Vitamin E: pharmacokinetics of parenteral products and its effect on swine reproduction

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of parenteral products of d-[alpha]-tocopherol and its acetylated ester. Then, a third experiment was undertaken to assess the effect of dietary and i.m. (one of the alcohol sources previously evaluated) vitamin E supplementation on reproductive performance and tocopherol status of sows and their progeny. Alpha-tocopherol concentration with time data were fitted to a sum of exponentials. Compartmental models were developed based on the slopes and intercepts of the exponential equations. The absorption from the place of injection was calculated to be 43 and 40% of the dose after i.m. administration of d-[alpha]-tocopherol and d-[alpha]-tocopherol acetate, respectively. The ratio of the area under the curve for d-[alpha]-tocopherol/d-[alpha]-tocopherol acetate was between 1.26 to 1.33. Products as emulsion were readily available, whereas the product using olive oil as a carrier was not. Animals receiving the acetate sources had serum and tissue vitamin E concentrations only detectable as alcohol 14 d after administration. The injection of the alcohol source of vitamin E resulted in greater total muscle [alpha]-tocopherol content than the acetate source. These results indicate that: olive oil was not a good carrier for i.m. vitamin E preparations; when vitamin E was formulated with an adequate carrier, it was readily available and improved vitamin E status of the pigs; pigs were able to hydrolyze the acetate to alcohol vitamin E; and that i.v. administration of vitamin E resulted in adverse systemic reactions, whereas the i.m. route did not. Therefore, the i.m. route is the therapeutic tool of choice to rapidly increase plasma [alpha]-tocopherol concentration of deficient animals. Dietary and injectable tocopherol supplementation of the sows can improve the tocopherol status of sows and their offspring. Pigs were born depleted of vitamin E, but the immediate uptake of colostrum replete them. When reproductive performance was used as response criterion, 11 IU of vitamin E per kg of diet for gestating and 22 IU/kg for lactating sows may be adequate for sows fed diets containing.3 ppm of Se for three consecutive parities

Neutron capture on ^{205}Tl: depicting the abundance pattern of lead isotopes in s-process nucleosynthesis

Proposal: Neutron capture on 205Tl: depicting the abundance pattern of lead isotopes in s-process nucleosynthesisWe propose to use the TOF technique to measure the neutron capture cross section of 205Tl(n,gamma) over the full energy range of stellar interest. An accurate measurement of this cross section is needed for a complete and consistent understanding of the s-process nucleosynthesis of the heaviest nuclei which are produced in low-mass and low metallicity AGB-stars. The only previous TOF measurement has yield only a partial information, insufficient for a reliable analysis of the complex branching pattern around 205Pb and 205Tl. Furthermore, there is also a discrepancy of 40% between the two previous activation measurements made at kT=24 keV. The cross section of 205Tl(n,gamma) is particularly relevant because it affects the equilibrium that is established in some stellar conditions between the 205Tl -> 205Pb bound-state Beta-decay and the 205Pb -> 205Tl E.C. decay. This effect induces a complex interplay which influences the final s-process abundance of both nuclei. We propose to measure accurately and with high resolution the 205Tl(n,gamma) cross section by using a set of four C6D6 detectors in combination with the pulsed neutron-source of CERN n_TOF.Preprin

Approaching the precursor nuclei of the third r-process peak with RIBs

The rapid neutron nucleosynthesis process involves an enormous amount of very exotic neutron-rich nuclei, which represent a theoretical and experimental challenge. Two of the main decay properties that affect the final abundance distribution the most are half-lives and neutron branching ratios. Using fragmentation of a primary 238U beam at GSI we were able to measure such properties for several neutron-rich nuclei from 208Hg to 218Pb. This contribution provides a short update on the status of the data analysis of this experiment, together with a compilation of the latest results published in this mass region, both experimental and theoretical. The impact of the uncertainties connected with the eta-decay rates and with beta-delayed neutron emission is illustrated on the basis of r-process network calculations. In order to obtain a reasonable reproduction of the third r-process peak, it is expected that both half-lives and neutron branching ratios are substantially smaller, than those based on FRDM+QRPA, commonly used in r-process model calculations. Further measurements around N 126 are required for a reliable modelling of the underlying nuclear structure, and for performing more realistic r-process abundance calculations.Postprint (published version

New Stellar (n,γ)(n,\gamma) Cross Sections and The "Karlsruhe Astrophysical Database of Nucleosynthesis in Stars"

Since April 2005 a regularly updated stellar neutron cross section compilation is available online at http://nuclear-astrophysics.fzk.de/kadonis. This online-database is called the "Karlsruhe Astrophysical Database of Nucleosynthesis in Stars" project and is based on the previous Bao et al. compilation from the year 2000. The present version \textsc{KADoNiS} v0.2 (January 2007) includes recommended cross sections for 280 isotopes between $^{1}$H and $^{210}$Po and 75 semi-empirical estimates for isotopes without experimental information. Concerning stellar $(n,\gamma)$ cross sections of the 32 stable, proton-rich isotopes produced by the $p$ process experimental information is only available for 20 isotopes, but 9 of them have rather large uncertainties of $\geq$9%. The first part of a systematic study of stellar $(n,\gamma)$ cross sections of the $p$-process isotopes $^{74}$Se, $^{84}$Sr, $^{102}$Pd, $^{120}$Te, $^{130}$Ba, $^{132}$Ba, $^{156}$Dy, and $^{174}$Hf is presented. In another application \textsc{KADoNiS} v0.2 was used for an modification of a reaction library of Basel university. With this modified library $p$-process network calculations were carried out and compared to previous results.Comment: Proceedings "International Conference on Nuclear Data for Science and Technology 2007", Nice/ Franc

A fast UTD-Based method for the analysis of multiple acoustic diffraction over a series of obstacles with arbitrary modeling, height and apacing

A uniform theory of diffraction (UTD)-based method for analysis of the multiple diffraction of acoustic waves when considering a series of symmetric obstacles with arbitrary modeling, height and spacing is hereby presented. The method, which makes use of graph theory, funicular polygons and Fresnel ellipsoids, proposes a novel approach by which only the relevant obstacles and paths of the scenario under study are considered, therefore simultaneously providing fast and accurate prediction of sound attenuation. The obstacles can be modeled either as knife edges, wedges, wide barriers or cylinders, with some other polygonal diffracting elements, such as doubly inclined, T- or Y-shaped barriers, also considered. In view of the obtained results, this method shows good agreement with previously published formulations and measurements whilst offering better computational effciency, thus allowing for the consideration of a large number of obstacles.This work has been funded by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO), Spain (TEC2016-78028-C3-2-P), and by European Fonds Européen de Développement Économique et Régional (FEDER) funds

Hombres, cárcel y pandemia. Una mirada antropológica a la (re)producción de masculinidades en prisión

Màster Oficial en Antropologia i Etnografia, Departament d'Antropologia, Facultat Geografia i Història, Universitat de Barcelona, Curs: 2020-2021, Director: Julio Zino Torrazza[spa] El 93% de las personas presas en cárceles catalanas son hombres. Existe una innegable predominancia de la masculinidad entre sus muros; no sólo en proporción de habitantes, sino alojada en las dinámicas, rutinas, edificios, rejas y casi en cualquier rincón del sistema de ejecución penal. Este estudio indaga en el discurso y narrativa de una serie de hombres presos acerca de sus propias masculinidades. A través de su testimonio e historia de vida nos ayudarán a entender cómo ha operado su identidad masculina en sus prácticas sociales previas a su entrada en prisión, sus experiencias carcelarias y en el contexto de la pandemia de covid-19.[eng] 93% of the people imprisoned in Catalonia are men. There is an overwhelming majority of masculinity within its walls; not only in percentage of population, but also in the dynamics, routines, buildings, bars, and almost any other corner of the penal execution system. This study inquires in the discourse and narrative of a series of male inmates about their own masculinities. Through their testimonies and their life stories, they will help us understand how their masculine identity has operated in their social practices prior to their conviction, their prison experiences and those during the covid 19 pandemic

Forthcoming (n,γ) measurements on the Fe and Ni isotopes at CERN n_TOF

An overview of the past, present and future research activities at the CERN neutron time of flight facility n TOF is given, with special focus on the astrophysical aspects. During the first campaign (Phase I), neutron capture cross sections of relevance for several aspects of the s-process nucleosynthesis have been measured. A second campaign has recently started (Phase II), aiming at the study of the weak s-process component via accurate (n, γ) measurements of the Fe and Ni isotopes. Some changes in the facility will allow us to perform these measurements with improved experimental conditions