The Phoenix Deep Survey: The 1.4 GHz microJansky catalogue

The initial Phoenix Deep Survey (PDS) observations with the Australia Telescope Compact Array have been supplemented by additional 1.4 GHz observations over the past few years. Here we present details of the construction of a new mosaic image covering an area of 4.56 square degrees, an investigation of the reliability of the source measurements, and the 1.4 GHz source counts for the compiled radio catalogue. The mosaic achieves a 1-sigma rms noise of 12 microJy at its most sensitive, and a homogeneous radio-selected catalogue of over 2000 sources reaching flux densities as faint as 60 microJy has been compiled. The source parameter measurements are found to be consistent with the expected uncertainties from the image noise levels and the Gaussian source fitting procedure. A radio-selected sample avoids the complications of obscuration associated with optically-selected samples, and by utilising complementary PDS observations including multicolour optical, near-infrared and spectroscopic data, this radio catalogue will be used in a detailed investigation of the evolution in star-formation spanning the redshift range 0 < z < 1. The homogeneity of the catalogue ensures a consistent picture of galaxy evolution can be developed over the full cosmologically significant redshift range of interest. The 1.4 GHz mosaic image and the source catalogue are available on the web at http://www.atnf.csiro.au/~ahopkins/phoenix/ or from the authors by request.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, 4 tables. Accepted for publication by A

Influência da temperatura e do teor de umidade na respiração dos grãos de café (Coffea arabica L.).

O armazenamento do café sob condições inadequadas é considerado um dos principais fatores determinantes de perdas qualitativas e quantitativas. A perda de matéria seca, associada à atividade respiratória dos grãos, pode estar intimamente relacionada à sua perda qualitativa. No presente estudo objetivou-se quantificar a produção de CO2 e a perda de matéria seca em função do teor de umidade dos grãos de café da espécie Coffea arabica L., em diferentes temperaturas. Foram utilizados grãos de café com pergaminho, da espécie Coffea arabica L., variedade Catuaí Vermelho, com teores de umidade de aproximadamente 0,11; 0,14; 0,16; 0,19 e 0,22 (b.s.) e temperaturas de 15, 25 e 35ºC. A análise quantitativa da produção de CO2 foi realizada por meio de um respirômetro, a perda de matéria seca foi calculada através de relações estequiométricas específicas e fórmulas. Com os resultados obtidos conclui-se que a produção de CO2 e a perda de matéria seca, foram influenciadas pelo teor de umidade e pela temperatura. A maior produção de CO2 e perda de matéria seca foram observadas para o teor de umidade de 21,95% (b.s.) e temperatura de 35°C e a menor foi observada para 11,11 e 13,64% (b.s.) e temperatura de 15°C

Secagem de grãos de café utilizando energia solar em estufa com ventilação forçada.

A qualidade do café é fator preponderante para o êxito no processo produtivo. No Brasil, conforme os aspectos tecnológicos envolvidos, utilizam-se basicamente dois métodos para secagem de café: secagem natural em terreiro ou secagem artificial utilizando secadores mecânicos. O tempo de secagem do café em terreiro é entorno de 12 a 20 dias dependendo das condições climáticas. Objetivou-se com o presente trabalho estudar alternativas para a secagem do café, que proporcionem redução de tempo e custos, e com garantia de uniformidade, sem ocorrência de contaminação do produto devido ao contato com o solo. Para tanto, foram realizados o desenvolvimento e o estudo de viabilidade técnica de um sistema de secagem de café cereja descascado em estufa secadora (casa de vegetação) com camada delgada de grãos. Construiu?se uma estufa secadora com bandejas com fundo perfurado e ventilação forçada em sucção através de ventiladores de baixa potência. Foi utilizada uma camada de 10 cm de espessura de café da espécie Coffea arábica L., variedade Catuaí Vermelho com umidade média inicial de 51,5% (b.s.). Como testemunha e para comparação foi colocado para secagem no terreiro a mesma quantidade de café utilizado nas bandejas da estufa e com o mesmo teor de umidade inicial. As condições internas e externas à estufa de temperatura e umidade relativa foram monitoradas por um psicrômetro aspirado. A temperatura e a umidade relativa médias dentro da estufa foram de 30ºC e 60,0% e no terreiro foram de 21°C e 65,0%. Com os resultados obtidos observou-se uma melhor uniformidade do teor de umidade e menor tempo de secagem dentro da estufa em relação ao do terreiro. A qualidade do produto final foi ?bebida mole?, tanto para o terreiro quanto para a estufa

