Modified Einstein's gravity as a possible missing link between sub- and super-Chandrasekhar type Ia supernovae

We explore the effect of modification to Einstein's gravity in white dwarfs for the first time in the literature, to the best of our knowledge. This leads to significantly sub- and super-Chandrasekhar limiting masses of white dwarfs, determined by a single model parameter. On the other hand, type Ia supernovae (SNeIa), a key to unravel the evolutionary history of the universe, are believed to be triggered in white dwarfs having mass close to the Chandrasekhar limit. However, observations of several peculiar, under- and over-luminous SNeIa argue for exploding masses widely different from this limit. We argue that explosions of the modified gravity induced sub- and super-Chandrasekhar limiting mass white dwarfs result in under- and over-luminous SNeIa respectively, thus unifying these two apparently disjoint sub-classes and, hence, serving as a missing link. Our discovery raises two fundamental questions. Is the Chandrasekhar limit unique? Is Einstein's gravity the ultimate theory for understanding astronomical phenomena? Both the answers appear to be no!

Analysis of strip electric saturation model of crack problem in piezoelectric materials

This paper presents a fully anisotropic analysis of strip electric saturation model proposed by Gao et al. (1997) (Gao, H.J., Zhang, T.Y., Tong, P., 1997. Local and global energy release rates for an electrically yielded crack in a piezoelectric ceramic. J. Mech. Phys. Solids, 45, 491-510) for piezoelectric materials. The relationship between the size of the strip saturation zone ahead of a crack tip and the applied electric displacement field is established. It is revealed that the critical fracture stresses for a crack perpendicular to the poling axis is linearly decreased with the increase of the positive applied electric field and increases linearly with the increase of the negative applied electric field. For a crack parallel to the poring axis, the failure stress is not effected by the parallel applied electric field. In order to analyse the existed experimental results, the stress fields ahead of the tip of an elliptic notch in an infinite piezoelectric solid are calculated. The critical maximum stress criterion is adopted for determining the fracture stresses under different remote electric displacement fields. The present analysis indicates that the crack initiation and propagation from the tip of a sharp elliptic notch could be aided or impeded by an electric displacement field depending on the field direction. The fracture stress predicted by the present analysis is consistent with the experimental data given by Park and Sun (1995) (Park, S., Sun, C.T., 1995. Fracture criteria for piezoelectric materials. J. Am. Ceram. Soc 78, 1475-1480).

A coupling model for terrestrial processes in arid areas and its application

In this paper, the importance of investigation on terrestrical processes in arid areas for mankind's living environment protection and local economy development as well as its present state of the art are elucidated. A coupling model, which evaluates heat, mass, momentum and radiative fluxes in the SPAC system, is developed for simulating microclimate over plant and bare soil. Especially, it is focussed on the details of turbulence transfer. For illustration, numerical simulation of the water-heat exchange processes at Shapotou Observatory, GAS, Ninxia Province are conducted, and the computational results show that the laws of land-surface processes are rather typical in the arid areas.

Influencia de rotación de cultivos y métodos de control sobre la dinámica de las malezas y el crecimiento, desarrollo y rendimiento de los cultivos maíz (Zea mays L.), sorgo (Sorghum bicolor L.) y pepino (Cucumis sativus L.)

