Aquatic Feeding by Moose: Selection of Plant Species and Feeding Areas in Relation to Plant Chemical Composition and Characteristics of Lakes

Aquatic feeding by moose was studied with emphasis on (i) the chemical composition of aquatic plants compared with terrestrial browse, (ii) the chemical composition of preferred and unpreferred aquatic plant species and (iii) characteristics of preferred feeding areas. Compared with woody browse, aquatic plants had much higher levels of sodium and iron, and similar levels of other nutrients tested. In a cafeteria selection experiment, moose consistently ate seven species of aquatic plants (preferred plants), consistently rejected five species (unpreferred plants), and gave an intermediate response to seven species. Preferred species had significantly higher sodium content. Those in the intermediate class contained more crude protein and phosphorus than unpreferred species. Of 24 lakes and ponds, 6 were heavily used by moose. 16 were used relatively little, and 2 were difficult to classify. The six heavily used sites had shallower water, a higher mineral content in the lake sediment, and a greater abundance of preferred plant species. Plants growing in heavily used sites had higher levels of sodium, phosphorus, and manganese than the same species growing in lightly used sites. Results suggest that levels of sodium in aquatic plants have a major influence on the animals\u27 selection of aquatic plant species and feeding areas, while phosphorus and protein levels may also influence selection

Statistical properties of the GALEX spectroscopic stellar sample

The GALEX General Data Release 4/5 includes 174 spectroscopic tiles, obtained from slitless grism observations, for a total of more than 60,000 ultraviolet spectra. We have determined statistical properties of the sample of GALEX stars. We have defined a suitable system of spectroscopic indices, which measure the main mid-UV features at the GALEX low spectral resolution and we have employed it to determine the atmospheric parameters of of stars in the range 4500<Teff<9000 K. Our preliminary results indicate that the sample is formed by a majority of main sequence F- and G-type stars, with metallicity [M/H]>-1 dex.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Science, UV universe special issu

Complex networks: new trends for the analysis of brain connectivity

Today, the human brain can be studied as a whole. Electroencephalography, magnetoencephalography, or functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques provide functional connectivity patterns between different brain areas, and during different pathological and cognitive neuro-dynamical states. In this Tutorial we review novel complex networks approaches to unveil how brain networks can efficiently manage local processing and global integration for the transfer of information, while being at the same time capable of adapting to satisfy changing neural demands.Comment: Tutorial paper to appear in the Int. J. Bif. Chao

The LMT Galaxies' 3 mm Spectroscopic Survey: First Results

The molecular phase of the interstellar medium (ISM) in galaxies offers fundamental insight for understanding star-formation processes and how stellar feedback affects the nuclear activity of certain galaxies. We present here Large Millimeter Telescope spectra obtained with the Redshift Search Receiver, a spectrograph that cover simultaneously the 3 mm band from 74 to 111 GHz with a spectral resolution of around 100 km/s. The observed galaxies that have been detected previously in HCN, have different degrees of nuclear activity, one normal galaxy (NGC 6946), the starburst prototype (M 82) and two ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs, IRAS 17208-0014 and Mrk 231). We plotted our data in the HCO+/HCN vs. HCN/13CO diagnostic diagram finding that NGC 6946 and M 82 are located close to other normal galaxies; and that both IRAS 17208-0014 and Mrk 231 are close to the position of the well known ULIRG Arp 220 reported by Snell et al. (2011). We found that in Mrk 231 -- a galaxy with a well known active galactic nucleus -- the HCO+/HCN ratio is similar to the ratio observed in other normal galaxies.Comment: Proceedings to appear in "Massive Young Star Clusters Near and Far: From the Milky Way to Reionization", 2013 Guillermo Haro Conference. Eds. Y. D. Mayya, D. Rosa-Gonzalez, & E. Terlevich, INAOE and AMC. 5 pages, 1 figur

Drying Kinetics of Oca (Oxalis Tuberosa)

