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Faults offsetting sedimentary strata can record changes in sedimentation driven by tectonic and climatic forcing. Fault kinematic analysis is effective at evaluating changes in sediment volumes at salt/shale-bearing passive margins where sediment loading drives faulting. We explore these processes along the northern Gulf of Mexico. Incremental throw along 146 buried faults studied across onshore Louisiana revealed continual Cenozoic fault reactivation punctuated by inactive periods along a few faults. Fault scarp heights measured from light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data are interpreted to show that Cenozoic fault reactivation continued through the Pleistocene.The areas of highest fault throw and maximum sediment deposition shifted from southwest Louisiana in the early Miocene to southeast Louisiana in the middle--late Miocene. These changes in the locus of maximum fault reactivation and sediment deposition were controlled by changing tectonics and climate in the source areas. Early Miocene fault throw estimates indicate a depocenter farther east than previously mapped and support the idea that early Miocene Appalachian Mountain uplift and erosion routed sediment to southeast Louisiana.By correlating changes in fault throw with changes in sediment deposition, we suggest that (1) fault kinematic analysis can be used to evaluate missing sediment volumes because fault offsets can be preserved despite partial erosion, (2) fault throw estimates can be used to infer changes in past tectonic and climate-related processes driving sedimentation, and (3) these observations are applicable to other passive margins with mobile substrates and faulted strata within overfilled sedimentary basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation is aimed at investigating a topic of great importance for the training of students of the specialty technician in social work, in technical and professional education. It refers to the urgent need to base the formation of scientific investigative skills in students of the social work specialty technician specialty as a social problem that needs science and technology for its solution. The investigation had an explanatory character and assumed the dialectical-materialist method. For the development of the investigative process, a bibliographic review was carried out in databases such as SciELO and Google Scholar, on the formation of scientific-investigative skills, as well as the definitions of science and technology, and the relationship between both categories. For the search strategy, combinations of keywords were used such as: training, scientific investigative skills, social work, science and technology. In addition, the model of the specialty professional was analyzed, as well as the subject programs, to confront how the training of scientific-investigative skills had been treated. What allowed to obtain the necessary information to give an answer to the problem posed; that demonstrates the potential of science and technology for the formation of scientific-investigative skills of future professionals, in correspondence with the demands of the current context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a business model as a means of analysis of competitive advantage is a new concept that includes classic elements, such as resources and strategy, adding the creation of value for customers and the appropriation of a part of it by the company. This paper studies the relation between the business model and performance in the Spanish wine industry. For this study, a survey was conducted of all the wineries in Spain; 339 responses were obtained, 14% of the total sample universe. In line with the recent literature, a business model is shaped as a consequence of the definition of the business strategy. To analyse the different business models, the core strategy and their interaction with the decisions of the company in the value chain have been analysed. The study empirically points out four successful business models in the Spanish wine industry, and notes the set of decisions in the value chain that each business model uses. The results and conclusions presented should provide a way for the managers of Spanish wineries to evaluate the congruence between their core strategies and their decisions in the value chain in order to achieve a better business performance. In addition, this can benefit wine sector firms in aligning their resources and decisions and in achieving greater efficiency. The study provides a global analysis that has not been made in the wine sector before and its conclusions allow one to know which core strategies are related to a better performance and which are not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals with the positions and people of the subordinate administration of the province of Raetia since its creation, at the end of the 1st century BC, until the first half of the 3rd century AD. The data that we know of all of them is offered to obtain an overview of this administrative area that has often been forgotten. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What formerly was called concubinage (based on the etymological origin of the word) according to legislation and doctrine is now known as commonlaw marriage by Peruvian law, disregarding general legislation and doctrine. This term can be confused with different types of unions, not marriage or that of the living together between a man and woman as if they were married, but rather that for different purposes, such as commercial interests. Therefore, this work proposes the legal recognition of other rights inherent to common-law spouses that the legal system continues to keep silent, refraining from establishing them, as required by a true legal code, and that the jurisdictional power of courts should declare and not rely on the argument that common-law marriage is an institution considered in the «shadow of marriage». [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The mental foramen (MF) hosts main neurovascular structures, making it of crucial importance for surgical procedures. This study aimed to analyze the factors influencing the dimensions and location of the MF. Materials and methods: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 344 patients were examined for MF dimensions, as well as for the distances from the MF to the alveolar crest (MF-MSB), and to the inferior mandibular border (MF-MIB). Results: Gender, mandibular side and presence of accessory mental foramina (AMF) significantly influence MF area. Males, left hemimandibles, and hemimandibles with no AMF had a higher rate of large MF areas (B = − 0.60; p = 0.003, females; B = 0.55; p = 0.005; B = 0.85; p = 0.038). Age, gender and dental status significantly influence MF-MSB distance. The distance decreased as age increased (B = −0.054; p = 0.001), females showed a lower rate of long MF-MSB distances (B = −0.94, p = 0.001), and dentate patients showed a higher rate of long MF-MSB distances (B = 2.27; p = 0.001). Age, gender and emerging angle significantly influenced MF-MIB distance. The distance decreased as age and emerging angle increased (B = −0.01; p = 0.001; B = −0.03; p = 0.001), and females had a lower rate of long MF-MIB distances (B = −1.94, p = 0.001). Conclusions: General and local factors influence the dimensions and location of MF. MF dimensions are influenced by gender, mandibular side, anteroposterior position, and the presence of AMF. Distance from MF to alveolar crest is influenced by gender, age and dental status, while the relative MF position is influenced by age and dental status. CBCT images make it possible to analyze the MF in order to avoid complications during surgical procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "In a Flight of Starlings: The Wonders of Complex Systems" is a review of the book written by Giorgio Parisi, a renowned Italian physicist and winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2021. The book explores different aspects of complex systems using the behavior of bird flocks, specifically starlings, as an example. Parisi explains in a simple way the scientific contributions that led to his Nobel Prize, which originated from the theoretical study of materials with disorder. Additionally, he reflects on the usefulness of metaphors in physics and science in general, as well as the importance of models in scientific research. The book also addresses the history of Physics in Rome after World War II and reflects on the meaning and relevance of science in today's society. Overall, the book is recommended for its ability to disseminate and provoke reflection on scientific research. [Extracted from the article]

What formerly was called concubinage (based on the etymological origin of the word) according to legislation and doctrine is now known as commonlaw marriage by Peruvian law, disregarding general legislation and doctrine. This term can be confused with different types of unions, not marriage or that of the living together between a man and woman as if they were married, but rather that for different purposes, such as commercial interests. Therefore, this work proposes the legal recognition of other rights inherent to common-law spouses that the legal system continues to keep silent, refraining from establishing them, as required by a true legal code, and that the jurisdictional power of courts should declare and not rely on the argument that common-law marriage is an institution considered in the «shadow of marriage.». [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current study is to describe and analyze the application of the TDC in a client with cocaine addiction. Luis comes for consultation because of family problems. Cocaine use has continued for 10 years, in addition to alcohol, smoking and gambling behavior. He suffers emotional difficulties, impulsivity problems, poor distress tolerance and deterioration of main areas in his life. The emotional dysregulation and low distress tolerance skill, as central dimensions in cocaine disorder, have led to the application of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). A DBT skills training program has been applied for 12 months, both individually and in group. There has been 12- and 24-month follow-up. The patient has presented continuous abstinence for 12 months of treatment and at 12- and 24- month follow-up. Also, he showed a general symptomatic reduction, increased alternative activities to consumption and a greater acceptance and a better regulation of emotional states. The TDC is presented as an appropriate long-term treatment for the cocaine addiction of Luis, as it helps him to maintain abstinence, provides him a better emotional regulation and generates an alternative life against consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Seismic refraction velocity-versus depth models can complement our understanding of natural soils