6,752 research outputs found
Searching for signatures of planet formation in stars with circumstellar debris discs
(Abridged) Tentative correlations between the presence of dusty debris discs
and low-mass planets have been presented. In parallel, detailed chemical
abundance studies have reported different trends between samples of planet and
non-planet hosts. We determine in a homogeneous way the metallicity, and
abundances of a sample of 251 stars including stars with known debris discs,
with debris discs and planets, and only with planets. Stars with debris discs
and planets have the same [Fe/H] behaviour as stars hosting planets, and they
also show a similar -Tc trend. Different behaviour in the -Tc
trend is found between the samples of stars without planets and the samples of
planet hosts. In particular, when considering only refractory elements,
negative slopes are shown in cool giant planet hosts, whilst positive ones are
shown in stars hosting low-mass planets. Stars hosting exclusively close-in
giant planets show higher metallicities and positive -Tc slope. A
search for correlations between the -Tc slopes and the stellar
properties reveals a moderate but significant correlation with the stellar
radius and as well as a weak correlation with the stellar age. The fact that
stars with debris discs and stars with low-mass planets do not show neither
metal enhancement nor a different -Tc trend might indicate a
correlation between the presence of debris discs and the presence of low-mass
planets. We extend results from previous works which reported differences in
the -Tc trends between planet hosts and non hosts. However, these
differences tend to be present only when the star hosts a cool distant planet
and not in stars hosting exclusively low-mass planets.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic
Systematic evaluation of software product line architectures
The architecture of a software product line is one of its most important artifacts as it represents an abstraction of the products that can be generated. It is crucial to evaluate the quality attributes of a product line architecture in order to: increase the productivity of the product line process and the quality of the products; provide a means to understand the potential behavior of the products and, consequently, decrease their time to market; and, improve the handling of the product line variability. The evaluation of product line architecture can serve as a basis to analyze the managerial and economical values of a product line for software managers and architects. Most of the current research on the evaluation of product line architecture does not take into account metrics directly obtained from UML models and their variabilities; the metrics used instead are difficult to be applied in general and to be used for quantitative analysis. This paper presents a Systematic Evaluation Method for UML-based Software Product Line Architecture, the SystEM-PLA. SystEM-PLA differs from current research as it provides stakeholders with a means to: (i) estimate and analyze potential products; (ii) use predefined basic UML-based metrics to compose quality attribute metrics; (iii) perform feasibility and trade-off analysis of a product line architecture with respect to its quality attributes; and, (iv) make the evaluation of product line architecture more flexible. An example using the SEI’s Arcade Game Maker (AGM) product line is presented as a proof of concept, illustrating SystEM-PLA activities. Metrics for complexity and extensibility quality attributes are defined and used to
perform a trade-off analysis
Linearly independent pure-state decomposition and quantum state discrimination
We put the pure-state decomposition mathematical property of a mixed state to
a physical test. We begin by characterizing all the possible decompositions of
a rank-two mixed state by means of the complex overlap between two involved
states. The physical test proposes a scheme of quantum state recognition of one
of the two linearly independent states which arise from the decomposition. We
find that the two states associated with the balanced pure-state decomposition
have the smaller overlap modulus and therefore the smallest probability of
being discriminated conclusively, while in the nonconclusive scheme they have
the highest probability of having an error. In addition, we design an
experimental scheme which allows to discriminate conclusively and optimally two
nonorthogonal states prepared with different a priori probabilities. Thus, we
propose a physical implementation for this linearly independent pure-state
decomposition and state discrimination test by using twin photons generated in
the process of spontaneous parametric down conversion. The information-state is
encoded in one photon polarization state whereas the second single-photon is
used for heralded detection.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Computational Simulations of a Mach 0.745 Transonic Truss-Braced Wing Design
A joint effort between the NASA Ames and Langley Research Centers was undertaken to analyze the Mach 0.745 variant of the Boeing Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW) Design. Two different flow solvers, LAVA and USM3D, were used to predict the TTBW flight performance. Sensitivity studies related to mesh resolution and numerical schemes were conducted to define best practices for this type of geometry and flow regime. Validation efforts compared the numerical simulation results of various modeling methods against experimental data taken from the NASA Ames 11-foot Unitary Wind Tunnel experimental data. The fidelity of the computational representation of the wind tunnel experiment, such as utilizing a porous wall boundary condition to model the ventilated test section, was varied to examine how different tunnel effects influence CFD predictions. LAVA and USM3D results both show an approximate 0.5 angle of attack shift from experimental lift curve data. This drove an investigation that revealed that the trailing edge of the experimental model was rounded in comparison to the CAD model, due to manufacturing tolerances, which had not been accounted for in the initial simulations of the experiment. Simulating the TTBW with an approximation of this rounded trailing-edge reduces error by approximately 60%. An accurate representation of the tested TTBW geometry, ideally including any wing twists and deflections experienced during the test under various loading conditions, will be necessary for proper validation of the CFD
Drivers of and barriers to the SME internationalisation process in a small open economy
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have actively increased their participation in international markets. This research's primary objective was to identify, based on 11 case studies, the main barriers to and drivers of the SME internationalisation process in a small open economy. Content analysis of in-depth interviews used Leximancer software to identify 7 themes that describe both internal and external barriers and 12 themes that characterise drivers, which were classified into five groups: SME human capital, technology, institutional support, networks and other drivers.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Transcriptomic analysis of the hepatic response to stress in the red cusk-eel (Genypterus chilensis): Insights into lipid metabolism, oxidative stress and liver steatosis
Indexación: Scopus.Teleosts exhibit a broad divergence in their adaptive response to stress, depending on the magnitude, duration, and frequency of stressors and the species receiving the stimulus. We have previously reported that the red cusk-eel (Genypterus chilensis), an important marine farmed fish, shows a physiological response to stress that results in increased skeletal muscle atrophy mediated by over-expression of components of the ubiquitin proteasome and autophagy-lysosomal systems. To better understand the systemic effects of stress on the red cusk-eel metabolism, the present study assessed the transcriptomic hepatic response to repetitive handling-stress. Using high-Throughput RNA-seq, 259 up-regulated transcripts were found, mostly associated with angiogenesis, gluconeogenesis, and triacylglyceride catabolism. Conversely, 293 transcripts were down-regulated, associated to cholesterol biosynthesis, PPARα signaling, fatty acid biosynthesis, and glycolysis. This gene signature was concordant with hepatic metabolite levels and hepatic oxidative damage. Moreover, the increased plasmatic levels of AST (aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (alanine aminotransferase) and AP (alkaline phosphatase), as well as liver histology suggest stress-induced liver steatosis. This study offers an integrative molecular and biochemical analysis of the hepatic response to handling-stress, and reveals unknown aspects of lipid metabolism in a non-model teleost.http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.017644
Incidence of debris discs around FGK stars in the solar neighbourhood
Debris discs are a consequence of the planet formation process and constitute
the fingerprints of planetesimal systems. Their solar system's counterparts are
the asteroid and Edgeworth-Kuiper belts. The aim of this paper is to provide
robust numbers for the incidence of debris discs around FGK stars in the solar
neighbourhood. The full sample of 177 FGK stars with d<20 pc proposed for the
DUNES survey is presented. Herschel/PACS observations at 100 and 160 micron
complemented with data at 70 micron, and at 250, 350 and 500 micron SPIRE
photometry, were obtained. The 123 objects observed by the DUNES collaboration
were presented in a previous paper. The remaining 54 stars, shared with the
DEBRIS consortium and observed by them, and the combined full sample are
studied in this paper. The incidence of debris discs per spectral type is
analysed and put into context together with other parameters of the sample,
like metallicity, rotation and activity, and age.
The subsample of 105 stars with d<15 pc containing 23 F, 33 G and 49 K stars,
is complete for F stars, almost complete for G stars and contains a substantial
number of K stars to draw solid conclusions on objects of this spectral type.
The incidence rates of debris discs per spectral type 0.26 (6 objects with
excesses out of 23 F stars), 0.21 (7 out of 33 G stars) and 0.20 (10 out of 49
K stars), the fraction for all three spectral types together being 0.22 (23 out
of 105 stars). Uncertainties corresponding to a 95% confidence level are given
in the text for all these numbers. The medians of the upper limits of
L_dust/L_* for each spectral type are 7.8E-7 (F), 1.4E-6 (G) and 2.2E-6 (K);
the lowest values being around 4.0E-7. The incidence of debris discs is similar
for active (young) and inactive (old) stars. The fractional luminosity tends to
drop with increasing age, as expected from collisional erosion of the debris
belts.Comment: 31 pages, 15 figures, 10 tables, 2 appendice
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