Strangeness production at finite temperature and baryon density in an effective relativistic mean field model

We study the strangeness production in hot and dense nuclear medium, by requiring the conservation of the baryon density, electric charge fraction and zero net strangeness. The hadronic equation of state is investigated by means of an effective relativistic mean field model, with the inclusion of the full octet of baryons and kaon mesons. Kaons are considered taking into account of an effective chemical potential depending on the self-consistent interaction between baryons. The obtained results are compared with a minimal coupling scheme, calculated for different values of the anti-kaon optical potential and with non-interacting kaon particles. In this context, we also consider the possible onset of the kaon condensation for a wide range of temperatures and baryon densities.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figure

Bioregulators can improve biomass production, photosynthetic efficiency, and ornamental quality of gazania rigens L

Gazania rigens L. is a perennial herbaceous plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family, widely used as bedding or ornamental potted plants. The environmental and economic sustainability of ornamental production can be enhanced using environmentally friendly bioregulators. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of key bioregulators gibberellic acid ((GA3) at 50, 100 or 150 mg L 121), humic acid ((HA) at 100, 300 or 600 mg L 121), and ascorbic acid ((AA) at 50, 100 or 200 mg L 121)), on the growth, leaf gas exchange, and ornamental quality of G. rigens. The results indicated that plants treated with foliar applications of GA3, HA, or AA exhibited higher plant fresh and dry biomass, plant height, leaf area, and leaf area ratio, root-shoot ratio, root-shoot mass fractions, and number of flowers, as well as the flowers display time. All bioregulator treatments enhanced the vegetative and floral characteristics of Gazania plants. The GA3 was the most efficient at the concentration of 100 mg L 121. The highest efficacy of HA and AA treatments was observed at the higher concentrations, 600 and 200 mg L 121, respectively. These results were associated with higher photosynthetic rate (A), transpiration rate (E) as well as stomatal conductance (gs), and water use efficiency (WUE). In conclusion, the results suggest that foliar-applied bioregulators to Gazania are promising and represent sustainable strategies to enhance growth, flowering, and flower display time of Gazania plants

A piecewise-linear reduced-order model of squeeze-film damping for deformable structures including large displacement effects

This paper presents a reduced-order model for the Reynolds equation for deformable structure and large displacements. It is based on the model established in [11] which is piece-wise linearized using two different methods. The advantages and drawbacks of each method are pointed out. The pull-in time of a microswitch is determined and compared to experimental and other simulation data.Comment: Submitted on behalf of EDA Publishing Association (http://irevues.inist.fr/handle/2042/16838

DNA Polymorphism of Gaucher Disease in Iraqi Patients

Gaucher disease is the autosomally recessively inherited deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase. Increasing storage of glucocerebrosides leads to a multisystem disease, the prevalence of which is about 1 : 40,000 in central Europe and up to 1 : 2,000 in some other countries (e. g. Israel). The acute and chronic neuronopathic forms of the disease (formerly defined as Gaucher types 2 and 3) account for only 5 to 10% of all Gaucher patients in Central Europe and Germany and are thus less frequent than the nonneuronopathic disease (formerly defined as Gaucher type 1). Gaucher's disease is usually associated with splenoand hepatomegaly, fatigue, skeletal complications, and several corresponding hematological and laboratory abnormalities. In 5 to 10% of the patients there are also central nervous symptoms such as myoclonic seizures, oculomotoric apraxia and a slight mental retardation. Recent epidemiological data indicate that only 10 to 20% of all Gaucher patients are correctly diagnosed (and treated) in Germany. The diagnosis today can be done in all patients by noninvasive methods, i. e. determination of the glucocerebrosidase activity in peripheral leukocytes and of the genetic defect, in this research the PCR technique was used to analyze the mutation in glucocerebrosidases gene (G ---C). Key words: Gaucher disease (GD), lysosomal storage disorder (LSD),lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase, PCR, Mutation

Stellar Image Interpretation System using Artificial Neural Networks: Unipolar Function Case

An artificial neural network based system for interpreting astronomical images has been developed. The system is based on feed-forward Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) with error back-propagation learning. Knowledge about images of stars, cosmic ray events and noise found in images is used to prepare two sets of input patterns to train and test our approach. The system has been developed and implemented to scan astronomical digital images in order to segregate stellar images from other entities. It has been coded in C language for users of personal computers. An astronomical image of a star cluster from other objects is undertaken as a test case. The obtained results are found to be in very good agreement with those derived from the DAOPHOTII package, which is widely used in the astronomical community. It is proved that our system is simpler, much faster and more reliable. Moreover, no prior knowledge, or initial data from the frame to be analysed is required

Conceptualising nature-based solutions: addressing environmental challenges in the city of Amman, Jordan

This article explores the conceptualisation and applicability of nature-based solutions (NBS) in the semi-arid context of Amman, Jordan. Through a Delphi survey, interviews and literature review, it investigates local experts’ views, concluding that NBS are a viable approach, even in context of water scarcity and high urban temperatures. Our results advocate for a paradigm shift towards a balanced relationship between urbanisation and nature, the integration of nature-based thinking into educational systems and continuous development and training for planners and local officers. Cross-sector collaboration, a solid participatory framework, and financial mechanisms for pilot cases are essential for this transformative shift

Efficient Excitation of Micro/Nano Resonators and Their Higher Order Modes

We demonstrate a simple and flexible technique to efficiently activate micro/nano-electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS) resonators at their fundamental and higher order vibration modes. The method is based on the utilization of the amplified voltage across an inductor, L, of an LC tank resonant circuit to actuate the MEMS/NEMS resonator. By matching the electrical and mechanical resonances, significant amplitude amplification is reported across the resonators terminals. We show experimentally amplitude amplification up to twelve times, which is demonstrated to efficiently excite several vibration modes of a microplate MEMS resonator and the fundamental mode of a NEMS resonator

Microstructure and Firmness of Processed Cheese Manufactured from Cheddar Cheese and Skim Milk Powder Cheese Base

Processed cheese (10 different types) was made from Cheddar cheese and a cheese base produced from reconstituted skim milk powder by blending and melting with commercial emulsifying salts at 9Q\u3c\u3eC. In one experiment, the cheese base was subjected 10 accelerated cheese ripening by added enzyme. The finished products had 50.1- 53.5% total solids, 18.2-19.3% protein, 47.4-49.7% fat in dry matter, and 2.7-3.0% salt in water; pH was 5.3-5.4 after three months of storage at 10 C and 30 C. The experimental cheeses were markedly firmer than the control cheeses. All processed cheeses exhibited a similar pattern of firmness whereby the samples stored at 10 C were firmer than the fresh cheeses and the cheeses stored at 30 C were firmest. Only blends containing a large proportion of a cheese base treated with added enzyme were crumbly and were not satisfactory. Electron microscopy revealed differences in the structures of the raw materials and the processed cheeses. The cheese base, to which a protease was added. had an open structure compared to a compact structure of the untreated cheese base. The microstructures of all the finished processed cheeses stored at 10 C: were similar to each other. Storage of these cheeses for 3 months at 30°C resulted in the development of irregularly shaped fat particles, but differences in their dimensions were statistically not significant