Full evolution of low-mass white dwarfs with helium and oxygen cores

We study the full evolution of low-mass white dwarfs with helium and oxygen cores. We revisit the age dichotomy observed in many white dwarf companions to millisecond pulsar on the basis of white dwarf configurations derived from binary evolution computations. We evolve 11 dwarf sequences for helium cores with final masses of 0.1604, 0.1869, 0.2026, 0.2495, 0.3056, 0.3333, 0.3515, 0.3844, 0.3986, 0.4160 and 0.4481 M. In addition, we compute the evolution of five sequences for oxygen cores with final masses of 0.3515, 0.3844, 0.3986, 0.4160 and 0.4481 M. A metallicity of Z = 0.02 is assumed. Gravitational settling, chemical and thermal diffusion are accounted for during the white dwarf regime. Our study reinforces the result that diffusion processes are a key ingredient in explaining the observed age and envelope dichotomy in low-mass helium-core white dwarfs, a conclusion we arrived at earlier on the basis of a simplified treatment for the binary evolution of progenitor stars. We determine the mass threshold where the age dichotomy occurs. For the oxygen white dwarf sequences, we report the occurrence of diffusion-induced, hydrogen-shell flashes, which, as in the case of their helium counterparts, strongly influence the late stages of white dwarf cooling. Finally, we presensent our results as a set of white dwarf mass–radius relations for helium and oxygen cores.Fil: Panei, Jorge Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Astrofísica La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas. Instituto de Astrofísica La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Althaus, Leandro Gabriel. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Astrofísica La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas. Instituto de Astrofísica La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Chen, X.. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de ChinaFil: Han, Z.. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de Chin

Making risk-informed decisions to optimize drilling operations using along string measurements with Wired drill pipe a high-speed, high-quality telemetry alternative to traditional mud pulse telemetry.

The ever-increasing demand for energy resources has led to drilling more complex and challenging wells. The information required to navigate through these complex geologies is provided by highly sophisticated sensors embedded in logging-while-drilling and measurements-while-drilling downhole tools. These combined with rotary steerable systems have made it possible to drill highly deviated, extended reach, and multilateral wells with high precision. Drilling operations can be considered high-risk operations due to the large number of sources that can lead to undesirable outcomes. Therefore, data transmission from downhole sensors and communication with downhole tools is vital to drill safely and successfully a well. Mud-pulse telemetry is the most used telemetry method to transmit the data from downhole tools to the surface. However, advancements in sensor technology and the development of new tools have resulted in higher amounts of data needed to be transmitted to the surface to take advantage of the resolution they now provide fully. The reliance on mud-pulse telemetry, which offers relatively low data transmission speed and broadband, has been the limiting factor, often sacrificing higher drilling rates to obtain the required data quality. The introduction of wired drill pipe, capable of delivering bi-directional telemetry at speeds up to 10.000 times faster than traditional mud-pulse, has removed the reliance on mud-pulse, making it possible to obtain memory-mode quality real-time data. Wired drill pipe also enables the use of along string measurements. These measurement tools are placed along the string and gather pressure, temperature, and drilling dynamics data. Thus, it is now possible to understand the downhole environment along the wellbore and not just a few meters behind the bit. This makes it possible to timely identify well control and well stability events, thereby making risk-informed decisions to mitigate the risk of hazardous events and additionally optimizing drilling operations. The objective of this thesis is to provide a description of the drilling process and the tools that have made it possible to drill the wells that nowadays are drilled. Further, it describes different telemetry methods but focuses on mud-pulse telemetry and its limitations. Then, the wired drill pipe system is extensively described, and it is presented the way it allows the integration of measurement tools along the string. Furthermore, it is shown how these tools enable making risk-informed decisions to reduce the risk during drilling operations. The result is safer drilling operations to be achieved while also saving time by reducing the telemetry time, preventing tool failures, and avoiding resource-demanding well remediation operations. Finally, it is discussed how the availability of real-time high-quality data and full bi-directional instantaneous communication with downhole tools has enabled a step towards more automated drilling operations. The combination of high-speed data transfer with machine learning and artificial intelligence has made it possible to develop autonomous drilling services capable of optimizing the well path and reducing well times

