characterised by a configurational temperature, $1/\beta$. We link $\beta$ to Edwards' compactivity and address the problem of its experimental measure. We also discuss the possibility to describe the time dependent distribution probability in the inherent states with an appropriate master equation.Comment: revised version in pres

Meta-Path Learning for Multi-relational Graph Neural Networks

Existing multi-relational graph neural networks use one of two strategies for identifying informative relations: either they reduce this problem to low-level weight learning, or they rely on handcrafted chains of relational dependencies, called meta-paths. However, the former approach faces challenges in the presence of many relations (e.g., knowledge graphs), while the latter requires substantial domain expertise to identify relevant meta-paths. In this work we propose a novel approach to learn meta-paths and meta-path GNNs that are highly accurate based on a small number of informative meta-paths. Key element of our approach is a scoring function for measuring the potential informativeness of a relation in the incremental construction of the meta-path. Our experimental evaluation shows that the approach manages to correctly identify relevant meta-paths even with a large number of relations, and substantially outperforms existing multi-relational GNNs on synthetic and real-world experiments

Three-dimensional shear in granular flow

The evolution of granular shear flow is investigated as a function of height in a split-bottom Couette cell. Using particle tracking, magnetic-resonance imaging, and large-scale simulations we find a transition in the nature of the shear as a characteristic height $H^*$ is exceeded. Below $H^*$ there is a central stationary core; above $H^*$ we observe the onset of additional axial shear associated with torsional failure. Radial and axial shear profiles are qualitatively different: the radial extent is wide and increases with height while the axial width remains narrow and fixed.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Aging and multiscaling in out of equilibrium dynamical processes in granular media

In the framework of recently introduced frustrated lattice gas models, we study the out of equilibrium dynamical processes during the compaction process in granular media. We find irreversible-reversible cycles in agreement with recent experimental observations. Moreover in analogy with the phenomenology of the glass transition we find aging effects during the compaction process In particular we find that the two time density correlation function $C(t,t')$ asymptotically scales as a function of the single variable $\ln(t')/\ln(t)$. This result is interpreted in terms of multiscaling properties of the system.Comment: 4 page

Alfabetização Ambiental como Indicador de Qualidade da Educação Ambiental - um Estudo Exploratório Feito em Estância Velha, RS, Brasil

Este trabalho objetivou construir um referencial teórico e experimental para a elaboração deinstrumentos de avaliação da Educação Ambiental. Nele são apresentados parte dos resultados dapesquisa realizada em outubro de 2002, com os professores da rede Municipal de Ensino Fundamentalde Estância Velha, RS. Buscando reunir dados para aferição do nível de Alfabetização Ambientaldessa população foi construído um questionário com 6 partes, incluindo perguntas abertas, fechadas,semi-abertas e uma escala de atitudes Likert, o qual foi adaptado a partir da bibliografia. 252questionários foram distribuídos, dos quais 65 (25%) retornaram respondidos integralmente. Daobservação direta dos dados obtidos sem análises estatísticas foi possível constatar uma variaçãoexpressiva nas respostas dos professores estudados, indicando variação no nível de AlfabetizaçãoAmbiental. Além disso, os resultados obtidos nessa pesquisa apontam sutilmente para uma relaçãoentre o conhecimento de ecologia e um comportamento ambientalmente responsável, sugerindoque a abordagem avaliativa empregada pode contribuir para a construção de um indicadorsocioambiental eficiente

