49 research outputs found
High-redshift objects and the generalized Chaplygin gas
Motivated by recent developments in particle physics and cosmology, there has
been growing interest in an unified description of dark matter and dark energy
scenarios. In this paper we explore observational constraints from age
estimates of high- objects on cosmological models dominated by an exotic
fluid with equation of state (the so-called generalized
Chaplygin gas) which has the interesting feature of interpolating between
non-relativistic matter and negative-pressure dark energy regimes. As a general
result we find that, if the age estimates of these objects are correct, they
impose very restrictive limits on some of these scenarios.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Brane World Cosmologies and Statistical Properties of Gravitational Lenses
Brane world cosmologies seem to provide an alternative explanation for the
present accelerated stage of the Universe with no need to invoke either a
cosmological constant or an exotic \emph{quintessence} component. In this paper
we investigate statistical properties of gravitational lenses for some
particular scenarios based on this large scale modification of gravity. We show
that a large class of such models are compatible with the current lensing data
for values of the matter density parameter
(). If one fixes to be , as suggested by
most of the dynamical estimates of the quantity of matter in the Universe, the
predicted number of lensed quasars requires a slightly open universe with a
crossover distance between the 4 and 5-dimensional gravities of the order of
.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, revte
Constraining the dark energy with galaxy clusters X-ray data
The equation of state characterizing the dark energy component is constrained
by combining Chandra observations of the X-ray luminosity of galaxy clusters
with independent measurements of the baryonic matter density and the latest
measurements of the Hubble parameter as given by the HST key project. By
assuming a spatially flat scenario driven by a "quintessence" component with an
equation of state we place the following limits on the
cosmological parameters and : (i) and (1) if the
equation of state of the dark energy is restricted to the interval (\emph{usual} quintessence) and (ii) and
() if violates the null energy condition and assume values (\emph{extended} quintessence or ``phantom'' energy). These results are in
good agreement with independent studies based on supernovae observations,
large-scale structure and the anisotropies of the cosmic background radiation.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, LaTe
Constraining the cosmic equation of state from old galaxies at high redshift
New limits on the cosmic equation of state are derived from age measurements
of three recently reported old high redshift galaxies (OHRG). The results are
based on a flat FRW type cosmological model driven by nonrelativistic matter
plus a smooth component parametrized by its equation of state (). The range of is strongly dependent
on the matter density parameter. For , as indicated from
dynamical measurements, the age estimates of the OHRG restricts the cosmic
parameter to . However, if is the one suggested
by some studies of field galaxies, i.e, , only a
cosmological constant () may be compatible with these data.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, MNRA
Some Observational Consequences of Brane World Cosmologies
The presence of dark energy in the Universe is inferred directly and
indirectly from a large body of observational evidence. The simplest and most
theoretically appealing possibility is the vacuum energy density (cosmological
constant). However, although in agreement with current observations, such a
possibility exacerbates the well known cosmological constant problem, requiring
a natural explanation for its small, but nonzero, value. In this paper we focus
our attention on another dark energy candidate, one arising from gravitational
\emph{leakage} into extra dimensions. We investigate observational constraints
from current measurements of angular size of high- compact radio-sources on
accelerated models based on this large scale modification of gravity. The
predicted age of the Universe in the context of these models is briefly
discussed. We argue that future observations will enable a more accurate test
of these cosmologies and, possibly, show that such models constitute a viable
possibility for the dark energy problem.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. D (minor revisions
Progression in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Tumorigenicity: Compared Effect of FGF-3 and FGF-4.
