Water in massive star-forming regions: HIFI observations of W3 IRS5

We present Herschel observations of the water molecule in the massive star-forming region W3 IRS5. The o-H_(2)^(17)O 1_(10)-1_(01), p-H_(2_^(18)O 1_(11)-0_(00), p-H_(2)O 2_(02)-1_(11), p-H_(2)O 1_(11)-0_(00), o-H_(2)O 2_(21)-2_(12), and o-H_(2)O 2_(12)-1_(01) lines, covering a frequency range from 552 up to 1669 GHz, have been detected at high spectral resolution with HIFI. The water lines in W3 IRS5 show well-defined high-velocity wings that indicate a clear contribution by outflows. Moreover, the systematically blue-shifted absorption in the H_(2)_O lines suggests expansion, presumably driven by the outflow. No infall signatures are detected. The p-H_(2)O 1_(11)-0_(00) and o-H_(2)O 2_(12)-1_(01) lines show absorption from the cold material (T ~ 10 K) in which the high-mass protostellar envelope is embedded. One-dimensional radiative transfer models are used to estimate water abundances and to further study the kinematics of the region. We show that the emission in the rare isotopologues comes directly from the inner parts of the envelope (T ≳ 100 K) where water ices in the dust mantles evaporate and the gas-phase abundance increases. The resulting jump in the water abundance (with a constant inner abundance of 10^(-4)) is needed to reproduce the o-H_(2)^(17)O 1_(10)-1_(01) and p-H_(2)^(18)O 1_(11)-0_(00) spectra in our models. We estimate water abundances of 10^(-8) to 10^(-9) in the outer parts of the envelope (T ≲ 100 K). The possibility of two protostellar objects contributing to the emission is discussed

Logic Negation with Spiking Neural P Systems

Nowadays, the success of neural networks as reasoning systems is doubtless. Nonetheless, one of the drawbacks of such reasoning systems is that they work as black-boxes and the acquired knowledge is not human readable. In this paper, we present a new step in order to close the gap between connectionist and logic based reasoning systems. We show that two of the most used inference rules for obtaining negative information in rule based reasoning systems, the so-called Closed World Assumption and Negation as Finite Failure can be characterized by means of spiking neural P systems, a formal model of the third generation of neural networks born in the framework of membrane computing.Comment: 25 pages, 1 figur

Ultrasonographic study of the right coronary artery in performance horses

Historically, echocardiography has focused on the assessment of cardiac dimensions and indices of cardiac function. However, when referred to ultrasonographic coronary arteries characterisation in the horse, information is scarce. The purpose of this study was to describe the right coronary artery in both long and short axis and to analyse its variability between horses with different levels of performance. Sixty healthy horses were included in the study. The animals were eventing horses at different levels of performance and were allocated into two groups according to their athletic level. The internal lumen diameter and the area of the right coronary artery (RCA) were measured in the right parasternal long and short axis views in the 3rd and 4th intercostal space respectively, during systole and diastole. The results were compared between groups using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student’s t-test. The correlation between the physiological parameters and the RCA was assessed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Statistically significant differences were found when the RCA internal diameter was assessed between groups in both short and long axis. There were no statistically significant differences intra-group when short and long axis measurements were compared between each other. A positive correlation was observed between RCA and age, height, left atrium diameter, aortic valve diameter, sinus of Valsalva diameter, and aorta diameter. In conclusion, the level of training might affect the ultrasound measurement of the RCA in sport horses. Non-invasive echocardiography can be used to consistently assess the size of the right coronary artery in athletic horses in both short and long axis

A multiwavelength study of embedded clusters in W5-east, NGC 7538, S235, S252 and S254-S258

articleWe present Spitzer, near-IR (NIR) and millimetre observations of the massive star-forming regions W5-east, S235, S252, S254-S258 and NGC 7538. Spitzer data is combined with NIR observations to identify and classify the young population while 12CO and 13CO observations are used to examine the parental molecular cloud. We detect in total 3021 young stellar objects (YSOs). Of those, 539 are classified as Class I, and 1186 as Class II sources. YSOs are distributed in groups surrounded by a more scattered population. Class I sources are more hierarchically organized than Class II and associated with the most dense molecular material. We identify in total 41 embedded clusters containing between 52 and 73 per cent of the YSOs. Clusters are in general non-virialized, turbulent and have star formation efficiencies between 5 and 50 per cent. We compare the physical properties of embedded clusters harbouring massive stars (MEC) and low-mass embedded clusters (LEC) and find that both groups follow similar correlations where the MEC are an extrapolation of the LEC. The mean separation between MEC members is smaller compared to the cluster Jeans length than for LEC members. These results are in agreement with a scenario where stars are formed in hierarchically distributed dusty filaments where fragmentation is mainly driven by turbulence for the more massive clusters. We find several young OB-type stars having IR-excess emission which may be due to the presence of an accretion disc.This work is based in part on observations made with the Spitzer Space Telescope, which is operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech, under a contract with NASA. Support for this work was provided by NASA through a contract issued by JPL/Caltech. We also thank NOAO for their student thesis support. The Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory was supported by NSF grant AST 0540852. CB is supported by an RCUK Fellowship at the University of Exeter, UK. This work is based in part on the IRAC postBCD processing software ‘IRACPROC’ developed by Mike Schuster, Massimo Marengo and Brian Patten at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. This research used the facilities of the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre operated by the National Research Council of Canada with the support of the Canadian Space Agency. This research has made use of the NASA/ IPAC Infrared Science Archive, which is operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. We thank the Spanish MINECO for funding support from grants CSD2009-00038, AYA2009-07304 and AYA2012-32032

