Transformations due to mylonitization processes in granitic rocks

[Resumen] El objetivo de este estudio es determinar las transformaciones, tanto a nivel mineralógico como textural, experimentadas por rocas graníticas tardihercínicas afectadas por procesos de milonitización en el sector oriental de la Sierra de Gredos (Sistema Central Español). De igual modQ se intenta determinar la influencia de dichas transformaciones en la composición química de las rocas milonitizadas . El incremento progresivo de la deformación provoca una serie de transformaciones texturales en las que a partir de granitoides de grano grueso porfídicos se generan unas milonitas porfidoclásticas planolineares en el núcleo de la banda de fractura. Desde el punto de vista mineralógico se aprecia una total trituración y degradación de la biotita, que se transforma a clorita de grano muy fino dispersa en la matriz milonítica. También se observan ciertas removilizaciones de feldespato potásico y albita y reajustes metamórficos de bajo grado (en facies de esquistos verdes). Los cambios composicionales acompañantes consisten en un enriquecimiento en Si02, CaO y Na20 en la zona de máxima milonitización y un empobrecimiento en K20 y P20 S en el mismo sentido. En cuanto a los elementos traza, tan sólo Rb y Sr muestran un ligero empobrecimiento en la zona milonítica.[Abstract] The aim of this paper is the determination of the textural and mineralogical transformations introduced in late-Hercynian granitic rocks which have undergone mylonitization processes in the Eastern Sierra de Gredos (Spanish Central System). It also is intended to determine the influence of such changes on the chemical composition of the mylonitic rocks. The progressive increasing of strain causes a series of textural transformations in the originally porphyritic, coarse-grained granitoids leading to formation of porphyroclastic mylonitic rocks with development of planelinear fabrics at the core of the fracture zone. From a mineralogical point of view, transformation~ consist in entire crushing and degradation of biotite, which converts into very fine-grained chlorite disseminated within the mylonitic matrix. Likewise, K-feldspar and albite remobilizations and low grade (greenschists facies) metamorphic readjustments can be observed. The accompanying compositional changes are Si02, CaO and Na20 enrichment and K20 and P20S impoverishment towards the zone of maximum mylonitization. Concerning the trace elements, only Rb and Sr show a weak impoverishment within the mylonitic zone

ACAT1, Cav-1, and PrP expression in brains and skin fibroblasts from Sarda breed sheep with scrapie-resistant and scrapie-susceptible genotype.

Scrapie is an infective ovine neurodegenerative disease; the only identified component of the infectious agent being an aberrant isoform (PrPSc) of the cellular prion protein (PrPC). So far, no means for ante-mortem diagnosis are available for Scrapie as well as for any other mammal Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopaties. We recently found a strong relationship between cell susceptibility to scrapie-infection and intracellular cholesterol homeostasis alterations. In brain tissues as well as in ex vivo cultures of skin fibroblasts and PBMCs from healthy and scrapie-affected sheep carrying a scrapie-susceptible (ARQ/ARQ) genotype, the levels of cholesterol esters were consistently higher than in tissues and cultures derived from animals with a scrapie-resistant (ARR/ARR) genotype. Moreover, both uninfected and scrapie-affected ARQ/ARQ sheep showed abnormally low levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) in their plasma, as compared to ARR/ARR animals. We now show that intracellular accumulation of cholesterol esters in fibroblasts derived from scrapie-susceptible sheep was accompanied by parallel alterations in the expression level of genes and gene products (ACAT1 and Cav-1) that are involved in the pathways leading to intracellular cholesterol esterification and trafficking. Comparative analysis of PrPc mRNA, showed an higher expression level in cells from animals carrying susceptible genotype, with or without Scrapie. Preliminary experiments also revealed the presence of PK-resistant PrP isoforms in the latter cultures. The data reported in the present paper suggest that accumulation of cholesterol esters in peripheral cells, together with the altered expression of some proteins implicated in intracellular cholesterol homeostasis, might serve to identify a distinctive lipid metabolic profile associated with increased susceptibility to develop prion disease following infection

Investigating the high-frequency spectral features of SNRs Tycho, W44 and IC443 with the Sardinia Radio Telescope

