Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics simulations of the core-degenerate scenario for Type Ia supernovae

The core-degenerate (CD) scenario for type Ia supernovae (SN Ia) involves the merger of the hot core of an asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star and a white dwarf, and might contribute a non-negligible fraction of all thermonuclear supernovae. Despite its potential interest, very few studies, and based on only crude simplifications, have been devoted to investigate this possible scenario, compared with the large efforts invested to study some other scenarios. Here we perform the first three-dimensional simulations of the merger phase, and find that this process can lead to the formation of a massive white dwarf, as required by this scenario. We consider two situations, according to the mass of the circumbinary disk formed around the system during the final stages of the common envelope phase. If the disk is massive enough, the stars merge on a highly eccentric orbit. Otherwise, the merger occurs after the circumbinary disk has been ejected and gravitational wave radiation has brought the stars close to the Roche lobe radius on a nearly circular orbit. Not surprisingly, the overall characteristics of the merger remnants are similar to those found for the double-degenerate (DD) scenario, independently of the very different core temperature and of the orbits of the merging stars. They consist of a central massive white dwarf, surrounded by a hot, rapidly rotating corona and a thick debris region.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Perancangan Komik Digital Menggunakan Aplikasi Line Webtoon Tentang Pola Makan Sesuai Golongan Darah Untuk Remaja

Komik digital ini dibuat untuk memberikan informasi kepada remaja SMP dan SMA tentang pentingnya menjaga kesehatan dengan mengatur pola makan sesuai golongan darah

Exploring the sustainable production of ammonia by recycling N and H in biological residues: Evolution of fuel-N during glutamic acid gasification

In this work, the recycling of nitrogen and hydrogen from nitrogen-rich (N-rich) biological residues via autothermal gasification has been proposed as a process suitable for the sustainable production of ammonia (NH3). Two N-rich biological residues, sewage sludge and meat and bone meal, were used and analyzed in this work and glutamic acid was selected as the model compound of the protein-fuel-N in these residues. Glutamic acid gasification experiments were carried out in order to study the effect of temperature (800–900 °C) and steam-to-carbon ratio (0.5–1.0 g g-1) on the conversion of fuel-N into the most typical N-containing gasification products: NH3, molecular nitrogen (N2), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), nitrogen monoxide (NO), tar-N and char-N. Sewage sludge and meat and bone meal were also gasified under selected operating conditions with the main aim of assessing the NH3 production. The most abundant N-containing compounds obtained in the gasification of glutamic acid were NH3 (35–51% over fuel-N) and N2 (45–63% over fuel-N). The highest conversion of fuel-N to NH3–N in the glutamic acid gasification experiments (51%) was obtained at the lowest temperature (800 °C) and the lowest S/C ratio (0.5 g g-1). The increase in the temperature caused a decrease in the yield of NH3, as a consequence of its decomposition into N2. A similar fuel-N distribution was found when sewage sludge and meat and bone meal were gasified, obtaining joint yields of HCN–N, NO–N, tar-N and char-N lower than 5%, and being NH3–N (30–67%) and N2–N (28–68%) the majority products. The yields of NH3–N obtained from glutamic acid (51%), sewage sludge (30%), and meat and bone meal (67%) under the same gasification operating conditions were significantly different. These differences were attributed to the catalytic effect of the metals present in these residues and point to the need to optimize the operating conditions specifically for each residue. In summary, gasification of sewage sludge and meat and bone meal may be able to produce around 10% of the NH3 produced annually in Europe and between 102 and 262 GJ·ton-1 NH3 thanks to the combustion of the syngas generated

Degradation of extracellular matrix regulates osteoblast migration: A microfluidic-based study

