Structural and vibrational study of Bi2Se3 under high pressure

The structural and vibrational properties of bismuth selenide (Bi2Se3) have been studied by means of x-ray diffraction and Raman scattering measurements up to 20 and 30 GPa, respectively. The measurements have been complemented with ab initio total-energy and lattice dynamics calculations. Our experimental results evidence a phase transition from the low-pressure rhombohedral (R-3m) phase (B-Bi2Se3) with sixfold coordination for Bi to a monoclinic C2/m structure (B-Bi2Se3) with sevenfold coordination for Bi above 10 GPa. The equation of state and the pressure dependence of the lattice parameters and volume of a and B phases of Bi2Se3 are reported. Furthermore, the presence of a pressure-induced electronic topological phase transition in B-Bi2Se3 is discussed. Raman measurements evidence that Bi2Se3 undergoes two additional phase transitions around 20 and 28 GPa, likely toward a monoclinic C2/c and a disordered body-centered cubic structure with 8-fold and 9- or 10-fold coordination, respectively. These two high-pressure structures are the same as those recently found at high pressures in Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3. On pressure release, Bi2Se3 reverts to the original rhombohedral phase after considerable hysteresis. Symmetries, frequencies, and pressure coefficients of the Raman and infrared modes in the different phases are reported and discussed.This work was done under financial support from Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under Projects No. MAT2007-66129, No. MAT2010-21270-C04-03/04, and No. CSD-2007-00045 and from the Valencian government under Project No. Prometeo/2011-035. It is also supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic Project No. MSM 0021627501

High-pressure vibrational and optical study of Bi2Te3

We report an experimental and theoretical lattice dynamics study of bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) up to 23 GPa together with an experimental and theoretical study of the optical absorption and reflection up to 10 GPa. The indirect bandgap of the low-pressure rhombohedral (R-3m) phase (α-Bi2Te3) was observed to decrease with pressure at a rate of −6 meV/GPa. In regard to lattice dynamics, Raman-active modes of α-Bi2Te3 were observed up to 7.4 GPa. The pressure dependence of their frequency and width provides evidence of the presence of an electronic-topological transition around 4.0 GPa. Above 7.4 GPa a phase transition is detected to the C2/m structure. On further increasing pressure two additional phase transitions, attributed to the C2/c and disordered bcc (Im-3m) phases, have been observed near 15.5 and 21.6 GPa in good agreement with the structures recently observed by means of x-ray diffraction at high pressures in Bi2Te3. After release of pressure the sample reverts back to the original rhombohedral phase after considerable hysteresis. Raman- and IR-mode symmetries, frequencies, and pressure coefficients in the different phases are reported and discussed.This work has been done under financial support from Spanish MICINN under projects MAT2008-06873-C02- 02, MAT2007-66129, Prometeo/2011-035, MAT2010-21270-C04-03/04, and CSD2007-00045 and supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic (MSM 0021627501)

Modelación del crecimiento de pollos de engorda criados en pastoreo o confinamiento

Objective: To evaluate the growth of pasture or confinement-raised broiler chickens, using the Gompertz, Logistic and Richards models, and identify the most appropriate. Methodology: One hundred ten straight-run broilers Ross 308 were distributed in two systems: pasture or confinement. Birds were weighed every week until 56 d of age. Three growth models (Gompertz, Logistic and Richards) were considered and compared based on three goodness of fit criteria (coefficient of determination, Akaike information criterion and Bayesian information criterion). Results: The initial (L) and exponential (K) growth rates of the Gompertz and Logistic models, respectively, were higher in confined birds (L = 0.1232, K = 0.0779) compared to those raised in pasture (L = 0.0944 , K = 0.0657). The maximum relative growth (K) of the Richards model was lower in chickens in confinement (0.0129) than in pasture system (0.0153). With the three models, higher asymptotic weights (WA) were estimated for confined chickens (3,967.1 to 9,095.5) compared to pasture birds (2,461.7 to 5,192.6). According to the criteria considered, the Richards model had the best fit. Implications of study: The results are only valid for straight-run Ross 308 broiler chickens and under the specified management conditions. Findings: The growth of pasture or confinement-raised broiler chickens can be described with the Gompertz, Logistic and Richards models, however, the latter has a better fit.Objetivo: Evaluar el crecimiento de pollos de engorda criados en pastoreo o confinamiento, mediante los modelos Gompertz, Logístico y Richards, e identificar el más adecuado. Metodología: Ciento diez pollos de engorda mixtos Ross 308 se distribuyeron en dos sistemas de crianza: pastoreo o confinamiento. Semanalmente se obtuvo el peso corporal de cada ave, hasta los 56 d de edad. Tres modelos de crecimiento (Gompertz, Logístico y Richards) fueron considerados y se compararon con base en tres criterios de bondad de ajuste (coeficiente de determinación, criterio de información de Akaike y criterio de información Bayesiano). Resultados: Las tasas de crecimiento inicial (L) y exponencial (K) de los modelos Gompertz y Logístico, respectivamente, fueron mayores en las aves en confinamiento (L = 0.1232, K = 0.0779) respecto a las criadas en pastoreo (L = 0.0944, K = 0.0657). El máximo crecimiento relativo (K) del modelo Richards fue menor en pollos en confinamiento (0.0129) que en pastoreo (0.0153). Con los tres modelos, se estimaron mayores pesos asintóticos (WA) para los pollos en confinamiento (3,967.1 a 9,095.5) respecto a las aves en pastoreo (2,461.7 a 5,192.6). De acuerdo a los criterios considerados, el modelo Richards es el que tiene un mejor ajuste.         Implicaciones del estudio: Los resultados obtenidos sólo son válidos para pollos de engorda mixtos Ross 308 y bajo las condiciones de manejo especificadas. Conclusión: El crecimiento de pollos de engorda criados en confinamiento o pastoreo, puede describirse con los modelos Gompertz, Logístico y Richards, sin embargo, este último tiene un mejor ajuste

Dissecting the long-term emission behaviour of the BL Lac object Mrk 421

We report on long-term multiwavelengthmonitoring of blazar Mrk 421 by the GLAST-AGILE Support Program of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (GASP-WEBT) collaboration and Steward Observatory, and by the Swift and Fermi satellites. We study the source behaviour in the period 2007–2015, characterized by several extreme flares. The ratio between the optical, X-ray and γ -ray fluxes is very variable. The γ -ray flux variations show a fair correlation with the optical ones starting from 2012.We analyse spectropolarimetric data and find wavelengthdependence of the polarization degree (P), which is compatible with the presence of the host galaxy, and no wavelength dependence of the electric vector polarization angle (EVPA). Optical polarimetry shows a lack of simple correlation between P and flux and wide rotations of the EVPA.We build broad-band spectral energy distributions with simultaneous near-infrared and optical data from the GASP-WEBT and ultraviolet and X-ray data from the Swift satellite. They show strong variability in both flux and X-ray spectral shape and suggest a shift of the synchrotron peak up to a factor of ∼50 in frequency. The interpretation of the flux and spectral variability is compatible with jet models including at least two emitting regions that can change their orientation with respect to the line of sight.http://10.0.4.69/mnras/stx2185Accepted manuscrip

Validation of bioelectrical impedance analysis for body composition assessment in children with obesity aged 8-14y

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The aim was to generate a predictive equation to assess body composition (BC) in children with obesity using bioimpedance (BIA), and avoid bias produced by different density levels of fat free mass (FFM) in this population. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional validation study using baseline data from a randomized intervention trial to treat childhood obesity. Participants were 8 to 14y (n = 315), underwent assessments on anthropometry and BC through Air Displacement Plethysmography (ADP), Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry and BIA. They were divided into a training (n = 249) and a testing subset (n = 66). In addition, the testing subset underwent a total body water assessment using deuterium dilution, and thus obtained results for the 4-compartment model (4C). A new equation to estimate FFM was created from the BIA outputs by comparison to a validated model of ADP adjusted by FFM density in the training subset. The equation was validated against 4C in the testing subset. As reference, the outputs from the BIA device were also compared to 4C. RESULTS: The predictive equation reduced the bias from the BIA outputs from 14.1% (95%CI: 12.7, 15.4) to 4.6% (95%CI: 3.8, 5.4) for FFM and from 18.4% (95%CI: 16.9, 19.9) to 6.4% (95% CI: 5.3, 7.4) for FM. Bland-Altman plots revealed that the new equation significantly improved the agreement with 4C; furthermore, the observed trend to increase the degree of bias with increasing FM and FFM also disappeared. CONCLUSION: The new predictive equation increases the precision of BC assessment using BIA in children with obesity

