Decay Rates of Metastable States in Cubic Potential by Variational Perturbation Theory

Variational perturbation theory is used to determine the decay rates of metastable states across a cubic barrier of arbitrary height. For high barriers, a variational resummation procedure is applied to the complex energy eigenvalues obtained from a WKB expansion; for low barriers, the variational resummation procedure converts the non-Borel-summable Rayleigh-Schr\"o\-din\-ger expansion into an exponentially fast convergent one. The results in the two regimes match and yield very accurate imaginary parts of the energy eigenvalues. This is demonstrated by comparison with the complex eigenvalues from solutions of the Schr\"odinger equation via the complex-coordinate rotation method

América Latina: las renuncias presidenciales y el papel del Congreso

Since the 1980s have occurred numerous presidential resignations in different Latin American countries. The novelty was that these crises were not followed by regime instability. The paper interrogates this phenomenon in two ways. In the first place, it hypothesizes that presidents resignations present two formats according to the distribution of partisan power in Congress: a) the parliamentary exit formula, and b) the presidential exit formula. In the second place, the paper explores the impact of presidential resignations on the functioning of presidential regimes. From this perspective, we hold that it seems convenient to redefine the role of fixed mandates in the characterization of presidentialism.A partir de los 80 se registraron numerosas renuncias presidenciales en diversos países de América Latina. La novedad de estas crisis es que no fueron seguidas de la ruptura del régimen democrático. En este trabajo se abordan dos cuestiones a partir de este fenómeno. Se sostiene primero que las renuncias presidenciales ocurridas a partir de los 80 presentan dos formatos que dependen de la distribución del poder partidario en el Congreso: a) el que responde a una salida presidencial de la crisis y b) el que responde a una salida parlamentaria. Como segunda cuestión, el trabajo evalúa el impacto de las renuncias de los Presidentes sobre la caracterización de los regímenes presidenciales. A la luz de lo analizado, se considera pertinente reformular el lugar del mandato fijo del Presidente en la definición del presidencialismo

THE ROLE OF HUMAN RESOURCE IN THE SUCCESS OF SMALL HOTELS

This paper is an attempt to explore and prove that human resources in small hotels are a fundamental factor in the success of their business. Ten volatile human resources variables included: satisfaction of job-seekers; career development; motivation; a tendency to continuous learning; commitment to the organization; innovation and creativity; identification with the organization; relationship to work; relationship to quality of service; the likelihood of accepting changes in business. Three research goals have been set: 1. Prove that human resources are the underlying and primary resources and capital that directly affect the operation of small hotels. 2. Prove that human resource performance and resource management is fundamentally different from performance and management in large hotels. 3. Prove that human resources are essential elements in achieving growth, competitive positions, and market share of small hotels. The research was based on a quota, stratified sample. The sample size would be 200 examinees (n = 200). The sample was selected from small hotels in the four counties of Dalmatia. Dubrovnik-Neretva, Split-Dalmatia, Šibenik-Knin and Zadar. Out of these counties, the total quota of fifty (50) small private hotels was selected. It is proven that human resources are the underlying and primary resources that directly affect the business of small hotels. Of all ten determinants of business success, several determinants have been shown to have a high correlation with human resource variables

Consideraciones acerca del impacto de la polarización política

En este ensayo me ocuparé de la polarización política y sus impactos, pues se trata de un fenómeno que ha contaminado la dinámica interpartidaria no solo en las democracias centrales como Estados Unidos y Europa, sino también en nuestro país y otros países de la región, por ejemplo, Brasil. ¿Cuáles son los efectos de la polarización? ¿Pone en riesgo a la democracia? Trataré de argumentar que en el caso argentino la democracia como régimen no parece estar en peligro. Sin embargo, con el trascurso del tiempo la polarización fue ganando terreno al afectar la capacidad de gobierno, más precisamente aquella que necesita de la intervención del Congreso para tratar de procesar los conflictos. En este respecto, el Congreso argentino, y en particular la Cámara de Diputados, constituye un caso privilegiado de estudio.Permite mostrar cómo un modelo consensual de funcionamiento en el que necesariamente participaba la oposición, y que predominó entre 1983 y 2009, fue deslizándose hacia uno mayoritario. Estas circunstancias dieron lugar a escenarios en los que, según la distribución de las bancas, a veces ningún bloque contaba con mayoría. El resultado se tradujo en una mayor inactividad legislativa. En la sección que sigue me propongo justificar por qué el régimen democrático argentino descansa sobre bases sólidas. Luego analizaré la polarización y su impacto sobre el funcionamiento de la Cámara de Diputados.Este artículo se encuentra publicado en Estudios Sociales. Revista Universitaria Semestral Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Argentina ISSNe: 2250-695

Conformal oxide nanocoatings on electrodeposited 3D porous Ni films by atomic layer deposition

