Analytic dependence on parameters for Evans' approximated Weak KAM solutions

We consider a variational principle for approximated Weak KAM solutions proposed by Evans. For Hamiltonians in quasi-integrable form, we prove that the map which takes the parameters to Evans\u2019 approximated solution is real analytic. In the mechanical case, we compute a recursive system of periodic partial differential equations identifying univocally the coefficients for the power series of the perturbative parameter

Evidence of major dry mergers at M* > 2 x 10^11 Msun from curvature in early-type galaxy scaling relations?

For early-type galaxies, the correlations between stellar mass and size, velocity dispersion, surface brightness, color, axis ratio and color-gradient all indicate that two mass scales, M* = 3 x 10^10 Msun and M* = 2 x 10^11 Msun, are special. The smaller scale could mark the transition between wet and dry mergers, or it could be related to the interplay between SN and AGN feedback, although quantitative measures of this transition may be affected by morphological contamination. At the more massive scale, mean axis ratios and color gradients are maximal, and above it, the colors are redder, the sizes larger and the velocity dispersions smaller than expected based on the scaling at lower M*. In contrast, the color-sigma relation, and indeed, most scaling relations with sigma, are not curved: they are well-described by a single power law, or in some cases, are almost completely flat. When major dry mergers change masses, sizes, axis ratios and color gradients, they are expected to change the colors or velocity dispersions much less. Therefore, the fact that scaling relations at sigma > 150 km/s show no features, whereas the size-M*, b/a-M*, color-M* and color gradient-M* relations do, suggests that M* = 2 x 10^11 Msun is the scale above which major dry mergers dominate the assembly histories of early-type galaxies.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Use of Microsatellites to Study Agricultural Biodiversity and Food Traceability

Molecular markers are useful tools for measuring the genetic diversity among agricultural species. In plants, microsatellites are still the most used markers for germplasm characterization, conservation, and traceability purposes, while in the livestock sector, although having represented the standard for at least two decades, they are still used only for minor farm animal species. In this work, together with a review on the use of microsatellites in livestock, we also illustrate the use of these markers for the characterization of agricultural diversity and food traceability through two case studies: (i) the analysis of genetic diversity in ancient fruit tree cultivars of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.), pear (Pyrus communis L.), sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.), and sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) from Northern Italy and (ii) the molecular authentication of wheat food chain. In the former case, a high genetic variability as well as the presence of different ploidy levels were detected, while in the latter microsatellite markers were shown to be useful for traceability and product authentication along the whole food chain. Overall, the presented evidence confirms the versatility of microsatellites as markers for both agrobiodiversity characterization and food traceability in cultivated plants and farm animals

Studi di visibilità per il telescopio di neutrini KM3NeT/ARCA

Il telescopio KM3NeT/ARCA è un rivelatore di neutrini posizionato in fondo al Mar Mediterraneo. Esso colleziona la luce prodotta per effetto Cherenkov dal passaggio di particelle cariche risultanti dalle interazioni del neutrino con la materia circostante. L'obiettivo della sua ricerca è di raccogliere dati al fine di studiare sorgenti di neutrini astrofisici ad alta energia. In questo modo, complementando le osservazioni effettuate tramite raggi cosmici e radiazione elettromagnetica, è possibile ottenere una descrizione più dettagliata del cosmo. In questa trattazione si è analizzato un dataset relativo ad una simulazione Monte Carlo. Dopo un primo confronto tra i dati della generazione e quelli forniti dall'algoritmo di ricostruzione degli eventi di KM3NeT, si sono prodotte alcune mappe del cielo Healpix per visualizzare il cielo visibile dal telescopio e la distribuzione celeste degli eventi in funzione della loro energia. Si riscontra un accordo della distribuzione degli eventi con il comportamento atteso al crescere dell'energia e dell'angolo zenitale. Infine, un ricampionamento dei dati ha consentito un notevole aumento della statistica e quindi una maggiore definizione delle mappe in questione

Colour Gradients and the Colour-Magnitude Relation: Different Properties of Brightest Cluster Galaxies and E/S0 Galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

We examine the colour-magnitude relation of approximately 5000 Brightest Cluster Galaxies (BCGs) in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and compare with non-BCG E/S0 galaxies. The colour-magnitude and colour-sigma (velocity dispersion) relations are flatter in slope (by a factor of about 2) for BCGs than for non-BCG E/S0s, and the BCGs also tend to be redder by 0.01 magnitudes in g-r. We investigate radial colour gradients in both samples, using the ratio of the de Vaucouleurs radii in the g and r bands. We find BCGs have significantly flatter (by 23%) mean colour gradients than other high luminosity E/S0s. In early-type galaxies, the colour gradients are strongest at intermediate luminosities of Mr=-22. Colour gradients in E/S0s increase with radius (up to 10kpc) and are negatively correlated with 10sigma + Mr (velocity dispersion relative to luminosity) and with mass density. The gradients also tend to decrease with increasing stellar age. These trends are weak or not seen in BCGs, in which the mean colour gradient is low whatever the other properties. We discuss possible explanations, which involve a greater amount of dry merging in the formation history of the BCGs.Comment: 16 pages, 24 figures, revised, accepted for publication in MNRAS

Spontaneous Group Synchronization of Movements and Respiratory Rhythms

Peer reviewe

Esteatose hepática na obesidade infantil: investigação por imagem = Hepatic steatosis in obese children: imaging investigation

Objetivos: revisar a esteatose hepática em crianças obesas, com ênfase na sua investigação por imagem. Fonte de dados: revisão na literatura sobre o assunto, utilizando as bases de dados PubMed, SciELO e LILACS. Síntese dos dados: na população pediátrica, a esteatose hepática tem uma prevalência global de 2,6%, podendo alcançar índices alarmantes em crianças obesas, que variam de 23% a 53%. Essa “nova” doença, anteriormente considerada uma afecção quase exclusiva dos adultos, chama a atenção da comunidade científica. A esteatose hepática não alcoólica, doença assintomática e progressiva, constitui uma das complicações hepáticas mais prevalentes, podendo evoluir para esteato-hepatite e até mesmo para cirrose. Neste sentido, é de suma importância o diagnóstico precoce e não invasivo dessa doença, através dos diferentes métodos de imagem existentes, entre os quais destacamos a ultrassonografia, a tomografia computadorizada e a ressonância magnética. Conclusões: dentre as vantagens e desvantagens próprias de cada método de imagem, a ressonância magnética é considerada a melhor modalidade no diagnóstico e quantificação da infiltração gordurosa hepática. No entanto, a investigação por imagem poderá ser iniciada com um método menos sofisticado, como a ultrassonografia, que é uma alternativa mais acessível e econômic