Spatially resolved integral field spectroscopy of the ionized gas in IZw18

We present a detailed 2D study of the ionized ISM of IZw18 using new PMAS-IFU optical observations. IZw18 is a high-ionization galaxy which is among the most metal-poor starbursts in the local Universe. This makes IZw18 a local benchmark for understanding the properties most closely resembling those prevailing at distant starbursts. Our IFU-aperture (~ 1.4 kpc x 1.4 kpc) samples the entire IZw18 main body and an extended region of its ionized gas. Maps of relevant emission lines and emission line ratios show that higher-excitation gas is preferentially located close to the NW knot and thereabouts. We detect a Wolf-Rayet feature near the NW knot. We derive spatially resolved and integrated physical-chemical properties for the ionized gas in IZw18. We find no dependence between the metallicity-indicator R23 and the ionization parameter (as traced by [OIII]/[OII]) across IZw18. Over ~ 0.30 kpc^2, using the [OIII]4363 line, we compute Te[OIII] values (~ 15000 - 25000 K), and oxygen abundances are derived from the direct determinations of Te[OIII]. More than 70% of the higher-Te[OIII] (> 22000 K) spaxels are HeII4686-emitting spaxels too. From a statistical analysis, we study the presence of variations in the ISM physical-chemical properties. A galaxy-wide homogeneity, across hundreds of parsecs, is seen in O/H. Based on spaxel-by-spaxel measurements, the error-weighted mean of 12 + log(O/H) = 7.11 +/- 0.01 is taken as the representative O/H for IZw18. Aperture effects on the derivation of O/H are discussed. Using our IFU data we obtain, for the first time, the IZw18 integrated spectrum.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 13 pages, 10 figures, 4 table

Enantio- and Diastereoselective Nucleophilic Addition of N-tert-Butylhydrazones to Isoquinolinium Ions through Anion-Binding Catalysis

A highly enantio- and diastereoselective thiourea-catalyzed dearomatization of isoquinolines employing N-tert-butylhydrazones as neutral alpha-azo carbanions and masked acyl anion equivalents has been developed. Experimental and computational data supports the generation of highly ordered complexes wherein the chloride behaves as a template for the catalyst, the hydrazone reagent, and the isoquinolinium cation, providing excellent stereocontrol in the formation of two contiguous stereogenic centers. The ensuing selective and high-yielding transformations provide appealing dihydroisoquinoline derivatives

Nitrate-induced early transcriptional changes during imbibition in non-after-ripened Sisymbrium officinale seeds.

We have here demonstrated for the first time that nitrate not only accelerates testa rupture of non- AR seeds but also modifies expression pattern of the cell-wall remodeling proteins (mannanases; SoMAN6 and SoMAN7) and key genes belonging to metabolism and signaling of ABA (SoNCED6, SoNCED9, SoCYP707A2 and SoABI5) and GAs (SoGA3ox, SoGA20ox, SoGA2ox and SoRGL2). These results were obtained during Sisymbrium officinale seed imbibition in the absence of endosperm rupture. Exogenous ABA induced a notable inhibition of testa rupture in both absence and presence of nitrate being this effect sharply reversed by GA4+7. However, nitrate was capable to provoke testa rupture in absence of ABA synthesis. The expression of SoMAN6 and SoMAN7 were positively altered by nitrate. Although ABA synthesis seems apparent at the start of non-AR seed imbibition, taken together the results of SoNCED6, SoNCED9 and SoCYP707A2 expression seem to suggest that nitrate leads to a strong net ABA decrease. Likewise, nitrate positively affected the SoABI5 expression when the SoNCED9 expression was also stimulated. By contrast, at the early and final of imbibition, nitrate clearly inhibited the SoABI5 expression. The expression of SoGA2ox6 and SoGA3ox2 are strongly inhibited by nitrate whereas of SoGA20ox6 was stimulated. On the other hand, SoRGL2 transcript level decreased in the presence of nitrate. Taken together, the results presented here suggest that the nitrate signaling is already operative during the non-AR S. officinale seeds imbibition. The nitrate, in cross-talk with the AR network likely increases the favorable molecular conditions that trigger germination

The nitrate-afterripening crosstalk is involved in the testa rupture of sisymbryum offinales seed

The loss of seed dormancy can occur by exposing the seed at low moisture storage conditions (afterripening; AR). Since a positive GA:ABA ratio play a key role in the reactivation of germination of non-dormant seeds, it seems obvious that a remarkable effect of AR is the decreasing of both ABA levels and sensitivity, as well as the increment of GA synthesis and sensitivity. ABA levels are regulated by control both of its biosynthesis thorough the 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) encoding genes and its catabolism mediated mainly by ABA-8¿-hydroxylases (CYP707A). On the other hand, the last steps of the GA biosynthesis pathway should be involved to control its levels. Namely, GA20ox and GA3ox catalyzing the biosynthesis of active GA and GA2ox which catalyzes the GA inactivation. The presence of nitrate accelerates the sensu stricto germination of non-AR S. officinale seeds. Here, we demonstrate that in AR seeds nitrate also alters the expression pattern of key genes involved in ABA and GA metabolism and signalling (i.e. SoNCED6, SoNCED9, SoCYP707A2, SoABI5, SoGA3ox2, SoGA20ox6, SoGA2ox6 and SoRGL2). These results suggest that the nitrate signalling is also operative during imbibition of AR S. officinale seeds

