Programmable Minecraft: a tool to learn programming in high school

La aparición de dispositivos inteligentes que de una forma u otra tienen un desarrollo de software interno (celulares, electrodomésticos, automóviles, entre otros), ha incrementado la necesidad de programadores. Dado que la educación formal no ha logrado cubrir esta necesidad, han surgido diversos proyectos con herramientas que permiten aprender a programar en forma sencilla y entretenida, como por ejemplo, La Hora del Código (http://code.org), que basa sus tutoriales en diferentes juegos. Dentro de esta línea se construyó una variante de Minecraft que permite en tiempo real crear y modificar el comportamiento de sus objetos utilizando Smalltalk como lenguaje.The rise of smart devices which in one way or another have an internal software development (mobile phones, home appliances, cars, among others), has increased the need for programmers. Since formal education has not been successful in meeting this need, several projects with tools that enable to learn programming in a simple and entertaining way have arisen, such as The Hour of Code (http://code. org), which bases its tutorials in different games. Following this trend, a variant of Minecraft, which allows creating and modifying the behavior of its objects in real-time using Smalltalk as a language, was created.Fil: Zabala, Gonzalo Esteban. Universidad Abierta Interamericana. Facultad de Tecnología Informatica. Departamento de Sistemas de Computación. Cent.de Altos Estudios En Tecnología Informatica; ArgentinaFil: Pérez Cerrato, Laura. Universidad Abierta Interamericana. Facultad de Tecnología Informatica. Departamento de Sistemas de Computación. Cent.de Altos Estudios En Tecnología Informatica; ArgentinaFil: Blanco, Sebastian. Universidad Abierta Interamericana. Facultad de Tecnología Informatica. Departamento de Sistemas de Computación. Cent.de Altos Estudios En Tecnología Informatica; ArgentinaFil: Moran, Jorge Ricardo. Universidad Abierta Interamericana. Facultad de Tecnología Informatica. Departamento de Sistemas de Computación. Cent.de Altos Estudios En Tecnología Informatica; ArgentinaFil: Teragni, Matias Ivan. Universidad Abierta Interamericana. Facultad de Tecnología Informatica. Departamento de Sistemas de Computación. Cent.de Altos Estudios En Tecnología Informatica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS): A Review Study of Basic Aspects of the Corrosion Mechanism Applied to Steels

AC impedance measurements have been applied for over twenty years in electrochemistry and physics to investigate the electrical properties of conductive materials and their interfaces using an external electrical impulse (VOLTAGE, V or CURRENT, I) as driving force. Furthermore, its application has recently appeared to be destined in the Biotechnology field as an effective tool for rapid microbiologic diagnosis of living organism in situ. However, there is no doubt that the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is still one of the most useful techniques around the world for metal corrosion control and its monitoring. Corrosion has long been recognized as one of the most expensive stumbling blocks that concern many industries and government agencies, because it is a steel destructive phenomenon that occurs due to the chemical interaction with aqueous environments and takes place at the interface between metal and electrolyte producing an electrical charge transfer or ion diffusion process. Consequently, it is experimentally possible to determine through the EIS technique the mechanism and control that kinectics of corrosion reactions encounter. First, EIS data is collected through a potentiostat/ galvanostat apparatus. After, it is fitted to a mathematical model (i.e. an equivalent electrical circuit, EEC) for its interpretation and analysis, fundamentally seeking a meaningful physical interpretation. Finally, this review reports some basic aspects of the corrosion mechanism applied to steels through the experimental EIS response using Nyquist or Bode plots. Examples are given for different applied electrochemical impedance cases in which steel is under study intentionally exposed to a corrosive aqueous solution by applying a sinusoidal potential at various test conditions

Barriers to Health Service Access: A Study on Conditioning Factors of Self-Health and Illness Perception in Argentina

