A Bayesian estimate of the CMB-large-scale structure cross-correlation

Evidences for late-time acceleration of the Universe are provided by multiple probes, such as Type Ia supernovae, the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and large-scale structure (LSS). In this work, we focus on the integrated Sachs--Wolfe (ISW) effect, i.e., secondary CMB fluctuations generated by evolving gravitational potentials due to the transition between, e.g., the matter and dark energy (DE) dominated phases. Therefore, assuming a flat universe, DE properties can be inferred from ISW detections. We present a Bayesian approach to compute the CMB--LSS cross-correlation signal. The method is based on the estimate of the likelihood for measuring a combined set consisting of a CMB temperature and a galaxy contrast maps, provided that we have some information on the statistical properties of the fluctuations affecting these maps. The likelihood is estimated by a sampling algorithm, therefore avoiding the computationally demanding techniques of direct evaluation in either pixel or harmonic space. As local tracers of the matter distribution at large scales, we used the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) galaxy catalog and, for the CMB temperature fluctuations, the ninth-year data release of the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP9). The results show a dominance of cosmic variance over the weak recovered signal, due mainly to the shallowness of the catalog used, with systematics associated with the sampling algorithm playing a secondary role as sources of uncertainty. When combined with other complementary probes, the method presented in this paper is expected to be a useful tool to late-time acceleration studies in cosmology.Comment: 21 pages, 15 figures, 4 tables. We extended the previous analyses including WMAP9 Q, V and W channels, besides the ILC map. Updated to match accepted ApJ versio

Delocalization and wave-packet dynamics in one-dimensional diluted Anderson models

We study the nature of one-electron eigen-states in a one-dimensional diluted Anderson model where every Anderson impurity is diluted by a periodic function $f(l)$ . Using renormalization group and transfer matrix techniques, we provide accurate estimates of the extended states which appear in this model, whose number depends on the symmetry of the diluting function $f(l)$. The density of states (DOS) for this model is also numerically obtained and its main features are related to the symmetries of the diluting function $f(l)$. Further, we show that the emergence of extended states promotes a sub-diffusive spread of an initially localized wave-packet.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, to appear in EPJ

On topological spin excitations on a rigid torus

We study Heisenberg model of classical spins lying on the toroidal support, whose internal and external radii are $r$ and $R$, respectively. The isotropic regime is characterized by a fractional soliton solution. Whenever the torus size is very large, $R\to\infty$, its charge equals unity and the soliton effectively lies on an infinite cylinder. However, for R=0 the spherical geometry is recovered and we obtain that configuration and energy of a soliton lying on a sphere. Vortex-like configurations are also supported: in a ring torus ($R>r$) such excitations present no core where energy could blow up. At the limit $R\to\infty$ we are effectively describing it on an infinite cylinder, where the spins appear to be practically parallel to each other, yielding no net energy. On the other hand, in a horn torus ($R=r$) a singular core takes place, while for $R<r$ (spindle torus) two such singularities appear. If $R$ is further diminished until vanish we recover vortex configuration on a sphere.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figure

Genetic diversity in a jaborandi ( Pilocarpus microphyllus Stapf.) germplasm bank assessed by RAPD markers.

Diversidade genética em banco de germoplasma de jaborandi ( Pilocarpus microphyllus Stapf .) por meio de marcadores RAPD. O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar a presença de variabilidade genética no banco de germoplasma de P. microphyllus da Embrapa Amazônia Oriental por meio de marcadores RAPD. Foi extraído o DNA de 93 indivíduos, pertencentes a 12 áreas de coleta presentes no banco de germoplasma. Foram construídos dendrogramas entre indivíduos e entre áreas de coleta, usando os coeficientes de similaridade de Nei & Li por meio do programa NTSYS-pc. Para verificar a distribuição da variabilidade, foi realizada a análise de variância molecular (AMOVA), sendo obtidas as variâncias entre e dentro de áreas de coleta. Foi usado o índice de diversidade de Shannon, para medir a diversidade de cada área. Foi verificada uma boa amplitude de similaridades entre os indivíduos, sendo que o dendrograma não agrupou por completo os indivíduos de acordo com sua origem. A AMOVA obteve 24,16% de variação entre áreas e 75,84% dentro de áreas

Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva: Case Report.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva is a rare genetic disease characterized by widespread soft tissue ossification and congenital stigmata of the extremities. We report on a male child followed for ten years since the age of 3 years and 9 months, when the diagnosis was made. He was born with bilateral hypoplasic hallux valgus and ventricular septal defect, corrected by trans-sternal approach when 32 months old. Restriction of neck mobility followed and foci of ectopic ossification appeared. Four crises of disease exacerbation were treated with oral prednisone and/or other antiinflammatory drugs. Sodium etidronate 5 to 10 mg/kg/day was prescribed intermittently during about six years but was discontinued due to osteopenia. The disease course has been relentless, with severe movement restriction including the chest wall. A review showed few similar case reports in the Brazilian literature. We revisit the criteria for diagnosis and the essentials of management and treatment.58342-

