2,121 research outputs found
Bayesian blind component separation for Cosmic Microwave Background observations
We present a technique for the blind separation of components in CMB data.
The method uses a spectral EM algorithm which recovers simultaneously component
templates, their emission law as a function of wavelength, and noise levels. We
test the method on Planck HFI simulated observations featuring 3 astrophysical
components.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, to appear in the Proceedings of the MAXENT 2001
international worksho
Porokeratosis of Mibelli. A Case Report
As poroqueratoses resultam de uma hiper-proliferação clonal dos queratinócitos, encontrando-se pelo menos descritas seis formas clínicas, que partilham o achado da lamela cornóide no exame histopatológico.
Os autores descrevem o caso de uma poroqueratose de Mibelli numa mulher de 27 anos, raça negra, com início na infância, eficazmente tratada com retinóide tópico, apresentando-se as manifestações típicas de uma dermatose pouco frequente e destacando-se a importância da histopatologia na confirmação do seu diagnóstico. A poroqueratose de Mibelli é uma dermatose crónica e progressiva, raramente com remissão espontânea. A sua evolução para neoplasia maligna, particularmente carcinoma espino-celular, pode ocorrer em cerca de 7% dos doentes, reforçando-se a importância de uma adequada vigilância
Evaluation of amendments in the rehabilitation of sulfide mine tailings from São Domingos
RAMIRAN International ConferenceThe São Domingos mining area is located in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, SE Portugal, and represents a serious
environmental hazard (Matos and Martins, 2006). Exploitation dated back to pre-roman and roman times with
extraction of Ag, Au and Cu exploitation, mainly in the gossan (resulting from the ore weathering). The intense
exploitation started in the middle of 19th century, both in the gossan and sulfide ore-containing Cu, Zn, As and Pb,
and lasted until 1960, with the exhaustion of the ore (Quental et al., 2002). Different types of waste materials were
left: gossan, host rocks (volcanic with shales, and shales), roman and modern slags, smelting ashes and brittle and
blocks of pyrite (Matos, 2004; Álvarez-Valero et al., 2008). All sulfide mine wastes are typically heterogeneous and
contain high amounts of trace elements, acidic pH and small contents of organic matter and nutrients. The large
dumps containing pyrite and other metal sulfides generate, by oxidation, acidic mine drainage (AMD) which
increases the availability of trace elements for microorganisms and plants in the surrounding soils. All of these
characteristics contribute towards a system that is barely capable of supporting the establishment or survival of
plants.
The use of amendments and spontaneous colonization (vegetation) from mining areas (phytostabilization)
are cost-effective and environmentally sustainable methods to rehabilitate these contaminated and degraded areas
even in arid and semi-arid conditions (Tordoff et al., 2000; Mendez and Maier, 2008). Thus, the preparation of
Technosols from mixtures of organic and inorganic wastes can be an attractive option to rehabilitate mining areas
because they can improve physical, chemical and biological properties contributing, at the same time, towards a
strategy of wastes valorisation (Macías, 2004). The use of mixtures composed of residues with different C:N ratios
can be used to manipulate the rate of mineralization. Nevertheless, the amendments used should also promote other
soil functions (Arbestain et al., 2008). The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of cost-effective
organic and inorganic amendments, available in the region, in the rehabilitation of sulfide materials from the São
Domingos mine are
Integrated transcriptomics contrasts fatty acid metabolism with hypoxia response in β-cell subpopulations associated with glycemic control
BACKGROUND: Understanding how heterogeneous β-cell function impacts diabetes is imperative for therapy development. Standard single-cell RNA sequencing analysis illuminates some factors driving heterogeneity, but new strategies are required to enhance information capture.
RESULTS: We integrate pancreatic islet single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data to identify β-cell subpopulations based on gene expression and characterize genetic networks associated with β-cell function in obese SM/J mice. We identify β-cell subpopulations associated with basal insulin secretion, hypoxia response, cell polarity, and stress response. Network analysis associates fatty acid metabolism and basal insulin secretion with hyperglycemic-obesity, while expression of Pdyn and hypoxia response is associated with normoglycemic-obesity.
