Size distribution and waiting times for the avalanches of the Cell Network Model of Fracture

The Cell Network Model is a fracture model recently introduced that resembles the microscopical structure and drying process of the parenchymatous tissue of the Bamboo Guadua angustifolia. The model exhibits a power-law distribution of avalanche sizes, with exponent -3.0 when the breaking thresholds are randomly distributed with uniform probability density. Hereby we show that the same exponent also holds when the breaking thresholds obey a broad set of Weibull distributions, and that the humidity decrements between successive avalanches (the equivalent to waiting times for this model) follow in all cases an exponential distribution. Moreover, the fraction of remaining junctures shows an exponential decay in time. In addition, introducing partial breakings and cumulative damages induces a crossover behavior between two power-laws in the avalanche size histograms. This results support the idea that the Cell Network Model may be in the same universality class as the Random Fuse Model

Avaliação do bem-estar de cavalos montados no desfile nacional de cavalos da Costa Rica

The National Horse Parade of Costa Rica (NHPCR) is an equestrian event held annually to celebrate the national day of the horse rider. Public concern regarding the welfare of horses and riders during the event has increased due to the removal of horses in poor body condition, spine injuries, and hoof problems. An Assessment of horse behavior and stress response during these events has never been conducted. The objective of this study was to evaluate the horse behavior, fecal glucocorticoid metabolites and body weight as indicators of welfare during the NHPCR. In the Experiment 1, body weight and fecal glucocorticoid metabolites were measured in 13 Costarricense de Paso horses participating in the NHPCR. All measures were recorded at the horses' home stable 48 hours before and 24 hours after the event. In Experiment 2, three stations (equally spaced along the 3-kilometer parade route) were used to randomly conduct a scan sampling of the behavior of 513 horses. Eye-wrinkle and eye-white presence were recorded on 48 horses using photographs taken during the event. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites showed no significant differences (p>0.05) at the two time points in the horses evaluated, and there was a significant weight loss (-7.08 kg) 24 hours after the event (p=0.00034). The scan sampling provided evidence that traits such as sweating (60.74%), bit chewing (54.70%), and active gait (65%) were more common than head tossing (28.88%), neck above the withers (6.83%), hyperflexion (28.71%), and ears pinned backwards (31.19%). A strong eye wrinkle was detected on 70% of the horses, while only 16% had the presence of eye-white. Although our results for fecal glucocorticoid metabolites were not conclusive, other behavioral traits indicated that over fifty per cent of the horses attending the NHPCR experience some level of stress.El Tope Nacional de Costa Rica (NHPCR) es un evento ecuestre realizado anualmente para celebrar el día nacional del caballista. La preocupación pública sobre el bienestar de los caballos y jinetes ha aumentado debido a mala condición corporal, lesiones en columna, problemas de cascos y dificultades en carga y descarga. Aunque se han implementado acciones para salvaguardar el bienestar de los caballos en años recientes, no se ha evaluado su comportamiento y los niveles de estrés durante este evento. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el comportamiento, los metabolitos de glucocorticoides en heces y el peso corporal como indicadores de bienestar de caballos durante el NHPCR. En el Experimento 1 se determinó el peso corporal y los niveles de cortisol fecal en 13caballos Costarricense de Paso 48-horas antes y 24-horas después del evento. En el Experimento 2, tres estaciones (equidistantes a lo largo de la ruta de 3 kilómetros del recorrido) se usaron para evaluar el comportamiento de 513caballos. Se registró la presencia de arrugas y conjuntiva del ojo en 48caballos con fotografías tomadas en el evento. No hubo diferencias significativas (p>0,05) en el análisis de metabolitos de glucocorticoides fecales en los dos momentos de muestreo y hubo una pérdida significativa (p=0,00034) de peso 24-horas después del evento (-7,08kg). Se halló evidencia de que características como la sudoración (60,74%), mordisqueo del bocado (54,70%) y paso activo (65%) fueron más comunes que la sacudida de cabeza (28,88%), cuello levantado (6,83%), hiperflexión del cuello (28,71%) y orejas posicionadas hacia atrás (31,19%) durante el evento. Se detectó una arruga fuerte en los ojos (70%) y presencia de la conjuntiva (16%) en los caballos. Aunque los resultados de glucocorticoides fecales no fueron concluyentes, otras características de comportamiento indicaron que más de la mitad de los caballos asistentes al NHPCR experimentan algún nivel de estrés.O Tope Nacional de Costa Rica (NHPCR) é um evento equestre realizado anualmente para celebrar o Dia Nacional do Cavaleiro. A preocupação do público com o bem-estar dos cavalos e cavaleiros aumentou devido ao número de cavalos retirados do evento com inadequadas condições corporais, lesões na coluna vertebral, problemas nos cascos e dificuldades de carga e descarga. Embora ações tenham sido implementadas para salvaguardar o bem-estar dos cavalos nos últimos anos, seu comportamento e os níveis de estresse durante este evento não foram avaliados. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar ocomportamento, os metabolitos de glicocorticoides em fezes e o peso corporal como indicadores de bem-estar dos equinos durante o NHPCR. No Experimento 1, o peso corporal e os níveis de cortisol fecal foram medidos em 13 cavalos da Costa Rica Paso 48 horas antes e 24 horas após o evento. No Experimento 2, três estações (igualmente espaçadas ao longo do percurso de 3 quilômetros) foram usadas para avaliar o comportamento de 513 cavalos. A presença de rugas e conjuntiva ocular foi registrada em 48 cavalos com fotografias tiradas no evento. Não houve diferenças significativas (p>0,05) na análise dos metabólitos fecais de glicocorticoides nos dois momentos de amostragem e houve perda de peso significativa (p=0,00034) 24 horas após o evento (-7,08 kg). Evidenciou-se que características como sudorese (60,74%), mordeduras (54,70%) e marcha ativa (65%) foram mais comuns do que sacudir a cabeça (28,88%), pescoço levantado (6,83%), hiperflexão do pescoço (28,71). %) e orelhas posicionadas para trás (31,19%) durante o evento. Forte enrugamento dos olhos (70%) e presença da conjuntiva (16%) foram detectados nos cavalos. Embora os resultados de glicocorticoides fecais tenham sido inconclusivos, outras características comportamentais indicaram que mais da metade dos cavalos atendidos no NHPCR experimentam algum nível de estresse

