8,774 research outputs found
High-precision analysis of binary stars with planets. I. Searching for condensation temperature trends in the HD 106515 system
We explore the probable chemical signature of planet formation in the
remarkable binary system HD 106515. The A star hosts a massive long-period
planet with 9 MJup detected by radial velocity. We also refine stellar and
planetary parameters by using non-solar-scaled opacities when modeling the
stars. Methods. We carried out a simultaneous determination of stellar
parameters and abundances, by applying for the first time non-solar-scaled
opacities in this binary system, in order to reach the highest possible
precision. Results. The stars A and B in the binary system HD 106515 do not
seem to be depleted in refractory elements, which is different when comparing
the Sun with solar-twins. Then, the terrestrial planet formation would have
been less efficient in the stars of this binary system. Together with HD
80606/7, this is the second binary system which does not seem to present a
(terrestrial) signature of planet formation, and hosting both systems an
eccentric giant planet. This is in agreement with numerical simulations, where
the early dynamical evolution of eccentric giant planets clear out most of the
possible terrestrial planets in the inner zone. We refined the stellar mass,
radius and age for both stars and found a notable difference of 78% in R
compared to previous works. We also refined the planet mass to mp sini = 9.08
+/- 0.20 MJup, which differs by 6% compared with literature. In addition, we
showed that the non-solar-scaled solution is not compatible with the classical
solar-scaled method, and some abundance differences are comparable to NLTE or
GCE effects specially when using the Sun as reference. Then, we encourage the
use of non-solar-scaled opacities in high-precision studies such as the
detection of Tc trends.[abridged]Comment: 9 pages, 10 figures, A&A accepted. arXiv admin note: text overlap
with arXiv:1507.0812
Graphene and polyethylene. A strong combination towards multifunctional nanocomposites
The key to the preparation of polymer nanocomposites with new or improved properties resides in the homogeneous dispersion of the filler and in the efficient load transfer between components through strong filler/polymer interfacial interactions. This paper reports on the preparation of a series of nanocomposites of graphene and a polyolefin using different experimental approaches, with the final goal of obtaining multifunctional materials. A high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is employed as the matrix, while unmodified and chemically modified graphene fillers are used. By selecting the correct combination as well as the adequate preparation process, the nanocomposites display optimized thermal and mechanical properties, while also conferring good gas barrier properties and significant levels of electrical conductivity
Experimental study and calculation of the electron transfer coefficients on the dissolution behavior of chitosan in organic acids
Chitosan (CH) consists of water-insoluble N-acetylglucosamine and D-glucosamine molecules and has a higher solubility at a pH below six. This studyevaluated the solubility of chitosan in solutions of organic acids for the formation of films. HyperChemTMsoftware was used to perform the quantum analysis. In the experimental trials, the total soluble mass (TSM) and the viscosity of the solutions were measured by capillary viscometer. The chitosan filmswere made by the plate melting method, and the filmcharacteristics were evaluated. A quantum simulation suggested that lactic acid (LA) has a greater stability to react with chitosan. It was then verified experimentally that LA is a better solvent for chitosan due to the increase in its viscosity. The chemical interaction between CH and LA in solution favors the polymerization of films with better physical properties. We thereforeconclude that the uniformity in the formation of films of this polymer depends on the chemical interaction between the CH and the acid and not on the degree of solubility of the polymer
Accurate Neutralino Relic Density Computations in Supergravity Models
We investigate the question of the proper thermal averaging of neutralino
annihilation amplitudes which possess poles and thresholds, as they impact on
the calculated neutralino relic density and therefore on the cosmological
viability of supersymmetric models. We focus on two typical resonances, namely
the boson and the lightest Higgs boson (). In the context of
supergravity models with radiative electroweak symmetry breaking, an
exploration of the whole parameter space of the model is possible and the
overall relevance of these sophisticated analyses can be ascertained. As an
example we chose the minimal supergravity model since the presence of
such poles is essential to obtain a cosmologically acceptable model. We find
that the proper thermal averaging is important for individual points in
parameter space and that the fraction of cosmologically acceptable points is
increased somewhat by the accurate procedure. However, qualitatively the new
set of points is very similar to that obtained previously using the usual
series approximations to the thermal average. We conclude that all
phenomenological analyses based on the previously determined cosmologically
allowed set remain valid.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figures (available upon request as uuencoded file or
separate ps files), tex (harvmac) CTP-TAMU-14/9
Hot topics, urgent priorities, and ensuring success for racial/ethnic minority young investigators in academic pediatrics.
