Photo Acoustic Study Of Plants Exposed To Varying Light Intensity Growth Conditions: Spectral And Morphological Changes

In this paper we describe results of photo acoustic (PA) measurements carried out on various plants exposed to varying light intensity conditions. Depending on the species and light intensity conditions, the PA absorption spectra show differences in peaks associated with pigments and the cuticle. These differences are related to the spatial distribution of the pigments that differs from plant to plant. We have also performed systematic study of oxygen evolution at different wavelengths. The obtained oxygen spectra are equivalent to the action spectra usually acquired by determining the CO2 uptake and energy storage. The intensities of oxygen spectra exhibit differences depending on distinct morphology of plant. © EDP Sciences.125745748Marquezini, M.V., Cella, N., Mansanares, A.M., Vargas, H., Miranda, L.C.M., (1991) Meas. Sci. Technol., 2, p. 396Barja, P.R., Mansanares, A.M., (1998) Instrum. Sci. Technol., 26, p. 209Barja, P.R., Mansanares, A.M., Da Silva, E.C., Magalhães, A.C.N., Alves, P.L.C.A., (2001) Photosynthetica, 39, p. 489Salisbury, F.B., Ross, C.W., (1992) Plant Physiology, , Wadsworth Publishing Company, CaliforniaClark, J.B., Lister, G.R., (1975) Plant Physiol., 55, p. 401Carpentier, R., Larue, B., Leblanc, R.M., (1983) J. Physique Colloque C6, 44 (10 SUPL), pp. 355-360Veeranjaneyulu, K., Charland, M., Charlebois, D., Leblanc, R.M., (1991) Photosynth. Res., 30, p. 13

Analysis of Dynamic Effects on the Brazilian Vertical Datum

This chapter presents a methodology of analyzing the dynamic effect from mean sea level variations, based on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data, velocity models, tide gauge observations, and satellite altimetry data. GNSS observations were processed in order to obtain the variation of up coordinate required to identify the possible crust movements. Velocity model served as a comparative basis to verify the obtained results from the GNSS data processing and served as a basis for analyzing the time periods without GNSS information. Tide gauge data were used to evaluate the sea level temporal evolution in the Imbituba Brazilian Vertical Datum (I-BVD). Satellite altimetry data were used for checking the results from the GNSS and the tide gauge time series. The analyses were based on time series of observations by GNSS from 2007 until 2016, tide gauge from 1948 until 1968 and 2001 until 2016, and satellite altimetry data from 1991 until 2015 from different missions. As basis for the analysis, it used GNSS SIRGAS-CON stations, the SIRGAS velocity model (VEMOS), and NUVEL velocity model. Considering the discrimination of the crust vertical movement (GNSS processing) from the results obtained with the tide gauge observations, it was observed that there is an evidence of mean sea level (MSL) rising approximately +2.24 ± 0.4 mm/year

Novel pharmacological actions of Trequinsin Hydrochloride improve human sperm cell motility and function

Background and purposeAsthenozoospermia is a leading cause of male infertility, but the development of pharmaceuticals to improve sperm motility has been hindered by the lack of effective screening platforms and knowledge of suitable molecular targets. We have demonstrated that a high throughput screening (HTS) strategy in conjunction with established in vitro tests can identify and characterise the action of compounds that improve sperm motility. The study aimed to apply HTS to identify new compounds from a novel small molecule library that increase intracellular calcium, [Ca2+]I, promote human sperm cell motility and systemically determine the mechanism of action. Experimental approach A validated HTS fluorometric [Ca2+]i assay was used to screen an in-house library of compounds. Trequinsin hydrochloride (a phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor) was selected for detailed molecular (plate reader assays, electrophysiology and cyclic nucleotide measurement) and functional (motility and acrosome reaction) testing in sperm from healthy volunteer donors and, where possible, patients.   Key resultsThe fluorometric analysis identified Trequinsin as an efficacious agonist of [Ca2+]i, although less potent than progesterone (P4). Functionally, Trequinsin significantly increased cell hyperactivation and penetration into viscous medium in all donor sperm samples and cell hyperactivation in 22/25 (88%) patient sperm samples. The Trequinsin-induced [Ca2+]i response was cross-desensitised consistently by prostaglandin E1 but not with P4. Whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology confirmed that Trequinsin activates CatSper and partially inhibits potassium channel activity. Trequinsin also increases intracellular cGMP.   Conclusion and Implications Trequinsin exhibits a novel pharmacological profile in human sperm and may be a suitable lead compound for the development of new pharmaceuticals to improve patient sperm function and fertilisation potential

