Tolerance After Liver Transplantation: Where Are We?

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Flavour Physics and CP Violation in the Standard Model and Beyond

We present the invited lectures given at the Third IDPASC School which took place in Santiago de Compostela in January 2013. The students attending the school had very different backgrounds, some of them were doing their Ph.D. in experimental particle physics, others in theory. As a result, and in order to make the lectures useful for most of the students, we focused on basic topics of broad interest, avoiding the more technical aspects of Flavour Physics and CP Violation. We make a brief review of the Standard Model, paying special attention to the generation of fermion masses and mixing, as well as to CP violation. We describe some of the simplest extensions of the SM, emphasising novel flavour aspects which arise in their framework.Comment: Invited talk at the Third IDPASC School 2013, January 21st - February 2nd 2013, Santiago de Compostela, Galiza, Spain; 36 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables; version with few misprints correcte

Numerical simulation study of the dynamical behavior of the Niedermayer algorithm

We calculate the dynamic critical exponent for the Niedermayer algorithm applied to the two-dimensional Ising and XY models, for various values of the free parameter $E_0$. For $E_0=-1$ we regain the Metropolis algorithm and for $E_0=1$ we regain the Wolff algorithm. For $-1<E_0<1$, we show that the mean size of the clusters of (possibly) turned spins initially grows with the linear size of the lattice, $L$, but eventually saturates at a given lattice size $\widetilde{L}$, which depends on $E_0$. For $L>\widetilde{L}$, the Niedermayer algorithm is equivalent to the Metropolis one, i.e, they have the same dynamic exponent. For $E_0>1$, the autocorrelation time is always greater than for $E_0=1$ (Wolff) and, more important, it also grows faster than a power of $L$. Therefore, we show that the best choice of cluster algorithm is the Wolff one, when compared to the Nierdermayer generalization. We also obtain the dynamic behavior of the Wolff algorithm: although not conclusive, we propose a scaling law for the dependence of the autocorrelation time on $L$.Comment: Accepted for publication in Journal of Statistical Mechanics: Theory and Experimen

Magnetic properties and critical behavior of disordered Fe_{1-x}Ru_x alloys: a Monte Carlo approach

We study the critical behavior of a quenched random-exchange Ising model with competing interactions on a bcc lattice. This model was introduced in the study of the magnetic behavior of Fe_{1-x}Ru_x alloys for ruthenium concentrations x=0%, x=4%, x=6%, and x=8%. Our study is carried out within a Monte Carlo approach, with the aid of a re-weighting multiple histogram technique. By means of a finite-size scaling analysis of several thermodynamic quantities, taking into account up to the leading irrelevant scaling field term, we find estimates of the critical exponents \alpha, \beta, \gamma, and \nu, and of the critical temperatures of the model. Our results for x=0% are in excellent agreement with those for the three-dimensional pure Ising model in the literature. We also show that our critical exponent estimates for the disordered cases are consistent with those reported for the transition line between paramagnetic and ferromagnetic phases of both randomly dilute and $\pm J$ Ising models. We compare the behavior of the magnetization as a function of temperature with that obtained by Paduani and Branco (2008), qualitatively confirming the mean-field result. However, the comparison of the critical temperatures obtained in this work with experimental measurements suggest that the model (initially obtained in a mean-field approach) needs to be modified

Reforço à flexão com compósitos de CFRP de vigas de madeira lamelada-colada

Neste trabalho apresenta-se uma campanha de ensaios em vigas de madeira lamelada-colada reforçadas à flexão com dois sistemas de compósitos unidireccionais de CFRP (polímeros reforçados com fibras de carbono), o curado “in situ” (manta) e o pré-fabricado (laminado). Para cada sistema de CFRP, o reforço foi aplicado externamente ou internamente na face inferior da penúltima lamela. No caso do reforço interno foi, também, avaliada a influência da colagem do CFRP numa pequena cavidade previamente executada na face da lamela a reforçar. Os resultados obtidos são analisados e interpretados, referindo-se as principais conclusões, tendo em vista avaliar a viabilidade do reforço à flexão de vigas de madeira lamelada-colada através da colagem de compósitos de CFRP.Flexilam. BeTTor MBT Portugal

