Control of quantum fluctuations for a Yukawa interaction in the Kaluza Klein picture

We study a system of fermions interacting with a scalar field, in 4+1 dimensions where the 5th dimension is compactified, using an exact functional method, where quantum fluctuations are controlled by the amplitude of the bare fermion mass. The integration of our equationsleads to the properties of the dressed Yukawa coupling, that we study at one-loop so as to show the consistency of the approach. Beyond one loop, the non-perturbative aspect of the method gives us the possibility to derive the dynamical fermion mass. The result obtained is cut off independent and this derivation proposes an alternative to the Schwinger-Dyson approach.Comment: extended discussion on the scalar effective potentia

Propostes de prevenció i formació dels navegants per millorar la seguretat marítima i disminuir les assistències de salvament marítim

L’objectiu del projecte ha estat trobar estratègies de prevenció i formació específica per millorar la seguretat dels navegants de la nàutica d’esbarjo i per reduir les assistències de Salvament Marítim, les quals han anat en augment en els últims anys. S’ha comprovat que la majoria de les emergències ateses per Salvament marítim es podrien haver evitat. S’ha seguit una metodologia de recerca sobretot a través d’internet, entrevistes a diferents protagonistes del sector nàutic i també s’han consultat d’altres treballs relacionats amb el tema tractat. La nàutica d’esbarjo a Espanya representa més del 50% de les emergències que atenen els serveis de Salvament Marítim, majoritàriament embarcacions a motor i motos aquàtiques. El 2015 va haver un increment del 13% respecte l’any anterior d’actuacions de Salvament Marítim només en les embarcacions d’esbarjo. Les matriculacions en el sector de la nàutica d’esbarjo s’estan recuperant, i sobretot les matriculacions de les embarcacions de lloguer, que han experimentant un augment mig del 35%. Els plans estratègics per la prevenció, seguretat marítima i formació als navegants dels països estudiats, inclouen una recerca prèvia per aplicar-ho més tard als seus programes, col·laboració entre els diferents estaments involucrats en la nàutica d’esbarjo i aplicació de la reglamentació. Alguns d’aquest països demostren una disminució dels sinistres marítims. És recomanable un patrocini o finançament econòmic específic per als efectes de planificar campanyes de prevenció i conscienciació al lloc on es produeix la pràctica d’activitats nàutiques. Les propostes plantejades recullen algunes idees d’aquest països juntament amb propostes pròpies generades a partir de la investigació prèvia i de la situació del nostre entorn

Dynamic code coverage with progressive detail levels

Tese de Mestrado Integrado. Engenharia Informática e Computação. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 201

The Central role of KNG1 gene as a genetic determinant of coagulation pathway-related traits: Exploring metaphenotypes

Traditional genetic studies of single traits may be unable to detect the pleiotropic effects involved in complex diseases. To detect the correlation that exists between several phenotypes involved in the same biological process, we introduce an original methodology to analyze sets of correlated phenotypes involved in the coagulation cascade in genome-wide association studies. The methodology consists of a two-stage process. First, we define new phenotypic meta-variables (linear combinations of the original phenotypes), named metaphenotypes, by applying Independent Component Analysis for the multivariate analysis of correlated phenotypes (i.e. the levels of coagulation pathway–related proteins). The resulting metaphenotypes integrate the information regarding the underlying biological process (i.e. thrombus/clot formation). Secondly, we take advantage of a family based Genome Wide Association Study to identify genetic elements influencing these metaphenotypes and consequently thrombosis risk. Our study utilized data from the GAIT Project (Genetic Analysis of Idiopathic Thrombophilia). We obtained 15 metaphenotypes, which showed significant heritabilities, ranging from 0.2 to 0.7. These results indicate the importance of genetic factors in the variability of these traits. We found 4 metaphenotypes that showed significant associations with SNPs. The most relevant were those mapped in a region near the HRG, FETUB and KNG1 genes. Our results are provocative since they show that the KNG1 locus plays a central role as a genetic determinant of the entire coagulation pathway and thrombus/clot formation. Integrating data from multiple correlated measurements through metaphenotypes is a promising approach to elucidate the hidden genetic mechanisms underlying complex diseases.Postprint (published version

FaultySheet detective: when smells meet fault localization

This paper presents a tool, dubbed FaultySheet Detective, for aiding in spreadsheet fault localization, which combines the detection of bad smells with a generic spectrum-based fault localization algorithm

Nanopartículas de paládio e de ródio estabilizadas por líquidos iônicos : síntese, caracterização e propriedades catalíticas