En el presente estudio se analizó la influencia que tienen los cultivos antecesores y diferentes métodos de control sobre lo cenosis de malezas y su influencia en el crecimiento, desarrollo y rendimiento en los cultivos de sorgo, maíz y pepino. Dicho trabajo se estableció en la época de primera (1990) en la hacienda “Las mercedes”, en un diseño de parcelas divididas en bloques completos el azar con cuatro repeticiones. Las rotaciones en estudio fueron sorgo – sorgo, sorgo - maíz, soya -maíz, soya - pepino y sorgo - pepino; los métodos de control químico, control por período crítico y limpia periódica. La especie Rottboellia cochichinesis, se presentó como maleza de mayor abundancia en todas las rotaciones a excepción de la rotación soya - repino, que la mayor abundancia la reflejó Cyperus rotundus al momento de la cosecha. Los diferentes controles mostraron un comportamiento similar para los cultivos sorgo y maíz en el número de Individuos para R. Cochichinesis. La rotación soya – pepino presentó) la mayor cobertura a la cosecha y el control químico, atribuyéndose a que no hubo una competencia interespecífica con el cultivo. R. Cochichinesis, se encontró con mayor biomasa, en todas las rotaciones. El cultivo de pepino acumuló la mayor biomasa en el químico para la especie R. Cochininesis, demostrándose un cambio en la asociación de especies donde las poáceas reflejaron la mayor biomasa. La menor diversidad total a la cosecha se presentó en la rotación sorgo – sorgo y la mayor en soya –maíz. En sorgo, los controles período crítico y limpia periódica demostraron la menor diversidad a la cosecha. En maíz la menor diversidad se obtuvo en el control por limpia periódica, ese mismo efecto se observó para el control químico en el cultivo de pepino a la cosecha. En el cultivo del sorgo no reflejó diferencias estadísticas significativas para las variables del crecimiento, desarrollo y rendimiento, al igual en el cultivo de maíz excepto en los diferentes controles, para la variable peso de la mazorca. En el cultivo de pepino existe significancia estadística para la variable longitud de guía, con respecto a los controles a los 54 dds, y en las rotaciones soya –pepino, sorgo – pepino para el diámetro, longitud del fruto y número de frutos.

Efecto de densidades de siembra y frecuencia de control mecánico de malezas, sobre la dinámica de las malezas y el crecimiento y rendimiento del frijol común (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Var. Rev-79

El presente trabajo fue realizado en la finca San Miguel, ubicada en Monte Grande Occidental, departamento de Catan, durante la época de postrera del año 1993. El propósito del experimento fue evaluar el efecto de diferentes densidades de plantas de cultivo y frecuencia de control mecánico de malezas sobre el rendimiento de frijol común y el comportamiento de las malezas. La variedad de frijol utilizada fue Revolución 79. Los factores estudiados fueron: control de malezas (enmalezado, periodo crítico y limpia periódica); densidades de siembra (alta: 250 000 ptas/ha; media: 200 000 ptas/ha y baja: 150 000 ptas/ha). Los resultados obtenidos muestran que la población de malezas se ve disminuida en las parcelas con altas densidades de plantas. La diversidad de las malezas en el área del experimento está representada por la clase dicotiledónea con un total de 6 especies, al igual que la clase monocotiledóneas con 6 especies. Existió efecto de las densidades de siembra sobre las variables: peso seco de malezas, número de plantas por parcela útil y número de vainas por planta. En el caso de control, se determinó efecto significativo en la mayoría de las variables evaluadas. El cultivo presenta. Una ligera habilidad competitiva en relación a las malezas cuando es tratado con limpian periódicas. De los tratamientos con control de malezas, el mejor fue el control durante el período crítico. En base a estos resultados se deduce que es suficiente un único control de malezas sobre todo en los períodos en que el frijol común presente mayor susceptibilidad al efecto de las malezas.

Simple phenomenological determination of contact stiffness and elastic modulus of Ce-based bulk metallic glasses through nanoindentation

The viscoelastic deformation of Ce-based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) with low glass transition temperature is investigated at room temperature. Contact stiffness and elastic modulus of Ce-based BMGs cannot be derived using the conventional Oliver-Pharr method [W. C. Oliver and G. M. Pharr, J. Mater. Res. 7, 1564 (1992)]. The present work shows that the time dependent displacement of unloading segments can be described well by a generalized Kelvin model. Thus, a modified Oliver-Pharr method is proposed to evaluate the contact stiffness and elastic modulus, which does, in fact, reproduce the values obtained via uniaxial compression tests. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.

O Projeto soldado-cidadão

Consultoria Legislativa - Área XVII - Segurança Pública e Defesa Nacional.

Potential energy model for turbulent entrainment across density interface in a linearly stratified fluid

A potential energy model is developed for turbulent entrainment in the absence of mean shear in a linearly stratified fluid. The relation between the entrainment distance D and the time t and the relation between dimensionless entrainment rate E and the local Richardson number are obtained. An experiment is made for examination. The experimental results are in good agreement with the model, in which the dimensionless entrainment distance D is given by DBAR = A(i)(SBAR)-1/4(fBAR)1/2(tBAR)1/8, where A(i) is the proportional coefficient, S is the dimensionless stroke, fBAR is the dimensionless frequency of the grid oscillation, tBAR the dimensionless time.

Stability of the factorial structure of metabolic syndrome from childhood to adolescence : a 6-year follow-up study

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors that is considered a predictor of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and mortality. There is no consistent evidence on whether the MS construct works in the same way in different populations and at different stages in life. Methods: We used confirmatory factor analysis to examine if a single-factor-model including waist circumference, triglycerides/HDL-c, insulin and mean arterial pressure underlies metabolic syndrome from the childhood to adolescence in a 6-years follow-up study in 174 Swedish and 460 Estonian children aged 9 years at baseline. Indeed, we analyze the tracking of a previously validated MS index over this 6-years period. Results: The estimates of goodness-of-fit for the single-factor-model underlying MS were acceptable both in children and adolescents. The construct stability of a new model including the differences from baseline to the end of the follow-up in the components of the proposed model displayed good fit indexes for the change, supporting the hypothesis of a single factor underlying MS component trends. Conclusions: A single-factor-model underlying MS is stable across the puberty in both Estonian and Swedish young people. The MS index tracks acceptably from childhood to adolescence.

Pravastatin inhibits cell proliferation and increased MAT1A expression in hepatocarcinoma cells and in vivo models

Background: Statins may have therapeutic effects on hepatocarcinoma (HCC). This type of disorder is the most common malignant primary tumour in the liver. Our objective was to determine whether pravastatin had a therapeutic effect in vitro and in vivo models. Method: We design in vitro and in vivo model. In vitro we used PLC and determine cell proliferation. In vivo, we used and animal model to determined, PCNA and MAT1A expression and transaminases levels. Results: We found that pravastatin decreases cell proliferation in vitro (cell proliferation in pravastatin group was 82%, in sorafenib group 51% and in combined group 40%) and in vivo (in pravastatin group 80%, in sorafenib group 76.4% and in combined group 72.72%). The MAT1A levels, was significantly higher in Pravastatin group (D 62%, P 94%, S 71%, P + S 91%). The transaminases levels, decreased significantly in Pravastatin group (GOT and GPT levels D 619.5 U/L; 271 U/L) (P 117.5 U/L; 43.5 U/L) (S 147 U/L; 59 U/L) (P + S 142 U/L; 59 U/L). Conclusion: The combination of pravastatin + sorafenib were more effective than Sorafenib alone.

Inlet stability and case histories, Part II

Inlets which require frequent channel dredging due to gradual shoaling, exhibit migration, or shoal up during storms, are in general unstable and pose a problem to the engineer. This problem of inlet stability is a complex one, because of the rather large number of variables that go into defining stability. The reference here is to inlets on sandy coasts only, because the absence of sand or similar sedimentary material the problem does not arise. Shell is also found in varying proportions with sand. Some of this is. new, whereas in some areas it is ancient reworked material whose size distribution is close to that of the sand with which it is associated. (PDF has 24 pages.)

Un impuesto singular: el diezmo-señor y la sal en Añana, siglos XVI-XIX

[ES]Cuando a partir de 1564 las salinas de Añana comenzaron a producir para la Corona, sus propietarios se vieron obligados a pagar al rey un tributo anual por el uso de las mueras, admitidas como un ius regalia de la monarquía: el diezmoseñor. Desde entonces, todo el entramado de la fabricación y venta de la sal se organizó en torno a él. En este artículo se analizan algunas de las características de este canon tan singular que se mantuvo en vigor hasta el siglo XX.

The social dimensions of marine protected areas: a case study of the Mafia Island Marine Park in Tanzania

As threats to the marine environment continue to remain high, and conventional resource-management techniques have been found wanting, marine protected areas (MPAs) are being seen as a tool to address the abuse and destruction of the environment. This study discusses the social dimensions of MPAs in Tanzania, using the case of the Mafia Island Marine Park and the socioeconomic, political and cultural contexts within which Mafia people live their lives. (54 pp.)