2,644 research outputs found

    Probing the innermost regions of AGN jets and their magnetic fields with RadioAstron II. Observations of 3C 273 at minimum activity

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    RadioAstron is a 10 m orbiting radio telescope mounted on the Spektr-R satellite, launched in 2011, performing Space Very Long Baseline Interferometry (SVLBI) observations supported by a global ground array of radio telescopes. With an apogee of about 350 000 km, it is offering for the first time the possibility to perform {\mu}as-resolution imaging in the cm-band. We present observations at 22 GHz of 3C 273, performed in 2014, designed to reach a maximum baseline of approximately nine Earth diameters. Reaching an angular resolution of 0.3 mas, we study a particularly low-activity state of the source, and estimate the nuclear region brightness temperature, comparing with the extreme one detected one year before during the RadioAstron early science period. We also make use of the VLBA-BU-BLAZAR survey data, at 43 GHz, to study the kinematics of the jet in a 1.5-year time window. We find that the nuclear brightness temperature is two orders of magnitude lower than the exceptionally high value detected in 2013 with RadioAstron at the same frequency (1.4x10^13 K, source-frame), and even one order of magnitude lower than the equipartition value. The kinematics analysis at 43 GHz shows that a new component was ejected 2 months after the 2013 epoch, visible also in our 22 GHz map presented here. Consequently this was located upstream of the core during the brightness temperature peak. These observations confirm that the previously detected extreme brightness temperature in 3C 273, exceeding the inverse Compton limit, is a short-lived phenomenon caused by a temporary departure from equipartition. Thus, the availability of interferometric baselines capable of providing {\mu}as angular resolution does not systematically imply measured brightness temperatures over the known physical limits for astrophysical sources.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&

    Fractional flow equations. A model for pressure deficit in an oil well

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    This article presents a novel system of flow equations that models the pressure deficit of a reservoir considered as a triple continuous medium formed by the rock matrix, vugular medium and fracture. In non-conventional reservoirs, the velocity of the fluid particles is altered due to physical and chemical phenomena caused by the interaction of the fluid with the medium, this behavior is defined as anomalous. A more exact model can be obtained with the inclusion of the memory formalism concept that can be expressed through the use of fractional derivatives. Using Laplace transform of the Caputo fractional derivative and Bessel functions, a semi-analytical solution is reached in the Laplace space

    Persistent effects of pre-Columbian plant domestication on Amazonian forest composition

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    The extent to which pre-Columbian societies altered Amazonian landscapes is hotly debated. We performed a basin-wide analysis of pre-Columbian impacts on Amazonian forests by overlaying known archaeological sites in Amazonia with the distributions and abundances of 85 woody species domesticated by pre-Columbian peoples. Domesticated species are five times more likely to be hyperdominant than non-domesticated species. Across the basin the relative abundance and richness of domesticated species increases in forests on and around archaeological sites. In southwestern and eastern Amazonia distance to archaeological sites strongly influences the relative abundance and richness of domesticated species. Our analyses indicate that modern tree communities in Amazonia are structured to an important extent by a long history of plant domestication by Amazonian peoples

