The Berry phase and the pump flux in stochastic chemical kinetics

We study a classical two-state stochastic system in a sea of substrates and products (absorbing states), which can be interpreted as a single Michaelis-Menten catalyzing enzyme or as a channel on a cell surface. We introduce a novel general method and use it to derive the expression for the full counting statistics of transitions among the absorbing states. For the evolution of the system under a periodic perturbation of the kinetic rates, the latter contains a term with a purely geometrical (the Berry phase) interpretation. This term gives rise to a pump current between the absorbing states, which is due entirely to the stochastic nature of the system. We calculate the first two cumulants of this current, and we argue that it is observable experimentally

Metáfora y género: Estudio prototípico de las metáforas de género en la publicidad de la revista British Cosmopolitan

This research introduces the issue of advertising gender metaphors and their presence in the advertising of British Cosmopolitan, a women.’s magazine. After providing a theoretical background that interrelates advertising, gender and metaphor, we have focused firstly on advertising metaphors and secondly on gender advertising metaphors, illustrating their presence in the magazine under study. In this paper we have used a sample of 1142 print ads published in 12 issues of British Cosmopolitan in 1999 and 2000. Este artículo introduce el tema de las metáforas publicitarias de género y su presencia en la publicidad de una revista femenina concreta, British Cosmopolitan. Tras presentar un marco teórico introductorio sobre la relación entre la publicidad, el género y las metáforas, nos hemos centrado en primer lugar en las metáforas publicitarias y en segundo lugar en las metáforas publicitarias de género, ilustrando su presencia en la revista estudiada. Hemos empleado aquí una muestra de 1142 anuncios publicados en 12 ejemplares de la revista British Cosmopolitan de 1999 y 2000

Factores que inciden en el trasvase interlingüístico de la metáfora en el discurso publicitario

Este artículo analiza la problemática que entraña el trasvase interlingüístico de la metáfora en el discurso publicitario. En primer lugar se pasa revista a este problema investigador. A continuación se presentan las investigaciones que se han realizado al respecto y, a continuación, se plantea una posible metodología de análisis de diferentes factores intratextuales e intertextuales que infl uyen en el trasvase interlingüístico de la metáfora en el discurso publicitario y que pueden permitir ofrecer una sistematización de las posibilidades traslativas de la figura en el discurso publicitario. Finalmente se extraen una serie de conclusiones. In this paper we have analysed the problem of the interlinguistic transfer of metaphor in the discourse of advertising. First, we have introduced this research problem. Next we have presented different research investigations related to it and, then, we have proposed a possible methodology for analysing different intratextual and intertextual factors that have an infl uence on the interlinguistic transfer of metaphor in the discourse of advertising. This analysis will make it possible to offer a typology of the different metaphor translating possibilities in the discourse of advertising. Finally, some conclusions have been drawn

Reconfiguration of 3D Crystalline Robots Using O(log n) Parallel Moves

We consider the theoretical model of Crystalline robots, which have been introduced and prototyped by the robotics community. These robots consist of independently manipulable unit-square atoms that can extend/contract arms on each side and attach/detach from neighbors. These operations suffice to reconfigure between any two given (connected) shapes. The worst-case number of sequential moves required to transform one connected configuration to another is known to be Theta(n). However, in principle, atoms can all move simultaneously. We develop a parallel algorithm for reconfiguration that runs in only O(log n) parallel steps, although the total number of operations increases slightly to Theta(nlogn). The result is the first (theoretically) almost-instantaneous universally reconfigurable robot built from simple units.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figure

A mindfulness and compassion-based program applied to pregnant women and their partners to decrease depression symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Pregnancy and the postpartum period are times of great change for women and their partners, often bringing substantial challenges and stress. Approximately 10%-20% of women suffer from mood disorders such as depression in the perinatal period. There are risks involved in using psychopharmacological interventions to treat perinatal depression. Mindfulness and compassion-based educational programs could be efficacious and cost-effective options for the prevention and treatment of perinatal mood disorders. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of an adapted Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) program that includes compassion training for pregnant women in primary care (PC) settings in the Spanish National Health System to decrease perinatal depression. Methods: A multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted. Participants will be pregnant women (n = 122) and their partners who wish to participate. They will be enrolled and assessed in PC settings and randomly assigned to either: (1) an adapted MBCP educational program tailored to the Spanish National Health System + treatment as usual (TAU); or (2) TAU only. The main outcome to be assessed will be depression, evaluated with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Secondary outcomes will include self-reported measures of perceived stress, affects, mindfulness, self-compassion, maternal self-efficacy, and use of health and social services. Patients will be assessed at four timepoints: baseline; post-treatment; and at three and six months after childbirth. Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses will be carried out using linear regression mixed models. Effect sizes will be estimated using Cohen''s d. Discussion: Perinatal depression is a significant health problem. An effective and low-cost childbirth education program that incorporates mindfulness and compassion practices may be a beneficial preventive complementary healthcare modality for expectant women and their partners. This study will be the first multicenter RCT in Spanish PC settings using adapted MBCP and compassion practices to reduce symptoms of depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period