Blue Straggler Star Populations in Globular Clusters: I. Dynamical Properties of Blue Straggler Stars in NGC 3201, NGC 6218 and ω\omega Centauri

We present the first dynamical study of Blue Straggler Stars (BSSs) in three Galactic globular clusters, NGC\,3201, NGC\,5139 ($\omega$Cen), and NGC\,6218, based on medium-resolution spectroscopy (R 10000) obtained with IMACS. Our BSS candidate selection technique uses HST/ACS and ESO/WFI photometric data out to $>\!4.5\,r_c$. We use radial velocity measurements to discard non-members and achieve a success rate of $\sim93\%$, which yields a sample of 116 confirmed BSSs. Using the penalized pixel fitting method (pPXF) we measure the $v\sin(i)$ values of the sample BSSs and find their distribution functions peaked at slow velocities with a long tail towards fast velocities in each globular cluster. We find that the BSSs in NGC\,3201 and NGC\,6218 which show $v\sin(i)\!>\!50$ km s$^{-1}$ are all found in the central cluster regions, inside a projected $2\,r_c$, of their parent clusters. We find a similar result in $\omega$Cen for BSSs with $v\sin(i)\!>\!70$ km s$^{-1}$ which are all, except for two, concentrated inside $2\,r_c$. In all globular clusters we find rapidly rotating BSSs that have relatively high differential radial velocities which likely put them on hyperbolic orbits, suggestive of strong dynamical interactions in the past. We estimate that all the observed rapidly rotating BSSs are likely to form in their central cluster regions no longer than $\sim\!300$ Myr ago. Using dereddened $V\!-\!I$ colors of our photometric selection we show that blue BSSs in $\omega$Cen with $(V-I)_0$<0.25 mag show a significantly increased $v\sin(i)$ dispersion compared with their red counterparts and all other BSSs in our sample, therefore strongly implying that fast rotating BSSs in $\omega$Cen are preferentially bluer, i.e. more massive. This may indicate that this particular blue BSS population was formed in an unique formation event and/or through an unique mechanism.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures, accepted in Ap

Scaling of Fracture Strength in Disordered Quasi-Brittle Materials

This paper presents two main results. The first result indicates that in materials with broadly distributed microscopic heterogeneities, the fracture strength distribution corresponding to the peak load of the material response does not follow the commonly used Weibull and (modified) Gumbel distributions. Instead, a {\it lognormal} distribution describes more adequately the fracture strengths corresponding to the peak load of the response. Lognormal distribution arises naturally as a consequence of multiplicative nature of large number of random distributions representing the stress scale factors necessary to break the subsequent "primary" bond (by definition, an increase in applied stress is required to break a "primary" bond) leading up to the peak load. Numerical simulations based on two-dimensional triangular and diamond lattice topologies with increasing system sizes substantiate that a {\it lognormal} distribution represents an excellent fit for the fracture strength distribution at the peak load. The second significant result of the present study is that, in materials with broadly distributed microscopic heterogeneities, the mean fracture strength of the lattice system behaves as $\mu_f = \frac{\mu_f^\star}{(Log L)^\psi} + \frac{c}{L}$, and scales as $\mu_f \approx \frac{1}{(Log L)^\psi}$ as the lattice system size, $L$, approaches infinity.Comment: 24 pages including 11 figure

Regional (im)balances in transitional economies: The Croatian case

In this paper we attempt to give answer on the following question: what is the way in which transitional process influence on the balance of the regional development of the transitional countries. In order to give answer on this question we will analyze Croatian regional processes in the pre transitional as well as in the transitional period divided in the following sub periods: 1965-1975; 1975-1990; 1990-1995. In this analysis we will examine position of the 22 Croatian counties individually and summary implementing 32 indicators based on the PROMETEE method. Since indicators are from the economic, natural and socio-cultural origin we consider this analysis to be integral one.