Influence of the size and amount of cork particles on the toughness of a structural adhesive

The inclusion of particles (nano or micro) is a method to improve the mechanical properties such as toughness of structural adhesives. Structural adhesives are known for their high strength and stiffness but also for their low ductility and toughness. There are many processes described in the literature to increase the toughness, being one of the most common the use of rubber particles. In the present study, natural micro particles of cork are used with the objective to increase the toughness of a brittle epoxy adhesive. The idea is for the cork particles to act like as a crack stopper leading to more energy absorption. The influence of the cork particle size and amount were studied. Particles of cork ranging from 38 to 250 µm were mixed in the epoxy adhesive Araldite 2020 from Huntsman. The amount of cork in the adhesive was varied between 1 and 5% in weight. Surface treatment (low pressure plasma) was applied to the cork powder to assess the effect of the interaction adhesive-cork with several degrees of adhesion

Thermal Diffusivity And Photoacoustic Spectroscopy Measurements In Cdte Quantum Dots Borosilicate Glasses

In this paper we describe the results of photoacoustic spectroscopy and thermal diffusivity measurements in borosilicate glass matrix with CdTe quantum dots. Samples treated at the temperature of 540°C for different periods were studied. The photoacoustic spectra show the absorption band of CdTe quantum dots, which shifts as a function of the thermal treatment time, revealing the evolution of the average radius of the nanocrystals, Thermal lens measurements provide the thermal diffusivity of the treated samples and give the behavior of the temperature coefficient of the refractive index, dn/dT, which is correlated to the transmittance spectra. © EDP Sciences.125273276Tudury, G.E., Marquezini, M.V., Ferreira, L.G., Barbosa, L.C., Cesar, C.L., (2000) Phys. Rev. B, 62, p. 7357Liu, Y., Reynoso, V.C.S., Barbosa, L.C., Cruz, C.H.B., Cesar, C.L., Fragnito, H.L., Alves, O.L., (1996) J. Mat. Sci. Lett., 15, p. 142Pereira, J.R.D., Mansanares, A.M., Palangana, A.J., Baesso, M.L., (2001) Phys. Rev. E, 64, p. 012701Mansanares, A.M., Baesso, M.L., Da Silva, E.C., Gandra, F.C.G., Vargas, H., Miranda, L.C.M., (1989) Phys. Rev. B, 40, p. 791

Preliminary study on the contribution of external forces to ship behavior

Computational modeling has become a prominent tool to simulate physical processes for research and development projects. The coastal region of southern Brazil is very susceptible to oil spill accidents. Currently, oil is intensively transported in the region due to the presence of the Rio Grande Harbor, the TranspetroWaterway Terminal (Petrobras) and the Riograndense S/A Oil Refinery. Therefore, simulations under ideal navigation conditions for ships with potentially polluting loads are important because their use can reduce oil spills and toxic compound accidents in the environment. Therefore, the main objective of this work is to present a preliminary study of the contribution of external forces to a ship's behavior over a simulation period of 5 h. The methodology is based on the development of a numerical model using LaGrangian formalism and the calculus of variations, besides Maneuvering Modeling Group (MMG Model). The external forces considered were the wind acting directly on the ship, waves driven by wind, the rudder, the force acting on the hull, inertial forces, and seawater density. The results indicate that at the beginning of the simulation, the inertial forces were of primary importance for controlling the trajectory of the ship. After 5 h of simulations, the ship had completely changed its trajectory due to forces suffered by the ship, classified according to MMG Model