A versatile chemical synthesis procedure to obtain Al2O3 and Co2FeO4 nanolayers conformally coating a three-dimensional (3D) porous Ni film is presented. First, porous Ni is grown by hydrogen bubble template-assisted electrodeposition. Subsequently, Al2O3 and Co2FeO4 layers, with thickness ranging from 5 nm to 25 nm, are directly deposited onto the pore walls by atomic layer deposition, while maintaining the porous architecture and magnetic properties of the Ni scaffold. The crystal structure, thickness and distribution of elements within the composite coatings are investigated in detail. The resulting magnetic and wettability properties are assessed. Contact angle tests reveal that 3D porous Ni films become more hydrophilic after coating with Al2O3 or Co2FeO4. From a technological point of view, the obtained composite porous films could be appealing for applications like magnetically-actuated micro/nano-electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS) or bio-MEMS/NEMS, among others

Bioelectromagnetics research within an Australian context: the Australian centre for electromagnetic bioeffects research (ACEBR)

Mobile phone subscriptions continue to increase across the world, with the electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by these devices, as well as by related technologies such as Wi-Fi and smart meters, now ubiquitous. This increase in use and consequent exposure to mobile communication (MC)-related EMF has led to concern about possible health effects that could arise from this exposure. Although much research has been conducted since the introduction of these technologies, uncertainty about the impact on health remains. The Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research (ACEBR) is a National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence that is undertaking research addressing the most important aspects of the MC-EMF health debate, with a strong focus on mechanisms, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and exposure dosimetry. This research takes as its starting point the current scientific status quo, but also addresses the adequacy of the evidence for the status quo. Risk communication research complements the above, and aims to ensure that whatever is found, it is communicated effectively and appropriately. This paper provides a summary of this ACEBR research (both completed and ongoing), and discusses the rationale for conducting it in light of the prevailing science.Sarah P. Loughran ... Jim Manavis ... Robert Vink ... et al

El veto presidencial bajo los gobiernos de Alfonsín y Menem, 1983-1993

En este trabajo se exponen algunas de las conclusiones preliminares de una investigación más amplia acerca de la práctica del veto durante las presidencias de Alfonsín y Menem. La lectura comparativa de los datos referidos a cantidad de vetos, tipo de veto (total o parcial), origen de la iniciativa (Poder Ejecutivo o Poder Legislativo) y número de insistencias exitosas, nos sugirió explorar dos cuestiones. Por un lado, el tipo de conflicto que enfrentó al Poder Ejecutivo y al Congreso. Con ese objetivo contemplamos los temas en tomo de los cuales se suscitaron las diferencias entre ambas ramas de gobierno y las razones dadas por el Ejecutivo para vetar las leyes. En este punto concluimos que la constitucionalidad de las leyes fue el conflicto típico que atravesó las relaciones entre gobierno y congreso bajo la presidencia de Alfonsín, en tanto Menem cuestionó sobre todo la competencia técnica del Poder Legislativo y marcó sus diferencias respecto de las políticas a seguir. Por otro, la función del veto. Para ello, tuvimos en cuenta: los vetos a las iniciativas de los legisladores según su origen partidario, el total de vetos parciales y el número de iniciativas del Ejecutivo vetadas y promulgadas parcialmente. En este respecto, observamos que una de las consecuencias más importantes de la práctica del veto con promulgación parcial, a la que recurrió con mayor intensidad el presidente Menen, ha sido la de desalentar la capacidad del Congreso para conseguir un perfil institucional más autónomo de la intervención del Poder Ejecutiv

Use of biochemical parameters for non-invasive screening of oesophageal varices in comparison to elastography-based approach in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease

Oesophageal varices are routinely diagnosed by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), and their bleeding has high mortality. We aimed to evaluate diagnostic performance of biochemical tests in comparison to elastography-based approaches, as non-invasive alternatives to EGD, for ruling-out high risk oesophageal varices (HRV). Retrospective analysis of patients (N = 861) who underwent liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography (TE) in a single centre over 5-year period, with available results of EGD (within 3 months from LSM). Only patients with suspicion of compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) defined by LSM ≥ 10 kPa were included comprising the final cohort of 73 subjects. Original and expanded Baveno VI criteria (B6C), controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), platelet count (PLT), aspartate aminotransferase to PLT ratio index (APRI), Fibrosis-4 index (FIB4), model for end stage liver disease (MELD) score were evaluated against the results of EGD that served as the reference method. Analysed patients had median age 62 years, 59/73 (0.81) were males, 54/73 (0.74) had alcoholic/non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and 21/73 (0.29) had HRV. In multivariate logistic regression analysis only LSM and PLT were independently associated with HRV. The best performing tests for ruling-out HRV (% of spared EGD; % of missed HRV) were respectively: LSM 214x109/L (21.9%; 0%); FIB4 ≤ 1.8 (21.4%; 0%), APRI ≤ 0.34 (12.3%; 0%). CAP, MELD = 6 alone or combined with PLT > 150(x109/L) did not show acceptable performance. The best performing biochemical tests for ruling-out HRV in our cohort of patients were PLT and FIB-4, but they were still outperformed by elastography-based approaches