Molecular outflow launched beyond the disk edge

One of the long-standing problems of star formation is the excess of angular momentum of the parent molecular cloud. In the classical picture, a fraction of angular momentum of the circumstellar material is removed by the magneto-centrifugally driven disk wind that is launched from a wide region throughout the disk. In this work, we investigate the kinematics in the envelope-disk transition zone of the Class I object BHB07-11, in the B59 core. For this purpose, we used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array in extended configuration to observe the thermal dust continuum emission ($\lambda_0 \sim$ 1.3 mm) and molecular lines (CO, C$^{18}$O and H$_2$CO), which are suitable tracers of disk, envelope, and outflow dynamics at a spatial resolution of $\sim 30$ AU. We report a bipolar outflow that was launched at symmetric positions with respect to the disk ($\sim$80~AU in radius), but was concentrated at a distance of 90--130~AU from the disk center. The two outflow lobes had a conical shape and the gas inside was accelerating. The large offset of the launching position coincided with the landing site of the infall material from the extended spiral structure (seen in dust) onto the disk. This indicates that bipolar outflows are efficiently launched within a narrow region outside the disk edge. We also identify a sharp transition in the gas kinematics across the tip of the spiral structure, which pinpoints the location of the so-called centrifugal barrier.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, Accepted for publication in A&A Letter

Magnetic field in a young circumbinary disk

We use polarization observations of a circumbinary disk to investigate how the polarization properties change at distinct frequency bands. Our goal is to discern the main mechanism responsible for the polarization through comparison between our observations and model predictions. We used ALMA to perform full polarization observations at 97.5 GHz, 233 GHz and 343.5 GHz. The target is the Class I object BHB07-11, which is the youngest object in the Barnard 59 protocluster. Complementary VLA observations at 34.5 GHz revealed a binary system within the disk. We detect an extended and structured polarization pattern remarkably consistent among all three bands. The distribution of polarized intensity resembles a horseshoe shape with polarization angles following this morphology. From the spectral index between bands 3 and 7, we derive a dust opacity index $\beta \sim 1$ consistent with maximum grain sizes larger than expected to produce self-scattering polarization in each band. The polarization morphology do not match predictions from self-scattering. On the other hand, marginal correspondence is seen between our maps and predictions from radiation field assuming the brightest binary component as main radiation source. Molecular line data from BHB07-11 indicates disk rotation. We produced synthetic polarization maps from a rotating magnetized disk model assuming combined poloidal and toroidal magnetic field components. The magnetic field vectors (i. e., the polarization vectors rotated by 90\degr) are better represented by a model with poloidal magnetic field strength about 3 times the toroidal one. The similarity of our polarization patterns among the three bands provides a strong evidence against self-scattering and radiation fields. On the other hand, our data are reasonably well reproduced by a model of disk with toroidal magnetic field components slightly smaller than poloidal ones.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Near-IR observations of the young star [BHB2007]-1: A sub-stellar companion opening the gap in the disk

The presence of planets or sub-stellar objects still embedded in their native protoplanetary disks is indirectly suggested by disk sub-structures like gaps, cavities, and spirals. However, these companions are rarely detected. We present VLT/NACO high-contrast images in $J$, $H$, $K_S$, and $L^{\prime}$ band of the young star [BHB2007]-1 probing the inclined disk in scattered light and revealing the probable presence of a companion. The point source is detected in the $L^{\prime}$ band in spatial correspondence with complementary VLA observations. This object is constrained to have a mass in the range of 37-47 M$_{Jup}$ and is located at 50 au from the central star, inside the 70 au-large disk cavity recently imaged by ALMA, that is absent from our NACO data (down to 20 au). This mass range is compatible with the upper end derived from the size of the ALMA cavity. The NIR disk brightness is highly asymmetric around the minor axis, with the southern side 5.5 times brighter than the northern side. The constant amount of asymmetry across all wavelengths suggests that it is due to a shadow cast by a misaligned inner disk. The massive companion that we detect could, in principle, explain the possible disk misalignment, as well as the different cavity sizes inferred by the NACO and ALMA observations. The confirmation and characterization of the companion is entrusted to future observations.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for publication on Ap

Infrared and optical polarimetry around the low-mass star-forming region NGC 1333 IRAS 4A

We performed J- and R-band linear polarimetry with the 4.2 m William Herschel Telescope at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos and with the 1.6 m telescope at the Observat\'orio do Pico dos Dias, respectively, to derive the magnetic field geometry of the diffuse molecular cloud surrounding the embedded protostellar system NGC 1333 IRAS 4A. We obtained interstellar polarization data for about two dozen stars. The distribution of polarization position angles has low dispersion and suggests the existence of an ordered magnetic field component at physical scales larger than the protostar. Some of the observed stars present intrinsic polarization and evidence of being young stellar objects. The estimated mean orientation of the interstellar magnetic field as derived from these data is almost perpendicular to the main direction of the magnetic field associated with the dense molecular envelope around IRAS 4A. Since the distribution of the CO emission in NGC 1333 indicates that the diffuse molecular gas has a multi-layered structure, we suggest that the observed polarization position angles are caused by the superposed projection along the line of sight of different magnetic field components.Comment: 37 pages, 9 figures, 5 tables, accepted for publication in A

