Domain size heterogeneity in the Ising model: geometrical and thermal transitions

A measure of cluster size heterogeneity ($H$), introduced by Lee et al [Phys. Rev. E {\bf 84}, 020101 (2011)] in the context of explosive percolation, was recently applied to random percolation and to domains of parallel spins in the Ising and Potts models. It is defined as the average number of different domain sizes in a given configuration and a new exponent was introduced to explain its scaling with the size of the system. In thermal spin models, however, physical clusters take into account the temperature-dependent correlation between neighboring spins and encode the critical properties of the phase transition. We here extend the measure of $H$ to these clusters and, moreover, present new results for the geometric domains for both $d=2$ and 3. We show that the heterogeneity associated with geometric domains has a previously unnoticed double peak, thus being able to detect both the thermal and percolative transition. An alternative interpretation for the scaling of $H$ that does not introduce a new exponent is also proposed.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Dissolving star cluster candidates

We present a list of 34 neglected entries from star cluster catalogues located at relatively high galactic latitudes ($|b| >$ 15$^{\circ}$) which appear to be candidate late stages of star cluster dynamical evolution. Although underpopulated with respect to usual open clusters, they still present a high number density contrast as compared to the galactic field. This was verified by means of (i) predicted model counts from different galactic subsystems in the same direction, and (ii) Guide Star Catalog equal solid angle counts for the object and surrounding fields. This suggests that the objects are physical systems, possibly star clusters in the process of disruption or their fossil remains. The sample will be useful for followup studies in view of verifying their physi cal nature.Comment: manuscript in LATEX with 7 pages, 7 figures .ps Accepted for Astronomy and Astrophysics main journa

Fresh Activity in Old Systems: Radio AGN in Fossil Groups of Galaxies

We present the first systematic 1.4 GHz Very Large Array radio continuum survey of fossil galaxy group candidates. These are virialized systems believed to have assembled over a gigayear in the past through the merging of galaxy group members into a single, isolated, massive elliptical galaxy and featuring an extended hot X-ray halo. We use new photometric and spectroscopic data from SDSS Data Release 7 to determine that three of the candidates are clearly not fossil groups. Of the remaining 30 candidates, 67% contain a radio-loud (L_1.4GHz > 10^23 W Hz^-1) active galactic nucleus (AGN) at the center of their dominant elliptical galaxy. We find a weak correlation between the radio luminosity of the AGN and the X-ray luminosity of the halo suggesting that the AGN contributes to energy deposition into the intragroup medium. We only find a correlation between the radio and optical luminosity of the central elliptical galaxy when we include X-ray selected, elliptically dominated non-fossil groups, indicating a weak relationship between AGN strength and the mass assembly history of the groups. The dominant elliptical galaxy of fossil groups is on average roughly an order of magnitude more luminous than normal group elliptical galaxies in optical, X-ray, and radio luminosities and our findings are consistent with previous results that the radio-loud fraction in elliptical galaxies is linked to the stellar mass of a population. The current level of activity in fossil groups suggests that AGN fueling continues long after the last major merger. We discuss several possibilities for fueling the AGN at the present epoch.Comment: Accepted for publication in A

Editorial: special issue on autonomous driving and driver assistance systems

No abstract availablepublishe

Occurrence of viruses and stunting diseases and estimative of yield losses by mollicutes in corn in Paraná State, Brazil

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a incidência de viroses e enfezamentos e estimar as perdas causadas por enfezamentos na cultura do milho safrinha. Os diagnósticos baseados em sintomas foram confirmados por PCR ou RTPCR. Em todas as lavouras, foram identificadas plantas com sintomas de enfezamentos, em incidência de 6,2% a 49,9% (média de 20,7%). Na identificação de insetos vetores desses patógenos, a cigarrinha Dalbulus maidis foi detectada em 20 lavouras das 24 amostradas, constituindo 66,6% do total de espécimens de cigarrinhas coletadas. A perda potencial causada pelos enfezamentos no período foi estimada em cerca de 16,5 milhões de dólares. A ocorrência de plantas com sintomas de "Maize rayado fino virus" e "Maize dwarf mosaic virus" foi baixa e o diagnóstico confirmado por RTPCR. A análise de 441 amostras suspeitas de infecção por "Mal de Río Cuarto virus", por DASELISA, mostrou ausência desse vírus. Resultados de PCR indicaram a presença de um possível fitoplasma distinto de "Maize bushy stunt phytoplasma" em duas plantas apresentando nanismo acentuado, folhas estreitas, enrijecidas, com deformações, e grãos na inflorescência, havendo necessidade de mais estudos para a confirmação da identidade desse possível novo fitoplasma.The objective of this work was to evaluate the occurence and yield losses by corn stunting diseases and maize viruses in "safrinha" season. Disease diagnostics based on plant symptoms were confirmed by PCR or RTPCR assays. Insect samples were collected in 24 fields for identification of vectors of the pathogens. Corn stunting diseases symptoms were observed in all crops evaluated, with incidence levels ranging from 6.2% to 49.9% (average 20.7%) and the presence of the leafhopper Dalbulus maidis, was detected in 20 of the 24 areas evaluated. This insect species was prevalent, representing 66,6% of total leafhoppers specimens collected. The potential yield losses caused by mollicutes was estimated around US$ 16.5 million. Few plants showing Maize rayado fino virus and Maize dwarf mosaic virus symptoms were found and virus infection was confirmed by RTPCR. Mal de Río Cuarto virus was not detected in all 441 plants analyzed by DASELISA. Results of PCR assays indicated the presence of a possible phytoplasma different from maize bushy stunt phytoplasma in two stunting maize plants showing leaves distortions and grain in the inflorescence. However, new studies should be done to confirm the identity of this possible new phytoplasma

