SIMBIO-SYS : Scientific Cameras and Spectrometer for the BepiColombo Mission

The SIMBIO-SYS (Spectrometer and Imaging for MPO BepiColombo Integrated Observatory SYStem) is a complex instrument suite part of the scientific payload of the Mercury Planetary Orbiter for the BepiColombo mission, the last of the cornerstone missions of the European Space Agency (ESA) Horizon + science program. The SIMBIO-SYS instrument will provide all the science imaging capability of the BepiColombo MPO spacecraft. It consists of three channels: the STereo imaging Channel (STC), with a broad spectral band in the 400-950 nm range and medium spatial resolution (at best 58 m/px), that will provide Digital Terrain Model of the entire surface of the planet with an accuracy better than 80 m; the High Resolution Imaging Channel (HRIC), with broad spectral bands in the 400-900 nm range and high spatial resolution (at best 6 m/px), that will provide high-resolution images of about 20% of the surface, and the Visible and near-Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging channel (VIHI), with high spectral resolution (6 nm at finest) in the 400-2000 nm range and spatial resolution reaching 120 m/px, it will provide global coverage at 480 m/px with the spectral information, assuming the first orbit around Mercury with periherm at 480 km from the surface. SIMBIO-SYS will provide high-resolution images, the Digital Terrain Model of the entire surface, and the surface composition using a wide spectral range, as for instance detecting sulphides or material derived by sulphur and carbon oxidation, at resolutions and coverage higher than the MESSENGER mission with a full co-alignment of the three channels. All the data that will be acquired will allow to cover a wide range of scientific objectives, from the surface processes and cartography up to the internal structure, contributing to the libration experiment, and the surface-exosphere interaction. The global 3D and spectral mapping will allow to study the morphology and the composition of any surface feature. In this work, we describe the on-ground calibrations and the results obtained, providing an important overview of the instrument performances. The calibrations have been performed at channel and at system levels, utilizing specific setup in most of the cases realized for SIMBIO-SYS. In the case of the stereo camera (STC), it has been necessary to have a validation of the new stereo concept adopted, based on the push-frame. This work describes also the results of the Near-Earth Commissioning Phase performed few weeks after the Launch (20 October 2018). According to the calibration results and the first commissioning the three channels are working very well.Peer reviewe

Iron Coordination Chemistry of N2Py2 ligand substituted by carboxylic moieties and their impact on Alkene Oxidation Catalysis

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Catalysis without a headache: Modification of ibuprofen for the design of artificial metalloenzyme for sulfide oxidation

International audienceA new artificial oxidase has been developed for selective transformation of thioanisole. The catalytic activity of an iron inorganic complex, FeLibu, embedded in a transport protein NikA has been investigated in aqueous media. High efficiency (up to 1367 t), frequency 459 TON min(-1) and selectivity (up to 69%) make this easy to use catalytic system an asset for a sustainable chemistry. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Phylogenetic and taxonomic status of Citrus halimii B.C. Stone determined by genotyping complemented by chemical analysis of leaf and fruit rind essential oils

International audienceCitrus phylogeny is currently based on genome analysis using molecular markers and sequencing. The 7 pure genetic groups that gave rise to all cultivated citrus underlie the diversity of citrus accessions originating from Asia. However, there are wild citrus forms whose phylogenetic position is unknown, such as mountain citron (Citrus halimii B.C. Stone) that was discovered in Malaysia in the early 1970s. We sought to elucidate its status by determining its genetic profile with 30 SSR and InDel markers distributed on the 9 chromosomes of the citrus reference genome as compared to those of the 7 pure genetic groups represented by 4 or 5 varieties each. The genetic study was supplemented by a comparison of the composition of essential oils obtained by fruit peel and leaf hydrodistillation to those of the citrus fruits used for genotyping. The genetic study demonstrated that C. halimii is not an interspecific hybrid (low heterozygosity) but rather a true species that shares a common ancestor with kumquats (Fortunella sp.), which would have evolved separately. The fruit aromatic profiles confirmed this kumquat/mountain citron relationship but also highlighted the uniqueness of C. halimii due to the presence of high proportions of compounds that have never been observed in other citrus fruits, such as germacrene d-8-one (accounting for 8.7% of the leaf essential oil)

Genetic, morphological and chemical investigations reveal the genetic origin of Pompia (C. medica tuberosa Risso & Poiteau) -An old endemic Sardinian citrus fruit

International audienceCitrus fruits have been introduced to the Mediterranean area from Asia for centuries and spontaneous crosses have generated several hybrid forms, some of which have had agricultural or industrial success while others have remained niche food or ornamental products, or have disappeared. Pompia (C. medica tuberosa Risso & Poiteau) is an old endemic citrus fruit from Sardinia of unknown genetic origin. Initial phenotypic and molecular characterizations revealed a high degree of similarity with lemon (C. limon (L.) Burm.) and citron (C. medica L.). To identify the ancestors of Pompia, 70 citrus species of the Citrus genus were genotyped with 36 codominant molecular markers (SSR and InDel) of nuclear and cytoplasmic genomes. Diversity analysis and allelic comparisons between each citrus species at each locus indicated that Pompia resembles lemon and limonette of Marrakech, i.e. the result of a cross between sour orange (C. aurantium L.) and citron, where citron was the pollinator. Two Italian citron varieties were identified as potential male parents, i.e. Diamante and Common Poncire. However, we were unable to differentiate varieties of sour oranges because varietal diversification in this horticultural group resulted from DNA sequence variations that SSR or InDel markers could not reveal. Rhob el Arsa and Poncire de Collioure were found to be two synonyms of Pompia. Pompia appeared to be equally distinct from citron, lemon and sour orange based on the overall analysis of the fruit, leaf and seed phenotype, and juice chemical composition. At the leaf level, the Pompia essential oil (EO) composition is close to that of citron whereas the zest is much closer to that of sour orang

The structure of the periplasmic nickel-binding protein NikA provides insights for artificial metalloenzyme design

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An artificial oxygenase built from scratch: the substrate-binding site revealed by a docking approach

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Distinguishing citrus varieties based on genetic and compositional analyses

International audienceSimple sequence repeats (SSR) markers and secondary metabolite composition were used in combination to study seven varieties of citrus for the first time. With reference to established accessions of citrus, two of the varieties (Chanh Giay and Ma Nao Pan) were predicted to be Mexican key limes, while three were mandarin hybrids (Nagpur, Pontianak and Dalandan) and the remaining two (Qicheng and Mosambi) were related to the sweet orange. Notably, Dalandan was genetically more like a mandarin despite often referred to as an orange locally, whereas Mosambi was more likely to be a sweet orange hybrid although it has also been called a sweet lime due to its green peel and small size. Several key secondary metabolites such as polymethoxyflavones (sinensetin, tangeretin etc.), furanocoumarins (bergapten, citropten etc.) and volatiles (citronellol, α-sinensal etc.) were identified to be potential biomarkers for separation of citrus species. However, despite having similar genetic profiles, variations in the volatile profile of the two limes were observed; similarly, there were differences in the secondary metabolite profiles of the three mandarin hybrids despite having a common ancestral parent, highlighting the usefulness of genetic and compositional analyses in combination for revealing both origins and flavour profiles especially in citrus hybrids. This knowledge would be crucial for variety screening and selection for use in flavour or fragrance creation and application