Spin-dependent effective interactions for halo nuclei

We discuss the spin-dependence of the effective two-body interactions appropriate for three-body computations. The only reasonable choice seems to be the fine and hyperfine interactions known for atomic electrons interacting with the nucleus. One exception is the nucleon-nucleon interaction imposing a different type of symmetry. We use the two-neutron halo nucleus 11Li as illustration. We demonstrate that models with the wrong spin-dependence are basically without predictive power. The Pauli forbidden core and valence states must be consistently treated.Comment: TeX file, 6 pages, 3 postscript figure

Chileans facing immigration: Relations between orientations of acculturation, perception of threat and social well-being in the great concepcion

Indexación: Scopus; Scielo; Redalyc.En Chile, el aumento sostenido de la inmigración extranjera ha impactado en la construcción de nuevas formas de relación social. Si bien los procesos aculturativos han sido estudiados desde la perspectiva de los inmigrantes por numerosas investigaciones, los miembros de las sociedades receptoras han recibido menor atención. Este trabajo tiene como propósito identificar las preferencias de aculturación de N=553 chilenos, y verificar sus relaciones con la percepción de amenaza y el bienestar social. Contrario a lo esperado, el individualismo aculturativo se asoció con un menor grado de amenaza percibida y una mejor evaluación del propio funcionamiento social que el integracionismo. Estos hallazgos son relacionados con la incorporación de modelos de ciudadanía promovidos por la ideología neoliberal en el Chile post-dictatorial.In Chile, the sustained increase of migratory flows is producing an important impact on building new forms of social relations. Acculturation processes have been studied from immigrant’s perspective by numerous studies, but host majority members has received less attention from scholars. is study aimed to verify relations between acculturation preferences of N=553 Chilean participants, their social well-being and perceived threat. Results showed that, contrary as expected, individualism was positively linked with better social functioning and less perceived threat than integrationism, suggesting the impact of neoliberal ideology on post-dictatorial Chilean culture.http://www.redalyc.org/jatsRepo/647/64753989005/index.htm

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--Soil erosion modeling in olive groves requires precise and accurate spatial data for the representation of topography associated with each time epoch considered. The precision and accuracy of altimetric values affect the quality of the digital elevation model (DEM) and therefore these requirements must be added to the necessity to generate high resolution DEMs. The increase of quality implies: 1. Improving the quality of the instrumentation and methodology applied in the field data collection and 2. Minimizing errors from the interpolation algorithm used to generate the digital terrain model. Currently, RTK networks are an indispensable complement to global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) precise positioning. The availability of highly accurate three-dimensional real time positioning has opened the door to new applications, making network-based real time kinematic (NRTK) positioning an attractive spatial data source for modeling soil erosion in small areas. This paper analyzes the quality of NRTK altimetric positioning supported by a local active network and its application in a test olive grove in SE Spain for soil erosion modeling. An evaluation procedure was implemented at several test sites distributed throughout an olive grove environment with special emphasis on filtering and checking the NRTK solutions in the vertical component. The precision in this component revealed a mean value of 15 mm and the vertical accuracy reached maximum values of 30 mm. In order to generate high resolution and accuracy DEM from the NRTK data, cross sections on the test olive grove were surveyed. The average altimetric quality value (CQ1D) of points surveyed was 0.017 m, according to the standard deviation estimated at test points. Based on the quality results, NRTK positioning is an accurate and reliable methodology for monitoring the erosion processes of small areas in an olive grove environment.Support provided by the Institute of Statistics and Cartography of Andalusia (RAP network) during this project is gratefully acknowledged. The authors thank the Editor and two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and recommendations, which contributed to the improvement of this paper. This work was funded by the University of Jaén and “Caja Rural Jaén” (UJA2015/06/11 Project), RNM282-Microgeodesia Jaén Research Group (Junta de Andalucía) and PAI UJA 2017/18

Inter-limb symmetry at simultaneous and alternated arms flexion by the elbow during water fitness sessions

The aim was to compare the inter-limb symmetry between alternated and simultaneous arms flexion during water fitness sessions. Twenty-three elderly women were recruited to perform flexion by the elbow with di erent mechanical strategies: (a) simultaneous and (b) alternated. An incremental protocol was used, with four music cadences, starting at 105 beats per minute up to 150. The peak force of dominant and non-dominant upper-limbs was retrieved. A symmetry index (SI, %) was also used to quantify coordination. There were significant variations in force produced by the dominant and non-dominant limbs in most of the cadences in the alternated or simultaneous actions. Differences with a medium e ect between upper-limbs were shown when moving simultaneously indicating that an alternated movement can be a more proper strategy to work with. Despite that, both strategies seemed to be characterized by an asymmetric pattern (SI from 20 to 30%), requiring full attention from water fitness practitioners.This research was supported by the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation under the project UID04045/2020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Development of a novel fcc structure for an amorphous-nanocrystalline Ti-33Nb-4Mn (at.%) ternary alloy

[EN] In this work, a novel amorphous-nanocrystalline titanium-niobium-manganese solid solution ternary alloy with a Ti-33Nb-4Mn (at.%) nominal composition was developed by a High-Energy Mechanical Alloying. Nb and Mn were added to the elemental Ti as a beta-phase (bcc) stabilizer and an amorphization promoter, respectively. The system evolved from the elemental Ti, Nb and Mn raw materials to a body centred cubic (bcc) TiNbMn alloy and, finally, to the formation of an original and stable face centred cubic (fcc) nanocrystalline TiNbMn alloy, not reported until now, at short milling time (20 h). This alloy remains invariant until 120 h. In turn, the partial amorphization of the system occurs and increases until at intermediate milling time (80 h). The production of both original fcc and the amorphous TiNbMn alloy may be beneficial for reducing the Young's modulus and improving the mechanical strength pursued for the Ti alloy. The optimal milling time respect to the amorphization, nanocrystalline size and Fe mount from milling media was 60 h and 80 h (TiNbMn60h and TiNbMn80h), with > 50 wt% of an amorphous phase and a crystalline domain size of approximately 5 nm.This work was supported under postdoctoral grant no. 3150060, which is financed by the FONDECYT fund (Government of Chile).Chicardi, E.; García-Garrido, C.; Sayagués, M.; Torres, Y.; Amigó, V.; Aguilar, C. (2018). Development of a novel fcc structure for an amorphous-nanocrystalline Ti-33Nb-4Mn (at.%) ternary alloy. Materials Characterization. 135:46-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2017.11.021S465613

“Young” masters vs. elite swimmers: comparison of performance, energetics, kinematics and efficiency

Competition in masters swimming is getting tougher. Athletes are dedicating more time and effort to excel in masters competitions than they use to. Research question: What are the factors associated with masters and elite swimmers performance? Type of study: A cohort group comparison (young master versus elite swimmers) and a correlational study (association between selected variables and performance) were conducted. Purpose: The aim was to identify the energetics, kinematics and efficiency variables associated with young masters (former elite) and elite swimmers performance as well as compare it between both cohort groups. Methods: Twenty male swimmers (masters: N=8, 29.75±3.80-y; elite: N=12, 20.41±3.20-yld) performed a 7x200m freestyle swim. The performance (200m freestyle at official competition), velocity at which the 4 mmol.l-1 of blood lactate was assessed (V4), peak blood lactate concentrations (Lapeak), peak oxygen up-take (VO2peak), minimum velocity to elicited VO2peak (vVO2peak), total energy expenditure (Ėtot), stroke frequency (SF), stroke length (SL), mean swimming velocity (v), energy cost (C), stroke index (SI) and propelling efficiency (p) to check whether this was achieved. Results: Elite swimmers presented a better performance. V4, VO2peak, vVO2peak, Ėtot , SF, v and SI were significantly higher in elite swimmers. For both groups performance was associated with the V4, vVO2peak and v. In addition, elite swimmers’ performance was impaired with regard to the Lapeak. Conclusions: Young masters swimmers presented impairment in performance related to a decrease in the energetics profile and biomechanical behaviour. Nevertheless, their previous background as elite swimmers allowed them to maintain high swimming efficiency

Effect of systemic administration of essential oils and main components on honeybee survival

Controlling bee diseases with non contaminant products is a challenge in apicultural research. Essential oils and their main components have been widely studied as alternative treatments for honeybee pathologies [1, 2, 3]. However, there is little information about prolonged systemic administration. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in laboratory assays, the effect of long term consumption of essential oils and main components. Oils were obtained by hydrodistillation from Laurus nobilis, Cinnamomun zeylanicum, Origanum vulgare, Rosmarinus officinalis and Eucalyptus spp. and were analyzed by gas chromatography. The main components administered were 1,8-cineol, β-myrcene, cinnamic aldehyde, carvacrol and α-phellandrene. Substances were administered ad libitum to newly emerged bees at concentrations of 0; 333; 3,333 and 6,666 ppm, on sucrose syrup, throughout 11-18 days. Mortality and substances consumption were measured daily. Survival analysis was performed using Gehan-Breslow test and pairwise multiple comparisons between survival curves (a= 0, 05). Substances consumption was analyzed using one way ANOVA. Bees that received cinnamon oil showed a lower survival than control at concentrations higher than 333 ppm (pvalues<0.001 ). Consumption of cinnamic aldehyde, the main component of this oil (79.3%), also caused lower survival at the same concentrations (p-values<0.001). Eucalyptus oil caused a lower survival rate when it was administered at 6,666 ppm, although 1,8 cineol, its main component (63.5%), was not toxic for bees at any concentration. Carvacrol, a main component of many oregano essential oils, showed toxic effects at 3,333 and 6,666 ppm. Essential oils did not cause differences in consumption rate (p= 0.275) while main components solutions, except for carvacrol, were less consumed than control at the three concentrations. Treatments did not cause dysentery to bees. Our results contribute to understanding the effect of repeated systemic doses of these substances, which is important to design long term pharmacological studies and treatments development

