Constraints to the magnetospheric properties of T Tauri stars - II. The Mg II ultraviolet feature

The atmospheric structure of T Tauri Stars (TTSs) and its connection with the large scale outflow is poorly known. Neither the effect of the magnetically mediated inter- action between the star and the disc in the stellar atmosphere is well understood. The Mg II multiplet is a fundamental tracer of TTSs atmospheres and outflows, and is the strongest feature in the near-ultraviolet spectrum of TTSs. The International Ultraviolet Explorer and Hubble Space Telescope data archives provide a unique set to study the main physical compounds contributing to the line profile and to derive the properties of the line formation region. The Mg II profiles of 44 TTSs with resolution 13,000 to 30,000 are available in these archives. In this work, we use this data set to measure the main observables: flux, broadening, asymmetry, terminal velocity of the outflow, and the velocity of the Discrete Absorption Components. For some few sources repeated observations are available and variability has been studied. There is a warm wind that at sub-AU scales absorbs the blue wing of the Mg II profiles. The main result found in this work is the correlation between the line broadening, Mg II flux, terminal velocity of the flow and accretion rate. Both outflow and magnetospheric plasma contribute to the Mg II flux. The flux-flux correlation between Mg II and C IV or He II is confirmed; however, no correlation is found between the Mg II flux and the ultraviolet continuum or the H2 emission.Comment: 21 pages, 20 figure

Constraints to the magnetospheric properties of T Tauri stars. I. The C II], Fe II] and Si II] ultraviolet features

The C II] feature at ~2325 Angstrom is very prominent in the spectra of T Tauri stars (TTSs). This feature is a quintuplet of semiforbidden transitions excited at electron temperatures around 10,000 K that, together with the nearby Si II] and Fe II] features, provides a reliable optically thin tracer for accurate measurement of the plasma properties in the magnetospheres of TTSs. The spectra of 20 (out of 27) TTSs observed with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) on board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) have good enough signal to noise ratio (S/N) at the C II] wavelength. For these stars we have determined electron densities (ne) and temperatures (Te) in the line emission region as well as the profile broadening (sigma). For most of the stars in the sample (17) we obtain 10^{4.1} < Te < 10^{4.5} K and 10^{8} < ne < 10^{12} cm^{-3}. These stars have suprathermal line broadening (35 < sigma < 165 km s^{-1}), except TW Hya and CY Tau with thermal line broadening. Both C II] line luminosity and broadening are found to correlate with the accretion rate. Line emission seems to be produced in the magnetospheric accretion flow, close to the disk. There are three exceptions: DG Tau, RY Tau and FU Ori. The line centroids are blueshifted indicating that the line emission in these three stars is dominated by the outflow.Comment: 13 pages, 15 figures, published in MNRAS minor change

Human Rights and Social Justice in Social Work Education: A critical realist comparative study of England and Spain

Social work´s emergence and historical evolution has been intertwined with evolving notions of human rights (HR) and social justice (SJ). These two principles permeate definitions of social work and codes of ethics for social work across the world, and the Global Standards for social work education promote human rights and social justice as unifying themes of the profession. Yet there is little understanding of how these themes are represented and transmitted to social work students in specific national contexts. This thesis explores understandings of HR and SJ among social work educators and the mechanisms used to transmit HR and SJ to social work students in two contrasting European countries, England and Spain. Using a critical realist framework, a web survey of social work educators and students was followed by qualitative interviews with educators in each country to identify opportunities and challenges in engaging with theories and practice implications of this HR and SJ based profession. The findings show that neoliberal ideology, which increasingly pervades higher education institutions and social work agencies in both England and Spain, places pressure on social work educators to convey narrow understandings of HR and SJ and adopt increasingly bureaucratic and distant relationships with students. The thesis brings to the fore the challenges experienced by social work educators and students in each country engaging with HR and SJ in social work curricula. But it also identifies key spaces for the promotion of a HR and SJ based social work and examples of resistance to neoliberal ideology in social work education. The thesis concludes that social work education at university degree level remains a fertile site for the deconstruction of, and development of resistance to, neoliberal ideology that threatens the HR and SJ basis of the social work profession

