Self-pulsing dynamics of ultrasound in a magnetoacoustic resonator

A theoretical model of parametric magnetostrictive generator of ultrasound is considered, taking into account magnetic and magnetoacoustic nonlinearities. The stability and temporal dynamics of the system is analized with standard techniques revealing that, for a given set of parameters, the model presents a homoclinic or saddle--loop bifurcation, which predicts that the ultrasound is emitted in the form of pulses or spikes with arbitrarily low frequency.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Violence perception in Mexico related to subjective and social well-being

El presente estudio evalúa las actitudes hacia la violencia social en México y las contrasta con medidas de satisfacción como son; el bienestar subjetivo desde la perspectiva cognitiva de satisfacción con la vida (Diener, 1980) y el bienestar social (Keyes, 1998). Para evaluar las actitudes frente a la violencia social, exploramos la Escala de Actitudes ante la Violencia Social (Navarro, 2010). Muestra de 101 participantes (77 M, 24 H) del estado de Colima, México. Las tres subescalas de las Actitudes ante la Violencia Social muestran consistencia interna y correlacionan de manera negativa en relación al Bienestar Subjetivo y Bienestar Social. Los resultados indican efectos negativos generados por la percepción de violencia pero sobre todo incongruencia entre una elevada alarma social ante la violencia y una relativamente baja reacción conductual. Las medias en satisfacción con la vida y en las subescalas de bienestar social son relativamente elevadas como se viene observando en estudios anteriores sobre estos constructos en la población mexicana.The present study evaluates attitudes towards social violence in Mexico and contrasts them with satisfaction measures, such as; satisfaction with life (Diener, 1980) and social well-being (Keyes, 1998). To evaluate attitudes originated from violence we explored the attitudes towards social violence scale (Navarro, 2010). Sample 101 subjects (77 W, 24 M) residents of the state of Colima, Mexico. The three subscales composing the attitudes originated from social violence scale show internal consistence and correlate negatively to subjective and social well-being. These results indicate some negative effects of attitudes originated from violence. There is no congruence between high social alarm and low behavioral responses. Satisfaction with life and social well-being are relatively high as usual in Mexican population

Copula selection models for non-Gaussian responses that are missing not at random

Missing not at random (MNAR) data poses key challenges for statistical inference because the model of interest is typically not identifiable without imposing further (e.g., distributional) assumptions. Sample selection models have been routinely used for handling MNAR by jointly modelling the outcome and selection variables assuming that these follow a bivariate normal distribution. Recent studies have advocated parametric selection model approaches, for example estimated by multiple imputation and maximum likelihood, that are more robust to departures from the normality assumption. However, the proposed methods have been mostly restricted to a specific joint distribution (e.g., bivariate t-distribution). This paper discusses a flexible copula-based selection approach (which accommodates a wide range of non-Gaussian outcome distributions and offers great flexibility in the choice of functional form specifications for both the outcome and selection equations) and proposes a flexible imputation procedure that generates plausible imputed values from the copula selection model. A simulation study characterises the relative performance of the copula model compared with the most commonly used selection models for estimating average treatment effects with MNAR data. We illustrate the methods in the REFLUX study, which evaluates the causal effect of laparoscopic surgery compared to usual medical management on long-term quality of life in patients with reflux disease. We provide software code for implementing the proposed copula framework using the R package GJRM

Cuidados paliativos : experiencia educativa virtual

A través del tiempo la metodología virtual se ha introducido en la enseñanza y capacitación, avanzado en diversos campos de muchas organizaciones y disciplinas, no escapando de esta la disciplina de Enfermería. Como adultos pertenecientes al siglo pasado, hemos visto y participado de la evolución del proceso de enseñanza tradicional hacia la metodología virtual. Este artículo describe parte de la experiencia obtenida después de haber participado del Primer Curso Virtual de Gestión de Programas de Cuidados Paliativos, realizado en la República de Panamá con la utilización de esta metodología. Esta participación me ayudó a validar algunas percepciones que tenía acerca de la misma y me motivó a reflexionar acerca de otros aspectos. Comparto el desarrollo de una de las actividades de aprendizajes, generadas durante este diplomado

Elementos de Alfabetização em Saúde no Campus Central da Universidade do Panamá.