Efecto de la relacion hoja/fruta sobre las variables de rendimiento y composicion final de las bayas en los cvs. Syrah y Cabernet Sauvignon

35 p.Con el objetivo de determinar el efecto de la relación hoja / fruta sobre los componentes del rendimiento y la composición de la fruta, se realizó un ensayo durante la temporada 2005 -2006 en la localidad de San Javier, VII región (35°37' latitud sur, 71°46' Longitud oeste). Los cultivares utilizados fueron Cabernet Sauvignon y Syrah de 4 anos de edad, plantados a una distancia de 2,5 x 1,5 metros. Las plantas fueron regadas por goteo y conducidas en una espaldera vertical simple (orientación norte-sur), el experimento se condujo en un diseño de completamente al azar. Los tratamientos consistieron en brotes de 4 longitudes distintas (>1.3 m; 1.3 a 0.8 m; 0.8 a 0.4 m y <0.4m) con 2 niveles de carga (1 o 2 racimos por brote), con ello se obtuvieron 8 relaciones hoja / fruta (2.08-9.26 para el cv. Syrah; 2.86-13.84 para el cv. Cabernet Sauvignon). A los racimos de cada brote se les midió Ia composición de las bayas (S6lidos solubles, pH, acidez, Índice de polifenoles totales, extracción de antocianinas y madurez de pepa) y los componentes del rendimiento (peso de bayas y numero de bayas por racimo). La relación hoja / fruta en brotes individuales solo tuvo efecto en el nivel de sólidos solubles en ambas variedades. No se encontró diferencias significativas en el pH, acidez y polifenoles totales, extractabilidad de antocianas y madurez de pepa en las variedades Cabernet sauvignon y Syrah. En cuanto a los componentes del rendimiento solo existió diferencias significativas para el numero de bayas por racimo en el caso del cv. Syrah. Como era de esperar el área foliar de los brotes en ambos cultivares resulto fuertemente relacionada con el largo de estos (r2= 0,97 y 0,98 para la variedad Cabernet Sauvignon y Syrah respectivamente)

Efecto de la relacion copa/raiz sobre la deshidratacion prematura de bayas en vid vinifera cv: Merlot

21 p.Durante la temporada 2002-2003 se efectuó un ensayo para encontrar la posible relación entre la razón copa/raíz y la incidencia de la deshidratación prematura de bayas (DPB) en cv. Merlot. La razón fue cambiada cortando el follaje a una altura pre-determinada 15 días antes de pinta y retrasando la eliminación de brotes del tronco. Los tratamientos fueron T1= Control, T2= 50% del area foliar del control, T3= 75% del área foliar del control y T4= Eliminación retrasada de brotes del tronco. El área foliar y la razón copalraiz fue menor en T2 y T3. T4 no fue efectivo para cambiar estos valores. La incidencia fue menor para T2 y T3, cayendo el porcentaje de plantas afectadas desde un 52% del control a 22,9% y 31,3% para T2 y T3 respectivamente y desde 52,4% de racimos afectados a 16,6% y 21,2% para los mismos tratamientos. Finalmente, el porcentaje de racimos afectados dentro del rango de moderado a severo cayo desde 25% del control a 5,2% y 3,9% para T2 y T3

Soft Tissue Sarcomas of the Arm – Oncosurgical and Reconstructive Principles within a Multimodal, Interdisciplinary Setting

Soft tissue sarcomas of the upper extremity represent a severe threat for the patient and a difficult task for the treatment team. Due to the complex anatomy of the arm, most sarcomas involve valuable functional structures. Nonetheless, a large portion of the patients can be treated in a limb-sparing manner, and surgery is the mainstay of local tumor control. This review gives an overview of the disease entities and their epidemiology, on necessary patient work-up, staging, and imaging modalities, as well as the importance of interdisciplinary decision-making. The surgical therapies and principles of tumor excision are outlined, as well as reconstructive options. Furthermore, adjuvant treatments are discussed with a special focus on the various application techniques for radiation therapy. In spite of established treatment algorithms, each case is an individual challenge and individually tailored therapy is required. This aspect is illustrated by presenting three comprehensive cases demonstrating useful strategies. A summary of the relevant literature is given