Identified charged hadron production in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC with the ALICE Experiment

Identified particle spectra represent a crucial tool to understand the behavior of the matter created in high-energy heavy-ion collisions. The transverse momentum p_T distributions of identified hadrons contain informations about the transverse expansion of the system and constrain the freezeout properties of the matter created. The ALICE experiment has good particle identification performance over a broad p_T range. In this contribution the results for identified pions, kaons and protons in heavy-ion collisions at 2.76 TeV center-of-mass energy are presented. These results are compared with other identified particle measurements obtained by previous experiments, and discussed in terms of the thermal and hydrodynamic pictures. The status of extensions of this analysis, with the study of identified particles as a function of event-by-event flow in Pb-Pb collisions, is also discussed.Comment: Quark Matter 2012 proceedings, 4 pages, 2 figure

Anticipatory action: Lessons for the future

Climate shocks are causing increasingly severe damage and amplifying humanitarian needs. So far, humanitarian action has been mostly responsive, arriving after a crisis has materialized. With recent advances in forecasting, humanitarian and development organizations have been able to anticipate and respond ahead of crises. “Anticipatory action” (AA) seeks to ensure aid is provided before the peak impact of a shock occurs, reducing suffering and humanitarian needs. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has been developing AA frameworks since 2019, coordinating collective AA and mobilizing finance. To date, these pilots have reached approximately 2.2 million people in Somalia, Ethiopia and Bangladesh. In six countries (Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Nepal, Niger, and The Philippines), frameworks are in place to reach a further 2.3 million people should the triggers be reached. OCHA is facilitating the design of AA plans in Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Madagascar, Mozambique and South Sudan. We share lessons from the pilots, focusing on three components: triggers, programming, and financing. We report that triggers must be sufficiently reliable to warrant action and funds disbursement. Forecasts are not available for all countries or hazards, and existing forecasts may not provide desired resolution or skill (accuracy) levels, especially at longer lead times. The timing of action therefore must balance forecast skill against operational needs. Funding is best when it is flexible and includes finance for framework design, evaluation and continued improvements. Finally we discuss the challenges and opportunities in scaling up AA