beneath flood protection levees at locations between geotechnical sites. Levee failures in New Orleans in 2005 are attributable in part to poor understanding of sediments between geotechnical sites. To a first order, subsurface fluvial–deltaic facies in the lower Mississippi delta plain correlate with general geotechnical properties of water content and cohesive strength, but are too laterally variable to be easily predicted from geotechnical sites spaced 100m apart. An artificial earthen levee, suitable for seismic investigation, lies ~15km S of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Values of shear-wave velocity (VSH ) versus depth (0–20m) are derived by forward-ray-trace models of seismic refraction arrivals which match key boundaries identified at (geotechnical) cone-penetration testing sites, spaced at 300m apart. In particular, a 100-m section along the levee crest shows continuous cracks which are as much as 10cm wide, and 30cm deep at their northern end. Cracking may relate to high strain, induced by variable near-surface subsidence of organic-rich sediments. Topographic cross-sections across the levee show variable differential subsidence of 1–2m. Based on effective medium theory, VP - and VSH -versus-depth profiles indicate unexpectedly greater saturation and lower shear moduli on the unprotected levee side adjacent to the cracks. Integration of geophysical, sedimentary and topographic data, even if only at a few locations can help locate anomalous zones in sub-levee soil between geotechnical boring sites. Future preventive monitoring of flood-protection barriers stands to benefit greatly from integrated data sets “ground truthed” to geotechnical data. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The fact that a Raman spectrum may be considered the fingerprint of an interrogated target by providing specific information on the particular chemical structures of the molecules present, has boosted the use of Raman spectroscopy for explosives detection in homeland and security applications. Also, the possibility of direct and distant access to suspect targets by stand-off Raman measurements makes this analytical technique a valuable tool in operational scenarios for security forces. The modest detection power as a result of the well-known, inherently low efficiency of the Raman scattering requires a careful evaluation of the experimental parameters governing the analytical response of this technique, particularly in respect to the amenable distance to target, the data acquisition speed, and the sources of uncertainty in any given measurement. The present paper highlights the importance of adequate instrumental parameters of the sensor according to the operational scenario when analyzing unknown targets. Raman fingerprints collected from a wide range of high explosives and associated compounds under different analysis conditions and operational scenarios have been evaluated in terms of signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio, analytical sensitivity, and signal stability. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Theoretical fluid flow models are used regularly to predict and analyze porous media flow but require verification against natural systems. Seismic monitoring in a controlled laboratory setting at a nominal scale of 1:1000 in the acoustic frequency range can help improve fluid flow models as well as elasto-granular models for uncompacted saturated–unsaturated soils. A mid-scale sand tank allows for many highly repeatable, yet flexible, experimental configurations with different material compositions and pump rates while still capturing phenomena such as patchy saturation, flow fingering, or layering. The tank (∼6×9×0.44m) contains a heterogeneous sand pack (1.52–1.7phi). In a set of eight benchmark experiments the water table is raised inside the sand body at increments of ∼0.05m. Seismic events (vertical component) are recorded by a pseudowalkaway 64-channel accelerometer array (20Hz–20kHz), at 78kS/s, in 100- scan stacks so as to optimize signal-to-noise ratio. Three screened well sites monitor water depth (+/−3mm) inside the sand body. Seismic data sets in SEG Y format are publicly downloadable from the internet (http://github.com/cageo/Lorenzo-2012), in order to allow comparisons of different seismic and fluid flow analyses. The capillary fringe does not appear to completely saturate, as expected, because the interpreted compressional-wave velocity values remain so low (<210m/s). Even at the highest water levels there is no large seismic impedance contrast across the top of the water table to generate a clear reflector. Preliminary results indicate an immediate need for several additional experiments whose data sets will be added to the online database. Future benchmark data sets will grow with a control data set to show conditions in the sand body before water levels rise, and a surface 3D data set. In later experiments, buried sensors will help reduce seismic attenuation effects and in-situ saturation sensors will provide calibration values. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, the sparse matrix-vector product (SpMV) is evaluated on the FinisTerrae SMP-NUMA supercomputer. Its architecture particularities make the tuning of SpMV especially relevant due to the significant impact on the performance. First, we have estimated the influence of data and thread allocation. Moreover, because of the indirect and irregular memory access patterns of SpMV, we have also studied the influence of the memory hierarchy in the performance. According to the behavior observed in the study, a set of optimizations specially tuned for FinisTerrae were successfully applied to SpMV. Noticeable improvements are obtained in comparison with the SpMV naïve implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the breeding season of 2008 a total of 24-30 female Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea with brood were counted at two habitat types (reservoirs and natural gullies). The population was relatively stable from 1994-2002, with a likely increase afterwards. Generally, the island breeding distribution comprises the north and mid part of Fuerteventura. Breeding ducks were mainly concentrated in man-made reservoirs, the most important site was Los Molinos Reservoir with 40-42% of the island population, but single pairs also occurred in gullies with flourishing saline water and lush shrubby and arboreal fringing vegetation. We recommend that special attention should be paid by the local authorities to breeding areas outside the Important Bird Areas for this island (e.g. Catalina Garcia Reservoir, the second-most important breeding location for this Anatidae) and some other sites in gullies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel experimental design combining Raman spectroscopy and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in a unique integrated sensor is described. The sensor presented herein aims to demonstrate the applicability of a hybrid dual Raman-LIBS system as an analytical tool for the standoff analysis of energetic materials. Frequency-doubled 532 nm Nd:YAG nanosecond laser pulses, first expanded and then focused using a 10x beam expander on targets located at 20 m, allowed simultaneous acquisition of Raman-LIBS spectra for 4 mononitrotoluene (MNT), 2,6-dinitrotoluene (DNT), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), C4 and H15 (plastic explosives containing 90% and 75% of RDX by weight, respectively), and Goma2-ECO (Spanish denominated dynamite class high explosive mainly composed of ammonium nitrate, nitroglycol, and dinitrotoluene among other compounds), sodium chlorate, and ammonium nitrate. With the use of a Cassegrain telescope, both Raman and LIBS signals from the same laser pulses were collected and conducted through a bifurcated optical fiber into two identical grating spectrographs coupled to intensified charge-coupled device (iCCD) detectors. With the use of the appropriate timing for each detection mode, adjustment of the laser power on the beam focal conditions is not required. The ability of the present single hybrid sensor to simultaneously acquire, in real time, both molecular and multielemental information from the same laser pulses on the same cross section of the sample at standoff distances greatly enhances the information power of this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tectonic subsidence of the Australian lithosphere during the Late Tertiary propagates from the southwest to the northeast in the Timor Sea, as a consequence of the oblique collision between the Eurasian and Australian plates. We reconstruct the asynchronous nature of deflection of the Australian plate created during the plate convergence by best-matching the geometry of de-compacted foreland strata against the predictions of simple bending elastic beam models. We infer a maximum subsidence of 3500 m and a maximum width for the basin of ∼470 km. The effective elastic thickness of the Australian lithosphere (∼80 to 100 km) does not change significantly during basin evolution. The low curvature imposed on the plate (∼5.1×10-8 m-1) during bending is too small to weaken the plate. Yet, abundant but small-slip, normal faulting related to bending implies some degree of inelastic yielding. The polarity of fault propagation supports the oblique nature of the collision. Flexural models indicate that at least 570 km of Australian plate (mostly areas of stretched continental crust) was flexed, primarily by the tectonic loading of the Timor Island and that the total amount of subducted plate was at least 100 km during basin evolution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: There is limited information about the role of bariatric surgery among patients with motor deficits. Case reports: We report a 38 years old woman with a body mass index (BMI) of 49 kg/m2 and a 34 years old woman with a BMI of 40 kg/m2, both with multiple sclerosis, subjected to a laparoscopic gastric bypass. Both were unable to lose weight with medical management. No postoperative complication was recorded, both patients lost weight and their quality of life improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Replica symmetry breaking (RSB) for spin glasses predicts that the equilibrium configuration at two different magnetic fields are maximally decorrelated. We show that this theory presents quantitative predictions for this chaotic behavior under the application of a vanishing external magnetic field, in the crossover region where the field intensity scales proportionally to 1/√N, being N the system size. We show that RSB theory provides universal predictions for chaotic behavior: They depend only on the zero-field overlap probability function P(q) and are independent of other system features. In the infinite volume limit, each spin-glass sample is characterized by an infinite number of states that have a tree-like structure. We generate the corresponding