Solitary waves in three-dimensional crystal-like structures

The motion of three-dimensional (3D) solitary waves and solitons in nonlinear crystal-like structures, such as photonic materials, is studied. It is demonstrated that collective excitations in these systems can be tailored to move in particular directions of the 3D system. The effect of modulation instability is studied showing that in some cases it can be delayed by using a lensing factor. Analytical results supported by numerical simulations are presented.Comment: 4 page

Christus in Vobis, Spes Gloriae: The Eucharist, “Missionary Event,” Fons et Finis of Mission

From a presentation by the author (given on April 26, 2015) on the local theological commission of the CBCP (TC/Phil) text entitled “Theological Thematic for the 51st International Eucharistic Congress.

PG 1211+143: probing high frequency lags in a high mass AGN

We present the timing analysis of the four archived XMM-Newton observations of PG 1211+143. The source is well-known for its spectral complexity, comprising a strong soft-excess and different absorption systems. Soft energy band (0.3-0.7 keV) lags are detected over all the four observations, in the frequency range \nu \lsim 6 \times 10^{-4} Hz, where hard lags, similar to those observed in black hole X-ray binaries, are usually detected in smaller mass AGN. The lag magnitude is energy-dependent, showing two distinct trends apparently connectable to the two flux levels at which the source is observed. The results are discussed in the context of disk- and/or corona-reprocessing scenarios, and of disk wind models. Similarities with the high-frequency negative lag of 1H 0707-495 are highlighted, and, if confirmed, they would support the hypothesis that the lag in PG 1211+143 represents the signature of the same underlying mechanism, whose temporal characteristics scale with the mass of the central object.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS Letter

Transient expression of calretinin in the trout habenulo-interpeduncular system during development

Calcium-binding proteins control calcium homeostasis during neural development. The expression of one of these proteins, calretinin (CR), was monitored by immunohistochemistry in the developing habenulo-interpeduncular system of the rainbow trout, a conserved region of the brain along vertebrate phylogeny that undergoes a neurochemical reorganization in late development. No CR-immunoreactivity was observed in the habenulo-interpeduncular system during the embryonic development. CRimmunolabeling appeared in newly hatched fry, and during the fry development the number of CR-immunostained elements increased progressively. During the juvenile stages (from 30 days post-hatching onwards) a gradual decrease in the number of CRimmunostained cells occurred, until its complete disappearance in adults. These variations in CR expression may represent variable calcium-buffering needs during different developmental stages

Detection of extracellular enzymatic activity in microorganisms isolated from waste vegetable oil contaminated soil using plate methodologies

In the present study, from a total of 100 strains isolated from waste vegetable oil contaminated soil, 38 bacterial and 14 fungi strains that presented positive lipolytic activity were obtained by detection through Rhodamine B Agar 0.02% w/v as a screening method. Additionally, two other enzymatic activities were determined. Positive proteolytic activity was evaluated in Casein Hydrolysis Agar and chitinolytic activity was identified by change in coloration in Bromocresol Purple Agar. Using these methodologies, we were able to report 18 microorganisms with two enzymatic activities and 6 microorganisms with all three enzymatic activities, thereby establishing these techniques as suitable and fast approaches for detection and semi-quantification of extracellular enzymatic activity.Keywords: Enzyme, lipases, proteases, chitinases, rhodamine B, soi

Las complicidades del saber-poder en el mainstream de las relaciones internacionales: Una aproximación para abrir el debate

As far as the mainstream of international relations is concerned (i. e. rationalism), production of knowledge has been controlled, selected and redistributed to help create and consolidate a decision-making and observation platform in favour of hegemonic actors at a global scale. In that respect, to unveil the relationship between knowledge and power becomes necessary so as to outline new theoretical and political paths. This way we will be able to understand global phenomena and overcome the hegemonic relationships emerged at par with World-System.La producción del conocimiento por parte del pensamiento dominante de las relaciones internacionales (racionalismo) ha estado controlado, seleccionado y redistribuido por ciertos procedimientos que han tenido como objetivo crear y consolidar una plataforma de observación y decisión en favor de los actores hegemónicos a nivel mundial. En este sentido, se torna necesario develar los vínculos entre saber y poder para marcar nuevos caminos teóricos y políticos, y así comprender los fenómenos mundiales y superar las relaciones hegemónicas surgidas en el sistema mundial

