Neutron Fermi Liquids under the presence of a strong magnetic field with effective nuclear forces

Landau's Fermi Liquid parameters are calculated for non-superfluid pure neutron matter in the presence of a strong magnetic field at zero temperature. The particle-hole interactions in the system, where a net magnetization may be present, are characterized by these parameters in the framework of a multipolar formalism. We use either zero- or finite-range effective nuclear forces to describe the nuclear interaction. Using the obtained Fermi Liquid parameters, the effect of a strong magnetic field on some bulk magnitudes such as isothermal compressibility and spin susceptibility is also investigated.Comment: 20 pages, 10 figure

Angiogenesis in the Gonadal Capillary Network of the Chick Embryo

Seventy-one chick embryos of both sexes at the 35 Hamburger and Hamilton (H-H) developmental stage were processed for scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts and of critical point dried specimens, as well as transmission electron- and light microscopy, in order to study the angiogenic structures. The gonadal subepithelial capillary network was located at the level of the tunica albuginea under the covering epithelium. The casts showed a densely-meshed capillary network and numerous sprouting (nodular protrusions or capillary sprouts) and non-sprouting (enlarged vessels and angiogenic holes) angiogenic structures that were randomly distributed and mixed. Four types of angio-genic holes were encountered in the casts: primary (diameter \u3c 2.5 μm), secondary (diameter \u3e 2.5 μm), tertiary (variable diameter and circular narrowings on one side), and open angiogenic holes. We suggest that the different morphologies reflect evolution of these holes. Furthermore, the open angiogenic hole would probably either form nodular protrusions at its open ends, which tend to join with other nodular protrusions and neighboring capillaries and form new vessels; or there would be fusion with two or more neighboring open holes. Correlative critical point dried sections showed fenestrations in the capillary walls and transcapillary pillars that corresponded to the angiogenic holes found in the casts. Ultrathin sections of the vessels presented typical characteristics of growing endothelium: large nuclei with loosely textured chromatin, abundant cytoplasm rich in cell organelles and intraluminal endothelial processes

Vascular Architecture of the Lactating and Non-Lactating Teat of the Bitch: A Scanning Electron- and Light Microscope Study

Tissues from fourteen mammary glands of eight bitches were prepared for scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts and for histology to study the vasculature of the lactating and non-lactating teats. The densely-meshed mammary dermal capillary network formed ridges and troughs. The teat ducts were vascularized by a relatively densely-meshed capillary network which drained into veins longitudinally oriented to the ducts. Between eight and fifteen teat duct openings were seen on the tip of the teat, that were sometimes divided by a septum. The inner vascularization of the teat showed that the main papillary arteries divided into undulating secondary papillary arteries which presented numerous semi-constrictions and loops. Their structure may help during erection of the teat. Arteriovenous anastomoses found at different points may participate in blood flow maintenance during suckling, heat regulation and teat erection. Veins freely anastomosed and ran longitudinally to the axis of the teat. They exhibited numerous bicuspid valves. In non-lactating teats, vessels showed the same main architecture and characteristics mentioned above, although these were considerably less marked. The structure of the vascular elements in the teat of the bitch could favor blood flow during suckling and suggest that vessels adapt to the physiological situation

Deciding Entailments in Inductive Separation Logic with Tree Automata

Separation Logic (SL) with inductive definitions is a natural formalism for specifying complex recursive data structures, used in compositional verification of programs manipulating such structures. The key ingredient of any automated verification procedure based on SL is the decidability of the entailment problem. In this work, we reduce the entailment problem for a non-trivial subset of SL describing trees (and beyond) to the language inclusion of tree automata (TA). Our reduction provides tight complexity bounds for the problem and shows that entailment in our fragment is EXPTIME-complete. For practical purposes, we leverage from recent advances in automata theory, such as inclusion checking for non-deterministic TA avoiding explicit determinization. We implemented our method and present promising preliminary experimental results

Performance of a transmutation advanced device for sustainable energy application