BackgroundThe number of racial/ethnic minority children will exceed the number of white children in the USA by 2018. Although 38% of Americans are minorities, only 12% of pediatricians, 5% of medical-school faculty, and 3% of medical-school professors are minorities. Furthermore, only 5% of all R01 applications for National Institutes of Health grants are from African-American, Latino, and American Indian investigators. Prompted by the persistent lack of diversity in the pediatric and biomedical research workforces, the Academic Pediatric Association Research in Academic Pediatrics Initiative on Diversity (RAPID) was initiated in 2012. RAPID targets applicants who are members of an underrepresented minority group (URM), disabled, or from a socially, culturally, economically, or educationally disadvantaged background. The program, which consists of both a research project and career and leadership development activities, includes an annual career-development and leadership conference which is open to any resident, fellow, or junior faculty member from an URM, disabled, or disadvantaged background who is interested in a career in academic general pediatrics.MethodsAs part of the annual RAPID conference, a Hot Topic Session is held in which the young investigators spend several hours developing a list of hot topics on the most useful faculty and career-development issues. These hot topics are then posed in the form of six "burning questions" to the RAPID National Advisory Committee (comprised of accomplished, nationally recognized senior investigators who are seasoned mentors), the RAPID Director and Co-Director, and the keynote speaker.Results/conclusionsThe six compelling questions posed by the 10 young investigators-along with the responses of the senior conference leadership-provide a unique resource and "survival guide" for ensuring the academic success and optimal career development of young investigators in academic pediatrics from diverse backgrounds. A rich conversation ensued on the topics addressed, consisting of negotiating for protected research time, career trajectories as academic institutions move away from an emphasis on tenure-track positions, how "non-academic" products fit into career development, racism and discrimination in academic medicine and how to address them, coping with isolation as a minority faculty member, and how best to mentor the next generation of academic physicians
Fiber Optic Sensing System for Temperature and Gas Monitoring in Coal Waste Pile Combustion Environments
International audienceIt is presented an optical fiber sensing system projected to operate in the demanding conditions associated with coal waste piles in combustion. Distributed temperature measurement and spot gas sensing are requirements for such a system. A field prototype has been installed and is continuously gathering data, which will input a geological model of the coal waste piles in combustion aiming to understand their dynamics and evolution. Results are presented on distributed temperature and ammonia measurement, being noticed any significant methane emission in the short time period considered. Carbon dioxide is also a targeted gas for measurement, with validated results available soon. The assessment of this technology as an effective and reliable tool to address the problem of monitoring coal waste piles in combustion opens the possibility of its widespread application in view of the worldwide presence of coal related fires
The Large Aperture GRB Observatory
The Large Aperture GRB Observatory (LAGO) is aiming at the detection of the
high energy (around 100 GeV) component of Gamma Ray Bursts, using the single
particle technique in arrays of Water Cherenkov Detectors (WCD) in high
mountain sites (Chacaltaya, Bolivia, 5300 m a.s.l., Pico Espejo, Venezuela,
4750 m a.s.l., Sierra Negra, Mexico, 4650 m a.s.l). WCD at high altitude offer
a unique possibility of detecting low gamma fluxes in the 10 GeV - 1 TeV range.
The status of the Observatory and data collected from 2007 to date will be
presented.Comment: 4 pages, proceeding of 31st ICRC 200
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