A bi-objective optimization approach for wildfire detection

We consider the problem of buying and locating equipment for covering a (discretized) region. We propose two approaches, based on mathematical programming modelling and the epsilon-constraint method, that allow obtaining the efficient frontier of a bi-objective optimization problem. In the first approach, the objectives are maximizing coverage and minimizing cost. In the second approach, lexicographic optimization is used to incorporate additional objectives - maximizing double coverage and minimizing the maximum fire rate of spread of uncovered points. The latter objective comes from the specific application that motivated this work: wildfire detection. We present results from a case study in a portuguese landscape, as an example of the potential of optimization models and methods to support decision making in such a relevant field.This research was supported by FCT- Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia , within the scope of project “O3F- An Optimization Framework to reduce Forest Fire”- PCIF/GRF/0141/2019. We also acknowledge the Municipality of Baião and the Volunteer Firefighters of Baião and Sta. Marinha do Zˆezere for the constant support and for accompanying in the technical and field visits to Baião

A manifestação prática do Ambiente Educativo nas salas de aula de Educação Visual e Educação Tecnológica

O relatório final de estágio que se apresenta engloba duas partes, sendo a primeira correspondente à Prática de Ensino Supervisionada e a segunda ao trabalho de investigação. Procura-se, através da segunda, uma mais profunda compreensão da relação do espaço físico da escola, da sala de aula e da arquitetura escolar com os ambientes educativos, com especial incidência em espaços destinados às disciplinas de Educação Visual e Educação Tecnológica, bem como do processo evolutivo dessa relação e desses espaços até à atualidade. O presente estudo passa então numa primeira fase pela realização de um enquadramento histórico acerca das Artes na Educação em Portugal e do percurso – origem, evolução e situação atual – da disciplina de EVT, passando-se depois à elaboração de um enquadramento teórico em torno das questões inerentes aos ambientes educativos, à sua dimensão organizacional, física, social e pedagógica. Relativamente ao enquadramento teórico, toma-se como ponto de partida para refletir sobre estas questões a obra Vigiar e Punir, onde Michel Foucault analisa a forma como é aplicado o poder disciplinar através da escola – controlo do espaço, tempo e organização –, e de que modo se relaciona o “Panóptico” – conceito do filósofo Jeremy Bentham e retomado por Foucault – à Escola e, mais concretamente, às salas de aula construídas à luz da Idade Moderna. O estudo passa então, seguidamente, pela recolha de documentos que permitam a análise dos espaços da escola e da sala de aula, atendando-se à ordem cronológica e evolutiva dos espaços, bem como a sua contextualização histórica e social, dos espaços atualmente destinados à lecionação das disciplinas de Educação Visual e Educação Tecnológica, e de espaços pertencentes a modelos e/ou contextos distintos do que se verifica na maioria das escolas públicas portuguesas. Segue-se depois o momento de implementação da investigação em contexto de estágio, em que se observaram duas turmas do 6º ano de escolaridade, alterando-se a disposição da sala e dos alunos pelo espaço consoante a atividade implementada numa das turmas, enquanto na outra turma se mantém a disposição tradicional, observandose os resultados.Supervised Teaching Practice and the second to research work. Through the second, we seek a deeper understanding of the relationship between the physical space of the school, the classroom and school architecture with educational environments, with a special focus on spaces intended for the disciplines of Visual Education and Technological Education, as well as of the evolutionary process of this relationship and these spaces until today. The present study therefore involves, in its first phase, the creation of a historical framework about the Arts in Education in Portugal and the trajectory – origin, evolution and current situation – of the EVT discipline, then moving on to the elaboration of a theoretical framework around the issues inherent to educational environments, to their organizational, physical, social and pedagogical dimensions. Regarding the theoretical framework, the work Discipline and Punish is taken as a starting point to reflect on these issues, where Michel Foucault analyzes the way in which disciplinary power is applied through the school – control of space, time and organization –, and how the “Panopticon” – a concept by the philosopher Jeremy Bentham and taken up by Foucault – relates to the School and, more specifically, to the classrooms built in the light of the Modern Age. The study then goes on to collect documents that allow the analysis of school and classroom spaces – taking into account the chronological and evolutionary order of the spaces, as well as their historical and social contextualization – of the spaces currently designated teaching the subjects of Visual Education (VE) and Technological Education (ET), and spaces belonging to different models and/or contexts than what is found in most Portuguese public schools. Then follows the moment of implementing the research in the context of an internship, in which two classes from the 6th year of schooling were observed, changing the layout of the room and students throughout the space depending on the activity implemented in one of the classes, while in the other the class maintains the traditional layout, observing the results