probability distribution through efficient sampling using a representation based on the Bolthausen-Sznitman coalescent. Using solely P(q) as input we can analytically compute the statistics of the states in the region of vanishing magnetic field. In this way, we can compute the overlap probability distribution in the presence of a small vanishing field and the increase of chaoticity when increasing the field. To test our computations, we have simulated the Bethe lattice spin glass and the 4D Edwards-Anderson model, finding in both cases excellent agreement with the universal predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest‐dwelling raptors living on islands are more vulnerable than continental relatives due to their particular life history traits and habitat degradation. The Canary Islands' forests have suffered severe transformations because of intense human exploitation since its colonization by the Europeans. In recent decades, forest managers have initiated actions to restore the original ecosystems. Consequently, gathering knowledge on the relationships between habitat and reproduction output of forest species is essential to develop long‐term conservation actions. Here, we explore the suitability of exotic tree plantations as breeding habitat for an island endemic raptor, the Macaronesian sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus granti. We monitored territories distributed in three main forest types, two native (laurel forest and Canarian pinewood) and one composed of exotic trees. We assessed breeding density, characterized nesting habitat at macro‐, micro‐habitat and nest tree levels, and estimated breeding parameters in the three forests. We evaluated habitat selection and its potential relationship with breeding parameters, as well as nest structure survival in native versus exotic tree species. Density was higher in exotic forests and habitat features differed among forests at three spatial scales. Sparrowhawks used areas with high cover of exotic trees, with high trees, far away from human settlements and at low altitudes. All models testing for differences in breeding success and productivity among the forest types were not significant, but the percentage of successful pairs was slightly higher in exotic tree plantations than in native forests. Nest structures located in exotic trees showed a higher annual survival than those placed in native trees. Our results indicate that exotic plantations are a secure nesting habitat and therefore forestry practices, including those aiming to eradicate exotic trees, must be carefully planned to avoid nest destruction or disturbance in occupied forest patches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Macaronesian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus granti) is an endemic subspecies restricted to the forest habitats of Madeira and theCanary Islands. We studied its inter-habitat diet variation on the largest of the Canaries, Tenerife, during the 2014-2015 breeding seasons. We also compared the current food spectrum (2014-2015) with that reported in a study conducted 30 years ago. Prey remains analyses were conducted at the three main forested habitats, two native (laurel forest andCanarian pinewood) and one exotic (exotic tree plantations). Birds formed themain dietary component of the Sparrowhawk (26 species identified), but mammals and reptiles were also consumed in small numbers. Avian prey of around 200-300 gwere preferred by Sparrowhawks. Three species accounted for 63.4% of the total number of prey counted (Atlantic Canary Serinus canarius, Rock Pigeon Columba livia and Blackbird Turdus merula), but their importance varied among habitats. In laurel forests and exotic tree plantations diet niche breadth and prey diversity was greater than in the Canarian pinewoods as reflected by prey densities. Acomparison of our data with those from 1984-85 showed that large-sized avian prey might have become more important in the diet spectrum and thus indicating changes in the population status of prey species. The majority of Macaronesian Sparrowhawk hunting habitats are exposed to agricultural and forestry practices that could result in negative population trends of Sparrowhawk prey. Further studies are required to fully understand predatorprey relationships and to develop effective management actions to guarantee the longterm conservation of this island raptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We unveil the multifractal behavior of Ising spin glasses in their low-temperature phase. Using the Janus II custom-built supercomputer, the spin-glass correlation function is studied locally. Dramatic fluctuations are found when pairs of sites at the same distance are compared. The scaling of these fluctuations, as the spin-glass coherence length grows with time, is characterized through the computation of the singularity spectrum and its corresponding Legendre transform. A comparatively small number of site pairs controls the average correlation that governs the response to a magnetic field. We explain how this scenario of dramatic fluctuations (at length scales smaller than the coherence length) can be reconciled with the smooth, self-averaging behavior that has long been considered to describe spin-glass dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the post-fledging movement of two sibling (male and female) juvenile Barbary Falcons (Falco peregrinus pelegrinoides) hatched in Lanzarote (Canary Islands) in 2011 using