A relativistically covariant stochastic model for systems with a fluctuating number of particles

We construct a relativistically covariant stochastic model for systems of non-interacting spinless particles whose number undergoes random fluctuations. The model is compared with the canonical quantization of the free scalar field in the limit of infinite volume.Comment: 5 Pages; no figures; Plain REVTeX style. To be published in Phys. Lett.

On Dialetheic Entailment

The entailment connective is introduced by Priest (2006b). It aims to capture, in a dialetheically acceptable way, the informal notion of logical consequence. This connective does not “fall foul” of Curry’s Paradox by invalidating an inference rule called “Absorption” (or “Contraction”) and the classical logical theorem called “Assertion”. In this paper we show that the semantics of entailment, given by Priest in terms of possible worlds, is inadequate. In particular, we will argue that Priest’s counterexamples to Absorption and Assertion use in the metalanguage a dialetheically unacceptable principle. Furthermore, we show that the rejection of Assertion undermines Priest’s claim that the entailment connective expresses the notion of logical consequence

Duplicate detection methodology for IP network traffic analysis

Network traffic monitoring systems have to deal with a challenging problem: the traffic capturing process almost invariably produces duplicate packets. In spite of this, and in contrast with other fields, there is no scientific literature addressing it. This paper establishes the theoretical background concerning data duplication in network traffic analysis: generating mechanisms, types of duplicates and their characteristics are described. On this basis, a duplicate detection and removal methodology is proposed. Moreover, an analytical and experimental study is presented, whose results provide a dimensioning rule for this methodology.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures. For the GitHub project, see https://github.com/Enchufa2/nantool

Social exclusion and economic growth at the European Union: can social marketing and behavioral economics help us to overcome the problem?

The problem of poverty and social exclusion is growing nowadays in the European Union context, according to Eurostat (2015 and 2016). And, in spite of the fact that Europe 2020 Strategy is apparently focused on that situation, the perspectives are not promising. What could be happening? In this paper we analyze this issue from a Macromarketing approach, including elements from Behavioral Economics (stigmatization process and stress coping theories, going further than the “homo economicus” traditional model) to reach a better understanding, and recommending a combined public-private response to overcome the problem, using the elements that Marketing provide us (such as Social Marketing, Macro-social Marketing, Corporate Social Marketing and also traditional Commercial Marketing techniques, under a “fortune at the bottom of the pyramid” approach). Doing so, we do not only want to eradicate this sort of curse, but also to boost economic growth in an effective inclusive manner.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Occurrence of Gastroliths in _Baurusuchus_ (Baurusuchidae, Mesoeucrocodylia) from Adamantina Formation, Bauru Basin

The fossil record of Baurusuchidae Mesoeucrocodylia in the General Salgado county and its surroundings is one of the best regarding preservation, completeness and articulation of skull and skeleton remains, including specimens that shown even the most delicate bone structures and cartilaginous tissues. 

One of them, UFRJ DG 288-R, has preserved its skull and about 80% of its skeleton. During the removal of the rock matrix, on what should be the specimen’s abdominal region, together with fragments of gastralia were observed some small well-polished weathered angulous to subrounded clasts, presumed to be gastroliths. 

These xenoliths occur in a restrict cluster, where at least four peeble-sized stones are visible in the surface of the specimen. The texture and fabrics of these rock fragments differs from the surrounding matrix, presenting darker purplish tones. In thin section, one of the fragments revealed isotropic texture, with opaque minerals in abundance, of euhedric to subhedric habits. The mineralogical composition presents mainly clay minerals as weathering products; biotite and chlorite are common, being the last the result of hidratation of the first. Although highly altered, the low quartz content, small-sized and well-formed crystals suggests maphic composition in volcanic context, possibly representing a basalt fragment. 

In extant Crocodyliformes, the occurrence of gastroliths is commonly associated with food processing in the stomach, diving ballast, hunger stress and/or supplementary mineral ingestion. 

As baurusuchids are characterized as medium to large size fully terrestrial predator/scavengers, based on skeletal data, the ballast function of gasthroliths is excluded in this case. As mentioned above, extant crocodyliforms such as _Caiman_ and _Crocodylus_ ingest stones when under stressful conditions of lack of food, water or when in high population density. Osteoderms are one of the primary sources for calcium and a reservoir for the homeostasis. The hunger stress can be observed in the osteoderms histological cuts as an abnormal concentration of osteoclasts at its inner region overwhelming the presence of osteoblasts and consuming the osteocytes. The preservation of osteoderms associated with gasthroliths may reveal if the stone ingestion in baurusuchids is a normal or driven by hunger behavior. 