MANAGEMENT SHOCK OR RATIONALITY SHOCK? THE PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PUT INTO QUESTION

A partir dos processos de reforma gerencial colocados em prática em âmbito mundial, desencadearam-se propostas de reformas seguindo esta mesma lógica, também em nível estadual. O programa Choque de Gestão, implementado no Estado de Minas Gerais, é um exemplo deste tipo de proposta e merece destaque por ser avaliado de maneira bastante positiva na literatura especializada. Neste sentido, o objetivo do presente trabalho é analisar em que medida o programa Choque de Gestão, do Governo do Estado de Minas Gerais, compreende as diferentes dimensões de desempenho. Para tal, propõe-se um modelo teórico que relacione os conceitos de racionalidade instrumental e racionalidade substantiva, conforme analisadas por Ramos (1989), com o paradigma multidimensional proposto por Sander (1995). Para este último, a noção de desempenho deve ser pensada de forma mais ampla, tendo como base os critérios de eficiência, eficácia, efetividade e relevância. Aos conceitos de eficiência e eficácia relaciona-se o de racionalidade instrumental, baseada no cálculo utilitário das conseqüências, e aos de efetividade e relevância, o de racionalidade substantiva, fundamentada em valores. A relação entre os conceitos representa o quadro referencial de análise da pesquisa. Optou-se pela pesquisa qualitativa e os dados foram coletados por meio de pesquisa documental e analisados por meio do método de análise argumentativa. Para a realização da análise, foram utilizadas as categorias de substantividade e instrumentalidade, e foram criados indicadores, com base no referencial teórico, de acordo com as categorias trabalhadas. Por meio destes indicadores, analisou-se o documento Plano Mineiro de Desenvolvimento Integrado (PMDI), que consiste no planejamento de longo prazo do programa Choque de Gestão. A partir da análise realizada, pode-se observar que o conceito de desenvolvimento orientador do PMDI está impregnado de elementos substantivos, como a preocupação com a qualidade de vida ou com o atendimento das demandas sociais e, por isso, guia-se por uma visão de futuro que representa um Estado em que estão presentes as duas categorias aqui trabalhadas. Entretanto, o conceito de desempenho em que está pautado, engloba aspectos predominantemente instrumentais, já que se acredita que para que a administração pública mineira melhore seu desempenho basta que ela adote medidas como a redução de custos ou o foco em resultados. Portanto, conclui-se que o conceito de desempenho em que se pauta o programa Choque de Gestão não compreende as diferentes dimensões de desempenho de forma equilibrada, apesar de se guiar por um conceito de desenvolvimento que envolve elementos substantivos e instrumentais.A partir de los procesos de reforma gerencial puestos en práctica en ámbito mundial, desencadenó propuestas de reformas siguiendo esta misma lógica, también en nivel estadual. El programa Colisión de Gestión, implementado en el Estado de Minas Gerais, es un ejemplo de ese tipo de propuesta y merece destaque por su evaluación de manera muy positiva en la literatura especializada, sirviendo de base para la creación de procesos iguales en otros estados del País. Así, el objetivo de la investigación es analizar en que medida el programa Colisión de Gestión, del Gobierno del Estado de Minas Gerais, entiende las diferentes dimensiones de desempeño. Para el análisis del programa, se propone un modelo teórico que relacione los conceptos de racionalidad instrumental y racionalidad sustantiva, según análisis de Guerreiro Ramos (1989), con el paradigma multidimensional propuesto por Sander (1995). Para Sander, la noción de desempeño se piensa de manera más amplia, usando como base los criterios de eficiencia, eficacia, efectividad y relevancia. A los conceptos de eficiencia y eficacia se relaciona el de racionalidad instrumental, basada en el cálculo utilitario de las consecuencias, y a los de efectividad y relevancia, el de racionalidad sustantiva, basada en valores. La relación entre los seis conceptos representa el cuadro referencial del análisis de la investigación. Se eligió la pesquisa cualitativa y se analizó los datos a través del método de análisis argumentativa. Para la realización del análisis, se utilizó las categorías de sustantividad e instrumentalidad y se creyó indicadores, con base en el referencial teórico, según las categorías trabajadas. A través de esos indicadores, se analizó el plazo del programa de Colisión de Gestión. A partir del análisis realizada, se percibe, principalmente, que el concepto de desarrollo orientador del PMDI está lleno de elementos sustantivos, como la preocupación con la calidad de vida o con el atendimiento de las demandas sociales y, por eso, se conducen por una visión de futuro que representa un Estado en que están presentes las dos categorías aquí estudiadas. Sin embrago, el concepto de desempeño en que está pautado, engloba aspectos predominantemente instrumentales, ya que se cree que para la administración pública minera mejore su desempeño es necesario que ella adopte medidas como la reducción de costos o el foco en resultados.Since the management reform process spread worldwide, other reform proposals following the same logic were put into practice, most of them at the state level. The Management Shock program, implemented in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, is one example of such a proposal and deserves to be highlighted due to the very positively evaluations it received in specialized literature. Therefore, the objective of this study is to analyze to what extent the program Management Shock, implemented by the Government of Minas Gerais, incorporates the different dimensions inherent to the concept of performance. For the analysis of this program, we propose a theoretical model that relates the concepts of instrumental rationality and substantive rationality, as analyzed by Ramos (1989), with the multidimensional paradigm, proposed by Sander (1995). For the latter, the notion of performance should be broadened, incorporating the criteria of efficiency, effectiveness, responsiveness and relevance. The concepts of efficiency and effectiveness are related to instrumental rationality or the utilitarian calculation of consequences; while effectiveness and relevance are related to substantive rationality, based on values. The relationship between the six concepts represents the theoretical framework adopted for data analysis. Data were collected through documentary research and analyzed through the qualitative method of argumentative analysis. For the analysis, the categories of substantivity and instrumentality were used, and indicators were created based on the theoretical framework. Through these indicators, the document entitled Integrated Development Plan of Minas Gerais (PMDI), which consists of long-term planning of the program Management Shock, was analyzed. From the analysis, it can be observed that the guiding concept of development is impregnated with PMDI substantive elements, such as concerns about the quality of life and about meeting social needs. However, the concept of performance in which it is based includes aspects predominantly instrumental, since it is believed that in order for government to improve its performance it is enough to reduce costs or focus on results. Therefore, we conclude that the concept of performance in which the Shock Management program is guided does not include the different dimensions of performance in a balanced way, while being guided by a development concept that involves substantive and instrumental elements

