Microlensing path parametrization for Earth-like Exoplanet detection around solar mass stars

We propose a new parametrization of the impact parameter u0 and impact angle {\alpha} for microlensing systems composed by an Earth-like Exoplanet around a Solar mass Star at 1 AU. We present the caustic topology of such system, as well as the related light curves generated by using such a new parametrization. Based on the same density of points and accuracy of regular methods, we obtain results 5 times faster for discovering Earth-like exoplanet. In this big data revolution of photometric astronomy, our method will impact future missions like WFIRST (NASA) and Euclid (ESA) and they data pipelines, providing a rapid and deep detection of exoplanets for this specific class of microlensing event that might otherwise be lost.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, accepted to be published in The Astronomical Journa

Expansion Of The Geographic Distribution Of Faramea Nitida Benth: In The Restinga Of Maranhão State, Northeastern Brazil

In this study, we present new records of Faramea nitida that extend the range of this species in Maranhão state, Brazil. The new data were the result of fieldwork by us in restinga areas of São José de Ribamar and Alcântara districts. This report highlights the rediscovery of a species after many years (30 to 70 years) and shows the necessity for more floristic and taxonomic studies on extreme northeastern Brazil. © 2016 Check List and Authors.12

A p-Spin Interaction Ashkin-Teller Spin-Glass Model

A p-spin interaction Ashkin-Teller spin glass, with three independent Gaussian probability distributions for the exchange interactions, is studied by means of the replica method. A simple phase diagram is obtained within the replica-symmetric approximation, presenting an instability of the paramagnetic solution at low temperatures. The replica-symmetry-breaking procedure is implemented and a rich phase diagram is obtained; besides the paramagnetic phase, three distinct spin-glass phases appear. Three first-order critical frontiers are found and they all meet at a triple point; among such lines, two of them present discontinuities in the order parameters, but no latent heat, whereas the other one exhibits both discontinuities in the order parameters and a finite latent heat.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Physica

Modular Acquisition and Stimulation System for Timestamp-Driven Neuroscience Experiments

Dedicated systems are fundamental for neuroscience experimental protocols that require timing determinism and synchronous stimuli generation. We developed a data acquisition and stimuli generator system for neuroscience research, optimized for recording timestamps from up to 6 spiking neurons and entirely specified in a high-level Hardware Description Language (HDL). Despite the logic complexity penalty of synthesizing from such a language, it was possible to implement our design in a low-cost small reconfigurable device. Under a modular framework, we explored two different memory arbitration schemes for our system, evaluating both their logic element usage and resilience to input activity bursts. One of them was designed with a decoupled and latency insensitive approach, allowing for easier code reuse, while the other adopted a centralized scheme, constructed specifically for our application. The usage of a high-level HDL allowed straightforward and stepwise code modifications to transform one architecture into the other. The achieved modularity is very useful for rapidly prototyping novel electronic instrumentation systems tailored to scientific research.Comment: Preprint submitted to ARC 2015. Extended: 16 pages, 10 figures. The final publication is available at link.springer.co

Hygiene and mental health: body care in the clinical intervention in a CAPSI

Objective: report the experience of personal hygiene as an aspect of the clinical intervention in a Psychosocial Care Center for Children and Adolescents (CAPSi) in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Method: this is a descriptive study, with an experience report design, organized into two moments: at the first, a workshop with guardians was created, consisting of psychologists, nursing teams, pharmacists, physicians, and dental team (the latter two as guests from the primary health center); at the second, problems/limitations were identified, as well as the need for creating strategies that could keep the participation of guardians in the workshops. Results: low adherence of parents was found, leading us to think of other actions more effective. Conclusion: it is hoped that this study can provide significant reflections on strategies for mental health in primary care and contribute to the practice in a CAPSi