  This research measured Health Literacy in the three levels of the University of Panama: teachers, administrators and students. The term "health literacy", comes from the English Health Literacy, has been gaining relevance through the ages. In health there are terms that can make us think of an approach to the subject (prevention, promotion, early detection, among others), but reality indicates that Health Literacy goes further. It is a condition that allows self-management of health and self-care, through empowerment processes and assertive decision-making, consequently reducing morbidity and mortality of people, improving their living conditions and favoring the general health conditions of the inhabitants of a country; which reduces the expenses in Public Health of a government. It intended to measure the degree of literacy in the university community and manage aspects aimed at improving it. The study was exploratory, the sample of 1,234 subjects, non-probabilistic type. 10.2% were teachers, 11.5% were administrative, and 78.3% were students. It was distributed in 19 faculties. The instrument developed by the European project, which derives from the conceptual model, adapted through a pilot survey, was used. The model is made up of three relevant areas: Health Care, Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and four processing stages related to health, relevant for decision-making and relevant tasks. The results reflected limited health literacy in the three dimensions considered. The survey was applied at the University of Panama, during the second semester of 2015. The research was presented in the work: Promotion, Literacy and Intervention in Health, Experiences from Multidiscipline in 2019, under the publication and dissemination of the University Autonomous National of Mexico.Esta investigacio?n midió la Alfabetizacio?n en Salud en los tres estamentos de la Universidad de Panamá: docentes, administrativos y estudiantes. El término "alfabetización en salud", proviene del inglés Health Literacy, ha ido tomando relevancia a través de los tiempos. En salud existen términos que nos pueden hacer pensar en una aproximación a la temática (prevención, promoción, detección temprana, entre otros), pero la realidad indica que la Alfabetizacio?n en Salud va más allá.  Es una condición que permite autogestionar la salud y el autocuidado, por medio de procesos de empoderamiento y toma de decisiones asertivas, trayendo por consiguiente disminución de la morbi-mortalidad de las personas, mejorando sus condiciones de vida y favoreciendo las condiciones generales de salud de los habitantes de un país; lo cual aminora los gastos en Salud Pública de un gobierno. Pretendió medir el grado de alfabetización en la comunidad universitaria y gestionar aspectos tendientes a mejorarla. El estudio fue exploratorio, la muestra de 1,234 sujetos, tipo no probabili?stica. Un 10.2% eran profesores, 11.5% administrativos y 78.3% estudiantes. Fue distribuida en 19 facultades.  Se utilizó el instrumento elaborado por el proyecto europeo, que deriva del modelo conceptual, adaptado a través de una encuesta piloto.  El modelo lo integran tres áreas relevantes: Cuidado de la Salud, Prevención de Enfermedades y Promoción de la Salud y cuatro etapas de procesamiento relativas a la salud, pertinentes para la toma de decisiones y tareas relevantes.  Los resultados reflejaron una alfabetización en salud limitada en las tres dimensiones consideradas.  La encuesta fue aplicada en la Universidad de Panamá, durante el segundo semestre del año 2015.  La investigación fue presentada en la obra: Promoción, Alfabetización e Intervención en Salud, Experiencias desde la Multidisciplina en el 2019, bajo la publicación y divulgación de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.  Esta pesquisa mediu a Alfabetização em Saúde nos três níveis da Universidade do Panamá: professores, administradores e alunos. O termo "alfabetização em saúde", provém do inglês Health Literacy, vem ganhando relevância ao longo dos tempos. Em saúde existem termos que podem nos fazer pensar em uma abordagem do assunto (prevenção, promoção, detecção precoce, entre outros), mas a realidade indica que a Alfabetização em Saúde vai além. É uma condição que permite a autogestão da saúde e o autocuidado, por meio de processos de empoderamento e tomada de decisão assertiva, consequentemente reduzindo a morbimortalidade das pessoas, melhorando suas condições de vida e favorecendo as condições gerais de saúde dos habitantes de um país; o que reduz os gastos em Saúde Pública de um governo. Procurou medir o grau de alfabetização da comunidade universitária e administrar aspectos voltados para sua melhoria. O estudo foi exploratório, com amostra de 1.234 sujeitos, do tipo não probabilístico. 10,2% eram professores, 11,5% eram administrativos e 78,3% eram alunos. Foi distribuído em 19 faculdades. Foi utilizado o instrumento desenvolvido pelo projeto europeu, que deriva do modelo conceitual, adaptado por meio de um inquérito piloto. O modelo é composto por três áreas relevantes: Cuidados de Saúde, Prevenção de Doenças e Promoção da Saúde e quatro etapas de processamento relacionadas com a saúde, relevantes para a tomada de decisões e tarefas relevantes. Os resultados refletiram alfabetização em saúde limitada nas três dimensões consideradas. A pesquisa foi aplicada na Universidade do Panamá, durante o segundo semestre de 2015. A pesquisa foi apresentada no trabalho: Promoção, Alfabetização e Intervenção em Saúde, Experiências Multidisciplinares em 2019, no âmbito da publicação e divulgação da Universidade Autônoma Nacional de México

