8,929 research outputs found
Heavy Ion Physics at LHC
The study of heavy ion interactions constitutes an important part of the
experimental program outlined for the Large Hadron Collider under construction
at CERN and expected to be operational by 2006. ALICE is the single detector
having the capabilities to explore at the same time most of the characteristics
of high energy heavy ion interactions. Specific studies of jet quenching and
quarkonia production, essentially related to detection are also planned
by CMS.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure (in eps) talk given at XXXI International Symposium
on Multiparticle Dynamics, Sep. 1-7, 2001, Datong China URL
http://ismd31.ccnu.edu.cn
Dynamics of a FitzHugh-Nagumo system subjected to autocorrelated noise
We analyze the dynamics of the FitzHugh-Nagumo (FHN) model in the presence of
colored noise and a periodic signal. Two cases are considered: (i) the dynamics
of the membrane potential is affected by the noise, (ii) the slow dynamics of
the recovery variable is subject to noise. We investigate the role of the
colored noise on the neuron dynamics by the mean response time (MRT) of the
neuron. We find meaningful modifications of the resonant activation (RA) and
noise enhanced stability (NES) phenomena due to the correlation time of the
noise. For strongly correlated noise we observe suppression of NES effect and
persistence of RA phenomenon, with an efficiency enhancement of the neuronal
response. Finally we show that the self-correlation of the colored noise causes
a reduction of the effective noise intensity, which appears as a rescaling of
the fluctuations affecting the FHN system.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figure
Mass accretion rates from multi-band photometry in the Carina Nebula: the case of Trumpler 14
We present a study of the mass accretion rates of pre-Main Sequence (PMS)
stars in the cluster Trumpler 14 (Tr14) in the Carina Nebula. Using optical
multi-band photometry we were able to identify 356 PMS stars showing H-alpha
excess emission with equivalent width EW(H-alpha)>20\AA. We interpret this
observational feature as indication that these objects are still actively
accreting gas from their circumstellar medium. From a comparison of the HR
diagram with PMS evolutionary models we derive ages and masses of the PMS
stars. We find that most of the PMS objects are younger than 10 Myr with a
median age of ~3 Myr. Surprisingly, we also find that ~20% of the mass
accreting objects are older than 10 Myr. For each PMS star in Trumpler 14 we
determine the mass accretion rate () and discuss its dependence
on mass and age. We finally combine the optical photometry with near-IR
observations to build the spectral energy distribution (SED) for each PMS star
in Tr14. The analysis of the SEDs suggests the presence of transitional discs
in which a large amount of gas is still present and sustains accretion onto the
PMS object at ages older than 10 Myr. Our results, discussed in light of recent
recent discoveries with Herschel of transitional discs containing a massive gas
component around the relatively old PSM stars TW Hydrae, 49 Ceti, and HD 95086,
support a new scenario in which old and evolved debris discs still host a
significant amount of gas.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication on A&
Mass accretion rates from multiband photometry in the Carina Nebula: The case of Trumpler 14
open8siWe present a study of the mass accretion rates of pre-main sequence (PMS) stars in the cluster Trumpler 14 (Tr 14) in the Carina Nebula. Using optical multiband photometry we were able to identify 356 PMS stars showing Hα excess emission with equivalent width EW(Hα) > 20 Å. We interpret this observational feature as an indication that these objects are still actively accreting gas from their circumstellar medium. From a comparison of the HR diagram with PMS evolutionary models we derive ages and masses of the PMS stars. We find that most of the PMS objects are younger than 10 Myr with a median age of ~3 Myr. Surprisingly, we also find that ~20% of the mass accreting objects are older than 10 Myr. For each PMS star in Trumpler 14 we determine the mass accretion rate (Ṁacc) and discuss its dependence on mass and age. We finally combine the optical photometry with near-IR observations to build the spectral energy distribution (SED) for each PMS star in Tr 14. The analysis of the SEDs suggests the presence of transitional discs in which a large amount of gas is still present and sustains accretion onto the PMS object at ages older than 10 Myr. Our results, discussed in light of recent recent discoveries with Herschel of transitional discs containing a massive gas component around the relatively old PMS stars TW Hydrae, 49 Ceti, and HD 95086, support a new scenario n which old and evolved debris discs still host a significant amount of gas.openBeccari, G.; De Marchi, G.; Panagia, N.; Valenti, E.; Carraro, G.; Romaniello, M.; Zoccali, M.; Weidner, C.Beccari, G.; De Marchi, G.; Panagia, N.; Valenti, E.; Carraro, Giovanni; Romaniello, M.; Zoccali, M.; Weidner, C
Combined frequency-amplitude nonlinear modulation: theory and applications
In this work we formulate a generalized theoretical model to describe the
nonlinear dynamics observed in combined frequency-amplitude modulators whose
characteristic parameters exhibit a nonlinear dependence on the input
modulating signal. The derived analytical solution may give a satisfactory
explanation of recent laboratory observations on magnetic spin-transfer
