Mean-field analysis of the majority-vote model broken-ergodicity steady state

We study analytically a variant of the one-dimensional majority-vote model in which the individual retains its opinion in case there is a tie among the neighbors' opinions. The individuals are fixed in the sites of a ring of size $L$ and can interact with their nearest neighbors only. The interesting feature of this model is that it exhibits an infinity of spatially heterogeneous absorbing configurations for $L \to \infty$ whose statistical properties we probe analytically using a mean-field framework based on the decomposition of the $L$-site joint probability distribution into the $n$-contiguous-site joint distributions, the so-called $n$-site approximation. To describe the broken-ergodicity steady state of the model we solve analytically the mean-field dynamic equations for arbitrary time $t$ in the cases n=3 and 4. The asymptotic limit $t \to \infty$ reveals the mapping between the statistical properties of the random initial configurations and those of the final absorbing configurations. For the pair approximation ($n=2$) we derive that mapping using a trick that avoids solving the full dynamics. Most remarkably, we find that the predictions of the 4-site approximation reduce to those of the 3-site in the case of expectations involving three contiguous sites. In addition, those expectations fit the Monte Carlo data perfectly and so we conjecture that they are in fact the exact expectations for the one-dimensional majority-vote model

População de afídeos de cereais de inverno em Coxilha/RS, dados de 2013-2014.

Orientador: Douglas Lau

População de parasitoides de afídeos de cereais de inverno em Coxilha/RS, dados de 2013-2014.

Orientador: Douglas Lau

Dynamic critical exponents of the Ising model with multispin interactions

We revisit the short-time dynamics of 2D Ising model with three spin interactions in one direction and estimate the critical exponents $z,$ $\theta,$ $\beta$ and $\nu$. Taking properly into account the symmetry of the Hamiltonian we obtain results completely different from those obtained by Wang et al.. For the dynamic exponent $z$ our result coincides with that of the 4-state Potts model in two dimensions. In addition, results for the static exponents $\nu$ and $\beta$ agree with previous estimates obtained from finite size scaling combined with conformal invariance. Finally, for the new dynamic exponent $\theta$ we find a negative and close to zero value, a result also expected for the 4-state Potts model according to Okano et al.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, corrected Abstract mistypes, corrected equation on page 4 (Parameter Q

Octatosylaminophthalocyanine: a reusable chromogenic anion chemosensor

Detailed herein is the use of 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octatosylaminophthalocyanine as a chromogenic chemosensor for anions. The host:guest complexes formed during the sensing event can be regenerated by acid treatment without loss of the sensing ability. This allows the phthalocyanine chemosensor to be reused. This system also responds in a colorimetric manner when exposed to the neutral solvent molecules, dimethyl sulfoxide and methanol. A single-crystal X-ray structure of the Pc 1:2 MeOH complex was obtained. It illustrates the main interactions between the host:guest species in the solid state. Fits of the binding curves are consistent with this stoichiometry predominating in the solution state

Proteomics as a tool to develop molecular indicators of nutritional condition in farmed gilthead seabream

Gilthead seabream is the main aquaculture species produced in Portugal, as well as in the Mediterranean. However, the winter disease syndrome, a series of metabolic and immune system disorders caused by low temperatures, affects seabream culture, leading to important industrial losses, either as mortalities or growth decreases during spring. These effects can be minimized through dietary optimisation, either improving diets for the end of summer season, or feeding seabream with a fortified diet during autumn/winter. However, the development of a fortified diet for autumn/winter is hindered by the lack of tools to evaluate fish metabolic and physiological condition. Nevertheless, the recent development of new generation molecular tools provides good perspectives to supply molecular indicators of condition that would support this task

In vitro tests of suitability of bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria, as potential biopreservation cultures in vacuum-packaged cold-smoked salmon

The objectives of this study were to ascertain the in vitro potential of nine bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains, isolated from vacuum-packaged cold-smoked salmon (CSS), for possible use as biopreservative cultures against Listeria monocytogenes. The antilisterial activity of cultures’ supernatants was assessed at 0.5%, 3.0% and 5.0% w/v of salt, at 5ºC, 10ºC and 25ºC both in aerobic and anaerobic atmospheres, simulating the conditions pertaining in vacuum-packaged CSS. The kinetics of growth, bacteriocin biosynthesis, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ten antibiotics, histamine and tyramine production of LAB strains, were determined jointly with the haemolytic activity for the enterococci. Only five strains were able to secrete active bacteriocins into the culture medium, at high salt concentrations and low temperatures, both in aerobic and anaerobic atmospheres. Enterococci showed neither haemolyt ic activity nor vancomycin resistance. The production of histamine was not observed for any of the bacteriocin-producing strains

Observed development of the vertical structure of the marine boundary layer during the LASIE experiment in the Ligurian Sea

In the marine environment, complete datasets describing the surface layer and the vertical structure of the Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer (MABL), through its entire depth, are less frequent than over land, due to the high cost of measuring campaigns. During the seven days of the Ligurian Air-Sea Interaction Experiment (LASIE), organized by the NATO Undersea Research Centre (NURC) in the Mediterranean Sea, extensive in situ and remote sensing measurements were collected from instruments placed on a spar buoy and a ship. Standard surface meteorological measurements were collected by meteorological sensors mounted on the buoy ODAS Italia1 located in the centre of the Gulf of Genoa. The evolution of the height (<I>z<sub>i</sub></I>) of the MABL was monitored using radiosondes and a ceilometer on board of the N/O Urania. <br><br> Here, we present the database and an uncommon case study of the evolution of the vertical structure of the MABL, observed by two independent measuring systems: the ceilometer and radiosondes. Following the changes of surface flow conditions, in a sequence of onshore – offshore – onshore wind direction shifting episodes, during the mid part of the campaign, the overall structure of the MABL changed. Warm and dry air from land advected over a colder sea, induced a stably stratified Internal Boundary Layer (IBL) and a consequent change in the structure of the vertical profiles of potential temperature and relative humidity

Dinâmica das populações de parasitoides em Coxilha/RS entre 2011 e setembro de 2013.

Editores técnicos: Joseani Mesquita Antunes, Ana Lídia Variani Bonato, Márcia Barrocas Moreira Pimentel

Dinâmica das populações de afídeos de cereais de inverno em Coxilha/RS entre 2011 e setembro de 2013.

Editores técnicos: Joseani Mesquita Antunes, Ana Lídia Variani Bonato, Márcia Barrocas Moreira Pimentel