Approximate solution of the Duffin-Kemmer-Petiau equation for a vector Yukawa potential with arbitrary total angular momenta

The usual approximation scheme is used to study the solution of the Duffin-Kemmer-Petiau (DKP) equation for a vector Yukawa potential in the framework of the parametric Nikiforov-Uvarov (NU) method. The approximate energy eigenvalue equation and the corresponding wave function spinor components are calculated for arbitrary total angular momentum in closed form. Further, the approximate energy equation and wave function spinor components are also given for case. A set of parameter values is used to obtain the numerical values for the energy states with various values of quantum levelsComment: 17 pages; Communications in Theoretical Physics (2012). arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1205.0938, and with arXiv:quant-ph/0410159 by other author

Assessment of parametric approaches to calculate the Evaporative Demand Drought Index

The Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI), based on atmospheric evaporative demand, was proposed by Hobbins et al. (2016) to analyse and monitor drought. The EDDI uses a nonparametric approach in which empirically derived probabilities are converted to standardized values. This study evaluates the suitability of eight probability distributions to compute the EDDI at 1-, 3- and 12-month time scales, in order to provide more robust calculations. The results showed that the Log-logistic distribution is the best option for generating standardized values over very different climate conditions. Likewise, we contrasted this new parametric methodology to compute EDDI with the original nonparametric formulation. Our findings demonstrate the advantages of adopting a robust parametric approach based on the Log-logistic distribution for drought analysis, as opposed to the original nonparametric approach. The method proposed in this study enables effective implementation of EDDI in the characterization and monitoring of droughts. © 2021 The Authors. International Journal of Climatology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Royal Meteorological Society

Anisotropic properties of MgB2 by torque magnetometry

Anisotropic properties of superconducting MgB2 obtained by torque magnetometry are compared to theoretical predictions, concentrating on two issues. Firstly, the angular dependence of Hc2 is shown to deviate close to Tc from the dependence assumed by anisotropic Ginzburg-Landau theory. Secondly, from the evaluation of torque vs angle curves it is concluded that the anisotropy of the penetration depth gamma_lambda has to be substantially higher at low temperature than theoretical estimates, at least in fields higher than 0.2 T.Comment: 2 p.,2 Fig., submitted to Physica C (M2S-Rio proceedings); v2: 1 ref adde

Water quality and quantity assessment of pervious pavements performance in experimental car park areas

Pervious pavements have become one of the most used sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) techniques in car parks. This research paper presents the results of monitoring water quality from several experimental car park areas designed and constructed in Spain with bays made of interlocking concrete block pavement, porous asphalt, polymer-modified porous concrete and reinforced grass with plastic and concrete cells. Moreover, two different sub-base materials were used (limestone aggregates and basic oxygen furnace slag). This study therefore encompasses the majority of the materials used as permeable surfaces and sub-base layers all over the world. Effluent from the test bays was monitored for dissolved oxygen, pH, electric conductivity, total suspended solids, turbidity and total petroleum hydrocarbons in order to analyze the behaviour shown by each combination of surface and sub-base materials. In addition, permeability tests were undertaken in all car parks using the ‘Laboratorio Caminos Santander’ permeameter and the Cantabrian Portable Infiltrometer. All results are presented together with the influence of surface and sub-base materials on water quality indicators using bivariate correlation statistical analysis at a confidence level of 95%. The polymer-modified porous concrete surface course in combination with limestone aggregate sub-base presented the best performance