Crisis económica: una perspectiva feminista desde América Latina

ÍNDICE PRÓLOGO / 13 INTRODUCCIÓN / 17 PRIMERA PARTE: CARACTERIZACIÓN DE LA CRISIS Alicia Girón / 31 CIRCUITOS DE LA CRISIS: RESQUEBRAJAMIENTO DEL MODELO ECONÓMICO Y PERSPECTIVA FEMINISTA Alba Carosio / 53 FRENTE A LA CRISIS ECONÓMICA Y CIVILIZATORIA: UN NUEVO CONTRATO SOCIALISTA Y FEMINISTA Magdalena Valdivieso / 77 MUJERES, DESARROLLO Y CRISIS Eugenia Correa / 97 CRISIS DE LA PRIVATIZACIÓN DE LOS FONDOS DE PENSION: ESPECULACIÓN FINANCIERA Y DESAMPARO SOCIAL SEGUNDA PARTE: AMÉRICA LATINA, INEQUIDAD DE GÉNERO Y VIOLENCIA Silvia Berger / 115 AMÉRICA LATINA, LA CRISIS Y EL FEMINISMO. PENSANDO JUNTO CON NANCY FRASER Patricia Rodríguez / 139 REFORMAS FINANCIERAS, PRIVATIZACIÓN DE LOS SISTEMAS DE PENSIONES Y LA INEQUIDAD DE GÉNERO EN AMÉRICA LATINA Blanca Pedroza / 161 DISCRIMINACIÓN Y VIOLENCIA DE GÉNERO Y CRISIS ECONÓMICA EN AMÉRICA LATINA Alejandra Arroyo / 181 EMPODERAMIENTO: ALTERNATIVA PARA LOGRAR DESARROLLO CON EQUIDAD TERCERA PARTE: COLOMBIA, MÉXICO Y BRASIL Consuelo Ahumada / 205 POLÍTICAS PÚBLICAS Y GÉNERO EN COLOMBIA: ENTRE EL AJUSTE FISCAL Y EL CONFLICTO ARMADO María Luisa González Marín / 225 CRISIS FINANCIERA Y MIGRACIÓN FEMENINA DE MÉXICO Maria Cristina Cacciamali / 247 CRISIS ECONÓMICA EN BRASIL Y DISCRIMINACIÓN FEMENINA EN EL MERCADO DE TRABAJ

A Spatial Distribution Study of Faunal Remains from Two Lower Magdalenian Occupation Levels in El Mirón Cave, Cantabria, Spain

Abstract: Human behaviour can be reconstructed by analysing specific activities and campsite organization using spatial analysis. The dense occupation layers of the Lower Cantabrian Magdalenian in the Northern Spain reveal varied aspects of Upper Palaeolithic lifeways, including evidence of specific localized activities. The outer vestibule of El Mirón cave has a particularly rich and intact Lower Magdalenian occupation horizon, Levels 15–17. The excavations in the outer vestibule “Cabin” area of the site revealed excellent bone preservation. Artefacts and faunal remains were individually recorded and sediments water-screened to yield a large sample of archaeological finds and spatial data. Zooarchaeological analysis provided the taxonomic, anatomic and taphonomic determination of the faunal individual finds. Smaller animal remains were categorized and counted; special attention was given to the identification of anthropogenic modifications such as burnt bones or bone flakes. These small refuse items are considered to be useful, in situ indicators of localized activities. The spatial distribution analysis of this dense and complex palimpsest of El Mirón Lower Cantabrian Magdalenian layers required GIS based methods including density analysis, heatmaps and cluster analysis. Based on the spatial distribution of Level 15 and 16 faunal remains, different activity areas were identified comprising hearth, working and dropping zones. These results imply the deliberately segregated use of space within the Lower Cantabrian Magdalenian site area, in which bone-processing activities played a central rol

