The inner radio jet region and the complex environment of SS433

We present multi-frequency VLBA+VLA observations of SS433 at 1.6, 5 and 15 GHz. These observations provide the highest angular resolution radio spectral index maps ever made for this object. Motion of the components of SS433 during the observation is detected. In addition to the usual VLBI jet structure, we detect two radio components in the system at an anomalous position angle. These newly discovered radio emitting regions might be related to a wind-like equatorial outflow or to an extension of the accretion disk. We show that the radio core component is bifurcated with a clear gap between the eastern and western wings of emission. Modelfitting of the precessing jets and the moving knots of SS433 shows that the kinematic centre -- i.e. the binary -- is in the gap between the western and eastern radio core components. Spectral properties and observed core position shifts suggest that we see a combined effect of synchrotron self-absorption and external free-free absorption in the innermost AU-scale region of the source. The spatial distribution of the ionized matter is probably not spherically symmetric around the binary, but could be disk-like.Comment: Accepted for publication by Astronomy and Astrophysic

Does the Supreme Court Follow the Economic Returns? A Response to A Macrotheory of the Court

Today, there is a widespread idea that parents need to learn how to carry out their roles as parents. Practices of parental learning operate throughout society. This article deals with one particular practice of parental learning, namely nanny TV, and the way in which ideal parents are constructed through such programmes. The point of departure is SOS family, a series broadcast on Swedish television in 2008. Proceeding from the theorising of governmentality developed in the wake of the work of Michel Foucault, we analyse the parental ideals conveyed in the series, as an example of the way parents are constituted as subjects in the ‘advanced liberal society’ of today. The ideal parent is a subject who, guided by the coach, is constantly endeavouring to achieve a makeover. The objective of this endeavour, however, is self-control, whereby the parents will in the end become their own coaches.

Fluid/solid transition in a hard-core system

We prove that a system of particles in the plane, interacting only with a certain hard-core constraint, undergoes a fluid/solid phase transition

Robust Algorithm to Generate a Diverse Class of Dense Disordered and Ordered Sphere Packings via Linear Programming

We have formulated the problem of generating periodic dense paritcle packings as an optimization problem called the Adaptive Shrinking Cell (ASC) formulation [S. Torquato and Y. Jiao, Phys. Rev. E {\bf 80}, 041104 (2009)]. Because the objective function and impenetrability constraints can be exactly linearized for sphere packings with a size distribution in $d$-dimensional Euclidean space $\mathbb{R}^d$, it is most suitable and natural to solve the corresponding ASC optimization problem using sequential linear programming (SLP) techniques. We implement an SLP solution to produce robustly a wide spectrum of jammed sphere packings in $\mathbb{R}^d$ for $d=2,3,4,5$ and $6$ with a diversity of disorder and densities up to the maximally densities. This deterministic algorithm can produce a broad range of inherent structures besides the usual disordered ones with very small computational cost by tuning the radius of the {\it influence sphere}. In three dimensions, we show that it can produce with high probability a variety of strictly jammed packings with a packing density anywhere in the wide range $[0.6, 0.7408...]$. We also apply the algorithm to generate various disordered packings as well as the maximally dense packings for $d=2,3, 4,5$ and 6. Compared to the LS procedure, our SLP protocol is able to ensure that the final packings are truly jammed, produces disordered jammed packings with anomalously low densities, and is appreciably more robust and computationally faster at generating maximally dense packings, especially as the space dimension increases.Comment: 34 pages, 6 figure

The circadian oscillator is regulated by a very low fluence response of phytochrome in wheat

Expression of genes encoding the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding proteins of photosystem II (Cab) in etiolated wheat seedlings is controlled by phytochrome and a circadian clock. Even photoconversion of <1% of phytochrome to its active form, which can be achieved by moonlight, induces the expression of the Cab genes, particularly that of the Cab-1 gene, in circadian fashion. Thus, this reaction shows the characteristics of a low and a very low fluence response. A single far-red light pulse given to an etiolated seedling is sufficient for a persistence of the circadian oscillation of the Cab-1 mRNA level for at least 100 h. Subsequent red (R) or long-wavelength far-red (RG9) light irradiations alter the free running rhythm. These observations indicate a change in sensitivity to phytochrome and/or a control by stable phytochrome. The latter hypothesis is supported by the observation that the level of Cab-1 mRNA is increased or decreased by a second R or RG9 light pulse, respectively

Environmental and Toxicological Impacts of Glyphosate with Its Formulating Adjuvant

Environmental and toxicological characteristics of formulated pesticides may substantially differ from those of their active ingredients or other components alone. This phenomenon is demonstrated in the case of the herbicide active ingredient glyphosate. Due to its extensive application, this active ingredient was found in surface and ground water samples collected in Békés Country, Hungary, in the concentration range of 0.54–0.98 ng/ml. The occurrence of glyphosate appeared to be somewhat higher at areas under intensive agriculture, industrial activities and public road services, but the compound was detected at areas under organic (ecological) farming or natural grasslands, indicating environmental mobility. Increased toxicity of the formulated herbicide product Roundup compared to that of glyphosate was observed on the indicator aquatic organism Daphnia magna Straus. Acute LC50 values of Roundup and its formulating adjuvant polyethoxylated tallowamine (POEA) exceeded 20 and 3.1 mg/ml, respectively, while that of glyphosate (as isopropyl salt) was found to be substantially lower (690-900 mg/ml) showing good agreement with literature data. Cytotoxicity of Roundup, POEA and glyphosate has been determined on the neuroectodermal cell line, NE-4C measured both by cell viability test and holographic microscopy. Acute toxicity (LC50) of Roundup, POEA and glyphosate on NE-4C cells was found to be 0.013±0.002%, 0.017±0.009% and 6.46±2.25%, respectively (in equivalents of diluted Roundup solution), corresponding to 0.022±0.003 and 53.1±18.5 mg/ml for POEA and glyphosate, respectively, indicating no statistical difference between Roundup and POEA and 2.5 orders of magnitude difference between these and glyphosate. The same order of cellular toxicity seen in average cell area has been indicated under quantitative cell visualization. The results indicate that toxicity of the formulated herbicide is caused by the formulating agent, but in some parameters toxicological synergy occurs between POEA and glyphosate

Contribuições de um projeto investigativo na formação de professores das séries iniciais

Apesar das diversas pesquisas e inovações pedagógicas na sala de aula, ainda há grande dificuldade do professor na implementação de tais mudanças. Essas dificuldades estão relacionadas com a necessidade da prática reflexiva, da apropriação dos diversos saberes próprios da atividade docente, além da prática pedagógica compartilhada entre pares. Este trabalho é um estudo de caso que apresenta dados sobre as contribuições da participação de professores em projetos de ensino de ciências investigativos à formação continuada de professores polivalentes. Os dados coletados revelam que professores, quando refletem e planejam ações de forma conjunta, conseguem enfrentar desafios pedagógicos com mais sucesso e que a utilização de projetos que utilizam a metodologia própria da ciência tornam mais significativa a aprendizagem dos alunos