A new approach on the stability analysis in ELKO cosmology

In this work it has been developed a new approach to study the stability of a system composed by an ELKO field interacting with dark matter, which could give some contribution in order to alleviate the cosmic coincidence problem. It is assumed that the potential which characterizes the ELKO field is not specified, but it is related to a constant parameter $\delta$. The strength of the interaction between matter and ELKO field is characterized by a constant parameter $\beta$ and it is also assumed that both ELKO field as matter energy density are related to their pressures by equations of state parameters $\omega_\phi$ and $\omega_m$, respectively. The system of equations is analysed by a dynamical system approach. It has been found the conditions of stability between the parameters $\delta$ and $\beta$ in order to have stable fixed points for the system for different values of the equation of state parameters $\omega_\phi$ and $\omega_m$, and the results are presented in form of tables. The possibility of decay of ELKO field into dark matter or vice versa can be read directly from the tables, since the parameters $\delta$ and $\beta$ satisfy some inequalities. It allows us to constrain the potential assuming that we have a stable system for different interactions terms between the ELKO field and dark matter. The cosmic coincidence problem can be alleviated for some specific relations between the parameters of the model.Comment: 16 pages, some new comments in the Introduction and at the begining of Section I

On the applicability of transfer function models for ssi embedment effects

Soil-structure interaction (SSI) effects are typically neglected for relatively lightweight buildings that are less than two-three storeys high with a limited footprint area and resting on shallow foundations (i.e., not featuring a basement). However, when the above conditions are not satisfied, and in particular when large basements are present, important kinematic SSI may develop, causing the foundation-level motion to deviate from the free-field one due to embedment effects. In the literature, transfer function models that estimate the filtering effect induced by rigid massless embedded foundations are available to “transform” foundation-level recordings into free-field ones, and vice-versa. This work describes therefore a numerical study aimed at assessing potential limits of the applicability of such transfer functions through the employment of a 3D nonlinear soil-block model representing a layered soil, recently developed and validated by the authors, and featuring on top a large heavy building with basement. A number of finite element site response analyses were carried out for different seismic input signals, soil profiles and embedment depths of the building’s basement. The numerically obtained transfer functions were compared with the curves derived using two analytical models. It was observed that the latter are able to reliably predict the embedment effects in “idealised” soil/input conditions under which they have been developed. However, in real conditions, namely when a non-homogeneous profile with nonlinear behaviour under a given seismic excitation is considered, especially in presence of a basement that is more than one storey high, they may fail in capturing some features, such as the frequency-dependent amplification of the motion at the basement level of a building with respect to the free-field one

Have you ever listened coastal inhabitants? Know what they think…

Coastal dynamics changes, caused by natural or man-made factors, can to give rise serious consequences, namely at urban areas, exposing coastal population at risk. In this context, the understanding of the way people perceive the coastal dynamics and their exposure to risk is essential for the land use management and Integrated Coastal Zone Management. To get the perception of coastal population, this research was based in a risk map proposed by Water Institute (1999) that classifies the Portuguese territory in three categories of risk: low, mean and high. A questionnaire was applied to the dwellings owners in coastal risk areas of Praia de Esmoriz, Praia de Cortegaça, Furadouro, Torreira, Praia da Barra, Costa Nova do Prado and Praia da Vagueira, during the summer season, in 2006. The questionnaire has as main objectives: coastal risks social perception; coastal dynamics social perception; identification of territorial and environmental changes in the coastal areas; identification of socio-environmental conflicts. A total of 418 questionnaires were completed which corresponds to 10% of the dwellings at risk in the study area. Almost all of respondents recognize the shoreline retreat and would accept having their houses relocated if it were confirmed that there home was in fact in danger, however the inquired population confirms to feeling safe near the sea. In other words, there is negligence of the coastal risks. It is necessary to inform the population of the problems that the coastal areas are suffering of and to get everyone involved in coastal issues

Heat conduction in the hollow sphere with a power-law variation of the external heat transfer coefficient

The conduction phenomenon in an insulated sphere is re-worked through a dimensionless approach, where the heat transfer coefficient dependence on the external radius and on the surface temperature, as in the case of forced and free convection, is taken into account. Assuming a power law variation of the convection coefficient [1, 2], and using the results of Sparrow [3], equations and graphs for the most important dimensionless parameters are presented. The developed equations show, for example, that as the insulation thickness increases the heat transfer rate tends to a positive value, independent of the considered case: constant convection coefficient, forced or free convection.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V3J-42MP1M2-3/1/6228c6d77bbaac53e7833e6cd67d8ef