Meson and di-electron production with HADES

The HADES experiment, installed at GSI, Darmstadt, measures di-electron production in A+A, p/pi+N and p/pi+A collisions. Here, the pi0 and eta Dalitz decays have been reconstructed in the exclusive p+p reaction at 2.2 GeV to form a reference cocktail for long-lived di-electron sources. In the C+C reaction at 1 and 2 GeV/u, these long-lived sources have been subtracted from the measured inclusive e+e- yield to exhibit the signal from the early phase of the collision. The results suggest that resonances play an important role in dense nuclear matter.Comment: Invited plenary talk at the 10th International Workshop On Meson Production, Properties And Interaction (MESON 2008) 6-10 Jun 2008, Cracow, Polan

Simplifying the detection of MUTYH mutations by high resolution melting analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>MUTYH</it>-associated polyposis (MAP) is a disorder caused by bi-allelic germline <it>MUTYH </it>mutation, characterized by multiple colorectal adenomas. In order to identify mutations in <it>MUTYH </it>gene we applied High Resolution Melting (HRM) genotyping. HRM analysis is extensively employed as a scanning method for the detection of heterozygous mutations. Therefore, we applied HRM to show effectiveness in detecting homozygous mutations for these clinically important and frequent patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study, we analyzed phenotype and genotype data from 82 patients, with multiple (>= 10) synchronous (19/82) or metachronous (63/82) adenomas and negative <it>APC </it>study (except one case). Analysis was performed by HRM-PCR and direct sequencing, in order to identify mutations in <it>MUTYH </it>exons 7, 12 and 13, where the most prevalent mutations are located. In monoallelic mutation carriers, we evaluated entire <it>MUTYH </it>gene in search of another possible alteration. HRM-PCR was performed with strict conditions in several rounds: the first one to discriminate the heteroduplex patterns and homoduplex patterns and the next ones, in order to refine and confirm parameters. The genotypes obtained were correlated to phenotypic features (number of adenomas (synchronous or metachronous), colorectal cancer (CRC) and family history).</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>MUTYH </it>germline mutations were found in 15.8% (13/82) of patients. The hot spots, Y179C (exon 7) and G396D (exon 13), were readily identified and other mutations were also detected. Each mutation had a reproducible melting profile by HRM, both heterozygous mutations and homozygous mutations. In our study of 82 patients, biallelic mutation is associated with being a carrier of ≥10 synchronous polyps (p = 0.05) and there is no association between biallelic mutation and CRC (p = 0.39) nor family history (p = 0.63). G338H non-pathogenic polymorphism (exon 12) was found in 23.1% (19/82) of patients. In all cases there was concordance between HRM (first and subsequent rounds) and sequencing data.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Here, we describe a screening method, HRM, for the detection of both heterozygous and homozygous mutations in the gene encoding <it>MUTYH </it>in selected samples of patients with phenotype of MAP. We refine the capabilities of HRM-PCR and apply it to a gene not yet analyzed by this tool. As clinical decisions will increasingly rely on molecular medicine, the power of identifying germline mutations must be continuously evaluated and improved.</p

Study of dielectron production in C+C collisions at 1 AGeV

The emission of e+e- pairs from C+C collisions at an incident energy of 1 GeV per nucleon has been investigated. The measured production probabilities, spanning from the pi0-Dalitz to the rho/omega! invariant-mass region, display a strong excess above the cocktail of standard hadronic sources. The bombarding-energy dependence of this excess is found to scale like pion production, rather than like eta production. The data are in good agreement with results obtained in the former DLS experiment.Comment: submitted to Physics Letters