Ultrasonic evaluation of the hydration degree of the orange peel

The elastic parameters of fruit and vegetables are normally monitored in quality control processes as there is a good correlation to the degrees of firmness, turgidity and humidity. These parameters have been traditionally measured by means of penetration tests, which are destructive. This has resulted in the increased attention recently given to ultrasonic techniques applied to the quality evaluation of horticultural commodities. Nevertheless, since most of the fruit and vegetables display a viscoelastic behavior, the penetration test should be considered to be quasi-static, especially when compared with the speeds associated with the ultrasonic tests. Both methods should provide different values for the elastic parameters. The aim of this work is to study this discrepancy in the values of the elastic parameters and interpret the elastodynamic behavior of the vegetable tissue under an ultrasound test. Thus, the paper presents an ultrasonic nondestructive method to evaluate the elastic parameters of the sweet orange peel at 40. kHz. The complete dehydration process of two sets of oranges (Navelina and Ortanique) was monitored for 2. months. A linear elastic solid model with viscous losses was numerically solved using a simulation scheme based on a 3D-Spherical FDTD method (Finite-Difference Time-Domain) in order to interpret the results, which proved that the elastic parameters obtained by penetration and ultrasonic tests differ. The method provides an empirical relation between the hydration state and the elastic parameters of the orange peel. Therefore, the proposed ultrasonic test reported in this work is capable of determining the hydration state of the orange simply by measuring the propagation speed of the Rayleigh waves on the orange peel, and hence, can be used as a fruit quality index during postharvest processes. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.This study was supported by the Programa de Apoyo a la Investigacion y Desarrollo (PAID-05-09-002-618), (PAID-06-10-002-295) of Universidad Politecnica de Valencia. The authors would like to thank K. Y. Foo, from the University of Birmingham and P. Malischewsky from the University Friedrich-Schiller at Jena, for the fruitful discussions regarding surface acoustic waves.Jimenez, N.; Picó Vila, R.; Camarena Femenia, F.; Redondo, J.; Roig, B. (2012). Ultrasonic evaluation of the hydration degree of the orange peel. Postharvest Biology and Technology. 67:130-137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2011.12.020S1301376

Prospects for probing the gluon density in protons using heavy quarkonium hadroproduction

We examine carefully bottomonia hadroproduction in proton colliders, especially focusing on the LHC, as a way of probing the gluon density in protons. To this end we develop some previous work, getting quantitative predictions and concluding that our proposal can be useful to perform consistency checks of the parameterization sets of different parton distribution functions.Comment: LaTeX, 14 pages, 6 EPS figure

A mobile data acquisition system

A mobile data aquisition (MobiDAQ) was developed for the ATLAS central hadronic calorimeter (TileCal). MobiDAQ has been designed in order to test the functionalities of the TileCal front-end electronics and to acquire calibration data before the final back-end electronics were built and tested. MobiDAQ was also used to record the first cosmic ray events acquired by an ATLAS subdetector in the underground experimental area

Clinical significance of the detection of Candida albicans germ tube-specific antibodies in critically ill patients

AbstractThe present study, comprising a prospective multicentre study including 53 non-neutropenic patients from intensive care units (ICU) in six Spanish tertiary-care hospitals, was carried out to determine the clinical significance and influence on mortality of Candida albicans germ tube-specific antibodies (CAGTA). There were 22 patients (41.5%) for whom the CAGTA results were positive, although none of had a blood culture positive for Candida. The intra-ICU mortality rate was significantly lower (p = 0.004) in CAGTA-positive patients (61.2% vs. 22.7%). Multivariate analysis confirmed that a positive CAGTA result was the only protective factor to be independently associated with ICU mortality (β coefficient = −0.3856; 95% confidence interval = −0.648 to −0.123)