On the frequency dependence of p-mode frequency shifts induced by magnetic activity in Kepler solar-like stars

The variations of the frequencies of the low-degree acoustic oscillations in the Sun induced by magnetic activity show a dependence with radial order. The frequency shifts are observed to increase towards higher-order modes to reach a maximum of about 0.8 muHz over the 11-yr solar cycle. A comparable frequency dependence is also measured in two other main-sequence solar-like stars, the F-star HD49933, and the young 1-Gyr-old solar analog KIC10644253, although with different amplitudes of the shifts of about 2 muHz and 0.5 muHz respectively. Our objective here is to extend this analysis to stars with different masses, metallicities, and evolutionary stages. From an initial set of 87 Kepler solar-like oscillating stars with already known individual p-mode frequencies, we identify five stars showing frequency shifts that can be considered reliable using selection criteria based on Monte Carlo simulations and on the photospheric magnetic activity proxy Sph. The frequency dependence of the frequency shifts of four of these stars could be measured for the l=0 and l=1 modes individually. Given the quality of the data, the results could indicate that a different physical source of perturbation than in the Sun is dominating in this sample of solar-like stars.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&

Probing the ZZgamma and Zgammagamma Couplings Through the Process e+e- --> nu anti-nu gamma

We study the sensitivity for testing the anomalous triple gauge couplings $ZZ\gamma$ and $Z\gamma\gamma$ via the process $e^+e^-\to \nu \bar\nu \gamma$ at high energy linear colliders. For integrated luminosities of 500 $fb^{-1}$ and center of mass energies between 0.5 and 1.5 $TeV$, we find that this process can provide tests of the triple neutral gauge boson couplings of order $10^{-4}$, one order of magnitude lower than the standard model prediction.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure

Submillimeter H2O masers in water-fountain nebulae

We report the first detection of submillimeter water maser emission toward water-fountain nebulae, which are post-AGB stars that exhibit high-velocity water masers. Using APEX we found emission in the ortho-H2O (10_29-9_36) transition at 321.226 GHz toward three sources: IRAS 15445-5449, IRAS 18043-2116 and IRAS 18286-0959. Similarly to the 22 GHz masers, the submillimeter water masers are expanding with a velocity larger than that of the OH masers, suggesting that these masers also originate in fast bipolar outflows. In IRAS 18043-2116 and IRAS 18286-0959, which figure among the sources with the fastest water masers, the velocity range of the 321 GHz masers coincides with that of the 22 GHz masers, indicating that they likely coexist. Towards IRAS 15445-5449 the submillimeter masers appear in a different velocity range, indicating that they are tracing different regions. The intensity of the submillimeter masers is comparable to that of the 22 GHz masers, implying that the kinetic temperature of the region where the masers originate should be Tk > 1000 K. We propose that the passage of two shocks through the same gas can create the conditions necessary to explain the presence of strong high-velocity 321 GHz masers coexisting with the 22 GHz masers in the same region.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure. Accepted for publication in A&A Letter

Evidence of the missing baryons from the kinematic Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect in Planck data

Under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license.-- et al.We estimate the amount of the missing baryons detected by the Planck measurements of the cosmic microwave background in the direction of central galaxies (CGs) identified in the Sloan galaxy survey. The peculiar motion of the gas inside and around the CGs unveils values of the Thomson optical depth τT in the range 0.2-2×10-4, indicating that the regions probed around CGs contain roughly half of the total amount of baryons in the Universe at the epoch where the CGs are found. If baryons follow dark matter, the measured τT's are compatible with the detection of all of the baryons existing inside and around the CGs.C. H.-M. acknowledges the support of Ramón y Cajal Fellowship No. RyC-2011-08262, Marie Curie Career Integration Grant No. 294183, and Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad Project No. AYA2012-30789. Y.-Z. M thanks ERC for its support through Starting Grant No. 307209.Peer Reviewe

Neutronic Evaluation of Using a Thorium Sulfate Solution in an Aqueous Homogeneous Reactor

Radioisotope 99Mo is one of the most essential radioisotopes in nuclear medicine. Its production in an Aqueous Homogeneous Reactor (AHR) could be potentially advantageous compared to the traditional technology, based on target irradiation in a heterogeneous reactor. An AHR conceptual design using low-enriched uranium for the production of 99Mo has been studied in depth. So far, the possibility of replacing uranium with a non-uranium fuel, specifically a mixture of 232Th and 233U, has not been evaluated in the conceptual design. Therefore, the studies conducted in this article aim to evaluate the neutronic behavior of the AHR conceptual design using thorium sulfate solution. Here, the 232Th-233U composition to guarantee ten years of operation without refueling, conversion ratio, medical isotopes production levels, and reactor kinetic parameters were evaluated, using the computational code MCNP6. It was obtained that 14 % 233U enrichment guarantees the reactor operation for ten years without refueling. The conversion ratio was calculated at 0.14. The calculated 99Mo production in the AHR conceptual design resulted in 24.4 % higher with uranium fuel than with thorium fuel