CONCLUSIONS: By integrating single-cell and bulk islet transcriptomes, our study explores β-cell heterogeneity and identifies novel subpopulations and genetic pathways associated with β-cell function in obesity
Bi-layer Kinetic Inductance Detectors for space observations between 80-120 GHz
We have developed Lumped Element Kinetic Inductance Detectors (LEKID)
sensitive in the frequency band from 80 to 120~GHz. In this work, we take
advantage of the so-called proximity effect to reduce the superconducting gap
of Aluminium, otherwise strongly suppressing the LEKID response for frequencies
smaller than 100~GHz. We have designed, produced and optically tested various
fully multiplexed arrays based on multi-layers combinations of Aluminium (Al)
and Titanium (Ti). Their sensitivities have been measured using a dedicated
closed-circle 100 mK dilution cryostat and a sky simulator allowing to
reproduce realistic observation conditions. The spectral response has been
characterised with a Martin-Puplett interferometer up to THz frequencies, and
with a resolution of 3~GHz. We demonstrate that Ti-Al LEKID can reach an
optical sensitivity of about ~ (best pixel), or
~ when averaged over the whole array. The optical
background was set to roughly 0.4~pW per pixel, typical for future space
observatories in this particular band. The performance is close to a
sensitivity of twice the CMB photon noise limit at 100~GHz which drove the
design of the Planck HFI instrument. This figure remains the baseline for the
next generation of millimetre-wave space satellites.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures, submitted to A&
Supernova type Ia luminosities, their dependence on second parameters, and the value of H_0
A sample of 35 SNe Ia with good to excellent photometry in B and V, minimum
internal absorption, and 1200 < v < \approx 30000 km/s is compiled from the
literature. As far as their spectra are known they are all Branch-normal. For
29 of the SNe Ia also peak magnitudes in I are known. The SNe Ia have uniform
colors at maximum, i.e. =-0.012 mag (sigma=0.051) and =-0.276 mag
(sigma=0.078). In the Hubble diagram they define a Hubble line with a scatter
of =0.21-0.16 mag, decreasing with wavelength. The scatter is further
reduced if the SNe Ia are corrected for differences in decline rate Delta_m_15
or color (B-V). A combined correction reduces the scatter to sigma<=0.13 mag.
After the correction no significant dependence remains on Hubble type or
galactocentric distance. The Hubble line suggests some curvature which can be
differently interpreted. A consistent solution is obtained for a cosmological
model with Omega_M=0.3, Omega_Lambda=0.7, which is indicated also by much more
distant SNe Ia. Absolute magnitudes are available for eight equally blue
(Branch-normal) SNe Ia in spirals, whose Cepheid distances are known. If their
well defined mean values of M_B, M_V, and M_I are used to fit the Hubble line
to the above sample of SNe Ia one obtains H_0=58.3 km/s/Mpc, or, after
adjusting all SNe Ia to the average values of Delta_m_15 and (B-V), H_0=60.9
km/s/Mpc. Various systematic errors are discussed whose elimination tends to
decrease H_0. The finally adopted value at the 90-percent level, including
random and systematic errors, is H_0=58.5 +/- 6.3 km/s/Mpc. Several higher
values of H_0 from SNe Ia, as suggested in the literature, are found to depend
on large corrections for variations of the light curve parameter and/or on an
unwarranted reduction of the Cepheid distances of the calibrating SNe Ia.Comment: 42 pages, including 9 figures; submitted to Ap
NIKEL: Electronics and data acquisition for kilopixels kinetic inductance camera
A prototype of digital frequency multiplexing electronics allowing the real
time monitoring of microwave kinetic inductance detector (MKIDs) arrays for
mm-wave astronomy has been developed. Thanks to the frequency multiplexing, it
can monitor simultaneously 400 pixels over a 500 MHz bandwidth and requires
only two coaxial cables for instrumenting such a large array. The chosen
solution and the performances achieved are presented in this paper.Comment: 21 pages, 14 figure
Dynamical algebra and Dirac quantum modes in Taub-NUT background
The SO(4,1) gauge-invariant theory of the Dirac fermions in the external
field of the Kaluza-Klein monopole is investigated. It is shown that the
discrete quantum modes are governed by reducible representations of the o(4)
dynamical algebra generated by the components of the angular momentum operator
and those of the Runge-Lenz operator of the Dirac theory in Taub-NUT
background. The consequence is that there exist central and axial discrete
modes whose spinors have no separated variables.Comment: 17 pages, latex, no figures. Version to appear in Class.Quantum Gra
Evidence for an Allelopathic Interaction Between Rye and Wild Oats
Allelopathy is a biological phenomenon in which an organism produces one or more biochemicals that influence the growth, survival, and reproduction of other organisms. Allelopathy has been the subject of a great deal of research in chemical ecology since the 1930s. The characterization of the factors that influence this phenomenon has barely been explored, mainly due to the complexity of this area. The main aim of the research carried out to date has been to shed light on the importance of these interactions in agroecosystems, especially in relation to the interactions between crops and weeds. Herein we report the characterization of a complete allelochemical pathway involving benzoxazinones, which are known to participate in allelopathic plant defense interactions of several plants of high agronomic interest. The production of the defense chemicals by a donor plant (crop), the route and transformations of the chemicals released into the environment, and the uptake and phytotoxic effects on a target plant (weed) were all monitored. The results of this study, which is the first of its kind, allowed a complete dynamic characterization of the allelopathic phenomenon for benzoxazinones
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