The paleoenvironmental conditions dominating the Adamantina Formation during the Late Cretaceous are considered mainly arid, marked with strong seasonality, alternating long droughts and short rainy periods, associated with flashflood events. The stressful condition created during the dry season would cause famine and mass mortality, thus forcing animals to endure or escape. The baurusuchids underwent the dry seasons through behavorial responses of self burial and probably stone ingestion, although natural bahavior cannot be eliminated as a cause. 

Financial support provided by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, grant no 305780/2006–9), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) and Instituto Virtual de Paleontologia/ Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (IVP/FAPERJ, grant no E–26/152.541/2006).
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Interrelation of geomorphology and fauna of Lavrado region in Roraima, Brazil – suggestions for future studies

In der vorgelegten Arbeit wird die Abhängigkeit von Geomorphologie und biologischen Interaktion unter Verwendung des Konzeptes morphoklimatischer Regionen Brasiliens vorgestellt. Die Diskussion fokussiert hierbei auf biogeographische und ökologische Aspekte. Die vorgelegte Studie wurde in den offenen Bereichen von Roraima – Lavrado – zwischen Brasilien, Venezuela und Guyana durchgeführt. Dieses Gebiet liegt im nördlichen Teil der morphoklimatischen Region Amazoniens. Zur Anwendung kamen Techniken der Fernerkundung, um das Relief der Region zu ermitteln und biologische Charakterisierungen durchzuführen. Die hierdurch erzielten Ergebnisse wurden genutzt, um Lebensräume der Region und die Verteilung der Lavrado Fauna zu beschreiben.researc

Stability analysis of periodic orbits in a class of duffing-like piecewise linear vibrators

In this paper, we study the dynamical behavior of a Duffing-like piecewise linear (PWL) springmass-damper system for vibration-based energy harvesting applications. First, we present a continuous time single degree of freedom PWL dynamical model of the system. From this PWL model, numerical simulations are carried out by computing frequency response and bifurcation diagram under a deterministic harmonic excitation for different sets of system parameter values. Stability analysis is performed using Floquet theory combined with Fillipov method.Postprint (published version

World stories and maximality

According to many actualist conceptions of modality, talk about possible worlds should be reduced to talk about world stories. Intuitively, a world story is a com- plete description of how things could be. In this paper, I will claim that the world story approach not only suffers from the well-known, expressive problem of repre- senting the thesis of the possible existence of non-actual objects, but it has troubles in representing, in an actualistically acceptable way, the apparently more tractable thesis of the possible non-existence of actual objects. To solve this problem, I will propose a refinement of the approach by the introduction of a novel notion of max- imality, local maximality

Preceptor Education and Structured Onboarding Process

Problem: Staff nurse retention is an ongoing problem for this intensive care unit (ICU). Through exit interviews from staff who left, inadequate onboarding and education made them feel unprepared for their job and not part of the team. The preceptors on the unit have never been trained on the roles and responsibilities of being a preceptor. The current onboarding process consists of pairing new hires with a preceptor who either happens to be willing to do it that day or someone who has been there the longest. There is no consistency or personalizing the orientation information to the new hire. Teaching preceptors on the roles, responsibilities, and different teaching methods would help to provide consistency to the process of orientation, and preceptors would be able to personalize the education for the student with the new teaching methods learned. Consistent onboarding helps new hires feel supported and confident by having preceptors who know their role and can adapt their teaching method to each new hire’s learning style. Context: This ICU has 75 staff nurses split among three shifts. Critical care experience can range from one year to 25 years. This ICU has recently encountered major vacancies, amounting to seven full-time equivalents needing to be filled. The skill mix due to vacancies can vary from shift to shift. Last year, a new critical care training program was implemented for six nurses, five of whom left the unit after finishing the training for various reasons. None of the nurses who were precepting had any experience in precepting or were formally trained as a preceptor. Measures: A family of measures was developed for the implementation of this project. The overall outcome measure is to train all selected preceptors. The process measures for the project are the pre- and post-course surveys evaluating the course effectiveness. Weekly debriefing huddles would measure the effectiveness of the preceptor to implement what they learned in the class. The balancing measure for this would be the weekly debriefings, and any negative findings would guide the orientation process. Results: Prior to this project, there were no preceptors trained on the roles and responsibilities of being a preceptor. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were only able to facilitate training two staff nurses. The post-course surveys showed improvement in knowledge of preceptor expectations. Conclusions: Common themes in exit interviews, sporadic spikes in harm events, no formal preceptor roles and responsibilities, and decreasing retention rates, identified a need for consistent and formal education. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the interventions to test and to address these issues will have to be postponed until alternative ways are identified to conduct a preceptor educational class. Based on other process improvement projects in other facilities, we expect that once these interventions are carried out, we should see a decrease in harm events and an increase in retention