Analytical method to measure bending deformations in prismatic optical films

The aim of this work is to provide an analytical method based on experimental measurements in order to obtain the prismatic film deformation for different curvatures of Hollow Cylindrical Prismatic Light Guides (CPLG). To conform cylindrical guides is necessary bend the film to guide the light, changes induced by curving the film give rise to deformation shifts. Light losses affected by deformation has been experimentally evaluated and numerically analyzed. The effect of deformation in prism angle is specially increased for CPLG of curvatures higher than 20 m-1. An experimental method for accurate transmittance measurements related to bending is presented.

A new modularity measure for Fuzzy Community detection problems based on overlap and grouping functions

One of the main challenges of fuzzy community detection problems is to be able to measure the quality of a fuzzy partition. In this paper, we present an alternative way of measuring the quality of a fuzzy community detection output based on n-dimensional grouping and overlap functions. Moreover, the proposed modularity measure generalizes the classical Girvan–Newman (GN) modularity for crisp community detection problems and also for crisp overlapping community detection problems. Therefore, it can be used to compare partitions of different nature (i.e. those composed of classical, overlapping and fuzzy communities). Particularly, as is usually done with the GN modularity, the proposed measure may be used to identify the optimal number of communities to be obtained by any network clustering algorithm in a given network. We illustrate this usage by adapting in this way a well-known algorithm for fuzzy community detection problems, extending it to also deal with overlapping community detection problems and produce a ranking of the overlapping nodes. Some computational experiments show the feasibility of the proposed approach to modularity measures through n-dimensional overlap and grouping functions.

Herramientas innovadoras en el diagnóstico del síndrome respiratorio bovino (SRB)

A pesar de todos los avances realizados en las últimas décadas en el conocimiento sobre numerosos aspectos del Síndrome Respiratorio Bovino (SRB), entre los que se encuentran los factores de riesgo, la etiopatogenia, las características de los agentes causales, el diagnóstico, la terapéutica o la profilaxis y sus efectos globales, el SRB continúa siendo la enfermedad de mayor impacto económico en el ganado vacuno de cebo. Además, parece que tanto su incidencia como las pérdidas que origina siguen estables en los cebaderos de todo el mundo desde hace varias décadas. Sus principales características indican que debemos considerar que es una enfermedad de difícil control dado su carácter multifactorial y con la que, por tanto, debemos acostumbrarnos a convivir aunque aspirando a minimizar tanto su incidencia, como la gravedad de sus consecuencias. Por otro lado, aunque existen muchas técnicas diagnósticas a nuestra disposición, aún no se puede decir que exista una técnica de referencia o “gold standard” para el diagnóstico del SRB, y mucho menos una técnica estandarizada para su diagnóstico precoz. Establecer y estandarizar protocolos para la detección de grupos de animales en riesgo y su monitorización más intensa en fases posteriores del cebo para reducir el consumo de antibióticos de uso preventivo o metafiláctico es de gran interés. Hasta ahora, este tipo de estrategias se han basado en la detección de evidencias de contacto con gérmenes patógenos pulmonares (principalmente análisis de serología). Sin embargo, no debemos olvidar que la identificación de un agente patógeno en ausencia de una lesión y/o signos clínicos atribuibles al mismo, tan sólo es indicativa de contacto previo (no de padecimiento de un proceso de enfermedad) y que, por otro lado, la mayoría de los agentes microbiológicos ligados al SRB son comensales habituales de las vías respiratorias altas. De modo que la identificación de un agente sólo prueba enfermedad si se diagnostica junto con los signos clínicos compatibles de enfermedad y la lesión...

Linear non-local diffusion problems in metric measure spaces

The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive study of some linear non-local diffusion problems in metric measure spaces. These include, for example, open subsets in ℝN, graphs, manifolds, multi-structures and some fractal sets. For this, we study regularity, compactness, positivity and the spectrum of the stationary non-local operator. We then study the solutions of linear evolution non-local diffusion problems, with emphasis on similarities and differences with the standard heat equation in smooth domains. In particular, we prove weak and strong maximum principles and describe the asymptotic behaviour using spectral methods.

An inter-laboratory validation of a real time PCR assay to measure host excretion of bacterial pathogens, particularly of Mycobacterium bovis

Advances in the diagnosis of Mycobacterium bovis infection in wildlife hosts may benefit the development of sustainable approaches to the management of bovine tuberculosis in cattle. In the present study, three laboratories from two different countries participated in a validation trial to evaluate the reliability and reproducibility of a real time PCR assay in the detection and quantification of M. bovis from environmental samples. The sample panels consisted of negative badger faeces spiked with a dilution series of M. bovis BCG Pasteur and of field samples of faeces from badgers of unknown infection status taken from badger latrines in areas with high and low incidence of bovine TB (bTB) in cattle. Samples were tested with a previously optimised methodology. The experimental design involved rigorous testing which highlighted a number of potential pitfalls in the analysis of environmental samples using real time PCR. Despite minor variation between operators and laboratories, the validation study demonstrated good concordance between the three laboratories: on the spiked panels, the test showed high levels of agreement in terms of positive/negative detection, with high specificity (100%) and high sensitivity (97%) at levels of 10(5) cells g(-1) and above. Quantitative analysis of the data revealed low variability in recovery of BCG cells between laboratories and operators. On the field samples, the test showed high reproducibility both in terms of positive/negative detection and in the number of cells detected, despite low numbers of samples identified as positive by any laboratory. Use of a parallel PCR inhibition control assay revealed negligible PCR-interfering chemicals co-extracted with the DNA. This is the first example of a multi-laboratory validation of a real time PCR assay for the detection of mycobacteria in environmental samples. Field studies are now required to determine how best to apply the assay for population-level bTB surveillance in wildlife.

A measure of conductivity for lattice fermions at finite density

We study the linear response to an external electric field of a system of fermions in a lattice at zero temperature. This allows to measure numerically the Euclidean conductivity which turns out to be compatible with an analytical calculation for free fermions. The numerical method is generalizable to systems with dynamical interactions where no analytical approach is possible.