The population of M-type supergiants in the starburst cluster Stephenson 2

The open cluster Stephenson 2 contains the largest collection of red supergiants known in the Galaxy, and at present is the second most massive young cluster known in the Milky Way. We have obtained multi-epoch, intermediate-resolution spectra around the CaII triplet for more than 30 red supergiants in Stephenson~2 and its surroundings. We find a clear separation between a majority of RSGs having spectral types M0-M2 and the brightest members in the NIR, which have very late spectral types and show strong evidence for heavy mass loss. The distribution of spectral types is similar to that of RSGs in other clusters, such as NGC 7419, or associations, like Per OB1. The cluster data strongly support the idea that heavy mass loss and maser emission is preferentially associated with late-M spectral types, suggesting that they represent an evolutionary phase.Comment: Contribution to the Betelgeuse workshop, November 2012, Paris. To be published in the European Astronomical Society Publications Series, editors: Pierre Kervella, Thibaut Le Bertre & Guy Perri

Miniature atomic magnetometer integrated with flux concentrators

High permeability magnetic flux concentrators are used to enhance the sensitivity of an atomic magnetometer operating in the spin-exchange relaxation-free regime. The magnetometer uses a millimeter scale 87Rb vapor cell and either mu-metal or Mn–Zn ferrite flux concentrators. The measured sensitivity gives excellent agreement with calculations of thermal noise from the concentrator material. The mu-metal concentrators allow a sensitivity of 50 fT Hz−1/2, limited by thermal current magnetic noise. The ferrite concentrators are limited by thermal magnetization noise at low frequencies, and reach a sensitivity of 10 fT Hz−1/2 for frequencies above 125 Hz

Personal and social factors, recognized by entrants in the career choice of Psychology

Introduction: The career choice is crossed by different factors related to the vocational problem: reasons of choice, preferences and interests, identifications, expectations and individual, social and contextual needs. The recognition of these aspects contributes to the achievement of satisfaction, permanence and commitment to the career. Objective: To describe personal and social factors in the choice of career, in a sample of entrants to the Faculty of Psychology. National University of Cordoba.Cohort 2016. Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out (Hernández Sampieri, Fernández Collado & Baptista Lucio, 2006). Sample: Non-probabilistic sampling, of accidental type. Data analysis: SPSS. 20 Instrument: The instrument used was a semi-structured-self-administered survey. Results: The sample is 136 students, from the Extended Leveling Course 2016, between 17 and 58 years, with a mean age of 22 years. 75.7% of the sample corresponds to the female gender. 58.8% are from the province of Córdoba, while 41.2% come from other Argentine provinces. With regard to work, 21.3% currently work and 40.4% said they need work to be able to study. The most frequent reasons considered to choose the race were: 12.1% to help people, 11.6% interest in the theme, 11.3% motivation to listen to people. Conclusion: The aspects considered correspond to motivations, interests and expectations coming from the social context of belonging: family, school, group, among others. The feeling of personal accomplishment, the vocation and interest for the race and the work with the people; Are the most valued aspects among the respondents. The need to know these particularities will allow the construction and implementation of interventions more in line with the educational needs of students and articulate with institutional spaces of the Faculty.Facultad de Psicologí

Detection of Single Ion Spectra by Coulomb Crystal Heating

The coupled motion of ions in a radiofrequency trap has been used to connect the frequency- dependent laser-induced heating of a sympathetically cooled spectroscopy ion with changes in the fluorescence of a laser-cooled control ion. This technique, sympathetic heating spectroscopy, is demonstrated using two isotopes of calcium. In the experiment, a few scattered photons from the spectroscopy ion are transformed into a large deviation from the steady-state fluorescence of the control ion. This allows us to detect an optical transition where the number of scattered photons is below our fluorescence detection limit. Possible applications of the technique to molecular ion spectroscopy are briefly discussed.Comment: 7 Pages,10 Figure

Exploring the Acute Effects of the Daily Mile™ vs. Shuttle Runs on Children’s Cognitive and Affective Responses

Background: This study investigated the acute effects of two physical activity (PA) bouts on children’s cognitive and affective responses. Methods: Twenty-nine participants (16 boys and 13 girls; Mage = 9.34 years, SD = 0.48), using a within-subjects crossover design, performed three 15-min conditions: (a) TDM—The Daily Mile™; (b) 12 repeated 30–45-s shuttle runs at ≥ 85% HRMAX; and (c) a sedentary control condition. Cognitive performance (i.e., Stroop, Digit Span, and Corsi blocks) was measured before PA and 1 and 30 min post-PA. Felt Arousal and Feeling Scale self-report scales were administered before, during, and after PA. Results: The results show no changes following the TDM condition relative to the sedentary control condition in cognitive responses. However, when comparing the shuttle runs condition to the sedentary control condition, participants showed higher arousal, an improved reaction time, and lower self-reported pleasure at 1 min post-PA. Nevertheless, at 30 min post-PA, participants’ pleasure values were higher in the shuttle runs condition than they were before PA. Conclusions: When comparing PA conditions, shuttle runs enhanced reaction time and might thus be seen as an option to implement or modify PA opportunities in school settings