Aims: To determine self-health image and illness perception as potential barriers to health services access among inhabitants of La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Methods: A cross-sectional study, where survey, “Brief IllnessPerception Questionnaire” and basic medical examination were performed on 2430 participants at homes. Results: Although men showed a better concept of their state of health, they perceived their illness worse and belatedly. Only 45% of participants perceived symptoms disease, and from them, 48% finally decided to consult to the health system. Hence, from every 100 sick people, only 21 had access to a health institution. Higher level of education achieved, better socio-economic conditions or holding health insurance were significantly associated with appropriate health seeking, and access to health service. Conclusions: Self-health image and disease perception affected people’s access to health services. Participants of this study showed suboptimal disease perception, manifested as meager and delayed demand for care. These results demonstrate the weakness of current health care model based on people’s spontaneous demand. It is necessary to adopt a new health system for the entire population, regardless of the self-awareness that people may have about their own health/disease status. It would be a more inclusive, effective and efficient healthcare model.Fil: Marin, Gustavo Horacio. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Departamento de Articulación de Ciencias Básicas y Clínicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Vetere, Pablo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Marin, Lupe. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Giangreco, Lucia. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Dalto, Santiago. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Gladys. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Alconada Magliano, Juan. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Marin, Gina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Ferrero, María Laura. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Bourgeois, Marcelo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Madonia, María Gabriela. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Moran, Virginia. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Jauregui, Aylen. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Madeo, Aldo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Gygli, Silvina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Soibelzon, Laura. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Marin, Cloe. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Rivadulla, Patricia. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Raffaeli, Maria. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Sbattella, Daniela. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Agueda, Jorge. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Haag, Griselda. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Etchegoyen, Graciela. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Wright, Ricardo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Pracilio, Horacio. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Arinavarreta, Adriana. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Argentin

Barriers to Health Service Access: A Study on Conditioning Factors of Self-Health and Illness Perception in Argentina

Aims: To determine self-health image and illness perception as potential barriers to health services access among inhabitants of La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Methods: A cross-sectional study, where survey, “Brief Illness- Perception Questionnaire” and basic medical examination were performed on 2430 participants at homes. Results: Although men showed a better concept of their state of health, they perceived their illness worse and belatedly. Only 45% of participants perceived symptoms disease, and from them, 48% finally decided to consult to the health system. Hence, from every 100 sick people, only 21 had access to a health institution. Higher level of education achieved, better socio-economic conditions or holding health insurance were significantly associated with appropriate health seeking, and access to health service. Conclusions: Self-health image and disease perception affected people’s access to health services. Participants of this study showed suboptimal disease perception, manifested as meager and delayed demand for care. These results demonstrate the weakness of current health care model based on people’s spontaneous demand. It is necessary to adopt a new health system for the entire population, regardless of the self-awareness that people may have about their own health/disease status. It would be a more inclusive, effective and efficient healthcare model.Facultad de Ciencias Médica

Soluble iron nutrients in Saharan dust over the central Amazon rainforest

The intercontinental transport of aerosols from the Sahara desert plays a significant role in nutrient cycles in the Amazon rainforest, since it carries many types of minerals to these otherwise low-fertility lands. Iron is one of the micronutrients essential for plant growth, and its long-range transport might be an important source for the iron-limited Amazon rainforest. This study assesses the bioavailability of iron Fe(II) and Fe(III) in the particulate matter over the Amazon forest, which was transported from the Sahara desert (for the sake of our discussion, this term also includes the Sahel region). The sampling campaign was carried out above and below the forest canopy at the ATTO site (Amazon Tall Tower Observatory), a near-pristine area in the central Amazon Basin, from March to April 2015. Measurements reached peak concentrations for soluble Fe(III) (48 ng m−3), Fe(II) (16 ng m−3), Na (470 ng m−3), Ca (194 ng m−3), K (65 ng m−3), and Mg (89 ng m−3) during a time period of dust transport from the Sahara, as confirmed by ground-based and satellite remote sensing data and air mass backward trajectories. Dust sampled above the Amazon canopy included primary biological aerosols and other coarse particles up to 12 µm in diameter. Atmospheric transport of weathered Saharan dust, followed by surface deposition, resulted in substantial iron bioavailability across the rainforest canopy. The seasonal deposition of dust, rich in soluble iron, and other minerals is likely to assist both bacteria and fungi within the topsoil and on canopy surfaces, and especially benefit highly bioabsorbent species. In this scenario, Saharan dust can provide essential macronutrients and micronutrients to plant roots, and also directly to plant leaves. The influence of this input on the ecology of the forest canopy and topsoil is discussed, and we argue that this influence would likely be different from that of nutrients from the weathered Amazon bedrock, which otherwise provides the main source of soluble mineral nutrients

Albiglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Harmony Outcomes): a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial

Background: Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists differ in chemical structure, duration of action, and in their effects on clinical outcomes. The cardiovascular effects of once-weekly albiglutide in type 2 diabetes are unknown. We aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of albiglutide in preventing cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Methods: We did a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 610 sites across 28 countries. We randomly assigned patients aged 40 years and older with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (at a 1:1 ratio) to groups that either received a subcutaneous injection of albiglutide (30–50 mg, based on glycaemic response and tolerability) or of a matched volume of placebo once a week, in addition to their standard care. Investigators used an interactive voice or web response system to obtain treatment assignment, and patients and all study investigators were masked to their treatment allocation. We hypothesised that albiglutide would be non-inferior to placebo for the primary outcome of the first occurrence of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke, which was assessed in the intention-to-treat population. If non-inferiority was confirmed by an upper limit of the 95% CI for a hazard ratio of less than 1·30, closed testing for superiority was prespecified. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02465515. Findings: Patients were screened between July 1, 2015, and Nov 24, 2016. 10 793 patients were screened and 9463 participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to groups: 4731 patients were assigned to receive albiglutide and 4732 patients to receive placebo. On Nov 8, 2017, it was determined that 611 primary endpoints and a median follow-up of at least 1·5 years had accrued, and participants returned for a final visit and discontinuation from study treatment; the last patient visit was on March 12, 2018. These 9463 patients, the intention-to-treat population, were evaluated for a median duration of 1·6 years and were assessed for the primary outcome. The primary composite outcome occurred in 338 (7%) of 4731 patients at an incidence rate of 4·6 events per 100 person-years in the albiglutide group and in 428 (9%) of 4732 patients at an incidence rate of 5·9 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·78, 95% CI 0·68–0·90), which indicated that albiglutide was superior to placebo (p<0·0001 for non-inferiority; p=0·0006 for superiority). The incidence of acute pancreatitis (ten patients in the albiglutide group and seven patients in the placebo group), pancreatic cancer (six patients in the albiglutide group and five patients in the placebo group), medullary thyroid carcinoma (zero patients in both groups), and other serious adverse events did not differ between the two groups. There were three (<1%) deaths in the placebo group that were assessed by investigators, who were masked to study drug assignment, to be treatment-related and two (<1%) deaths in the albiglutide group. Interpretation: In patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, albiglutide was superior to placebo with respect to major adverse cardiovascular events. Evidence-based glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists should therefore be considered as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes. Funding: GlaxoSmithKline

Optimasi Portofolio Resiko Menggunakan Model Markowitz MVO Dikaitkan dengan Keterbatasan Manusia dalam Memprediksi Masa Depan dalam Perspektif Al-Qur`an

Risk portfolio on modern finance has become increasingly technical, requiring the use of sophisticated mathematical tools in both research and practice. Since companies cannot insure themselves completely against risk, as human incompetence in predicting the future precisely that written in Al-Quran surah Luqman verse 34, they have to manage it to yield an optimal portfolio. The objective here is to minimize the variance among all portfolios, or alternatively, to maximize expected return among all portfolios that has at least a certain expected return. Furthermore, this study focuses on optimizing risk portfolio so called Markowitz MVO (Mean-Variance Optimization). Some theoretical frameworks for analysis are arithmetic mean, geometric mean, variance, covariance, linear programming, and quadratic programming. Moreover, finding a minimum variance portfolio produces a convex quadratic programming, that is minimizing the objective function ðð¥with constraintsð ð 𥠥 ðandð´ð¥ = ð. The outcome of this research is the solution of optimal risk portofolio in some investments that could be finished smoothly using MATLAB R2007b software together with its graphic analysis

Impacts of the Tropical Pacific/Indian Oceans on the Seasonal Cycle of the West African Monsoon

The current consensus is that drought has developed in the Sahel during the second half of the twentieth century as a result of remote effects of oceanic anomalies amplified by local land–atmosphere interactions. This paper focuses on the impacts of oceanic anomalies upon West African climate and specifically aims to identify those from SST anomalies in the Pacific/Indian Oceans during spring and summer seasons, when they were significant. Idealized sensitivity experiments are performed with four atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs). The prescribed SST patterns used in the AGCMs are based on the leading mode of covariability between SST anomalies over the Pacific/Indian Oceans and summer rainfall over West Africa. The results show that such oceanic anomalies in the Pacific/Indian Ocean lead to a northward shift of an anomalous dry belt from the Gulf of Guinea to the Sahel as the season advances. In the Sahel, the magnitude of rainfall anomalies is comparable to that obtained by other authors using SST anomalies confined to the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean. The mechanism connecting the Pacific/Indian SST anomalies with West African rainfall has a strong seasonal cycle. In spring (May and June), anomalous subsidence develops over both the Maritime Continent and the equatorial Atlantic in response to the enhanced equatorial heating. Precipitation increases over continental West Africa in association with stronger zonal convergence of moisture. In addition, precipitation decreases over the Gulf of Guinea. During the monsoon peak (July and August), the SST anomalies move westward over the equatorial Pacific and the two regions where subsidence occurred earlier in the seasons merge over West Africa. The monsoon weakens and rainfall decreases over the Sahel, especially in August.Peer reviewe

Search for supersymmetry in events with one lepton and multiple jets in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

Peer reviewe