X-ray and Radio Monitoring of GX 339-4 and Cyg X-1

Previous work by Motch et al. (1985) suggested that in the low/hard state of GX339-4, the soft X-ray power-law extrapolated backward in energy agrees with the IR flux level. Corbel and Fender (2002) later showed that the typical hard state radio power-law extrapolated forward in energy meets the backward extrapolated X-ray power-law at an IR spectral break, which was explicitly observed twice in GX339-4. This has been cited as further evidence that jet synchrotron radiation might make a significant contribution to the observed X-rays in the hard state. We explore this hypothesis with a series of simultaneous radio/X-ray hard state observations of GX339-4. We fit these spectra with a simple, but remarkably successful, doubly broken power-law model that indeed requires a spectral break in the IR. For most of these observations, the break position as a function of X-ray flux agrees with the jet model predictions. We then examine the radio flux/X-ray flux correlation in Cyg X-1 through the use of 15 GHz radio data, obtained with the Ryle radio telescope, and Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer data, from the All Sky Monitor and pointed observations. We find evidence of `parallel tracks' in the radio/X-ray correlation which are associated with `failed transitions' to, or the beginning of a transition to, the soft state. We also find that for Cyg X-1 the radio flux is more fundamentally correlated with the hard, rather than the soft, X-ray flux.Comment: To Appear in the Proceedings of "From X-ray Binaries to Quasars: Black Hole Accretion on All Mass Scales" (Amsterdam, July 2004). Eds. T Maccarone, R. Fender, L. H

The influence of feeding behaviour on growth performance, carcass and meat characteristics of growing pigs

This study investigated the effect of the feeding behaviour on growth performance, and carcass and meat characteristics of 96 barrows fed ad libitum or restrictively with high or low amino acids (AA) diets according to a 2 x 2 factorial design. The feeding behaviour traits were measured with automated feeders. From 86 kg BW, half of the pigs were given feeds with high indispensable (AA) contents, while the other half received feeds with indispensable AA contents reduced by 9% in early finishing (86-118 kg BW) and by 18% in late finishing (118-145 kg BW). Body lipid and protein retentions were estimated from BW and backfat depth measures recorded at the beginning and end of each period. Pigs were slaughtered at 145 kg BW and carcass and meat quality data were recorded. Phenotypic correlations among feeding behaviours, growth performances, and carcass and meat traits were computed from all the data after adjustment for the effects of feeding treatments. As feeding rate was the behavioural trait most highly correlated with performance and carcass traits, the records of each pig were classified into feeding rate tertiles. Then, the data were statistically analysed using a mixed model, which included feed restriction (FR), AA reduction (AAR), the FR x AAR interaction and the feeding rate tertile as fixed factors, and pen as a random factor. Pigs eating faster (52.1 to 118.9 g/min) had significantly greater final body weights (16%), average daily weight gains (27%), estimated protein gains (22%), estimated lipid retention (46%), carcass weights (16%), weights of lean cuts (14%), weights of fat cuts (21%), proportions of fat in the carcass (14%), and 4% lower proportions of carcass lean cuts than pigs eating slowly (12.6 to 38.2 g/min). Manipulating the eating rate, through management or genetic strategies, could affect feed intake and subsequent growth performance, hence carcass quality, but have little influence on feed efficiency

Controle da produção de aflatoxinas no amendoim em casca úmido com ortofenilfenato de sódio: III. Testes no armazém

