3,008 research outputs found
Detection of flour or farina from Triticum aestivum in macaroni by starch-gel electrophoresis of water-soluble proteins
A water-soluble protein component, A, has been found which appears without exception at a higher concentration in Triticum aestivum than in T. durum. Quantitation of A is achieved by referring the height of densitogram peak A to the height of peak B, which corresponds to a second component that is present in all varieties studied from both species. Extreme valúes of peak height ratio (PHR) in both species are tentatively established. On the basis of these valúes, the máximum and minimum possible contents of T. aestivum in a mixture are expressed as a function of PHR. All the varieties of T. aestivum studied are detected when they contribute more than 60% to the mixture. In over 90% of all possible binary combinations between varieties of T. aestivum and T. durum, the máximum proportion of undetected T. aestivum has been 30%
Computer-based tools for supporting forest management. The experience and the expertise world-wide
Report of Cost Action FP 0804 Forest Management Decision Support Systems (FORSYS)Computer-based tools for supporting forest management. The experience and the expertise world-wide answers a call from both the research and the professional communities for a synthesis of current knowledge about the use of computerized tools in forest management planning. According to the aims of the Forest Management Decision Support Systems (FORSYS) (http://fp0804.emu.ee/) this synthesis is a critical success factor to develop a comprehensive quality reference for forest management decision support systems. The emphasis of the book is on identifying and assessing the support provided by computerized tools to enhance forest management planning in real-world contexts. The book thus identifies the management planning problems that prevail world-wide to discuss the architecture and the components of the tools used to address them. Of importance is the report of architecture approaches, models and methods, knowledge management and participatory planning techniques used to address specific management planning problems. We think that this synthesis may provide effective support to research and outreach activities that focus on the development of forest management decision support systems. It may contribute further to support forest managers when defining the requirements for a tool that best meets their needs. The first chapter of the book provides an introduction to the use of decision support systems in the forest sector and lays out the FORSYS framework for reporting the experience and expertise acquired in each country. Emphasis is on the FORSYS ontology to facilitate the sharing of experiences needed to characterize and evaluate the use of computerized tools when addressing forest management planning problems. The twenty six country reports share a structure designed to underline a problem-centric focus. Specifically, they all start with the identification of the management planning problems that are prevalent in the country and they move on to the characterization and assessment of the computerized tools used to address them. The reports were led by researchers with background and expertise in areas that range from ecological modeling to forest modeling, management planning and information and communication technology development. They benefited from the input provided by forest practitioners and by organizations that are responsible for developing and implementing forest management plans. A conclusions chapter highlights the success of bringing together such a wide range of disciplines and perspectives. This book benefited from voluntary contributions by 94 authors and from the involvement of several forest stakeholders from twenty six countries in Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia over a three-year period. We, the chair of FORSYS and the editorial committee of the publication, acknowledge and thank for the valuable contributions from all authors, editors, stakeholders and FORSYS actors involved in this project
Helicity Analysis of Semileptonic Hyperon Decays Including Lepton Mass Effects
Using the helicity method we derive complete formulas for the joint angular
decay distributions occurring in semileptonic hyperon decays including lepton
mass and polarization effects. Compared to the traditional covariant
calculation the helicity method allows one to organize the calculation of the
angular decay distributions in a very compact and efficient way. In the
helicity method the angular analysis is of cascade type, i.e. each decay in the
decay chain is analyzed in the respective rest system of that particle. Such an
approach is ideally suited as input for a Monte Carlo event generation program.
As a specific example we take the decay () followed by the nonleptonic decay for which we show a few examples of decay distributions which are
generated from a Monte Carlo program based on the formulas presented in this
paper. All the results of this paper are also applicable to the semileptonic
and nonleptonic decays of ground state charm and bottom baryons, and to the
decays of the top quark.Comment: Published version. 40 pages, 11 figures included in the text. Typos
corrected, comments added, references added and update
The Orbit of the New Milky Way Globular Cluster FSR1716 =VVV-GC05
Indexación: Scopus.We use deep, multi-epoch near-IR images of the VISTA Variables in the Via Lictea (VVV) Survey to measure proper motions (PMs) of stars in the Milky Way globular cluster (GC) FSR1716 = VVV-GC05. The colormagnitude diagram of this object, made by using PM-selected members, shows an extended horizontal branch, nine confirmed RR Lyrae (RRL) members in the instability strip, and possibly several hotter stars extending to the blue. Based on the fundamental-mode (ab-type) RRL stars that move coherently with the cluster, we confirmed that FSR1716 is an Oosterhoff I GC with a mean period aPabn = 0.574 days. Intriguingly, we detect tidal extensions to both sides of this cluster in the spatial distribution of PM-selected member stars. Also, one of the confirmed RRabs is located -11 arcmin in projection from the cluster center, suggesting that FSR1716 may be losing stars due to the gravitational interaction with the Galaxy. We also measure radial velocities (RVs) for five cluster red giants selected using the PMs. The combination of RVs and PMs allow us to compute for the first time the orbit of this GC, using an updated Galactic potential. The orbit results to be confined within|Zmax| < 2.0 kpc, and has eccentricity 0.4 < e < 0.6, with perigalactic distance 1.5 < Rperi (kpc) < 2.3, and apogalactic distance 5.3 < Rapo (kpc) < 6.4. We conclude that, in agreement with its relatively low metallicity ([Fe/H] =-1.4 dex), this is an inner-halo GC plunging into the disk of the Galaxy. As such, this is a unique object with which to test the dynamical processes that contribute to the disruption of Galactic GCs. © 2018. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/aacd0
