The Janus head of the HD 12661 planetary system

In this work we perform a global analysis of the radial velocity curve of the HD 12661 system. Orbital fits that are obtained by the genetic and gradient algorithms of minimization reveal the proximity of the system to the 6:1 mean motion resonance. The orbits are locked in the secular resonance with apsidal axes librating about 180 deg with the full amplitude $\simeq (90,180) deg$. Our solution incorporates the mutual interaction between the companions. The stability analysis with the MEGNO fast indicator shows that the system is located in an extended stable zone of quasi-periodic motions. These results are different from those obtained on the basis of the orbital fit published by Fischer et al. (2003)Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, manuscript submitted to ApJ Letters, revised versio

Orbital configurations and dynamical stability of multi-planet systems around Sun-like stars HD 202206, 14 Her, HD 37124 and HD 108874

We perform a dynamical analysis of the recently published radial velocity (RV) measurements of a few solar type stars which host multiple Jupiter-like planets. In particular, we re-analyze the data for HD 202206, 14 Her, HD 37124 and HD 108874. We derive dynamically stable configurations which reproduce the observed RV signals using our method called GAMP (an acronym of the Genetic Algorithm with MEGNO Penalty). The GAMP relies on the N-body dynamics and makes use of genetic algorithms merged with a stability criterion. For this purpose, we use the maximal Lyapunov exponent computed with the dynamical fast indicator MEGNO. Through a dynamical analysis of the phase-space in a neighborhood of the obtained best-fit solutions, we derive meaningful limits on the parameters of the planets. We demonstrate that GAMP is especially well suited for the analysis of the RV data which only partially cover the longest orbital period and/or correspond to multi-planet configurations involved in low-order mean motion resonances (MMRs). In particular, our analysis reveals a presence of a second Jupiter-like planet in the 14 Her system (14 Her c) involved in a 3:1 or 6:1 MMR with the known companion b. We also show that the dynamics of the HD 202206 system may be qualitatively different when coplanar and mutually-inclined orbits of the companions are considered. We demonstrate that the two outer planets in the HD 37124 system may reside in a close neighborhood of the 5:2 MMR. Finally, we found a clear indication that the HD 108874 system may be very close to, or locked in an exact 4:1 MMR.Comment: Contains 7 pages (text), 17 figures (some in low resolution suitable for astro-ph), 1 table. Submitted to ApJ. The manuscript with high-resolution figures is available from http://www.astri.uni.torun.pl/~chris/ms64109.ps.g

Orbital solutions to the HD160691 (mu Arae) Doppler signal

We perform a dynamical analysis of the recently updated set of the radial velocity (RV) measurements of the HD160691 (mu Arae). The kinematic, 2-Keplerian model of the measurements leads to the best-fit solution in which the eccentricity of the outer planet is about 0.7 and its semi-major axis is about 4AU. The parameters of the inner planet are well determined. The eccentricity is about 0.3 and the semi-major axis is about 1.65AU. The best 2-Keplerian model leads to a catastrophically unstable configuration, self disrupting in less than 20,000yr. To derive dynamically stable configurations which are simultaneously consistent with the RV data, we use the so called GAMP (Genetic Algorithm with MEGNO Penalty). Using this method, we derive meaningful limits on the parameters of the outer planet which provide a stable behavior of the system. The best-fit solutions are located in a shallow valley of Chi^2, in the (a_c,e_c)-plane, extending over 2AU (for the formal 1sigma confidence interval of the best fit). We find two equally good best-fit solutions leading to the qualitatively different orbital configurations. One of them corresponds to the center of the 5:1 mean motion resonance (MMR) and the second one describes a configuration between the 6:1 and 17:2MMRs. The mu Arae system can be found in the zone confined to other low-order MMRs of the type p:1 with p>5. Our results support the classification of the mu Arae as a hierarchical planetary system, dynamically similar to other known multi-planet systems around HD12661 and HD169830. The results of the GAMP on the extended data set are fully consistent with our previous conclusions concerning a much shorter observational window.Comment: 6 pages, 1 table, 13 figures in low resolution suitable for astro-ph. Submitted to Ap

