Recent Results from CARMA

The Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA) is a heterogeneous array of 23 telescopes designed to operate in the 1 cm, 3 mm, and 1 mm atmospheric windows. The array is a merger of the eight 3.5 m antennas from the Sunyaev-Zel’dovich Array, the nine 6.1 m antennas from the Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland array, and the six 10.4 m antennas from the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO). As a signature of Tom Phillips’ legacy, three of the CARMA antennas are from the original 3-element OVRO interferometer built under Tom’s leadership in the early 1980’s. Recent CARMA results are presented on the structure of circumstellar disks and the molecular gas distribution in M 51

Large-Scale Asymmetries in the Transitional Disks of SAO 206462 and SR 21

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations in the dust continuum (690 GHz, 0.45 mm) and 12CO J=6-5 spectral line emission, of the transitional disks surrounding the stars SAO 206462 and SR 21. These ALMA observations resolve the dust-depleted disk cavities and extended gaseous disks, revealing large-scale asymmetries in the dust emission of both disks. We modeled these disks structures with a ring and an azimuthal gaussian, where the azimuthal gaussian is motivated by the steady-state vortex solution from Lyra & Lin (2013). Compared to recent observations of HD 142527, Oph IRS 48, and LkHa 330, these are low-contrast (< 2) asymmetries. Nevertheless, a ring alone is not a good fit, and the addition of a vortex prescription describes these data much better. The asymmetric component encompasses 15% and 28% of the total disk emission in SAO 206462 and SR 21 respectively, which corresponds to a lower limit of 2 MJup of material within the asymmetry for both disks. Although the contrast in the dust asymmetry is low, we find that the turbulent velocity inside it must be large (~20% of the sound speed) in order to drive these azimuthally wide and radially narrow vortex-like structures. We obtain residuals from the ring and vortex fitting that are still significant, tracing non-axisymmetric emission in both disks. We compared these submillimeter observations with recently published H-band scattered light observations. For SR 21 the scattered light emission is distributed quite differently from the submillimeter continuum emission, while for SAO 206462 the submillimeter residuals are suggestive of spiral-like structure similar to the near-IR emission.Comment: ApJL, in press. 6 pages, 3 figures, 2 table

An Inner Disk in the Large Gap of the Transition Disk SR 24S

We report new Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array (ALMA) Band 3 observations at 2.75 mm of the TD around SR 24S with an angular resolution of $\sim$0.11''$\times$ 0.09'' and a peak signal-to-noise ratio of $\sim24$. We detect an inner disk and a mostly symmetric ring-like structure that peaks at $\sim$0.32'', that is $\sim$37 au at a distance of $\sim$114.4 pc. The full width at half maximum of this ring is $\sim$28 au. We analyze the observed structures by fitting the dust continuum visibilities using different models for the intensity profile, and compare with previous ALMA observations of the same disk at 0.45 mm and 1.30 mm. We qualitatively compare the results of these fits with theoretical predictions of different scenarios for the formation of a cavity or large gap. The comparison of the dust continuum structure between different ALMA bands indicates that photoevaporation and dead zone can be excluded as leading mechanisms for the cavity formation in SR 24S disk, leaving the planet scenario (single or multiple planets) as the most plausible mechanism. We compared the 2.75 mm emission with published (sub-)centimeter data and find that the inner disk is likely tracing dust thermal emission. This implies that any companion in the system should allow dust to move inwards throughout the gap and replenish the inner disk. In the case of one single planet, this puts strong constraints on the mass of the potential planet inside the cavity and the disk viscosity of about $\lesssim$5 $M_{\rm{Jup}}$ and $\alpha\sim10^{-4}-10^{-3}$, respectively.Comment: Accepted to Ap

Short communication: Laboratory evaluation of nine highbush blueberry cultivars susceptibility to Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura, 1931) in the Southwestern Spain

Aim of study:  To determine how susceptible the most used Southern highbush blueberry (SHB) cultivars were to the spotted wing Drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura, 1931) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) as well as those recently introduced to Southwestern Spain.Area of study: Southwestern Spain (Huelva province).Material and methods: Nine of the SHB cultivars which were recently introduced in Southwestern Spain and the most used ones were selected: ‘Arana’, ‘Camellia’, ‘Kirra’, ‘Mayra’, ‘Misty’, ‘O'Neal’, ‘Sharpblue’, ‘Star’ and ‘Ventura’. In order to determine how susceptible the cultivars were to SWD, no-choice tests were performed under laboratory conditions. In addition, berry size, berry firmness, ºBrix, and pH were recorded in order to assess what influence these variables had on oviposition preference by SWD.Main results: Mean clutch size and mean number of emerged adults in ‘Star’ were significantly higher than in the other tested cultivars. ‘Mayra’, ‘Camellia’ and ‘Ventura’ received the lower clutch sizes and mean number of emerged adults. Mean developmental time (egg to adult) differed significantly among tested cultivars and were highest in ‘Camellia’ than in the other tested cultivars.  Only firmness and pH were correlated with SWD infestation as females tend to oviposit more eggs in softer fruits than in firmer fruits. Results also showed that a higher pH increased the emergence of adults and shortened the egg to adult developmental time.Research highlights: Our results showed significant differences in the susceptibility of SHB to SWD. This information may help design IPM programs and in making recommendations for blueberry crops as planting of low-chill cultivars expands