oscillators and fully agrees with results of micromagnetic calculations. Since
the theory has been developed independently of the mechanism causing the
nonlinearities, it may encompass the description of modulation processes of any
physical nature, a promising feature for potential applications in the field of
communication systems.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, to be published on IEEE Transactions on Magnetic
Noise Induced Phenomena in the Dynamics of Two Competing Species
Noise through its interaction with the nonlinearity of the living systems can
give rise to counter-intuitive phenomena. In this paper we shortly review noise
induced effects in different ecosystems, in which two populations compete for
the same resources. We also present new results on spatial patterns of two
populations, while modeling real distributions of anchovies and sardines. The
transient dynamics of these ecosystems are analyzed through generalized
Lotka-Volterra equations in the presence of multiplicative noise, which models
the interaction between the species and the environment. We find noise induced
phenomena such as quasi-deterministic oscillations, stochastic resonance, noise
delayed extinction, and noise induced pattern formation. In addition, our
theoretical results are validated with experimental findings. Specifically the
results, obtained by a coupled map lattice model, well reproduce the spatial
distributions of anchovies and sardines, observed in a marine ecosystem.
Moreover, the experimental dynamical behavior of two competing bacterial
populations in a meat product and the probability distribution at long times of
one of them are well reproduced by a stochastic microbial predictive model.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figures; to be published in Math. Model. Nat. Phenom.
(2016
Lactoferrin's anti-cancer properties. Safety, selectivity, and wide range of action
Despite recent advances in cancer therapy, current treatments, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, although beneficial, present attendant side effects and long-term sequelae, usually more or less affecting quality of life of the patients. Indeed, except for most of the immunotherapeutic agents, the complete lack of selectivity between normal and cancer cells for radio- and chemotherapy can make them potential antagonists of the host anti-cancer self-defense over time. Recently, the use of nutraceuticals as natural compounds corroborating anti-cancer standard therapy is emerging as a promising tool for their relative abundance, bioavailability, safety, low-cost effectiveness, and immuno-compatibility with the host. In this review, we outlined the anti-cancer properties of Lactoferrin (Lf), an iron-binding glycoprotein of the innate immune defense. Lf shows high bioavailability after oral administration, high selectivity toward cancer cells, and a wide range of molecular targets controlling tumor proliferation, survival, migration, invasion, and metastasization. Of note, Lf is able to promote or inhibit cell proliferation and migration depending on whether it acts upon normal or cancerous cells, respectively. Importantly, Lf administration is highly tolerated and does not present significant adverse effects. Moreover, Lf can prevent development or inhibit cancer growth by boosting adaptive immune response. Finally, Lf was recently found to be an ideal carrier for chemotherapeutics, even for the treatment of brain tumors due to its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, thus globally appearing as a promising tool for cancer prevention and treatment, especially in combination therapies
Near-Infrared Properties of Metal-poor Globular Clusters in the Galactic Bulge Direction
Aims. J, H, and K' images obtained from the near-infrared imager CFHTIR on
the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope are used to derive the morphological
parameters of the red giant branch (RGB) in the near-infrared color-magnitude
diagrams for 12 metal-poor globular clusters in the Galactic bulge direction.
Using the compiled data set of the RGB parameters for the observed 12 clusters,
in addition to the previously studied 5 clusters, we discuss the properties of
the RGB morphology for the clusters and compare them with the calibration
relations for the metal-rich bulge clusters and the metal-poor halo clusters.
Methods. The photometric RGB shape indices such as colors at fixed magnitudes
of MK = MH = (-5.5, -5, -4, and -3), magnitudes at fixed colors of (J - K)o =
(J - H)o = 0.7, and the RGB slope are measured from the fiducial normal points
defined in the near- infrared color-magnitude diagrams for each cluster. The
magnitudes of RGB bump and tip are also estimated from the differential and
cumulative luminosity functions of the selected RGB stars. The derived RGB
parameters have been used to examine the overall behaviors of the RGB
morphology as a function of cluster metallicity. Results. The correlations
between the near-infrared photometric RGB shape indices and the cluster
metallicity for the programme clusters compare favorably with the previous
observational calibration relations for metal-rich clusters in the Galactic
bulge and the metal-poor halo clusters. The observed near-infrared magnitudes
of the RGB bump and tip for the investigated clusters are also in accordance
with the previous calibration relations for the Galactic bulge clusters.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy &
Astrophysic
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