A Spectroscopic Analysis of the California-Kepler Survey Sample. I. Stellar Parameters, Planetary Radii, and a Slope in the Radius Gap

We present results from a quantitative spectroscopic analysis conducted on archival Keck/HIRES high-resolution spectra from the California-Kepler Survey (CKS) sample of transiting planetary host stars identified from the Kepler mission. The spectroscopic analysis was based on a carefully selected set of Fe i and Fe ii lines, resulting in precise values for the stellar parameters of effective temperature (Teff) and surface gravity (log g). Combining the stellar parameters with Gaia DR2 parallaxes and precise distances, we derived both stellar and planetary radii for our sample, with a median internal uncertainty of 2.8% in the stellar radii and 3.7% in the planetary radii. An investigation into the distribution of planetary radii confirmed the bimodal nature of this distribution for the small-radius planets found in previous studies, with peaks at ~1.47 ± 0.05 and ~2.72 ± 0.10 R⊕ with a gap at ~1.9 R⊕. Previous studies that modeled planetary formation that is dominated by photoevaporation predicted this bimodal radii distribution and the presence of a radius gap, or photoevaporation valley. Our results are in overall agreement with these models, as well as core powered mass-loss models. The high internal precision achieved here in the derived planetary radii clearly reveal the presence of a slope in the photoevaporation valley for the CKS sample, indicating that the position of the radius gap decreases with orbital period; this decrease was fit by a power law of the form Rpl ∝ P−0.11, which is consistent with both photoevaporation and core powered mass-loss models of planet formation, with Earth-like core compositions.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq); National Aeronautics and Space Administration [16-XRP16 2-0004]; Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Taxonomic and Functional Microbial Signatures of the Endemic Marine Sponge Arenosclera brasiliensis

The endemic marine sponge Arenosclera brasiliensis (Porifera, Demospongiae, Haplosclerida) is a known source of secondary metabolites such as arenosclerins A-C. In the present study, we established the composition of the A. brasiliensis microbiome and the metabolic pathways associated with this community. We used 454 shotgun pyrosequencing to generate approximately 640,000 high-quality sponge-derived sequences (∼150 Mb). Clustering analysis including sponge, seawater and twenty-three other metagenomes derived from marine animal microbiomes shows that A. brasiliensis contains a specific microbiome. Fourteen bacterial phyla (including Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Cloroflexi) were consistently found in the A. brasiliensis metagenomes. The A. brasiliensis microbiome is enriched for Betaproteobacteria (e.g., Burkholderia) and Gammaproteobacteria (e.g., Pseudomonas and Alteromonas) compared with the surrounding planktonic microbial communities. Functional analysis based on Rapid Annotation using Subsystem Technology (RAST) indicated that the A. brasiliensis microbiome is enriched for sequences associated with membrane transport and one-carbon metabolism. In addition, there was an overrepresentation of sequences associated with aerobic and anaerobic metabolism as well as the synthesis and degradation of secondary metabolites. This study represents the first analysis of sponge-associated microbial communities via shotgun pyrosequencing, a strategy commonly applied in similar analyses in other marine invertebrate hosts, such as corals and algae. We demonstrate that A. brasiliensis has a unique microbiome that is distinct from that of the surrounding planktonic microbes and from other marine organisms, indicating a species-specific microbiome

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure <= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt

Impact of Prosopis nigra gum exudate in alginate core-shell beads synthesis by inverse gelation technique

The following work seeks to evaluate the impact of the polymer extracted from the gummy exudate of Prosopis nigra trees (PN-biopolymer, a carbohydrate polymer with protein moieties) in the inverse gelation technique for the oil encapsulation in alginate core-shell beads, as well as to contribute to the background reported in the different parameters that affect this process. The analysis of a complete factorial statistical design showed that the PN-biopolymer significantly affected all the responses evaluated, in principle generating stable high viscosity emulsions, reducing the deformation of the drop when entering the alginate bath, and promoting a more controlled calcium ions diffusion. Otherwise, unstable emulsions lead to great variability in the diameters and membrane thicknesses in the beads, generating unacceptable shapes. On the other hand, increases in CaCl2 concentration did not significantly affect the emulsion stability under the design conditions but negatively affected the sphericity of the beads. Besides, the membrane thickness was conditioned to the composition of the emulsion, so the Ca2+ ions complex with the negative charges of the PN-biopolymer, restricting their free diffusion according to the proportion of hydrocolloid involved in stabilizing the oil/water interface. The beads that produced the best results compromising all the responses studied were carried out at a PN-biopolymer concentration of 80% w/v, 1 M CaCl2, and an oil/water ratio of 0.25. This being the first report of the use of a gummy vegetable exudate in an inverse gelation process, PN-biopolymer constitutes a promising renewable natural candidate to develop encapsulates applicable to different industries.Fil: Morales, Andrés Hernán. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Spuches, Florencia Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Hero, Johan Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Alanís, Ana F.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Martinez, Maria Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Romero, Cintia Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; Argentin