Evaluacion de la probabilidad de ocurrencia de fuegos en rodales de Pinus pinaster Ait en Portugal
Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) is an important conifer from the western Mediterranean Basin extending over 22%
of the forest area in Portugal. In the last three decades nearly 4% of Maritime pine area has been burned by wildfires. Yet
no wildfire occurrence probability models are available and forest and fire management planning activities are thus carried
out mostly independently of each other. This paper presents research to address this gap. Specifically, it presents a model
to assess wildfire occurrence probability in regular and pure Maritime pine stands in Portugal. Emphasis was in developing
a model based on easily available inventory data so that it might be useful to forest managers. For that purpose, data from
the last two Portuguese National Forest Inventories (NFI) and data from wildfire perimeters in the years from 1998 to 2004
and from 2006 to 2007 were used. A binary logistic regression model was build using biometric data from the NFL Biometric
data included indicators that might be changed by operations prescribed in forest planning. Results showed that the probability
of wildfire occurrence in a stand increases in stand located at steeper slopes and with high shrubs load while it decreases
with precipitation and with stand basal area. These results are instrumental for assessing the impact of forest
management options on wildfire probability thus helping forest managers to reduce the risk of wildfire
Inactivation of the DNA-repair gene MGMT and the clinical response of gliomas to alkylating agents
Background: the DNA-repair enzyme O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) inhibits the killing of tumor cells by alkylating agents. MGMT activity is controlled by a promoter; methylation of the promoter silences the gene in cancer, and the cells no longer produce MGMT. We examined gliomas to determine whether methylation of the MGMT promoter is related to the responsiveness of the tumor to alkylating agents. Methods: we analyzed the MGMT promoter in tumor DNA by a methylation-specific polymerase-chain-reaction assay. The gliomas were obtained from patients who had been treated with carmustine (1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea, or BCNU). The molecular data were correlated with the clinical outcome. Results: the MGMT promoter was methylated in gliomas from 19 of 47 patients (40 percent). This finding was associated with regression of the tumor and prolonged overall and disease-free survival. It was an independent and stronger prognostic factor than age, stage, tumor grade, or performance status. Conclusions: methylation of the MGMT promoter in gliomas is a useful predictor of the responsiveness of the tumors to alkylating agents
Automatically Generating and Updating User Interface Components in Process-Aware Information Systems
The increasing adoption of process-aware information systems (PAISs) has resulted in a large number of implemented business processes. To react on changing needs, companies need to be able to quickly adapt these process implementations. Current PAISs only provide mechanisms to evolve the schema of a process, but do not support the automated creation and adaptation of user interfaces (UIs).
The latter may have a complex logic and comprise conditional elements or database queries. Creating and evolving UIs manually is a tedious and error-prone task. This paper introduces a set of patterns for transforming fragments of a business process, whose activities are performed by the same user role, to UIs of the PAIS. In particular, UI logic can be expressed using the same notation as for process modeling. Furthermore, a transformation method is introduced, which applies these patterns to automatically derive UIs by establishing a bidirectional mapping between process model and UI. This mapping allows propagating UI changes to the process model and vice versa. Overall, our approach enables process designers to rapidly develop and update complex UIs in PAISs
Constructing 3D crystal templates for photonic band gap materials using holographic optical tweezers
A simple and robust method is presented for the construction of 3-dimensional crystals from silica and polystyrene microspheres. The crystals are suitable for use as templates in the production of three-dimensional photonic band gap (PBG) materials. Manipulation of the microspheres was achieved using a dynamic holographic assembler (DHA) consisting of computer controlled holographic optical tweezers. Attachment of the microspheres was achieved by adjusting their colloidal interactions during assembly. The method is demonstrated by constructing a variety of 3-dimensional crystals using spheres ranging in size from 3 µm down to 800 nm. A major advantage of the technique is that it may be used to build structures that cannot be made using self-assembly. This is illustrated through the construction of crystals in which line defects have been deliberately included, and by building simple cubic structures
Lowering the background level and the energy threshold of Micromegas x-ray detectors for axion searches
Axion helioscopes search for solar axions by their conversion in x-rays in
the presence of high magnetic fields. The use of low background x-ray detectors
is an essential component contributing to the sensitivity of these searches. In
this work, we review the recent advances on Micromegas detectors used in the
CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST) and proposed for the future International
Axion Observatory (IAXO). The actual setup in CAST has achieved background
levels below 10 keV cm s, a factor 100 lower than
the first generation of Micromegas detectors. This reduction is based on active
and passive shielding techniques, the selection of radiopure materials, offline
discrimination techniques and the high granularity of the readout. We describe
in detail the background model of the detector, based on its operation at CAST
site and at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC), as well as on Geant4
simulations. The best levels currently achieved at LSC are low than 10
keV cm s and show good prospects for the application of
this technology in IAXO. Finally, we present some ideas and results for
reducing the energy threshold of these detectors below 1 keV, using
high-transparent windows, autotrigger electronics and studying the cluster
shape at different energies. As a high flux of axion-like-particles is expected
in this energy range, a sub-keV threshold detector could enlarge the physics
case of axion helioscopes.Comment: Proceedings of 3rd International Conference on Technology and
Instrumentation in Particle Physics (TIPP 2014
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