Do Field Crop Farms and Mixed Farms of Old and New EU Members Improve Productivity at the Same Rate? A Regional Level Approach

data contained in the Farm Accounting Data Network (FADN). Analyses covered the first four years following the extension of the European Union in 2004. The adopted units comprised average farms representing 80 regions belonging to eleven countries of EU-15 and four new EU member states. Estimation of the Malmquist total factor productivity (TFP) and its components was conducted using data envelopment analysis, separately for each of the two types of farms taking into consideration their economic size. The main findings concerning the pure technical efficiency change indicate that in the units from the old regions there was a slight improvement for field crop farms and stagnation for mixed farms, and a decrease in the units from the new regions, being bigger for mixed farms and smaller for field crop farms. The biggest effect was observed for the technical change index, with a bigger increase for crop farms from old regions than those from the new member states. The estimated Malmquist index confirms a conjecture that the more specialized farms more effectively improve overall productivity than mixed farms, where modernization efforts are more scattered. At the same time the average growth rate of TFP in crop farms from the EU-15 regions in the analyzed period was much faster that in analogous farms from the new regions. For mixed farms the difference in the rate of change was similar, but at a much lower level.data envelopment analysis, technical efficiency change, scale efficiency change, Malmquist index, Crop Production/Industries, Productivity Analysis,

Relative equilibria in the unrestricted problem of a sphere and symmetric rigid body

We consider the unrestricted problem of two mutually attracting rigid bodies, an uniform sphere (or a point mass) and an axially symmetric body. We present a global, geometric approach for finding all relative equilibria (stationary solutions) in this model, which was already studied by Kinoshita (1970). We extend and generalize his results, showing that the equilibria solutions may be found by solving at most two non-linear, algebraic equations, assuming that the potential function of the symmetric rigid body is known explicitly. We demonstrate that there are three classes of the relative equilibria, which we call "cylindrical", "inclined co-planar", and "conic" precessions, respectively. Moreover, we also show that in the case of conic precession, although the relative orbit is circular, the point-mass and the mass center of the body move in different parallel planes. This solution has been yet not known in the literature.Comment: The manuscript with 10 pages, 5 figures; accepted to the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Societ

Znaczenie opłaty interchange dla rozwoju rynku kart płatniczych w Polsce

The aim of this paper is to indicate the importance of the interchange fee on the payment card market in Poland and its impact on the development of the acceptance network. The paper uses a descriptive and comparative analysis, as well as results of analyses and research, including a survey conducted by the author among seven acquirers. Of key importance for the development of payment card acceptance network are costs of payment card acceptance. One of the main components of Merchant Service Charge is interchange fee. The level of interchange fees rates in Poland, being one of the highest in the EU, is a major barrier to the development of payment card acceptance network and cashless transactions. The central bank was engaged in the process of interchange fees reduction in Poland, assuming the role of a catalyst. The reduction of interchange fees (since 2013) in the Polish market is a positive development which may result among others in implementation of costly efficient mobile payment systems.Celem opracowania jest ukazanie znaczenia opłaty interchange dla rozwoju rynku kart płatniczych w Polsce oraz jej wpływu na rozwój sieci akceptacji. Do jego realizacji wykorzystano analizę opisową i porównawczą oraz szeroki materiał analityczno- badawczy, w tym badanie ankietowe przeprowadzone przez autora wśród siedmiu największych agentów rozliczeniowych, działających na rynku polskim. Kluczowe znaczenie dla rozwoju sieci akceptacji kart płatniczych mają koszty akceptacji kart płatniczych, wśród których zasadniczą rolę odgrywa opłata interchange. Wysoki poziom opłaty interchange w Polsce, należący do jednego z najwyższych w UE, stanowi zasadniczą barierę rozwoju sieci akceptacji kart płatniczych i obrotu bezgotówkowego. W proces obniżenia opłat interchange w Polsce zaangażował się bank centralny, przyjmując rolę katalizatora zmian. Obniżenie stawek opłat interchange przez organizacje kart płatniczych od początku 2013 r. jest zjawiskiem pozytywnym na polskim rynku, które umożliwia już teraz uzyskiwanie zadowalających efektów, m.in. wdrożenie na rynku polskim nowych i tańszych systemów płatności mobilnych