Image Quality In Partially Erased Denoptix® Storage Phosphor Plates

This study aimed at investigating the effect of the partial erasing of DenOptix® system storage phosphor plates on the image quality of digital radiographs. Standardized digital radiographs were acquired of a phantom mandible, using size 2 intraoral DenOptix® storage phosphor plates (n = 10). Subsequently, the active areas of the plates were placed in a viewing box with a constant light intensity of 1,700 lux for 130 seconds to achieve complete erasing (control plate), as well as for 0, 5, 10, 1S, 20, 25, 34, 66, and 98 seconds, to compose the experimental group of partially erased plates. The same exposure settings were repeated using the control and experimental plates, which were scanned at a resolution of 300 dpi. Five radiologists independently examined the pairs of digital radiographs obtained with the control and partially erased plates, in random order, and indicated the best image for oral diagnosis. Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel's chi-square test, at a significance level of 5%, was used to compare the percentages of superior quality images in each combination of control and partially erased plates, subjectively assessed. No significant differences were found between radiographic images acquired with control and partially erased plates, except for the combination of 0 second (30%) versus 130 seconds (70%), p = 0.0047. It can be concluded that, under adequate light intensity conditions, erasing intraoral DenOptix® storage phosphor plates may require time intervals of as little as 5 seconds.2217883Akdeniz, B.G., Gröndahl, H.G., Kose, T., Effect of delayed scanning of storage phosphor plates (2005) Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod, 99 (5), pp. 603-607Akdeniz, B.G., Gröndahl, H.G., Degradation of storage phosphor images due to scanning delay (2006) Dentomaxillofac Radiol, 35 (2), pp. 74-77Almeida, S.M., Oliveira, A.E.F., Ferreira, R.I., Bóscolo, F.N., Image quality in digital radiographic systems (2003) Braz Dent J, 14 (2), pp. 136-141Borg, E., Attaelmanan, A., Gröndahl, H.G., Subjective image quality of solid-state and photostimulable phosphor systems for digital intra-oral radiography (2000) Dentomaxillofac Radiol, 29 (2), pp. 70-75Ferreira, R.I., Haiter-Neto, F., Tabchoury, C.P.M., Paiva, G.A.N., Bóscolo, F.N., Assessment of enamel demineralization using conventional, digital, and digitized radiography (2006) Braz Oral Res, 20 (2), pp. 114-119Wenzel, A., Gröndahl, H.G., Direct digital radiography in the dental office (1995) Int Dent J, 45 (1), pp. 27-34Oliveira, A.E., Almeida, S.M., Paganini, G.A., Haiter Neto, F., Bóscolo, F.N., Comparative study of two digjtal radiographic storage phosphor systems (2000) Braz Dent J, 11 (2), pp. 111-116Borg, E., Attaelmanan, A., Gröndahl, H.G., Image plate systems differ in physical performance (2000) Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod, 89 (1), pp. 118-124Martins, M.G.B.Q., Haiter Neto, F., Whaites, E.J., Analysis of digital images acquired using different phosphor storage plates (PSPs) subjected to varying reading times and storage conditions (2003) Dentomaxillofac Radiol, 32 (3), pp. 186-190(1998) DenOptix digital imaging system - user manual and installation guide, , Gendex Dental X-Ray Division, Des Plaines: The Division;Menig, J.J., The DenOptix digital radiographic system (1999) J Clin Orthod, 33 (7), pp. 407-410Berkhout WE, Beuger DA, Sanderink GC, van der Stelt PF. The dynamic range of digital radiographic systems: dose reduction or risk of overexposure? Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 2004;33(1):1-SHildebolt, C.F., Couture, R.A., Whiting, B.R., Dental photostimulable phosphor radiography (2000) Dent Clin North Am, 44 (2), pp. 273-297Martins, M.G.B.Q., Whaites, E.J., Ambrosano, G.M.B., Haiter Neto, F., What happens if you delay scanning Digora phosphor storage plates (PSPs) for up to 4 hours? (2006) Dentomaxillofac Radiol, 35 (3), pp. 143-146Gröndahl, H.G., Wenzel, A., Borg, E., Tammisalo, E., An image plate system for digital intra-oral radiography (1996) Dent Update, 23 (8), pp. 334-33

The potential of using climate indices as powerful tools to explain mortality anomalies: An application to mainland Spain

Changes in the frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events represent one of the key indicators of climate change and variability. These events can have an important impact on mortality rates, especially in the ageing population. This study assessed the spatial and seasonal distributions of mortality rates in mainland Spain and their association with climatic conditions over the period 1979–2016. The analysis was done on a seasonal and annual basis using 79 climatic indices and regional natural deaths data. Results indicate large spatial variability of natural deaths, which is mostly related to how the share of the elderly in the population varied across the studied regions. Spatially, both the highest mortality rates and the largest percentage of elders were found in the northwest areas of the study domain, where an extreme climate prevails, with very cold winters and hot summers. A strong seasonality effect was observed, winter shows more than 10% of natural deaths compared to the rest of the seasons. Also, results suggest a strong relation between climatic indices and natural deaths, albeit with a high spatial and seasonal variability. Climatic indices and natural deaths show a stronger correlation in winter and summer than in spring and autumn. © 2021 The Author

A burst with double radio spectrum observed up to 212 GHz

We study a solar flare that occurred on September 10, 2002, in active region NOAA 10105 starting around 14:52 UT and lasting approximately 5 minutes in the radio range. The event was classified as M2.9 in X-rays and 1N in H\alpha. Solar Submillimeter Telescope observations, in addition to microwave data give us a good spectral coverage between 1.415 and 212 GHz. We combine these data with ultraviolet images, hard and soft X-rays observations and full-disk magnetograms. Images obtained from Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imaging data are used to identify the locations of X-ray sources at different energies and to determine the X-ray spectrum, while ultra violet images allow us to characterize the coronal flaring region. The magnetic field evolution of the active region is analyzed using Michelson Doppler Imager magnetograms. The burst is detected at all available radio-frequencies. X-ray images (between 12 keV and 300 keV) reveal two compact sources and 212 GHz data, used to estimate the radio source position, show a single compact source displaced by 25" from one of the hard X-ray footpoints. We model the radio spectra using two homogeneous sources, and combine this analysis with that of hard X-rays to understand the dynamics of the particles. Relativistic particles, observed at radio wavelengths above 50 GHz, have an electron index evolving with the typical soft-hard-soft behaviour.Comment: Submitted to Solar Physics, 20 pages, 8 fugure