Options for dust reduction from poultry houses

Large poultry houses emit high amounts of fine dust (PM10) and in many cases they exceed the ambient air quality standard set by the EU. Technologies for PM10 reduction need to be developed on short term to minimize PM10 emissions from poultry houses. Studied options for dust reduction were: application of an oil film on the litter and application of an ionization system. Rapeseed oil was sprayed daily in a quantity of 8 to 24 ml/m2 in broiler houses and 20 ml/m2 in layer houses. The ionization system was applied in a broiler house and had a voltage difference of -30kV, with a current of approximately 0.7 mA. Daily emissions of PM10 particles were determined at regular intervals by measuring concentrations at the ventilation inlet and outlet and by measuring the airflow rate. For the oil system PM10 emission reductions were in the ranges of 55 – 85% in broilers and 25 – 40% in layers. The ionization system, applied in broilers, reduced PM10 emission on average by 36%

Evolution of the Schr\"odinger--Newton system for a self--gravitating scalar field

Using numerical techniques, we study the collapse of a scalar field configuration in the Newtonian limit of the spherically symmetric Einstein--Klein--Gordon (EKG) system, which results in the so called Schr\"odinger--Newton (SN) set of equations. We present the numerical code developed to evolve the SN system and topics related, like equilibrium configurations and boundary conditions. Also, we analyze the evolution of different initial configurations and the physical quantities associated to them. In particular, we readdress the issue of the gravitational cooling mechanism for Newtonian systems and find that all systems settle down onto a 0--node equilibrium configuration.Comment: RevTex file, 19 pages, 26 eps figures. Minor changes, matches version to appear in PR

Constraining scalar fields with stellar kinematics and collisional dark matter

The existence and detection of scalar fields could provide solutions to long-standing puzzles about the nature of dark matter, the dark compact objects at the centre of most galaxies, and other phenomena. Yet, self-interacting scalar fields are very poorly constrained by astronomical observations, leading to great uncertainties in estimates of the mass $m_\phi$ and the self-interacting coupling constant $\lambda$ of these fields. To counter this, we have systematically employed available astronomical observations to develop new constraints, considerably restricting this parameter space. In particular, by exploiting precise observations of stellar dynamics at the centre of our Galaxy and assuming that these dynamics can be explained by a single boson star, we determine an upper limit for the boson star compactness and impose significant limits on the values of the properties of possible scalar fields. Requiring the scalar field particle to follow a collisional dark matter model further narrows these constraints. Most importantly, we find that if a scalar dark matter particle does exist, then it cannot account for both the dark-matter halos and the existence of dark compact objects in galactic nucleiComment: 23 pages, 8 figures; accepted for publication by JCAP after minor change

Second generation of viral vectors based on pepino mosaic virus

[SPA] Nuestro grupo ya ha desarrollado un vector eficiente (pBPepGFP2a) basado en el Virus del mosaico de pepino dulce (PepMV; género Potexvirus) para la expresión de proteínas y el silenciamiento génico inducido por virus en Nicotiana benthamiana. El objetivo de este trabajo fue mejorar aún más pBPepGFP2a en términos de idoneidad y estabilidad en infecciones en tomate. Para evitar la recombinación homóloga debido a la duplicación de la secuencia, se diseñaron dos construcciones nuevas con diferente número de mutaciones, pBPepGFPm1 y pBPepGFPm2, utilizando pBPepGFP2a como molde. Los ensayos de estabilidad mostraron que PepGFPm2 era estable en plantas de N. benthamiana durante al menos 3 pases, pero no en plantas de tomate, en las que no se detectó expresión de GFP con ninguno de los vectores. Posteriormente, el gen gfp de pBPepGFPm2 fue reemplazado por los genes DsRed o mCherry, dando lugar a los vectores PepDsRed y PepmCherry. Ambos vectores fueron estables en N. benthamiana y PepDsRed fue también estable en tomate al menos durante dos pases. [ENG] Our group has already developed an efficient Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV; genus Potexvirus)-based vector (pBPepGFP2a) for protein expression and virus induced gene silencing in Nicotiana benthamiana. The aim of this work was to further improve pBPepGFP2a in terms of stability and suitability for reporting infections in tomato. To avoid homologous recombination due to sequence duplication, two new constructs with different number of mutations were designed, pBPepGFPm1 and pBPepGFPm2, using pBPepGFP2a as backbone. Stability assays showed that PepGFPm2 was stable in N. benthamiana plants for at least 3 passages, but not in tomato plants, in which no GFP expression was detected with any of the vectors. Then, the gfp gene from pBPepGFPm2 was replaced by the DsRed or mCherry genes, giving rise to the PepDsRed and PepmCherry vectors. Both vectors were stable in N. benthamiana and PepDsRed was also stable in tomato at least during two passages.Agradezco la financiación de la beca FPI a la Fundación Séneca de la Región de Murcia, y la financiación de los experimentos al proyecto de Plan Estatal AGL2015-65838-R (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad)

PepGPFm2, PepDsRed and PepBar, a new generation of viral vectors based on pepino mosaic virus