A influência do material de parede de silos nos coeficientes de atrito estático e dinâmico dos grãos de café em pergaminho de diferentes variedades.

A qualidade do café é fator preponderante para o êxito no processo produtivo. O armazenamento do café é de fundamental importância para a qualidade final do produto, visto ser esta etapa a que antecede a comercialização e que se torna cada vez mais necessária em virtude da flutuação do mercado cafeeiro. Considerando-se a importância das estruturas de armazenamento para a qualidade final do café, assim como a necessidade de desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias e de soluções dos problemas existentes, ressalta-se a importância de estudos sobre as possíveis opções para o armazenamento deste produto, destacando-se, dentre elas, a utilização de silos, ou seja, o armazenamento a granel. No presente estudo objetivou-se determinar os coeficientes de atrito estático e dinâmico dos grãos de café em diferentes materiais de parede, utilizados na confecção de silos. Foram utilizados grãos de café com pergaminho, da espécie Coffea arábica L., variedades Catuaí Vermelho e Amarelo, Mundo Novo, Rubi e Topázio, com umidade de 12% b.u.. O aparelho utilizado para a determinação dos coeficientes de atrito foi o TSG 70140, equipamento de cisalhamento, construído com base no aparelho de cisalhamento de Jenike. A metodologia utilizada foi à proposta por MILANI (1993), e recomendações da norma inglesa ? BMHB (1985), JENIKE e JOHANSON (1979) e o Manual de Operações da Máquina TSG 70140. Com os resultados obtidos pôde-se observar que dentro das condições que foram utilizadas no presente estudo, os coeficientes de atrito, tanto estático como dinâmico, foram influenciados pela superfície do material de parede independentes das variedades. Observa-se que para cada material de parede não houve diferença significativa entre as variedades, salvo para o concreto rugoso, onde os coeficientes de atrito para Catuaí Amarelo e Vermelho diferiram dos valores de Mundo Novo, Rubi e Topázio. Os coeficientes de atrito estático e dinâmico mostraram uma tendência de serem maiores para o concreto rugoso e decrescendo na ordem aço rugoso, polietileno e alumínio

Diarylethene-Based Ionic Liquids: Synthesis and Photo-Driven Solution Properties

Funding text The authors acknowledge Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia through the PhD grant SFRH/BD/81693/2011 (M. R. C. Soromenho). This work was supported by the Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry-LAQV (Portugal) (UIDB/50006/2020, UIDP/50006/2020, and LA/P/0008/2020) and by the Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa) (UIDB/04138/2020, and UIDP/04138/2020) which are financed by national funds from FCT/MCTES. The NMR spectrometers are part of the National NMR Network (PTNMR) are partially supported by Infrastructure Project Nº 022161 (co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE 2020, POCI and PORL and FCT through PIDDAC).In this work, the design and synthesis of a series of photochromic gemini diarylethene-based ionic liquids (GDILs) with different cationic motifs is reported. Several synthetic pathways were optimized for the formation of cationic GDILs with chloride as the counterion. The different cationic motifs were achieved through the N-alkylation of the photochromic organic core unit with different tertiary amines, including different aromatic amines such as imidazole derivatives and pyridinium, and other non-aromatic amines. These novel salts present surprising water solubility with unexplored photochromic features that broaden their known applications. The covalent attachment of the different side groups dictates their water solubility and differences upon photocyclization. The physicochemical properties of GDILs in aqueous and in imidazolium-based ionic liquid (IL) solutions were investigated. Upon irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) light, we have observed changes in the physico-chemical properties of distinct solutions containing these GDILs, at very low concentrations. More specifically, in aqueous solution, the overall conductivity increased with the time of UV photoirradiation. In contrast, in IL solution, these photoinducible changes are dependent on the type of ionic liquid used. These compounds can improve non-ionic and ionic liquids’ solutions since we can change their properties, such as conductivity, viscosity or ionicity, only by UV photoirradiation. The electronic and conformational changes associated with these innovative stimuli GDILs may open new opportunities for their use as photoswitchable materials.publishersversionpublishe

Coarse-grained description of a passive scalar

The issue of the parameterization of small-scale dynamics is addressed in the context of passive-scalar turbulence. The basic idea of our strategy is to identify dynamical equations for the coarse-grained scalar dynamics starting from closed equations for two-point statistical indicators. With the aim of performing a fully-analytical study, the Kraichnan advection model is considered. The white-in-time character of the latter model indeed leads to closed equations for the equal-time scalar correlation functions. The classical closure problem however still arises if a standard filtering procedure is applied to those equations in the spirit of the large-eddy-simulation strategy. We show both how to perform exact closures and how to identify the corresponding coarse-grained scalar evolution.Comment: 22 pages; submitted to Journal of Turbulenc

The MACHO Project: Microlensing Detection Efficiency

The MACHO project is a search for dark matter in the form of massive compact halo objects (MACHOs). The project has photometrically monitored tens of millions of stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), and Galactic bulge in search of rare gravitational microlensing events caused by these otherwise invisible objects. In 5.7 years of observations toward the LMC some 13-17 microlensing events have been observed by the MACHO survey, allowing powerful statements to be made about the nature of the dark population in the halo of our Galaxy. A critical component of these statements is an accurate determination of the survey's detection efficiency. The detection efficiency is a complicated function of temporal sampling, stellar crowding (the luminosity function), image quality, photometry, time-series analysis, and criteria used to select the microlensing candidates. Such a complex interdependence is most naturally solved using a Monte Carlo approach. Here we describe the details of the Monte Carlo used to calculate the efficiency presented in the MACHO 5.7-year LMC results. Here we correct several shortcomings of past determinations, including (1) adding fainter source stars (2.5 magnitudes below our faintest detected "stars"), (2) an up-to-date luminosity function for the LMC, (3) better sampling of real images in both stellar density and observing conditions, (4) an improved scheme for adding artificial microlensing onto a random sample of real lightcurves, and many other improvements. [Abridged]Comment: 32 pages, Latex with 16 postscript figures, submitted to ApJ

A mass spectrometry approach for the identification and localization of small aldehyde modifications of proteins

Lipids containing polyunsaturated fatty acids are primary targets of oxidation, which produces reactive short-chain aldehydes that can covalently modify proteins, a process called lipoxidation. Improved mass spectrometry (MS) methods for the analysis of these adducts in complex biological systems are needed. Lysozyme and human serum albumin (HSA) were used as model proteins to investigate lipoxidation products formed by two short-chain aldehydes, acrolein and pentanal, which are unsaturated and saturated aldehydes respectively. The adducts formed were stabilized by NaBH4 or NaBH3CN reduction and analysed by MS. Analysis of intact modified lysozyme showed a pentanal modification resulting from Schiff's base formation (+70 Da), and up to 8 acrolein adducts, all resulting from Michael addition (+58 Da). Analysis of tryptic digests identified specific histidine, cysteine and lysine residues modified in both lysozyme and HSA, and determined characteristic amino acid-specific fragmentations. Eight different internal fragment ions were found that could be used as general diagnostic ions for pentanal- and acrolein-modified amino acids. The combined use of intact protein analysis and LC-MS/MS methods provided a powerful tool for the identification and localization of aldehyde-protein adduct, and the diagnostic ions will facilitate the development of targeted MS methods for analysis of adducts in more complex samples

An assessment of microstructure and properties of laser clad coatings of ultrafine eutectic beta Ti-Fe-Nb-Sn composite for implants

[EN] High mechanical strength (1800¿2500 MPa), elastic modulus (50¿110 GPa) close to that of human bone and good corrosion resistance are some characteristics of ultrafine eutectic Ti-based nanocomposite alloys. This is explained due to a combination of soft ß-Ti (bcc) matrix and hard/refined TiFe and/or Ti3Sn intermetallic particles. The present study focuses on the production and characterization of Ti-Fe-Nb-Sn eutectic alloys using biocompatible ß-stabilizer elements, such as Nb, Fe and Sn. Different fabrication techniques based on rapid solidification may be highlighted considering the application of these alloys as implant materials. In the present investigation, the processing routes comprise single tracks and coatings (overlapped tracks) by laser melting of pre-alloyed powders of the Ti66Fe20Nb8Sn6 alloy deposited into a Ti substrate. To select this composition (i.e., the Ti66Fe20Nb8Sn6 alloy), three Ti-Fe-Nb based chemistries (Ti63Fe23Nb8Sn6, Ti60Fe23Nb8Sn9 and Ti66Fe20Nb8Sn6) were originally generated under bulk conditions by using a suction casting apparatus. These alloys were further evaluated. All samples were analyzed by metallography, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EBSD and SEM-EDS), microhardness, nanohardness and elastic modulus. The results showed that the proportions of the formed TiFe and Ti3Sn intermetallic particles dispersed within the soft ß-Ti matrix play a fundamental role on the final properties. Lower elastic modulus (E ~72 GPa) is associated with the Ti66Fe20Nb8Sn6 bulk alloy. The laser clad coatings showed a broad range of nanohardness (4.8¿8.0 GPa) and elastic modulus (98¿150 GPa) depending on the related laser power and scanning speeds.The authors acknowledge the financial supports provided by CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development - Universal Project # 473777/2011-8) and by FAPESP (Sao Paulo State Research Foundation - Thematic Project # 2013/05987-8). Furthermore, we are grateful for the Grants (#2015/17090-8 - BEPE of A.L.V. and # 2015/19978-6 - BPE of C.R.M.A.) provided by FAPESP.Afonso, CRM.; Vidilli, AL.; Spinelli, JE.; Riva, R.; Amigó, V.; Kiminami, CS. (2017). An assessment of microstructure and properties of laser clad coatings of ultrafine eutectic beta Ti-Fe-Nb-Sn composite for implants. Surface and Coatings Technology. 328:161-171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2017.08.035S16117132

A hot Jupiter transiting a mid-K dwarf found in the pre-OmegaCam Transit Survey

We describe the pre-OmegaTranS project, a deep survey for transiting extra-solar planets in the Carina region of the Galactic Disk. In 2006-2008 we observed a single dense stellar field with a very high cadence of ~2min using the ESO Wide Field Imager at the La Silla Observatory. Using the Astronomical Wide-field System for Europe and the Munich Difference Imaging Analysis pipeline, a module that has been developed for this project, we created the light curves of 16000 stars with more than 4000 data points which we searched for periodic transit signals using a box-fitting least-squares detection algorithm. All light curves are publicly available. In the course of the pre-OmegaTranS project we identified two planet candidates - POTS-1b and POTS-C2b - which we present in this work. With extensive follow-up observations we were able to confirm one of them, POTS-1b, a hot Jupiter transiting a mid-K dwarf. The planet has a mass of 2.31+-0.77M_Jup and a radius of 0.94+-0.04R_Jup and a period of P=3.16d. The host star POTS-1 has a radius of 0.59+-0.02R_Sun and a mass of 0.70+-0.05M_Sun. Due to its low apparent brightness of I=16.1mag the follow-up and confirmation of POTS-1b was particularly challenging and costly.Comment: 18 pages, 23 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA