Modelling solar low-lying cool loops with optically thick radiative losses

We investigate the increase of the DEM (differential emission measure) towards the chromosphere due to small and cool magnetic loops (height $\lesssim8$~Mm, $T\lesssim10^5$~K). In a previous paper we analysed the conditions of existence and stability of these loops through hydrodynamic simulations, focusing on their dependence on the details of the optically thin radiative loss function used. In this paper, we extend those hydrodynamic simulations to verify if this class of loops exists and it is stable when using an optically thick radiative loss function. We study two cases: constant background heating and a heating depending on the density. The contribution to the transition region EUV output of these loops is also calculated and presented. We find that stable, quasi-static cool loops can be obtained by using an optically thick radiative loss function and a background heating depending on the density. The DEMs of these loops, however, fail to reproduce the observed DEM for temperatures between $4.6<\log T<4.8$. We also show the transient phase of a dynamic loop obtained by considering constant heating rate and find that its average DEM, interpreted as a set of evolving dynamic loops, reproduces quite well the observed DEM.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A on Aug 21st 2015. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1112.030

WEIGHT LOSS: EXPLORING SELF-REGULATION THROUGH MINDFULNESS MEDITATION

Increasing rates of overweight/obese adults, with corresponding increases in health risks, obesity-related illnesses, and health costs have not been significantly impacted despite research and commercial attempts to provide recommended weight loss strategies. Mindfulness Meditation (MM) teaches individuals to increase their awareness in the present moment which may offer an additional strategy to weight loss interventions. This study explored the effects of MM combined with standard behavioral weight loss intervention (SBWP) on short-term weight loss, physical activity, eating behaviors, food intake and mindfulness in overweight/obese adults. Additionally, adherence, feasibility and acceptability of MM were explored through retention, attendance, diary return rate, MM practice and qualitative interviewing.This exploratory mixed methods study was a 24 week randomized controlled trial that compared SBWP and Standard Behavioral Weight Loss Program plus Mindfulness Meditation (SBWP+MM) followed by a qualitative interview that explored the experiences of 12 SBWP+MM participants. The sample which was randomized between treatment groups included 46 overweight/obese, 87% female, mean age 45.2 years (SD=8.2), mean weight 91.9 kg. (SD=12.8), 21.7% African American, and 78% college-educated adults living in the Pittsburgh area. Outcome measures of weight, physical activity, eating behavior, food intake and mindfulness were explored at three time points. Data analysis was based on intention-to-treat with linear mixed effects modeling and general linear modeling.Thirty-five subjects (76%) completed the study. Mean total weight loss was 5.48 kg (SD=2.01) with a significant decrease in food intake (p<.00) and significant increase in physical activity and healthy eating behaviors (p<.000). There was a mean greater weight loss in the SBWP+MM group (6.89kg compared to 4.07kg). Only eating behaviors significantly improved in the SBWP+MM group based on the results of linear mixed effects modeling (p=.034). The SBWP+MM group had higher rates of retention (86.4%) and attendance (75%) and a difference in diary return (15 weeks versus 12 weeks). The overarching SBWP+MM qualitative theme of expanding mindfulness in personal life flowed from taking time intentionally for self to lifestyle changes.The exploratory results, eating behavior significance and other outcome differences in the SBWP+MM group suggest that a larger sample size over a longer period of time may find further statistical and clinical significance. In light of the current obesity epidemic, hypothesis testing of MM could lead to enhanced weight loss interventions for this overweight/obese population

RE-IMAGINING URBAN WETLANDS : Watery heritage and food policies in the Albufera de València

Urban food policies require interdisciplinary research and action. Based on a holistic vision, these policies aim to facilitate the transformation of the food systems of cities in a sustainable, equitable and resilient manner. Food availability is key to urban food policies and involves recognition of the widespread disconnect between agriculture and consumers and the central role that food-related practices can play in the transition towards sustainable and resilient cities. This article addresses this topic by investigating the strategic role of one area of urban wetlands that has fostered new positive and shared attitudes towards watery heritage. The recovery of waterscapes in the Albufera, in close proximity to one of the most rapidly expanding Spanish urban areas, València, has allowed for a remarkable improvement of both traditional fisheries and paddy fields that has facilitated the regeneration of sustainable food practices. In 2019, the Horta de València, comprising a system of fields extending over a 28 km2 area that is irrigated by the Túria River, was recognised by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS). The area includes the historic Huerta and a section of the Albufera National Park that still maintains elements of traditional Arab heritage. The Albufera is thereby a significant repository of watery memories related to fisher people, peasants and sailors that an increasing number of environmentalists and seaside tourists interact with, and it thereby exemplifies the nature of wetlands as knowledge resources that can inspire sustainable food practices and policies