Holobiont nutrition: Considering the role of the gastrointestinal microbiota in the health benefits of whole grains

Intake of whole grains and other food products high in dietary fiber have long been linked to the prevention of chronic diseases associated with inflammation. A contribution of the gastrointestinal microbiota to these effects has been suggested, but little is known on how whole grains interact with gut bacteria. We have recently published the first human trial that made use of next-generation sequencing to determine the effect of whole grains (whole grain barley, brown rice or a mixture of the two) on fecal microbiota structure and tested for associations between the gut microbiota and blood markers of inflammation, glucose and lipid metabolism. Our study revealed that whole grains impacted gut microbial ecology by increasing microbial diversity and inducing compositional alterations, some of which are considered to have beneficial effects on the host. Interestingly, whole grains, and in particular the combination of whole grain barley and brown rice, caused a reduction in plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6), which was linked to compositional features of the gut microbiota. Therefore, the study provided evidence that a short-term increased intake of whole grains led to compositional alterations of the gut microbiota that coincided with improvements in systemic inflammation. In this addendum, we summarize the findings of the study and provide a perspective on the importance of regarding humans as holobionts when considering the health effects of dietary strategies

Evaluation of the influence of carbon sources on cellulases and xylanases production by microbacterium sp.

The lignocellulose is one of the main constituents of vegetable biomass. Besides being a renewable and abundant source of energy, it has a high potencial for bioconversion to value-added bioproducts. Among its components, the hemicellulose portions (mainly xylans) represent around 25% to 40% of their composition after cellulose that constitute the main component which represents between 50% and 70% of the total. In adition to the lignin, both the cellulose and hemicellulose, make its structure to be resistant to the enzymatic degradation. Thus, it is necessary the cooperative and synergistic effect of various enzymes, including cellulases and xylanases, to reach higher yields for its degadacion. In the present study Microbacterium sp. AR462-2, a cellulolytic and xylanolytic actinobacteria isolated from intestines of wood beetle larvae, was characterized. The effect of various carbon sources was evaluated on cellulases and xylanases production into Omeliansky mineral culture medium. The substrates assayed as sole carbon source were xylan, lactose, glucose, sucrose, fructose, maltose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and filter paper. This strain was taxonomically identified as a member of Microbacterium spp. according to the sequence analysis of the 16S ribosomal gene. Microscopic observation of AR462-2 strain showed small yellow rods (RAL 1014). Physiological studies showed that this strain did not produce melanic nor soluble pigment. Growth was observed between 5.0 and 8.0 pH units and showed halotolerance and lysozyme resistance. It was able to grow in presence of various carbon sources. M. sp. AR462-2 secreted cellulases when glucose 1% (w/v) was used as a sole carbon source which activity measured was 0.1 U/ml. Also, this strain showed evidence of mild degradation of filter paper in liquid mineral medium. Xylanolytic activities were detected in all culture medias, but the highest xylanase production was recorded when lactose 1% (w/v) was added individually in Omeliansky´s medium. The highest xylanase activity measured was 1.03 U/ml within 7 days using lactose, while in presence of CMC was 1.14 U/ml but after 14 days of culture. Further assays were performed in order to improve both growth and production, by adding casein peptone. Production rates were similar although growth was significatively shortened to 3 days. These results suggest that lactose could be used for enzyme production by Microbacterium sp. AR462-2 as an inexpensive carbon source, since lactic whey is an abundant industrial by-product.Fil: Di Marco, Enzo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Perotti, Nora Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Martinez, Maria Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaXI Congreso Argentino de Microbiología GeneralCórdobaArgentinaSociedad Argentina de Microbiología Genera

An analysis for new institutionality in science, technology and innovation in Colombia using a structural vector autoregression model