Single or Combined Maquet III Osteotomy: Long Term Results

INTRODUCTION: In 1963, based on biomechanics studies, Maquet proposed the advancement of the patellar tendon insertion as a mean of treating patellofemoral pain. The rationale for this procedure was a reduction in the patellofemoral compression force vector by changing the angular relationship between patella tendon and quadriceps tendon. One of the additional procedures, on a malalign knee, was performing a cupuliform osteotomy above the tibial tuberosity (COATT). OBJECTIVES: Evaluating, on a retrospective and comparative trial, the clinical and radiological long-term outcomes of the patients who underwent a single (M) or combined (MC) Maquet III osteotomy, in order to determine if this surgery as or not fulfilled its initially objectives. METHODS: All surgical records of the Service, between 1970 and 1991, were reviewed. We identify 116 cases registered as “M” or “MC” Maquet III osteotomy. A questionnaire as been prepared for collecting data. We evaluated the preoperative complaints, postoperative complications and range of motion recovery time, as well as the postoperative pain absence period. All patients underwent an objective assessment by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Kujala Patellofemoral Scoring System (KPFSS). A radiological assessment was also made in order to evaluate the arthrosis degree and compartment affected, the Bicondylo-Patellar Angle (BPA) and the Caton-Deschamps Index (CDI). Mann-Whitney, t-Student and Chi-Square tests were applied for statistical evaluation. p <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: According to the study criteria, from the 116 selected patients we could review in our clinics 49 Maquet III osteotomies (n= 25 “M” group vs n=24 “MC” group) . On the “M” group, the average age at surgery was 37.6 ±12.0 years and the postoperative follow-up 27.1 ±3.15 years, versus 56,5 ±6,8 years at surgery and a 23,2 ±3,4 postoperative follow up years on the “MC” group. Prior range of motion was accomplished 4.8 ±3.5 months after surgery on the “M” group versus 6,7 ±3,5 months on the “MC” group (p=0,017). About complications, on the “M” group we have 16,0% (n=4) versus 16,6% (n=4) (p=0,763). The “M” group presented40% (n=10) patients who haven’t referred pain until nowadays versus 38,5% (n=5) (p=0,85), and the average period of of pain absence was 20.5 ±5.7 years on the “M” group versus 11,0 ±1,7 (p=0,001). At the COX score, 58,3% (n=14) of the “M” group had good to excellent outcomes versus 53,8% (n=7) (p=0,793). VAS at rest was 1.7 ±0.7, in activity 4.4±3.0 and KPFSS 61.9 ±22.3 points on the “M” group versus 1,1 ±0,3 (p=0,016), 4,3 ±2,0 (p=0,883) and 54,7 ± 16,9 (p=0,364) points on the “MC” group. Radiologically, BPA was 6.3 ±3.9° and CDI 0.9 ±0.1 on the “M” group versus 11,8 ±3,9 (p=0,000) and 0,9 ±0,2 (p=0,99) on the “MC” group. Nowadays, at the“M” group,58,3% (n=14) had a grade I/II of Kellgren&Lawrence at patellofemoral joint and 79,2.% (n=19) at the femorotibial joint versus 53,8% (n=7) (p=0,793) and 46,2% (n=6) (p=0,041). CONCLUSION: With a cut off follow-up period higher than 20 years, the Maquet III group presented58,3% of good to excellent outcomes with patients presenting a majority of low grade osteoarthritic knee. The COATT procedure hasn’t increased the postoperative complications nor worsen the funcional outcomes. On the other side, the femorotibial grade of arthritis was higher on this group

Dos “Brasis” para os “Portugais”: Transformações da emigração Brasileira nos últimos 20 anos