Preliminary studies have been performed to design a device for nuclear waste transmutation and hydrogen generation based on a gas-cooled pebble bed accelerator driven system, TADSEA (Transmutation Advanced Device for Sustainable Energy Application). In previous studies we have addressed the viability of an ADS Transmutation device that uses as fuel wastes from the existing LWR power plants, encapsulated in graphite in the form of pebble beds, cooled by helium which enables high temperatures (in the order of 1200 K), to generate hydrogen from water either by high temperature electrolysis or by thermochemical cycles. For designing this device several configurations were studied, including several reflectors thickness, to achieve the desired parameters, the transmutation of nuclear waste and the production of 100 MW of thermal power. In this paper new studies performed on deep burn in-core fuel management strategy for LWR waste are presented. The fuel cycle on TADSEA device has been analyzed based on both: driven and transmutation fuel that had been proposed by the General Atomic design of a gas turbine-modular helium reactor. The transmutation results of the three fuel management strategies, using driven, transmutation and standard LWR spent fuel were compared, and several parameters describing the neutron performance of TADSEA nuclear core as the fuel and moderator temperature reactivity coefficients and transmutation chain, are also presente

Effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction and attachment-based compassion therapy for the treatment of depressive, anxious, and adjustment disorders in mental health settings: A randomized controlled trial

Objectives: To study the effectiveness of attachment-based compassion therapy (ABCT) for reducing affective distress in a sample of outpatients with depressive, anxiety, or adjustment disorders, and to explore its mechanisms of action. Methods: This randomized controlled trial involved the assessment time points of pretreatment, posttreatment and 6-month follow-up. A total of 90 patients from three mental health units in Castellón, Spain, were recruited and randomly assigned to “ABCT + treatment as usual (TAU), ” “Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) + TAU” or “TAU” alone. Affective distress, as measured by the “Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales” (DASS-21) was the main outcome; self-compassion and mindfulness were also assessed. Multilevel mixed-effects models were used to estimate the effectiveness of the program, and path analyses were conducted to study the potential mechanistic role of mindfulness and self-compassion. Results: ABCT was not superior to MBSR in any outcome or at any assessment point. ABCT was superior to TAU alone both posttreatment (B = -13.20; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -19.57, -6.84) and at 6-month follow-up (B = -7.20; 95% CI: -13.63, -0.76) for reducing DASS-21, and MBSR was superior to TAU alone both posttreatment (B = -11.51; 95% CI: -17.97, -5.05) and at 6-month follow-up (B = -8.59; 95% CI: -15.09, -2.10), with large effects (d = 0.90). Changes produced by ABCT in DASS-21 were mediated by self-compassion, whereas changes produced by MBSR were mediated by both mindfulness and self-compassion. Conclusion: ABCT is effective for reducing affective distress in patients with anxiety, depressive and adjustment disorders, although its effect is not superior to that offered by MBSR. Self-compassion seems to be a significant mediator of the effects of ABCT. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LL

Spatial Interpolants

We propose Splinter, a new technique for proving properties of heap-manipulating programs that marries (1) a new separation logic-based analysis for heap reasoning with (2) an interpolation-based technique for refining heap-shape invariants with data invariants. Splinter is property directed, precise, and produces counterexample traces when a property does not hold. Using the novel notion of spatial interpolants modulo theories, Splinter can infer complex invariants over general recursive predicates, e.g., of the form all elements in a linked list are even or a binary tree is sorted. Furthermore, we treat interpolation as a black box, which gives us the freedom to encode data manipulation in any suitable theory for a given program (e.g., bit vectors, arrays, or linear arithmetic), so that our technique immediately benefits from any future advances in SMT solving and interpolation.Comment: Short version published in ESOP 201

Emotion dysregulation and neuroticism as moderators of group Unified Protocol effectiveness outcomes for treating emotional disorders

The personality dimension neuroticism and difficulties in emotional regulation (ER) are two variables closely related to the onset, course, and maintenance of emotional disorders (EDs). The Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) is a treatment specifically designed to address neuroticism by training in adaptive ER skills and has been shown to be effective in reducing difficulties in ER. However, the specific impact of these variables on treatment outcomes is not entirely clear. The aim of the present study was to explore the moderating role of neuroticism and difficulties in ER regarding the evolution of depressive and anxiety symptoms and quality of life. Methods: This secondary study included 140 participants diagnosed with EDs, who received the UP in group format as part of an RCT being conducted in different Spanish Public Mental Health Units. Results: The results of this study found that high scores in neuroticism and difficulties in ER were associated with greater severity of depression and anxiety symptomatology, and with poorer quality of life. In addition, difficulties in ER moderated the efficacy of UP regarding anxiety symptoms, and quality of life. No moderating effects were found for depression (p > 0.5). Limitations: We only evaluated two moderators that may influence UP effectivenes; other key moderators should be analyzed in future. Conclusions: The identification of specific moderators affecting transdiagnostic interventions outcomes will allow the development of personalized interventions and provide useful information to improve the psychopathology and well-being of people with ED