Compósitos de CFRP unidireccionais no reforço de vigas de madeira lamelada-colada

Neste trabalho apresenta-se a campanha de ensaios realizada para avaliar a eficiência da aplicação de dois sistemas compósitos de CFRP no reforço à flexão de vigas de madeira lamelada-colada: o curado “in situ” (manta) e o pré-fabricado (laminado). Cada um dos sistemas de CFRP foi aplicado quer em reforço externo (colagem na face traccionada da viga) quer em reforço interno (colagem na face inferior da penúltima lamela). No caso do reforço interno foi, ainda, avaliada a influência da colagem do CFRP numa cavidade previamente executada na face da lamela a reforçar. Numa fase precedente, avaliou-se a aderência madeira- CFRP por intermédio de ensaios de “pull-off”, tendo-se analisado as seguintes variáveis: o tipo de cola, a utilização de primário e o tratamento da superfície.Flexilam.BeTTor MBT Portugal

Minimum Social Standards in Portugal: changes and adequacy from the pre to the post austerity period

Several international and European commitments recognize the right for all to have an adequate level of resources to lead a decent and dignified life and the need for an adequate income support for those who lack sufficient resources (i.e. for those living in poverty). In the last eleven years some important changes were introduced in Portugal affecting this right. Some, like the introduction of the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly, were positive moves towards the realization of this right, others, like some of the changes introduced in the non-contributory protection system during the period of social and economic crisis in Portugal, had a clear negative impact on the level of income guaranteed by the state for different households types. Using six vignettes for different household types this paper aims: a) to identify the impact on the minimum income guaranteed by the state (for the considered households types) of the main changes introduced after 2006 in minimum wage and in the non-contributory protection system, namely in Social Insertion Income and in Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly, b) to compare the minimum income guaranteed for the considered household types since 2006 and c) to assess the adequacy of the minimum income guaranteed, between 2016 and 2015, considering the relative at risk of poverty line.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Transvesical natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) nephrectomy with kidney morcellation: a proof of concept study

Study Type - Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4. What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Until now, the transvaginal approach has been the only method of removing larger specimens from the abdominal cavity using natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery. There has been no means of extracting larger specimens in men and the means are restricted even in women, particularly in young women. The present study shows that the difficulty of large specimen retrieval can be overcome, irrespective of the diameter of the chosen port, through natural orifices using morcellation. OBJECTIVE: To show, in a porcine model, the feasibility of a complete transvesical natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) nephrectomy with kidney extraction after morcellation through the same port. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transvesical nephrectomy and morcellation were performed in six pigs at Minho University, Braga, Portugal after institutional review board approval. The transvesical port and the cystotomy were created under the guidance of a ureteroscope, while the remaining steps were done under the guidance of an operating telescope. Dissection of the renal vessels and kidney was performed using dissection grasping forceps and a vessel sealing system (LigaSure(™) ; Covidien, Mansfield, MA, USA) and morcellation was done using a Piranha(™) morcellator (Richard Wolf, Knittlingen, Germany). RESULTS: There were no complications related to the creation of transvesical access. The image provided by the telescope was superior to that of the ureteroscope, especially underwater. Morcellation was quick and effective, with the support of a fixing needle through the abdominal wall, designed to fix the kidney, after laceration of a bowel loop occurred in the first experiment.  It was found that technical improvements are needed to ensure safety of NOTES morcellation. CONCLUSIONS: Kidney morcellation after nephrectomy, using a natural orifice exclusively, is feasible.  Despite technical limitations, this proof of concept study can be regarded as a potential step towards the application of NOTES in urology

Blink : observing thin slices of behavior to determine users' expectation towards task difficulty

This work aims to address the following question: is it possible to infer the users' expectations regarding task difficulty by watching them just before the actual start? We present a study where people acting as evaluators determined users’ expectations based on non-linguistic social signals in a 20 seconds video clip. The evaluations were performed using a five-point scale and the average error of the evaluations was of one point. Preliminary results suggest what type of signals was used by the evaluators to determine the users’ expected difficulty with the task.Este trabalho é financiado por Fundos FEDER através do Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade – COMPETE e por Fundos Nacionais através da FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia no âmbito do projecto PTDC/EIA-EIA/098634/200