Urinary leukotriene E4 at 12 months and influencing factors

Stencel-Gabriel K, Czuba Z, Gabriel I, Majda A. Urinary leukotriene E4 at 12 months and influencing factors. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2016;6(1):197-206. eISSN 2391-8306. DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.45337http://ojs.ukw.edu.pl/index.php/johs/article/view/45337https://pbn.nauka.gov.pl/works/709857   The journal has had 7 points in Ministry of Science and Higher Education parametric evaluation. Part B item 755 (23.12.2015).755 Journal of Education, Health and Sport eISSN 2391-8306 7© The Author (s) 2016; This article is published with open access at Licensee Open Journal Systems of Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, PolandOpen Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,provided the original author(s) and source are credited. This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial License(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted, non commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted, non commercialuse, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.Received: 15.12.2015. Revised 12.01.2016. Accepted: 25.01.2016.  Urinary leukotriene E4 at 12 months and influencing factors Stencel-Gabriel K ( 1 ), Czuba Z ( 2 ), Gabriel I ( 3 ), Majda A ( 1 ) 1.        Departament of Pediatrics, Bytom, Medical University of Silesia2.        Departament of Microbiology and Immunology, Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia3.        Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Oncological Gynecology, Bytom, Medical University of Silesia   Corresponding author:Krystyna Stencel-Gabrielul. Batorego 1541-902 Bytom Keywords: leukotriene E4, infants, allergy, urine. SummaryObjectiveLTE4 is the end point of cysLTs pathway and its only stable product. Its role was discussed in asthma and AEDS.We aimed to investigate the impact of genetic and environmental factors ( sex, maternal positive family atopy history, breastfeeding, passive smoking and pet exposure ).60 newborns ( including 30 boys ) were enrolled in the study. Each child was examined at 12 months and urine samples for urinary LTE4 measurement were collected. All samples were processed using ACETM Enzyme Immunoassay Kit ( Cayman Chemical, Ann Arbor, MI, USA ).The mean level of urinary LTE4 at 12 months was 186,99 pg/ml ( median: 159,0; CI 95%: 157,79- 221,59 ). The Shapiro- Wilk test showed that the distribution of the levels of urinary LTE4 were abnormal. 12- month- old girls had higher urinary LTE4 levels than boys( mean: 270,50 vs. 193,55 ), but maternal positive atopy history, pet exposure, tobacco smoking or length of breastfeeding had no impact on urinary LTE4 excretion.ConclusionsIn conclusion, most of genetic or environmental factors do not change levels of urinary LTE4 in infants.

Neutrino Masses from Fine Tuning

We present a new approach for generating tiny neutrino masses. The Dirac neutrino mass matrix gets contributions from two new Higgs doublets with their vevs at the electroweak (EW) scale. Neutrino masses are tiny not because of tiny Yukawa couplings, or very heavy ($\sim 10^{14}\textrm{GeV}$) right handed neutrinos. They are tiny because of a cancelation in the Dirac neutrino mass matrix (fine tuning). After fine tuning to make the Dirac neutrino mass matrix at the $10^{-4}$ GeV scale, light neutrino masses are obtained in the correct scale via the see-saw mechanism with the right handed neutrino at the EW scale. The proposal links neutrino physics to collider physics. The Higgs search strategy is completely altered. For a wide range of Higgs masses, the Standard Model Higgs decays dominantly to $\nu_L N_R$ mode giving rise to the final state $\bar{\nu} \nu \bar{b} b$, or $\bar{\nu} \nu \tau^+\tau^-$. This can be tested at the LHC, and possibly at the Tevatron.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures and 3 table

Indoor environmental quality in offices and risk of health and productivity complaints at work: A literature review