Neste trabalho é apresentado um novo método para a preparação de nanopartículas de metais de transição em solução. O método consiste na redução por hidrogênio molecular de sais metálicos imobilizados em líquidos iônicos derivados do cátion 1,3-dialquilimidazólio. Nanopartículas de Rh(0) com tamanho entre (2,1+-0,1)nm foram obtidas pela redução de RhCl3 em líquidos iônicos derivados do cátion n-butilmetilimidazólio BMI.X (X=BF4, PF6, CF3SO3), e aplicados como catalizadores para as reações de hidrogenação de olefinas e aromáticos. Nanopartículas de Pd(0) com tamanho entre (4,9+-1,5)nm foram obtidas pela redução de Pd(acac)2 em BMI.PF6 e aplicadas como catalisadores para a reação de hidrogenação de 1,3-butadieno em regime heterogêneo e suportadas em BMI.X (X=BF4, PF6). Nanopartículas bimetálicas de Pd-Rh(0) com tamanho entre (9,1+-0,8)nm também foram obtidas pela redução concomitante de PdCl2 e RhCl3 em líquidos iônicos BMI.X (X=BF4, PF6) e aplicadas como catalisadores para a hidrogenação de 1,5-ciclo-octadieno. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que o líquido iônico deve ser o responsável pela estabilização das nanopartículas e está intimamente relacionado com a atividade catalítica das nanopartículas. A aglomeração e a sistemática perda de atividade catalítica das nanopartículas parecem ser devidas à presença de hidrogênio molecular no meio reacional. Além disso, os resultados obtidos na síntese de nanopartículas bimetálicas indicam que a sua composição pode ser regulada pelas condições da reação de síntese. As reações de hidrogenação foram utilizadas como sondas químicas para o estudo das propriedades catalíticas das nanopartículas. Os resultados obtidos sugerem um mecanismo de reação de superfície, típico de sistemas heterogêneos clássicos.In this work we present a new method for the preparation of soluble transition-metal nanoparticles. The method consists in the reduction by molecular hydrogen of metallic salts immobilized in ionic liquids derived from the 1,3-dialkylimidazolium cation. Nanoparticles of Rh(0) with size of (2,1 ± 0,1) run were synthesized from the reduction of RhCl3 in ionic liquids derived from the n-butylmethylimidazolium cation BMI.X (X = BF 4, PF 6, CF3SO3), and applied as catalysts for the hydrogenation of olefins and aromatics. Nanoparticles of Pd(0) with size of (4,9 ± 1,5)nm were synthesized from Pd(acac)2 immobilized in BMI.PF6 and applied as catalyst for the hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene in both heterogeneous system and supported by ionic liquids BMI.X (X= BF4, PF6). Bimetallic nanoparticles of Pd-Rh(O) with size of (9,1 ± 0,8) were also synthesized from the reduction of PdCl2 and RhCl3 in ionic liquids BMI.X (X = BF4, PF6) and applied as catalysts for the hydrogenation of 1,5-cyclooctadiene. The results suggest that the ionic liquid must be the responsible for the nanoparticles stabilization and is closely related with the catalytic activity and selectivity of the nanoparticles. The agglomeration and systematic loss of activity of the nanoparticles seems to be due to the presence of hydrogen in the reactional medium. Furthermore, the results obtained in the synthesis of bimetallic nanoparticles show that their composition can be regulated by the reaction conditions. The hydrogenation reactions were used as chemical probes in the study of the catalytic properties of the nanoparticles. The results suggest a surface-like kinetic mechanism, typical of classical heterogeneous catalysis

Evasion and Immuno-Endocrine Regulation in Parasite Infection: Two Sides of the Same Coin in Chagas Disease?

Chagas disease is a serious illness caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Nearly 30% of chronically infected people develop cardiac, digestive, or mixed alterations, suggesting a broad range of host-parasite interactions that finally impact upon chronic disease outcome. The ability of T. cruzi to persist and cause pathology seems to depend on diverse factors like T. cruzi strains, the infective load and the route of infection, presence of virulence factors, the parasite capacity to avoid protective immune response, the strength and type of host defense mechanisms and the genetic background of the host. The host-parasite interaction is subject to a constant neuro-endocrine regulation that is thought to influence the adaptive immune system, and as the infection proceeds it can lead to a broad range of outcomes, ranging from pathogen elimination to its continued persistence in the host. In this context, T. cruzi evasion strategies and host defense mechanisms can be envisioned as two sides of the same coin, influencing parasite persistence and different outcomes observed in Chagas disease. Understanding how T. cruzi evade host’s innate and adaptive immune response will provide important clues to better dissect mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of Chagas disease.Fil: Morrot, Alexandre. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Villar, Silvina Raquel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Inmunología Clinica y Experimental de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología Clinica y Experimental de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: González, Florencia Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Inmunología Clinica y Experimental de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología Clinica y Experimental de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Perez, Ana Rosa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Inmunología Clinica y Experimental de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología Clinica y Experimental de Rosario; Argentin