The transforming properties of fibroblast growth factor 3 (FGF-3) were investigated in MCF7 breast cancer cells and compared to those of FGF-4, a known oncogenic product. The short form of fgf-3 and the fgf-4 sequences were each introduced with retroviral vectors and the proteins were only detected in the cytoplasm of the infected cells, as expected. In vitro, cells producing FGF-3 (MCF7.fgf-3) and FGF-4 (MCF7.fgf-4) displayed an amount of estrogen receptors decreased to around 45% of the control value. However, MCF7.fgf-3 cell proliferation remained responsive to estradiol supply. The sensitivity of the MCF7.fgf-4 cells, if existant, was masked by the important mitogenic action exerted by FGF-4. In vivo, the MCF7.fgf-3 and MCF7.fgf-4 cells gave rise to tumors under conditions in which the control cells were not tumorigenic. Supplementing the mice with estrogen had the paradoxical effect of totally suppressing the start of the FGF-3 as well as the FGF-4 tumors. Tumorigenicity in the presence of matrigel was similar for MCF7.fgf-3 and control cells and was increased by estrogen supplementation. Once started, the MCF7.fgf-4 tumors grew with a characteristic high rate. Remarkably, FGF-4 but not FGF-3, stimulated the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF165) without altering the steady-state level of its mRNA, suggesting a possible regulation of VEGF synthesis at the translational level in MCF7 cells. The increased VEGF secretion is probably involved in the more aggressive phenotype of the MCF7.fgf-4 cells while a decreased dependence upon micro-environmental factors might be part of the increased tumorigenic potential of the MCF7.fgf-3 cells.Peer reviewe
Cosmological consequences of a Chaplygin gas dark energy
A combination of recent observational results has given rise to what is
currently known as the dark energy problem. Although several possible
candidates have been extensively discussed in the literature to date the nature
of this dark energy component is not well understood at present. In this paper
we investigate some cosmological implications of another dark energy candidate:
an exotic fluid known as the Chaplygin gas, which is characterized by an
equation of state , where is a positive constant. By assuming
a flat scenario driven by non-relativistic matter plus a Chaplygin gas dark
energy we study the influence of such a component on the statistical properties
of gravitational lenses. A comparison between the predicted age of the universe
and the latest age estimates of globular clusters is also included and the
results briefly discussed. In general, we find that the behavior of this class
of models may be interpreted as an intermediary case between the standard and
CDM scenarios.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Cooperativas de la Nueva Generacion en Manitoba, Canada: ¿Cuál es la demora?
New Generation Co-Operatives (NGCs) have become an increasingly popular method for
agricultural producers in the United States to capture a share of the downstream rents created
by the processing of their agricultural commodities. NGC development has been rapid in the
states of Minnesota and North Dakota, but in the neighbouring Canadian province of
Manitoba, there are almost no NGCs. After providing a background on NGCs and their unique
characteristics, this paper discusses five hypotheses for the comparatively low NGC adoption
rates in Manitoba compared to its neighbouring states. Higher farm income levels, better
availability of development assistance, and a more favourable regulatory framework are
identified as reasons why there are many more NGCs in Minnesota and North Dakota than
Manitoba
Cooperativas de la Nueva Generacion en Manitoba, Canada: ¿Cuál es la demora?
New Generation Co-Operatives (NGCs) have become an increasingly popular method for agricultural producers in the United States to capture a share of the downstream rents created by the processing of their agricultural commodities. NGC development has been rapid in the states of Minnesota and North Dakota, but in the neighbouring Canadian province of Manitoba, there are almost no NGCs. After providing a background on NGCs and their unique characteristics, this paper discusses five hypotheses for the comparatively low NGC adoption rates in Manitoba compared to its neighbouring states. Higher farm income levels, better availability of development assistance, and a more favourable regulatory framework are identified as reasons why there are many more NGCs in Minnesota and North Dakota than Manitoba.Cooperatives, Manitoba, New generation, Agribusiness,
Reovirus infection in the pigeon.
The pigeon is sisceptible to Reovirus infection since a strain has been isolated from a sick pigeon and 8p. cent of pigeons selected at random in Belgium possess specific antibodies. The strain of Reovirus isolated does not seem to be highly pathogenic for the pigeon as experimental inoculation resulted in the appearance of no symptoms except for excretion of the virus in faeces