One of the most important steps for agro-industrial industrialization is examining the kinetic behavior of products, to determine the ideal parameters to maintain their characteristics throughout the production chain. This study experimentally determined the drying kinetics of oca, an indigenous product of the Andean region, because there is no established information on the drying techniques of this tuber. The Andean region is the cradle of a large number of food crops that were domesticated and exploited by indigenous people thousands of years ago, even long before the expansion of the Inca civilization. In Ecuador, oca is perhaps the most important element of the daily diet, and an acceptable level of purity and hygiene has been reached. Oca provides fiber, essential amino acids and a low level of fat. In this study, a temperature of 60ºC was set at the beginning of each experimental run. The weight of the oca slices was measured every 10 min. The experiments were carried out in triplicate. Data were analyzed using StatGraphics software. Two drying periods were observed: the initial period of constant drying speed, where the removal of moisture corresponded to moisture not linked to the oca, while in the second stage, the internal moisture of the tuber was removed. Keywords: kinetic, drying, goose. RESUMEN Uno de los pasos más importantes para la industrialización agroindustrial es el comportamiento cinético de productos, esto en especial para conocer cuáles son los parámetros ideales para mantener las características sensoriales durante toda la cadena de producción. El presente documento determina experimentalmente la cinética de secado para un producto autóctono de la Región Andina, como lo es la oca, puesto que no existe información sobre las técnicas de secado de este tubérculo. En el Ecuador se ha alcanzado un aceptable nivel de pureza e higiene, la Oca es quizás el elemento más importante de la dieta diaria. La región andina es cuna de un gran número de cultivos alimenticios que fueron domesticados y aprovechados por pueblos autóctonos hace miles de años, inclusive mucho antes de la expansión de la civilización Inca. Aporta fibra, aminoácidos esenciales y un nivel bajo en grasa. La experimentación para conocer las curvas que modelan el comportamiento cinético del secado, se llevó a cabo por triplicado; luego de realizar la recolección de datos, estos fueron analizados utilizando el software estadístico StatGraphics. donde se obtuvo el respectivo análisis de varianza y las curvas. En el estudio se configuró una temperatura de 60ºC al inicio de cada corrida experimental, Se midió el peso de las rodajas de Oca cada 10 min, los datos fueron registrados y se procesó las tablas resultantes. En el estudio se pudo observar dos periodos de secado: Periodo inicial de velocidad de secado constante, donde la eliminación de humedad corresponde a la humedad no ligada a la oca, mientras en la segunda etapa se eliminó la humedad interna del tubérculo. Palabras claves: cinética, secado, oca

High-fidelity simulations of CdTe vapor deposition from a new bond-order potential-based molecular dynamics method

CdTe has been a special semiconductor for constructing the lowest-cost solar cells and the CdTe-based Cd1-xZnxTe alloy has been the leading semiconductor for radiation detection applications. The performance currently achieved for the materials, however, is still far below the theoretical expectations. This is because the property-limiting nanoscale defects that are easily formed during the growth of CdTe crystals are difficult to explore in experiments. Here we demonstrate the capability of a bond order potential-based molecular dynamics method for predicting the crystalline growth of CdTe films during vapor deposition simulations. Such a method may begin to enable defects generated during vapor deposition of CdTe crystals to be accurately explored

Early Science with the Large Millimetre Telescope: Molecules in the Extreme Outflow of a proto-Planetary Nebula

Extremely high velocity emission likely related to jets is known to occur in some proto-Planetary Nebulae. However, the molecular complexity of this kinematic component is largely unknown. We observed the known extreme outflow from the proto-Planetary Nebula IRAS 16342-3814, a prototype water fountain, in the full frequency range from 73 to 111 GHz with the RSR receiver on the Large Millimetre Telescope. We detected the molecules SiO, HCN, SO, and $^{13}$CO. All molecular transitions, with the exception of the latter are detected for the first time in this source, and all present emission with velocities up to a few hundred km s$^{-1}$. IRAS 16342-3814 is therefore the only source of this kind presenting extreme outflow activity simultaneously in all these molecules, with SO and SiO emission showing the highest velocities found of these species in proto-Planetary Nebulae. To be confirmed is a tentative weak SO component with a FWHM $\sim$ 700 km s$^{-1}$. The extreme outflow gas consists of dense gas (n$_{\rm H_2} >$ 10$^{4.8}$--10$^{5.7}$ cm$^{-3}$), with a mass larger than $\sim$ 0.02--0.15 M$_{\odot}$. The relatively high abundances of SiO and SO may be an indication of an oxygen-rich extreme high velocity gas.Comment: Accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Letter

Total Plasma Homocysteine and Depressive Symptoms in Older Hispanics

Background: Very few studies have investigated the association between total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) and depressive symptoms in older Hispanics. Objective: To test the hypothesis that high tHcy associates with depressive symptoms in older Hispanics. Methods: A total of 1,418 participants .55 years old from the Maracaibo Aging Study (MAS) underwent standardized neurological, neuropsychiatric, and cardiovascular assessments. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory Depression Subscale (NPId) was used to assess the burden of depressive symptoms. The tHcy levels and other biochemical parameters in blood samples were measured. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were applied. Results: Participants with depressive symptoms had higher levels of tHcy than those without (15.1 versus 13.9 µmol/L; p = 0.009). Elevated tHcy levels were associated with depressive symptoms after adjusting for age, sex, education, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, alcohol intake, stroke, and dementia (OR = 1.58; 95% CI, 1.18-2.12). Conclusion: Elevated levels of tHcy were associated with depressive symptoms in older Hispanics living under the nutritional and environmental conditions of a developing country