Identifying clusters of anomalous payments in the salvadorian payment system

We develop an unsupervised methodology to group payments and identify possible anomalies. With our methodology, we identify clusters based on a set of network features, using transactional (unlabeled) information from a systemically important payment system of El Salvador. We first preprocess network features, such as degree and strength, through a principal components analysis we reduce the dimensionality of the newly defined data, then we place the main variables into clustering algorithms (k-means and DBSCAN) to analyze anomalous payments. We then analyze, these clusters using random forest to obtain the main network feature. Our results suggest that the proposed methodology works very well to detect anomalous payments, and it is very important to study the case of El Salvador, because of the recent restructuring of the Massive Payment System in El Salvador (promoted by the Transfer365 project), because the authorities want to increase financial inclusion. This change will make the SPM available to the public, to diversify services and incorporate more participants because, historically, it has operated with only three active participants. We expected that Transfer365 will interconnect the LBTR participants' systems with their banking core, the systems of the Ministry of Finance, and other authorized participants to channel large payment flows. Then, identifying possible anomalies through methodology will enhance risk monitoring and management by payment systems overseers

Receiver Function Analysis at Stromboli Volcano (Italy)

This study focuses on constraining the crust and upper mantle discontinuities at Stromboli volcano by applying the receiver function (RF) analysis. This technique utilizes the waveforms of P-SV conversions generated by discontinuities to infer the structure beneath the seismic stations. RFs have been obtained by deconvolving the vertical component of teleseismic P-wave records from the corresponding rotate horizontal components applying the Multi-Taper Spectral Correlation technique. For this study the seismograms of about 125 teleseismic earthquakes (M greater than 6.0), recorded between 2004 and 2006 at 13 broad-band seismic stations deployed by the INGV, have been considered. A preliminar characterization of the structure beneath the stations has been inferred from the stacking of teleseismic Ps converted waves and multiply converted waves at the seismic interface. The analysis, at frequency of 1 and 2 Hz, show a horizontal seismic discontinuity at an average depth of about 17 km and a Vp/Vs ratio lower than 1.73. This discontinuity explains the positive pulses about 1.9 s and 7.5 s after the direct P arrival. These pulses can be interpreted as Ps and PpPs converted phases, respectively. The depth of this discontinuity is in agreement with the Moho-depth obtained in independent studies

The Immature Gut Barrier and Its Importance in Establishing Immunity in Newborn Mammals

The gut is an efficient barrier which protects against the passage of pathogenic microorganisms and potential harmful macromolecules into the body, in addition to its primary function of nutrient digestion and absorption. Contrary to the restricted macromolecular passage in adulthood, enhanced transfer takes place across the intestines during early life, due to the high endocytic capacity of the immature intestinal epithelial cells during the fetal and/or neonatal periods. The timing and extent of this enhanced endocytic capacity is dependent on animal species, with a prominent non-selective intestinal macromolecular transfer in newborn ungulates, e.g., pigs, during the first few days of life, and a selective transfer of mainly immunoglobulin G (IgG), mediated by the FcRn receptor, in suckling rodents, e.g., rats and mice. In primates, maternal IgG is transferred during fetal life via the placenta, and intestinal macromolecular transfer is largely restricted in human neonates. The period of intestinal macromolecular transmission provides passive immune protection through the transfer of IgG antibodies from an immune competent mother; and may even have extra-immune beneficial effects on organ maturation in the offspring. Moreover, intestinal transfer during the fetal/neonatal periods results in increased exposure to microbial and food antigens which are then presented to the underlying immune system, which is both naïve and immature. This likely stimulates the maturation of the immune system and shifts the response toward tolerance induction instead of activation or inflammation, as usually seen in adulthood. Ingestion of mother's milk and the dietary transition to complex food at weaning, as well as the transient changes in the gut microbiota during the neonatal period, are also involved in the resulting immune response. Any disturbances in timing and/or balance of these parallel processes, i.e., intestinal epithelial maturation, luminal microbial colonization and mucosal immune maturation due to, e.g., preterm birth, infection, antibiotic use or nutrient changes during the neonatal period, might affect the establishment of the immune system in the infant. This review will focus on how differing developmental processes in the intestinal epithelium affect the macromolecular passage in different species and the possible impact of such passage on the establishment of immunity during the critical perinatal period in young mammals