Universality in bibliometrics

Many discussions have enlarged the literature in Bibliometrics since the Hirsch proposal, the so called h-index. Ranking papers according to their citations, this index quantifies a researcher only by its greatest possible number of papers that are cited at least h times. A closed formula for h-index distribution that can be applied for distinct databases is not yet known. In fact, to obtain such distribution, the knowledge of citation distribution of the authors and its specificities are required. Instead of dealing with researchers randomly chosen, here we address different groups based on distinct databases. The first group is composed of physicists and biologists, with data extracted from Institute of Scientific Information (IS!). The second group is composed of computer scientists, in which data were extracted from Google-Scholar system. In this paper, we obtain a general formula for the h-index probability density function (pdf) for groups of authors by using generalized exponentials in the context of escort probability. Our analysis includes the use of several statistical methods to estimate the necessary parameters. Also an exhaustive comparison among the possible candidate distributions are used to describe the way the citations are distributed among authors. The h-index pdf should be used to classify groups of researchers from a quantitative point of view, which is meaningfully interesting to eliminate obscure qualitative methods. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

On the implementation of good manufacturing practices in a small processing unity of mozzarella cheese in Brazil

This study reports the implementation of GMPs in a mozzarella cheese processing plant. The mozzarella cheese manufacturing unit is located in the Southwestern region of the state of Parana, Brazil, and processes 20,000 L of milk daily. The implementation of GMP took place with the creation of a multi-disciplinary team and it was carried out in four steps: diagnosis, report of the diagnosis and road map, corrective measures and follow-up of GMP implementation. The effectiveness of actions taken and GMP implementation was compared by the total percentages of non-conformities and conformities before and after implementation of GMR Microbiological indicators were also used to assess the implementation of GMP in the mozzarella cheese processing facility. Results showed that the average percentage of conformity after the implementation of GMP was significant increased to 66%, while before it was 32% (p < 0.05). The populations of aerobic microorganisms and total coliforms in equipment were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) after the implementation of GMP, as well as the populations of total coliforms in the hands of food handlers (p < 0.05). In conclusion, GMP implementation changed the overall organization of the cheese processing unity, as well as managers and food handlers' behavior and knowledge on the quality and safety of products manufactured. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

UNIVERSALITY OF RANDOM GRAPHS

We prove that asymptotically (as n -> infinity) almost all graphs with n vertices and C(d)n(2-1/2d) log(1/d) n edges are universal with respect to the family of all graphs with maximum degree bounded by d. Moreover, we provide an efficient deterministic embedding algorithm for finding copies of bounded degree graphs in graphs satisfying certain pseudorandom properties. We also prove a counterpart result for random bipartite graphs, where the threshold number of edges is even smaller but the embedding is randomized.