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to analyze the strengths and the institutionality of the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation (MSTI) in increasing investments in research and development as well as promoting the generation of knowledge. Design/Methodology/Approach: We use structural vector autoregression (SVAR) and structural vector error correction (SVEC) to examine the effects of institutionality in science, technology and innovation in the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MSTI) using three variables (i.e., investments in activities of science, technology and innovation (STIA), investments in research and development (R&D) and independence index). Findings: The results indicate that increasing the independence and transparency of the MSTI leads to higher investments in STIA and R&D over time. SVAR and SVEC models were used to assess the robustness and reliability of the results. Practical Implications: The results are important for assessing the effective governance and functionality of the new MSTI and its mission to adopt new policies and instruments that may strengthen science, technology and innovation in Colombia as the country migrates to a knowledge-based society. Originality/Value: In this context, Colombia opted to implement this model; using law 1951 of 2019, the country created this ministry. It is important to analyse the implications and key elements that allow the ministry to operate and achieve better investments to promote research, innovation, and the application of new technologies.peer-reviewe

"Capital Stock and Unemployment: Searching for the Missing Link"

The purpose of this paper is to examine the proposition that capital stock relative to aggregate output has been an important variable in the determination of the U.S. NAIRU (Non-Accelerating Inflation Rate of Unemployment) over the last four decades. We present new empirical evidence, obtained from the application of the cointegrated VAR methodology to U.S. time-series data, that lends strong support to the claim that the aggregate capital-output ratio, the real price of imports, and aggregate capacity utilization were determinants of the NAIRU in the period considered. The same evidence also shows that technical progress and changes in long-term unemployment did not affect the NAIRU. We believe this evidence suggests that, insofar as the aggregate capital-output ratio is affected by changes in real interest rates, the stance of monetary policy is one determinant of the NAIRU.

Differential in vitro and in vivo effect of barley cysteine and serine protease inhibitors on phytopathogenic microorganisms

Protease inhibitors from plants have been involved in defence mechanisms against pests and pathogens. Phytocystatins and trypsin/α-amylase inhibitors are two of the best characterized protease inhibitor families in plants. In barley, thirteen cystatins (HvCPI-1 to 13) and the BTI-CMe trypsin inhibitor have been previously studied. Their capacity to inhibit pest digestive proteases, and the negative in vivo effect caused by plants expressing these inhibitors on pests support the defence function of these proteins. Barley cystatins are also able to inhibit in vitro fungal growth. However, the antifungal effect of these inhibitors in vivo had not been previously tested. Moreover, their in vitro and in vivo effect on plant pathogenous bacteria is still unknown. In order to obtain new insights on this feature, in vitro assays were made against different bacterial and fungal pathogens of plants using the trypsin inhibitor BTI-CMe and the thirteen barley cystatins. Most barley cystatins and the BTI-CMe inhibitor were able to inhibit mycelial growth but no bacterial growth. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants independently expressing the BTI-CMe inhibitor and the cystatin HvCPI-6 were tested against the same bacterial and fungal pathogens. Neither the HvCPI-6 expressing transgenic plants nor the BTI-CMe ones were more resistant to plant pathogen fungi and bacteria than control Arabidopsis plants. The differences observed between the in vitro and in planta assays against phytopathogenic fungi are discusse

Análisis de la huella ecológica como indicador de sostenibilidad para los proyectos de agua potable y alcantarillado en la etapa de construcción para el distrito de Chiclayo ejecutados en el año 2019

El estudio de la huella ecológica es una metodología que mide la demanda de las todas actividades humanas sobre la capacidad de regeneración que tiene el planeta donde habitamos, y que nace a raíz de la creciente sobreexplotación de recursos mundialmente. Hoy en día el sector construcción es uno de los más grandes consumidores de recursos naturales. por tal motivo se considera adecuado implementar esta metodología a los proyectos de ingeniería civil. Para la presente investigación se analizará la sostenibilidad de los proyectos de agua potable y alcantarillado realizados en el año 2019 en el distrito de Chiclayo. Aplicando los procedimientos propuestos por la metodología de Solís Guzmán, que está basada en la teoría de Domenech, se analizará la huella ecológica para los consumos directos como son el combustible y el agua, consumos indirectos como los materiales y la mano de obra, residuos y superficie consumida de cada proyecto, a fin de calcular la huella total emitida por los proyectos de esta rama durante el año 2019