Can the evolution of music be analyzed in a quantitative manner?

We propose a methodology to study music development by applying multivariate statistics on composers characteristics. Seven representative composers were considered in terms of eight main musical features. Grades were assigned to each characteristic and their correlations were analyzed. A bootstrap method was applied to simulate hundreds of artificial composers influenced by the seven representatives chosen. Afterwards we quantify non-numeric relations like dialectics, opposition and innovation. Composers differences on style and technique were represented as geometrical distances in the feature space, making it possible to quantify, for example, how much Bach and Stockhausen differ from other composers or how much Beethoven influenced Brahms. In addition, we compared the results with a prior investigation on philosophy. Opposition, strong on philosophy, was not remarkable on music. Supporting an observation already considered by music theorists, strong influences were identified between composers by the quantification of dialectics, implying inheritance and suggesting a stronger master-disciple evolution when compared to the philosophy analysis.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, added references for sections 1 and 4.C, better mathematical description on section 2. New values and interpretation, now considering a bootstrap metho

The role of bacteria in the pathogenesis and progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Rationale:Idiopathic pulmonaryfibrosis (IPF)isa progressivelung disease of unknown cause that leads to respiratory failure and death within 5 years of diagnosis. Overt respiratory infection and immunosuppression carry a high morbidity and mortality, and polymorphisms in genes related to epithelial integrity and host defense predispose to IPF. Objectives: To investigate the role of bacteria in the pathogenesis and progression of IPF. Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients diagnosed with IPF according to international criteria together with healthy smokers, nonsmokers, and subjectswithmoderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as control subjects. Subjects underwent bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), from which genomic DNA was isolated. The V3–V5 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was amplified, allowing quantification of bacterial load and identification of communities by 16S rRNA quantitative polymerase chain reaction and pyrosequencing. Measurements and Main Results: Sixty-five patients with IPF had double the burden of bacteria in BAL fluid compared with 44 control subjects. Baseline bacterial burden predicted the rate of decline in lung volume and risk of death and associated independently with the rs35705950 polymorphism of the MUC5B mucin gene, a proven host susceptibilityfactorfor IPF. Sequencing yielded912,883 high-quality reads from all subjects.WeidentifiedHaemophilus, Streptococcus,Neisseria, and Veillonella spp. to be more abundant in cases than control subjects. Regression analyses indicated that these specific operational taxonomic units as well as bacterial burden associated independently with IPF. Conclusions: IPF is characterized by an increased bacterial burden in BAL that predicts decline in lung function and death. Trials of antimicrobial therapy are needed to determine if microbial burden is pathogenic in the disease

Clusters of galaxies : observational properties of the diffuse radio emission

Clusters of galaxies, as the largest virialized systems in the Universe, are ideal laboratories to study the formation and evolution of cosmic structures...(abridged)... Most of the detailed knowledge of galaxy clusters has been obtained in recent years from the study of ICM through X-ray Astronomy. At the same time, radio observations have proved that the ICM is mixed with non-thermal components, i.e. highly relativistic particles and large-scale magnetic fields, detected through their synchrotron emission. The knowledge of the properties of these non-thermal ICM components has increased significantly, owing to sensitive radio images and to the development of theoretical models. Diffuse synchrotron radio emission in the central and peripheral cluster regions has been found in many clusters. Moreover large-scale magnetic fields appear to be present in all galaxy clusters, as derived from Rotation Measure (RM) studies. Non-thermal components are linked to the cluster X-ray properties, and to the cluster evolutionary stage, and are crucial for a comprehensive physical description of the intracluster medium. They play an important role in the cluster formation and evolution. We review here the observational properties of diffuse non-thermal sources detected in galaxy clusters: halos, relics and mini-halos. We discuss their classification and properties. We report published results up to date and obtain and discuss statistical properties. We present the properties of large-scale magnetic fields in clusters and in even larger structures: filaments connecting galaxy clusters. We summarize the current models of the origin of these cluster components, and outline the improvements that are expected in this area from future developments thanks to the new generation of radio telescopes.Comment: Accepted for the publication in The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review. 58 pages, 26 figure

Letbanering i Indre København – en konsekvensvurdering

Dette indlæg belyser, hvorledes et nyt højklasset transportsystem, i dette tilfælde en letbane, kan implementeres inden for den indre S-banering i København. Dette studie blev gennemført som et eksamensarbejde ved DTU og Scanrail Consult (i dag Atkins Danmark). For at gennemføre studiet skal der tages hensyn til en række faktorer. I dette indlæg ses på behovet for et sådant system. På behovsanalysen baseres en mulig linieføring og optimerede stoppestedsplaceringer. Derefter undersøges mulige driftsvarianter af transportsystemet og der anbefales en køreplan. Med dette haves alle nødvendige input til en trafikmodel, som giver et fingerpeg om den fremtidige benyttelse af en ny letbane i København. Til sidst gives et bud på anlægsøkonomien for et projekt af denne type