The CBRB regulon: Promoter dissection reveals novel insights into the CbrAB expression network in Pseudomonas putida

CbrAB is a high ranked global regulatory system exclusive of the Pseudomonads that responds to carbon limiting conditions. It has become necessary to define the particular regulon of CbrB and discriminate it from the downstream cascades through other regulatory components. We have performed in vivo binding analysis of CbrB in P. putida and determined that it directly controls the expression of at least 61 genes; 20% involved in regulatory functions, including the previously identified CrcZ and CrcY small regulatory RNAs. The remaining are porines or transporters (20%), metabolic enzymes (16%), activities related to protein translation (5%) and orfs of uncharacterised function (38%). Amongst the later, we have selected the operon PP2810-13 to make an exhaustive analysis of the CbrB binding sequences, together with those of crcZ and crcY. We describe the implication of three independent non-palindromic subsites with a variable spacing in three different targets; CrcZ, CrcY and operon PP2810-13 in the CbrAB activation. CbrB is a quite peculiar σN—depen-dent activator since it is barely dependent on phosphorylation for transcriptional activation. With the depiction of the precise contacts of CbrB with the DNA, the analysis of the multi-merisation status and its dependence on other factors such as RpoN o IHF, we propose a model of transcriptional activation.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad BIO2014-57545-

Natural radiactivity from building materials in Spain

The industrial construction sector is very important in Spain. Building materials used in this industry are sources of radiation from natural radionuclides they contain. The European Commission published some recommendations to facilitate the trade of these materials in the E.U. The studies about this subject have increased notably during last years. This, probably, can be associated with the increase interest from natural radiation radiological risk on indoor exposure.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear. CSN-201

Los ajustes deprimen el empleo. Análisis de coyuntura del mercado de trabajo en el segundo trimestre de 2012

La economía española ha entrado en recesión en el segundo trimestre de 2012, por segunda vez desde que estalló la crisis económica. La intensa caída de la actividad económica provoca una nueva oleada de destrucción de empleo. Como consecuencia, se ha alcanzado la tasa de paro más alta en un trimestre en la serie histórica de la EPA que ofrece el INE. En el artículo presente se analizan la evolución de las principales variables laborales en el mercado de trabajo español y de Andalucía. Se presta especial atención a la formación de la mano de obra y a la evolución de los diferentes grupos de trabajadores cualificados de acuerdo con la evolución del ciclo económico en el periodo 2008-2012.In the second quarter of 2012, Spanish economy has come into a new recession period for the second time since the beginning of the economic crisis. The big decrease of economic activity is the cause of a new wave of employment destruction. As a result, the highest rate of unemployment in modern Spanish economic history has been reached, according to the data provided by the National Institute of Statistics. In this paper, we analyse the evolution of the main labour indicators in the Spanish and Andalusian Labour Markets. We pay special attention to the impact of economic crisis on different groups of workers according to their educational levels in the period 2008-2012

Instalados en la recesión económica. Análisis de coyuntura del mercado de trabajo en el segundo semestre de 2012

A lo largo de 2012, España experimenta una profundización en la recesión económica que está sufriendo. Durante los cuatro trimestres de este año, no se han visto cifras positivas de crecimiento, sino una caída constante. La misma tendencia se observa en el resto de economías europeas, que en la última parte del año están adentrándose, o van camino de caer, de nuevo en la recesión. Como consecuencia de esta evolución, el deterioro del mercado de trabajo español sigue aumentando. Cae la ocupación y aumenta el desempleo hasta casi seis millones de personas, alcanzándose la tasa de paro más elevada de los registros de la EPA (26,02%). En el presente trabajo se presenta una panorámica sobre la evolución de la economía y el mercado de trabajo en España en el segundo semestre de 2012. El artículo también recoge un epígrafe dedicado al análisis de la evolución de las variables económicas y laborales más relevantes en Andalucía