Environmental effects on galaxy evolution. II: quantifying the tidal features in NIR-images of the cluster Abell 85

This work is part of a series of papers devoted to investigate the evolution of cluster galaxies during their infall. In the present article we imaged in NIR a selected sample of galaxies through- out the massive cluster Abell 85 (z = 0.055). We obtained (JHK) photometry for 68 objects, reaching 1 mag/arcsec^2 deeper than 2MASS. We use these images to unveil asymmetries in the outskirts of a sample of bright galaxies and develop a new asymmetry index, alpha_An, which allows to quantify the degree of disruption by the relative area occupied by the tidal features on the plane of the sky. We measure the asymmetries for a subsample of 41 large area objects finding clear asymmetries in ten galaxies, most of them being in groups and pairs projected at different clustercentric distances, some of them located beyond R500 . Combining information on the Hi-gas content of blue galaxies and the distribution of sub-structures across Abell 85, with the present NIR asymmetry analysis, we obtain a very powerful tool to confirm that tidal mechanisms are indeed present and are currently affecting a fraction of galaxies in Abell 85. However, when comparing our deep NIR images with UV-blue images of two very disrupted (jellyfish) galaxies in this cluster, we discard the presence of tidal 1 interactions down to our detection limit. Our results suggest that ram-pressure stripping is at the origin of such spectacular disruptions. We conclude that across a complex cluster like Abell 85, environment mechanisms, both gravitational and hydrodynamical, are playing an active role in driving galaxy evolution.Comment: 30 pages, 13 figures, Accepted for Publication in A

Gamma-rays from Type Ia supernova SN2014J

The whole set of INTEGRAL observations of type Ia supernova SN2014J, covering the period 19-162 days after the explosion has being analyzed. For spectral fitting the data are split into "early" and "late" periods covering days 19-35 and 50-162, respectively, optimized for $^{56}$Ni and $^{56}$Co lines. As expected for the early period much of the gamma-ray signal is confined to energies below $\sim$200 keV, while for the late period it is most strong above 400 keV. In particular, in the late period $^{56}$Co lines at 847 and 1248 keV are detected at 4.7 and 4.3 $\sigma$ respectively. The lightcurves in several representative energy bands are calculated for the entire period. The resulting spectra and lightcurves are compared with a subset of models. We confirm our previous finding that the gamma-ray data are broadly consistent with the expectations for canonical 1D models, such as delayed detonation or deflagration models for a near-Chandrasekhar mass WD. Late optical spectra (day 136 after the explosion) show rather symmetric Co and Fe lines profiles, suggesting that unless the viewing angle is special, the distribution of radioactive elements is symmetric in the ejecta.Comment: 21 pages, 16 figures, accepted by Ap

Composition of the Innermost Core Collapse Supernova Ejecta

With presently known input physics and computer simulations in 1D, a self-consistent treatment of core collapse supernovae does not yet lead to successful explosions, while 2D models show some promise. Thus, there are strong indications that the delayed neutrino mechanism works combined with a multi-D convection treatment for unstable layers. On the other hand there is a need to provide correct nucleosynthesis abundances for the progressing field of galactic evolution and observations of low metallicity stars. The innermost ejecta is directly affected by the explosion mechanism, i.e. most strongly the yields of Fe-group nuclei for which an induced piston or thermal bomb treatment will not provide the correct yields because the effect of neutrino interactions is not included. We apply parameterized variations to the neutrino scattering cross sections and alternatively, parameterized variations are applied to the neutrino absorption cross sections on nucleons in the ``gain region''. We find that both measures lead to similar results, causing explosions and a Ye>0.5 in the innermost ejected layers, due to the combined effect of a short weak interaction time scale and a negligible electron degeneracy, unveiling the proton-neutron mass difference. We include all weak interactions (electron and positron capture, beta-decay, neutrino and antineutrino capture on nuclei, and neutrino and antineutrino capture on nucleons) and present first nucleosynthesis results for these innermost ejected layers to discuss how they improve predictions for Fe-group nuclei. The proton-rich environment results in enhanced abundances of 45Sc, 49Ti, and 64Zn as requested by chemical evolution studies and observations of low metallicity stars as well as appreciable production of nuclei in the mass range up to A=80.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures. Final versio

Pessimistic outcome expectancy does not explain ambiguity aversion in decision-making under uncertainty.

When faced with a decision, most people like to know the odds and prefer to avoid ambiguity. It has been suggested that this aversion to ambiguity is linked to people's assumption of worst possible outcomes. We used two closely linked behavioural tasks in 78 healthy participants to investigate whether such pessimistic prior beliefs can explain ambiguity aversion. In the risk-taking task, participants had to decide whether or not they place a bet, while in the beliefs task, participants were asked what they believed would be the outcome. Unexpectedly, we found that in the beliefs task, participants were not overly pessimistic about the outcome in the ambiguity condition and in fact closer to optimal levels of decision-making than in the risk conditions. While individual differences in pessimism could explain outcome expectancy, they had no effect on ambiguity aversion. Consequently, ambiguity aversion is more likely caused by general caution than by expectation of negative outcomes despite pessimism-dependent subjective weighting of probabilities

Resonant transmission of light through finite chains of subwavelength holes

In this paper we show that the extraordinary optical transmission phenomenon found before in 2D hole arrays is already present in a linear chain of subwavelength holes, which can be considered as the basic geometrical unit showing this property. In order to study this problem we have developed a new theoretical framework, able to analyze the optical properties of finite collections of subwavelength apertures and/or dimples (of any shape and placed in arbitrary positions) drilled in a metallic film.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let