satellite tracking. Birds were tracked from fledging in May to the end of November, when the signals of both transmitters were lost. During the first 45 d following fledging, both birds behaved similarly and made some flights <70 km away from their nest, on the island where they hatched. However, after the dependence period, we found differences between the individuals. The female made several inter-island movements among the islands of the central archipelago (Gran Canaria, Tenerife and La Gomera) and returned to Lanzarote in October. In contrast, the male stayed close to his natal nest (<100 km) until the end of October, when he was detected in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean >3000 km from the nest, probably using a ship as a perch. Because Barbary Falcon populations of the Canary Islands are listed as "threatened" due to anthropogenic threats (e.g. collisions with human-made structures, illegal shooting, nest-robbing, and hybridization with escaped falconry falcons) and little is known about their post-fledging dispersal movements, more studies of such life-history characteristics, using ringing and remote sensing, are urgently needed to develop management actions for their conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in magnetic critical behaviour of quenched structurally-disordered magnets are usually exemplified in experiments and in MC simulations by diluted systems consisting of magnetic and non-magnetic components. In our study we aim to show that similar effects can be observed not only for diluted magnets with non-magnetic impurities but may be implemented, e.g., by the presence of two (and more) chemically different magnetic components as well. Therefore we consider a model of the structurally-disordered quenched magnet where all lattice sites are occupied by Ising-like spins of different lengths L. In such a random spin length Ising model, the length L of each spin is a random variable governed by the distribution function p (L). We demonstrate that this model belongs to the universality class of the site-diluted Ising model. This proves that both models are described by the same values of asymptotic critical exponents. However, their effective critical behaviour differs. As a case study, we consider a quenched mixture of two different magnets with values of elementary magnetic moments L 1 = 1 and L 2 = s , and of concentration c and 1 − c , correspondingly. We apply field-theoretical renormalization group approach to analyse the renormalization group flow for different initial conditions, triggered by s and c , and to calculate effective critical exponents further away from the fixed points of the renormalization group transformation. We show how the effective exponents are governed by difference in properties of the magnetic components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic velocity models of the near-surface (<30 m) better explain seismic velocities when all elements of total effective stress are considered, especially in materials with large cohesive and soil suction stress such as clays. Traditional constitutive elastic models that predict velocities in granular materials simplify the effect of total effective stress by equating it to net overburden stress, while excluding interparticle stresses and soil suction stress. A new proposed methodology calculates elastic moduli of granular matrices in near-surface environments by incorporating an updated definition of total effective stress into Hertz-Mindlin theory and calculates the elastic moduli of granular materials by extending Biot-Gassmann theory to include pressure effects induced by water saturation changes and cohesion. At shallow depths, when water saturation increases, theoretically calculated seismic velocities decrease in clay and increase in sand because interparticle stresses suppress the Biot-Gassmann effect. For standard sand and clay properties, net overburden stress becomes more influential than interparticle stresses at depths greater than 10 cm in sand and 100 m in clay. Pore pressure in the new model also incorporates the effect of layer thickness and pore size variation. Traditional calculation of pore pressure assumes a constant pore size medium, but may lead to an under- or overestimation of velocity by up to 20%. In clays, the variation of seismic velocity with water saturation is almost double the range predicted when only net overburden stress is considered to influence stress at the grain contacts. The proposed model predicts seismic velocities that compare well with measured field velocities from the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Evaluation of the effectiveness of autologous platelet rich plasma administered topically in the healing and prevention of complications of abdominoplasty after bariatric surgery. Material and Methods: The data from 30 patients who underwent abdominoplasty were analyzed: Group I: Rich plasma was administered autologous platelets in the surgery. Group II: Control. Study variables: complications (seroma, local infection and bleeding), length of stay and cost. Results: No significant differences were observed in the frequency of complications or length of stay. The use of platelet rich plasma raises the cost of the procedure. Conclusion: Even considering the limitations of the study because of its small sample size and lack of blinding, the results do not support the use of this complementary technique. Further studies are needed in the field