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When investigating a death, post-mortem identification provides with results of great legal and humanitarian significance. The effectiveness of the methods used to estimate age depends on the reference population, considering variables such as sex and ancestry. The aim of this study was to validate the Iscan method to estimate age in a Spanish forensic population, comparing the estimates obtained in dry bones and 3D reconstructions created with a surface scanner. We carried out a cross-sectional study on 109 autopsied corpses (67% male), scanning the sternal end of the right fourth rib in a 3D mesh, using an EinScan-Pro® surface scanner (precision: 0.05 mm). Two observers estimated the phases in dry bones and 3D images according to the Iscan method and to the sex of the subject. The mean age was 57.73 years (SD = 19.12 years;18–93 years). The intra-observer agreement was almost perfect in bones (κ = 0.877–0.960) and 3D images (κ = 0.954), while the inter-observer agreement was almost perfect in bones (κ = 0.813) and substantial in 3D images (κ = 0.727). The correlation with the Iscan phases was very strong in bones (Rho = 0.794–0.820; p p R2 = 0.65; SEE = ± 11.264 years; 3D images: R2 = 0.50; SEE = ± 13.537 years) from phase 4 onwards. An overestimation of age was observed in the first phases, and an underestimation in the later ones. Virtual analysis using a surface scanner in the fourth rib is a valid means of estimating age. However, the error values and confidence intervals were considerable, so the joint use of different methods and anatomical sites is recommended.

Stimulation fluids injected into a reservoir take the path of least resistance, leaving behind under-stimulated areas. As a result, the stimulation efficiency and effectiveness are reduced, affecting the overall production potential. The placement efficiency of a stimulation treatment depends on maximizing fluids contact in the zone of interest (good penetration) and uniform distribution across the section. To achieve uniform distribution, existing higher permeability areas or natural fractures must be efficiently and temporarily blocked, diverting the treatment towards the section with low permeability and higher skin. This process is known as diversion. In this paper, we utilize an analytical model based on computational fluid dynamics and discrete element modeling to simulate treatment placement efficiency and diversion effectiveness in high-pressure/high-temperature (HPHT) carbonate formations, from a long open hole highly fractured reservoir interval in a well in South America. The case study demonstrates that parameters playing a key role were flow rate, spacers between diverting pills, type of diversion fluid carrier, rheology of carrier fluid, number of diversion stages, and displacement rate. The modeling calibrated against an actual field case demonstrates the space for improvement that can be customized depending upon the type of application. The results indicate that without using diversion, the lower part of the openhole section is left under-stimulated in comparison to the top section as the top section had the presence of natural fractures. When diversion was utilized to optimize the design, the stimulation efficiency in the lower section improved considerably and ultimately had a high impact on the production of the well. This paper uses an actual case study to demonstrate the value created and overall production enhancement despite the excellent results achieved. It also summarizes the engineering workflow to optimize diversion design in carbonates HPHT openhole formations. We believe that an engineering approach is critical in the design of a successful stimulation in an open hole with considerable presence of natural fractures in some parts of the section of interest. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of advanced modeling in evenly distributing the stimulation fluid and thereby increasing its effectiveness enhancing the production across the target zone. A case study from a field job in South America will be presented based on job evaluation and actual well production performance. Actual well intervention and treatment design are discussed. The lessons learned from this case study can be applied for stimulation design and planning for future jobs in the area.

Defending human rights requires professionals to be unrelenting in the pursuit of systemic change. It requires the collaboration of varied professions bringing together their expertise to challenge the system of domination that has led to subjugation. Interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPE) is a powerful tool where human rights defenders and advocates from different disciplines can learn from each other and advocate for change. This is an overview of an innovative collaboration between Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Human Rights and Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare (SBUSSW) BSW Program. It will illustrate the way the RFK Human Rights’ human rights education program, Speak Truth To Power (STTP) is being adapted to baccalaureate social work education. Included is the method that the SBUSSW incorporates the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) competencies in a human rights context through the partnership with RFK Human Rights

We present a quantitative study of an online course developed during COVID19 sanitary emergency in Chile. We reconstruct the teaching–learning process considering the activity logs on digital platforms in order to answer the question of How do our students study? The results from the analysis evidence the complex adaptive character of the academic environment, which exhibits regularities similar to those found in financial markets (e.g., distributions of the daily time devoted to learning activities follow patterns like Pareto’s or Zipf’s law). Our empirical results illustrate (i) the relevance of economic notions in the understanding of the teaching–learning processes and (ii) the reliability of quantitative methods based on digital platforms to conduct experimental studies in this framework. We introduce in the present work a series of indicators to characterize the performance of professors, students’ follow-up of the course, and their learning progress by crossing information with the results of assessments. In this context, the learning rate appears as a key statistical descriptor for the allocation of the student workload.

