The EXPLORE Project I: A Deep Search for Transiting Extrasolar Planets

(Abridged) We discuss the design considerations of the EXPLORE (EXtra-solar PLanet Occultation REsearch) project, a series of transiting planet searches using 4-m-class telescopes to continuously monitor a single field of stars in the Galactic Plane in each ~2 week observing campaign. We discuss the general factors which determine the efficiency and the number of planets found by a transit search, including time sampling strategy and field selection. The primary goal is to select the most promising planet candidates for radial velocity follow-up observations. We show that with very high photometric precision light curves that have frequent time sampling and at least two detected transits, it is possible to uniquely solve for the main parameters of the eclipsing system (including planet radius) based on several important assumptions about the central star. Together with a measured spectral type for the star, this unique solution for orbital parameters provides a powerful method for ruling out most contaminants to transiting planet candidates. For the EXPLORE project, radial velocity follow-up observations for companion mass determination of the best candidates are done on 8-m-class telescopes within two or three months of the photometric campaigns. This same-season follow-up is made possible by the use of efficient pipelines to produce high quality light curves within weeks of the observations. We conclude by presenting early results from our first search, EXPLORE I, in which we reached <1% rms photometric precision (measured over a full night) on ~37,000 stars to I <= 18.2.Comment: accepted by ApJ. Main points unchanged but more thorough discussion of some issues. 36 pages, including 14 figure

Heterozygosity, adaptability, and phenotypic stability of sweet sorghum genotypes.

Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is a promising energy crop for bioethanol production. This study aimed to investigate the influence of genetic structure on the adaptability and phenotypic stability of sweet sorghum lines and hybrids regarding the main agro-industrial traits, as well as selecting hybrids that associate high ethanol yield and yield stability in different growing environments. A total of 45 genotypes were evaluated in experiments conducted in a 5×9 triple alpha lattice design in three locations in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The following traits were measured: fresh matter production, juice extraction percentage, total soluble solids content, tons of Brix per hectare, and ethanol production. Adaptability and phenotypic stability were assessed by the Wricke and Annicchiarico methods. Sweet sorghum adaptability and phenotypic stability depend on genotype genetic structure, with hybrids being more stable than parental lines. Additionally, H2x9 and H3x8 were the most promising hybrids

Cymantrene–Triazole "Click" Products: Structural Characterization and Electrochemical Properties

We report the first known examples of triazole-derivatized cymantrene complexes (η5-[4-substituted triazol-1-yl]cyclopentadienyl)tricarbonylmanganese(I), obtained via a “click” chemical synthesis, bearing a phenyl, 3-aminophenyl, or 4-aminophenyl moiety at the 4-position of the triazole ring. Structural characterization data using multinuclear NMR, UV–vis, ATR-IR, and mass spectrometric methods are provided, as well as crystallographic data for (η5-[4-phenyltriazol-1-yl]cyclopentadienyl)tricarbonylmanganese(I) and (η5-[4-(3-aminophenyl)triazol-1-yl]cyclopentadienyl)tricarbonylmanganese(I). Cyclic voltammetric characterization of the redox behavior of each of the three cymantrene–triazole complexes is presented together with digital simulations, in situ infrared spectroelectrochemistry, and DFT calculations to extract the associated kinetic and thermodynamic parameters. The trypanocidal activity of each cymantrene–triazole complex is also examined, and these complexes are found to be more active than cymantrene alone

The bright optical afterglow of the long GRB 001007

We present optical follow up observations of the long GRB 001007 between 6.14 hours and ~468 days after the event. An unusually bright optical afterglow (OA) was seen to decline following a steep power law decay with index alpha = -2.03 +/- 0.11, possibly indicating a break in the light curve at t - to < 3.5 days, as found in other bursts. Upper limits imposed by the LOTIS alerting system 6.14 hours after the gamma ray event provide tentative (1.2 sigma) evidence for a break in the optical light curve. The spectral index beta of the OA yields -1.24 +/- 0.57. These values may be explained both by several fireball jet models and by the cannonball model. Fireball spherical expansion models are not favoured. Late epoch deep imaging revealed the presence of a complex host galaxy system, composed of at least two objects located 1.2" (1.7 sigma) and 1.9" (2.7 sigma) from the afterglow position.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, published in A&

Formação em psicologia comunitária e os seus contributos pedagógicos para a participação cívica

Neste trabalho procura-se documentar os processos através dos quais a formação académica avançada pode contribuir para o aprofundamento da formação cívica dos estudantes e para gerar novos polos de liderança e/ou mudança social em contextos sociais diversificados. Descreve-se o percurso do ensino da Psicologia Comunitária como formação especializada no âmbito da Psicologia e como curriculum formativo autónomo, bem como o debate sobre as competências profissionais neste domínio científico-pedagógico. Apresentam-se os resultados de um questionário sobre competências sociais e profissionais em Psicologia Comunitária e da Análise SWOT com estudantes de Mestrado e Doutoramento que serviram de base para a avaliação da formação pela Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior (http://www.a3es.pt/pt). A análise dos resultados permite concluir que os diplomados em Psicologia Comunitária escolheram causas cívicas diversificadas nos seus percursos profissionais e que utilizam as competências formativas adquiridas no seu percurso formativo na sua prática profissional. Através da análise qualitativa dos dados recolhidos através de análise SWOT, realça-se a relevância atribuída à liberdade de escolha durante o percurso formativo e as oportunidades de contacto com realidades sociais diversificadas. A participação em contextos comunitários tem permitindo compreender melhor a complexidade da aplicação prática dos princípios, bem como do papel que pode desempenhar a investigação com base em pressupostos de relevância e utilidade para o desenvolvimento dos indivíduos, grupos e/ou comunidades