Evolução da tolerância ao glyphosate em populações de corda-de-viola

Tolerance, also referred to as natural resistance, is a feature that exists in the plant even before herbicide application in an area. I. grandifolia, I. indivisa and I. purpurea are among the tolerant species most commonly found over fields in southern Brazil. We hypothesized that the intensive use of glyphosate results in increasing levels of tolerance to glyphosate, and in pronounced response variability in populations of the same Ipomoea species. This study aimed at identifying tolerance variations to glyphosate among I. grandifolia, I. indivisa and I. purpurea morning glory species and among populations of these species. In crops over Paraná and Santa Catarina states (Brazil) 31 biotypes were collected (20 I. grandifolia, 7 I. indivisa and 4 I. purpurea), on which were applied 0, 216, 432, 864, 1,296, 1,728 and 2,160 g a.e. ha-1 of glyphosate and the dose required to reduce 50% of dry matter (GR50) was determined. Biotypes of all tested Ipomoea species showed variability of glyphosate tolerance. Tolerance factors had greater amplitude among biotypes of I. gradifolia and I. indivisa species (between 1.7 and 33.6 and between 3.3 and 34.2, respectively) than in I. purpurea (between 3.7 and 4.9). Especially within I. gradifolia e I. indivisa species, some biotypes required a much higher dose than the recommended one to control the wild biotype, indicating progress in the level of glyphosate tolerance; this proves the initial hypothesis of this work.A tolerância, também referida como resistência natural, é uma característica existente na planta mesmo antes da aplicação do herbicida em uma área. As espécies de corda-de-viola I. grandifolia, I. indivisa e I. purpurea estão entre as espécies tolerantes ao glyphosate mais comumente encontradas em lavouras do Sul do Brasil. Hipotetiza-se que o uso intensivo de glyphosate incrementa os níveis de tolerância e, consequentemente, acentua a variabilidade de resposta ao herbicida em populações da mesma espécie de Ipomoea. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram identificar variações de tolerância ao glyphosate entre as espécies de cordade- viola I. grandifolia, I. indivisa e I. purpurea e entre populações dentro de cada uma dessas espécies. Em lavouras das regiões Sudoeste do Paraná e Oeste de Santa Catarina foram coletados 31 biótipos (20 de I. grandifolia, 7 de I. indivisa e 4 de I. purpurea), nas quais foram aplicados 0, 216, 432, 864, 1.296, 1.728 e 2.160 g e.a. ha-1de glyphosate e foi determinada a dose necessária para redução de 50% da matéria seca da parte aérea (GR50). Plantas dos biótipos das três espécies de Ipomoea apresentaram variabilidade na tolerância ao glyphosate. Os fatores de tolerância apresentaram maior amplitude entre biótipos nas espécies I. grandifolia e I. indivisa (entre 1,7 e 33,6 e entre 3,3 e 34,2, respectivamente) do que em I. purpurea (entre 3,7 e 4,9). Especialmente nas espécies I. grandifolia e I. indivisa, alguns biótipos necessitaram de dose muito superior à recomendada para o controle do biótipo selvagem, indicando evolução no nível de resistência natural ao herbicida glyphosate, o que comprova a hipótese deste trabalho

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the mandible : a case report

The aim of this article is to describe a case of leiomyosarcoma of the mandible with immunohistochemical analysis that was useful in making the final diagnosis. A 40-year-old woman was referred to the Stomatology Clinic of São Paulo Tatuapé Hospital, , for evaluation of a lesion on the left side of the mandible. This lesion presented a fast growth in the last 6 months. Intraoral examination showed a firm, fixed, red colored mass measuring, approximately 60-mm in diameter. No lymph nodes involvement was found. The radiographic examination showed a lytic lesion showed ill-demarcated radiolucent with facial and lingual cortical bone destruction. Microscopic examination of the mandibular lesion showed a neoplasm composed by interlacing fascicles of spindle-shaped cells. Most of the cells presented a blut-ended elongated shape. A marked cellular pleomorphism was observed, represented by cells with irregular shape and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. Nuclei were large, hyperchromatic, either vacuoled or cigar-shape. The cytoplasm of the cells stained red with Masson?s trichrome stain. Neoplastic cells expressed vimentin, smooth-muscle actin, HHF-35 and desmin. These findings were consistent with the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma

Electronic administration in Spain: from its beginnings to the present

This study presents the basic lines of electronic administration in Spain. The complexity of the Spanish political-administrative system makes such a study challenging, in view of the considerable degree of autonomy and competences of the regional administrative bodies and local agencies with respect to the central government, the former being more visible in the 17 regions of Spain. Nonetheless, the central government maintains a series of legal instruments that allow a certain common framework of action to be imposed, aside from what is put into effect through diverse programs aimed precisely to develop common tools for the regions and municipalities of Spain. After an introduction that provides some necessary background, this study describes the legislative framework in which Spain's electronic administrative system has developed. The data included in the study refer to investment in information and communication technologies (ICT) and the services offered by the different Administrations on the internet; internet access by citizens, homes, businesses, and employees, as well as the interactivity existing with administrations by means of the internet; the origins and rise of various political initiatives of the Central Government involving electronic administration; and finally, the situation of civil service personnel, as catalysts of the success of Information Society in the Public Administration within Spain

HPLC–Tandem Mass Spectrometric Method to Characterize Resveratrol Metabolism in Humans

AbstractBackground: Nutritional biomarkers are alternatives to traditional dietary assessment tools. We sought to develop a method for nutritional analysis of resveratrol, a phenolic compound with purported health-promoting properties, and to determine all resveratrol metabolites.Methods: We obtained LDL and urine samples from 11 healthy male volunteers who had consumed 250 mL of Merlot red wine. We measured resveratrol and its metabolites with 96-well solid-phase extraction plates coupled with HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry. Hexestrol was used as the internal standard. Gradient chromatography in multiple reaction monitoring mode was performed on a Luna C18 column, maintained at 40 °C; m/z transitions were as follows: resveratrol, 227/185; resveratrol glucosides, 389/227; resveratrol glucuronides, 403/227; resveratrol sulfates, 307/227; taxifolin, 303/285; and hexestrol, 269/134.Results: Standard calibration curves were linear at 4.4–3289.5 nmol/L. Residual analyses were 100% (3.2) for trans-resveratrol and 100% (11.1) for trans-piceid. In both matrices, imprecision (CV) was <10.8% at all concentrations. Detection limits for resveratrol were 0.2 nmol/L (LDL), 0.3 nmol/L (synthetic urine), and 4.0 nmol/L (blank urine). Resveratrol and metabolites were checked for stability, and no degradation was observed.Conclusions: The HPLC–tandem mass spectrometry method enabled us to identify resveratrol sulfates in human LDL and to characterize the complete profile of resveratrol metabolism in human LDL and urine. This method provides an accurate index of exposure to resveratrol and its metabolites, which can be used as nutritional biomarkers for evaluating the biological effects of moderate wine intake on human health

Associação entre dores nas costas, flexibilidade e força/resistência abdominal em crianças e adolescentes

Objetivo: verificar se existe associação entre dores nas costas, baixa força/resistência abdominal e pouca flexibilidade. Método: foram avaliados um total de 162 crianças e adolescentes (79 meninos e 83 meninas), com idades entre os nove e os 15 anos de idade, de duas escolas da cidade de Canoas/RS. A força/resistência abdominal foi medida através do teste do sit up’s (número de abdominais em um minuto) e a flexibilidade foi medida através do teste de sentar-e-alcançar (cm), seguindo as recomendações do Projeto Esporte Brasil (Proesp). Com o uso de pontos de corte específicos por sexo e idade, a flexibilidade e a força/resistência abdominal foram classificadas em “zona de risco à saúde” e “zona saudável”. A presença de dores nas costas foi medida através do relato dos alunos. Para a estatística descritiva, foi utilizada a média e o desvio padrão. Para a estatística inferencial, foi utilizado o teste do Qui-quadrado. Todas as análises foram realizadas no programa estatístico SPSS 20.0, com nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: não foram identificadas, de forma isolada, associações estatisticamente significativas entre baixa força/resistência abdominal e dores nas costas, assim como baixa flexibilidade e dores nas costas. Também, ao serem analisados aqueles indivíduos que apresentavam conjuntamente baixa resistência/abdominal e baixa flexibilidade e relacionando a dores nas costas, também não foram identificadas associações estatisticamente significativas. Considerações finais: o relato de dores nas costas não parece estar associado a uma baixa força/resistência abdominal e a uma baixa flexibilidade