3,134 research outputs found
Three Flavour Majorana Neutrinos with Magnetic Moments in a Supernova
The resonant transition effects MSW and NSFP for three flavour Majorana
neutrinos in a supernova are considered, where the transition magnetic moments
are likely to play a relevant role in neutrino physics. In this scenario, the
deformed thermal neutrino distributions are obtained for different choices of
the electron-tau mixing angle. Detailed predictions for the future large
neutrino detectors are also given in terms of the ratio between the spectra of
recoil electrons for deformed and undeformed spectra.Comment: 20 pages, LaTeX, 5 figures.p
Cepheid theoretical models and observations in HST/WFC3 filters: the effect on the Hubble constant Ho
We present a complete theoretical scenario for classical Cepheids in the most
commonly used HST/WFC3 filters, going from optical (F555W, F606W and F814W) to
near-infrared (F160W) bands. The importance of such a study is related to the
recent release of new classical Cepheids observed with HST/WFC3 in 8 distant
galaxies where SNIa are hosted. These observations have posed sound constraints
to the current distance scale with uncertainties on the Hubble constant Ho
smaller than 3%. Our models explore a large range of metallicity and Helium
content, thus providing a robust and unique theoretical tool for describing
these new and future HST/WFC3 observations. As expected, the Period-Luminosity
(PL) relation in F160W filter is linear and slightly dependent on the
metallicity when compared with optical bands, thus it seems the most accurate
tool to constrain extragalactic distances with Cepheids. We compare the
pulsation properties of Cepheids observed with HST/WFC3-IR with our theoretical
scenario and we discuss the agreement with the predicted Instability Strip for
all the investigated galaxy samples including the case of NGC4258. Finally,
adopting our theoretical F160W PL relation for Z=0.02 and log P>1.0, we derive
new distance moduli. In particular, for NGC 4258, we derive a distance modulus
mu0 = 29.345 +- 0.004 mag with a sigma = 0.34 mag, which is in very good
agreement with the geometrical maser value. Moreover, using the obtained
distance moduli, we estimate the Hubble constant value, Ho=76.0 +- 1.9 km s-1
Mpc-1 in excellent agreement with the most recent literature values.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, 4 tables, MNRAS, accepte
Danni bellici e ricostruzione dei centri storici minori sulla Linea Gotica in Toscana: esperienze a confronto
Blue Straggler masses from pulsation properties. I. The case of NGC6541
We used high-spatial resolution images acquired with the WFC3 on board HST to
probe the population of variable blue straggler stars in the central region of
the poorly studied Galactic globular cluster NGC 6541. The time sampling of the
acquired multi wavelength (F390W, F555W and F814W) data allowed us to discover
three WUma stars and nine SX Phoenicis. Periods, mean magnitudes and pulsation
modes have been derived for the nine SX Phoenicis and their masses have been
estimated by using pulsation equations obtained from linear non adiabatic
models. We found masses in the range 1.0-1.1Mo, with an average value of
1.06+-0.09 Mo (sigma = 0.04), significantly in excess of the cluster Main
Sequence Turn Off mass (~ 0.75Mo). A mild trend between mass and luminosity
seems also to be present. The computed pulsation masses turn out to be in very
good agreement with the predictions of evolutionary tracks for single stars,
indicating values in the range ~ 1.0-1.2 Mo for most of the BSS population, in
agreement with what discussed in a number of previous studies.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures, ApJ, accepte
On the central helium-burning variable stars of the LeoI dwarf spheroidal galaxy
We present a study of short period, central helium-burning variable stars in
the Local Group dwarf spheroidal galaxy LeoI, including 106 RR Lyrae stars and
51 Cepheids. So far, this is the largest sample of Cepheids and the largest
Cepheids to RR Lyrae ratio found in such a kind of galaxy. The comparison with
other Local Group dwarf spheroidals, Carina and Fornax, shows that the period
distribution of RR Lyrae stars is quite similar, suggesting similar properties
of the parent populations, whereas the Cepheid period distribution in LeoI
peaks at longer periods (P \sim 1.26d instead of ~0.5d) and spans over a
broader range, from 0.5 to 1.78d.
