2,171 research outputs found
Complex network view of evolving manifolds
We study complex networks formed by triangulations and higher-dimensional
simplicial complexes representing closed evolving manifolds. In particular, for
triangulations, the set of possible transformations of these networks is
restricted by the condition that at each step, all the faces must be triangles.
Stochastic application of these operations leads to random networks with
different architectures. We perform extensive numerical simulations and explore
the geometries of growing and equilibrium complex networks generated by these
transformations and their local structural properties. This characterization
includes the Hausdorff and spectral dimensions of the resulting networks, their
degree distributions, and various structural correlations. Our results reveal a
rich zoo of architectures and geometries of these networks, some of which
appear to be small worlds while others are finite-dimensional with Hausdorff
dimension equal or higher than the original dimensionality of their simplices.
The range of spectral dimensions of the evolving triangulations turns out to be
from about 1.4 to infinity. Our models include simplicial complexes
representing manifolds with evolving topologies, for example, an h-holed torus
with a progressively growing number of holes. This evolving graph demonstrates
features of a small-world network and has a particularly heavy-tailed degree
distribution.Comment: 14 pages, 15 figure
Scale invariance and universality of force networks in static granular matter
Force networks form the skeleton of static granular matter. They are the key
ingredient to mechanical properties, such as stability, elasticity and sound
transmission, which are of utmost importance for civil engineering and
industrial processing. Previous studies have focused on the global structure of
external forces (the boundary condition), and on the probability distribution
of individual contact forces. The disordered spatial structure of the force
network, however, has remained elusive so far. Here we report evidence for
scale invariance of clusters of particles that interact via relatively strong
forces. We analyzed granular packings generated by molecular dynamics
simulations mimicking real granular matter; despite the visual variation, force
networks for various values of the confining pressure and other parameters have
identical scaling exponents and scaling function, and thus determine a
universality class. Remarkably, the flat ensemble of force configurations--a
simple generalization of equilibrium statistical mechanics--belongs to the same
universality class, while some widely studied simplified models do not.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures; to appear in Natur
Low temperature scattering with the R-matrix method: the Morse potential
Experiments are starting to probe collisions and chemical reactions between
atoms and molecules at ultra-low temperatures. We have developed a new
theoretical procedure for studying these collisions using the R-matrix method.
Here this method is tested for the atom -- atom collisions described by a Morse
potential. Analytic solutions for continuum states of the Morse potential are
derived and compared with numerical results computed using an R-matrix method
where the inner region wavefunctions are obtained using a standard nuclear
motion algorithm. Results are given for eigenphases and scattering lengths.
Excellent agreement is obtained in all cases. Progress in developing a general
procedure for treating ultra-low energy reactive and non-reactive collisions is
discussed.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables, conferenc
Interpretation of evidence in data by untrained medical students: a scenario-based study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To determine which approach to assessment of evidence in data - statistical tests or likelihood ratios - comes closest to the interpretation of evidence by untrained medical students.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Empirical study of medical students (N = 842), untrained in statistical inference or in the interpretation of diagnostic tests. They were asked to interpret a hypothetical diagnostic test, presented in four versions that differed in the distributions of test scores in diseased and non-diseased populations. Each student received only one version. The intuitive application of the statistical test approach would lead to rejecting the null hypothesis of no disease in version A, and to accepting the null in version B. Application of the likelihood ratio approach led to opposite conclusions - against the disease in A, and in favour of disease in B. Version C tested the importance of the p-value (A: 0.04 versus C: 0.08) and version D the importance of the likelihood ratio (C: 1/4 versus D: 1/8).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In version A, 7.5% concluded that the result was in favour of disease (compatible with p value), 43.6% ruled against the disease (compatible with likelihood ratio), and 48.9% were undecided. In version B, 69.0% were in favour of disease (compatible with likelihood ratio), 4.5% against (compatible with p value), and 26.5% undecided. Increasing the p value from 0.04 to 0.08 did not change the results. The change in the likelihood ratio from 1/4 to 1/8 increased the proportion of non-committed responses.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Most untrained medical students appear to interpret evidence from data in a manner that is compatible with the use of likelihood ratios.</p
Tuberculosis of the breast with erythema nodosum: a case report
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>There has been an increasing number of tuberculosis cases worldwide, but tuberculosis of the breast remains rare. In rare cases this is seen with a cutaneous manifestation of erythema nodosum.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 33-year-old Chinese woman with tuberculosis of the left breast accompanied by erythema nodosum on the anterior aspect of both lower legs. Due to her poor clinical response to conventional therapy, and the histopathological findings of fine needle aspiration cytology, there were strong indications of tuberculosis. Her clinical diagnosis was confirmed by molecular detection of <it>Mycobacterium tuberculosis </it>complex by polymerase chain reaction. The diagnosis was further confirmed by a second polymerase chain reaction test of erythema nodosum which tested positive for <it>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</it> complex. She received anti-tuberculous therapy for 18 months, and finally underwent residual lumpectomy. During her follow-up examination after 12 months, no evidence of either residual or recurrent disease was present.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Histopathological features and a high index of clinical suspicion are necessary to confirm a diagnosis of tuberculosis of the breast. Anti-tuberculous therapy with or without simple surgical intervention is the core treatment.</p
Genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis spp. in road-killed wild mammals from the Central Western Region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil
The view of teachers on bullying and implications for nursing
Objetivo: Compreender o bullying escolar,
na perspectiva dos professores, e refletir
sobre as possÃveis ações da área da saúde
em seu enfrentamento. Para tanto, tomaram-
se por base as diretrizes do Programa
Saúde na Escola, dos Ministérios da Saúde
e da Educação. Método: Estudo de caso
qualitativo, realizado com professores de
uma escola pública de Minas Gerais. Foram
utilizados grupos focais na coleta de dados
e o material empÃrico foi decodificado
a partir de técnica de análise temática de
conteúdo, resultando em uma categoria
analÃtica: concepções e experiências de
professores diante do bullying. Resultados:
Foram identificadas percepções pontuais
sobre o fenômeno e utilização de recursos
de intervenção pouco eficazes. No plano
interpretativo, problematizaram-se as contribuições
da saúde e da enfermagem no
redimensionamento das intervenções e no
processo de formação continuada dos professores.