Biologic interactions determining geographic range size : a one species response to phylogenetic community structure

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

A Prototype Fast Multiplicity Discriminator for ALICE L0 Trigger

The design details and test results of a prototype Multiplicity Discriminator (MD) for the ALICE L0 Trigger electronics are presented. The MD design is aimed at the earliest trigger decision founded on a fast multiplicity signal cut, in both options for the ALICE centrality detector: Micro Channel Plates or Cherenkov counters. The MD accepts detector signals with an amplitude range of plus-minus 2.5 V, base duration of 1.8 ns and rise time of 300-400 ps. The digitally controlled threshold settings give an accuracy better than 0.4% at the maximum amplitude of the accepted pulses. The MD internal latency of 15 ns allows for a decision every LHC bunch crossing period, even for the 40 MHz of p-p collisions

Revisión de los Gordiacea (Nematomorpha) de la colección de la Academia de Ciencias de California con descripción de una nueva especie

The Gordiacea of the California Academy of Sciences collection are studied. The specimens are included in the known species Gordius robustus Leidy, Pseudochordodes bedriagae (Camerano) and a new species, Neochordodes californensis n. sp. is proposed. Morphological, morphometric and geographical data are provided for these species.En este trabajo se estudian los Gordiacea de la colección de la California Academy of Sciences. Los ejemplares se incluyen en dos especies conocidas, Gordius robustus Leidy y Pseudochordodes bedriagae (Camerano), y una especie nueva: Neochordodes californensis n. sp. Se proporcionan datos morfológicos, morfométricos y geográficos para cada una de las especies

Validating Estimates of Prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases Based on Household Surveys: The Symptomatic Diagnosis Study

Easy-to-collect epidemiological information is critical for the more accurate estimation of the prevalence and burden of different non-communicable diseases around the world. Current measurement is restricted by limitations in existing measurement systems in the developing world and the lack of biometry tests for non-communicable diseases. Diagnosis based on self-reported signs and symptoms (“Symptomatic Diagnosis,” or SD) analyzed with computer-based algorithms may be a promising method for collecting timely and reliable information on non-communicable disease prevalence. The objective of this study was to develop and assess the performance of a symptom-based questionnaire to estimate prevalence of non-communicable diseases in low-resource areas