Evolutionary and pulsation predictions indicate, assuming a mean metallicity
peaked within -1.5<= [Fe/H]<=-1.3, that the current sample of LeoI Cepheids
traces a unique mix of Anomalous Cepheids (blue extent of the red--clump,
partially electron degenerate central helium-burning stars) and short-period
classical Cepheids (blue-loop, quiescent central helium-burning stars). Current
evolutionary prescriptions also indicate that the transition mass between the
two different groups of stars is MHeF \sim 2.1 Mo, and it is constant for stars
metal-poorer than [Fe/H]\sim-0.7. Finally, we briefly outline the different
implications of the current findings on the star formation history of LeoI.Comment: 5 Pages, 4 Figures, ApJ letter, accepte
Secure self-calibrating quantum random bit generator
Random bit generators (RBGs) are key components of a variety of information
processing applications ranging from simulations to cryptography. In
particular, cryptographic systems require "strong" RBGs that produce
high-entropy bit sequences, but traditional software pseudo-RBGs have very low
entropy content and therefore are relatively weak for cryptography. Hardware
RBGs yield entropy from chaotic or quantum physical systems and therefore are
expected to exhibit high entropy, but in current implementations their exact
entropy content is unknown. Here we report a quantum random bit generator
(QRBG) that harvests entropy by measuring single-photon and entangled
two-photon polarization states. We introduce and implement a quantum
tomographic method to measure a lower bound on the "min-entropy" of the system,
and we employ this value to distill a truly random bit sequence. This approach
is secure: even if an attacker takes control of the source of optical states, a
secure random sequence can be distilled.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure
The superficial brachial artery : a case report
A superficial brachial artery is an anomalous branch of the brachial artery that runs superficial to the median nerve; it is usually associated with a deep brachial branch that runs deep to this nerve. A case is described of a superficial brachial artery. It is of the type where the artery terminates in the cubital fossa by division into radial and ulnar arteries. It is associated with a superficial ulnar artery, and a deep brachial artery that is continued into the forearm as the common interosseous artery, a rare occurrence. The clinical importance and the dangers of this vascular anomaly are discussed. In reparative surgery, an accurate knowledge of the relationship, course and particularly the possible variations of the brachial artery is of considerable importance.peer-reviewe
A polymorphism at IGF1 locus is associated with anemia
In vitro and in vivo studies suggest that IGF-1 has a role in erythropoiesis. There is evidence that the rs35767 C/T polymorphism near IGF1 is associated with plasma IGF-1 levels. We investigated the effect of this polymorphism on hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and anemia. The study group comprised 3286 adult Whites. The rs35767 polymorphism was screened using a TaqMan allelic discrimination assay. The rs35767 polymorphism was not associated with age, gender, BMI, waist circumference, smoking, blood pressure, plasma glucose, HbA1c, type 2 diabetes, HOMA-IR, hsCRP, eGFR, and lipid profile. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), fibrinogen, and fasting insulin levels were significantly lower in TT genotype carriers compared with C allele carriers. Hb concentration was significantly higher in carriers of the TT genotype compared with C allele carriers, and a lower proportion of TT carriers had anemia. As compared with TT genotype carriers, those bearing the CC genotype had a 2.4-fold higher risk of anemia (OR 2.40, 95%CI 1.19-4.82), and those with the CT genotype had a 2.0-fold higher risk of anemia (OR 2.06, 95%CI 1.04-4.11). The association remained significant when fasting insulin, eGFR, smoking, diabetes, ACE inhibitors, sartans or diuretics treatments, use of metformin and pioglitazone were added to the model, but its independence was not retained after inclusion of fibrinogen and ESR values into the model. In conclusion, rs35767 TT allele carriers exhibited significantly higher concentrations of Hb, and lower risk of anemia compared with C allele carriers supporting the idea that IGF-1 plays a role in erythropoiesis homeostasis
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