We report the experimental observation of the polarization modulation instability (PMI) effect in all-normal dispersion (ANDi) microstructured optical fibers (MOFs) with quasi-continuous pumping. The small unintentional birefringence (~10-5), that any realistic non-polarization maintaining MOF exhibits, contributes to this nonlinear effect. PMI can produce two sidebands whose polarization state is orthogonal to the polarization of the pump. In this work, only one type of PMI process is observed, i.e., when the pump is polarized along the slow axis of the fiber and sidebands are generated in the fast axis mode. This PMI process was studied experimentally in two ANDi fibers with different dispersion features and pumped with long (700 ps) pump pulses at 1064 nm. Experimental results are compared with theoretical calculations, with reasonably good agreement.

The γ-exponential models were previously proposed as a phenomenological attempt to characterize the properties of stellar systems with a quasi-stationary evolution under the incidence evaporation, e.g. globular clusters. They represent a parametric family of distributions that unify profiles with isothermal cores and polytropic haloes, thus providing a suitable generalization for several models available in the literature. We start our discussion revisiting some results concerning the case of single-mass systems. In particular, we emphasized that these models predict the existence of a new type of collective phenomenon: the asymptotic gravothermal collapse. This gravitational instability differs from the normal gravothermal collapse (e.g. the one associated with isothermal model) because it requires that the system releases an infinite amount of energy. Afterwards, we enter to analyse how a mass spectrum modifies the thermodynamics of these models, in particular, the associated collective phenomena. Although the theoretical description concerns to any multimass system, our computational study addresses the simplest case: the bi-component system. This analysis allows a major understanding about the thermodynamics of stellar systems under the presence of evaporation and mass segregation. For the present models, the growth of mass segregation does not affect the system evaporation disruption but favours gravothermal collapse, e.g. it tends to reduce the energy interval of stability by increasing the lower bound critical energy associated with this collective phenomenon. Extreme cases appear under certain conditions, where gravothermal collapse changes its character from asymptotic to normal.

This chapter illustrates model student leadership development programs offered at institutions of higher education and discusses leadership competencies needed to succeed in today’s global job market and our diverse society. Highlighted programs are rooted in developmental theories, such as Chickering’s psychosocial theory; function within proven frameworks, including the Social Change Model of Leadership and Leadership Challenge; and include service-learning projects to optimize transformative learning and ethical leadership. The chapter concludes with areas for further research related to the sustainable impact of leadership development programs, as well as content and delivery methods of student leadership development programs that are tailored for diverse learners, including nontraditional-aged college students and students of varied cultural ancestry, such as Asian, Middle Eastern, and Indigenous Peoples.

Book review

The generation of photon-pairs with controllable spectral correlations is crucial in quantum photonics. Here we present the design of a photonic crystal fiber to generate widely-spaced four-wave mixing bands with spectral correlations that can be tuned through the thermo-optic effect after being infiltrated with heavy water. We present a theoretical study of the purity of the signal (idler) photon generated as a function of temperature, pump spectral linewidth and the length of the fiber. 511-6/18-8876 CIIC155/2019 APN-624 TEC2016- 76664-C2-1-R PROMETEO/2019/048

Motivated by the precedent study of Ordenes-Huanca and Velazquez [JSTAT \textbf{093303} (2016)], we address the study of a simple model of a pure non-neutral plasma: a system of identical non-relativistic charged particles confined under an external harmonic field with frequency $\omega$. We perform the equilibrium thermo-statistical analysis in the framework of continuum approximation. This study reveals the existence of two asymptotic limits: the known Brillouin steady state at zero temperature, and the gas of harmonic oscillators in the limit of high temperatures. The non-extensive character of this model is evidenced by the associated thermodynamic limit, $N\rightarrow+\infty: U/N^{7/3}=const$, which coincides with the thermodynamic limit of a self-gravitating system of non-relativistic point particles in presence of Newtonian gravitation. Afterwards, the dynamics of this model is analyzed through numerical simulations. It is verified the agreement of thermo-statistical estimations and the temporal expectation values of the same macroscopic observables. The system chaoticity is addressed via numerical computation of Lyapunov exponents in the framework of the known \emph{tangent dynamics}. The temperature dependence of Lyapunov exponent $\lambda$ approaches to zero in the two asymptotic limits of this model, reaching its maximum during the transit between them. The chaos of the present model is very strong, since its rate is faster than the characteristic timescale of the microscopic dynamics $\tau_{dyn}=1/\omega$. A qualitative analysis suggests that such a strong chaoticity cannot be explained in terms of collision events because of their respective characteristic timescales are quite different, $\tau_{ch}\propto \tau_{dyn}/N^{1/4}$ and $\tau_{coll}\propto \tau_{dyn}$., Comment: Version accepted in JSTAT

We study the influence of evaporation (the escape of constituents) on the thermodynamics of a self-gravitating non-relativistic gas of fermions in the framework of Newtonian gravitation. For this purpose, it is reconsidered as the so-called fermionic King model introduced by Ruffini and Stella in the context of dark matter halos problems (1983 Astron. Astrophys. 119 3). As the usual King model, the present model predicts density profiles that drop to zero at a certain finite radius R, which is referred to as the tidal radius. Our interest is focused on the thermodynamics of this model at constant total mass M and constant tidal radius R. A special interest is devoted to study the incidence of mass on the collective phenomena of gravitational collapse and evaporation disruption. The underlying physics is driven by the Fermi mass M F ∼ ℏ 6/G 3 m 8 R 3, which corresponds to the total mass of a self-gravitating degenerate Fermi gas of non-relativistic point particles with mass m, whose linear size is equal to the tidal radius R of evaporation. Numerical calculations predict three critical values for the total mass, M 1 > M 2 > M 3, which hallmark the thermodynamic stability. The lower bound M 3 ≃ 1 4 M F is a critical value of the total mass below the which the system gravitation is unable to confine its constituents, so that the system with total mass M < M 3 undergoes an evaporation disruption. The other bounds, M 2 ≃ 90.9M F and M 1 ≃ 8.9 × 106 M F, are critical values that hallmark the continuous (or discontinuous) character of the microcanonical phase transition associated with gravothermal collapse and the presence of states with negative heat capacities.

The advent of microstructured optical fiber (MOF) technology gave a significant boost to research in nonlinear optics. MOFs have the advantage of high nonlinearity and designable dispersion, which makes this type of fiber an excellent platform for efficient generation of nonlinear effects. In the last years, MOFs exhibiting normal dispersion at any guiding wavelength (ANDi fibers) aroused the interest because of the possibility of using them for the generation of coherent and recompressible supercontinuum (SC) light. In this contribution, we present our recent results regarding the generation of the polarization modulation instability (PMI) effect in ANDi MOFs in the quasi-CW pump regime at 1064 nm. The experimental observation of this nonlinear effect is reported, along with the theoretical analysis of it.

Polarization modulation instability (PMI) is a form of modulation instability that can exist in weakly birefringent optical fibers [1]. Sidebands can be generated by this effect when a polarization mode of the birefringent fiber is excited with an intense optical pump. The polarization state of the sidebands is orthogonal to the polarization of the pump signal. PMI has been observed in microstructured optical fibers (MOFs). PMI was reported in a large-air-filling fraction MOF that was pumped in the normal dispersion regime with visible light [2]. The coherent degradation of femtosecond supercontinuum light generated in all-normal dispersion (ANDi) MOFs due to PMI was recently investigated [3]. Here, we report the experimental observation of PMI effect in ANDi MOFs with picosecond pumping at 1064 nm.

We present a detailed experimental study of fourwave mixing tuning in photonic crystal fibers that were filled either with ethanol or with heavy water. It is demonstrated that wide tuning ranges can be achieved in both cases through the variable chromatic dispersion generated by thermo-optic effect. Tunability of the signal band from 745 nm to 919 nm, and of the idler band from 1260 nm to 1759 nm is demonstrated with a pump at 1064 nm. Numerical calculations were carried out and show good agreement with experimental measurements. We present a detailed experimental study of fourwave mixing tuning in photonic crystal fibers that were filled either with ethanol or with heavy water. It is demonstrated that wide tuning ranges can be achieved in both cases through the variable chromatic dispersion generated by thermo-optic effect. Tunability of the signal band from 745 nm to 919 nm, and of the idler band from 1260 nm to 1759 nm is demonstrated with a pump at 1064 nm. Numerical calculations were carried out and show good agreement with experimental measurements.