The Borexino Thermal Monitoring & Management System and simulations of the fluid-dynamics of the Borexino detector under asymmetrical, changing boundary conditions

A comprehensive monitoring system for the thermal environment inside the Borexino neutrino detector was developed and installed in order to reduce uncertainties in determining temperatures throughout the detector. A complementary thermal management system limits undesirable thermal couplings between the environment and Borexino's active sections. This strategy is bringing improved radioactive background conditions to the region of interest for the physics signal thanks to reduced fluid mixing induced in the liquid scintillator. Although fluid-dynamical equilibrium has not yet been fully reached, and thermal fine-tuning is possible, the system has proven extremely effective at stabilizing the detector's thermal conditions while offering precise insights into its mechanisms of internal thermal transport. Furthermore, a Computational Fluid-Dynamics analysis has been performed, based on the empirical measurements provided by the thermal monitoring system, and providing information into present and future thermal trends. A two-dimensional modeling approach was implemented in order to achieve a proper understanding of the thermal and fluid-dynamics in Borexino. It was optimized for different regions and periods of interest, focusing on the most critical effects that were identified as influencing background concentrations. Literature experimental case studies were reproduced to benchmark the method and settings, and a Borexino-specific benchmark was implemented in order to validate the modeling approach for thermal transport. Finally, fully-convective models were applied to understand general and specific fluid motions impacting the detector's Active Volume.Comment: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1705.09078, arXiv:1705.0965

Modular multilevel matrix converter as solid state transformer for medium and high voltage substations

The use of power converters as solid state transformer is an attractive solution to modernize the power network, but this solution has not been fully addressed for MV and HV substations. This paper presents a customized and simple control for the Modular Multilevel Matrix Converter (M3C), specially conceived for its operation on synchronous ports, which is the case of AC substations. The control allows to transfer bidirectional active power, generate/absorb reactive power and provide ancillary services. The converter is compared to the back-to-back Modular Multilevel Converter (B2B-MMC) where the key performance indicators to carry out the comparison are power efficiency, number of semiconductor devices, passive components required, footprint, voltage cell balance, fault blocking capability and stress of components. The simulation results show the features, performance and attractiveness of the M3C topology in a 33/11 kV, 16 MW substation under different operating conditions, including grid faults and dynamic operation. The M3C presents similar efficiency and performance than the B2B-MMC, but it uses less semiconductor devices, passive components and total cell capacitor energy than the B2B-MMC, reducing cost and footprint. The experimental results show the performance of the M3C under less ideal conditions including a substation transformer saturation and power step response

Differences in the toxin profiles of Alexandrium ostenfeldii (Dinophyceae) strains isolated from different geographical origins: evidence of paralytic toxin, spirolide and gymnodimine

Among toxin-producing dinoflagellates of the genus Alexandrium, Alexandrium ostenfeldii is the only species able to produce paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins, spirolides (SPXs) and gymnodimines (GYMs). In this study we characterized and compared three A. ostenfeldii strains isolated from the Baltic, Mediterranean, and southern Chile Seas with respect to their toxin profiles, morphology, and phylogeny. Toxin analyses by HPLCeFD and LCeHRMS revealed differences in the toxin profiles of the three strains. The PSP toxin profiles of the southern Chile and Baltic strains were largely the same and included gonyautoxin (GTX)-3, GTX-2, and saxitoxin (STX), although the total PSP toxin content of the Chilean strain (105.83 ± 72.15 pg cell 1) was much higher than that of the Baltic strain (4.04 ± 1.93 pg cell 1). However, the Baltic strain was the only strain that expressed detectable amounts of analogues of GYM-A and GYM-B/-C (48.27 ± 26.12 pg GYM-A equivalents cell 1). The only toxin expressed by the Mediterranean strain was 13-desmethyl SPX-C (13dMeC; 2.85 ± 4.76 pg cell 1). Phylogenetic analysis based on the LSU rRNA showed that the studied strains belonged to distinct molecular clades. The toxin profiles determined in this study provide further evidence of the taxonomic complexity of this species.Preprin

Changes in electromyographic activity of latent trigger points after a dry needling intervention: a randomised controlled trial.

Objective To analyse the effects of dry needling (DN) in upper trapezius latent trigger points (LTrPs) on pressure pain threshold (PPT) and surface electromyography (sEMG). Design Randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial. Settings Sports Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of Castilla-La Mancha. Participants Forty-six participants (18–35 years old) with LTrP in the upper trapezius were divided into two groups: DN-group and Sham-DN-group. Interventions In the DN-group, the needle was inserted 10-times through the skin, and it was manipulated up and down using a "fast in and out" technique. In the Sham-DN-group, non-penetrating needles were used. Main outcome measures PPT, sEMG at rest, and sEMG in isometric contraction of the LTrP of the upper trapezius muscle were evaluated at baseline, 30 min after treatment, and after 24 h, and 72 h of follow-up. Results The mean change in sEMG at rest between baseline and 30 min was − 0.38 (0.38) %refRMS for the DN group and − 0.05 (0.31) %refRMS for the Sham-DN group (mean difference −0.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) of the difference: − 0.54 to − 0.13), and between baseline and 24 h was − 0.35 (0.35) %refRMS for the DN group and − 0.06 (0.58) %refRMS for the Sham-DN group (mean difference −0.29, 95% CI: −0.57 to −0.01). In addition, the DN-group showed higher values of PPT than the Sham-DN group at 72 h (5.22 (1.23) to 4.65 (1.03) kg/cm2; p < 0.05). Conclusions A single session of DN intervention was effective in reducing the electromyographic activity, muscle fatigue and pain of the upper trapezius muscle in LTrP.pre-print542 K