Eclipses of the inner satellites of Jupiter observed in 2015

During the 2014-2015 campaign of mutual events, we recorded ground-based photometric observations of eclipses of Amalthea (JV) and, for the first time, Thebe (JXIV) by the Galilean moons. We focused on estimating whether the positioning accuracy of the inner satellites determined with photometry is sufficient for dynamical studies. We observed two eclipses of Amalthea and one of Thebe with the 1 m telescope at Pic du Midi Observatory using an IR filter and a mask placed over the planetary image to avoid blooming features. A third observation of Amalthea was taken at Saint-Sulpice Observatory with a 60 cm telescope using a methane filter (890 nm) and a deep absorption band to decrease the contrast between the planet and the satellites. After background removal, we computed a differential aperture photometry to obtain the light flux, and followed with an astrometric reduction. We provide astrometric results with an external precision of 53 mas for the eclipse of Thebe, and 20 mas for that of Amalthea. These observation accuracies largely override standard astrometric measurements. The (O-C)s for the eclipse of Thebe are 75 mas on the X-axis and 120 mas on the Y-axis. The (O-C)s for the total eclipses of Amalthea are 95 mas and 22 mas, along the orbit, for two of the three events. Taking into account the ratio of (O-C) to precision of the astrometric results, we show a significant discrepancy with the theory established by Avdyushev and Ban'shikova in 2008, and the JPL JUP 310 ephemeris.Comment: 7 pages, 10 figures, 4 table

Digital Scrapbook – can we enable interlinked and recursive knowledge equilibrium?

We investigate possible tools and approaches to develop a Digital Scrapbook, a virtual research environment inspired by the recursive nature of research for scholars where they can combine web and own resources into a new scholarly edition readily enabled for Open Access. Web resources are interlinked in the digital scrapbook by content capture and detail selection, rather than sole bookmark or link to resource URL, along with necessary accompanying metadata. We analyse several open source and commercial tools, with special focus on a Scrapbook-X Firefox Add-On, in order to match to desired Digital Scrapbook features. We further address the wider requirement context for development of such Digital Scrapbook environment, discussing both technical and user experience dimensions. We conclude with a recommendation on how to approach the development and operation of a Digital Scrapbook environment

Dissociative photoionization of NO across a shape resonance in the XUV range using circularly polarized synchrotron radiation.

We report benchmark results for dissociative photoionization (DPI) spectroscopy and dynamics of the NO molecule in the region of the σ* shape resonance in the ionization leading to the NO+(c3Π) ionic state. The experimental study combines well characterized extreme ultraviolet (XUV) circularly polarized synchrotron radiation, delivered at the DESIRS beamline (SOLEIL), with ion-electron coincidence 3D momentum spectroscopy. The measured (N+, e) kinetic energy correlation diagrams reported at four discrete photon energies in the extended 23-33 eV energy range allow for resolving the different active DPI reactions and underline the importance of spectrally resolved studies using synchrotron radiation in the context of time-resolved studies where photoionization is induced by broadband XUV attosecond pulses. In the dominant DPI reaction which leads to the NO+(c3Π) ionic state, photoionization dynamics across the σ* shape resonance are probed by molecular frame photoelectron angular distributions where the parallel and perpendicular transitions are highlighted, as well as the circular dichroism CDAD(θe) in the molecular frame. The latter also constitute benchmark references for molecular polarimetry. The measured dynamical parameters are well described by multichannel Schwinger configuration interaction calculations. Similar results are obtained for the DPI spectroscopy of highly excited NO+ electronic states populated in the explored XUV photon energy range

An NMR study on internal browning in pears

Internal browning in pears (Pyrus communis L. cv. Blanquilla) has been studied by NMR and MRI in order to develop a non-destructive procedure for on-line disorder identification. For NMR relaxometry, disordered tissue shows higher transverse relaxation rates compared to sound tissue, especially at higher magnetic field strength and for long pulse spacing. Membrane alteration and therefore tissue disintegration, as well as water evaporation, appear to be the main causes of this response. Correlation between relaxation times and diffusion showed that the proton pools in disordered tissue are grouped into a smaller number of populations compared to sound tissue, also highlighting cell decompartmentation in disordered tissue. At a macroscopic level, fast low angle shot MR images, effective transverse relaxation-weighted (TR 11 ms and TE 3.7 ms) and proton density-weighted (TR 7.6 ms and TE 2.5 ms), were acquired for pears at a rate of 54 mm/s. Images have been discriminated for internal breakdown according to histogram characteristics. Up to 94 and 96% of pears, respectively, were correctly classified in the former and the latter type of images. In this study a minimum value of 12% of tissue affected by breakdown was always clearly identifie

Effect of electronic angular momentum exchange on photoelectron anisotropy following the two-colour ionization of krypton atoms

We present photoelectron energy and angular distributions for resonant two-photon ionization via several low-lying Rydberg states of atomic Kr. The experiments were performed by using synchrotron radiation to pump the Rydberg states and a continuous wave laser to probe them. Photoelectron images, recorded with both linear and circular polarized pump and probe light, were obtained in coincidence with mass-analyzed Kr ions. The photoelectron angular distributions and branching ratios for direct ionization into the Kr+ 2P3/2 and 2P1/2 spin-orbit continua show considerable dependence on the intermediate level, as well as on the polarizations of the pump and probe light. Photoelectron angular distributions were also recorded with several polarization combinations following two-colour excitation of the (2P1/2)5f[5/2]2 autoionizing resonance. These results are compared with the results of recent work on the corresponding autoionizing resonance in atomic Xe

On the formation and decay of a molecular ultracold plasma

Double-resonant photoexcitation of nitric oxide in a molecular beam creates a dense ensemble of $50f(2)$ Rydberg states, which evolves to form a plasma of free electrons trapped in the potential well of an NO$^+$ spacecharge. The plasma travels at the velocity of the molecular beam, and, on passing through a grounded grid, yields an electron time-of-flight signal that gauges the plasma size and quantity of trapped electrons. This plasma expands at a rate that fits with an electron temperature as low as 5 K, colder that typically observed for atomic ultracold plasmas. The recombination of molecular NO$^+$ cations with electrons forms neutral molecules excited by more than twice the energy of the NO chemical bond, and the question arises whether neutral fragmentation plays a role in shaping the redistribution of energy and particle density that directs the short-time evolution from Rydberg gas to plasma. To explore this question, we adapt a coupled rate-equations model established for atomic ultracold plasmas to describe the energy-grained avalanche of electron-Rydberg and electron-ion collisions in our system. Adding channels of Rydberg predissociation and two-body, electron- cation dissociative recombination to the atomic formalism, we investigate the kinetics by which this relaxation distributes particle density and energy over Rydberg states, free electrons and neutral fragments. The results of this investigation suggest some mechanisms by which molecular fragmentation channels can affect the state of the plasma

Circular dichroism in molecular-frame photoelectron angular distributions in the dissociative photoionization of H2 and D2 molecules

ABSTRACT: The presence of net circular dichroism in the photoionization of nonchiral homonuclear molecules has been put in evidence recently through the measurement of molecular-frame photoelectron angular distributions in dissociative photoionization of H2 [Dowek et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 233003 (2010)]. In this work we present a detailed study of circular dichroism in the photoelectron angular distributions of H2 and D2 molecules, oriented perpendicularly to the propagation vector of the circularly polarized light, at different photon energies (20, 27, and 32.5 eV). Circular dichroism in the angular distributions at 20 and to a large extent 27 eV exhibits the usual pattern in which inversion symmetry is preserved. In contrast, at 32.5 eV, the inversion symmetry breaks down, which eventually leads to total circular dichroism after integration over the polar emission angle. Time-dependent ab initio calculations support and explain the observed results for H2 in terms of quantum interferences between direct photoionization and delayed autoionization from the Q1 and Q2 doubly excited states into ionic states (1sσg and 2pσu) of different inversion symmetry. Nevertheless, for D2 at 32.5 eV, there is a particular case where theory and experiment disagree in the magnitude of the symmetry breaking: when D+ ions are produced with an energy of around 5 eV. This reflects the subleties associated to such simple molecules when exposed to this fine scrutiny

Digitale Bildarchive für Kultur und Wissenschaft

Die Forderung der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft und der Allianz der deutschen Wissenschaftsorganisationen nach öffentlichem und nachhaltigem Zugang zu wissenschaftlichen Daten in Verbindung mit nicht-kommerzieller Technologie zeigt auf, dass die Präsentation von digitalen Inhalten und die Langzeitarchivierung eine immer wichtigere Rolle einnimmt. Fasst man den Blick weiter und betrachtet Wissenschaft und Kultur allgemein, so droht, durch die hohe Flüchtigkeit der digital gespeicherten Informationen, dass bedeutsame Daten auf Dauer verloren gehen. Daher ist die Sicherstellung der zukünftigen Lesbarkeit und Interpretierbarkeit der digitalen Daten von entscheidender Bedeutung. Zur digitalen Langzeitarchivierung bzw. Langzeitverfügbarmachung werden Strategien benötigt, die die Erhaltung der dauerhaften Verfügbarkeit und damit eine Nachnutzung und Interpretierbarkeit der digital gespeicherten Informationen ermöglichen. Dies kann nur durch Auswahl eines geeigneten Archivsystems, bestimmter Dateiformate und Einsetzung weit verbreiteter Metadaten-Standards erreicht werden. Ein solches System, das kollaboratives Arbeiten und Langzeitarchivierung gleichermaßen ermöglicht, ist das Bildverwaltungssystem “Imeji”. Der folgende Text führt einzelne Merkmale von Imeji aus und stellt zwei Fallbeispiele der Anwendung vor

Antikinetoplastid SAR study in 3-nitroimidazopyridine series: identification of a novel non-genotoxic and potent anti-T. b. brucei hit-compound with improved pharmacokinetic properties

To study the antikinetoplastid 3-nitroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine pharmacophore, a structure-activity relationship study was conducted through the synthesis of 26 original derivatives and their in vitro evaluation on both Leishmania spp and Trypanosoma brucei brucei. This SAR study showed that the antitrypanosomal pharmacophore was less restrictive than the antileishmanial one and highlighted positions 2, 6 and 8 of the imidazopyridine ring as key modulation points. None of the synthesized compounds allowed improvement in antileishmanial activity, compared to previous hit molecules in the series. Nevertheless, compound 8, the best antitrypanosomal molecule in this series (EC50 = 17 nM, SI = 2650 & E° = -0.6 V), was not only more active than all reference drugs and previous hit molecules in the series but also displayed improved aqueous solubility and better in vitro pharmacokinetic characteristics: good microsomal stability (T1/2 > 40 min), moderate albumin binding (77%) and moderate permeability across the blood brain barrier according to a PAMPA assay. Moreover, both micronucleus and comet assays showed that nitroaromatic molecule 8 was not genotoxic in vitro. It was evidenced that bioactivation of molecule 8 was operated by T. b. brucei type 1 nitroreductase, in the same manner as fexinidazole. Finally, a mouse pharmacokinetic study showed that 8 displayed good systemic exposure after both single and repeated oral administrations at 100 mg/kg (NOAEL) and satisfying plasmatic half-life (T1/2 = 7.7 h). Thus, molecule 8 appears as a good candidate for initiating a hit to lead drug discovery program