University of Alcalá

About: University of Alcalá is a education organization based out in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 10795 authors who have published 20718 publications receiving 410089 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Alcala & University of Alcala de Henares.

Excited OH+, H2O+, and H3O+ in NGC 4418 and Arp 220

Abstract: We report on Herschel/PACS observations of absorption lines of OH^+, H_2O^+ and H_3O^+ in NGC 4418 and Arp 220. Excited lines of OH^+ and H_2O^+ with E_(lower) of at least 285 and ~200 K, respectively, are detected in both sources, indicating radiative pumping and location in the high radiation density environment of the nuclear regions. Abundance ratios OH^+/H_2O^+ of 1−2.5 are estimated in the nuclei of both sources. The inferred OH^+ column and abundance relative to H nuclei are (0.5−1) × 10^(16) cm^(-2) and ~ 2 × 10^(-8), respectively. Additionally, in Arp 220, an extended low excitation component around the nuclear region is found to have OH^+/H^2O^+ ~ 5−10. H_3O^+ is detected in both sources with N(H_3O^+) ~ (0.5−2) × 10^(16) cm^(-2), and in Arp 220 the pure inversion, metastable lines indicate a high rotational temperature of ~500 K, indicative of formation pumping and/or hot gas. Simple chemical models favor an ionization sequence dominated by H^+ → O^+ → OH^+ → H_2O^+ → H_3O^+, and we also argue that the H^+ production is most likely dominated by X-ray/cosmic ray ionization. The full set of observations and models leads us to propose that the molecular ions arise in a relatively low density (≳10^4 cm^(-3)) interclump medium, in which case the ionization rate per H nucleus (including secondary ionizations) is ζ > 10^(-13) s^(-1), a lower limit that is several × 10^2 times the highest current rate estimates for Galactic regions. In Arp 220, our lower limit for ζ is compatible with estimates for the cosmic ray energy density inferred previously from the supernova rate and synchrotron radio emission, and also with the expected ionization rate produced by X-rays. In NGC 4418, we argue that X-ray ionization due to an active galactic nucleus is responsible for the molecular ion production.

A new global burned area product for climate assessment of fire impacts

Abstract: Aim This paper presents a new global burned area (BA) product developed within the framework of the European Space Agency's Climate Change Initiative (CCI) programme, along with a first assessment of its potentials for atmospheric and carbon cycle modelling. Innovation Methods are presented for generating a new global BA product, along with a comparison with existing BA products, in terms of BA extension, fire size and shapes and emissions derived from biomass burnings. Main conclusions Three years of the global BA product were produced, accounting for a total BA of between 360 and 380 Mha year-1. General omission and commission errors for BA were 0.76 and 0.64, but they decreased to 0.51 and 0.52, respectively, for sites with more than 10% BA. Intercomparison with other existing BA datasets found similar spatial and temporal trends, mainly with the BA included in the Global Fire Emissions Database (GFED4), although regional differences were found (particularly in the 2006 fires of eastern Europe). The simulated carbon emissions from biomass burning averaged 2.1 Pg C year-1

Defective natural killer and phagocytic activities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are restored by glycophosphopeptical (inmunoferón).

Abstract: We have investigated both modifications in natural (innate) immunity caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the effects of a glycophosphopeptical immunomodulator (Inmunoferon) treatment on COPD-associated immunoalterations. In a double-blinded clinical trial, 60 patients with COPD received glycophosphopeptical or placebo during 90 consecutive days at oral doses of 3 g/d. Fifty-six sex- and age-matched healthy control subjects were included as a reference group for immunologic parameters. Peripheral blood natural killer (PBNK) cell cytotoxic activity and phagocytic activity of peripheral monocytes/macrophages (Mo/Ma) and polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells were assessed at baseline and then again at the end of treatments. We found both PBNK activity and phagocytic activity to be significantly decreased in patients with COPD compared with levels in healthy volunteers. The treatment with glycophosphopeptical provoked significant stimulatory effects on PBNK cytotoxic activity. This stimulation w...

Refractive changes induced by form deprivation in the mouse eye.

Abstract: PURPOSE. Form-deprivation myopia has been induced in many different animal species. Underlying mechanisms are not well understood to date. In the current study the possibility of inducing refractive errors by form deprivation in the mouse (C57 BL/6) was investigated. METHODS. Thirty animals underwent a 13- to 20-day monocular form-deprivation period by suture of the left eyelid before or after natural eye opening. A subsequent survival period was allowed in a group of animals. Retinoscopic refraction was performed at lid reopening and after the subsequent survival period, when applicable. Animals were killed and the eyes enucleated. The axial length of the eyes was measured in histochemically processed horizontal eye sections. A group of 30 age-matched normal control mice was also studied. RESULTS. Deprived eyes showed significant development of myopia compared with the contralateral fellow eye after transitory hypermetropia, regardless of whether they were deprived before or after natural eye opening. The refractive difference between form-deprived and corresponding fellow eyes was significantly correlated with the difference in axial length, which indicates that myopia is mainly axial. The differences exceeded those between eyes of age-matched normal control mice. CONCLUSIONS. Form-deprivation myopia can be induced in the mouse. This model may be useful to investigate underlying mechanisms of myopia in mammals, because of easier handling and availability of genetically manipulated strains.