Solving two-dimensional Cartesian unsteady heat conduction problems for small values of the time

a b s t r a c t This paper is intended to provide very accurate analytical solutions modeling transient heat conduction processes in 2D Cartesian finite bodies for small values of the time. Analysis of diffusion of thermal deviation effects indicates that, when the space and time coordinates satisfy a criterion developed in the paper, the simple transient 1D semi-infinite solutions may be "used" for generating extremely accurate values for temperature and heat flux at any point of a finite rectangle. Also, they may be "used" with excellent accuracy as short-time solutions when the time-partitioning method is applied (so avoiding the usually difficult integration of the short-cotime Green's functions). A complex 2D semi-infinite problem is solved explicitly and evaluated numerically as part of the analysis. The proposed criterion is based on an accuracy of one part in 10 n (n ¼ 1,2,...,10,...), where n ¼ 2 is for engineering insight and visual comparison while n ¼ 10 is for verification purposes of large numerical codes

The imaging properties of the Gas Pixel Detector as a focal plane polarimeter

X-rays are particularly suited to probe the physics of extreme objects. However, despite the enormous improvements of X-ray Astronomy in imaging, spectroscopy and timing, polarimetry remains largely unexplored. We propose the photoelectric polarimeter Gas Pixel Detector (GPD) as an instrument candidate to fill the gap of more than thirty years of lack of measurements. The GPD, in the focus of a telescope, will increase the sensitivity of orders of magnitude. Moreover, since it can measure the energy, the position, the arrival time and the polarization angle of every single photon, allows to perform polarimetry of subsets of data singled out from the spectrum, the light curve or the image of source. The GPD has an intrinsic very fine imaging capability and in this work we report on the calibration campaign carried out in 2012 at the PANTER X-ray test facility of the Max-Planck-Institut f\"ur extraterrestrische Physik of Garching (Germany) in which, for the first time, we coupled it to a JET-X optics module with a focal length of 3.5 m and an angular resolution of 18 arcsec at 4.5 keV. This configuration was proposed in 2012 aboard the X-ray Imaging Polarimetry Explorer (XIPE) in response to the ESA call for a small mission. We derived the imaging and polarimetric performance for extended sources like Pulsar Wind Nebulae and Supernova Remnants as case studies for the XIPE configuration, discussing also possible improvements by coupling the detector with advanced optics, having finer angular resolution and larger effective area, to study with more details extended objects.Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Supplemen

Intra-articular administration of lidocaine plus adrenaline in dogs : pharmacokinetic profile and evaluation of toxicity in vivo and in vitro

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of intra-articular (IA) lidocaine plus adrenaline for improving peri-operative analgesia in anaesthetised dogs undergoing arthroscopy of the elbow. A solution of lidocaine (L) 1.98% plus adrenaline 1:100.000 was administered via the IA route and its safety evaluated in terms of cardio- neuro- and chondro-toxicity. No bradycardia or hypotension was recorded from induction to the last observational time point. Signs of toxicity of the nervous system could have been masked by the general anaesthesia but lidocaine concentrations detected in the blood were lower than those thought to be capable of producing toxicity. The assessment of in vitro chondrotoxicity showed a dose- and time-dependent effect of lidocaine on the viability of articular cells. Adrenaline appeared to reduce the chondrotoxicity of 1% lidocaine, following an exposure of up to 30 min

The Effect of Viticultural Climate on Red and White Wine Typicity - Characterization in Ibero-American grape-growing regions

Aim: This study is part of a CYTED (Ibero-American Program for Science, Technology and Development) project on vitivinicultural zoning. The objective was to characterize the effect of viticultural climate on red and white wine typicity in the macro Ibero-American viticultural region. Methods and results: The climate of 46 grape-growing regions in 6 Ibero-American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Spain and Portugal) was characterized using the three viticultural climate index of the Geoviticulture MCC System: the Heliothermal index HI, the Cool Night index CI and the Dryness index DI. The main sensory characteristics frequently observed in representative red and white wines of each of these regions were described by enology experts in the respective countries: intensity of colour, aroma, aroma-ripe fruit, body-palate concentration, alcohol, tannins (for red wines) and acidity as well as persistence on the palate. The data were submitted to a correlation analysis of the variables and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Conclusion: The typicity of red and white wines was correlated with the HI, CI and DI viticultural climate indexes from the MCC System. The main wine sensory variables affected by viticultural climate were identified. Significance and impact of the study : The results can be used to project the potential impacts of climate change on wine sensory characteristics

L'effet du climat viticole sur la typicité des vins blancs: caractérisation au niveau des régions viticoles ibéro-américaines.

