Magnetic fields around evolved stars: further observations of H2_2O maser polarization

We aim to detect the magnetic field and infer its properties around four AGB stars using H$_2$O maser observations. The sample we observed consists of the following sources: the semi-regular variable RT Vir and the Mira variables AP Lyn, IK Tau, and IRC+60370. We observed the 6$_{1,6}-5_{2,3}$ H$_2$O maser rotational transition, in full-polarization mode, to determine its linear and circular polarization. Based on the Zeeman effect, one can infer the properties of the magnetic field from the maser polarization analysis. We detected a total of 238 maser features, in three of the four observed sources. No masers were found toward AP Lyn. The observed masers are all located between 2.4 and 53.0 AU from the stars. Linear and circular polarization was found in 18 and 11 maser features, respectively. We more than doubled the number of AGB stars in which magnetic field has been detected from H$_2$O maser polarization, as our results confirm the presence of fields around IK Tau, RT Vir and IRC+60370. The strength of the field along the line of sight is found to be between 47 and 331 mG in the H$_2$O maser region. Extrapolating this result to the surface of the stars, assuming a toroidal field ($\propto$ r$^{-1}$), we find magnetic fields of 0.3-6.9 G on the stellar surfaces. If, instead of a toroidal field, we assume a poloidal field ($\propto$ r$^{-2}$), then the extrapolated magnetic field strength on the stellar surfaces are in the range between 2.2 and $\sim$115 G. Finally, if a dipole field ($\propto$ r$^{-3}$) is assumed, the field strength on the surface of the star is found to be between 15.8 and $\sim$1945 G. The magnetic energy of our sources is higher than the thermal and kinetic energy in the H$_2$O maser region of this class of objects. This leads us to conclude that, indeed, magnetic fields probably play an important role in shaping the outflows of evolved stars. (abridged)Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, 7 tables. Accepted for publication in A&

Typology and evolution of the new mineralogy developed at the mine waste dump of Valdarcas (Vila Nova de Cerveira - N Portugal) - Environmental Implications

[Abstract] The abandoned waste dump of Valdarcas tungsten skarn deposit — Vila Nova de Cerveira, N Portugal, represents a key site, appropriate to study the environmental problems related to deactivated sulfide tails. The tungsten mineralization which occurs in coexistence with metallic sulfide minerals, calcium silicates and carbonates, confers to this deposit special characteristics. The water-mineral interactions at the waste dump surface, leads to the generation of acid mine waters (AMD) with high content of metals and sulfate (ASW), related to the sulfide minerals alteration. Consequently occurs the contamination of the Coura river system Simultaneously the alteration of calcium silicates and carbonates produces neutralization reactions, and the development of a new mineralogy - soluble salts, iron crusts and clay minerals. The new paragenesis reflects the occurrence of wet-dry cycles, related to the seasonal variations of rainfall. These geochemical trends and their role in the process evolution of the waste dump surface to the stabilization are the main subject of this work.The soluble salts, iron crusts and the clay minerals have different capacities and mechanisms to fixate the chemical potential associated to the AMD/ASW. The instability of the salt minerals leads only to a temporary fixation of the contaminant elements. On the other hand, the crusts are capable of fixate efficiently these elements, specially the iron oxides, furthermore, they isolate the reactive minerals from the weathering agents. Consequently they limit the aquatic contamination, the dispersion area of the environmental impact and contribute to the chemical stabilization of the waste dum

Ferida da moda: epidemiologia, diagnóstico, tratamento e experiência com eqüinos infectados no Pantanal.

A pitiose é uma doença granulomatosa que atinge eqüinos, caninos, bovinos, felinos e humanos e ocorre em áreas tropicais, subtropicais ou temperadas (Meireles et al., 1993; Mendoza et al., 1996), causada pelo omiceto Pythium insidiosum (De Cock et al., 1987). A espécie eqüina é a mais atingida, principalmente nas formas cutânea e subcutânea, seguida dos caninos (Mendoza et al., 1996). A enfermidade em eqüinos caracteriza-se pela formação de granulomas eosinofílicos, com a presença de massas necróticas chamadas de kunkers (Mendoza e Alfaro, 1986; Meireles et al., 1993). Em humanos, a doença é mais comum no sudeste asiático, caracterizando-se por formas sistêmicas com arterites e também formas oftálmicas e subcutâneas, sendo as duas últimas associadas a a e b-talassemias (Imwidthaya, 1994; Imwidthaya, 1995). Vários tratamentos têm sido utilizados, principalmente em eqüinos, incluindo tratamento químico (antifúngicos), cirúrgico e imunoterápico. A imunoterapia, proposta inicialmente por Miller (1981), surgiu como uma alternativa concreta para o controle da doença e tem apresentado resultados promissores (Monteiro, 1999). Pythium insidiosum; Epidemiologia; Pitiose nos eqüinos; Imunoterapia; Diagnóstico; Tratamento; Experiência no Pantanal; Pitiose em bovinos; Pitiose experimental; Perspecivas para o controle da pitiose.bitstream/item/79509/1/COT34.pd

El labrador: Año II Número 40 - (27/09/23)

