Measuring the black hole spin direction in 3D Cartesian numerical relativity simulations

We show that the so-called flat-space rotational Killing vector method for measuring the Cartesian components of a black hole spin can be derived from the surface integral of Weinberg's pseudotensor over the apparent horizon surface when using Gaussian normal coordinates in the integration. Moreover, the integration of the pseudotensor in this gauge yields the Komar angular momentum integral in a foliation adapted to the axisymmetry of the spacetime. As a result, the method does not explicitly depend on the evolved lapse $\alpha$ and shift $\beta^i$ on the respective timeslice, as they are fixed to Gaussian normal coordinates, while leaving the coordinate labels of the spatial metric $\gamma_{ij}$ and the extrinsic curvature $K_{ij}$ unchanged. Such gauge fixing endows the method with coordinate invariance, which is not present in integral expressions using Weinberg's pseudotensor, as they normally rely on the explicit use of Cartesian coordinates

Influence of self-gravity on the runaway instability of black hole-torus systems

Results from the first fully general relativistic numerical simulations in axisymmetry of a system formed by a black hole surrounded by a self-gravitating torus in equilibrium are presented, aiming to assess the influence of the torus self-gravity on the onset of the runaway instability. We consider several models with varying torus-to-black hole mass ratio and angular momentum distribution orbiting in equilibrium around a non-rotating black hole. The tori are perturbed to induce the mass transfer towards the black hole. Our numerical simulations show that all models exhibit a persistent phase of axisymmetric oscillations around their equilibria for several dynamical timescales without the appearance of the runaway instability, indicating that the self-gravity of the torus does not play a critical role favoring the onset of the instability, at least during the first few dynamical timescales.Comment: To appear on Phys.Rev.Let

Combined treatment of exudative age related macular degeneration with photodynamic therapy and intravitreal triamcinolone

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age related macular degeneration is among the leading causes of legal blindness in developed countries. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin induces CNV closure causing little damage to healthy tissue, but the need to re-treat may lead to low final visual acuity at an unacceptable cost. The association of intravitreous triamcinolone or antiangiogenic drugs with PDT has been used in order to reduce these limitations of the therapy. The combination of PDT and intravitreous triamcinolone, its complications and outcome at one and two-year follow-up are discussed

Gravitational waves from the Papaloizou-Pringle instability in black hole-torus systems

Black hole (BH)--torus systems are promising candidates for the central engine of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), and also possible outcomes of the collapse of supermassive stars to supermassive black holes (SMBHs). By three-dimensional general relativistic numerical simulations, we show that an $m=1$ nonaxisymmetric instability grows for a wide range of self-gravitating tori orbiting BHs. The resulting nonaxisymmetric structure persists for a timescale much longer than the dynamical one, becoming a strong emitter of large amplitude, quasiperiodic gravitational waves. Our results indicate that both, the central engine of GRBs and newly formed SMBHs, can be strong gravitational wave sources observable by forthcoming ground-based and spacecraft detectors.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure, to be published in PR

Tres años de Código de Autorregulación de Contenidos Televisivos e Infancia en España (2004-2007)

Las cadenas españolas de televisión firmaron en diciembre de 2004 un código de autorregulación para proteger los derechos de la infancia.Este código establece franjas de protección reforzada para la infancia entre las 8 y las 9 de la mañana y de 5 a 8 de la tarde, de lunes a viernes; y en las mañanas de los sábados y domingos. Ofrecemos datos de los Informes de seguimiento semestrales del Código de Autorregulación que ha realizado nuestro equipo mediante visionado y análisis de contenido de una muestra de la programación con la finalidad de detectar incumplimientos del Código

Four new species of Acalypha L. (Euphorbiaceae, Acalyphoideae) from Madagascar, with notes about their conservation status

Marisa, dejo sin poner identificadores de proyecto porque en CORDIS no he logrado encontrar dos de los que se trata en el Funding. Faltan dígitos, la información que aporta creo que es incompleta. Llevo mucho tiempo buscando y no encuentro nada.Yo, Estrella, tampoco he encontrado esos identificadores en Cordis y también los he buscado por el nombre de proyecto que aparece en el fundingFour new species of Acalypha, subgen. Acalypha (Euphorbiaceae, Acalyphoideae) from Madagascar are described, illustrated, and mapped. Acalypha ankaranensis sp. nov. is found in the Anakarana massif, in a dry deciduous forest at 180 m elevation; A. cardielii sp. nov. in the Tsingy de Bemaraha, also associate to dry deciduous forest, at 360 m elevation; A. magistri sp. nov. in the Marojejy Natural Reserve, in evergreen moist forest at 1583 m elevation, and A. levinii sp. nov. in the southern sclerophyllous woodland between 140 to 990 m elevation. These new species are quite well characterized morphologically and ecologically and are easily differentiated from morphologically similar ones. A. ankaranensis and A. levinii are most similar to A. paxii Aug.DC., a common species in northern Magdagascar, A. cardielii is close to A. leptomyura Baill, and A. magistri is close to A. chibomboa Baill. According to our preliminary conservation assessments, A. ankaranensis and A. cardielii are Critically Endangered, A. levinii is Endangered, and A. magistri is VulnerableThis research has received support from the SYNTHESYS Project (http://www.synthesys.info/; FR-TAF 6307) financed by European Community Research Infrastructure Action under the FP7 "Capaci ties" Program; also from the European Molecular Biology Organiza tion (https://www.embo.org; STF-8222). We kindly thank the curators and staff of the herbaria mentioned for facilitating the study of their specimens, and Laura Gonzalez Hern andez, author of the excellent illustrations included in this work. Finally, our gratitude to Louis Nusbaumer, and the anonymous reviewers, that have helped us to improve the submitted manuscrip

Four new species of Acalypha L. (Euphorbiaceae, Acalyphoideae) from the West Indian Ocean Region

Four new species of Acalypha (Euphorbiaceae, Acalyphoideae) from the Western Indian Ocean Region, based on morphological and molecular evidence, are described, illustrated, and mapped. Acalypha gillespieae sp. nov., A. leandrii sp. nov. and A. nusbaumeri sp. nov. are endemic to Madagascar, and A. mayottensis sp. nov. is known only from Mbouzi islet (Mayotte), in the Comoros Archipelago. We also describe for the first time in Acalypha the presence of membranous or chartaceous perules covering the axillary buds. Preliminary conservation assessments of the new species are also providedThis research received support from the SYNTHESYS Project (http://www.synthesys. info/; FR-TAF 6307, DE-TAF 3319, and SE-TAF 5590) financed by European Community Research Infrastructure Action under the FP7 “Capacities” Program, the European Molecular Biology Organization (https://www.embo.org; STF-8222), and the United States National Science Foundation (DEB-0128872