There are many studies in the world that characterize the effect of the climate on grape composition and wine characteristics and typicity concerning different viticultural regions. However, the same is not true concerning studies in a worldwide scale to characterize this effect considering different climate types. This study is part of a CYTED (Ibero-American Program for Science, Technology and Development) project in vitivinicultural zoning. The objective was to characterize the effect of the viticultural climate on white wine typicity on the macro Ibero-American viticultural region. The methodology used 46 grape-growing regions in 6 Ibero-American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Portugal and Spain. The viticultural climate of each region was characterized by the 3 viticultural climate index of the Geoviticulture MCC System (1): HI (Heliothermal index), CI (Cool night index) and DI (Dryness index). The main sensory characteristics observed frequently in representative white wines produced with grapes of each of these 46 grape-growing regions were described by enologists in the respective countries, using the methodology of Zanus & Tonietto (2). The sensory description concerned the intensity of perception of Color (Cou), Aroma - Intensity (Ar), Aroma - Ripe Fruit (Ar-Fm), Body ? Palate Concentration (Con), Alcohol (Al) and Acidity (Ac). The Persistence in Mouth (Per) was also evaluated. The data were submitted to a correlation analysis of the variables and to a Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The results showed that the typicity of the white wines was correlated with the viticultural climate indexes HI, CI and DI from MCC System. The main wine sensory variables affected by viticultural climate are identified

Direct Evidence for Hadronic Cosmic-Ray Acceleration in the Supernova Renmant IC 443

The Supernova Remnant (SNR) IC 443 is an intermediate-age remnant well known for its radio, optical, X-ray and gamma-ray energy emissions. In this Letter we study the gamma-ray emission above 100 MeV from IC 443 as obtained by the AGILE satellite. A distinct pattern of diffuse emission in the energy range 100 MeV-3 GeV is detected across the SNR with its prominent maximum (source "A") localized in the Northeastern shell with a flux F = (47 \pm 10) 10^{-8} photons cm^{-2} s^{-1} above 100 MeV. This location is the site of the strongest shock interaction between the SNR blast wave and the dense circumstellar medium. Source "A" is not coincident with the TeV source located 0.4 degree away and associated with a dense molecular cloud complex in the SNR central region. From our observations, and from the lack of detectable diffuse TeV emission from its Northeastern rim, we demonstrate that electrons cannot be the main emitters of gamma-rays in the range 0.1-10 GeV at the site of the strongest SNR shock. The intensity, spectral characteristics, and location of the most prominent gamma-ray emission together with the absence of co-spatial detectable TeV emission are consistent only with a hadronic model of cosmic-ray acceleration in the SNR. A high-density molecular cloud (cloud "E") provides a remarkable "target" for nucleonic interactions of accelerated hadrons: our results show enhanced gamma-ray production near the molecular cloud/shocked shell interaction site. IC 443 provides the first unambiguous evidence of cosmic-ray acceleration by SNRs.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures; accepted by ApJLetters on Jan 21, 201

Influência de ácidos orgânicos na liberação de potássio a partir de rochas silicáticas cominuidas.

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o efeito de diferentes ácidos orgânicos de baixo peso molecular sobre a solubilidade do K contido em diferentes resíduos provenientes da mineração de rochas silicática

Episodic Transient Gamma-Ray Emission from the Microquasar Cygnus X-1

Cygnus X-1 is the archetypal black hole (BH) binary system in our Galaxy. We report the main results of an extensive search for transient gamma-ray emission from Cygnus X-1 carried out in the energy range 100 MeV - 3 GeV by the AGILE satellite, during the period 2007 July - 2009 October. The total exposure time is about 300 days, during which the source was in the "hard" X-ray spectral state. We divided the observing intervals in 2 or 4 week periods, and searched for transient and persistent emission. We report an episode of significant transient gamma-ray emission detected on 2009, October 16 in a position compatible with Cygnus X-1 optical position. This episode, occurred during a hard spectral state of Cygnus X-1, shows that a 1-2 day time variable emission above 100 MeV can be produced during hard spectral states, having important theoretical implications for current Comptonization models for Cygnus X-1 and other microquasars. Except for this one short timescale episode, no significant gamma-ray emission was detected by AGILE. By integrating all available data we obtain a 2$\sigma$ upper limit for the total integrated flux of $F_{\gamma,U.L.} = 3 \times 10^{-8} \rm ph cm^{-2} s^{-1}$ in the energy range 100 MeV - 3 GeV. We then clearly establish the existence of a spectral cutoff in the energy range 1-100 MeV that applies to the typical hard state outside the flaring period and that confirms the historically known spectral cutoff above 1 MeV.Comment: Accepted for publication by ApJ on the 9th of Feb 2010, 5 pages, 3 figure

Comparison between Day 0 and traditional protocols for estrus synchronization and multiple ovulation in crossbred hair sheep.

This study was carried out to compare Day 0 and traditional protocols for in vivo embryo production. Twenty-two crossbred ewes were used as embryo donors and assigned to two groups. Ewes from Traditional protocol were submitted to estrus synchronization with CIDR for 14 days and superovulation treatment was induced 60 h before the withdrawal of CIDR with 240 mg pFSH. Donors from Day 0 protocol were subjected to a short-term protocol of estrus synchronization (6 days) and superovulation treatment was the same to the other group, but it started 84 h after CIDR withdrawal. Embryo recoveries were performed using the transcervical method. All embryo donors (100%) presented estrus regardless of the hormone protocol used. The treatments did not affect the ovarian response, as well as quality and viability of embryos (P > 0.05). Treatments had a small dispersion of estrus, 81.81% (9/11) animals from the Traditional protocol group presented estrus 20 h after CIDR withdrawal and 90.9% (10/11) of the Day 0 protocol group presented estrus 24 h. Regarding embryo production, there was no significant difference between hormonal treatments for the different parameters evaluated (P > 0.05). It can be concluded that the Day 0 protocol was not different from the Traditional protocol in crossbred ewes