Esta comunicação insere-se numa reflexão mais ampla da minha investigação de doutoramento e tem como objectivo a apresentação e análise das principais transformações da emigração brasileira para Portugal nos últimos 20 anos, através da utilização de indicadores disponíveis nas estatísticas oficiais do Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF), do Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE) e do Ministério do Trabalho, bem como de informação qualitativa recolhida em entrevistas ou na imprensa. A grande mutação da emigração brasileira nos últimos 20 anos, e que de alguma forma sintetiza outras, pode ser observada na dimensão da composição profissional e na inserção dos imigrantes no mercado de trabalho. De uma inserção maioritariamente no segmento primário do mercado de trabalho, os novos imigrantes brasileiros vieram a concentrar-se no segmento secundário, o que indicia estarmos perante uma migração laboral. Em termos dos stocks da população imigrada, identifica-se alguma heterogeneidade decorrente destas duas migrações, em parte consecutivas mas também, em alguma medida, coexistentes. Em resultado da transformação da imigração brasileira em migração laboral, podem ser observadas alterações em duas outras dimensões relacionadas: o crescimento no volume do fluxo migratório, por um lado, e o padrão geográfico da distribuição de residência dos imigrantes brasileiros na origem e no destino da migração, por outro. De início, estes dois indicadores permitiam caracterizar as migrações brasileiras como contracorrente da emigração portuguesa para o Brasil. Actualmente, porém, essa especificidade da imigração brasileira desapareceu. A complexidade da análise da emigração brasileira para Portugal resulta da existência de migrações entre mais do que uma origem e mais do que um destino, ao nível local, e não uma migração única entre (apenas) dois países. É por essa razão que o título faz as referências plurais ao Brasil e a Portugal. Processos de recrutamento activo e articulações com redes migratórias contribuem para explicar o desenvolvimento do mais recente fluxo migratório, ao qual não é alheia, também, a retracção forçada da emigração brasileira de Minas Gerais para os Estados Unidos no início do século XXI.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Heat conduction in the hollow sphere with a power-law variation of the external heat transfer coefficient

The conduction phenomenon in an insulated sphere is re-worked through a dimensionless approach, where the heat transfer coefficient dependence on the external radius and on the surface temperature, as in the case of forced and free convection, is taken into account. Assuming a power law variation of the convection coefficient [1, 2], and using the results of Sparrow [3], equations and graphs for the most important dimensionless parameters are presented. The developed equations show, for example, that as the insulation thickness increases the heat transfer rate tends to a positive value, independent of the considered case: constant convection coefficient, forced or free convection.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V3J-42MP1M2-3/1/6228c6d77bbaac53e7833e6cd67d8ef

Alcohol consumption among patients with hepatitis B infection in northern Portugal considering gender and hepatitis B virus genotype differences

Alcohol. 2010 Mar;44(2):149-56. Epub 2010 Jan 29. Alcohol consumption among patients with hepatitis B infection in northern Portugal considering gender and hepatitis B virus genotype differences. Mota A, Guedes F, Areias J, Pinho L, Cardoso MF. SourceInstituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Portugal. Abstract Alcohol abuse is an important public health problem. In Portugal with a population of 10 millions of inhabitants, there are around 10% of alcoholics or excessive alcohol drinkers and 1% of chronically infected patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV). To examine the characteristics of patients with higher levels of alcohol consumption and to investigate the association between alcohol consumption and liver damage a total of 298 chronically infected individuals, with HBV genotyped and submitted to liver biopsy, were classified with Child's grading and separated by habits of alcohol intake, less and greater than 20g/day. No significant differences were observed about genotype but genotypes A and D were predominant in both of them. A higher percentage of males (P<.001) were observed in the group with alcohol intake above 20g/day, as well a lower proportion of patients with HBeAg negativity (P< or =.035). In this group, biochemistry parameters, such as alanine aminotransferase (P=.006), aspartate aminotransferase (P=.001), gamma-glutamyl transferase (P<.001) were elevated in a significantly higher proportion than in the other group. The analysis of hematological parameters showed significantly lower values of platelets (P=.042) and mean corpuscular volume (P<.001) and significantly higher values of prothrombin time (P<.001) in the group with higher levels of alcohol consumption. The characteristics of biopsy (P<.001) and Child-Phug's classification (P=.002) revealed more severe results in this group. Logistic regression showed a positive association between liver damage and alcohol intake, increasing with age. In female patients, a strong positive association between alcohol intake and liver damage was also found (odds ratio: 9.379; 95% confidence interval: 0.859-468.422; P = .037); however, the most severe cases were only observed in women older than 45 years. In patients with HBV infection, alcohol is associated with a more severe liver disease. No evidence was found concerning association with HBV genotype. 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved