172 research outputs found
Gravitational Faraday rotation in a weak gravitational field
We examine the rotation of the plane of polarization for linearly polarized
light rays by the weak gravitational field of an isolated physical system.
Based on the rotation of inertial frames, we review the general integral
expression for the net rotation. We apply this formula, analogue to the usual
electromagnetic Faraday effect, to some interesting astrophysical systems:
uniformly shifting mass monopoles and a spinning external shell.Comment: 10 pages; accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Polarized inclusive leptoproduction, , and the hadron helicity density matrix, : possible measurements and predictions
We discuss the production of hadrons in polarized lepton nucleon interactions
and in the current jet fragmentation region; using the QCD hard scattering
formalism we compute the helicity density matrix of the hadron and show how its
elements, when measurable, can give information on the spin structure of the
nucleon and the spin dependence of the quark fragmentation process. The cases
of vector mesons and baryons are considered in more details
and, within simplifying assumptions, some estimates are given.Comment: 17 pages + 4 figures, plain LATeX, figures appended as uuencoded,
compressed postscript fil
ALPGEN, a generator for hard multiparton processes in hadronic collisions
This paper presents a new event generator, ALPGEN, dedicated to the study of
multiparton hard processes in hadronic collisions. The code performs, at the
leading order in QCD and EW interactions, the calculation of the exact matrix
elements for a large set of parton-level processes of interest in the study of
the Tevatron and LHC data. The current version of the code describes the
following final states: (W -> ffbar') QQbar+ N jets (Q being a heavy quark, and
f=l,q), with N f fbar)+QQbar+Njets (f=l,nu), with N
ffbar') + charm + N jets (f=l,q), N f fbar') + N jets (f=l,q) and
(Z/gamma* -> f fbar)+ N jets (f=l,nu), with N<=6; nW+mZ+lH+N jets, with
n+m+l+N<=8 and N<=3 including all 2-fermion decay modes of W and Z bosons, with
spin correlations; Q Qbar+N jets (N b f fbar' decays and relative
spin correlations included if Q=t; Q Qbar Q' Qbar'+N jets, with Q and Q' heavy
quarks (possibly equal) and N b f fbar'
decays and relative spin correlations included if Q=t; N jets, with N<=6.
Parton-level events are generated, providing full information on their colour
and flavour structure, enabling the evolution of the partons into fully
hadronised final states.Comment: 1+38 pages, uses JHEP.cls. Documents code version 1.2: extended list
of processes, updated documentation and bibliograph
Accelerated Cosmological Models in First-Order Non-Linear Gravity
The evidence of the acceleration of universe at present time has lead to
investigate modified theories of gravity and alternative theories of gravity,
which are able to explain acceleration from a theoretical viewpoint without the
need of introducing dark energy. In this paper we study alternative
gravitational theories defined by Lagrangians which depend on general functions
of the Ricci scalar invariant in minimal interaction with matter, in view of
their possible cosmological applications. Structural equations for the
spacetimes described by such theories are solved and the corresponding field
equations are investigated in the Palatini formalism, which prevents
instability problems. Particular examples of these theories are also shown to
provide, under suitable hypotheses, a coherent theoretical explanation of
earlier results concerning the present acceleration of the universe and
cosmological inflation. We suggest moreover a new possible Lagrangian,
depending on the inverse of sinh(R), which gives an explanation to the present
acceleration of the universe.Comment: 23 pages, Revtex4 fil
Conformal aspects of Palatini approach in Extended Theories of Gravity
The debate on the physical relevance of conformal transformations can be
faced by taking the Palatini approach into account to gravitational theories.
We show that conformal transformations are not only a mathematical tool to
disentangle gravitational and matter degrees of freedom (passing from the
Jordan frame to the Einstein frame) but they acquire a physical meaning
considering the bi-metric structure of Palatini approach which allows to
distinguish between spacetime structure and geodesic structure. Examples of
higher-order and non-minimally coupled theories are worked out and relevant
cosmological solutions in Einstein frame and Jordan frames are discussed
showing that also the interpretation of cosmological observations can
drastically change depending on the adopted frame
Historical separation and present-day structure of common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) populations in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
The common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) is an epipelagic, mid-trophic level, highly migratory species distributed throughout the
world’s tropical and subtropical oceans in waters greater than 20C. Life-history variables, migratory behaviour, and genetic markers have
been used to define major stocks in the central Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Here, we used the mitochondrial DNA gene NADH
subunit 1 (688 bp) to test for differences between population groups. A total of 103 haplotypes were detected among 203 fish. Gene diversities in samples were large and similar among populations (mean h ¼ 0.932; range 0.894–0.987), but nucleotide diversities varied widely among
samples (range p ¼ 0.004–0.034) and appear to reflect population histories. Principal component analysis revealed two large populations
groups, and the analysis of molecular variation and pairwise values of UST resolved population structure within these groups. Populations in
the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean showed the largest amounts of divergence from one another (UCT ¼ 0.331). Adult movement and
biophysical barriers to larval dispersal may explain contemporary differences between stocks, but the divergent populations in the Mediterranean Sea are likely due to isolations by cold temperature barriers during Pleistocene glaciations. The geographically large stock
groupings require international cooperation in the harvest management and conservation of local dolphinfish populations
Optimization of conventional and ultrasound assisted extraction of flavonoids from grapefruit (Citrus paradisi L.) solid wastes
Flavonoid compounds from grapefruit wastes were obtained by conventional solid liquid extraction (CE) and ultrasound assisted extraction (USE). Naringin was by far the most abundant flavonoid in the extracts ranging from 18 to 28 mg/g dw for CE and 24-36 mg/g dw for USE. Response surface methodology allowed obtaining predictive models for total phenolic content (TPC) and total antioxidant activity (TAA) as a function of the process variables ethanol concentration (Etc) (defined as weight of ethanol/weight of solution), temperature (T) and time (t) with reasonable success (CE-TPC, R-2 = 0.86, CE-TAA, R-2 = 0.85; USE-TPC, R-2 = 0.82; USE, TAA, R-2 = 0.86). USE was very effective when compared with conventional solvent extraction, allowing higher extraction yields (on average TPC 50% and TAA 66% higher) with lower temperatures and extraction times. Although the optimum process conditions indicate the use of a low ethanol concentration and ultrasounds (T = 25 degrees C, EtC = 0.4 (g/g) (40 g/100 g) and t = 55 min leading to TPC = 80.0 mg GAE/g dw and TAA = 38.3 mmol trolox/g dw), it has been proved that an USE treatment free of organic solvent (EtC = 0 g/g), at moderate temperature (25 degrees C) and short time (t = 3 min) leads to similar results (TPC = 753 mg GAE/g dw and TAA = 31.9 mmol trolox/g dw), suggesting its use for economic and environmental purposes.The authors acknowledge the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (Spain) for its financial support through the project 1965 (PAID05-11).Garcia-Castello, EM.; Rodríguez López, AD.; Mayor López, L.; Ballesteros, R.; Conidi, C.; Cassano, A. (2015). Optimization of conventional and ultrasound assisted extraction of flavonoids from grapefruit (Citrus paradisi L.) solid wastes. Food Science and Technology. 64(2):1114-1122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2015.07.024S1114112264
Evidence for a mixed mass composition at the `ankle' in the cosmic-ray spectrum
We report a first measurement for ultra-high energy cosmic rays of the
correlation between the depth of shower maximum and the signal in the water
Cherenkov stations of air-showers registered simultaneously by the fluorescence
and the surface detectors of the Pierre Auger Observatory. Such a correlation
measurement is a unique feature of a hybrid air-shower observatory with
sensitivity to both the electromagnetic and muonic components. It allows an
accurate determination of the spread of primary masses in the cosmic-ray flux.
Up till now, constraints on the spread of primary masses have been dominated by
systematic uncertainties. The present correlation measurement is not affected
by systematics in the measurement of the depth of shower maximum or the signal
in the water Cherenkov stations. The analysis relies on general characteristics
of air showers and is thus robust also with respect to uncertainties in
hadronic event generators. The observed correlation in the energy range around
the `ankle' at differs significantly from
expectations for pure primary cosmic-ray compositions. A light composition made
up of proton and helium only is equally inconsistent with observations. The
data are explained well by a mixed composition including nuclei with mass . Scenarios such as the proton dip model, with almost pure compositions, are
thus disfavoured as the sole explanation of the ultrahigh-energy cosmic-ray
flux at Earth.Comment: Published version. Added journal reference and DOI. Added Report
Numbe
ACTA OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGICA ITALICA
La neurofibromatosi tipo 2 [NF2] è una malattia genetica a trasmissione autosomica dominante [MIM # 101000]. Clinicamente è caratterizzata da: (1) schwannomi bilaterali del (VIII) nervo acustico/vestibolare; (2) cataratta giovanile o amartomi retinici; (3) schwannomi a carico dei nervi periferici e dei nervi cranici; (4) tumori multipli del sistema nervoso centrale (es., meningiomi, astrocitomi, ependimomi); (5) lesioni cutanee: (a) placche NF2 (schwannomi cutanei); (b) (poche) macchie caffellatte; (6) malformazioni dello sviluppo corticale cerebrale. La prevalenza della (forma sintomatica di) NF2 nella popolazione generale è di 1 su 100.000-200.000 individui con unincidenza di 1 su 33.000 nati. La forma classica a esordio nel giovane adulto è conosciuta come forma di Gardner, (esordio intorno ai 20-30 anni detà) con manifestazioni legate agli schwannomi bilaterali del nervo acustico/vestibolare (diminuzione/perdita progressiva delludito, tinnito, vertigini) e/o più raramente con manifestazioni da (altri) tumori del sistema nervoso centrale e/o periferico. In età pediatrica il fenotipo è diverso (forma di Wishart): per primi compaiono abitualmente i tumori del sistema nervoso centrale in assenza di schwannomi vestibolari; si possono avere macchie caffellatte e placche NF2 e solo dopo anni i tumori del nervo cranico VIII e di altri nervi cranici. Il quadro è più grave. Esiste anche una forma congenita ad esordio nei primi giorni/mesi di vita, con schwannomi vestibolari di piccole dimensioni (stabili nel tempo: anche per anni/decenni ma con improvvisa e rapida progressione) e numerose placche NF2; in questa forma le altre manifestazioni (es. meningiomi, altri tumori, altri schwannomi) sono spesso più gravi e progressive delle altre forme. Il gene responsabile della NF2 è localizzato sul cromosoma 22q12.1. Il prodotto genico della NF2 è conosciuto con il nome di schwannomina o merlina [dalla famiglia di proteine 4.1 del tipo moesina-ezrina-radixina/ERM alla quale appartiene il gene della NF2) e ha funzioni di regolazione della crescita e del rimodellamento cellulare (soppressione della crescita cellulare e della tumorigenesi)]. Alcune persone possono presentare tutte le (o parte delle) manifestazioni della NF2 in un emilato o in segmenti corporei circoscritti [NF2 a mosaico]. Altre persone presentano schwannomi (confermati istologicamente) dei nervi periferici (non intradermici) e/o delle radici gangliari in assenza di tumori del nervo vestibolare (o di altri nervi cranici: anche se in alcuni casi vi possono essere anche tumori unilaterali o bilaterali del nervo acustico/vestibolare e/o dei nervi cranici misti) o di altri segni diagnostici per la NF2 [Schwannomatosi, SWNTS]. Lesordio in questa forma è intorno ai 30 anni detà (sono conosciuti casi in età pediatrica) con tumori in svariate sedi (abitualmente tronco e arti). Si conoscono due forme principali: (1) SWNTS1 [MIM # 162091] causata da alterazioni del gene SMARCB1 [regolatore della cromatina actina-dipendente associato alla matrice e correlato alle proteina SWI/SBF, sub-famiglia B, membro di tipo 1; MIM # 601607], sul cromosoma 22q11.23 (posizione centromerica rispetto al gene della NF2); (2) SWNTS2 [MIM # 615670] causata da alterazioni del gene LZTR1 [regolatore della trascrizione di tipo 1 legato alla Leucina; MIM # 600574], cromosoma 22q11.21 (posizione centromerica rispetto al gene SMARCB1) che codifica per una proteina, membro della super-famiglia BTB-kelch. Il meccanismo molecolare della Schwannomatosi comprende: (1) mutazione germinale del gene SMARCB1 o del gene LZTR1; (2) ampia delezione allinterno del cromosoma 22 (con perdita del gene NF2 e dellallele intatto SMARCB1 o LZTR1); e (3) mutazione somatica dellallele intatto del gene NF2 [meccanismo conosciuto come four hits: Quadrupla alterazione (su entrambi gli alleli dei due geni SWNTS/NF2), con tre passaggi consecutivi]. Negli ultimi anni, accanto alle tradizionali terapie chirurgiche e/o radioterapiche sono stati anche impiegati diversi farmaci biologici (es., Lapatinib e Bevacizumab) con effetti di riduzione/arresto della crescita dei tipici tumori NF2
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