ANALIZA ZASTOSOWANIA FILTRÓW WSZECHPRZEPUSTOWYCH DO ELIMINACJI NEGATYWNYCH SKUTKÓW TENDENCJI LOUDNESS WAR

In this paper the influence of all-pass filters on musical material with applied hypercompression dynamics (loudness war trend) was analyzed. These filters are characterized by shifting phase in selected frequency band of signal, not by change of their amplitude levels. Because a lot of music information is present in music tracks, the dynamic range was tested together with influence of other sound parameters like selectivity or instruments’ arrangement on scene, by running subjective tests on a group of respondents.W artykule przeanalizowana wpływ filtrów wszechprzepustowych na materiał muzyczny z zastosowaną hiperkompresją sygnału (tendencją loudness war). Filtry tego typu, charakteryzują się przesunięciem w fazie składowych częstotliwościowych, sygnału, a nie zmianą poziomu ich amplitudy. Ze względu na dużą ilość informacji w utworach muzycznych, prócz sprawdzenia zakresu dynamiki poprzez testy obiektywne, zbadano również wpływ na inne parametry dźwięku takie jak selektywność czy rozłożenie instrumentów na scenie, poprzez testy subiektywne na grupie respondentów. &nbsp

On the extrasolar multi-planet system around HD160691

We re-analyze the precision radial velocity (RV) observations of HD160691 (mu Ara) by the Anglo-Australian Planet Search Team. The star is supposed to host two Jovian companions (HD160691b, HD160691c) in long-period orbits about 630 days and about 2500 days, respectively) and a hot-Neptune (HD160691d) in about 9 days orbit. We perform a global search for the best fits in the orbital parameters space with a hybrid code employing the genetic algorithm and simplex method. The stability of Keplerian fits is verified with the N-body model of the RV signal that takes into account the dynamical constraints (so called GAMP method). Our analysis reveals a signature of the fourth, yet unconfirmed, Jupiter-like planet HD160691e in about 307 days orbit. Overall, the global architecture of four-planet configuration recalls the Solar system. All companions of mu Ara move in quasi-circular orbits. The orbits of two inner Jovian planets are close to the 2:1 mean motion resonance. The alternative three-planet system involves two Jovian planets in eccentric orbits (e about 0.3), close to the 4:1 MMR, but it yields a significantly worse fit to the data. We also verify a hypothesis of the 1:1 MMR in the subsystem of two inner Jovian planets in the four-planet model.Comment: 15 pages (total), 11 figures, 2 tables, revised manuscript submitted to ApJ; the manuscript with full-resolution figures is available from http://www.astri.uni.torun.pl/~chris/muarae3.ps.g

Skutki obniżenia opłaty interchange na polskim rynku kart płatniczych

The aim of the article is to present the functioning model of the interchange fee and its regulatory reduction process as well as to assess the preliminary impact of this reduction on the Polish card market. The research showed a significant acceleration in the development of POS terminals network and a faster increase in the value of cashless transactions. Furthermore, there has been no significant increase in the fees for customers. Contrary to fears, the regulation has not hampered innovation in the Polish banking sector, but rather has contributed to the development of new payment solutions, including mobile payments. However, in order to assess the full effects of the regulation, a long-term perspective should be applied.Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie mechanizmu funkcjonowania opłaty interchange i procesu jej regulacyjnego obniżenia oraz dokonanie oceny jego pierwszych skutków dla rynku kart płatniczych w Polsce. Przeprowadzone badania wykazały, że doszło do znaczącego przyspieszenia rozwoju sieci terminali POS akceptujących karty i jednocześnie szybszego wzrostu wartości transakcji bezgotówkowych z użyciem tego instrumentu. Nie zaobserwowano także znaczącego wzrostu opłat dla klientów. Wbrew obawom regulacja ta nie doprowadziła do zahamowania innowacyjności polskiego sektora bankowego, a raczej przyczyniła się do poszukiwania i rozwoju nowych technologii płatniczych, w tym płatności mobilnych. Pełne rezultaty procesu regulacji będą jednak możliwe do oceny w dłuższej perspektywie czasowej

Radiobiological rationale for stereotactic hypofractionated radiosurgery Part II. Normal tissue tolerance — dose constraints

The response of normal tissues/organs to SHRS is more complex than to conventional radiotherapy. Tolerance doses TD5/5 and TD50/5, proposed by Rubin and Casarett, cannot be simply used for SHRS. Instead of LQED2, the BED is advised. The term risk dose (RD) corresponds better than TD to the risk of late morphological and functional disorders (OAR). BED doses show a rapid gradient with increasing distance of the OAR from the tumour GTV. Other risk factors include the dose-volume relationship, OAR organization (serial or parallel) and the ratio of the FSU to the target call. Vasculoendothelial cell damage initiates series of processes resulting in clinical and functional late effect. Using available data and studies, RDmin and RDmax for doses are listed as physical and BED doses for various OAR and dose-volume constraints. The RD values and constraints are rough estimates, since the available SHRS data are sparse and fragmentary, which should be interpreted cautiously and need further clinical validation