Exploring degeneracies in modified gravity with weak lensing

By considering linear-order departures from general relativity, we compute a novel expression for the weak lensing convergence power spectrum under alternative theories of gravity. This comprises an integral over a 'kernel' of general relativistic quantities multiplied by a theory-dependent 'source' term. The clear separation between theory-independent and -dependent terms allows for an explicit understanding of each physical effect introduced by altering the theory of gravity. We take advantage of this to explore the degeneracies between gravitational parameters in weak lensing observations.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures. v2: Minor changes to match version accepted by PR

Modified Gravity and Dark Energy models Beyond w(z)w(z)CDM Testable by LSST

One of the main science goals of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) is to uncover the nature of cosmic acceleration. In the base analysis, possible deviations from the Lambda-Cold-Dark-Matter ($\Lambda$CDM) background evolution will be probed by fitting a $w(z)$CDM model, which allows for a redshift-dependent dark energy equation of state with $w(z)$, within general relativity (GR). A rich array of other phenomena can arise due to deviations from the standard $\Lambda$CDM+GR model though, including modifications to the growth rate of structure and lensing, and novel screening effects on non-linear scales. Concrete physical models are needed to provide consistent predictions for these (potentially small) effects, to give us the best chance of detecting them and separating them from astrophysical systematics. A complex plethora of possible models has been constructed over the past few decades, with none emerging as a particular favorite. This document prioritizes a subset of these models along with rationales for further study and inclusion into the LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration (DESC) data analysis pipelines, based on their observational viability, theoretical plausibility, and level of theoretical development. We provide references and theoretical expressions to aid the integration of these models into DESC software and simulations, and give justifications for why other models were not prioritized. While DESC efforts are free to pursue other models, we provide here guidelines on which theories appear to have higher priority for collaboration efforts due to their perceived promise and greater instructional value.Comment: 61 pages. Some acknowledgments and references added. This is version-1.1 of an internal collaboration document of LSST-DESC that is being made public and is not planned for submission to a journa

Ageing and retail display time in raw beef odour according to the degree of lipid oxidation

This study aims to assess the changes in beef aroma over time when steaks from pre-aged knuckles are stored in retail display under high oxygen conditions for 15 or 22 days in vacuum conditions. Odorous volatile compounds were analysed by solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results were grouped as low, medium and high oxidative groups according to thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values after 9 days of display. The intensity of off-odours in the raw meat increased with ageing and display time and oxidative groups. Based on correlations between the variables and regressions of the compounds through display, eight compounds were proposed as odour shelf-life markers. Among them, five were most sensitive and precise in all oxidative groups: 1-hexanol in meat aged for 15 days, ethyl- octanoate and 2-pentylfuran in meat aged for 22 days, and pentanoic and hexanoic acids in the two studied ageing times

Ultrafast Excited-State Decay Mechanisms of 6-Thioguanine Followed by Sub-20 fs UV Transient Absorption Spectroscopy

: Understanding the primary steps following UV photoexcitation in sulphur-substituted DNA bases (thiobases) is fundamental for developing new phototherapeutic drugs. However, the investigation of the excited-state dynamics in sub-100 fs time scales has been elusive until now due to technical challenges. Here, we track the ultrafast decay mechanisms that lead to the electron trapping in the triplet manifold for 6-thioguanine in an aqueous solution, using broadband transient absorption spectroscopy with a sub-20 fs temporal resolution. We obtain experimental evidence of the fast internal conversion from the S2(ππ*) to the S1(nπ*) states, which takes place in about 80 fs and demonstrates that the S1(nπ*) state acts as a doorway to the triplet population in 522 fs. Our results are supported by MS-CASPT2 calculations, predicting a planar S2(ππ*) pseudo-minimum in agreement with the stimulated emission signal observed in the experiment

Levantamento etnobotânico de plantas medicinais na comunidade quilombola Carreiros, Mercês – Minas Gerais

O objetivo do trabalho foi identificar as espécies medicinais utilizadas pela comunidade quilombola Carreiros, bem como traçar o perfil social das famílias desta comunidade. Para tanto, foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas da comunidade, sendo um representante de cada família. Para fins de registro foram coletados dois exemplares de cada espécie medicinal identificada, os quais foram conservados na forma de exsicatas e mantidos no Laboratório de Ecologia do IF Sudeste MG – Campus Rio Pomba. As mulheres aparentemente desempenham importante papel social e estão bastante envolvidas no conhecimento das plantas medicinais. Nota-se, que o conhecimento existente foi adquirido de forma empírica e éevidente entre as famílias a preocupação em repassar os conhecimentos tradicionais sobre o uso das plantas medicinais aos jovens. Dentre as principais espécies utilizadas pela comunidade estão: Citrus Sinensis L., Psidium guajava L., Leonurus sibiricus L., Citrus Limonia (Osbeck), Carica sp., Vernonia condensataBacker, Sechuium edule (Jacq.) Sw, Sansevieria trifasciata Prain, Malpighia glabra L., e Saccharum zofficinarum L.