Conclusão: Os resultados apontam
para a construção de práticas intersetoriais
para o enfrentamento do bullying.To understand school bullying from the perspective of teachers and reflect about the possible actions of the health area when coping with it. The guidelines of the School Health Program of the Ministries of Health and Education were used to reach that purpose. Method: A qualitative study carried out with teachers of a public school in Minas Gerais. Focus groups were used to collect data and the empirical material was decoded from thematic analysis of content, resulting in an analytical category: conceptions and experiences of teachers on bullying. Results: Specific perceptions about the phenomenon and the use of ineffective intervention resources were identified. In the interpretive plan were problematized the health and nursing contributions with resizing the interventions and the continuing training process of teachers. Conclusion: The results point to the construction of intersectoral practices forcoping with bullying.Objetivo: Comprender el bullying escolar
desde la perspectiva de los profesores,
y reflexionar sobre las posibles acciones
del área de salud en su enfrentamiento.
Tomando como base los lineamientos del
Programa de Salud Escolar, de los Ministerios
de Salud y de Educación. Método:
Estudio de caso cualitativo realizado con
los profesores de una escuela pública en
Minas Gerais. Para la recolección de datos
se utilizaron grupos focales y el material
empÃrico fue decodificado a partir de la
técnica de análisis temático de contenido,
dando lugar a una categorÃa analÃtica: concepciones
y experiencias de los profesores
sobre el acoso escolar. Resultados: Se identificaron
percepciones especÃficas sobre el
fenómeno y la utilización de recursos ineficaces
de intervención. En el plano interpretativo,
se problematizaron las contribuciones
de la salud y de la enfermerÃa en el
redimensionamiento de las intervenciones
y en el proceso de formación continua de
los profesores. Conclusión: Los resultados
apuntan a la construcción de prácticas intersectoriales
para el enfrentamiento del
bullying.CIEC - Centro de Investigação em Estudos da Criança, UM (UI 317 da FCT
Fitness Ranking of Individual Mutants Drives Patterns of Epistatic Interactions in HIV-1
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Emerging Infectious Disease leads to Rapid Population Decline of Common British Birds
Emerging infectious diseases are increasingly cited as threats to wildlife, livestock and humans alike. They can threaten geographically isolated or critically endangered wildlife populations; however, relatively few studies have clearly demonstrated the extent to which emerging diseases can impact populations of common wildlife species. Here, we report the impact of an emerging protozoal disease on British populations of greenfinch Carduelis chloris and chaffinch Fringilla coelebs, two of the most common birds in Britain. Morphological and molecular analyses showed this to be due to Trichomonas gallinae. Trichomonosis emerged as a novel fatal disease of finches in Britain in 2005 and rapidly became epidemic within greenfinch, and to a lesser extent chaffinch, populations in 2006. By 2007, breeding populations of greenfinches and chaffinches in the geographic region of highest disease incidence had decreased by 35% and 21% respectively, representing mortality in excess of half a million birds. In contrast, declines were less pronounced or absent in these species in regions where the disease was found in intermediate or low incidence. Also, populations of dunnock Prunella modularis, which similarly feeds in gardens, but in which T. gallinae was rarely recorded, did not decline. This is the first trichomonosis epidemic reported in the scientific literature to negatively impact populations of free-ranging non-columbiform species, and such levels of mortality and decline due to an emerging infectious disease are unprecedented in British wild bird populations. This disease emergence event demonstrates the potential for a protozoan parasite to jump avian host taxonomic groups with dramatic effect over a short time period
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