We report on the use of Z-scan technique with a beam composed with two modes, to probe the nonlinear optical properties of phosphate glasses doped with Er$^{3+}$-Yr$^{3+}$ and silver nanoparticles. Understanding the linear and nonlinear properties of these materials is crucial to evaluate if they are candidates to be used as gain media in lasers or optical amplifiers. Experiments are carried out by implementing the open-aperture Z-scan technique with bimodal laser pumping ($LG_{00}$ and $LG_{20}$) at 908.6 nm. The analysis is performed using a simplifiedmodel that incorporates nonlinear absorption and saturation intensity of the samples. The advantage of using a beam with a bimodal structure is that it allows us to evaluate the energy transfer between the modes, which is relevant since the optical active media act as an intermediary. This process is incorporated through an effective phenomenological parameter in the model that we use in our analysis., 9 pages, 8 figures

A sense of humor is highly valued in potential mates, although not all types of humor positively impact romantic relationships. In a preregistered study (N = 788), we examined whether adult attachment predicted attraction to humor styles using both frequentist and Bayesian analyses. We found an overall strong preference for positive humor styles that foster emotional closeness and relationship satisfaction (affiliative and self-enhancing) over negative humor styles that reduce emotional closeness and relationship satisfaction (aggressive and self-defeating). As expected, avoidant attachment was associated with relatively more attraction to negative humor styles and less attraction to positive humor styles. Though not consistent with our preregistered hypotheses, anxious attachment was also associated with relatively more attraction to negative humor styles and less attraction to an affiliative humor style, and these associations strengthened as avoidant attachment increased. Thus, insecure attachment was generally associated with greater attraction to humor styles that harm relationships and less attraction to humor styles that foster strong relationships.

In this paper, a switching fuzzy logic controller (SFLC) was proposed to reduce formaldehyde (FA) concentrations in a gross anatomy laboratory. At large vapor levels a hasty fuzzy logic controller (HFLC) first is activated to decrease the hazardous concentration. A switching criterion enables a second precise fuzzy logic controller (PFLC) that smoothly takes the systems output near the desired set-point. An adaptive algorithm allowed the SFLC to select the proper number of extraction systems from 3, 6, or 9 devices. The simulated performance of the fuzzy controller was satisfactorily decreasing and stabilizing the FA concentration even in the presence of parametric disturbances at set-point values of 0.37 mg/m3 and 0.29 mg/m3. However, the performance of the SFLC deteriorated as the number of dissection tables >35. The results showed that SFLC can be considered as a promising strategy to ensure indoor air quality in gross anatomy laboratories.

Absorption Heat Transformer ( AHT ) is a device to recovery heat waste by a thermodynamic cycle. In this paper, an experimental AHT prototype operated with four temperature levels and two pressure levels was analyzed. This prototype was build with commercial Plate Heat Exchangers ( PHE ) and operates with water/Carrol mixture. The heat powers measured were 1.03, 1.48 and 1.51 kW for the generator, 1.19, 1.54 and 1.61 kW for the condenser, 1.21, 1.57 and 1.64 kW for the evaporator, and finally, 0.59, 0.98 and 1.09 kW for the absorber. Experimental Gross Temperature Lift ( GTL ) was 18.0, 17.4 and 16.5 °C and the dimensionless values of Coefficient of Performance ( COP ) calculated for those operating conditions were 0.26, 0.32 and 0.35. Absorber temperatures were 106.8, 105.3, 103.9 °C.

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals, 27, 1

The generator is the starter device of single stage heat transformer (SSHT) and its characteristics have main effects on the overall efficiency of this kind of absorption machines. This article reports a study of the generation of steam and changes in the concentration of the working solution (Water/Carrol mixture) into a plate heat exchanger as a function of its horizontal and vertical position by gravity effect. It is considered the analysis of six experimental tests; two were evaluated in a plate heat exchanger in a horizontal position and four in a vertical position (90 degree inclination). The generation of steam and increased concentration of the working solution are more sensitive to the vertical position of exchanger than in horizontal position. The results of numerical-experimental analysis indicates that a heat exchanger in horizontal position, the steam generation and the change in the concentration of the working solution occurring in the middle of the plate (or at greater distance depending to the thermodynamic conditions) and instantly in vertical position (at the input of the plate).

This paper analyzes the effectiveness of a Plate Heat Exchanger (PHE) used as an economizer integrated into an experimental Single Stage Heat Transformer (SSHT). The heat exchanger effectiveness (η), sometimes referred as thermal efficiency, is an important parameter for the design of heat transfer equipment. Two thermodynamic methods for η evaluation are shown. The overall heat transfer coefficient (U) and the individual convective heat transfer coefficients (h) were calculated for Water/Carrol mixture. Four SSHT experimental tests runs were carried out, in order to evaluate the η. The economizer effectiveness ranged from 0.69 to 0.71. Finally, the η effect for Coefficient of Performance (COP) is shown as a function of absorber temperature.

We present an experimental study of parametric four-wave mixing generation in photonic crystal fibers that have been infiltrated with ethanol. A silica photonic crystal fiber was designed to have the proper dispersion properties after ethanol infiltration for the generation of widely spaced four-wave mixing (FWM) bands under 1064 nm pumping. We demonstrate that the FWM bands can be tuned in a wide wavelength range through the thermo-optic effect. Band shifts of 175 and over 500 nm for the signal and idler bands, respectively, are reported. The reported results can be of interest in many applications, such as CARS microscopy.

We present an experimental and numerical study of four-wave mixing in photonic crystal fibers. Our objective is the development of tuning techniques based on tailoring de dispersion of the fibers. We demonstrate wide tuning ranges.

La harina de trigo duro (Triticum durum) es la más usada en la elaboración de pastas, dado su alto contenido proteico que dota a la masa de gran tenacidad, sin embargo la pasta de trigo es un alimento no balanceado, debido a su escaso contenido de grasa y fibra dietética. Otras harinas como la de amaranto, tiene un mayor porcentaje de proteína, lípidos y fibra. Vegetales como los pimientos contienen una gran cantidad de vitamina A, carotenoides y fibra. Por lo que el objetivo del presente trabajo fue elaborar un espagueti utilizando una mezcla de harina de la cual 70% fue de trigo y 30% de amaranto (tamaño de partícula 0.25mm), y pimiento (amarillo, rojo y verde) deshidratado. Se obtuvo un producto con buena aceptabilidad de acuerdo a la evaluación sensorial, con mejor calidad nutrimental, mayor contenido de proteína, lípidos, fibra y aporte de vitamina A que podría llegar a cubrir el 25% de la IDR (Ingesta Diaria Recomendada) en adultos por 100g de producto

Objective While patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices could benefit from magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, the presence of such devices has been designated as an absolute contraindication to MR. Although scanning algorithms are proposed for cardiac implantable electronic devices, their safety remains uncertain. To address this issue, the safety of serial cardiac MR scans was evaluated in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). Methods Three serial cardiac MR scans were prospectively performed at 1.5 T on 10 patients (9 men) of median age 56 years (range 51–68) with ICDs. ICD interrogation was performed before and after the MR scan and at a follow-up of median 370 days (range 274–723). Image quality was also assessed. Results In all patients MR scanning occurred without complications. There were no differences between pre- and post-MR pacing capture threshold, pacing lead or high voltage lead impedance, or battery voltage values. During follow-up there were no occurrences of ICD dysfunction. Although most patients had image artifacts, the studies were generally diagnostic regarding left ventricular function and wall motion. Delayed enhancement imaging was of good quality for inferior wall and inferolateral infarcts, but ICD artifacts often affected the imaging of anterior wall infarcts. Conclusion Serial MR scans at 1.5 T in patients with ICDs, when carefully performed in a monitored setting, have no adverse effects on either patient or device. When required, single or multiple MR scans at 1.5 T may therefore be considered for clinical diagnostic purposes in these patients.

Rationale: Transcatheter, intramyocardial injections of bone marrow–derived cell therapy produces reverse remodeling in large animal models of ischemic cardiomyopathy. Objective: We used cardiac MRI (CMR) in patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction related to remote myocardial infarction (MI) to test the hypothesis that bone marrow progenitor cell injection causes functional recovery of scarred myocardium and reverse remodeling. Methods and Results: Eight patients (aged 57.2±13.3 years) received transendocardial, intramyocardial injection of autologous bone marrow progenitor cells (mononuclear or mesenchymal stem cells) in LV scar and border zone. All patients tolerated the procedure with no serious adverse events. CMR at 1 year demonstrated a decrease in end diastolic volume (208.7±20.4 versus 167.4±7.32 mL; P =0.03), a trend toward decreased end systolic volume (142.4±16.5 versus 107.6±7.4 mL; P =0.06), decreased infarct size ( P P =0.04). Improvements in regional function were evident at 3 months, whereas the changes in chamber dimensions were not significant until 6 months. Improved regional function in the infarct zone strongly correlated with reduction of end diastolic volume ( r 2 =0.69, P =0.04) and end systolic volume ( r 2 =0.83, P =0.01). Conclusions: These data suggest that transcatheter, intramyocardial injections of autologous bone marrow progenitor cells improve regional contractility of a chronic myocardial scar, and these changes predict subsequent reverse remodeling. The findings support the potential clinical benefits of this new treatment strategy and ongoing randomized clinical trials.

Although there is tremendous interest in stem cell (SC)-based therapies for cardiomyopathy caused by chronic myocardial infarction, many unanswered questions regarding the best approach remain. The TAC-HFT study is a phase I/II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial designed to address several of these questions, including the optimal cell type, delivery technique, and population. This trial compares autologous mesenchymal SCs (MSCs) and whole bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMCs). In addition, the study will use a novel helical catheter to deliver cells transendocardially. Although most trials have used intracoronary delivery, the optimal method is unknown and data suggest that the transendocardial approach may have important advantages. Several trials support the benefit of SCs in patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICMP), although the sample sizes have been small and the number of trials sparse. After a pilot phase of 8 patients, 60 patients with ICMP (left ventricular ejection fraction 15%-50%) will be randomized to group A (30 patients further randomized to receive MSC injection or placebo in a 2:1 fashion) or group B (30 patients further randomized to BMCs or placebo in a 2:1 fashion). All patients will undergo bone marrow aspiration and transendocardial injection of SCs or placebo. The primary and secondary objectives are, respectively, to demonstrate the safety and efficacy (determined primarily by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging) of BMCs and MSCs administered transendocardially in patients with ICMP.

Purpose: The implementation of the expanded newborn screening panel of 29 disorders recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics in Puerto Rico and United States Virgin Islands is still in development or in early stages. Efforts in the territories are complicated by educational and resource barriers that generate a wide gap between the islands and the US mainland. Methods: To meet immediate educational needs, we conducted in-services for local newborn screening professionals. The efficacy of the educational intervention was measured by pre and posttest scores and a seminar evaluation. An assessment was obtained to document local newborn screening needs and barriers, with focus on human resources, intervention, language, social issues, education, and communication. Results: Statistical significance was found (P value ≤0.05) between pre and posttest scores of the educational intervention. Needs and barriers associated with expanded newborn screening were also documented. Conclusion: Puerto Rico and United States Virgin Islands face different challenges in their implementation of expanded newborn screening. The data obtained in the present study serves as foundation for the development of public policy and long-term educational programs.

We study effects of evaporation on thermo-statistics of rotating 2D non-screened plasma. This system is imperfectly confined by an external homogeneous magnetic field that is non-vanishing in a finite space region only. We assume that constituting particles can only move in a plane and the magnetic field acts on a circular region in the perpendicular direction. Thermo-statistical description of evaporation effects are analyzed within microcanonical ensemble. A truncation of velocity spectrum is considered to account for the existence of a threshold energy for particles that remain trapped by the magnetic field. The numerical study of macroscopic observables is performed implementing structural equations that describe distribution profiles.

Molecular Dynamics Simulations of the shell dynamics and normal mode analysis (NMA) are carried out to study Rydberg photoexcitation of NO in Xe and Kr solids. In the case of the NO doped Kr system we have completed a previous study on shell dynamics by focusing only on the NMA, however, in the case of the NO doped Xe system we have carried out both studies: shell dynamics and NMA. For this purpose, we have used fitted Lennard–Jones potential parameters for NO(A2Σ+)–Kr and NO(A2Σ+)–Xe interactions since they have not been reported in literature. These parameters were fitted taking into account the match of simulation results to the available spectroscopic data. The dynamics of the Xe–NO matrix yielded a great dispersion in the trajectories and a slower medium response with respect to Kr–NO matrix. The NMA have allowed us to explain the immediate shell dynamics after photoexcitation, showing the validity of harmonic approximation of potentials. The results are shown comparatively with the rest of the studied matrices (Ar–NO and Ne–NO).

(CsI)nCs+ (n = 1,2) cluster ion formation from polycrystalline CsI irradiated by pulsed-UV laser (337 nm) is analyzed by delayed extraction time-of-flight mass spectrometry technique. Measurements were performed for different laser intensities and for several delayed extraction times. Experimental data show that CsI laser ablation produces the emission of (CsI)nCs+ ions (n = 0, 1, 2), whose yields decrease exponentially with n and increase exponentially with the laser pulse energy. A quasi equilibrium evolution of the clusters is proposed to extract a parameter characteristic of the cluster recombination process. The delayed extraction method of initial velocity determination was improved to take into account collisions in the high density plasma close to the target. The new parameterization helps to describe the dynamics of secondary ions of different masses for laser irradiances above the ion desorption threshold in a collision regime. The initial velocity of the secondary ions [(CsI)nCs+ (n = 0, 1, 2)] as function of the laser irradiance was determined. The distance to the target when the free expansion process starts is reported as function of the secondary ions mass and of the laser irradiance. The collision regime’s influence on the secondary ion dynamics is discussed.

In the present work we studied the immediate medium response to the excitation to the $A(3s\sigma)$ Rydberg state of NO impurity embedded in a solid Kr matrix. The excitation, extended over a large range of the lattice was investigated by classical molecular dynamics simulations. This has been done using Lennard-Jones pair potentials from the literature for the ${\rm NO}(X^{2} \Pi){-}{\rm Kr}$ interactions and fitted in this work for the ${\rm NO}(A^{2}\Sigma^{+}){-}{\rm Kr}$ ones, since these last have not been reported in literature. Thus is obtained the first shell response to the excitation of the impurity (approximately the first 2 ps) as well as the response of the continuous shells up to the 10th one. This first response of the first shell is compared to that for similar systems (Ne and Ar matrixes doped with NO). Therefore some theoretical conclusions are drawn. The results indicate the inertial character of the response propagation throughout the surrounding medium and the high degree of nuclear coherence at short times.

The efficiency of wheat biolistic transformation systems strongly depends on the bombardment parameters, the condition of the donor plant, and the plant genotype chosen for the transformation process. This paper analyzes the transformation efficiency of the 129 wheat sister lines generically called 'Bobwhite', originally obtained from the cross 'Aurora'//'Kalyan'/'Bluebird 3'/'Woodpecker'. A number of factors influencing the transformation were examined, such as the ability to produce embryogenic callus, regeneration in selection medium, and overall transformation performance. Of the 129 genotypes evaluated, eight demonstrated transformation efficiencies above 60% (60 independent transgenic events per 100 immature embryos bombarded). Among the eight genotypes identified, we studied agronomic characteristics such as earliness to identify the most adaptable line(s) for different lab conditions. 'Bobwhite' SH 98 26 was identified as a super-transformable wheat line.Key words: wheat transformation, 'Bobwhite', genotype effect.

The use of transgenic plants in durum wheat breeding makes possible the utilization of genes not previously available in the wheat genetic pool. However, to effectively use this technology, it is necessary to be able to continuously produce large numbers of transgenic plants. This paper describes the development of a routine biolistic transformation technology for durum wheat and its adaptation to the mass production of transgenic plants. The method involves subjecting the donor plant to mild drought stress 1 day before the transformation experiment, subsequent bombardment of the immature embryos harvested from these plants with plasmid DNA, and reduced levels of tissue culture manipulation. The in vitro culture response of bombarded immature embryos and the production of transgenic plants were investigated in three durum wheat cultivars: Mexicali, D5c31YN S74, and D5c31YN S48. In all three genotypes, immature embryos (1.0 mm long) were transformed with a plasmid containing a phosphinothricin-resistant gene (bar) under the control of the maize ubiquitin promoter. The transformation frequency was highest in Mexicali, with a range of 0-6.46% transformation efficiency. The data suggest that variations in transformation were frequently influenced by differences in the genotypes and physiological status of the donor plant, rather than by the efficiency of the particle bombardment procedure.