The main characteristics in the radio continuum spectra of Supernova Remnants (SNRs) result from simple synchrotron emission. In addition, electron acceleration mechanisms can shape the spectra in specific ways, especially at high radio frequencies. These features are connected to the age and the peculiar conditions of the local interstellar medium interacting with the SNR. Whereas the bulk radio emission is expected at up to $20-50$ GHz, sensitive high-resolution images of SNRs above 10 GHz are lacking and are not easily achievable, especially in the confused regions of the Galactic Plane. In the framework of the early science observations with the Sardinia Radio Telescope in February-March 2016, we obtained high-resolution images of SNRs Tycho, W44 and IC443 that provided accurate integrated flux density measurements at 21.4 GHz: 8.8 $\pm$ 0.9 Jy for Tycho, 25 $\pm$ 3 Jy for W44 and 66 $\pm$ 7 Jy for IC443. We coupled the SRT measurements with radio data available in the literature in order to characterise the integrated and spatially-resolved spectra of these SNRs, and to find significant frequency- and region-dependent spectral slope variations. For the first time, we provide direct evidence of a spectral break in the radio spectral energy distribution of W44 at an exponential cutoff frequency of 15 $\pm$ 2 GHz. This result constrains the maximum energy of the accelerated electrons in the range $6-13$ GeV, in agreement with predictions indirectly derived from AGILE and \textit{Fermi}-LAT gamma-ray observations. With regard to IC443, our results confirm the noticeable presence of a bump in the integrated spectrum around $20-70$ GHz that could result from a spinning dust emission mechanism.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figure

Petrological and chronological considerations on the hercynian granitic rocks from Galicia (NW Spain)

[Resumen] Se realiza un estudio sobre más de 600 análisis químicos correspondientes a los diversos grupos de granitoides hercínicos de Galicia, y se establecen valores medios representativos para la composición química mayoritaria de estos grupos. La comparación con las medias previamente establecidas para el N. O. de Galicia, permite observar un desplazamiento hacia términos composicionales más ácidospara el conjunto de los granitoides sincinemáticos más profundos, que resulta notablemente más acentuado en el grupo de los granitoides sincinemáticos predominantemente biotíticos. Para los granitoides postcinemáticos, las desviaciones observadas son en cambio poco significativas. El examen de los datos normativos medios, pone en evidencia un carácter peralumínico generalizado para todo el conjunto, apreciándose no obstante un drástico descenso en el contenido en corindón para los granitoides postcinemáticos, que marca una distribución bimodal para este componente normativo. La clasificación petrológica con base en la mineralogía normativa pone de manifiesto un espectro composicional que fluctúa esencialmente entre granitos y monzogranitos, con muy escasa representación de los términos granodior1ticos. La variabilidad observada para los elementos mayores más signiflcativos presenta pautas poco dispersivas. Los espectros de tierras raras tienen una configuración muy similar para los granitoides precoces predominantemente biotíticos, los granitos de dos micas sincinemáticos y los granitoides inhomogéneos, con anomalías negativas de Eu poco acentuadas. Por el contrario, los granitoides tardicinemáticos someros y los granitoides post-cinemáticos, presentan también espectros bastante similares entre sí, con anomalís negativas de Eu que pueden ser considerables. Las dataciones cronológicas efectuadas por el método de Rb-Sr en roca total en algunos de los plutones post-cinemáticos se encuentran en un intervalo aproximado de 275-287 m. a., mientras que la mayoría de las dataciones sobre unidades sincinemáticas de dos micas y predominantemente biotíticas fluctúan entre 295 y 323 m. a., aunque se encuentran algunos datos fuera de este entorno, que precisan futuras verificaciones..[Abstract] A survey over more than 600 chemical analysis of Hercynian granitic rocks from Galicia is presented, and a new set of representative mean compositional values of the main groups is calculated. In general, these new mean values are richer in Si02 than the previously available ones. This difference is more conspicous in the biotite rich synkinematic group, and is minium in the postkynematic granitoids. The average normative compostion, shows a systematic peraluminous character for aH the granitoids. However, the group of postkynematic granitoids, are poorer in normative corundum than the other groups, which results in a bimodal distribution of this normative component. The normative petrological c1assification shows a compositional spectrúm ranging mainly from granites to monzogranites. The Granodioritic rocks are very scarce. The variation trends for the main mayor elements display patterns with little dispersion. The REE spectra for the biotite rich synkinematic granites, two mica synkinematic granites and inhomogenous granites are very similar, and show negligible Eu anomalies. By contrast, the shaHow level intrusion late-kynematic and postkynematic granites, display conspicous Eu anomalies and have similar spectra patterns, but different from the previously referred ones. Whole-rock-Rb-Sr ages for the postkynematic plutons range from 287 to 275 M. y. The majority of the data the synkinematic units range from 323 to 295 M. y. However, sorne chronological data faH out of these intervals, showing the need of further studies

All-optical trapping and acceleration of heavy particles

A scheme for fast, compact, and controllable acceleration of heavy particles in vacuum is proposed, in which two counterpropagating lasers with variable frequencies drive a beat-wave structure with variable phase velocity, thus allowing for trapping and acceleration of heavy particles, such as ions or muons. Fine control over the energy distribution and the total charge of the beam is obtained via tuning of the frequency variation. The acceleration scheme is described with a one-dimensional theory, providing the general conditions for trapping and scaling laws for the relevant features of the particle beam. Two-dimensional, electromagnetic particle-in-cell simulations confirm the validity and the robustness of the physical mechanism.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, to appear in New Journal of Physic