    Hyperdominance in the Amazonian tree flora

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    The vast extent of the Amazon Basin has historically restricted the study of its tree communities to the local and regional scales. Here, we provide empirical data on the commonness, rarity, and richness of lowland tree species across the entire Amazon Basin and Guiana Shield (Amazonia), collected in 1170 tree plots in all major forest types. Extrapolations suggest that Amazonia harbors roughly 16,000 tree species, of which just 227 (1.4%) account for half of all trees. Most of these are habitat specialists and only dominant in one or two regions of the basin. We discuss some implications of the finding that a small group of species--less diverse than the North American tree flora--accounts for half of the world's most diverse tree community.This work was supported by Alberta Mennega Stichting; ALCOA Suriname; Banco de la República; Center for Agricultural Research in Suriname; Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Plano Nacional de Pós-Graduação); Conselho Nacional de Desenvovimento Científico e Tecnológico of Brazil (CNPq) projects Programa de Pesquisas Ecológicas de Longa Duração (PELD) (558069/2009-6), Programa de Apoio a Núcleos de Excelência da Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (PRONEX-FAPEAM) (1600/2006), Áreas Úmidas, and MAUA; PELD (403792/2012-6), PPBio, CENBAM, Universal (479599/2008-4), and Universal 307807-2009-6; Fundação de Amparo À Pesquisa Do Estado Do Amazonas (APEAM) projects DCR/2006, Hidroveg with FAPESP, and PRONEX with CNPq; FAPESP; Colciencias; Duke University; Ecopetrol; FEPIM 044/2003; the Field Museum; Conservation International/DC (TEAM/INPA Manuas), Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation; Guyana Forestry Commission; Investissement d’Avenir grant of the French Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) (Centre d’Étude de la Biodiversité Amazonienne ANR-10-LABX-0025); Margaret Mee Amazon Trust; Miquel fonds; National Geographic Society (7754-04, 8047-06 to P.M.J.); Netherlands Foundation for the Advancement of Tropical Research WOTRO grants WB85- 335 and W84-581; Primate Conservation Incorporated; Programme Ecosystèmes Tropicaux (French Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development; Shell Prospecting and Development Peru; Smithsonian Institution’s Biological Diversity of the Guiana Shield Program; Stichting het van Eeden-fonds; the Body Shop; the Ministry of the Environment of Ecuador; TROBIT; Tropenbos International; NSF (NSF-0743457 and NSF-0101775 to P.M.J.); USAID; Variety Woods Guyana; WWF-Brazil; WWF-Guianas; XIIéme Contrat de Plan Etat Région-Guyane (French Government and European Union); and grants to RAINFOR from the European Union, UK Natural Environment Research Council, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and U.S. National Geographic Society. O.L.P. is supported by a European Research Council Advanced Grant and a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award

    Seasonal drought limits tree species across the Neotropics

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    Within the tropics, the species richness of tree communities is strongly and positively associated with precipitation. Previous research has suggested that this macroecological pattern is driven by the negative effect of water-stress on the physiological processes of most tree species. This process implies that the range limits of taxa are defined by their ability to occur under dry conditions, and thus in terms of species distributions it predicts a nested pattern of taxa distribution from wet to dry areas. However, this ‘dry-tolerance’ hypothesis has yet to be adequately tested at large spatial and taxonomic scales. Here, using a dataset of 531 inventory plots of closed canopy forest distributed across the Western Neotropics we investigated how precipitation, evaluated both as mean annual precipitation and as the maximum climatological water deficit, influences the distribution of tropical tree species, genera and families. We find that the distributions of tree taxa are indeed nested along precipitation gradients in the western Neotropics. Taxa tolerant to seasonal drought are disproportionally widespread across the precipitation gradient, with most reaching even the wettest climates sampled; however, most taxa analysed are restricted to wet areas. Our results suggest that the ‘dry tolerance’ hypothesis has broad applicability in the world's most species-rich forests. In addition, the large number of species restricted to wetter conditions strongly indicates that an increased frequency of drought could severely threaten biodiversity in this region. Overall, this study establishes a baseline for exploring how tropical forest tree composition may change in response to current and future environmental changes in this region

    Anti-inflammatory effect of phytoestrogens from hydroalcoholic extract of water (mauritia flexuosa) in ovariectomized rats