Euclid: Superluminous supernovae in the Deep Survey

Context. In the last decade, astronomers have found a new type of supernova called superluminous supernovae (SLSNe) due to their high peak luminosity and long light-curves. These hydrogen-free explosions (SLSNe-I) can be seen to z ~ 4 and therefore, offer the possibility of probing the distant Universe. Aims. We aim to investigate the possibility of detecting SLSNe-I using ESA’s Euclid satellite, scheduled for launch in 2020. In particular, we study the Euclid Deep Survey (EDS) which will provide a unique combination of area, depth and cadence over the mission. Methods. We estimated the redshift distribution of Euclid SLSNe-I using the latest information on their rates and spectral energy distribution, as well as known Euclid instrument and survey parameters, including the cadence and depth of the EDS. To estimate the uncertainties, we calculated their distribution with two different set-ups, namely optimistic and pessimistic, adopting different star formation densities and rates. We also applied a standardization method to the peak magnitudes to create a simulated Hubble diagram to explore possible cosmological constraints. Results. We show that Euclid should detect approximately 140 high-quality SLSNe-I to z ~ 3.5 over the first five years of the mission (with an additional 70 if we lower our photometric classification criteria). This sample could revolutionize the study of SLSNe-I at z > 1 and open up their use as probes of star-formation rates, galaxy populations, the interstellar and intergalactic medium. In addition, a sample of such SLSNe-I could improve constraints on a time-dependent dark energy equation-of-state, namely w(a), when combined with local SLSNe-I and the expected SN Ia sample from the Dark Energy Survey. Conclusions. We show that Euclid will observe hundreds of SLSNe-I for free. These luminous transients will be in the Euclid data-stream and we should prepare now to identify them as they offer a new probe of the high-redshift Universe for both astrophysics and cosmology.Acknowledgements. We thank the internal EC referees (P. Nugent and J. Brichmann) as well as the many comments from our EC colleagues and friends. C.I. thanks Chris Frohmaier and Szymon Prajs for useful discussions about supernova rates. C.I. and R.C.N. thank Mark Cropper for helpful information about the V IS instrument. C.I. thanks the organisers and participants of the Munich Institute for Astro- and Particle Physics (MIAPP) workshop “Superluminous supernovae in the next decade” for stimulating discussions and the provided online material. The Euclid Consortium acknowledges the European Space Agency and the support of a number of agencies and institutes that have supported the development of Euclid. A detailed complete list is available on the Euclid web site (http://www.euclid-ec.org). In particular the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, the Centre National dEtudes Spatiales, the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- and Raumfahrt, the Danish Space Research Institute, the Fundação para a Ciênca e a Tecnologia, the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, The Netherlandse Onderzoekschool Voor Astronomie, the Norvegian Space Center, the Romanian Space Agency, the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) at the Swiss Space Office (SSO), the United Kingdom Space Agency, and the University of Helsinki. R.C.N. acknowledges partial support from the UK Space Agency. D.S. acknowledges the Faculty of Technology of the University of Portsmouth for support during his PhD studies. C.I. and S.J.S. acknowledge funding from the European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013)/ERC Grant agreement No. [291222]. C.I. and M.S. acknowledge support from EU/FP7-ERC grant No. [615929]. E.C. acknowledge financial contribution from the agreement ASI/INAF/I/023/12/0. The work by KJ and others at MPIA on NISP was supported by the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR) under grant 50QE1202. M.B. and S.C. acknowledge financial contribution from the agreement ASI/INAF I/023/12/1. R.T. acknowledges funding from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad under the grant ESP2015-69020-C2- 2-R. I.T. acknowledges support from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) through the research grant UID/FIS/04434/2013 and IF/01518/2014. J.R. was supported by JPL, which is run under a contract for NASA by Caltech and by NASA ROSES grant 12-EUCLID12-0004

Quality of cut and basecutter blade configuration for the mechanized harvest of green sugarcane

Quality control is used to evaluate processes and products, and is a powerful tool for reducing variability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of green sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) cutting for mechanized harvest, using statistical quality control tools. Cutting height and damage to ratoon stalks caused by different blade and disc combinations of the basecutter mechanism were used as indicators of quality. Cutting height showed high variability with a controlled process for some treatments. However, these treatments were incapable of producing satisfactory results. The damage index was lower in treatments that used tilted blades, but above the target for all treatments, which caused significant damage to the ratoons. In general, the process of mechanized harvest as assessed by these indicators was found incapable of achieving targeted results and staying below specification limits, and thus requires corrective actions to improve quality

Short-range interactions in a two-electron system: energy levels and magnetic properties

The problem of two electrons in a square billiard interacting via a finite-range repulsive Yukawa potential and subjected to a constant magnetic field is considered. We compute the energy spectrum for both singlet and triplet states, and for all symmetry classes, as a function of the strength and range of the interaction and of the magnetic field. We show that the short-range nature of the potential suppresses the formation of ``Wigner molecule'' states for the ground state, even in the strong interaction limit. The magnetic susceptibility $\chi(B)$ shows low-temperature paramagnetic peaks due to exchange induced singlet-triplet oscillations. The position, number and intensity of these peaks depend on the range and strength of the interaction. The contribution of the interaction to the susceptibility displays paramagnetic and diamagnetic phases as a function of $T$.Comment: 12 pages,6 figures; to appear in Phys. Rev.