Quadratic-in-magnetization permittivity and conductivity tensor in cubic crystals

We present diagonal and off-diagonal elements of the permittivity and conductivity tensor up to the second order in magnetization for cubic crystals. We express all tensor elements as a function of a general sample orientation, for arbitrary magnetization direction and for (001), (011) and (111) surface orientations. Finally, we discuss, how to extract values of quadratic elements G of the second order permittivity tensors for different sample surface orientations from both experiment and ab-initio calculations

The Johansen Test and the Transitivity Property

Sometimes two variables Y and Z are each cointegrated with another variable X, but Y and Z do not appear to be cointegrated with each other. This article provides a possible explanation why this might happen.cointegration

Is Internal Migration Bad for Receiving Urban Centres? Evidence from Brazil, 1995-2000

During the twentieth century, internal migration and urbanization shaped Brazil’s economic and social landscape. Cities grew tremendously, while immigration participated in the rapid urbanization process and the redistribution of poverty between rural and urban areas. In 1950, about a third of Brazil’s population lived in cities; this figure grew to approximately 80 per cent by the end of the nineteenth century. The Brazilian population redistributed unevenly—some dynamic regions became population magnets, and some neighbourhoods within cities became gateway clusters in which the effects of immigration proved particularly salient. This study asks, has domestic migration to cities been part of a healthy process of economic transition and mobility for the country and its households? Or has it been a perverse trap?urbanization, migration, mobility, poverty, households, Brazil

Blue light as a drug?

Treballs Finals de Grau de Farmàcia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, 2015. Tutora: Trinitat Cambras Riu.[eng] This Final Project is based on bibliographic research and integration of recent scientific articles that contain information related to light and its effects on the body; and aims to raise awareness that humans need light, not only for vision or known functions such as the synthesis of vitamin D, but also for non-visual effects. Light is detected and transformed into information that goes direct to the brain through a small population of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. This information obtained from the environment allows the body to regulate several physiological and behavioural functions that are essential for a good health and quality of life. This set of non-visual functions include the synchronization of circadian and seasonal rhythms and the regulation of sleep, alertness, mood and cognitive performance, which are interconnected with each other and with other physiological and pathophysiological processes such as aging, metabolic processes, development of cancer and cardiovascular consequences, so the alteration of any of these functions can cause damage to other systems and ultimately affect the entire body. It is important therefore to control light exposure at certain times of day, because light in the morning does not affect the same way than light at night. This property allows its use for treating these disorders; therefore, patient lifestyle education and more effective architectural designs for lighting environments like schools and work are potentially beneficial.[cat] Aquest Treball Fi de Grau es basa en la recerca bibliogràfica i la integració d’articles científics recents, que contenen informació relacionada amb la llum i els seus efectes en l’organisme; i pretén donar a conèixer que els humans necessitem la llum, no només per la visió o funcions conegudes, com la síntesi de Vitamina D, sinó també pels seus efectes no visuals. La llum és captada i transformada en informació que va directa al cervell per una petita població de cèl·lules ganglionars de la retina que són intrínsecament fotosensibles. Aquesta informació extreta de l’ambient permet a l’organisme regular diverses funcions fisiològiques i de comportament que són essencials per una bona salut i qualitat de vida. Aquest conjunt de funcions no visuals inclouen la sincronització dels ritmes circadiaris i estacionals, i la regulació del son, l'estat d'alerta, l’humor i el rendiment cognitiu, que estan interconnectades entre elles, i amb altres processos fisiològics i fisiopatològics com l’envelliment, processos metabòlics, desenvolupament de càncer i conseqüències cardiovasculars, per tant, l’alteració d’alguna d’aquestes funcions pot provocar danys en altres sistemes i acabar afectant tot l’organisme. És molt important per això, controlar l’exposició a la llum en certs moments del dia, ja que no afecta de la mateixa manera la llum al matí que a la nit. Aquesta propietat però permet el seu ús per tractar aquests trastorns, per tant, l'educació en l’estil de vida del pacient i la realització de dissenys arquitectònics més eficaços per entorns d'il·luminació com escoles i treballs són potencialment beneficiosos

Integration of multimodal data based on surface registration

The paper proposes and evaluates a strategy for the alignment of anatomical and functional data of the brain. The method takes as an input two different sets of images of a same patient: MR data and SPECT. It proceeds in four steps: first, it constructs two voxel models from the two image sets; next, it extracts from the two voxel models the surfaces of regions of interest; in the third step, the surfaces are interactively aligned by corresponding pairs; finally a unique volume model is constructed by selectively applying the geometrical transformations associated to the regions and weighting their contributions. The main advantages of this strategy are (i) that it can be applied retrospectively, (ii) that it is tri-dimensional, and (iii) that it is local. Its main disadvantage with regard to previously published methods it that it requires the extraction of surfaces. However, this step is often required for other stages of the multimodal analysis such as the visualization and therefore its cost can be accounted in the global cost of the process.Postprint (published version

Diagonal Cumulation of Rules of Origin in South America

This paper provides a description of what Rules of Origin are, its economic effects, the main RoO types and the options for adding leniency to these rules by means of using the diagonal cumulation. Nowadays, cumulation of origin is studied in different trade agreements models in the Americas and the use of this practice among FTAs families of one or another style is imminent. According to evidence provided by several papers (Cornejo and Harris, 2007; Gasiorek, 2007; and Estavadeordal and Suominem, 2008), we estimate that taking measures for adding leniency to RoO structures will make it more attractive for regional firms to import from within the region. Finally, more flexible rules of origin will make the region more attractive to foreign investors and, as a consequence, will foster investment flows from abroad. We consider that South American countries have now an opportunity to define a strategy for cumulating origin norms among them. Therefore, it is necessary to negotiate the implementation of a single RoO regime for the region. In this negotiation we think MERCOSUR would be the leading PTA, due to the fact that it is the main player in the region.Rules of Origin, Diagonal Cumulation, Regional Integration.

Regular perturbation of V -geometrically ergodic Markov chains

In this paper, new conditions for the stability of V-geometrically ergodic Markov chains are introduced. The results are based on an extension of the standard perturbation theory formulated by Keller and Liverani. The continuity and higher regularity properties are investigated. As an illustration, an asymptotic expansion of the invariant probability measure for an autoregressive model with i.i.d. noises (with a non-standard probability density function) is obtained