Dialectical Interrelation Between: Problematic Situation, Real Problem, Scientific Problem, Object and Field, in the Investigation Design: A Necessary Reflection

All research responds to the need of solutions to a problem that directly or indirectly affects society. The development of the same largely certifies and determines the constant search for solutions. The main objective of the present study was to arrive at a clear conceptualization, as complete as possible, of some the most important terms that come up during an investigation design: Problematic Situation, Real Problem, Scientific Problem, and Object and Field, given the visible shortcomings observed in pre- and post-graduate theses when the research work is being developed and defended. The methodology consisted of basically developing a reflection around these terms (the vision that different authors have in this regard was very helpful), as well as the presentation of varied examples contributed to see the meaning of these important concepts more clearly. The study shows in a scientifically grounded way the achievement of the above. The way in which the presentation of the different concepts was handled removes any possibility of mistakes. Keywords: methodology scientific investigation, problem, object, field. Resumen Toda investigación parte del apremio en dar una respuesta a la solución de un problema que afecta de una manera directa o indirecta a la Sociedad. En gran medida, el propio desarrollo de la misma compulsa y determina esa constante búsqueda de soluciones. El objetivo principal del presente estudio fue llegar a una conceptualización clara, y lo más acabada posible, de algunos de los más importantes términos que se manejan durante el diseño de una investigación: Situación Problémica, Problema Real, Problema Científico, Objeto y Campo, dada las visibles falencias que se observan en tesistas de pre y postgrado a la hora de desarrollar y defender sus trabajos de investigación. La metodología consistió, básicamente, en desarrollar una reflexión en torno a estos términos; para lo cual resultó de gran ayuda la visión que tienen diferentes autores al respecto; así como, la exposición de variados ejemplos contribuyó a ver más definidamente el significado de estos importantes conceptos. El estudio muestra de forma científicamente fundamentada el logro de lo anterior. La forma en que se maneja la presentación de los diferentes conceptos aleja toda posibilidad de equívocos. Palabras clave: metodología investigación científica, problema, objeto, campo

A novel mitochondrial Kv1.3-caveolin axis controls cell survival and apoptosis

The voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 plays an apparent dual physiological role by participating in activation and proliferation of leukocytes as well as promoting apoptosis in several types of tumor cells. Therefore, Kv1.3 is considered a potential pharmacological target for immunodeficiency and cancer. Different cellular locations of Kv1.3, at the plasma membrane or the mitochondria, could be responsible for such duality. While plasma membrane Kv1.3 facilitates proliferation, the mitochondrial channel modulates apoptotic signaling. Several molecular determinants of Kv1.3 drive the channel to the cell surface, but no information is available about its mitochondrial targeting. Caveolins, which are able to modulate cell survival, participate in the plasma membrane targeting of Kv1.3. The channel, via a caveolin-binding domain (CDB), associates with caveolin 1 (Cav1), which localizes Kv1.3 to lipid raft membrane microdomains. The aim of our study was to understand the role of such interactions not only for channel targeting but also for cell survival in mammalian cells. By using a caveolin association-deficient channel (Kv1.3 CDBless), we demonstrate here that while the Kv1.3-Cav1 interaction is responsible for the channel localization in the plasma membrane, a lack of such interaction accumulates Kv1.3 in the mitochondria. Kv1.3 CDBless severely affects mitochondrial physiology and cell survival, indicating that a functional link of Kv1.3 with Cav1 within the mitochondria modulates the pro-apoptotic effects of the channel. Therefore, the balance exerted by these two complementary mechanisms fine-tune the physiological role of Kv1.3 during cell survival or apoptosis. Our data highlight an unexpected role for the mitochondrial caveolin-Kv1.3 axis during cell survival and apoptosis