Semi-regular continued fractions and an exact formula for the moments of the Minkowski question mark function

This paper continues investigations on the integral transforms of the Minkowski question mark function. In this work we finally establish the long-sought formula for the moments, which does not explicitly involve regular continued fractions, though it has a hidden nice interpretation in terms of semi-regular continued fractions. The proof is self-contained and does not rely on previous results by the author.Comment: 8 page

Electron-hole asymmetry in two-terminal graphene devices

A theoretical model is proposed to describe asymmetric gate-voltage dependence of conductance and noise in two-terminal ballistic graphene devices. The model is analyzed independently within the self-consistent Hartree and Thomas-Fermi approximations. Our results justify the prominent role of metal contacts in recent experiments with suspended graphene flakes. The contact-induced electrostatic potentials in graphene demonstrate a power-law decay with the exponent varying from -1 to -0.5. Within our model we explain electron-hole asymmetry and strong Fabri-Perot oscillations of the conductance and noise at positive doping, which were observed in many experiments with submicrometer samples. Limitations of the Thomas-Fermi approximation in a vicinity of the Dirac point are discussed.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure

Paraffin waxes in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea: A comprehensive assessment in the Pelagos Sanctuary, a Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance

Paraffin waxes are widely recognized as emerging marine pollutants, even their classification by the recent monitoring programs and the knowledge of their occurrence, and sources of contamination in marine ecosystems are poorly defined and reported. Wax presence and distribution have been evaluated in different environmental compartments in the Pelagos Sanctuary (Mediterranean Sea) floating on the sea surface and stranded on beaches, focussing on their characterization, accumulation areas and pollution inputs. More than 2500 yellow paraffin residues were detected and analysed in the study area showing a prevailing dimension smaller than 5 mm. The Genoa Canyon and the waters facing Gorgona Island resulted in the more polluted areas representing two distinct hotspots of wax accumulation potentially related to the high density of tanker vessels sailing to and from the harbour of Genova and Livorno. Higher concentrations of beached particles were found along the Tuscan coast (11 items/100 m) and on Pianosa Island (110 items/m2). This study gives valuable insights into paraffin wax pollution in the Pelagos Sanctuary, emphasizing the need for harmonized monitoring and detection methods to elucidate the potential impacts on marine organisms. Moreover, mitigating actions are crucial to prevent and curb the waxes pollution of marine ecosystems

Clinical correlates of plasma antithrombin and protein C levels in patients with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in Sokoto, Northwest Nigeria

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy complicate 17% of pregnancies in Sokoto, Nigeria with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia accounting for 6% and 4.29% respectively. Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia stand out as major causes of poor pregnancy outcomes with eclampsia contributing 46% of adolescent maternal mortality in Sokoto. These disorders increase risk of venous thromboembolism, DIC, placental abruption, IUGR, premature delivery and recurrent pregnancy loss. The roles of antithrombin and protein C in disease severity and outcomes of pregnancies in pre-eclampsia/eclampsia are subject of recent researches albeit with conflicting findings. The aim of the study was to determine the plasma antithrombin and protein C levels of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in Sokoto with a view to assessing any relationship with clinical severity and pregnancy outcomes.Methods: Prospective comparative study involving 31 each of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and normotensive pregnancy. Plasma antithrombin and protein C levels were determined via kinetic method using S4 Nortek semi-automated coagulometer. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 21.0.  Results: The mean plasma antithrombin and protein C levels for eclampsia, pre-eclampsia and normotensive pregnancy were (61.17±9.13 and 60.00±5.76) vs (71.24±13.15 and 71.06±6.16) vs (85.54±8.77 and 89.64±7.61) respectively; p=0.0001. Severe pre-eclampsia when compared with mild pre-eclampsia had lower antithrombin (70.21±13.58 vs 73.74±12.43; p=0.507) and protein C (70.52±6.27 vs 72.40±6.00; p=0.451) levels respectively, though without statistical significance. Pre-eclampsia with low plasma antithrombin levels had increased risk of preterm delivery when age, gravidity and booking status were factored (OR, 1.2, 95% CI 0.035 to 0.348, p=0.017).Conclusions: Lower plasma antithrombin and protein C levels were found with eclampsia and severe pre-eclampsia suggesting consumptive depletion of anticoagulants with disease progression. Women with pre-eclampsia and low plasma antithrombin levels were found to have increased odds of having preterm delivery when age, gravidity and booking status were considered

Degradation of plastic materials in the marine environment: A mussel farm as a case study for the development of alternative mussel nets

Currently, mussel farming uses of traditional plastic nets that accumulate on beaches and on the seabed in the event of breakage and accidental dispersion, contributing to the marine litter issue. An attempt is being made to replace the polypropylene nets with alternative materials to make the aquaculture full production cycle more sustainable. However, alternative materials need to be characterised both functionally and environmentally. This article describes a characterisation study in which plastic materials were exposed for approximately three years to the marine environment in a bay dedicated to mussel farming to provide data on the degradation behaviour of the selected polymers for eco-design purposes. Samples of the different materials, in the form of 3-mm thick dumbbells, were placed on the seabed at a depth of 12 m and in the water column at 2 m below the sea surface. At different time periods (after 6, 15, 24, 32 months), the samples were recovered, their mass and thickness were measured, and the mechanical properties were characterised. The results lead to the identification of some materials as sufficiently resistant to deterioration and therefore possible candidates for the application. Other materials generally used to make bags and films showed a very fast degradation and therefore do not seem to meet the performance requirements for mussel farming. The methodology used in this study seems suitable for conducting long-term exposure tests on locations of interest and collecting specific data for eco-design purposes before the application of the product on the markets

Morphological and molecular characterization of Trichuris muris (Nematoda: Trichuridae): studies from two commensal rodent species

In this paper we re-describe Trichuris muris based on morphological data following isolation from two commensal rodent species, Mus musculus from Mexico and Rattus rattus from Argentina. Furthermore, we provide a molecular characterization based on mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial gene) and nuclear (internal transcribed spacer 2 region) markers in order to support the taxonomic identification of the studied specimens of T. muris from M. musculus. We distinguished T. muris from 29 species of Trichuris found in American rodents based on morphological and biometrical features, such as the presence of a spicular tube, length of spicule, size of proximal and distal cloacal tube and non-protrusive vulva. We suggest that spicular tube patterns can be used to classify Trichuris species in three groups. Considering that the diagnosis among the species of this genus is mainly based on morphometry, this proposal represents a relevant contribution. We provide molecular studies on two markers, making this the first contribution for T. muris in the Americas. This study makes an important contribution to the integrative taxonomy of cosmopolitan nematode species, and its correct determination from the parasitological study of commensal rodents.Fil: Panti May, Jesús Alonso. Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan (uady);Fil: Gómez Muñoz, María de Los Ángeles. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Yeh Gorocica, A. B.. Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan (uady);Fil: Hernández Betancourt, S.. Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan (uady);Fil: Milano, F.. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Galliari, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Robles, Maria del Rosario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; Argentin

The Lattice and Simplex Structure of States on Pseudo Effect Algebras

We study states, measures, and signed measures on pseudo effect algebras with some kind of the Riesz Decomposition Property, (RDP). We show that the set of all Jordan signed measures is always an Abelian Dedekind complete $\ell$-group. Therefore, the state space of the pseudo effect algebra with (RDP) is either empty or a nonempty Choquet simplex or even a Bauer simplex. This will allow represent states on pseudo effect algebras by standard integrals

Hyperstates of Involutive MTL-Algebras that Satisfy (2x)2=2(x2)(2x)^2 = 2(x^2)

States of MV-algebras have been the object of intensive study and attempts of generalizations. The aim of this contribution is to provide a preliminary investigation for states of prelinear semihoops and hyperstates of algebras in the variety generated by perfect and involutive MTL-algebras (IBP0-algebras for short). Grounding on a recent result showing that IBP0-algebras can be constructed from a Boolean algebra, a prelinear semihoop and a suitably defined operator between them, our first investigation on states of prelinear semihoops will support and justify the notion of hyperstate for IBP0- algebras and will actually show that each such map can be represented by a probability measure on its Boolean skeleton, and a state on a suitably defined abelian l-group.Comment: 12 page