The present experiment aimed to evaluate the effect of sodium ortho-phenylphenate (SOP) application to in-shell moist peanuts for the control of aflatoxin production. Previous studies showed the need to improve the SOP solution distribution on peanut pods to evaluate the product. Thus, in this experiment the place of the spray system was the bag filler pipe of the pre-cleaning machine in the warehouse. In the 1989 rainy season two lots of 120 bags of in-shell moist peanuts were sprayed with 0.5 and 1% SOP solutions and aflatoxin production was not controlled. In the dry season of 1989 and in the rainy season of 1990, in-shell moist peanuts were sprayed with 5% SOP solution. The coverage of pods with the solution was efficient, allowing a uniform distribution of SOP solution on the pods. The results showed that only the 5.0% concentration of SOP solution utilized controlled the external fungal growth when a naked eye observation was made, however did not control aflatoxin production when applied to in-shell moist peanuts, probably due to the internal presence of Aspergillus flavus and because the fungicide could not penetrate inside to reach the kernels.O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a eficiência da solução de ortofenilfenato de sódio (OFS), no controle da produção de aflatoxinas quando aplicada no amendoim em casca, úmido. Trabalhos anteriormente realizados, em condições de campo, indicaram a necessidade de otimizar a aplicação da solução, para se poder avaliar a real eficiência dessa substância. Assim, neste experimento, o sistema de pulverização foi adaptado na bica de saída da máquina de pré-limpeza, no armazém. Na safra das águas de 1989, dois lotes de 120 sacos de amendoim em casca úmido foram pulverizados com solução de OFS em concentrações de 0,5 e 1,0 % e verificou-se que não houve controle da produção de aflatoxinas em ambas as concentrações utilizadas. Nas safras da seca de 1989 e das águas de 1990 o amendoim em casca úmido foi pulverizado com solução de OFS na concentração de 5,0%. A cobertura das vagens com a solução foi eficiente, permitindo uma distribuição uniforme da solução de OFS sobre as vagens. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que nenhuma das concentrações utilizadas controlou a produção de aflatoxinas, quando aplicadas no amendoim em casca, embora, aparentemente, tenham controlado o crescimento fúngico da parte externa das vagens de amendoim. Provavelmente os fungos aflatoxigênicos já poderiam estar presentes dentro de vagens sadias e desse modo a casca do amendoim poderia ser uma barreira à penetração do fungicida dentro da vagem e atingir as amêndoas

Áreas da região lagunar Cananéia-Iguape suscetíveis de exploração pesqueira segundo diversos tipos de tecnologia: I - Pesca com cerco fixo

With the purpose of obtaining data which could be useful for complementing investigations on estuarine biological oceanography, the authors carried out a survey on the distribution and volume of catch produced by fish-traps used by traditional fishermen in the lagoon region of Cananéia-Iguape (São Paulo, Brasil), mainly for catching mullet. As many as 170 fish-traps were initially spotted and mapped in the whole region, some of which are concentrated in particular areas that seem to be points of more freauent passage of mullet and other fishes, according to the experience and observations of regional fishermen. In consequence of the dam recently built on the Valo Grande - an artificial canal conich formerly linked the RibeiraRiver to the lagoon system of Cananéia-Iguape - it is expected that the sea-water circulation within the lagoon will be intensified, with a consequent increase in the salinity rates of its waters, which in turn will probably affect the ecological balance of time. The authors suggest that a continuous monitoring of the volume and composition of the commercial catch produced by the fish-traps operating in the lagoon-region could eventually offer useful data for detecting the alterations of distribution of the several different fish species that are found in the lagoon, in consequence of the foreseen changes in the salinity rates of its waters

A Semiautomatic Method for Multiple Sclerosis Lesion Segmentation on Dual-Echo MR Imaging: Application in a Multicenter Context

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The automatic segmentation of MS lesions could reduce time required for image processing together with inter- and intraoperator variability for research and clinical trials. A multicenter validation of a proposed semiautomatic method for hyperintense MS lesion segmentation on dual-echo MR imaging is presented. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The classification technique used is based on a region-growing approach starting from manual lesion identification by an expert observer with a final segmentation-refinement step. The method was validated in a cohort of 52 patients with relapsing-remitting MS, with dual-echo images acquired in 6 different European centers. RESULTS: We found a mathematic expression that made the optimization of the method independent of the need for a training dataset. The automatic segmentation was in good agreement with the manual segmentation (dice similarity coefficient = 0.62 and root mean square error = 2 mL). Assessment of the segmentation errors showed no significant differences in algorithm performance between the different MR scanner manufacturers (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: The method proved to be robust, and no center-specific training of the algorithm was required, offering the possibility for application in a clinical setting. Adoption of the method should lead to improved reliability and less operator time required for image analysis in research and clinical trials in MS

Ecotypic differentiation and phenotypic plasticity combine to enhance the invasiveness of the most widespread daisy in Chile, Leontodon saxatilis