Disentangling the Ultrafast Nonlinear Optical Behavior of Plasmonic Resonances Near the Interband Transition

The photoexcitation of plasmonic nanostructures with ultrashort laser pulses allows for elucidating the mechanisms underlying the ultrafast nonlinear optical response of such systems, gaining insight into the fundamental processes triggered by light absorption at the nanoscale. To date, the complex temporal and spectral features of the photoinduced response are not fully understood, especially when the photon energies are close to the interband transitions of the metallic medium. Herein, the effects of photoexcitation of plasmonic nanostructures are studied by resorting to a combinaion of broadband transient absorption spectroscopy and semiclassical nonlinear simulations of the energy relaxation processes following illumination. The proposed approach enables an in-depth disentanglement of all the contributions to the ultrafast transient optical response of supported gold nanocrystals. From these methods, the apparent transient blue shift of the localized plasmon resonance observed in the pump-probe signals is rationalized as an interplay between different and spectrally dispersed permittivity modulations, instead of a simple negative permittivity change, as it could be concluded based on the Fröhlich condition. The results provide a comprehensive understanding of the thermo-modulational nonlinearities of plasmonic nanostructures exhibiting resonances close to the interband transition threshold

Interrelationship between TP53 gene deletion, protein expression and chromosome 17 aneusomy in gastric adenocarcinoma

Background: This study evaluates the existence of numerical alterations of chromosome 17 and TP53 gene deletion in gastric adenocarcinoma. the p53 protein expression was also evaluated, as well as, possible associations with clinicopathological characteristics.Methods: Dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunostaining were performed in twenty gastric cancer samples of individuals from Northern Brazil.Results: Deletion of TP53 was found in all samples. TP53 was inactivated mainly by single allelic deletion, varying to 7-39% of cells/case. Aneusomy of chromosome 17 was observed in 85% of cases. Chromosome 17 monosomy and gain were both observed in about half of cases. Cells with gain of chromosome 17 frequently presented TP53 deletion. the frequency of cells with two chr17 and one TP53 signals observed was higher in diffuse than in intestinal-type GC. Immunoreactivity of p53 was found only in intestinal-type samples. the frequency of cells with two chr17 and two TP53 signals found was higher in samples with positive p53 expression than in negative cases in intestinal-type GC.Conclusion: We suggest that TP53 deletion and chromosome 17 aneusomy is a common event in GC and other TP53 alterations, as mutation, may be implicated in the distinct carcinogenesis process of diffuse and intestinal types.Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP CT-INFRA/FADESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fed Univ Para, Inst Biol Sci, Humans Cytogenet Lab, BR-66075900 Belem, Para, BrazilUniv Fed Piaui, Dept Biol, Campus Minist Reis Velloso Parnaiba, Teresina, PI, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Morphol, Div Genet, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Ceara, Sch Med, Dept Pathol, Mol Genet Lab, Fortaleza, Ceara, BrazilFed Univ Para, Joao de Barros Barreto Univ Hosp, BR-66075900 Belem, Para, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Morphol, Div Genet, São Paulo, BrazilFinanciadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP CT-INFRA/FADESP): 0927-03. RRBWeb of Scienc

An investigation into the stability of an oregano essential oil emulsion for the preparation of microparticles using spray drying.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the viscosity, zeta potential and soluble and total solids of the emulsion and microparticles of oregano essential oil (Origanum vulgare) using gum arabic as a coating agent and to analyze the morphology of the microparticles produced by the spray drying method. The rheological analysis showed a viscosity for emulsion of 36.23 ± 0.59 mPas and for microparticles of 20.13 ± 0.15 mPa.s. The zeta potential of the emulsion was - 6.67 ± 0.32 mV and of the oregano oil microparticles -16.47 ± 0.70 mV. Soluble solids showed Brix° of 8.44 ± 0.13 and 0.98 ± 0.36 and total solids 8.95 ± 0.42 and 1.03 ± 0.02 % for emulsion and microparticles, respectively. The morphology of the microparticles presented irregular spherical shapes and agglomeration

Correlação de Spearman aplicada ao estudo de adaptabilidade e estabilidade em genótipos de alfafa

Este trabalho teve por objetivo propor uma nova metodologia, baseada no coeficiente de correlação de Spearman para o estudo da adaptabilidade e estabilidade fenotípica de genótipos de alfafa. Além disso, os resultados foram comparados com os obtidos pela metodologia baseada no teste dos sinais. Para tanto, foram utilizados dados provenientes de um experimento em blocos casualizados com 2 repetições, que constituiu-se da avaliação da produção de matéria seca de 92 cultivares de alfafa em 20 cortes, realizados no período de novembro de 2004 a junho de 2006 no Campo Experimental da Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste - São Carlos/SP. Os resultados encontrados mostram que o coeficiente de correlação de Spearman é eficiente para o estudo de adaptabilidade e estabilidade fenotípica, sendo possível classificar os cultivares conforme o interesse do estudo. Ademais, quando comparado com a metodologia baseado no teste dos sinais, o mesmo se mostra mais eficiente na discriminação de genótipos