Daytime Sky Quality at El Leoncito, Argentina

We characterize the daytime sky quality in terms of brightness, cloud coverage, and main weather variables at the Carlos Ulrico Cesco station of the Felix Aguilar Astronomical Observatory (OAFA), located in El Leoncito National Park, San Juan, Argentina. We have collected more than 15 years of daily observations from the auxiliary sky brightness detectors of the Mirror Coronagraph for Argentina (MICA, in operations from 1997 to 2012), including daily observing reports. We additionally present data from two meteorological stations operated at the site from 2000 to 2020. We determine the main statistical properties and seasonal variability of daytime sky brightness, clear sky time fraction (CSTF), precipitable water vapor (WV), temperature, humidity, and wind speed, which are relevant for solar, particularly coronal observations. Our results confirm that El Leoncito is an excellent place to perform daytime astronomical observations. We measure a median sky brightness of 15.8 ppm, estimated at 526.0 ± 1.0 nm and 6 solar radii from the solar disk center; a median CSTF of 0.7; and a median WV below 6 mm. These values, and those of other relevant weather variables, are comparable to the levels found among the best astronomical observing sites in the world. Due to the extended period of time analyzed and high sampling frequency, the novel data and results presented in this report contribute to the analysis and interpretation of historical sky brightness data and are of great value for the future planning of daytime astronomical instrumentation at El Leoncito.Fil: Iglesias, F. A.. Universidad de Mendoza. Facultad de Ingenieria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Francile, Carlos Natale. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Informática. Observatorio Astronómico Félix Aguilar; ArgentinaFil: Lazarte Gelmetti, J.. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Balmaceda, L. A.. George Mason University. School Of Physics. Astronomy And Computational Sciences; Estados Unidos. National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Estados UnidosFil: Cremades Fernandez, Maria Hebe. Universidad de Mendoza; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Cisterna, F.. Universidad de Mendoza. Facultad de Ingenieria; Argentin

Tennis play intensity distribution and relation with aerobic fitness in competitive players

15 p.Los objetivos de este estudio fueron (1) describir la intensidad relativa del juego de tenis simulado en función del tiempo acumulado en tres zonas de intensidad metabólica y (2) determinar las relaciones entre esta distribución de intensidad de juego y la aptitud aeróbica de un grupo de jugadores competitivos. 20 jugadores masculinos de nivel avanzado a élite (ITN) realizaron una prueba de tenis de resistencia específica en el campo incremental hasta el agotamiento para determinar el consumo máximo de oxígeno (VO2max) y los umbrales de ventilación primero y segundo (VT1, VT2). Los parámetros de ventilación y de intercambio de gases se monitorizaron utilizando un analizador de gas portátil telemétrico (K4 b2, Cosmed, Roma, Italia). Dos semanas después, los participantes jugaron un juego de tenis simulado contra un oponente de nivel similar. Las zonas de intensidad (1: baja, 2: moderada y 3: alta) fueron delimitadas por los valores individuales de VO2 correspondientes a VT1 y VT2, y se expresaron como porcentaje del VO2 máximo y la frecuencia cardíaca. Cuando se expresó en relación con el VO 2 máx. El porcentaje de tiempo de juego en la zona 1 (77 ± 25%) fue significativamente mayor (p <0,001) que en la zona 2 (20 ± 21%) y la zona 3 (3 ± 5%). Se encontraron correlaciones positivas de moderadas a altas entre VT1, VT2 y VO2max, y el porcentaje del tiempo de juego transcurrido en la zona 1 (r = 0,68-0,75), así como las correlaciones inversas de bajas a altas entre las variables metabólicas y el porcentaje de tiempo empleado en las zonas 2 y 3 (r = -0.49–0.75). Los jugadores con mejor aptitud aeróbica juegan a intensidades relativamente más bajas. Concluimos que los jugadores pasaron más del 75% del tiempo en su zona de baja intensidad, con menos del 25% del tiempo dedicado a intensidades moderadas a altas. La aptitud aeróbica parece determinar la intensidad metabólica que los jugadores pueden mantener durante todo el juegoS

Polarization independent 2×2 multimode interference coupler with bricked subwavelength metamaterial

The silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform enables high integration density in photonic integrated circuits while maintaining compatibility with CMOS fabrication processes. Nevertheless, its inherently high modal birefringence hinders the development of polarization-insensitive devices. The dispersion and anisotropy engineering leveraging subwavelength grating (SWG) metamaterials makes possible the development of polarization agnostic waveguide components. In this work we build upon the bricked SWG metamaterial nanostructures to design a polarization independent 2×2 multimode interference (MMI) coupler for the 220 nm SOI platform, operating in the telecom O-band. The designed device exhibits a 160 nm bandwidth with excess loss, polarization dependent loss and imbalance below 1 dB and phase error lower than 5°.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (PID2019-106747RB-I00), Junta de Andalucía (P18-RT-1453, UMA20-FEDERJA-158), Ministerio de Ciencia Innovación y Universidades (FPU16/06762, FPU19/02408) and Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech