Functions of linear operators: Parameter differentiation

We derive a useful expression for the matrix elements $[\frac{\partial f[A(t)]}{\partial t}]_{i j}$ of the derivative of a function $f[A(t)]$ of a diagonalizable linear operator $A(t)$ with respect to the parameter $t$. The function $f[A(t)]$ is supposed to be an operator acting on the same space as the operator $A(t)$. We use the basis which diagonalizes A(t), i.e., $A_{i j}=\lambda_i \delta_{i j}$, and obtain $[\frac{\partial f[A(t)]}{\partial t}]_{i j}=[\frac{\partial A}{\partial t}]_ {i j}\frac{f(\lambda_j) - f(\lambda_i)} {\lambda_j - \lambda_i}$. In addition to this, we show that further elaboration on the (not necessarily simple) integral expressions given by Wilcox 1967 (who basically considered $f[A(t)]$ of the exponential type) and generalized by Rajagopal 1998 (who extended Wilcox results by considering $f[A(t)]$ of the $q$-exponential type where $\exp_q(x) \equiv [1+(1-q)x]^{1/(1-q)}$ with $q \in {\cal {R}}$; hence, $\exp_1 (x)=\exp(x))$ yields this same expression. Some of the lemmas first established by the above authors are easily recovered.Comment: No figure

General properties of nonlinear mean field Fokker-Planck equations

Recently, several authors have tried to extend the usual concepts of thermodynamics and kinetic theory in order to deal with distributions that can be non-Boltzmannian. For dissipative systems described by the canonical ensemble, this leads to the notion of nonlinear Fokker-Planck equation (T.D. Frank, Non Linear Fokker-Planck Equations, Springer, Berlin, 2005). In this paper, we review general properties of nonlinear mean field Fokker-Planck equations, consider the passage from the generalized Kramers to the generalized Smoluchowski equation in the strong friction limit, and provide explicit examples for Boltzmann, Tsallis and Fermi-Dirac entropies.Comment: Paper presented at the international conference CTNEXT07, 1-5 july 2007, Catania, Ital

"Ready to eat": maduración controlada de fruta de hueso en cámara

El desarrollo de un protocolo para controlar la maduracion poscosecha de fruta de hueso, ha permitido a los productores californianos el envio de frutos a los puntos venta en condiciones optimas para el consumo ("lista para comer") mejorando el precio final y preci

Evaluation of a Kiwifruit non-destructive firmness sensor

Non-deslructive firmness sensors have recently become available for packers and f r u í handlers although they derrand more ¡nforrratbn on their performance and reliability. A corrmerdal sensor based on low rrass irrpact has been tested on kiwifruit. Correlatton betweer the firrmess Índex given by the device and Magness-Taybr foro» was low (r3 = 0.594). Classiftoatbns modeled with dbcrirrinant analysls showed that it Is feasible to sort samples Into two firnness groups (96 to 91%), but dassiflcatbn into three dasses yields lower scores

Predicting pitting damage during processing in California clingstone peaches using color and firmness measurements

Nondestructive and destructive measures of color and firmness were studied to determine the feasibility of predicting the level of damage to clingstone peaches during mechanical pitting. Nondestructive and destructive measures of firmness were equally variable when measuring the firmness at three equatorial cheek locations (coefficient of variation of about 17%), both had inverse relationships with the level of pitting damage (r2 ranged from 0.70 to 0.83), and could classify peaches into two categories (those subject to and those not subject to pitting damage) with classification accuracies of 75.2% and 81.7%, respectively. Destructive firmness was not a good predictor of nondestructive firmness in clingstone peaches. Skin color was not a good predictor of flesh color in clingstone peaches, and flesh color was not a good predictor of potential for damage to clingstone peaches during mechanical pitting

Evaluación del funcionamiento de un sensor comercial de firmeza en pera. Estudio metrológico

Non-destructive firmness estimation of fruits has recently become available for packers, although they demand more information on their performance and reliability. A commercial device based on low mass impact has been tested in this work, and it has been applied on pears. Correlation between the firmness Índex gíven by the device and Magness-Taylor forcé was low (r=0.896). Classifications modeled with discrlmínant analysis showed that it is feasible sort samples into two firmness groups 96 to 91 % of correct classification for pear). Classification into three classes yields lower scores. A study searching for sources of variation ¡n the measurement showed that the distance sensor-fruit, the displacement from the center, and the operating pressure affect the reading ¡n a significant way

Revised systematic position of Nasutitermes brevipilus Emerson, 1925 (Isoptera: Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae) and the designation of Hyleotermes gen. nov.

A new monotypic nasute termite genus, Hyleotermes gen. nov., is proposed for Nasutitermes brevipilus Emerson, 1925. Hyleotermes brevipilus, comb. nov., is redescribed and illustrated based on the morphology of the imago, soldier, and worker castes. It is expanded into Amazonia. The soldier of Hyleotermes differs from that of Nasutitermes Dudley, 1890 in that the former has a long and cylindrical nasus and the head capsule lacks long setae and is covered with microscopic setae. Unlike the worker of Nasutitermes, the Hyleotermes worker has a short mixed segment and an enteric valve is adorned with narrow spines on conical bases. The phylogenetic position of H. brevipilus comb nov., is reconstructed based on a dataset with two mitochondrial markers (COI and 16SrRNA) for 36 terminals, under maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. Results corroborate that this species is unrelated to Nasutitermes and should be excluded from the genus.Fil: Cuezzo, Adriana Carolina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; ArgentinaFil: Scheffrahn, Rudolf H.. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Constantino, Reginaldo. Universidade do Brasília; Brasi

CDEK: Clinical Drug Experience Knowledgebase

The Clinical Drug Experience Knowledgebase (CDEK) is a database and web platform of active pharmaceutical ingredients with evidence of clinical testing as well as the organizations involved in their research and development. CDEK was curated by disambiguating intervention and organization names from ClinicalTrials.gov and cross-referencing these entries with other prominent drug databases. Approximately 43% of active pharmaceutical ingredients in the CDEK database were sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov and cannot be found in any other prominent compound-oriented database. The contents of CDEK are structured around three pillars: active pharmaceutical ingredients (n = 22 292), clinical trials (n = 127 223) and organizations (n = 24 728). The envisioned use of the CDEK is to support the investigation of many aspects of drug development, including discovery, repurposing opportunities, chemo- and bio-informatics, clinical and translational research and regulatory sciences