Children's health care assistance according to their families: a comparison between models of Primary Care

OBJETIVO Comparar o modelo assistencial de Unidades Básicas Tradicionais (UBS) com as unidades Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) quanto à presença e extensão dos atributos da Atenção Primária de Saúde (APS), no atendimento de crianças. MÉTODO Estudo transversal, com abordagem quantitativa, com familiares de crianças atendidas no Serviço Público de Saúde de Colombo, Paraná. O Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCA-Tool) foi aplicado aos responsáveis de 482 crianças, 235 de unidades ESF e 247 de UBS, abrangendo todas as unidades de atenção primária do município, entre junho e julho de 2012. Os resultados foram analisados segundo o manual do PCA-Tool. RESULTADOS As unidades com ESF alcançaram escore geral limítrofe para APS. Porém, tiveram melhores resultados nos atributos Afiliação, Coordenação da integração dos cuidados, Integralidade, Orientação Familiar e Acessibilidade quanto à utilização, enquanto os atributos Orientação Comunitária, Coordenação dos sistemas de informações, Longitudinalidade e Acesso foram classificados como insuficientes para a APS. As UBS tiveram escores baixos em todos os atributos. CONCLUSÃO As unidades com ESF estão mais próximas dos princípios da APS, mas há necessidade de rever ações de assistência à criança, visando aos atributos da APS, em ambos os modelos de atenção, corroborando com estudos semelhantes em outras regiões do Brasil.OBJETIVO Comparar el modelo asistencial de Unidades Básicas Tradicionales (UBS) con las unidades Estrategia Salud de la Familia (ESF) en cuanto a la presencia y extensión de los atributos de la Atención Primaria de Salud (APS), en la atención a los niños. MÉTODO Estudio transversal, con abordaje cuantitativo, con familiares de niños atendidos en el Servicio Público de Salud de Colombo, Paraná. El Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCA-Tool) fue aplicado a los responsables de 482 niños, 235 de unidades ESF y 247 de UBS, abarcando todas las unidades de atención primaria del municipio, entre junio y julio de 2012. Los resultados fueron analizados según el manual del PCA-Tool. RESULTADOS Las unidades con ESF alcanzaron un puntaje general limítrofe para APS. Sin embargo, tuvieron mejores resultados en los atributos Afiliación, Coordinación de la integración de los cuidados, Integralidad, Orientación Familiar y Accesibilidad en cuanto a la utilización, mientras que los atributos Orientación Comunitaria, Coordinación de los sistemas de informaciones, Longitudinalidad y Acceso fueron clasificados como insuficientes para la APS. Las UBS tuvieron puntajes bajos en todos los atributos. CONCLUSIÓN Las unidades con ESF se acercan más a los principios de la APS, pero existe la necesidad de rever acciones de asistencia al niño, con vistas a los atributos de la APS, en ambos modelos de atención, corroborando con estudios semejantes en otras regiones de Brasil.OBJECTIVE To compare the health assistance models of Basic Traditional Units (UBS) with the Family Health Strategy (ESF) units for presence and extent of attributes of Primary Health Care (APS), specifically in the care of children. METHOD A cross-sectional study of a quantitative approach with families of children attended by the Public Health Service of Colombo, Paraná. The Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCA-Tool) was applied to parents of 482 children, 235 ESF units and 247 UBS units covering all primary care units of the municipality, between June and July 2012. The results were analyzed according to the PCA-Tool manual. RESULTS ESF units reached a borderline overall score for primary health care standards. However, they fared better in their attributes of Affiliation, Integration of care coordination, Comprehensiveness, Family Centeredness and Accessibility of use, while the attributes of Community Guidance/Orientation, Coordination of Information Systems, Longitudinality and Access attributes were rated as insufficient for APS. UBS units had low scores on all attributes. CONCLUSION The ESF units are closer to the principles of APS (Primary Health Care), but there is need to review actions of child care aimed at the attributes of APS in both care models, corroborating similar studies from other regions of Brazil

Textile dyes induce toxicity on zebrafish early life stages

Textile manufacturing is one of the most polluting industrial sectors because of the release of potentially toxic compounds, such as synthetic dyes, into the environment. Depending on the class of the dyes, their loss in wastewaters can range from 2% to 50% of the original dye concentration. Consequently, uncontrolled use of such dyes can negatively affect human health and the ecological balance. The present study assessed the toxicity of the textile dyes Direct Black 38 (DB38), Reactive Blue 15 (RB15), Reactive Orange 16 (RO16), and Vat Green 3 (VG3) using zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos for 144 h postfertilization (hpf). At the tested conditions, none of the dyes caused significant mortality. The highest RO16 dose significantly delayed or inhibited the ability of zebrafish embryos to hatch from the chorion after 96 hpf. From 120 hpf to 144 hpf, all the dyes impaired the gas bladder inflation of zebrafish larvae, DB38 also induced curved tail, and VG3 led to yolk sac edema in zebrafish larvae. Based on these data, DB38, RB15, RO16, and VG3 can induce malformations during embryonic and larval development of zebrafish. Therefore, it is essential to remove these compounds from wastewater or reduce their concentrations to safe levels before discharging textile industry effluents into the aquatic environment