The number of open paths in an oriented rho-percolation model

We study the asymptotic properties of the number of open paths of length n in an oriented rho-percolation model. We show that this number is e(n alpha(rho)(1+o(1))) as n ->infinity. The exponent alpha is deterministic, it can be expressed in terms of the free energy of a polymer model, and it can be explicitly computed in some range of the parameters. Moreover, in a restricted range of the parameters, we even show that the number of such paths is n(-1/2)We (n alpha(rho))(1+o(1)) for some nondegenerate random variable W. We build on connections with the model of directed polymers in random environment, and we use techniques and results developed in this context.

The 3-colored Ramsey number of even cycles

Denote by R(L, L, L) the minimum integer N such that any 3-coloring of the edges of the complete graph on N vertices contains a monochromatic copy of a graph L. Bondy and Erdos conjectured that when L is the cycle C(n) on n vertices, R(C(n), C(n), C(n)) = 4n - 3 for every odd n > 3. Luczak proved that if n is odd, then R(C(n), C(n), C(n)) = 4n + o(n), as n -> infinity, and Kohayakawa, Simonovits and Skokan confirmed the Bondy-Erdos conjecture for all sufficiently large values of n. Figaj and Luczak determined an asymptotic result for the `complementary` case where the cycles are even: they showed that for even n, we have R(C(n), C(n), C(n)) = 2n + o(n), as n -> infinity. In this paper, we prove that there exists n I such that for every even n >= n(1), R(C(n), C(n), C(n)) = 2n. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Image processing technique to count the number of logs in a timber truck

This paper summarises the results of using image processing technique to get information about the load of timber trucks before their arrival using digital images or geo tagged images. Once the images are captured and sent to sawmill by drivers from forest, we can predict their arrival time using geo tagged coordinates, count the number of (timber) logs piled up in a truck, identify their type and calculate their diameter. With this information we can schedule and prioritise the inflow and unloading of trucks in the light of production schedules and raw material stocks available at the sawmill yard. It is important to keep all the actors in a supply chain integrated coordinated, so that optimal working routines can be reached in the sawmill yard.   

Electoral institutions,cleavage structures,and the number of parties

Theory: A classic question in political science concems ",hat deteImines the number of parties that compete in a given polity. Broadly speaking, there are two approaches to answering this question, one that emphasizes the role of electorallaws in structuring coalitional incentives, another that emphasizes the importance of pre-existing social cleavages. In tbis paper, we view the number of parties as a product of the interaction between these two forces, following Powell (1982) and Ordeshook and Shvetsova (1994). Hypotheses: The effective number of parties in a polity should be a multiplicative rather than an additive function ofthe peImissiveness ofthe electoral system and the heterogeneity ofthe society. Methods: Multiple regression on cross-sectional aggregate electoral statistics. Unlike previous studies, we (1) do not confine attention to developed democracies; (2) explicitly control for the influence of presidential elections, taking account of whether they are concurrent or nonconcurrent, and ofthe effective number ofpresidential candidates; and (3) also control for the presence and operation of upper tiers in legislative elections. Results: The hypothesis is confiImed, both as regards the number of legislative and the number of presidential parties .

Dinoponera lucida Emery (Formicidae : Ponerinae): the highest number of chromosomes known in Hymenoptera

We report the remarkable karyotype of Dinoponera lucida, a Brazilian endemic ponerine ant. Its chromosome number is 2n=106, most of the chromosomes are acrocentric and of very small size, and the karyotype formula is 88A+18M. A chromosome pair of the AM(t) type is reported. This is the largest number of chromosomes reported for the Hymenoptera order until now.

Evaluation of the counterimmunoelectrophoresis reaction as a serodiagnosis test for swine leptospirosis

Avaliou-se a reação de contraimunoeletroforese (CIE) como teste gênero-específico para diagnóstico da leptospirose suína, usando-se três extratos solúveis de Leptospira sp, sorovares pomona, icterohaemorrhagiae e patoc, obtidos pelo tratamento com Triton X-100 a quente e aplicados a amostras de soro de suínos subdivididos em três grupos: Grupo 1, 10 suínos experimentalmente infectados com estirpe Pomona; Grupo 2, 50 suínos naturalmente infectados e Grupo 3, controle. As amostras de soros foram submetidas à reação de CIE e os resultados comparados aos da Soroaglutinação Microscópica (SAM), técnica de referência pela WHO. Os Grupos 1 e 3 foram monitorados por 93 dias após a inoculação (p.i.). Pela SAM a soroconversão do Grupo 1 ocorreu por volta do 10º dia p.i., enquanto pela CIE, empregando-se qualquer extrato antigênico, foi anterior à SAM. Quando a CIE foi realizada frente a antigeno homólogo à infecção, seus resultados foram equivalentes aos da SAM, não se verificando o mesmo frente aos antígenos heterólogos. Neste aspecto, os Grupos 1 e 3 mostraram comportamento diferente pois não houve diferença significativa entre os resultados da CIE frente aos três antígenos, o que poderia significar serem independentes do sorovar responsável pelo surto ou infectante. Embora a CIE seja segura, rápida, de fácil execução, de baixo custo e ideal para análise em grande escala de amostras, revelou-se de limitada capacidade gênero-específica, o que não é desejavel para testes de triagem de campo; mas poderia ser útil na detecção precoce de resposta sorológica em relação à SAM.

Small relief shape variations influence spatial variability of soil chemical attributes

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Productivity, biological efficiency, and number of Agaricus blazei mushrooms grown in compost in the presence of Trichoderma sp. and Chaetomium olivacearum contaminants

Foi avaliado o efeito dos fungos contaminantes Trichoderma sp. e C. olivacearum na produtividade, eficiência biológica e número de cogumelos da produção do A. blazei em composto (mistura de cana-de-açúcar, palha de capim coast-cross, farelo de soja, gesso e calcário calcítico). O delineanamento foi inteiramente casualizado com três tratamentos (Trichoderma sp., C. olivacearum e testemunha) e oito repetições (caixa com 12 kg de composto colonizado com A. blazei). Após a colonização do composto pelo A. blazei, adicionou-se 150g de inóculo à base de triticale de cada um dos fungos contaminantes na superfície do composto seguido da camada de cobertura. O experimento foi conduzido em estufa com cobertura plástica, umidade relativa entre 60-90% e temperatura de 20-34ºC. A produtividade foi determinada pela relação entre a massa fresca de basidiomas e a massa úmida do composto. A eficiência biológica foi determinada pela relação entre a massa fresca de basidiomas e a massa seca do composto ao final do período de colheita. de acordo com os resultados obtidos, os fungos contaminantes C. olivacearum e Trichoderma sp. não afetaram a produtividade, eficiência biológica e número de cogumelos da produção do A. blazei em compostos previamente colonizados.

Stochastic stability for Markovian jump linear systems associated with a finite number of jump times

This paper deals with a stochastic stability concept for discrete-time Markovian jump linear systems. The random jump parameter is associated to changes between the system operation modes due to failures or repairs, which can be well described by an underlying finite-state Markov chain. In the model studied, a fixed number of failures or repairs is allowed, after which, the system is brought to a halt for maintenance or for replacement. The usual concepts of stochastic stability are related to pure infinite horizon problems, and are not appropriate in this scenario. A new stability concept is introduced, named stochastic tau-stability that is tailored to the present setting. Necessary and sufficient conditions to ensure the stochastic tau-stability are provided, and the almost sure stability concept associated with this class of processes is also addressed. The paper also develops equivalences among second order concepts that parallels the results for infinite horizon problems. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Loss of samples in the tissue microarray technique: comparison between slides using adhesive tape and silanized slides

The tissue microarray (TMA) technique allows multiple tissue samples in a single block. Commercial adhesive tape is used to avoid the loss of tissue samples during the immunostaining process. Few reports exist in the literature comparing the use of these adhesive tapes to other adhesive techniques. The objective of this study was to compare loss of sections adhered to slides using commercial adhesive tapes versus using silanized only slides. TMA was constructed with varying tissues using a fixed-base device (Beecher Instruments), placing 108 cylinders of 1 mm diameter in duplicate, spaced 1.2 mm apart. Section of 4 mu m were cut from the TMA block and adhered to 30 silanized slides and 30 commercial glass slides using adhesive tape, according to manufacturer's recommendations. Vimentin immunoexpression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Antigenic recovery was realized in citrate buffer using a microwave oven. Cylinder loss in the immunohistochemical process was quantified and expressed as: total (>80%), almost complete (75-79%), or partial (50-74%). The commercial adhesive tape group presented lesser total loss (1.1 versus 6.4%), almost complete loss (2.2 versus 3.5%), and partial loss (2.1 versus 3.8%) than the silanized slide group (ANOVA, P < 0.05). The sum of total and almost complete losses in the silanized slide group was 9.9%, greater than the losses in slides using commercial adhesive tapes (3.3%) and less than reported and considered acceptable in the literature (10-30%). In conclusion, the use of silanized only slides presents very satisfactory results, requires less training, and reduces costs significantly, thus justifying their use in research.