Description of the first species of gall wasp (Hym., Cynipidae: Cynipini) and other unknown galls on Quercus macdougallii (Fagaceae)

Es descriu de Mèxic una nova espècie de cinípid de roures, Neuroterus chinanteco Pujade-Villar & Clark n. sp., coneguda només a partir de la seva generació sexual que indueix gales a les fulles de Quercus macdougallii Martínez (secció Quercus). Quercus macdougallii és una espècie poc coneguda, endèmica d’Oaxaca i poc comú (localitzada entre els 2700-3000 m), en perill d’extinció (inclosa a la Llista Vermella de la UICN). Es donen dades referents a la diagnosi, la distribució i la biologia d’aquesta nova espècie. Neuroterus chinanteco Pujade-Villar & Clark n. sp. representa la primera espècie esmentada en aquest hostatger. També s’il·lustren altres gales col·lectades en Q. macdougallii de les quals només s’han obtingut inquilins i/o parasitoides.A new species of oak gallwasp, Neuroterus chinanteco Pujade-Villar & Clark n. sp., known only from its sexual generation that induces galls on the leaves of Quercus macdougallii Martínez, (section Quercus) is described. Quercus macdougallii is a poorly known species, endemic to Oaxaca and rare (located between 2700-3000 m a.s.l.), endangered (included in the IUCN Red List). Diagnosis, distribution and data on biology of the new species are given. Neuroterus chinanteco Pujade-Villar & Clark n. sp. represents the first species mentioned on this oak host. Other galls collected on Q. macdougallii from which only inquilines and/or parasitoids have been obtained are also illustrated

Asymmetric forest transition driven by the interaction of socioeconomic development and environmental heterogeneity in Central America

Forest transitions (FT) have been observed in many developed countries and more recently in the developing world. However, our knowledge of FT from tropical regions is mostly derived from case studies from within a particular country, making it difficult to generalize findings across larger regions. Here we overcome these difficulties by conducting a recent (2001-2010) satellite-based analysis of trends in forest cover across Central America, stratified by biomes, which we related to socioeconomic variables associated with human development. Results show a net decrease of woody vegetation resulting from 12,201 km2 of deforestation of moist forests and 6,825 km2 of regrowth of conifer and dry forests. The Human Development Index was the socioeconomic variable best associated with forest cover change. The least-developed countries, Nicaragua and Guatemala, experienced both rapid deforestation of moist forests and significant recovery of conifer and dry forests. In contrast, the most developed countries, Panama and Costa Rica, had net woody vegetation gain and amore stable forest cover configuration. These results imply a good agreement with FT predictions of forest change in relation to socioeconomic development, but strong asymmetry in rates and directions of change largely dependent upon the biomewhere change is occurring. The FT model should be refined by incorporating ecological and socioeconomic heterogeneity, particularly inmulticountry and regional studies. These asymmetric patterns of forest change should be evaluatedwhen developing strategies for conserving biodiversity and environmental services.Fil: Redo, Daniel J.. Universidad de Puerto Rico; Puerto RicoFil: Grau, Hector Ricardo. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Aide, T. Mitchell. Universidad de Puerto Rico; Puerto RicoFil: Clark, Matthew L.. Sonoma State University; Estados Unido

The acute effects of continuous and intermittent cycling on executive function in children

This study assessed the effect of acute continuous and intermittent physical activity (PA) on children's executive function (EF). Twenty-four participants (14 boys M = 10.32 ± 0.48 years), using a within-subjects design, performed a continuous (70% HRmax) and an intermittent (≥85%HRmax; 12 bouts: 30 s work, 45 s rest) PA bout of cycling, both lasting 15 min. Executive function was assessed using the Stroop task, Digit Span and Corsi Blocks tests and these were administered before and 1 min and 30 min post PA. Comparing both conditions, performance at the Stroop task (i.e., reaction time) improved in the continuous condition after 1 min and after 30 min (congruent stimuli) (mean diff = 126 ms ± 59; p = 0.047 and mean diff = 89 ms ± 38; p = 0.031, respectively). The intermittent condition improved at 30 min post (congruent and incongruent) (mean diff = 116 ms ± 46; p = 0.021 and mean diff = 111 ms ± 49; p = 0.039, respectively) showing a delayed benefit from the PA bout and greater improvements compared to the continuous condition. Verbal memory was improved for the continuous condition 1 min post only and no effects on visual memory were observed for both experimental conditions. The results demonstrated that both acute PA bouts might be a time-efficient approach for enhancing EF, with intermittent PA having a delayed and greater benefit