Local gauge theory and coarse graining

Within the discrete gauge theory which is the basis of spin foam models, the problem of macroscopically faithful coarse graining is studied. Macroscopic data is identified; it contains the holonomy evaluation along a discrete set of loops and the homotopy classes of certain maps. When two configurations share this data they are related by a local deformation. The interpretation is that such configurations differ by "microscopic details". In many cases the homotopy type of the relevant maps is trivial for every connection; two important cases in which the homotopy data is composed by a set of integer numbers are: (i) a two dimensional base manifold and structure group U(1), (ii) a four dimensional base manifold and structure group SU(2). These cases are relevant for spin foam models of two dimensional gravity and four dimensional gravity respectively. This result suggests that if spin foam models for two-dimensional and four-dimensional gravity are modified to include all the relevant macroscopic degrees of freedom -the complete collection of macroscopic variables necessary to ensure faithful coarse graining-, then they could provide appropriate effective theories at a given scale.Comment: Based on talk given at Loops 11-Madri

Die Rechtmäßigkeit des dienstlichen Einsatzes von Beamten während eines Streiks von Tarifkräften im öffentlichen Dienst aus verfassungsrechtlicher und beamtenrechtlicher Sicht

El estudio de la criminalidad medio-ambiental comprende todo un elenco de problemas jurídico-penales de muy difícil solución. Basta acudir a las dificultades que sobresalen al momento de definir el bien jurídico protegido, el desvalor de acción y resultado, las leyes penales en blanco, la relación de causalidad, etc. Un acercamiento, aunque sea superficial, a las dificultades ínsitas de estas categorías revela el uso que se está dando, en nuestro contexto, a la retórica apuesta del legislador por proteger concretos objetos materiales como los yacimientos mineros, las aguas y el material de arrastre. El texto, desde una perspectiva penal, expone la realidad de la minería ilegal en Colombia y las formas institucionales de reacción contra ella

Circumbinary Molecular Rings Around Young Stars in Orion

We present high angular resolution 1.3 mm continuum, methyl cyanide molecular line, and 7 mm continuum observations made with the Submillimeter Array and the Very Large Array, toward the most highly obscured and southern part of the massive star forming region OMC1S located behind the Orion Nebula. We find two flattened and rotating molecular structures with sizes of a few hundred astronomical units suggestive of circumbinary molecular rings produced by the presence of two stars with very compact circumstellar disks with sizes and separations of about 50 AU, associated with the young stellar objects 139-409 and 134-411. Furthermore, these two circumbinary rotating rings are related to two compact and bright {\it hot molecular cores}. The dynamic mass of the binary systems obtained from our data are $\geq$ 4 M$_\odot$ for 139-409 and $\geq$ 0.5 M$_\odot$ for 134-411. This result supports the idea that intermediate-mass stars will form through {\it circumstellar disks} and jets/outflows, as the low mass stars do. Furthermore, when intermediate-mass stars are in multiple systems they seem to form a circumbinary ring similar to those seen in young, multiple low-mass systems (e.g., GG Tau and UY Aur).Comment: Accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysic

A dense micro-cluster of Class 0 protostars in NGC 2264 D-MM1

We present sensitive and high angular resolution (~1") 1.3 mm continuum observations of the dusty core D-MM1 in the Spokes cluster in NGC 2264 using the Submillimeter Array. A dense micro-cluster of seven Class 0 sources was detected in a 20" x 20" region with masses between 0.4 to 1.2 solar masses and deconvolved sizes of about 600 AU. We interpret the 1.3 mm emission as arising from the envelopes of the Class 0 protostellar sources. The mean separation of the 11 known sources (SMA Class 0 and previously known infrared sources) within D-MM1 is considerably smaller than the characteristic spacing between sources in the larger Spokes cluster and is consistent with hierarchical thermal fragmentation of the dense molecular gas in this region.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letter

Ethnic Identity, Risk, and Protective Factors Related to Substance Abuse Among Mexican American Students

This study examines the relationship between ethnic identity, risk and protective factors for substance use and academic achievement. Risk factors include deviant behavior and susceptibility to peer influence, while the protective factor is self-reported confidence not to use substances. The sample consists of 2,370 Mexican American students enrolled in eighth, ninth, and tenth grades. Results of the analysis (MANOVA) revealed that females had more positive ethnic identity than males. Furthermore, males were significantly more susceptible to peer influence, reported higher levels of deviant behavior, used more substances and had lower grade point averages than females. There was no significant difference in their confidence not to use substances

In situ conservation of crop wild relatives

Poster presented at 13. Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) held in FAO, Rome (Italy), 18-22 Feb 200

On the kinematics of massive star forming regions: the case of IRAS 17233-3606

Direct observations of accretion disks around high-mass young stellar objects would help to discriminate between different models of formation of massive stars. However, given the complexity of massive star forming regions, such studies are still limited in number. Additionally, there is still no general consensus on the molecular tracers to be used for such investigations. Because of its close distance and high luminosity, IRAS 17233-3606 is a potential good laboratory to search for traces of rotation in the inner gas around the protostar(s). Therefore, we selected the source for a detailed analysis of its molecular emission at 230 GHz with the SMA. We systematically investigated the velocity fields of transitions in the SMA spectra which are not affected by overlap with other transitions, and searched for coherent velocity gradients to compare them to the distribution of outflows in the region. Beside CO emission we also used high-angular H2 images to trace the outflow motions driven by the IRAS 17233-3606 cluster. We find linear velocity gradients in many transitions of the same molecular species and in several molecules. We report the first detection of HNCO in molecular outflows from massive YSOs. We discuss the CH3CN velocity gradient taking into account various scenarios: rotation, presence of multiple unresolved sources with different velocities, and outflow(s). Although other interpretations cannot be ruled out, we propose that the CH3CN emission might be affected by the outflows of the region. Higher angular observations are needed to discriminate between the different scenarios. The present observations, with the possible association of CH3CN with outflows in a few thousands AU around the YSOs' cluster, (i) question the choice of the tracer to probe rotating structures, and (ii) show the importance of the use of H2 images for detailed studies of kinematics.Comment: accepted for publication in A&