Y-System and Deformed Thermodynamic Bethe Ansatz

We introduce a new tool, the Deformed TBA (Deformed Thermodynamic Bethe Ansatz), to analyze the monodromy problem of the cubic oscillator. The Deformed TBA is a system of five coupled nonlinear integral equations, which in a particular case reduces to the Zamolodchikov TBA equation for the 3-state Potts model. Our method generalizes the Dorey-Tateo analysis of the (monomial) cubic oscillator. We introduce a Y-system corresponding to the Deformed TBA and give it an elegant geometric interpretation.Comment: 12 pages. Minor corrections in Section

On the location of poles for the Ablowitz-Segur family of solutions to the second Painlev\'e equation

Using a simple operator-norm estimate we show that the solution to the second Painlev\'e equation within the Ablowitz-Segur family is pole-free in a well defined region of the complex plane of the independent variable. The result is illustrated with several numerical examples.Comment: 8 pages, to appear in Nonlinearit

On the monodromy of the deformed cubic oscillator

We study a second-order linear differential equation known as the deformed cubic oscillator, whose isomonodromic deformations are controlled by the first Painlevé equation. We use the generalised monodromy map for this equation to give solutions to the Riemann-Hilbert problems of (Bridgeland in Invent Math 216(1):69–124, 2019) arising from the Donaldson-Thomas theory of the A2 quiver. These are the first known solutions to such problems beyond the uncoupled case. The appendix by Davide Masoero contains a WKB analysis of the asymptotics of the monodromy map

Electrical anisotropy in high-Tc granular superconductors in a magnetic field

We propose an analytical model devoted to explain the anisotropy of the electrical resistance observed below the critical temperature in granular high-Tc superconductors submitted to a magnetic field H. Reported experimental results obtained on a YBCO sample show that the superconducting transition occurs in two stages, with a steep drop of the resistance at Tc and a subsequent, smoother decrease. In this second stage, the resistance versus temperature curve is strongly dependent not only on the field intensity, but also on the angle between H and the macroscopic current density j. We start from the assumption that the resistance below Tc is mainly due to the weak links between grains. In the model, weak links are thought of as flat surface elements separating adjacent grains. We calculate the probability for a weak link to undergo the transition to the resistive state as a function of the angle it makes with the external magnetic field H and the macroscopic current density j. In doing this, an important role is given to the strong nonuniformity of the local magnetic field within the specimen, due to the effect of the screening supercurrents flowing on the surface of the grains. Finally, we calculate the electrical resistance of the sample in the two cases H⊥j and H∥j. The predictions of this simple model turn out to be in reasonable agreement with reported experimental results obtained on a YBCO granular specimen

In vivorelease of aflatoxin B1 bound to different sequestering agents in dairy cows

Nine lactating dairy cows, producing 31.08±5.00 kg of milk/cow/day and fed with a Total Mixed Ration (TMR) with an intake of 22.3±0.8 Kg s.s./cow, were used to investigate the resistance of the AFs-SA complex in the rumen and in the gastro-intestinal tract. Two commercial sequestering agents Atox® and Mycosorb® were used. The AFB1 was also mixed to a rumen fluid (R-SA). AFB1 sequestered by Atox®, Mycosorb® and by R-SA were then fed to cows before the morning meal. Milk samples were collected for 6 consecutive milkings and analyzed for AFM1 content. The in vitro binding capacity of the two SA were 94.2% for Atox®, 84.3% for Mycosorb® and 71.86% for the R-SA. Both Atox® and Mycosorb® released some of the sequestered AFB1 determining an increase of the AFM1 in milk as soon as in the 1st milking from oral drenching (4.23±7.33; 23.60±8.23 and 46.06±39.84 ppt for Atox®, Mycosorb® and R-SA respectively). The AFM1 (ng/cow) in milk at the 4th milking was lower (66.04, 661.77 and 1613.04; P<0.05) in Atox® and Mycosorb® than R-SA, respectively. The percentage release of bound AFB1 were 1.63% for Atox®, 20.27% for Mycosorb® and 50.48% for R-SA

