Dark matter from primordial black holes would hold charge

We explore the possibility that primordial black holes (PBHs), formed early in the history of the Universe, contain electric charge down to the present day. We find that PBHs should hold a non-zero charge at their formation, sourced by both Poisson fluctuations and collisions of charged particles in the early universe. Although initial charges could be of either sign and are thought to be subject to fast discharge processes, we show that dipolar magnetic fields from rotating black holes can deviate them, avoiding their accretion or emission to infinity, regardless of the PBH mass. Moreover, we find that charged, maximally rotating PBHs produce magnetic fields able to cancel the Schwinger effect for all masses, and the Hawking emission for PBHs with M>1\,\mbox{kg}. These mechanisms could allow PBHs to maintain their charge for extended periods. At late times, we conclude that the plasma within virialised dark matter haloes can endow PBHs with a net average negative charge. We report resulting charges Q/M \sim -10^{-32}\,C/\mbox{kg} and Q/M \sim -10^{-22}\,C/\mbox{kg} for two current windows where PBHs can make up all of the dark matter; being respectively M\sim 10^{20}\,\mbox{kg} and M\sim 10^{30}\,\mbox{kg}. The charge of PBHs in haloes lies below the Schwinger limit for discharge, which would effectively make PBH dark matter slightly non-neutral to the present day. Altogether, the initial PBH charge, possible shielding against discharge, and late time negative charge accretion, show that PBHs of all masses could hold a net charge, with values about two to ten orders of magnitude lower than the maximal bound imposed by subextremal Reissner-Nordstr\"om (RN) PBHs, and even the extremal charge for Planck mass PBHs. The latter are of particular interest, as they could constitute charged stable relics, composing the entirety of dark matter in the Universe.Comment: 24 pages, 6 figures, minor changes, matches the version submitted to the journa

Characterizing the rate of spread of large wildfires in emerging fire environments of northwestern Europe using visible infrared imaging radiometer suite active fire data

In recent years fires of greater magnitude have been documented throughout northwest Europe. With several climate projections indicating future increases in fire activity in this temperate area, it is imperative to identify the status of fire in this region. This study unravels unknowns about the state of the fire regime in northwest Europe by characterizing one of the key aspects of fire behavior, the rate of spread (ROS). Using an innovative approach to cluster Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) hotspots into fire perimeter isochrones to derive ROS, we identify the effects of land cover and season on the rate of spread of 102 landscape fires that occurred between 2012 and 2022. Results reveal significant differences between land cover types, and there is a clear peak of ROS and burned area in the months of March and April. Median ROS within these peak months is approximately 0.09 km h−1 during a 12 h overpass, and 66 % of the burned area occurs in this spring period. Heightened ROS and burned area values persist in the bordering months of February and May, suggesting that these months may present the extent of the main fire season in northwest Europe. Accurate data on ROS among the represented land cover types, as well as periods of peak activity, are essential for determining periods of elevated fire risk, the effectiveness of available suppression techniques, and appropriate mitigation strategies (land and fuel management).This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 860787 (PyroLife Innovative Training Network; https://pyrolife.lessonsonfire.eu/, last access: January 2023), a project in which a new generation of experts is trained in integrated fire manageme

Climate teleconnections modulate global burned area

Climate teleconnections (CT) remotely influence weather conditions in many regions on Earth, entailing changes in primary drivers of fire activity such as vegetation biomass accumulation and moisture. We reveal significant relationships between the main global CTs and burned area that vary across and within continents and biomes according to both synchronous and lagged signals, and marked regional patterns. Overall, CTs modulate 52.9% of global burned area, the Tropical North Atlantic mode being the most relevant CT. Here, we summarized the CT-fire relationships into a set of six global CT domains that are discussed by continent, considering the underlying mechanisms relating weather patterns and vegetation types with burned area across the different world's biomes. Our findings highlight the regional CT-fire relationships worldwide, aiming to further support fire management and policy-making.We thank Lorea Garcia for her insights and useful suggestions in the interpretation of CT-fire relationships during the review process of the manuscript. This project received funding from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, project FIREPATHS (PID2020-116556RA-I00) (authors receiving funding: A.C. and M.R.) and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme MSCA-ITN-2019— Innovative Training Networks under grant agreement No. 860787 (PyroLife) (authors receiving funding: A.C., M.T. and C.S.), and the European Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101037419 (FIRE-RES) (authors receiving funding: A.C., J.R., C.S. and S.d.M.)

Psycho-emotional disorders as incoming risk factors for myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries

  Background: There is an emerging field underlying the myocardial infarction (MI) with non-obstruc­tive coronary arteries (MINOCA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of psycho-emotional disorders and social habits in MINOCA patients. Methods: The study included 95 consecutive patients diagnosed of MINOCA and 178 patients with MI and obstructive lesions. MINOCA patients were included when they fulfilled the three main criteria: accomplishment of the Third Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction, absence of obstructive coronary arteries and no clinically overt specific cause for the acute presentation. Results: MINOCA patients had a higher frequency of previous psychiatric illnesses than the obstructive coronary arteries group (29.7% vs. 12.9%, p = 0.001). MINOCA patients recognized emotional stress in 75.7% of the cases, while only 32.1% of the obstructive related group did (p < 0.001). The relation­ship remained after excluding takotsubo syndrome from the analysis (26 cases, 27.4%): psychiatric diseases (27.9% vs. 12.9%, p < 0.01) and recognition of emotional stress (70.8% vs. 32.1%, p < 0.001). Social habits which could act as stress modulating showed no significant relation with MINOCA. Conclusions: Psycho-emotional disorders are related to MINOCA and they could act as risk fac­tor. This relationship is maintained after excluding takotsubo from the analysis. (Cardiol J 2018; 25, 1: 24–31

Resinas naturales de especies vegetales mexicanas: usos actuales y potenciales

The current state of information on the resin producer Mexican flora, as well as its present and potential applications are reviewed. Plant exudates are regaining their place in the international market and Mexico has a rich coniferous flora, tropical hardwoods and temperate vines, trees, shrubs, and climbing plants which produce resins in varying amounts, having wide application in human activities. Plant exudates are considered minor forest produce (MFP) or non-timber forest products (NTFPs), and could reach or perhaps exceed the economic value of timber production. The 28 plant families mentioned in this review are widely represented in the Mexican flora; they belong to 79 genera which include species that produce resins and are documented in the technical literature. It is necessary to know them deeply in order to identify niche opportunities whether it is in the food industry, leather tanning, processing of varnish, wood preservatives or additives, as they can be viable for the sustainable management of forests and jungles, provided they are used to improve conditions for producers and workers who participate in its transformation.Se revisa el estado actual de la información sobre la flora mexicana productora de resinas, así como sus aplicaciones actuales y potenciales. Los exudados vegetales están recuperando su lugar en el mercado internacional y México posee una amplia flora de coníferas, latifoliadas tropicales y de clima templado, árboles, arbustos y trepadoras, las cuales en mayor o menor cantidad producen resinas que tienen una amplia aplicación en actividades humanas. Los exudados vegetales son considerados productos forestales menores (PFM) o productos forestales no maderables (PFNM), y pudieran alcanzar o tal vez superar el valor económico de la producción maderera. Las 28 familias botánicas mencionadas en esta revisión están representadas ampliamente en la flora mexicana, en ellas están incorporados 79 géneros, los cuales incluyen especies que está documentado en la literatura botánica que producen resinas. Es necesario conocerlas profundamente para identificar nichos de oportunidad sea en la industria alimentaria, el curtido de pieles, la elaboración de barnices, la de preservadores o de aditivos de maderas, ya que pueden ser alternativas viables para el manejo sostenible de bosques y selvas, siempre y cuando se aprovechen para mejorar las condiciones de los productores y de aquellos trabajadores que participan en su transformación

Integración : revista sobre ceguera y deficiencia visual

Resumen tomado de la publicación. El trabajo obtuvo la Mención Especial, en la modalidad 'Experiencias Escolares', en el 'XX Concurso de Investigación Educativa sobre Experiencias Escolares', convocado por la Organización Nacional de Ciegos EspañolesSe presenta la experiencia llevada a cabo en un aula de tercer curso de Educación Primaria en un centro educativo de Sevilla, consistente en la adaptación enriquecida de la unidad didáctica 'ÑLos sentidos!', de modo que sus contenidos fuesen dirigidos por igual a todo el grupo, incluido naturalmente el alumno con discapacidad visual. Se describe el planteamiento metodológico y el desarrollo de la experiencia, a través de cuatro sesiones de trabajo, denominadas 'Taller de los sentidos', '¿Cómo vemos?', 'Compensación de la ceguera: taller de braille', y 'Compensación de la ceguera: taller de técnica del guía vidente'. Se refieren también otras actividades realizadas complementariamente en Educación Física. La experiencia se valora positivamente, puesto que contribuye de forma significativa a reforzar el aprendizaje en un marco inclusivo.MadridUniversidad de Salamanca. Facultad de Educación; Paseo Canalejas, 169; 37008 Salamanca; Tel. +34923294630; +34923294609; [email protected]

Unexpected Angiographic Finding: a Remnant Guidewire

Nos hemos encontrado con una complicación muy inusual durante el intervencionismo coronario, restos de una guía de angioplastia abandonados en una de las arterias coronarias. Además de las interesantes imágenes, existe controversia en el manejo de estos casos, y nos gustaría mostrar nuestro resultado, con un seguimiento de cuatro años.

Current Situation and Perspectives of Fruit Annonaceae in Mexico: Biological and Agronomic Importance and Bioactive Properties

The Annonaceae family is one of the oldest angiosperms. The genus Annona is the one with the most species and, together with Asimina, the only ones that contain edible fruits. In the last 10 years, interest in these fruit species has increased, mainly due to their nutritional properties and their application in the treatment of human diseases. Mexico is the center of origin for most of them. However, at present much of the basic agronomic information, postharvest handling of the fruits, and their potential as new crops for areas with poor soils in organic matter or semi-dry climates is unknown. It is considered that these custard apple species may be an option to change towards instead of crops that have lost profitability and sustainability. A review of the current state of knowledge in different areas of the species A. muricata, A. macroprophyllata, A. reticulata, A. squamosa, and A. cherimola was carried out and to focus research efforts on the topics of greatest interest and on those where is required to achieve a sustainable production and use of these resources in Mexico. However, knowledge about the cultivation and potential uses of these species is needed to increase their commercialization; the integration of interdisciplinary and interinstitutional groups is required