Many service jobs are carried out in modern offices, with individual offices being increasingly replaced by open-plan settings. The high number of adult people working in office buildings, in most situations sharing the work-place with many others during a considerable part of their daily time, highlights the importance of providing adequate guidance to ensure the quality of office environments. This paper aims to summarize existing data on modern offices' indoor environmental quality (IEQ) conditions in terms of air pollution (volatile organic compounds (VOC), particulate matter and inorganic pollutants), thermal comfort, lighting and acoustics and the respective associations with health and productivity-related outcomes in workers. Evidence shows that al-though many offices present acceptable IEQ, some office settings can have levels of air pollutants, hygrothermal conditions/thermal comfort and illuminance that do not comply with the existing international standards and recommendations. In addition, findings suggest the existence of significant associations between the assessed IEQ indicators and the risk of detrimental effects on health and productivity of office workers. In particular, airborne particles, CO2, O 3 and thermal comfort were linked with the prevalence of sick building syndrome symptoms. Poor lighting and acoustical quality have also been associated with malaise and physiological stress among office workers. Similarly, better productivity levels have been registered for good indoor air quality conditions, in terms of VOC, airborne particles and CO2. Overall, the evidence revised in this work suggests that for promoting health and productivity recommendations for office building managers include actions to ensure that: i) all relevant IEQ indicators are periodically controlled to ensure that levels comply with recommended limit values; ii) declared in-door pollution sources are avoided; iii) adequate ventilation and acclimatization strategies are implemented; and iv) there is the possibility of conduct personalized adjustments to environmental conditions (following workers' preferences).The authors gratefully acknowledge Fundacao para a Ciencia e nologia (FCT) for the financial support of FF through the PhD BD/6521/2020

Quantum ratchets in dissipative chaotic systems

Using the method of quantum trajectories we study a quantum chaotic dissipative ratchet appearing for particles in a pulsed asymmetric potential in the presence of a dissipative environment. The system is characterized by directed transport emerging from a quantum strange attractor. This model exhibits, in the limit of small effective Planck constant, a transition from quantum to classical behavior, in agreement with the correspondence principle. We also discuss parameter values suitable for implementation of the quantum ratchet effect with cold atoms in optical lattices.Comment: Significant changes: Several text improvements and new results. Figure 2 modified. Figure 4 adde

The anti-cancer effect of retinoic acid signaling in CRC occurs via decreased growth of ALDH+ colon cancer stem cells and increased differentiation of stem cells

Background: Tumorigenesis is driven by stem cell (SC) overpopulation. BecauseALDH is both a marker for SCs in many tissues and a key enzyme in retinoid acid (RA)signaling, we studied RA signaling in normal and malignant colonic SCs.Hypothesis: RA signaling regulates growth and differentiation of ALDH+ colonicSCs dysregulation of RA signaling contributes to SC overpopulation and colorectalcancer (CRC) development.Methods: We analyzed normal and malignant colonic tissues and CRC cell linesto see if retinoid receptors (RXR &RAR) are exclusively expressed in ALDH+ SCs,and if RA signaling changes during CRC development. We determined whether RAsignaling regulates cancer SC (CSC) proliferation, differentiation, sphere formation,and population size.Results: RXR &RAR were expressed in ALDH+ colonic SCs, but not in MCM2+proliferative cells. Western blotting/immunostaining of CRCs revealed that RAsignaling components become overexpressed in parallel with ALDH overexpression,which coincides with the known overpopulation of ALDH+ SCs that occurs during,and drives, CRC development. Treatment of SCs with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)decreased proliferation, sphere formation and ALDH+ SC population size, and induceddifferentiation along the neuroendocrine cell (NEC) lineage.Conclusions: Retinoid signaling, by regulating ALDH+ colonic CSCs, decreases SCproliferation, sphere formation, and population size, and increases SC differentiation toNECs. Dysregulation of RA signaling in colonic SCs likely contributes to overpopulationof ALDH+ SCs and CRC growth.Implications: That retinoid receptors RXR and RAR are selectively expressed inALDH+ SCs indicates RA signaling mainly occurs via ALDH+ SCs, which provides amechanism to selectively target CSCs. © 2018 Impact Journals LLC. All rights reserved