Altered Plasma and Brain Disposition and Pharmacodynamics of Methadone in Abstinent Rats

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of methadone were investigated in control and abstinent rats. Minipumps filled with saline (control group) or saline-morphine (abstinent group) solutions were used to induce physical dependence. Solutions were delivered continuously by minipumps for 6 days. The physical dependence was evaluated 12 h after minipump removal by measuring specific withdrawal signs. Animals from the abstinent group showed clear withdrawal signs such as hostility on handling and weight loss. Plasma and brain disposition and pharmacodynamics of methadone were evaluated after a 0.35 mg/kg i.v. bolus dose administered 12 h after minipump removal. Plasma clearance, distribution clearance, and volume of distribution at steady-state were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the abstinent group. Plasma levels of alpha1-acid glycoprotein and plasma protein binding were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the abstinent group. The estimates of pharmacokinetic parameters based on unbound plasma concentrations did not differ between groups, with the sole exception of the unbound apparent volume of distribution. The access of methadone to the brain was significantly faster (P < 0.05) in the abstinent group, although the extent of distribution in the brain was diminished in comparison with the control group. Analgesia recorded with tail-flick was used as the pharmacodynamic endpoint. Analgesic response and effect compartment concentrations of methadone were related by the sigmoidal Emax model. Estimates of C50 [steady-state plasma concentrations eliciting half of maximum effect (Emax)]] based on unbound concentrations did not differ between groups. On the other hand, the estimate of Emax had decreased by 65% in the abstinent group

Sensitivity of the ISO 6579:2002/Amd 1:2007 standard method for detection of Salmonella spp. on mesenteric lymph nodes from slaughter pigs

The ISO 6579:2002/Amd 1:2007 (ISO) standard has been the bacteriological standard method used in the European Union for the detection of Salmonella spp. in pig mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), but there are no published estimates of the diagnostic sensitivity (Se) of the method in this matrix. Here, the Se of the ISO (SeISO) was estimated on 675 samples selected from two populations with different Salmonella prevalences (14 farms with a =20% prevalence and 13 farms with a <20% prevalence) and through the use of latent-class models in concert with Bayesian inference, assuming 100% ISO specificity, and an invA-based PCR as the second diagnostic method. The SeISO was estimated to be close to 87%, while the sensitivity of the PCR reached up to 83.6% and its specificity was 97.4%. Interestingly, the bacteriological reanalysis of 33 potential false-negative (PCR-positive) samples allowed isolation of 19 (57.5%) new Salmonella strains, improving the overall diagnostic accuracy of the bacteriology. Considering the usual limitations of bacteriology regarding Se, these results support the adequacy of the ISO for the detection of Salmonella spp. from MLN and also that of the PCR-based method as an alternative or complementary (screening) test for the diagnosis of pig salmonellosis, particularly considering the cost and time benefits of the molecular procedure

High glucose and diabetes increase the release of [3H]-D-aspartate in retinal cell cultures and in rat retinas

Several evidences suggest that glutamate may be involved in retinal neurodegeneration in diabetic retinopathy (DR). For that reason, we investigated whether high glucose or diabetes affect the accumulation and the release of [3H]-D-aspartate, which was used as a marker of the glutamate transmitter pool. The accumulation of [3H]-D-aspartate did not change in cultured retinal neural cells treated with high glucose (30 mM) for 7 days. However, the release of [3H]-D-aspartate, evoked by 50 mM KCl, significantly increased in retinal cells exposed to high glucose. Mannitol, which was used as an osmotic control, did not cause any significant changes in both accumulation and release of [3H]-D-aspartate. In the retinas, 1 week after the onset of diabetes, both the accumulation and release of [3H]-D-aspartate were unchanged comparing to the retinas of agematched controls. However, after 4 weeks of diabetes, the accumulation of [3H]-D-aspartate in diabetic retinas decreased and the release of [3H]-Daspartate increased, compared to age-matched control retinas. These results suggest that high glucose and diabetes increase the evoked release of D-aspartate in the retina, which may be correlated with the hypothesis of glutamate-induced retinal neurodegeneration in DR