[SPA] Nuestro grupo ya ha desarrollado un vector eficiente (pBPepGFP2a) basado en el virus del mosaico de pepino dulce (PepMV; género Potexvirus) para la expresión de proteínas y el silenciamiento génico inducido por virus en Nicotiana benthamiana. Tras mejorar pJLPepGFP2a en términos de estabilidad e idoneidad para la monitorización de la infección tanto en N. benthamiana como en tomate, los vectores pJLPepGFPm2 y pJLPepDsRed han sido empleados para el estudio de localización subcelular de PepMV. A la vez hemos desarrollado un vector, PepBar, para su empleo en escrutinios masivos de susceptibilidad, en el que el gen gfp de PepGFPm2 fue sustituido por el gen bar, un gen de resistencia a herbicidas. Este vector fue estable durante al menos dos pasajes tanto en N. benthamiana como en plantas de tomate. [ENG] Our group has already developed an efficient Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV; genus Potexvirus)-based vector (pBPepGFP2a) for protein expression and virus-induced gene silencing in Nicotiana benthamiana. We have improved pJLPepGFP2a in terms of stability and suitability for reporting infections in N. benthamiana and tomato, producing pJLPepGFPm2 and pJLPepDsRed. These new vectors have been used for PepMV subcellular localization assays. Moreover, to be used in massive susceptibility screenings, we also developed PepBar, in which the gfp gene from PepGFPm2 was substituted by the bar gene, an herbicide resistance gene. This vector was stable for at less two passages both in N. benthamiana and tomato plants.Agradezco la financiación de la beca FPI a la Fundación Séneca de la Región de Murcia, y la financiación de los experimentos al proyecto de Plan Estatal AGL2015-65838-R (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad)

Hadronic B Decays Involving Even Parity Charmed Mesons

Hadronic B decays containing an parity-even charmed meson in the final state are studied. Specifically we focus on the Cabibbo-allowed decays $\bar B\to D^{**} \pi(\rho), D^{**}\bar D_s^{(*)}, \bar D^{**}_sD^{(*)}$ and $\bar B_s\to D_s^{**}\pi(\rho)$, where $D^{**}$ denotes generically a p-wave charmed meson. The $B\to D^{**}$ transition form factors are studied in the improved version of the Isgur-Scora-Grinstein-Wise quark model. We apply heavy quark effective theory and chiral symmetry to study the strong decays of p-wave charmed mesons and determine the magnitude of the $D_1^{1/2}-D_1^{3/2}$ mixing angle. Except the decay to $D_1(2427)^0\pi^-$ the predictions for $B^-\to D^{**0}\pi^-$ agree with experiment. The sign of $D_1^{1/2}-D_1^{3/2}$ mixing angle is found to be positive in order to avoid a severe suppression on the production of $D_1(2427)^0\pi^-$. The interference between color-allowed and color-suppressed tree amplitudes is expected to be destructive in the decay $B^-\to D_1(2427)^0\pi^-$. Hence, an observation of the ratio $D_1(2427)^0\pi^-/D_1(2427)^+\pi^-$ can be used to test the relative signs of various form factors as implied by heavy quark symmetry. Although the predicted $B^-\to D_1(2420)^0\rho^-$ at the level of $3\times 10^{-3}$ exceeds the present upper limit, it leads to the ratio $D_1(2420)\rho^-/D_1(2420)\pi^-\approx 2.6$ as expected from the factorization approach and from the ratio $f_\rho/f_\pi\approx 1.6$ . Therefore, it is crucial to have a measurement of this mode to test the factorization hypothesis. For $\bar B\to \bar D_s^{**}D$ decays, it is expected that \bar D_{s0}^*D\gsim \bar D_{s1}D as the decay constants of the multiplet $(D_{s0}^*,D_{s1})$ become the same in the heavy quark limit.Comment: 27 pages, Belle's new data on DD_s^{**} productions in B decays and on the radiative decay D_{s1}-> D_s\gamma are updated and discussed. Add two reference

Biopolímeros de cáscaras de mango y su importancia en la soberanía alimentaria

Mediante la presente revisión bibliográfica se ha encontrado que los biopolímeros a base de subproductos del mango serían capaces de prolongar la vida útil de los alimentos sin afectar su calidad y propiedades organolépticas. Los compuestos bioactivos de la cáscara de este fruto protegerían a un producto de daños fisicoquímicos y contaminación microbiana. Además, estos empaques podrían disminuir los residuos y contaminantes ambientales. Esta revisión se realizó considerando como indicadores de calidad: la permeabilidad al vapor de agua y cantidad de compuestos fenólicos principalmente. Se encontró que la película de gelatina de pescado con 5% de extracto de cáscara de mango (MPE) tendría una baja permeabilidad al vapor de agua WVP: 1.98 ± 0.15 g mm/kPa s m2 mientras que sus compuestos antioxidantes permitirían el aumento de la vida útil del alimento, por sus propiedades de barrera, contribuyendo así a reducir los desperdicios de la industria alimentaria. Asimismo, los biopolímeros de subproductos de cáscara de mango contribuirían al concepto de soberanía alimentaria pues promueven la conservación de los alimentos de manera sustentable, sostenible y accesible, manteniendo al mismo tiempo la calidad, inocuidad y el valor nutricional del producto. Los biopolímeros son una alternativa a los envases sintéticos

ALMA lensing cluster survey: ALMA-Herschel joint study of lensed dusty star-forming galaxies across z ≃ 0.5 - 6

Galaxie

Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362

New insights into the genetic etiology of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

Characterization of the genetic landscape of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias (ADD) provides a unique opportunity for a better understanding of the associated pathophysiological processes. We performed a two-stage genome-wide association study totaling 111,326 clinically diagnosed/'proxy' AD cases and 677,663 controls. We found 75 risk loci, of which 42 were new at the time of analysis. Pathway enrichment analyses confirmed the involvement of amyloid/tau pathways and highlighted microglia implication. Gene prioritization in the new loci identified 31 genes that were suggestive of new genetically associated processes, including the tumor necrosis factor alpha pathway through the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex. We also built a new genetic risk score associated with the risk of future AD/dementia or progression from mild cognitive impairment to AD/dementia. The improvement in prediction led to a 1.6- to 1.9-fold increase in AD risk from the lowest to the highest decile, in addition to effects of age and the APOE ε4 allele