Ongangen (Wisdom): Women’s Means of Overcoming Troubles as Depicted in Maranao Folktales

This paper utilized feminist analysis to find out how women characters in the selected Maranao folktales used ongangen or wisdom to solve their problems. Specifically, this study aimed to find out (1) the roles of women as depicted in Maranao folktales; (2) their struggles; and (3) their means of maintaining balance to overcome such struggles. The analysis revealed that Maranao women played important roles in the Maranao society, especially so, if they held royal titles. They performed social functions inside their clan. However, these women still struggled against discrimination within their own societies as well as against stereotyping once they came out from the confines of their family and tribe. In the folktales, the Maranao women used ongangen to try to overcome their struggles. Doing so allowed them to keep their balance thus they were able to face their challenges more serenely and confidently. Such depiction provides another dimension to the common image of Maranao women who merely stay at home taking care of the children and being submissive to the husband. Keywords: folktales, Maranao, Maranao women, ongangen, overcoming trouble

Structure and shaping processes within the extended atmospheres of AGB stars

We present recent studies using the near-infrared instrument AMBER of the VLT Interferometer (VLTI) to investigate the structure and shaping processes within the extended atmosphere of AGB stars. Spectrally resolved near-infrared AMBER observations of the Mira variable S Ori have revealed wavelength-dependent apparent angular sizes. These data were successfully compared to dynamic model atmospheres, which predict wavelength-dependent radii because of geometrically extended molecular layers. Most recently, AMBER closure phase measurements of several AGB stars have also revealed wavelength-dependent deviations from 0/180 deg., indicating deviations from point symmetry. The variation of closure phase with wavelength indicates a complex non-spherical stratification of the extended atmosphere, and may reveal whether observed asymmetries are located near the photosphere or in the outer molecular layers. Concurrent observations of SiO masers located within the extended molecular layers provide us with additional information on the morphology, conditions, and kinematics of this shell. These observations promise to provide us with new important insights into the shaping processes at work during the AGB phase. With improved imaging capabilities at the VLTI, we expect to extend the successful story of imaging studies of planetary nebulae to the photosphere and extended outer atmosphere of AGB stars.Comment: 6 pages, Proc. of "Asymmetric Planetary Nebulae V", A.A. Zijlstra, F. Lykou, I. McDonald, and E. Lagadec (eds.), Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, Manchester, UK, 201

Density-functional study of defects in two-dimensional circular nematic nanocavities

We use density--functional theory to study the structure of two-dimensional defects inside a circular nematic nanocavity. The density, nematic order parameter, and director fields, as well as the defect core energy and core radius, are obtained in a thermodynamically consistent way for defects with topological charge $k=+1$ (with radial and tangential symmetries) and $k=+1/2$. An independent calculation of the fluid elastic constants, within the same theory, allows us to connect with the local free--energy density predicted by elastic theory, which in turn provides a criterion to define a defect core boundary and a defect core free energy for the two types of defects. The radial and tangential defects turn out to have very different properties, a feature that a previous Maier--Saupe theory could not account for due to the simplified nature of the interactions --which caused all elastic constants to be equal. In the case with two $k=+1/2$ defects in the cavity, the elastic r\'egime cannot be reached due to the small radii of the cavities considered, but some trends can already be obtained.Comment: 9 figures. Accepted for publication in liquid crystal

Oscillatory relaxation of zonal flows in a multi-species stellarator plasma

The low frequency oscillatory relaxation of zonal potential perturbations is studied numerically in the TJ-II stellarator (where it was experimentally detected for the first time). It is studied in full global gyrokinetic simulations of multi-species plasmas. The oscillation frequency obtained is compared with predictions based on single-species simulations using simplified analytical relations. It is shown that the frequency of this oscillation for a multi-species plasma can be accurately obtained from single-species calculations using extrapolation formulas. The damping of the oscillation and the influence of the different inter-species collisions is studied in detail. It is concluded that taking into account multiple kinetic ions and electrons with impurity concentrations realistic for TJ-II plasmas allows to account for the values of frequency and damping rate in zonal flows relaxations observed experimentally.Comment: 11 figures, 22 page

Fractal representation of the power demand based on topological properties of julia sets

In a power system, the load demand considers two components such as the real power (P) because of resistive elements, and the reactive power (Q) because inductive or capacitive elements. This paper presents a graphical representation of the electric power demand based on the topological properties of the Julia Sets, with the purpose of observing the different graphic patterns and relationship with the hourly load consumptions. An algorithm that iterates complex numbers related to power is used to represent each fractal diagram of the load demand. The results show some representative patterns related to each value of the power consumption and similar behaviour in the fractal diagrams, which allows to understand consumption behaviours from the different hours of the day. This study allows to make a relation among the different consumptions of the day to create relationships that lead to the prediction of different behaviour patterns of the curves