Circumstellar dust shells of hot post-AGB stars

Using a radiative transfer code (DUSTY) parameters of the circumstellar dust shells of 15 hot post-AGB stars have been derived. Combining the optical, near and far-infrared (ISO, IRAS) data of the stars, we have reconstructed their spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and estimated the dust temperatures, mass loss rates, angular radii of the inner boundary of the dust envelopes and the distances to these stars. The mass loss rates (10$^{-6}-10^{-5}$M$_{\odot}$yr$^{-1}$) are intermediate between stars at the tip of the AGB and the PN phase. We have also studied the ISO spectra of 7 of these stars. Amorphous and crystalline silicate features were observed in IRAS14331-6435 (Hen3-1013), IRAS18062+2410 (SAO85766) and IRAS22023+5249 (LSIII +5224) indicating oxygen-rich circumstellar dust shells. The presence of unidentified infrared (UIR) band at 7.7$\mu$, SiC emission at 11.5$\mu$ and the "26$\mu$" and "main 30$\mu$" features in the ISO spectrum of IRAS17311-4924 (Hen3-1428) suggest that the central star may be carbon-rich. The ISO spectrum of IRAS17423-1755 (Hen3-1475) shows a broad absorption feature at 3.1$\mu$ due to C$_{2}$H$_{2}$ and/or HCN which is usually detected in the circumstellar shells of carbon-rich stars.Comment: 18 pages, accepted for publication in A&

Quantitative studies for photoabsorption and fluorescence of HCl

Photoabsorption and fluorescence cross sections of HCl are investigated in the wavelength region between 105 to 220 nm. The oscillator strengths of discrete structures at wavelengths shorter than 130 nm are measured

An exploration of the gut bacteria in a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder on a ketogenic diet

Alterations in the gut bacteria presence and abundance have been noted in certain diseased states like autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The BTBR T+tf/J mouse strain exhibits the three core behavioral symptoms of ASD and is thus used as the model organism to study ASD in this study. Previous studies have shown that a high-fat, ketogenic diet significantly improves all three core symptoms of ASD. The aim of this study was to describe differences between the gut bacteria of healthy mice on standard and ketogenic diets as well as BTBR mice on standard and ketogenic diets. In particular, an unidentified species was found to be significantly present only in the healthy mice, another species was found only in the BTBR/standard diet group, and another only in the BTBR/ketogenic diet group. The identities of these three bacterial species could not be classified due to error in DNA sample preparation and time constraints, but a protocol was created to check the identities of these three species using PCR and gel electrophoresis. PCR primers were created for 10 bacterial species based on Finegold et al.’s work with the gut bacteria in autistic individuals. In the future, the polymerase chain reactions should be conducted on the original DNA samples based the groups in which they were present in each study and the sequencing defect should be worked out in order to classify the three species of interest in a more direct manner. This protocol would use PCR to help determine the identities of these three species of interest

Collection of Cryptocurrency Customer-Information: Tax Enforcement Mechanism or Invasion of Privacy?

After granting permission to the Internal Revenue Service to serve a digital exchange company a summons for user information, the Federal District Court for the Northern District of California created some uncertainty regarding the privacy of cryptocurrencies. The IRS views this information gathering as necessary for monitoring compliance with Notice 2014-21, which classifies cryptocurrencies as property for tax purposes. Cryptocurrency users, however, view the attempt for information as an infringement on their privacy rights and are seeking legal protection. This Issue Brief investigates the future tax implications of Notice 2014-21 and considers possible routes the cryptocurrency market can take to avoid the burden of capital gains taxes. Further, this Issue Brief attempts to uncover the validity of the privacy claims made against the customer information summons and will recommend alternative actions for the IRS to take regardless of whether it succeeds in obtaining the information

Two new non-spiny Solanum species from the Bolivian Andes (Morelloid Clade)

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. The attached file is the published version of the article.NHM Repositor

New names and status for Pacific spiny species of Solanum (Solanaceae, subgenus Leptostemonum Bitter; the Leptostemonum Clade)

Five new species of spiny solanums (Solanum subgenus Leptostemonum Bitter; the Leptostemonum Clade) are described from the islands of the Pacific. Two of the new species are from Fiji (S. pseudopedunculatum D.McClelland, sp. nov. and S. ratale D.McClelland, sp. nov.), two from New Caledonia (S. memoayanum D.McClelland, sp. nov. and S. semisucculentum D.McClelland, sp. nov.), one from Papua New Guinea (S. labyrinthinum D.McClelland, sp. nov.) and another from Vanuatu (S. vanuatuense D.McClelland, sp. nov.). A new status and combination is provided for the rare Hawaiian endemic S. caumii (F.Br.) D.McClelland, comb. et stat. nov. and a new type designated for S. peekelii Bitter of Papua New Guinea, for which a description is also provided. All species are illustrated with digitized herbarium specimens, mapped and have been assigned a preliminary conservation status using current IUCN guidelines. Details of all specimens examined are provided in a Suppl. materials 1: file SM1.This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.NHM Repositor

Brunfelsia plowmaniana N. Filipowicz & m. Nee

Between Yamora and Iguasani, 5 km. (by air) SE of InquisivipublishedVersio

Capsicum ceratocalyx M. Nee

7.5 km (by road) from Huancané on road to San IsidropublishedVersio