A Spectroscopic Analysis of a Sample of K2 Planet-host Stars: Stellar Parameters, Metallicities and Planetary Radii

The physical properties of transiting exoplanets are connected with the physical properties of their host stars. We present a homogeneous spectroscopic analysis based on the spectra of FGK-type stars observed with the Hydra spectrograph on the WIYN telescope. We derived the effective temperatures, surface gravities, and metallicities, for 81 stars observed by K2 and 33 by Kepler 1. We constructed an Fe i and ii line list that is adequate for the analysis of R ∼ 18,000 spectra covering 6050–6350 Å and adopted the spectroscopic technique based on equivalent-width measurements. The calculations were done in LTE using Kurucz model atmospheres and the qoyllur-quipu ( q ^2 ) package. We validated our methodology via an analysis of a benchmark solar twin and solar proxies, which are used as a solar reference. We estimated the effects that including Zeeman-sensitive Fe i lines have on the derived stellar parameters for young and possibly active stars in our sample and found them not to be significant. Stellar masses and radii were derived by combining the stellar parameters with Gaia EDR3 and V magnitudes and isochrones. The measured stellar radii have a 4.2% median internal precision, leading to a median internal uncertainty of 4.4% in the derived planetary radii. With our sample of 83 confirmed planets orbiting K2 host stars, the radius gap near R _planet ∼ 1.9 R _⊕ is detected, in agreement with previous findings. Relations between the planetary radius, orbital period, and metallicity are explored and these also confirm previous findings for Kepler 1 systems

Blend of renewable bio-based polymers for oil encapsulation: Control of the emulsion stability and scaffolds of the microcapsule by the gummy exudate of Prosopis nigra

This work concern with the use of a novel mesquite gum as a biopolymer alternative in desert areas of northern Argentina. The species collected was taxonomically identified as Prosopis nigra based on morphological/histological characteristics. Its gummy exudate was partially purified (PN-biopolymer) showed antioxidant activity and good emulsifying properties. The emulsions at 10% PN-biopolymer showed EI24 values > 0.50 even after a thermal shock with a relatively high oil volume fraction of 50%. pH-stability tests showed a correlation between fatty acid unsaturations and droplet size distribution.Then, the use of the PN-biopolymer-alginate blend was evaluated for fish oil encapsulation. An external gelation process was optimized showed a significant dependence of the responses evaluated (EI24 and sphericity factor) towards the interaction between both polymers and the water/oil ratio. Thus, for a fixed oil/water ratio of 0.25, the appropriate amount of both polymers allowed to obtain an EI24 of 96.1% with sphericity factors of 0.971. The PN-biopolymer played a key role in the orderly alginate crosslinking by control emulsion stability. Based on this results, this biopolymer is a renewable, sustainable, and local resource for industrial applications.Fil: Morales, Andrés Hernán. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Alanís, Ana F.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Jaime, Gloria Susana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Lamas, Daniela Lorena. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones y Desarrollo Pesquero; ArgentinaFil: Gómez, María I.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Martinez, Maria Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Romero, Cintia Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; Argentin

Hb S-Sao Paulo: A new sickling hemoglobin with stable polymers and decreased oxygen affinity

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Hb S-Sao Paulo (SP) [HBB:c.20A > T p.Glu6Val: c.196A > G p.Lys65Glu] is a new double-mutant hemoglobin that was found in heterozygosis in an 18-month-old Brazilian male with moderate anemia. It behaves like Hb S in acid electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing and solubility testing but shows different behavior in alkaline electrophoresis, cation-exchange HPLC and RP-HPLC. The variant is slightly unstable, showed reduced oxygen affinity and also appeared to form polymers more stable than the Hb S. Molecular dynamics simulation suggests that the polymerization is favored by interfacial electrostatic interactions. This provides a plausible explanation for some of the reported experimental observations. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.51912331Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq