Connectivity-Driven Coherence in Complex Networks

We study the emergence of coherence in complex networks of mutually coupled non-identical elements. We uncover the precise dependence of the dynamical coherence on the network connectivity, on the isolated dynamics of the elements and the coupling function. These findings predict that in random graphs, the enhancement of coherence is proportional to the mean degree. In locally connected networks, coherence is no longer controlled by the mean degree, but rather on how the mean degree scales with the network size. In these networks, even when the coherence is absent, adding a fraction s of random connections leads to an enhancement of coherence proportional to s. Our results provide a way to control the emergent properties by the manipulation of the dynamics of the elements and the network connectivity.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Implementation of big data analytics tool in a higher education Institution

In search of intelligent solutions that could help improve teaching in higher education, we discovered a set of analyzes that had already been discussed and just needed to be implemented. We believe that this reality can be found in several educational institutions, with paper or mini-projects that deal with educational data and can have positive impacts on teaching. Because of this, we designed an architecture that could extract from multiple sources of educational data and support the implementation of some of these projects found. The results show an important tool that can contribute positively to the teaching institution. Effectively, we can highlight that the implementation of a predictive model of students at risk of dropping out will bring a new analytical vision. Also, the system’s practicality will save managers a lot of time in creating analyzes of the state of the institutions, respecting privacy concerns of the manipulated data, supported by a secure development methodology.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Portuguese Adaptation of Students Engagement in Schools International Scale (SESIS)

The importance of student’s engagement has been recently pointed out in research. However, there has been a lack of engagement assessment instrument, pertaining psychometric qualities. Objective: This paper presents the Portuguese adaptation of the “Student’s Engagement in School International Scale” (SESIS), drawn up from a12 countries international study (Lam et al., 2012; Lam et al., in press). Method: Psychometric properties of this scale were examined with data from 685 students from different grades (6th, 7th, 9th and 10th), from both sexes, and different regions of the country. Results: Factorial analysis of the results, with varimax rotation, lead to three different factors which explain 50.88% of the variance. The scale integrates the original 33 items, and cognitive, affective and behavioural dimensions. For the external validity study, the relationship between student’s engagement in school results and other school variables — academic performance, self-concept — was considered, and significant relations were observed, as expected. Conclusion: The data presented highlights the qualities of SESIS, as well as its usefulness for research purposes. Suggestion: It is suggested the investigation of the extension of SESIS’s three-dimensionality, in future studiesKeywords: Innovation, technology, research projects, etc. [Arial 10-point, justified alignment]

Hodge Dual for Soldered Bundles

In order to account for all possible contractions allowed by the presence of the solder form, a generalized Hodge dual is defined for the case of soldered bundles. Although for curvature the generalized dual coincides with the usual one, for torsion it gives a completely new dual definition. Starting from the standard form of a gauge lagrangian for the translation group, the generalized Hodge dual yields precisely the lagrangian of the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity, and consequently also the Einstein-Hilbert lagrangian of general relativity.Comment: 8 pages, no figures. Accepted for publication in Journal of Physics

General purpose medical digital library definition

The need of an approach for the definition of a platform-independent medical digital library, using only 2 open-source tools, will be described. To test the need and the success of such an approach, a library will 3 be created, which can later be used in a larger scale as a general purpose digital medical tool, when comes 4 the need to evaluate an image. 5 As a first test, the library will be used in the development of a tool aimed to aid doctors in otoplasty 6 candidates' evaluation. This tool shall be developed and tested first on a mobile platform, so the potential 7 of the developed library can be tested on the most adverse situation. Also, the resulting library will be 8 license free, making easier the collaboration of others in development and integration with other software, 9 translating in a better spread of the library in medical practice. 10 CCS Concepts 11 • Medical imaging, mobile devices, digital medical tool. 12 Keywords 13 Medical imaging, open-source, image analysis software library, digital medical tool

How realistic are solar model atmospheres?

Context: Recently, new solar model atmospheres have been developed to replace classical 1D local thermodynamical equilibrium (LTE) hydrostatic models and used to for example derive the solar chemical composition. Aims: We aim to test various models again

Consistent Gravitationally-Coupled Spin-2 Field Theory

Inspired by the translational gauge structure of teleparallel gravity, the theory for a fundamental massless spin-2 field is constructed. Accordingly, instead of being represented by a symmetric second-rank tensor, the fundamental spin-2 field is assumed to be represented by a spacetime (world) vector field assuming values in the Lie algebra of the translation group. The flat-space theory naturally emerges in the Fierz formalism and is found to be equivalent to the usual metric-based theory. However, the gravitationally coupled theory, with gravitation itself described by teleparallel gravity, is shown not to present the consistency problems of the spin-2 theory constructed on the basis of general relativity.Comment: 16 pages, no figures. V2: Presentation changes, including addition of a new sub-section, aiming at clarifying the text; version accepted for publication in Class. Quantum Grav

Smart testing and critical care bed sharing for COVID-19 control

During the early months of the current COVID-19 pandemic, social-distancing measures effectively slowed disease transmission in many countries in Europe and Asia, but the same benefits have not been observed in some developing countries such as Brazil. In part, this is due to a failure to organise systematic testing campaigns at nationwide or even regional levels. To gain effective control of the pandemic, decision-makers in developing countries, particularly those with large populations, must overcome difficulties posed by an unequal distribution of wealth combined with low daily testing capacities. The economic infrastructure of the country, often concentrated in a few cities, forces workers to travel from commuter cities and rural areas, which induces strong nonlinear effects on disease transmission. In the present study, we develop a smart testing strategy to identify geographic regions where COVID-19 testing could most effectively be deployed to limit further disease transmission. The strategy uses readily available anonymised mobility and demographic data integrated with intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy data and city-specific social-distancing measures. Taking into account the heterogeneity of ICU bed occupancy in differing regions and the stages of disease evolution, we use a data-driven study of the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo as an example to show that smart testing strategies can rapidly limit transmission while reducing the need for social-distancing measures, thus returning life to a so-called new normal, even when testing capacity is limited