Global warming and population change both heighten future risk of human displacement due to river floods

Every year, millions of people around the world are being displaced from their homes due to climate-related disasters. River flooding is responsible for a large part of this displacement. Previous studies have shown that river flood risk is expected to change as a result of global warming and its effects on the hydrological cycle. At the same time, future scenarios of socio-economic development imply substantial population increases in many of the areas that presently experience disaster-induced displacement. Here we show that both global warming and population change are projected to lead to substantial increases in flood-induced displacement risk over the coming decades. We use a global climate-hydrology-inundation modelling chain, including multiple alternative climate and hydrological models, to quantify the effect of global warming on displacement risk assuming either current or projected future population distributions. Keeping population fixed at present levels, we find roughly a 50% increase in global displacement risk for every degree of global warming. Adding projected population changes further exacerbates these increases globally and in most world regions, with the relative global flood displacement risk is increasing by roughly 350% at the end of the 21st century, compared to an increase of 150% without the contribution of population change. While the resolution of the global models is limited, the effect of global warming is robust across greenhouse gas concentration scenarios, climate models and hydrological models. These findings indicate a need for rapid action on both climate mitigation and adaptation agendas in order to reduce future risks to vulnerable populations

Ectoparasites associated with rodents (Rodentia) and marsupials (Didelphimorphia) from northeastern Argentina: new host and locality records

Los ectoparásitos representan un grupo muy diverso taxonómicamente, que incluye a las pulgas, piojos, ácaros y garrapatas, entre otros. El objetivo de este trabajo es ampliar el conocimiento sobre la fauna de ectoparásitos asociada a roedores y marsupiales de la provincia de Corrientes. Para este propósito, se tomaron muestras de 2 sitios suburbanos en la ciudad de Corrientes: Santa Ana de los Guácaras y San Patricio. Se examinaron 54 huéspedes mamíferos. Entre los marsupiales, se recolectaron 2 especies: Lutreolina crassicaudata y Didelphis albiventris. Los roedores analizados incluyen 3 especies: Cavia aperea, Oxymycterus rufus y Oligoryzomys sp. El número total de ectoparásitos recolectados fue de 469, que incluyen 5 géneros de ácaros: Androlaelaps Berlese, 1903, Gigantolaelaps Nesbitt, 1951, Laelaps Koch, 1836, Mysolaelaps Fonseca, 1935 y Ornithonyssus Sambon, 1928; 3 especies de garrapatas: Amblyomma ovale, A. dubitatum e Ixodes loricatus; 2 especies de pulgas: Polygenis axius y Polygenis bohlsi, y 3 piojos diferentes: Trimenopon hispidum, Gliricola sp. y Gyropus sp. Estos resultados proporcionan nuevos registros de huéspedes y localidad, así como, nuevas asociaciones parásito-huésped.Taxonomically, ectoparasites represent a very diverse group, which includes: fleas, lice, mites, and ticks, among others. The aim of this work is to extend the knowledge about the ectoparasite fauna associated with rodents and marsupials from Corrientes Province. For this purpose, 2 suburban sites in Corrientes City were sampled: Santa Ana de los Guácaras and San Patricio. Fifty-four mammal hosts were examined. Among the marsupials, 2 species were collected: Lutreolina crassicaudata Desmarest, 1804 and Didelphis albiventris Lund, 1840. The analyzed rodents included 3 species: Cavia aperea Erxleber, 1777, Oxymycterus rufus Fischer, 1814 and Oligoryzomys sp. Bangs, 1900. In total, 469 ectoparasites were collected including 5 genera of mites: Androlaelaps Berlese, 1903, Gigantolaelaps Nesbitt, 1951, Laelaps Koch, 1836, Mysolaelaps Fonseca, 1935, and Ornithonyssus Sambon, 1928; 3 species of ticks, Amblyomma ovale Koch, 1844, A. dubitatum Neumann, 1899, and Ixodes loricatus Neumann, 1899; 2 species of fleas: Polygenis axius Jordan & Rothschild, 1923 and Polygenis bohlsi Wagner, 1901, and 3 different lice, Trimenopon hispidum Burmeister, 1838, Gliricola sp. Schrank, 1781, and Gyropus sp. Nitzsch, 1818. These results provide host and locality records and new parasite-host associations.Fil: Benitez Ibalo, Alicia Paola. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Aguiar, Leonardo Dionel. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Di Benedetto, Ingrid María Desireé. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Mangold, Atilio Jose. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Santa Fe. Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela. Agencia de Extension Rural Rafaela.; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Milano, Alicia María Francisca. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura; ArgentinaFil: Debárbora, Valeria Natalia. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentin

O Fenômeno da Empresarização e a Busca por Alternativas na Produção, Comercialização e Distribuição da Música no Brasil como Formas de Resistência

Com o presente artigo, objetiva-se analisar novas formas possíveis de produção, comercialização e distribuição da música como possibilidades de resistência às práticas hegemônicas, tradicionalmente, exercidas pelas grandes gravadoras, tendo como pano de fundo algumas experiências existentes no âmbito do mercado fonográfico brasileiro. A crise que o mercado fonográfico enfrenta desde o final da década de 90 e que está, intimamente, ligada a mudanças de ordem tecnológicas, possibilitou novas alternativas de produzir e comercializar a música as quais fogem ao modelo dominante estabelecido pelas organizações tradicionalmente hegemônicas nessa indústria. Assim, são apresentados e analisados, neste trabalho, exemplos de organizações ligadas à música que oferecem algum grau de resistência ao modelo estrutural dominante, sendo elas compreendidas pelos autores como organizações de resistência. Conclui-se que as formas organizacionais exemplificadas apresentam características estruturais específicas que nos permite considerá-las como formas de resistência ao modelo empresarial de organização

Clinical features and outcomes of elderly hospitalised patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure or both

Background and objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure (HF) mutually increase the risk of being present in the same patient, especially if older. Whether or not this coexistence may be associated with a worse prognosis is debated. Therefore, employing data derived from the REPOSI register, we evaluated the clinical features and outcomes in a population of elderly patients admitted to internal medicine wards and having COPD, HF or COPD + HF. Methods: We measured socio-demographic and anthropometric characteristics, severity and prevalence of comorbidities, clinical and laboratory features during hospitalization, mood disorders, functional independence, drug prescriptions and discharge destination. The primary study outcome was the risk of death. Results: We considered 2,343 elderly hospitalized patients (median age 81 years), of whom 1,154 (49%) had COPD, 813 (35%) HF, and 376 (16%) COPD + HF. Patients with COPD + HF had different characteristics than those with COPD or HF, such as a higher prevalence of previous hospitalizations, comorbidities (especially chronic kidney disease), higher respiratory rate at admission and number of prescribed drugs. Patients with COPD + HF (hazard ratio HR 1.74, 95% confidence intervals CI 1.16-2.61) and patients with dementia (HR 1.75, 95% CI 1.06-2.90) had a higher risk of death at one year. The Kaplan-Meier curves showed a higher mortality risk in the group of patients with COPD + HF for all causes (p = 0.010), respiratory causes (p = 0.006), cardiovascular causes (p = 0.046) and respiratory plus cardiovascular causes (p = 0.009). Conclusion: In this real-life cohort of hospitalized elderly patients, the coexistence of COPD and HF significantly worsened prognosis at one year. This finding may help to better define the care needs of this population