High-performance removal of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid herbicide in water using activated carbon derived from Queen palm fruit endocarp (Syagrus romanzoffiana)

In this work, an activated carbon sample with a high adsorptive performance for the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was prepared from queen palm endocarp (Syagrus romanzoffiana) by pyrolysis process. The activated carbon presented an XRD pattern related to carbon graphite and functional groups such as C–H, C˭O, O–H. The material particles presented a highly-porous structure, being beneficial to the adsorption process. The activated carbon showed a remarkable specific surface area of 782 m2 g−1 and pore volume of 0.441 cm3 g−1. The solution pH presented a strong influence on the adsorption process, with ideal pH = 2, being the best adsorbent dosage, 0.5 g L−1. The correspondent removal percentage was 95.4%. The pseudo-second-order model represented kinetic data, presenting R2 > 0.992 and MSR 0.997) and lowest values of MSR (< 92.04 (mg g−1)2), indicating a maximum capacity of 367.77 mg g−1. The thermodynamic study indicated a spontaneous operation, with ΔG0 ranging from –23.2 to −32.6 kJ mol−1 and endothermic process (ΔH0 = 67.30 kJ mol−1), involving physical interactions in the adsorbent/adsorbate system. The adsorbent could be regenerated by NaOH and used 7 times with the same adsorption capacity. Hence, overall, the activated carbon prepared from the Jerivá endocarp corresponds to a promising adsorbent in removing 2,4-D herbicide in wastewater

Pioglitazone Treatment Increases Survival and Prevents Body Weight Loss in Tumor-Bearing Animals: Possible Anti-Cachectic Effect

Cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome characterized by profound involuntary weight loss, fat depletion, skeletal muscle wasting, and asthenia; all symptoms are not entirely attributable to inadequate nutritional intake. Adipose tissue and skeletal muscle loss during cancer cachexia development has been described systematically. the former was proposed to precede and be more rapid than the latter, which presents a means for the early detection of cachexia in cancer patients. Recently, pioglitazone (PGZ) was proposed to exhibit anticancer properties, including a reduction in insulin resistance and adipose tissue loss; nevertheless, few studies have evaluated its effect on survival. for greater insight into a potential anti-cachectic effect due to PGZ, 8-week-old male Wistar rats were subcutaneously inoculated with 1 mL (2x10(7)) of Walker 256 tumor cells. the animals were randomly assigned to two experimental groups: TC (tumor + saline-control) and TP5 (tumor + PGZ/5 mg). Body weight, food ingestion and tumor growth were measured at baseline and after removal of tumor on days 7, 14 and 26. Samples from different visceral adipose tissue (AT) depots were collected on days 7 and 14 and stored at -80oC (5 to 7 animals per day/group). the PGZ treatment showed an increase in the survival average of 27.3%(P<0.01) when compared to TC. It was also associated with enhanced body mass preservation (40.7 and 56.3%, p<0.01) on day 14 and 26 compared with the TC group. the treatment also reduced the final tumor mass (53.4%, p<0.05) and anorexia compared with the TC group during late-stage cachexia. the retroperitoneal AT (RPAT) mass was preserved on day 7 compared with the TC group during the same experimental period. Such effect also demonstrates inverse relationship with tumor growth, on day 14. Gene expression of PPAR-gamma, adiponectin, LPL and C/EBP-alpha from cachectic rats was upregulated after PGZ. Glucose uptake from adipocyte cells (RPAT) was entirely re-established due to PGZ treatment. Taken together, the results demonstrate beneficial effects of PGZ treatment at both the early and final stages of cachexia.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Univ Mogi das Cruzes, Integrated Grp Biotechnol, Lab Adipose Tissue Biol, Mogi Das Cruzes, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Canc Metab Res Grp, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Physiol Lab, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Estadual Maringa, Dept Physiol Sci, Maringa, Parana, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biomed Engn, Sao Jose Dos Campos, BrazilBoston Sch Med, Dept Biochem, Boston, MA USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biomed Engn, Sao Jose Dos Campos, BrazilFAPESP: 2010/51078-1FAPESP: 2008/54091-9FAPESP: 2012/51094-1Web of Scienc

Long-Term 3-Dimensional Stability of Mandibular Advancement Surgery

To evaluate the three-dimensional changes in the position of the condyles, rami, and chin from 1 to 3 years after mandibular advancement surgery

Decision Support Systems for Weed Management

Editors: Guillermo R. Chantre, José L. González-Andújar.Weed management Decision Support Systems (DSS) are increasingly important computer-based tools for modern agriculture. Nowadays, extensive agriculture has become highly dependent on external inputs and both economic costs, as well the negative environmental impact of agricultural activities, demands knowledge-based technology for the optimization and protection of non-renewable resources. In this context, weed management strategies should aim to maximize economic profit by preserving and enhancing agricultural systems. Although previous contributions focusing on weed biology and weed management provide valuable insight on many aspects of weed species ecology and practical guides for weed control, no attempts have been made to highlight the forthcoming importance of DSS in weed management. This book is a first attempt to integrate 'concepts and practice' providing a novel guide to the state-of-art of DSS and the future prospects which hopefully would be of interest to higher-level students, academics and professionals in related areas