El componente P300 como correlato neurofisiológico de la memoria de trabajo conductual en adolescentes con trastorno por déficit de atención/hiperactividad

Deficit in the executive functions has been widely studied in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The interest in its neurophysiological correlates has led to an immprovement in the identification of the symptoms, the characteristics and the treatment of the disorder. The objective of this study was to analyse the correlation between latency and amplitude of the P300 component and an ecological measure of working memory in a sample of adolescents. Patients and methods. The sample consisted of 24 boys and 7 girls aged between 12 and 18 years. P300 cognitive evoked potentials in auditory mode at Cz were registered and analysed. Furthermore, the parents filled in an executive behaviour home rating scale (BRIEF), which the working memory index was extracted from. Results. Significant correlations were found between the P300 amplitude and the working memory index of the BRIEF-P. Conclusions. Results underline the usefulness of the P300 component for the study of its executive correlates, as well as the need to conduct further studies involving larger samples and greater complexityIntroducción. El déficit en funciones ejecutivas ha sido ampliamente estudiado en el trastorno por déficit de atención/hiperactividad (TDAH). El interés por sus correlatos neurofisiológicos apunta a una mejora en la identificación de los síntomas, las características y los tratamientos para el trastorno. Objetivo. Analizar, en una muestra de adolescentes con TDAH, la correlación entre la latencia y amplitud del componente P300 y una medida ecológica de memoria de trabajo. Pacientes y métodos. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 24 chicos y 7 chicas de 12 a 18 años. Se realizó un registro y análisis de potenciales evocados cognitivos P300 en modalidad auditiva en Cz. Además, los padres cumplimentaron una escala de comportamiento ejecutivo en el hogar (BRIEF), de la que se extrajo el índice de memoria de trabajo. Resultados. Se hallaron correlaciones significativas entre la amplitud del P300 y el índice de memoria de trabajo del BRIEF-P. Conclusión. Los resultados enfatizan la utilidad del componente P300 para el estudio de sus correlatos ejecutivos, y la necesidad de ampliar con estudios que aporten mayores muestras y mayor complejidad

Potenciales evocados y funcionamiento ejecutivo en niños con trastorno por déficit de atención/hiperactividad

Cognitive evoked potentials (P300) have been core of interest in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) research. The identification of its relationship with the most ecological aspects of executive dysfunction involves a link between neurophysiological and functional frames for a better treatment approach and monitoring of the evolution of the disorder. To explore the differences in latency and amplitude of P300 component in Cz, Fz and Pz, between ADHD and no- ADHD children, and to analyze the correlations between variables of P300 and indexes of a measurement of executive functioning at homeLos potenciales evocados cognitivos (P300) han sido centro de interés en el estudio del trastorno por déficit de atención/hiperactividad (TDAH). Identificar su relación con los aspectos más ecológicos del déficit ejecutivo supone una conexión entre el ámbito neurofisiológico y funcional para un mejor abordaje del tratamiento y seguimiento de la evolución del trastorno. Explorar las diferencias en latencia y amplitud del componente P300 entre un grupo de niños con TDAH y un grupo de controles sin TDAH, y examinar las correlaciones entre las variables del P300 y los índices de una medida de funcionamiento ejecutivo en el hogar

Imaging of SNR IC443 and W44 with the Sardinia Radio Telescope at 1.5 GHz and 7 GHz

Observations of supernova remnants (SNRs) are a powerful tool for investigating the later stages of stellar evolution, the properties of the ambient interstellar medium, and the physics of particle acceleration and shocks. For a fraction of SNRs, multi-wavelength coverage from radio to ultra high-energies has been provided, constraining their contributions to the production of Galactic cosmic rays. Although radio emission is the most common identifier of SNRs and a prime probe for refining models, high-resolution images at frequencies above 5 GHz are surprisingly lacking, even for bright and well-known SNRs such as IC443 and W44. In the frameworks of the Astronomical Validation and Early Science Program with the 64-m single-dish Sardinia Radio Telescope, we provided, for the first time, single-dish deep imaging at 7 GHz of the IC443 and W44 complexes coupled with spatially-resolved spectra in the 1.5-7 GHz frequency range. Our images were obtained through on-the-fly mapping techniques, providing antenna beam oversampling and resulting in accurate continuum flux density measurements. The integrated flux densities associated with IC443 are S_1.5GHz = 134 +/- 4 Jy and S_7GHz = 67 +/- 3 Jy. For W44, we measured total flux densities of S_1.5GHz = 214 +/- 6 Jy and S_7GHz = 94 +/- 4 Jy. Spectral index maps provide evidence of a wide physical parameter scatter among different SNR regions: a flat spectrum is observed from the brightest SNR regions at the shock, while steeper spectral indices (up to 0.7) are observed in fainter cooling regions, disentangling in this way different populations and spectra of radio/gamma-ray-emitting electrons in these SNRs.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication to MNRAS on 18 May 201