A dynamical characterization of the small world phase

Small-world (SW) networks have been identified in many different fields. Topological coefficients like the clustering coefficient and the characteristic path length have been used in the past for a qualitative characterization of these networks. Here a dynamical approach is used to characterize the small-world phenomenon. Using the $\beta -$model, a coupled map dynamical system is defined on the network. Entrance to and exit from the SW phase are related to the behavior of the ergodic invariants of the dynamics.Comment: 8 pages Latex, 3 figure

The use of genes for performance enhancement: doping or therapy?

Recent biotechnological advances have permitted the manipulation of genetic sequences to treat several diseases in a process called gene therapy. However, the advance of gene therapy has opened the door to the possibility of using genetic manipulation (GM) to enhance athletic performance. In such ‘gene doping’, exogenous genetic sequences are inserted into a specific tissue, altering cellular gene activity or leading to the expression of a protein product. The exogenous genes most likely to be utilized for gene doping include erythropoietin (EPO), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), insulin-like growth factor type 1 (IGF-1), myostatin antagonists, and endorphin. However, many other genes could also be used, such as those involved in glucose metabolic pathways. Because gene doping would be very difficult to detect, it is inherently very attractive for those involved in sports who are prepared to cheat. Moreover, the field of gene therapy is constantly and rapidly progressing, and this is likely to generate many new possibilities for gene doping. Thus, as part of the general fight against all forms of doping, it will be necessary to develop and continually improve means of detecting exogenous gene sequences (or their products) in athletes. Nevertheless, some bioethicists have argued for a liberal approach to gene doping

Adrenal Incidentaloma Diagnosed as a Pheochromocytoma in a fifteen-year-old Dog - An Unexpected Finding with Deadly Consequences

Adrenal incidentalomas are masses of the adrenal gland discovered inadvertently during diagnostic procedures, from which a significant percentage are pheochromocytomas and these tumors are rare. Here we report a case of a 15-year-old male dog whose main complaints were a soft cervical mass and mild generalized weakness. Blood cell count, routine biochemistry, arterial blood pressure and electrocardiogram were performed. Diagnostic imaging revealed a 3.5 cm mass next to the right adrenal gland. Surgery was performed and histopathology examination of the mass confirmed a malignant pheochromocytoma. The dog died 96 hours later after surgery. At necropsy, metastasis was found in cervical lymph node. Considering vague and episodic clinical signs, pheochromocytoma antemortem diagnosis is uncommon. The main aim of this case is to highlight this endocrinology disorder, increasing the awareness of clinicians to this difficult diagnostic condition

Feigenbaum networks

We study dynamical systems composed of a set of linearly coupled quadratic maps which, if uncoupled, would be on the Feigenbaum accumulation point. For two units we prove the existence of an infinite number of sinks for an open set of coupling parameters. In the limit of many units a mean field analysis also implies the stabilization in periodic orbits of, at least, a subset of the coupled units. Possible applications in the fields of control of chaos, signal processing through complex dynamics and as models of self-organization, are discussed

Co‐existing monophasic teratoma and uterine adenocarcinoma in a female dog

Ovarian teratomas are occasionally reported in dogs; the rarest type is the monophasic teratoma,composed of tissues originating from only one germ layer. Canine endometrial adenocarcinomas are also rare in dogs and mainly affect geriatric females. This report describes case of co-existing ovarian teratoma and uterine adenocarcinoma in a 10-year old nulliparous female Boxer presented with lethargy, anorexia and purulent vaginal discharge. Abdominal ultrasonography evidenced pyometra and a mass in the left ovary. This was composed of a uniform whitish tissue with multiple cystic structures. The histology revealed an atrophy of the ovarian parenchyma, compressed by a proliferation of well-differentiated nervous tissue staining positively to vimentin, S100 and neuronal specific enolase (NSE), and negatively to keratin and inhibin. The left uterine horn, whose diameter was markedly increased, showed foci of endometrial cellular atypia, evident nucleoli and mitoses, at light microscopy. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of a coexisting ovarian monophasic teratoma and endometrial adenocarcinoma, two rare reproductive neoplasia in dogs

Tell me where you went, I may tell who you infected

[No abstract available]Funding text 1: Internationalization’ and received national funding from the Foundation for Science and Technology – FCT (Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology, and Higher Education) under the Epidemiology Research Unit - Institute of Public Health of the University of Porto (EPIUnit) (UIDB/04750/2020) and the Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR) (LA/P/0064/2020). Ana Isabel Ribeiro was supported by National Funds through the FCT, under the ‘Stimulus of Scientific Employment – Individual Support’ program, within contract CEECIND/02386/2018.; Funding text 2: This study was funded by the ERDF through the Operational Program ‘Competitiveness an

Uso e manejo de leguminosas em agroecossistemas na Amazônia Central.

Este estudo teve como objetivo gerar informações que poderão auxiliar os fruticultores da região na tomada de decisão quanto ao uso e manejo de leguminosas, como tefrósia, para inserção em sistemas de produção de fruteiras, visando à melhoria e manutenção da capacidade produtiva do solo, o controle de invasoras e o desenvolvimento e a produtividade das plantas