Lattice Boltzmann simulations of soft matter systems

This article concerns numerical simulations of the dynamics of particles immersed in a continuum solvent. As prototypical systems, we consider colloidal dispersions of spherical particles and solutions of uncharged polymers. After a brief explanation of the concept of hydrodynamic interactions, we give a general overview over the various simulation methods that have been developed to cope with the resulting computational problems. We then focus on the approach we have developed, which couples a system of particles to a lattice Boltzmann model representing the solvent degrees of freedom. The standard D3Q19 lattice Boltzmann model is derived and explained in depth, followed by a detailed discussion of complementary methods for the coupling of solvent and solute. Colloidal dispersions are best described in terms of extended particles with appropriate boundary conditions at the surfaces, while particles with internal degrees of freedom are easier to simulate as an arrangement of mass points with frictional coupling to the solvent. In both cases, particular care has been taken to simulate thermal fluctuations in a consistent way. The usefulness of this methodology is illustrated by studies from our own research, where the dynamics of colloidal and polymeric systems has been investigated in both equilibrium and nonequilibrium situations.Comment: Review article, submitted to Advances in Polymer Science. 16 figures, 76 page

Estágio de docência em biologia: relatos de experiências e constituição de identidades docentes

Este estudo investiga a constituição de identidades em relatos de professores sobre suas experiências no Estágio de Docência em Biologia, no Ensino Médio, a partir da Análise de Discurso de Michel Pêcheux, conforme Eni Orlandi. Na constituição das identidades foram evidenciados os sentidos: a docência para a participação; o contexto do trabalho docente; relacionamento com os alunos e sentimentos quanto à prática pedagógica. Os estagiários atribuíram importância ao relacionamento com os alunos, cultivaram o diálogo e o respeito mútuo, procurando legitimar sua posição de professores de Biologia. Palavras-chave: identidade docente; formação de professores de biologia; estágio docente; diário; análise de discurso

A Educação Ambiental do Jardim Botânico de Porto Alegre em um contexto de incertezas

This study aims to register actions of the Botanical Garden of Porto Alegre (JBPA) as a space for Environmental Education (EE), considering the threat of extinction of the Rio Grande do Sul Zoobotanical Foundation, which maintains it. It is a qualitative case study with documentary analysis, observation of the Educator Training Course provided by the EE Nucleus, analysis of a questionnaire answered by the participants and interview with the lecturer. The results indicate that JBPA contributes to reduction of botanical blindness and the culturally and historically contextualized learning of biodiversity conservation. The Course treated about cataloging and maintaining the collection of botanical gardens and its objectives; JBPA's various living botanical collections; ecological relationships and didactically relevant plant stories. EE of JBPA, support of its work, contributes to reversing environmental damage resulting from human action in a socioeconomic system of predatory production and consumption.Este estudio tiene como objetivo registrar las acciones del Jardín Botánico de Porto Alegre (JBPA) como un espacio de Educación Ambiental (EA), considerando la amenaza de extinción de la Fundación Zoobotánica Rio Grande do Sul, que lo mantiene. Es un estudio de caso cualitativo con análisis de documentos, observación del Curso de Formación de Educadores ofrecido por el Núcleo de EA, análisis de cuestionarios respondidos por los participantes y entrevista con el profesor. Los resultados indican que el JBPA contribuye a la reducción de la ceguera botánica y al aprendizaje contextualizado cultural e históricamente de la conservación de la biodiversidad. El curso trató sobre catalogación y mantenimiento de la colección de jardines botánicos y sus objetivos; las diversas colecciones botánicas vivas del JBPA; relaciones ecológicas e historias de plantas didácticamente relevantes. La EA del JBPA, pilar de su trabajo, contribuye a revertir el daño ambiental resultante de la acción humana en un sistema socioeconómico de producción y consumo depredadores.Este estudo objetiva registrar ações do Jardim Botânico de Porto Alegre (JBPA) como espaço de Educação Ambiental (EA), considerando a ameaça de extinção da Fundação Zoobotânica do Rio Grande do Sul, instituição que o mantém. É um estudo de caso qualitativo com análise documental, observação do Curso de Formação de Educadores oferecido pelo Núcleo de EA, análise de questionário respondido pelos participantes e entrevista com o ministrante. Os resultados indicam que o JBPA contribui para a redução da cegueira botânica e o aprendizado contextualizado cultural e historicamente da conservação da biodiversidade. O Curso tratou sobre catalogação e manutenção do acervo de jardins botânicos e seus objetivos; as diversas coleções botânicas vivas do JBPA; relações ecológicas e histórias didaticamente relevantes de plantas. A EA do JBPA, sustentáculo de sua atuação, contribui para reverter danos ambientais decorrentes da ação humana em um sistema socioeconômico de produção e consumo predatórios

Obstáculos à compreensão do pensamento evolutivo: análise em livros didáticos de Biologia aprovados pelo PNLD 2012

Uma série de estudos tem identificado obstáculos para o desenvolvimento do pensamento evolutivo. Considerando que um dos principais recursos didáticos utilizados nas escolas brasileiras é o livro didático, esse trabalho busca uma aproximação entre as abordagens do conteúdo de evolução biológica nos livros de Biologia integrantes do Programa Nacional do Livro Didático para o Ensino Médio no Brasil - 2012, e os estudos empíricos que identificam obstáculos á compreensão do pensamento evolutivo em estudantes. Parte-se de uma análise documental dos livros didáticos, verificando a forma como os conceitos de seleção natural, variação populacional e adaptação são abordados. A partir da abordagem presente nos livros, esse estudo apresenta algumas sugestões de como esses materiais didáticos podem cooperar para que os estudantes superem dificuldades sobre eventos e processos evolutivos, em consonância com os pressupostos epistemológicos e as práticas de construção do conhecimento próprias da Biologia Evolutiva