Bone regeneration is strongly dependent on the capacity of cells to move in a 3D microenvironment, where a large cascade of signals is activated. To improve the understanding of this complex process and to advance in the knowledge of the role of each specific signal, it is fundamental to analyze the impact of each factor independently. Microfluidic-based cell culture is an appropriate technology to achieve this objective, because it allows recreating realistic 3D local microenvironments by taking into account the extracellular matrix, cells and chemical gradients in an independent or combined scenario. The main aim of this work is to analyze the impact of extracellular matrix properties and growth factor gradients on 3D osteoblast movement, as well as the role of cell matrix degradation. For that, we used collagen-based hydrogels, with and without crosslinkers, under different chemical gradients, and eventually inhibiting metalloproteinases to tweak matrix degradation. We found that osteoblast''s 3D migratory patterns were affected by the hydrogel properties and the PDGF-BB gradient, although the strongest regulatory factor was determined by the ability of cells to remodel the matrix

Application of network analysis and cluster analysis for better prevention and control of swine diseases in Argentina

Rationale/background: Though much smaller than the bovine industry, the porcine sector in Argentina involves a large number of farms and represents a significant economic sector. In recent years Argentina has implemented a national registry of swine movements amongst other measures, in an effort to control and eventually eradicate endemic Aujesky’s disease. Such information can prove valuable in assessing the risk of transmission between farms for endemic diseases but also for other diseases at risk of emergence. Methods: Shipment data from 2011 to 2016 were analyzed in an effort to define strategic locations and times at which control and surveillance efforts should be focused to provide cost-effective interventions. Social network analysis (SNA) was used to characterize the network as a whole and at the individual farm and market level to help identify important nodes. Spatio-temporal trends of pig movements were also analyzed. Finally, in an attempt to classify farms and markets in different groups based on their SNA metrics, we used factor analysis for mixed data (FAMD) and hierarchical clustering. Results: The network involved approximate 136,000 shipments for a total of 6 million pigs. Over 350 markets and 17,800 production units participated in shipments with another 83,500 not participating. Temporal data of shipments and network metrics showed peaks in shipments in September and October. Most shipments where within provinces, with Buenos Aires, Cordoba and Santa Fe concentrating 61% of shipments. Network analysis showed that markets are involved in relatively few shipments but hold strategic positions with much higher betweenness compared to farms. Hierarchical clustering yielded four groups based on SNA metrics and node characteristics which can be broadly described as: 1. small and backyard farms; 2. industrial farms; 3. markets; and 4. a single outlying market with extreme centrality values. Conclusion: Characterizing the network structure and spatio-temporal characteristics of Argentine swine shipments provides valuable information that can guide targeted and more cost-effective surveillance and control programs. We located key nodes where efforts should be prioritized. Pig network characteristics and patterns can be used to create dynamic disease transmission models, which can both be used in assessing the impact of emerging diseases and guiding efforts to eradicate endemic ones.Instituto de PatobiologíaFil: Baron, Jerome N. University of California Davis. School of Veterinary Medicine. Center for Animal Disease Modeling and Surveillance (CADMS). Department of Medicine and Epidemiology; Estados UnidosFil: Aznar, Maria Natalia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patobiología; ArgentinaFil: Monterubbianesi, Mariela. Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria de la Republica Argentina (SENASA); ArgentinaFil: Martínez-López, Beatriz. University of California Davis. School of Veterinary Medicine. Center for Animal Disease Modeling and Surveillance (CADMS). Department of Medicine and Epidemiology; Estados Unido

Magnetic Fields to Enhance Tuned Liquid Damper Performance for Vibration Control: A Review

Tuned Liquid Dampers (TLDs) are dissipative devices whose distinguished features like low cost in installation and maintenance or their multidirectional and multifrequency application to new and already existing structures make them an attractive damping option. Their working principle is similar to that of a Tuned Mass Damper but in this case the relative movement comes from a fluid that provides with mass, damping and stiffness. Moreover, TLDs can mitigate both horizontal and vertical vibrations. All these make TLDs worth deeply studying. TLD utilization in civil vibration control arose in the 1980s. From early years, different improvements have been implemented to achieve a better performance. Some of these modifications include passive variations in the geometry or the fluid. The use of smart materials applied on TLDs has also been of great interest since the 1990s and comprehends different configurations in which magnetic fields are used to passively or semi-actively improve the TLD performance. A lack of review is detected in this field. For this reason, a state-of-the-art review is presented in this paper. Its aim is to help researchers find a thorough, up-to-date classification of the different possibilities, configurations, numerical evaluation, materials used and also found limitations and future development in the application of magnetic fields on TLDs

