3,231 research outputs found
A search for water maser emission toward obscured post-AGB star and planetary nebula candidates
Water maser emission at 22 GHz is a useful probe to study the transition
between the nearly spherical mass-loss in the AGB to a collimated one in the
post-AGB phase. In their turn, collimated jets in the post-AGB phase could
determine the shape of planetary nebulae (PNe) once photoionization starts. We
intend to find new cases of post-AGB stars and PNe with water maser emission,
including water fountains or water-maser-emitting PNe. We observed water maser
emission in a sample of 133 objects, with a significant fraction being post-AGB
and young PN candidate sources with strong obscuration. We detected this
emission in 15 of them, of which seven are reported here for the first time. We
identified three water fountain candidates: IRAS 17291-2147, with a total
velocity spread of ~96 km/s in its water maser components and two sources (IRAS
17021-3109 and IRAS 17348-2906) that show water maser emission outside the
velocity range covered by OH masers. We have also identified IRAS 17393-2727 as
a possible new water-maser-emitting PN. The detection rate is higher in
obscured objects (14%) than in those with optical counterparts (7%), consistent
with previous results. Water maser emission seems to be common in objects that
are bipolar in the near-IR (43% detection rate). The water maser spectra of
water fountain candidates like IRAS 17291-2147 show significantly less maser
components than others (e.g., IRAS 18113-2503). We speculate that most
post-AGBs may show water maser emission with wide enough velocity spread (> 100
km/s) when observed with enough sensitivity and/or for long enough periods of
time. Therefore, it may be necessary to single out a special group of "water
fountains", probably defined by their high maser luminosities. We also suggest
that the presence of both water and OH masers in a PN is a better tracer of its
youth, rather than the presence of just one of these species.Comment: To be published in Astronomy & Astrophysics. 16 pages, 1 figure
(spanning 5 pages). This version includes some minor language corrections and
fixes some errors in Table
Asignación de horarios de clase basado en los ritmos de aprendizaje de los estudiantes usando un algoritmo genético
The objective of this proposal is to implement a school day agenda focused on the learning rhythms of students of elementary and secondary schools using a genetic algorithm. The methodology of this proposal takes into account legal requirements and constraints on the assignment of teachers and classrooms in public educational institutions in Colombia. In addition, this proposal provides a set of constraints focused on cognitive rhythms and subjects are scheduled at the most convenient times according to the area of knowledge. The genetic algorithm evolves through a process of mutation and selection and builds a total solution based on the best solutions for each group. Sixteen groups in a school are tested and the results of class schedule assignments are presented. The quality of the solution obtained through the established approach is validated by comparing the results to the solutions obtained using another algorithm.El objetivo de esta propuesta es implementar una agenda de día escolar enfocada en los ritmos de aprendizaje de los estudiantes de escuelas primarias y secundarias utilizando un algoritmo genético. La metodología de esta propuesta tiene en cuenta los requisitos legales y las limitaciones en la asignación de maestros y aulas en instituciones educativas públicas en Colombia. Además, esta propuesta proporciona un conjunto de restricciones centradas en los ritmos cognitivos y los temas se programan en los momentos más convenientes según el área de conocimiento. El algoritmo genético evoluciona a través de un proceso de mutación y selección y construye una solución total basada en las mejores soluciones para cada grupo. Dieciséis grupos en una escuela se evalúan y se presentan los resultados de las tareas del horario de clases. La calidad de la solución obtenida a través del enfoque establecido se valida comparando los resultados con las soluciones obtenidas utilizando otro algoritmo
Paper-based chromatic toxicity bioassay by analysis of bacterial ferricyanide reduction
Water quality assessment requires a continuous and strict analysis of samples to guarantee compliance with established standards. Nowadays, the increasing number of pollutants and their synergistic effects lead to the development general toxicity bioassays capable to analyse water pollution as a whole. Current general toxicity methods, e.g. Microtox®, rely on long operation protocols, the use of complex and expensive instrumentation and sample pre-treatment, which should be transported to the laboratory for analysis. These requirements delay sample analysis and hence, the response to avoid an environmental catastrophe. In an attempt to solve it, a fast (15 min) and low-cost toxicity bioassay based on the chromatic changes associated to bacterial ferricyanide reduction is here presented. E. coli cells (used as model bacteria) were stably trapped on low-cost paper matrices (cellulose-based paper discs, PDs) and remained viable for long times (1 month at -20 °C). Apart from bacterial carrier, paper matrices also acted as a fluidic element, allowing fluid management without the need of external pumps. Bioassay evaluation was performed using copper as model toxic agent. Chromatic changes associated to bacterial ferricyanide reduction were determined by three different transduction methods, i.e. (i) optical reflectometry (as reference method), (ii) image analysis and (iii) visual inspection. In all cases, bioassay results (in terms of half maximal effective concentrations, EC50) were in agreement with already reported data, confirming the good performance of the bioassay. The validation of the bioassay was performed by analysis of real samples from natural sources, which were analysed and compared with a reference method (i.e. Microtox). Obtained results showed agreement for about 70% of toxic samples and 80% of non-toxic samples, which may validate the use of this simple and quick protocol in the determination of general toxicity. The minimum instrumentation requirements and the simplicity of the bioassay open the possibility of in-situ water toxicity assessment with a fast and low-cost protocolPostprint (author's final draft
Chiral Perturbation Theory and the f2(1270) resonance
Within Chiral Perturbation Theory, we study elastic pion scattering in the
I=0, J=2, channel, whose main features are the f2(1270) resonance and the
vanishing of the lowest order. By means of a chiral model that includes an
explicit resonance coupled to pions, we describe the data and calculate the
resonance contribution to the O(p^4) and O(p^6) chiral parameters. We also
generalize the Inverse Amplitude Method to higher orders, which allows us to
study channels with vanishing lowest order. In particular, we apply it to the
I=0,J=2 case, finding a good description of the f2(1270) resonance, as a pole
in the second Riemann sheet.Comment: 4 pages,1 figur
Consistency tests of AMPCALCULATOR and chiral amplitudes in SU(3) Chiral Perturbation Theory: A tutorial based approach
Ampcalculator is a Mathematica based program that was made publicly available
some time ago by Unterdorfer and Ecker. It enables the user to compute several
processes at one-loop (upto ) in SU(3) chiral perturbation theory. They
include computing matrix elements and form factors for strong and non-leptonic
weak processes with at most six external states. It was used to compute some
novel processes and was tested against well-known results by the original
authors. Here we present the results of several thorough checks of the package.
Exhaustive checks performed by the original authors are not publicly available,
and hence the present effort. Some new results are obtained from the software
especially in the kaon odd-intrinsic parity non-leptonic decay sector involving
the coupling . Another illustrative set of amplitudes at tree level we
provide is in the context of -decays with several mesons including quark
mass effects, of use to the BELLE experiment. All eight meson-meson scattering
amplitudes have been checked. Kaon-Compton amplitude has been checked and a
minor error in published results has been pointed out. This exercise is a
tutorial based one, wherein several input and output notebooks are also being
made available as ancillary files on the arXiv. Some of the additional
notebooks we provide contain explicit expressions that we have used for
comparison with established results. The purpose is to encourage users to apply
the software to suit their specific needs. An automatic amplitude generator of
this type can provide error-free outputs that could be used as inputs for
further simplification, and used in varied scenarios such as applications of
chiral perturbation theory at finite temperature, density and volume. This can
also be used by students as a learning aid in low-energy hadron dynamics.Comment: 25 pages, plain latex, corresponds to version to appear in EPJA,
additional ancillary files adde
Effects of coffee with different roasting degrees on obesity and related metabolic disorders
This study aimed to assess the effect of unroasted, dark and very dark roasted coffee on obesity and metabolic disorders in obese rats. All coffee samples significantly reduced weight gain (∼17%) compared to obese control. Coffee reduced glucose levels (∼17%) upon a glucose tolerance test in all cases compared to the control, while fasting glucose only decreased (∼26%) with very dark coffee. Insulin levels and insulin resistance significantly decreased (∼77% and 65% respectively) with all coffee samples compared to the control. Unroasted and dark roasted coffee decreased triglycerides (∼21% and ∼ 11%, respectively), and unroasted coffee also reduced free fatty acids (∼43%) and adipocyte size. Coffee decreased liver steatosis (∼55%) and Caspase-3 levels (∼27%), regardless of the roasting degree. Overall, coffee plays a positive role in restraining obesity and related metabolic disorders but, depending on the metabolic pathway and relevant marker, an effect of roasting could be either found or not
Scalar meson dynamics in Chiral Perturbation Theory
A comparison of the linear sigma model (LM) and Chiral Perturbation
Theory (ChPT) predictions for pion and kaon dynamics is presented. Lowest and
next-to-leading order terms in the ChPT amplitudes are reproduced if one
restricts to scalar resonance exchange. Some low energy constants of the order
ChPT Lagrangian are fixed in terms of scalar meson masses. Present values
of these low energy constants are compatible with the LM dynamics. We
conclude that more accurate values would be most useful either to falsify the
LM or to show its capability to shed some light on the controversial
scalar physics.Comment: 9 pages, REVTeX 4.0. Final version accepted for publicatio
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