Clavo gamma en el tratamiento de las fracturas del macizo trocantérico: estudio comparativo entre el Clavo Gamma Trocantérico y el Gamma 3

El clavo Gamma es una técnica bien establecida en el tratamiento de las fracturas del macizo trocantéreo. Hemos realizado un estudio prospectivo en 40 pacientes para comparar dos tipos de clavos. En 20 se utilizó el clavo gamma trocantérico y en 20 un nuevo dispositivo llamado Gamma3 fabricado en titanio y con modificaciones en el diseño para permitir una menor incisión y mayor faciliad en su implante. De todos los parámetros estudiados tanto intra como postoperatorios sólo hemos encontrado diferencias en cuanto al tiempo del acto quirúrgico y al tamaño de la incisión, encontrando menor tiempo y menor tamaño de la incisión en el clavo gamma 3. No encontramos diferencias en cuanto a las complicaciones técnicas, ni en cuanto al dolor, tiempo transcurrido hasta la consolidación o grado de independencia obtenido. Consideramos el clavo Gamma3 como una técnica valiosa que disminuye el tiempo de cirugía y el traumatismo de las partes blandas.The nail Gamma is a well-established technique in the treatment of the trochanteric fractures. We have made a prospective study in 40 patients for compare two Gamma nail types. In 20 we use the Trochanteric Gamma Nail and in 20 a new device called Gamma 3 manufactured in titanium and with modifications in the design to permit a less incision and most facilities in his implantation. Of all of the parameters studied both intra and postoperative we have found differences in the time of surgical act and in the size of the incision, finding less time and less size of the approach in the gamma 3 nail. We do not find differences about technical complications, neither as to the pain, time to the consolidation or independence grade obtained. We regard to the nail Gamma 3 as a valuable technique that decreases the time of surgery and the traumatism of the soft tissues

Determination of biosorption mechanism in biomass of agave, using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques for the purification of contaminated water

[Abstract] Lead (Pb2+) and copper (Cu2+) are polluting metals due to their toxicity; however, the extraction of these metals is essential for economic development, so it is important to look for efficient and low-cost alternatives that can remove heavy metals from the various bodies of water. One of the alternatives used in this work is biosorption, for which an agroindustrial waste (epidermis from Agave atrovirens) was used to evaluate the affinity of removal of lead and copper in aqueous solutions; in addition, spectroscopy and microscopy techniques were used to elucidate and corroborate the removal and affinity capacity of the agave epidermis for both metals studied. The optimal pH value for the removal of both metals was 3. The adsorption isotherms yielded a qmax of 25.7 and 8.6 mg/g for lead and copper, respectively. Adjusting to the Langmuir-Freundlich model, the adsorption kinetics were pseudo-second order, and it was found that the equilibrium time was at 140 min. The spectroscopy and microscopy analyses corroborated the affinity between metals and functional groups of the agave, as well as with the elemental analysis, which reported 17.38% of lead and 4.25% of copper.[Resumen] El plomo (Pb2+) y el cobre (Cu2+) son metales contaminantes debido a su toxicidad; sin embargo, la extracción de estos metales es indispensable para el desarrollo económico, por lo que es importante buscar alternativas eficientes y de bajo costo que puedan remover metales pesados de los diversos cuerpos de agua. Una de las alternativas utilizadas en este trabajo es la biosorción, para la cual se utilizó un residuo agroindustrial (epidermis de Agave atrovirens), para evaluar la afinidad de remoción del plomo y cobre en soluciones acuosas; adicionalmente, se emplearon técnicas de espesctroscopía y microscopía que permitieron elucidar y corroborar la capacidad de remoción y afinidad que tuvo la epidermis de A. atrovirens para ambos metales estudiados. El valor óptimo de pH para la remoción de ambos metales fue 3. Las isotermas de adsorción arrojaron una qmax de 25.7 y 8.6 mg/g para el plomo y cobre, respectivamente. Ajustando al modelo de Langmuir-Freundlich, las cinéticas de adsorción resultaron de pseudo-segundo orden, se encontró que el tiempo de equilibrio es a los 140 min. El análisis espectroscópico y microscópico, corroboró la afinidad entre metales y grupos funcionales del agave, así como con el análisis elemental, el cual reportó 17.38% de plomo y 4.25% de cobre