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    Introducción: Los fitoestrógenos, aparentemente tienen semejanza en cuanto a su estructura química con los estrógenos. La disminución de la concentración de estrógenos durante la menopausia se correlaciona con un número reducido de células B y T y una mayor secreción de citoquinas proinflamatorias. Objetivos: Determinar el efecto antiinflamatorio del extracto hidroalcohólico del aguaje (Mauritia flexuosa) en ratas wistar ovariectomizadas. Material y métodos: Se utilizaron 20 ratas hembras. Grupo 1: ratas hembras intactas + NaCl 1ml/100gr. Grupo 2: ratas OVX + Etinilestradiol 50 um/Kg. Grupo 3: OVX + EHA de 300 mg/Kg. Grupo 4: OVX + EHA 500mg/Kg. Luego de recibir el tratamiento  se inyectó 0.1 ml de carragenina al 1% en la superficie de una pata trasera para obtener los datos en el incremento del diámetro del miembro inferior con ayuda de micrómetro. Resultados: Se usó la prueba estadística Anova en donde se observa la inflamación producida por la carragenina y en la prueba estadística de Dunn se obtuvo una diferencia estadísticamente significativa (P=< 0.01) Conclusiones: Se detectó que el extracto de Mauritia flexuosa tiene un efecto antiinflamatorio después de una administración continua.Introduction: Phytoestrogens apparently have a similarity in terms of their chemical structure with estrogens. The decrease in estrogen concentration during menopause correlates with reduced numbers of B and T cells and increased secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Objective: To determine the anti-inflammatory effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of aguaje (Mauritia flexuosa) in ovariectomized wistar rats. Material and methods: 20 female rats were used. Group 1: intact female rats + NaCl 1ml/100gr. Group 2: OVX rats + Ethinylestradiol 50 um/Kg. Group 3: OVX + EHA of 300 mg/Kg. Group 4: OVX + EHA 500mg/Kg. After receiving the treatment, 0.1 ml of 1% carrageenan was injected into the surface of a hind leg to obtain data on the increase in the diameter of the lower limb with the help of a micrometer. Results: The Anova statistical test was used where the inflammation produced by carrageenan was observed and a statistically significant difference was obtained in Dunn's statistical test (P=<0.01). Conclusions: It was detected that the extract of Mauritia flexuosa has an effect anti-inflammatory after continuous administration

    Manus track preservation bias as a key factor for assessing trackmaker identity and quadrupedalism in basal ornithopods.

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    BACKGROUND: The Las Cerradicas site (Tithonian-Berriasian), Teruel, Spain, preserves at least seventeen dinosaur trackways, some of them formerly attributed to quadrupedal ornithopods, sauropods and theropods. The exposure of new track evidence allows a more detailed interpretation of the controversial tridactyl trackways as well as the modes of locomotion and taxonomic affinities of the trackmakers. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Detailed stratigraphic analysis reveals four different levels where footprints have been preserved in different modes. Within the tridactyl trackways, manus tracks are mainly present in a specific horizon relative to surface tracks. The presence of manus tracks is interpreted as evidence of an ornithopod trackmaker. Cross-sections produced from photogrammetric digital models show different depths of the pes and manus, suggesting covariance in loading between the forelimbs and the hindlimbs. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Several features (digital pads, length/width ratio, claw marks) of some ornithopod pes tracks from Las Cerradicas are reminiscent of theropod pedal morphology. This morphological convergence, combined with the shallow nature of the manus tracks, which reduces preservation potential, opens a new window into the interpretation of these tridactyl tracks. Thus, trackmaker assignations during the Jurassic-Cretaceous interval of purported theropod trackways may potentially represent ornithopods. Moreover, the Las Cerradicas trackways are further evidence for quadrupedalism among some basal small- to medium-sized ornithopods from this time interval

    Tenis. Ejercicios progresivos para desarrollar tu juego

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    G. Torres Luque, A. Sánchez Pay, C. Gago Fuentes y J. Ros García (2013). Badalona: Paidotrib

    A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

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    Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV: Mapping the Milky Way, Nearby Galaxies, and the Distant Universe

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    We describe the Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV (SDSS-IV), a project encompassing three major spectroscopic programs. The Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment 2 (APOGEE-2) is observing hundreds of thousands of Milky Way stars at high resolution and high signal-to-noise ratios in the near-infrared. The Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) survey is obtaining spatially resolved spectroscopy for thousands of nearby galaxies (median z0.03z\sim 0.03). The extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (eBOSS) is mapping the galaxy, quasar, and neutral gas distributions between z0.6z\sim 0.6 and 3.5 to constrain cosmology using baryon acoustic oscillations, redshift space distortions, and the shape of the power spectrum. Within eBOSS, we are conducting two major subprograms: the SPectroscopic IDentification of eROSITA Sources (SPIDERS), investigating X-ray AGNs and galaxies in X-ray clusters, and the Time Domain Spectroscopic Survey (TDSS), obtaining spectra of variable sources. All programs use the 2.5 m Sloan Foundation Telescope at the Apache Point Observatory; observations there began in Summer 2014. APOGEE-2 also operates a second near-infrared spectrograph at the 2.5 m du Pont Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory, with observations beginning in early 2017. Observations at both facilities are scheduled to continue through 2020. In keeping with previous SDSS policy, SDSS-IV provides regularly scheduled public data releases; the first one, Data Release 13, was made available in 2016 July
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