Dispersal and reproductive traits of successful plant invaders are expected to undergo strong selection during biological invasions. Numerous Asteraceae are invasive and display dimorphic fruits within a single flower head, resulting in differential dispersal pathways - wind-dispersed fruits vs. nondispersing fruits. We explored ecotypic differentiation and phenotypic plasticity of seed output and fruit dimorphisms in exotic Chilean and native Spanish populations of Leontodon saxatilis subsp. rothii. We collected flower heads from populations in Spain and Chile along a rainfall gradient. Seeds from all populations were planted in reciprocal transplant trials in Spain and Chile to explore their performance in the native and invasive range. We scored plant biomass, reproductive investment and fruit dimorphism. We observed strong plasticity, where plants grown in the invasive range had much greater biomass, flower head size and seed output, with a higher proportion of wind-dispersed fruits, than those grown in the native range. We also observed a significant ecotype effect, where the exotic populations displayed higher proportions of wind-dispersed fruits than native populations. Together, these patterns reflect a combination of phenotypic plasticity and ecotypic differentiation, indicating that Leontodon saxatilis has probably increased propagule pressure and dispersal distances in its invasive range to enhance its invasiveness.Irene Martín-Forés, Marta Avilés, Belén Acosta-Gallo, Martin F. Breed, Alejandro del Pozo, José M. de Miguel, Laura Sánchez-Jardón, Isabel Castro, Carlos Ovalle, Miguel A. Casad

Low-Luminosity Accretion in Black Hole X-ray Binaries and Active Galactic Nuclei

At luminosities below a few percent of Eddington, accreting black holes switch to a hard spectral state which is very different from the soft blackbody-like spectral state that is found at higher luminosities. The hard state is well-described by a two-temperature, optically thin, geometrically thick, advection-dominated accretion flow (ADAF) in which the ions are extremely hot (up to $10^{12}$ K near the black hole), the electrons are also hot ($\sim10^{9-10.5}$ K), and thermal Comptonization dominates the X-ray emission. The radiative efficiency of an ADAF decreases rapidly with decreasing mass accretion rate, becoming extremely low when a source reaches quiescence. ADAFs are expected to have strong outflows, which may explain why relativistic jets are often inferred from the radio emission of these sources. It has been suggested that most of the X-ray emission also comes from a jet, but this is less well established.Comment: To appear in "From X-ray Binaries to Quasars: Black Hole Accretion on All Mass Scales" edited by T. Maccarone, R. Fender, L. Ho, to be published as a special edition of "Astrophysics and Space Science" by Kluwe

Recensiones [Revista de Historia Económica Año VI Primavera-Verano 1988 n. 2 pp. 421-470]

Ángel Esparza Arroyo. Los castros de la Edad del Hierro del Noroeste de Zamora (Por J. A. Álvarez Vázquez).-- L. Martínez García. El Hospital del Rey de Burgos. Un señorío medieval en expansión y crisis (siglos XIII-XIV) (Por Miguel Santamaría Lancho).-- Hilario Casado. Señores, mercaderes y campesinos. La comarca de Burgos a fines de la Edad Media (Por Alberto Marcos Martín).-- J. López-Salazar Pérez. Mesta, pastos y conflictos en el Campo de Calatrava (siglo XVI) (Por Miguel Ángel Melón).-- I. Atienza Hernández. Aristocracia, poder y riqueza en la España Moderna. La Casa de Osuna, siglos XVI-XIX (Por Bartolomé Yun Casalilla).-- Enric Mateu Tortosa. Arroz y paludismo. Riqueza y conflictos en la sociedad valenciana del siglo XVIII (Por Vicente Pérez Moreda).-- Juan Francisco Zambrana Pineda. Crisis y modernización del olivar (Por James Simpson).-- J. R. García López. Los comerciantes banqueros en el sistema bancario español. Estudio de casas de banca asturianas en el siglo XIX (Por María José Álvarez Arza).-- Alfonso de Otazu. Los Rothschild y sus socios en España (1820-1850) (Por Guillermo Gortázar).-- Jesús Ruvalcaba Mercado. Agricultura india en Cempoala, Tepeapulco y Tulancingo (Por Pedro Pérez Herrero).-- Ian M. Drummond. The Gold Standard and the International Monetary System, 1900-1939 (Por Pablo Martín Aceña).-- Josep M. Colomer. El Utilitarismo. Una teoría de la elección racional (Por Carlos Rodríguez Braun).-- G. Himmelfarb. The New History and the Old. Critical Essays and Reappraisals (Por Ezequiel Gallo)Publicad