Diagn?stico, estructura y propuesta de mejora del sistema de gesti?n del Fondo de Inclusi?n Social Energ?tico (FISE)

Los programas de gesti?n p?blica tienen como objetivo la mejora de la calidad de vida de las poblaciones a trav?s de pol?ticas de desarrollo sostenibles, como han suscrito las naciones de la ONU y como ha sido ratificado por el Per? en su Plan de Acceso Universal a la Energ?a. Para ello se crea el Fondo de Inclusi?n Social Energ?tico (FISE) en el a?o 2012. La adecuada evaluaci?n del desempe?o de los programas del FISE, a trav?s de indicadores adecuados, es importante para asegurar el logro de sus objetivos. Esta tesis plantea: identificar los programas del FISE, proponer una metodolog?a de definici?n de indicadores de desempe?o en el sector p?blico que puedan utilizar los programas del FISE, y realizar un diagn?stico del desempe?o de los programas del FISE, a fin de proponer mejoras que permitan aumentar el efecto inclusivo del fondo. Tomando como base diferentes metodolog?as utilizadas para monitorear el desempe?o de programas del sector p?blico, el autor propone una matriz metodol?gica de aplicaci?n gradual y escalable, que busca lograr altos niveles de desempe?o hasta el nivel de impacto y calidad en el servicio, satisfaciendo las necesidades de los beneficiarios y los grupos de inter?s

Fibroblast migration in 3D is controlled by haptotaxis in a non-muscle myosin II-dependent manner

Cell migration in 3D is a key process in many physiological and pathological processes. Although valuable knowledge has been accumulated through analysis of various 2D models, some of these insights are not directly applicable to migration in 3D. In this study, we have confined biomimetic hydrogels within microfluidic platforms in the presence of a chemoattractant (platelet-derived growth fac- tor-BB). We have characterized the migratory responses of human fibroblasts within them, particularly focusing on the role of non-muscle myosin II. Our results indicate a prominent role for myosin II in the integration of chemo- tactic and haptotactic migratory responses of fibroblasts in 3D confined environments

Helminth communities of herons (Aves: Ardeidae) in southern Italy

The helminth communities of nine species of herons from southern Italy were studied and compared. Of 24 taxa found including seven digeneans, seven nematodes, six cestodes and four acanthocephalans, only five taxa were found in more than one heron species, and five of the 21 taxa that could be identified to species level were classified as 'heron specialists'. The total number of helminth species per heron species ranged from 1 in Botaurus stellaris to 9 in Ixobrychus minutus with infection levels generally low. A statistical comparison was carried out for herons with a sample size >. 5. At the infracommunity level, only I. minutus clearly differed from other heron species. Diversity parameters of heminth infracommunities did not significantly differ among heron species. Species richness ranged from just 0.3 to 2.3 helminth taxa per individual host, and the Brillouin index, from 0 to 0.3. Total helminth abundance did not exceed 40 worms per host except in a single case of Ardeola ralloides. Infracommunities clearly were dominated by single helminth species. The present study confirms a depauperate helminth community in herons from southern Italy. Comparison with data from Spain and the Czech Republic showed strong quantitative similarities with values obtained in the present study. Results also suggest that the composition of local helminth communities are strongly variable depending on geographical location as is demonstrated by comparison with data from other European areas. However, whether herons in Europe naturally host depauperate helminth communities or these communities are depauperate because of other factors is unknow