P-spaces and the Whyburn Property

We investigate the Whyburn and weakly Whyburn property in the class of P-spaces, that is spaces where every countable intersection of open sets is open. We construct examples of non-weakly Whyburn P-spaces of size continuum, thus giving a negative answer under CH to a question of Pelant, Tkachenko, Tkachuk and Wilson. In addition, we show that the weak Kurepa Hypothesis (a set-theoretic assumption weaker than CH) implies the existence of a non-weakly Whyburn P-space of size ℵ2. Finally, we consider the behavior of the above-mentioned properties under products; we show in particular that the product of a Lindelöf weakly Whyburn P-space and a Lindelöf Whyburn P-space is weakly Whyburn, and we give a consistent example of a non-Whyburn product of two Lindelöf Whyburn P-spaces

Signatures of impulsive localized heating in the temperature distribution of multi-stranded coronal loops

We study the signatures of different coronal heating regimes on the differential emission measure (DEM) of multi-stranded coronal loops by means of hydrodynamic simulations. We consider heating either uniformly distributed along the loops or localized close to the chromospheric footpoints, in both steady and impulsive conditions. Our simulations show that condensation at the top of the loop forms when the localized heating is impulsive with a pulse cadence time shorter than the plasma cooling time, and the pulse energy is below a certain threshold. A condensation does not produce observable signatures in the global DEM structure. Conversely, the DEM coronal peak is found sensitive to the pulse cadence time. Our simulations can also give an explanation of the warm overdense and hot underdense loops observed by TRACE, SOHO and Yohkoh. However, they are unable to reproduce both the transition region and the coronal DEM structure with a unique set of parameters, which outlines the need for a more realistic description of the transition region.Comment: 31 pages, 7 figure

Volatile Composition and Biological Activity of Key Lime Citrus aurantifolia Essential Oil

The essential oil of Citrus aurantifolia (Christm) Swingle fruits (limes) was studied for its potential spasmolytic effects in relation to its chemical composition. The essential oil, extracted by hydrodistillation (HD), was analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The antispasmodic activity was evaluated on isolated rabbit jejunum, aorta and uterus. The results indicated that the essential oil of C aurantifolia possesses important spasmolytic properties, which are likely to be due to its major constituents, limonene (58.4%), β-pinene (15.4%), γ-terpinene (8.5%), and citral (4.4%)

sex differences in axial and limb distribution of melanocytic naevi

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Association between Resistin Levels and All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality: A New Study and a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

CONTEXT: Studies concerning the association between circulating resistin and mortality risk have reported, so far, conflicting results. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between resistin and both all-cause and cardiovascular (CV) mortality risk by 1) analyzing data from the Gargano Heart Study (GHS) prospective design (n=359 patients; 81 and 58 all-cause and CV deaths, respectively); 2) performing meta-analyses of all published studies addressing the above mentioned associations. DATA SOURCE AND STUDY SELECTION: MEDLINE and Web of Science search of studies reporting hazard ratios (HR) of circulating resistin for all-cause or CV mortality. DATA EXTRACTION: Performed independently by two investigators, using a standardized data extraction sheet. DATA SYNTHESIS: In GHS, adjusted HRs per one standard deviation (SD) increment in resistin concentration were 1.28 (95% CI: 1.07-1.54) and 1.32 (95% CI: 1.06-1.64) for all-cause and CV mortality, respectively. The meta-analyses included 7 studies (n=4016; 961 events) for all-cause mortality and 6 studies (n=4,187: 412 events) for CV mortality. Pooled HRs per one SD increment in resistin levels were 1.21 (95% CI: 1.03-1.42, Q-test p for heterogeneity<0.001) and 1.05 (95% CI: 1.01-1.10, Q-test p for heterogeneity=0.199) for all-cause and CV mortality, respectively. At meta-regression analyses, study mean age explained 9.9% of all-cause mortality studies heterogeneity. After adjusting for age, HR for all-cause mortality was 1.24 (95% CI: 1.06-1.45). CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence for an association between circulating resistin and mortality risk among high-risk patients as are those with diabetes and coronary artery disease

Rectifiability and upper Minkowski bounds for singularities of harmonic Q-valued maps

In this article we prove that the singular set of Dirichlet-minimizing Q-valued functions is countably .m2/-rectifiable and we give upper bounds for the .m2/-dimensional Minkowski content of the set of singular points with multiplicity Q