Household stored water quality in an intermittent water supply network in Panama

Safe water storage is critical to preserve water quality, especially when intermittent piped drinking water supply creates a need for household storage. This study characterized household storage practices and stored water quality in 94 households (N = 94) among four peri-urban neighborhoods in Arraiján, Panama with varying degrees of supply intermittency. We found that 18 (19.1%) households stored drinking water in unsafe containers. Forty-four (47%) samples of household stored drinking water had residual chlorine levels 10 most probable number (MPN)/100 mL total coliform bacteria. Eight (44%) samples were positive for Escherichia coli, whereas only one (1.3%) sample from the safe containers was positive. Twenty-nine (30.9%) samples had >500 MPN/mL heterotrophic plate count bacteria. These findings suggest that longer supply interruptions were associated with longer storage times and lower chlorine residual, which were associated with higher concentrations of indicator bacteria. This is one of the first studies in the Central-American region to show an association between the lack of turnover (replacement with fresh water) and greater contamination during household water storage. Thus, when drinking water supply is not completely continuous and household storage is required, decreasing the time between supply periods can facilitate safer water storage. Public awareness and education are also recommended to increase hygiene practices during water collection and storage.Safe water storage is critical to preserve water quality, especially when intermittent piped drinking water supply creates a need for household storage. This study characterized household storage practices and stored water quality in 94 households (N = 94) among four peri-urban neighborhoods in Arraiján, Panama with varying degrees of supply intermittency. We found that 18 (19.1%) households stored drinking water in unsafe containers. Forty-four (47%) samples of household stored drinking water had residual chlorine levels 10 most probable number (MPN)/100 mL total coliform bacteria. Eight (44%) samples were positive for Escherichia coli, whereas only one (1.3%) sample from the safe containers was positive. Twenty-nine (30.9%) samples had >500 MPN/mL heterotrophic plate count bacteria. These findings suggest that longer supply interruptions were associated with longer storage times and lower chlorine residual, which were associated with higher concentrations of indicator bacteria. This is one of the first studies in the Central-American region to show an association between the lack of turnover (replacement with fresh water) and greater contamination during household water storage. Thus, when drinking water supply is not completely continuous and household storage is required, decreasing the time between supply periods can facilitate safer water storage. Public awareness and education are also recommended to increase hygiene practices during water collection and storage

Spitzer observations of the Massive star forming complex S254-S258: structure and evolution

We present Spitzer-IRAC, NOAO 2.1meter-Flamingos, Keck-NIRC, and FCRAO-SEQUOIA observations of the massive star forming complex S254-S258, covering an area of 25x20 arc-minutes. Using a combination of the IRAC and NIR data, we identify and classify the young stellar objects (YSO) in the complex. We detect 510 sources with near or mid IR-excess, and we classify 87 Class I, and 165 Class II sources. The YSO are found in clusters surrounded by isolated YSO in a low-density distributed population. The ratio of clustered to total YSO is 0.8. We identify six new clusters in the complex. One of them, G192.63-00, is located around the ionizing star of the HII region S255. We hypothesize that the ionizing star of S255 was formed in this cluster. We also detect a southern component of the cluster in HII region S256. The cluster G192.54-0.15, located inside HII region S254 has a VLSR of 17 km/s with respect to the main cloud, and we conclude that it is located in the background of the complex. The structure of the molecular cloud is examined using 12CO and 13CO, as well as a near-IR extinction map. The main body of the molecular cloud has VLSR between 5 and 9 km/s. The arc-shaped structure of the molecular cloud, following the border of the HII regions, and the high column density in the border of the HII regions support the idea that the material has been swept up by the expansion of the HII regions.Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

Opinion of handball players, trainers and referees using the handball/futsal goalpost anti-tip system “tutigool” for a safe game: 2019 four nations international handball junior tournament

[EN] Problem Statement:Athletes and especially children die around the world due to sports accidents. In this regard, changes in the federal sports regulations are not only aimed at favoring the game, but also to improve the safety of athletes. In handball, the goal is an essential piece of equipment and the anti-tip system used is fundamental to prevent accidents. Purpose:The objective of the present study was to know the opinion of different sports agents about the use of the Tutigool anti-tip system in the goals. Methods:The sample consisted of 60 subjects (players (51 ± 0.72), trainers (5 ± 14.01), and referees (4 ± 2.5)), of which, 96.7% were men and 3.3% women. A modified Likert-scale questionnaire was filled out (1 = strongly disagree to 7 = strongly agree) by the participants of the Four Nations International Tournament in January 2019 in the male U21 category, held in Santander (Spain). The questionnaire consisted of 18 items. Results: The most relevant results affirm that the system is appropriate for the handball game at the municipal and school level at 5.35 and for high level sports at 4.10. The average satisfaction with this system is 4.34. By agents, the coaches obtained 5.4, the referees 4.5 and the players 4.22. The Kruskal-Wallis test was carried out, which showed no significant differences in the mean scores (p> 0.05) given by players, trainers and referees in different aspects related to the anti-tip system. Conclusions:These results allow making a deep reflection and a change in handball regulations with the aim of adapting them and guaranteeing a safer practice, not only for athletes and amateur users, but also for sports facilities technicians who are responsible for the maintenance and handling of sports equipment.S