of adhesives, sealants and local hemostatic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The developmental brain gene NPAS3 stands out as a hot spot in human evolution because it contains the largest number of human-specific, fast-evolving, conserved, non-coding elements. In this paper we studied 2xHAR142, one of these elements that is located in the fifth intron of NPAS3. Using transgenic mice, we show that the mouse and chimp 2xHAR142 orthologues behave as transcriptional enhancers driving expression of the reporter gene lacZ to a similar NPAS3 expression subdomain in the mouse central nervous system. Interestingly, the human 2xHAR142 orthologue drives lacZ expression to an extended expression pattern in the nervous system. Thus, molecular evolution of 2xHAR142 provides the first documented example of human-specific heterotopy in the forebrain promoted by a transcriptional enhancer and suggests that it may have contributed to assemble the unique properties of the human brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiments featuring non-equilibrium glassy dynamics under temperature changes still await interpretation. There is a widespread feeling that temperature chaos (an extreme sensitivity of the glass to temperature changes) should play a major role but, up to now, this phenomenon has been investigated solely under equilibrium conditions. In fact, the very existence of a chaotic effect in the non-equilibrium dynamics is yet to be established. In this article, we tackle this problem through a large simulation of the 3D Edwards-Anderson model, carried out on the Janus II supercomputer. We find a dynamic effect that closely parallels equilibrium temperature chaos. This dynamic temperature-chaos effect is spatially heterogeneous to a large degree and turns out to be controlled by the spin-glass coherence length ξ. Indeed, an emerging length-scale ξ* rules the crossover from weak (at ξ ≪ ξ*) to strong chaos (ξ ≫ ξ*). Extrapolations of ξ* to relevant experimental conditions are provided. While temperature chaos is an equilibrium notion that denotes the extreme fragility of the glassy phase with respect to temperature changes, it remains unclear whether it is present in non-equilibrium dynamics. Here the authors use the Janus II supercomputer to prove the existence of dynamic temperature chaos, a nonequilibrium phenomenon that closely mimics equilibrium temperature chaos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mpemba effect occurs when a hot system cools faster than an initially colder one, when both are refrigerated in the same thermal reservoir. Using the custom-built supercomputer Janus II, we study the Mpemba effect in spin glasses and show that it is a nonequilibrium process, governed by the coherence length ξ of the system. The effect occurs when the bath temperature lies in the glassy phase, but it is not necessary for the thermal protocol to cross the critical temperature. In fact, the Mpemba effect follows from a strong relationship between the internal energy and ξ that turns out to be a sure-tell sign of being in the glassy phase. Thus, the Mpemba effect presents itself as an intriguing avenue for the experimental study of the coherence length in supercooled liquids and other glass formers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Point bars formed by meandering river systems are an important class of sedimentary deposit and are of significant economic interest as hydrocarbon reservoirs. Standard point‐bar models of how the internal sedimentology varies are based on the structure of small‐scale systems with little information about the largest complexes and how these might differ. Here a very large point bar (>25·0 m thick and 7·5 × 13·0 km across) on the Mississippi River (USA) was examined. The lithology and grain‐size characteristics at different parts of the point bar were determined by using a combination of coring and electrical conductivity logging. The data confirm that there is a general fining up‐section along most parts of the point bar, with a well‐defined transition from massive medium‐grained sands below about 9 to 11 m depth up into interbedded silts and fine–medium sand sediment (inclined heterolithic strata). There is also a poorly defined increase in sorting quality at the transition level. Massive medium sands are especially common in the region of the channel bend apex and regions upstream of that point. Downstream of the meander apex, there is much less evidence for fining up‐section. Finer sediment accumulated more readily after the establishment of a compound bar in the later stages of construction, at the terminal apex and in the bar tail. This work implies that the best reservoir sands are likely to be located in the centre of the point bar, deposited in a simple bar system. Reservoir quality decreases towards the bar edge. The early‐stage channel plug is largely composed of coarsening‐upward cycles of silt to clay and is dominated by clay and clayey silt material with poor reservoir characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have performed a very accurate computation of the nonequilibrium fluctuation-dissipation ratio for the 3D Edwards-Anderson Ising spin glass, by means of large-scale simulations on the special-purpose computers Janus and Janus II. This ratio (computed for finite times on very large, effectively infinite, systems) is compared with the equilibrium probability distribution of the spin overlap for finite sizes. Our main result is a quantitative statics-dynamics dictionary, which could allow the experimental exploration of important features of the spin-glass phase without requiring uncontrollable extrapolations to infinite times or system sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aim of this was to define the critical anatomic region of the premaxilla by evaluating dimensions of nasopalatine canal, buccal bone plate (BBP) and palatal bone plate (PBP). 230 CBCTs were selected with both, one or no upper central incisors present (+/+, −/+, −/−) and periodontal condition was evaluated. T-student test, ANOVA, Pearson´s correlation and a multivariant-linear regression model (MLRM) were used. Regarding gender, significant differences at level 1 (lower NC) were found for: buccal-palatal, transversal and sagittal NC diameters, and NC length (NCL). Regarding dental status, significant differences were found for: total BBP length (tBL) and PBP width (PW2) at level 2 (NCL midpoint). NCL was correlated with PW2, tBL, and PBP length at level 3 (foramina of Stenson level). An MLRM had a high prediction value for NCL (69.3%). Gender is related to NC dimensions. Dental status has an influence on BBP dimensions, but does not influence on NC and PBP. Periodontal condition should be evaluated for precise premaxillae analysis NC diameters at the three anatomical planes are related to each other, while NCL is related to BBP and PBP lengths. A third of premaxilla is taken up by NC, thus, establishing the critical anatomic region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spin glasses are a longstanding model for the sluggish dynamics that appear at the glass transition. However, spin glasses differ from structural glasses in a crucial feature: they enjoy a time reversal symmetry. This symmetry can be broken by applying an external magnetic field, but embarrassingly little is known about the critical behavior of a spin glass in a field. In this context, the space dimension is crucial. Simulations are easier to interpret in a large number of dimensions, but one must work below the upper critical dimension (i.e., in d < 6) in order for results to have relevance for experiments. Here we show conclusive evidence for the presence of a phase transition in a four-dimensional spin glass in a field. Two ingredients were crucial for this achievement: massive numerical simulations were carried out on the Janus special-purpose computer, and a new and powerful finite-size scaling method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA hypermethylation is an important epigenetic mechanism for gene expression inactivation in head and neck cancer (HNC). Saliva has emerged as a novel liquid biopsy representing a potential source of biomarkers. We performed a comprehensive meta-analysis to evaluate the overall diagnostic accuracy of salivary DNA methylation for detecting HNC. PubMed EMBASE, Web of Science, LILACS, and the Cochrane Library were searched. Study quality was assessed by the Quality Assessment for Studies of Diagnostic Accuracy-2, and sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (dOR), and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a bivariate random-effect meta-analysis model. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were performed to assess heterogeneity. Eighty-four study units from 18 articles with 8368 subjects were included. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of salivary DNA methylation were 0.39 and 0.87, respectively, while PLR and NLR were 3.68 and 0.63, respectively. The overall area under the curve (AUC) was 0.81 and the dOR was 8.34. The combination of methylated genes showed higher diagnostic accuracy (AUC, 0.92 and dOR, 36.97) than individual gene analysis (AUC, 0.77 and dOR, 6.02). These findings provide evidence regarding the potential clinical application of salivary DNA methylation for HNC diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss a phase transition in spin glass models that have been rarely considered in the past, namely, the phase transition that may take place when two real replicas are forced to be at a larger distance (i.e., at a smaller overlap) than the typical one. In the first part of the work, by solving analytically the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model in a field close to its critical point, we show that, even in a paramagnetic phase, the forcing of two real replicas to an overlap small enough leads the model to a phase transition where the symmetry between replicas is spontaneously broken. More importantly, this phase transition is related to the de Almeida-Thouless (dAT) critical line. In the second part of the work, we exploit the phase transition in the overlap between two real replicas to identify the critical line in a field in finite dimensional spin glasses. This is a notoriously difficult computational problem, because of considerable finite size corrections. We introduce a new method of analysis of Monte Carlo data for disordered systems, where the overlap between two real replicas is used as a conditioning variate. We apply this analysis to equilibrium measurements collected in the paramagnetic phase in a field, h > 0 and T c (h) < T < T c (h = 0) , of the d = 1 spin glass model with long range interactions decaying fast enough to be outside the regime of validity of the mean field theory. We thus provide very reliable estimates for the thermodynamic critical temperature in a field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]