Lift maximization with uncertainties for high lift devices optimization

In this paper, the aerodynamic shape optimization problems with uncertain operating conditions has been addressed. After a review of robust control theory and the possible approaches to take into account uncertainties, the use of Taguchi robust design methods in order to overcome single point design problems in Aerodynamics is proposed. Under the Taguchi concept, a design with uncertainties is converted into an optimization problem with two objectives which are the mean performance and its variance, so that the solutions are as less sensitive to the uncertainty of the input parameters as possible. Furthermore, the Multi-Criterion Evolutionary Algorithms (MCEAs) are used to capture a set of compromised solutions (Pareto front) between these two objectives. The flow field is analyzed by Navier-Stokes computation using an unstructured mesh. The proposed approach drives to the solution of a multi-objective optimization problem that is solved using a modification of a Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA). In order to reduce the number of expensive evaluations of the fitness function a Response Surface Modeling (RSM) is employed to estimate the fitness value using the polynomial approximation model. During the solution of the optimization problem a Semi-torsional Spring Analogy is used for the adaption of the computational mesh to all the obtained geometrical configurations. The proposed approach is applied to the robust optimization of the 2D high lift devices of a business aircraft by maximizing the mean and minimizing the variance of the lift coefficients with uncertain free-stream angle of attack at landing and takeoff flight conditions, respectively

Evolution of asexual and sexual reproduction in the aspergilli

Aspergillus nidulans has long-been used as a model organism to gain insights into the genetic basis of asexual and sexual developmental processes both in other members of the genus Aspergillus, and filamentous fungi in general. Paradigms have been established concerning the regulatory mechanisms of conidial development. However, recent studies have shown considerable genome divergence in the fungal kingdom, questioning the general applicability of findings from Aspergillus, and certain longstanding evolutionary theories have been questioned. The phylogenetic distribution of key regulatory elements of asexual reproduction in A. nidulans was investigated in a broad taxonomic range of fungi. This revealed that some proteins were well conserved in the Pezizomycotina (e.g. AbaA, FlbA, FluG, NsdD, MedA, and some velvet proteins), suggesting similar developmental roles. However, other elements (e.g. BrlA) had a more restricted distribution solely in the Eurotiomycetes, and it appears that the genetic control of sporulation seems to be more complex in the aspergilli than in some other taxonomic groups of the Pezizomycotina. The evolution of the velvet protein family is discussed based on the history of expansion and contraction events in the early divergent fungi. Heterologous expression of the A. nidulans abaA gene in Monascus ruber failed to induce development of complete conidiophores as seen in the aspergilli, but did result in increased conidial production. The absence of many components of the asexual developmental pathway from members of the Saccharomycotina supports the hypothesis that differences in the complexity of their spore formation is due in part to the increased diversity of the sporulation machinery evident in the Pezizomycotina. Investigations were also made into the evolution of sex and sexuality in the aspergilli. MAT loci were identified from the heterothallic Aspergillus (Emericella) heterothallicus and Aspergillus (Neosartorya) fennelliae and the homothallic Aspergillus pseudoglaucus (=Eurotium repens). A consistent architecture of the MAT locus was seen in these and other heterothallic aspergilli whereas much variation was seen in the arrangement of MAT loci in homothallic aspergilli. This suggested that it is most likely that the common ancestor of the aspergilli exhibited a heterothallic breeding system. Finally, the supposed prevalence of asexuality in the aspergilli was examined. Investigations were made using A. clavatus as a representative ‘asexual’ species. It was possible to induce a sexual cycle in A. clavatus given the correct MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 partners and environmental conditions, with recombination confirmed utilising molecular markers. This indicated that sexual reproduction might be possible in many supposedly asexual aspergilli and beyond, providing general insights into the nature of asexuality in fungi.National Natural Science Foundation of China 31601446National Research Foundation of Korea 2016010945Intelligent Synthetic Biology Center of Global Frontier Projects 2015M3A6A8065838Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research CouncilGovernment of IraqMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad BIO2015-67148-