Health promotion interventions can be improved using methods from behavioural economics to identify and target specific decision-making biases at the individual level. In this context, prospect theory provides a suitable framework within which decision-making processes can be operationalised. Focusing on a trade-off between health outcomes and behaviour change incurred by chronic disease management (lifestyle change, or ‘self-management’), we are the first to measure the risk attitudes and quantify the full utility function under prospect theory of a patient population. We conducted a series of hypothetical elicitations over health outcomes associated with different self-management behaviours from a population of individuals with or without ‘manageable’ chronic disease (n = 120). We observed risk aversion in both the gain and the loss domains, as well as significant loss aversion. There seems to be an age effect on risk attitudes in this context, with younger people being on average less risk averse than older people. Our work addresses a need to better understand these decision-making processes, so that behaviour change interventions tailored to specific patient populations can be improved

Modelling of epitaxial film growth with a Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier dependent on the step height

The formation of mounded surfaces in epitaxial growth is attributed to the presence of barriers against interlayer diffusion in the terrace edges, known as Ehrlich-Schwoebel (ES) barriers. We investigate a model for epitaxial growth using a ES barrier explicitly dependent on the step height. Our model has an intrinsic topological step barrier even in the absence of an explicit ES barrier. We show that mounded morphologies can be obtained even for a small barrier while a self-affine growth, consistent with the Villain-Lai-Das Sarma equation, is observed in absence of an explicit step barrier. The mounded surfaces are described by a super-roughness dynamical scaling characterized by locally smooth (faceted) surfaces and a global roughness exponent $\alpha>1$. The thin film limit is featured by surfaces with self-assembled three-dimensional structures having an aspect ratio (height/width) that may increase or decrease with temperature depending on the strength of step barrier.Comment: To appear in J. Phys. Cond. Matter; 3 movies as supplementary materia

Influence of Fish Capture Methods on Genotoxic Assessment in Different Tissues of Astyanax fasciatus (Osteichthyes, Characidae)

Among the approaches to evaluate genotoxicity of aquatic environments, fish are being used as biomonitors due to their sensitivity to any changes in the environment, characterizing it as sentinel organisms for the biomonitoring of rivers and lakes. Biomarkers that reflect damage to genetic material of fish are detected by the Comet Assay (EC) and through analysis of Micronucleus (MN) produced by different chemical agents and/or stressor factors due to capture, handling and keeping. Cast net and electric fishing were used for capture in this study, aiming to evaluate the influence of these methods on the analyzed biomarkers in different tissues, such as blood, gills and liver. Astyanax fasciatus (Characidae) individuals were captured in Quadros lagoon – RS, Brazil, site considered free on industrial contamination, showing a good physico-chemical quality. Results of MN test, which reflect clastogenic and aneugenic effects, presented no significant difference between the catch methods used, possibly because there was not enough time for cell division that is necessary for micronucleus forming. EC, which detects direct DNA brakeage, showed significant differences in Damage Index (ID) and Damage Percentage (%D) between capture methods in all tissues examined (p ≤ 0.001), indicating an effect of electricity on organisms collected

Caracterização agronômica de acessos de germoplasma, cultivares e híbridos de abacaxizeiro.

O Brasil é um dos maiores produtores mundiais de abacaxi, mas a produção brasileira é destinada basicamente ao mercado interno e nos plantios comerciais há predomínio de poucas cultivares. O melhoramento genético do abacaxizeiro no Brasil visa obter variedades produtivas, com qualidade de fruto e resistência à fusariose.PDF. 101_11

Superpulsed low-level laser therapy protects skeletal muscle of mdx mice against damage, inflammation and morphological changes delaying dystrophy progression.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of preventive treatment with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on progression of dystrophy in mdx mice. Methods: Ten animals were randomly divided into 2 experimental groups treated with superpulsed LLLT (904 nm, 15 mW, 700 Hz, 1 J) or placebo-LLLT at one point overlying the tibialis anterior muscle (bilaterally) 5 times per week for 14 weeks (from 6th to 20th week of age). Morphological changes, creatine kinase (CK) activity and mRNA gene expression were assessed in animals at 20th week of age. Results: Animals treated with LLLT showed very few morphological changes in skeletal muscle, with less atrophy and fibrosis than animals treated with placebo-LLLT. CK was significantly lower (p = 0.0203) in animals treated with LLLT (864.70 U.l−1, SEM 226.10) than placebo (1708.00 U.l−1, SEM 184.60). mRNA gene expression of inflammatory markers was significantly decreased by treatment with LLLT (p<0.05): TNF-α (placebo-control = 0.51 µg/µl [SEM 0.12], - LLLT = 0.048 µg/µl [SEM 0.01]), IL-1β (placebo-control = 2.292 µg/µl [SEM 0.74], - LLLT = 0.12 µg/µl [SEM 0.03]), IL-6 (placebo-control = 3.946 µg/µl [SEM 0.98], - LLLT = 0.854 µg/µl [SEM 0.33]), IL-10 (placebo-control = 1.116 µg/µl [SEM 0.22], - LLLT = 0.352 µg/µl [SEM 0.15]), and COX-2 (placebo-control = 4.984 µg/µl [SEM 1.18], LLLT = 1.470 µg/µl [SEM 0.73]). Conclusion: Irradiation of superpulsed LLLT on successive days five times per week for 14 weeks decreased morphological changes, skeletal muscle damage and inflammation in mdx mice. This indicates that LLLT has potential to decrease progression of Duchenne muscular dystrophy