Mucosal absorption of aflatoxin B1 in lactating dairy cows

The objective of this experiment was to monitor plasma levels of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) aflatoxin B2 (AFB2), aflatoxin G1 (AFG1), aflatoxin G2 (AFG2) and aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in lactating dairy cows fed afltaoxin contaminated corn. Seven lactating Holstein cows were given a bolus of a naturally contaminated corn meal assuring an intake of 4.9mg AFB1, 1.01 mg AFB2, 10.63 mg AFG1 and 0.89 mg AFG2. Vitamin A, at 1,000,000 IU, was also added as a biomarker of intestinal absorption. Blood samples were collected at 0, 15, 30, 60, 120, 180, 270 and 360 min after bolus. Plasma was analyzed by HPLC for AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2 and AFM1 concentrations. Within the considered time points, the peak plasma AFB1 concentration was obtained as soon as 15 minutes from drenching. The plasma AFM1 concentration was considerable as early as the first collection (15 minutes) and peaked at 270 minutes indicating both a rapid absorption of AFB1 through the rumen wall and metabolization into AFM1 in liver. The plasma palmitate level suggests the intestinal contribution to the aflatoxin plasma level after 120 min

Complex influence of climate on the distribution and body size of an Alpine species

1.Alpine species with a limited distribution can act as sentinels of climate change, but first we have to identify their climate‐sensitive traits. Here, we adopted a multi‐level approach to define the influence of climate on the geographical distribution and body size of a steno‐endemic Alpine grasshopper, the Stenobothrus ursulae Nadig, 1986. 2.We built a species distribution model (SDM) with the following climatic predictors: precipitation seasonality, precipitation of the wettest month, mean temperature of the driest quarter and isothermality. The model provides a satisfactory representation of the species geographical range, but it also identifies areas suitable in terms of climate in which the species was not found. Therefore, we suggest that climatic and geographic barriers combined with a poor dispersal ability might have limited its distribution.3.We measured 309 individuals collected across the whole geographical range. Our results show that increasing elevation was linked both to a decline in S. ursulae body length (converse Bergmann's rule) and to a decline in sexual size dimorphism (converse Rensch's rule). We demonstrate also that the same climatic predictors that describe the species distribution affect its morphological variation. 4.Our results suggest that climate affects this species distribution and body size with opposite effects: suitable climatic conditions are found at high elevations, and the fitness‐related trait (i.e. body size) declines with elevations. In the future, distribution and/or morphology of the species might change in order to successfully cope with the changing climate, but its very limited dispersal ability constitutes an issue of concern.</p

Along-the-net reconstruction of hydropower potential with consideration of anthropic alterations

Even in regions with mature hydropower development, requirements for stable renewable power sources suggest revision of plans of exploitation of water resources, while taking care of the environmental regulations. Mean Annual Flow (MAF) is a key parameter when trying to represent water availability for hydropower purposes. MAF is usually determined in ungauged basins by means of regional statistical analysis. For this study a regional estimation method consistent along-the-river network has been developed for MAF estimation; the method uses a multi-regressive approach based on geomorphoclimatic descriptors, and it is applied on 100 gauged basins located in NW Italy. The method has been designed to keep the estimates of mean annual flow congruent at the confluences, by considering only raster-summable explanatory variables. Also, the influence of human alterations in the regional analysis of MAF has been studied: impact due to the presence of existing hydropower plants has been taken into account, restoring the "natural" value of runoff through analytical corrections. To exemplify the representation of the assessment of residual hydropower potential, the model has been applied extensively to two specific mountain watersheds by mapping the estimated mean flow for the basins draining into each pixel of a the DEM-derived river network. Spatial algorithms were developed using the OpenSource Software GRASS GIS and PostgreSQL/PostGIS. Spatial representation of the hydropower potential was obtained using different mean flow vs hydraulic-head relations for each pixel. Final potential indices have been represented and mapped through the Google Earth platform, providing a complete and interactive picture of the available potential, useful for planning and regulation purpose