The Multiplanet System TOI-421*: A Warm Neptune and a Super Puffy Mini-Neptune Transiting a G9 V Star in a Visual Binary*

We report the discovery of a warm Neptune and a hot sub-Neptune transiting TOI-421 (BD-14 1137, TIC 94986319), a bright (V = 9.9) G9 dwarf star in a visual binary system observed by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) space mission in Sectors 5 and 6. We performed ground-based follow-up observations—comprised of Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope transit photometry, NIRC2 adaptive optics imaging, and FIbre-fed Echellé Spectrograph, CORALIE, High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher, High Resolution Échelle Spectrometer, and Planet Finder Spectrograph high-precision Doppler measurements—and confirmed the planetary nature of the 16 day transiting candidate announced by the TESS team. We discovered an additional radial velocity signal with a period of five days induced by the presence of a second planet in the system, which we also found to transit its host star. We found that the inner mini-Neptune, TOI-421 b, has an orbital period of Pb = 5.19672 ± 0.00049 days, a mass of Mb = 7.17 ± 0.66 M⊕, and a radius of Rb = ${2.68}_{-0.18}^{+0.19}$ R⊕, whereas the outer warm Neptune, TOI-421 c, has a period of Pc = 16.06819 ± 0.00035 days, a mass of Mc = ${16.42}_{-1.04}^{+1.06}$ M⊕, a radius of Rc = ${5.09}_{-0.15}^{+0.16}$ R⊕, and a density of ρc = ${0.685}_{-0.072}^{+0.080}$ g cm−3. With its characteristics, the outer planet (ρc = ${0.685}_{-0.072}^{+0.080}$ g cm−3) is placed in the intriguing class of the super-puffy mini-Neptunes. TOI-421 b and TOI-421 c are found to be well-suited for atmospheric characterization. Our atmospheric simulations predict significant Lyα transit absorption, due to strong hydrogen escape in both planets, as well as the presence of detectable CH4 in the atmosphere of TOI-421 c if equilibrium chemistry is assumed

Search for Dijet Resonances in 7 TeV pp Collisions at CMS (vol 105, 211801, 2010)

Publisher’s Note: Search for Dijet Resonances in 7 TeV pp Collisions at CMS [Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 211801 (2010)

Pain at insertion of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system in nulligravida and parous women with and without cesarean section

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Background: Despite the high contraceptive effectiveness and noncontraceptive benefits of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) in nulligravidas, there are still concerns related to the use of this device. Pain at insertion is one of the limitations to the increased use of intrauterine contraceptives. The aim of the study was to evaluate the ease of insertion and occurrence of pain at insertion of the LNG-IUS in nulligravidas (women who never became pregnant) compared to parous women with and without cesarean section (c-section). We also assessed the difficulty at insertion in each group. Methods: Three groups of new acceptors of the LNG-IUS were studied: one with 23 nulligravida women, one with 28 parous women who had undergone at least one c-section and one with 23 parous women who had no previous c-section. Pain at insertion was evaluated by using a pain visual analogue score (VAS). The ease of insertion was defined as easy or difficult by health care providers (HCPs) and classified according to the cause of difficulty: tight cervix, anatomically distorted uterus or pain. Results: Almost all women reported pain at insertion, regardless of parity and form of delivery. The mean VAS was 6.6 for nulligravida women, 5.2 for parous women with c-section and 5.9 for parous women with no c-section. Although 93% of the women reported pain at insertion, they also reported a willingness to insert a new LNG-IUS again if needed. The most common difficulties were a tight cervix in nulligravidas, an anatomically distorted uterus in parous women with c-section and pain in parous women without c-section. There was no failure of insertion in any group. HCPs reported that it was easier to perform insertion in parous women who had undergone only vaginal deliveries than nulligravid women or parous women with a prior c-section. Conclusions: Although almost all women reported pain at insertion, they also reported a willingness to insert a new LNG-IUS if needed. This attitude reflects high satisfaction with the LNG-IUS. The type of difficulty at insertion was related to parity and type of delivery. The LNG-IUS was able to be inserted in all women; however, it was easier to do in parous women without c-section than nulligravid women or those with a prior C-section. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.881164168Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)CNPq [573747/2008-3

Post-harvest conservation of organic strawberries coated with cassava starch and chitosan

The strawberry is as non-climacteric fruit, but has a high post-harvest respiration rate, which leads to a rapid deterioration at room temperature. This study aimed to evaluate the application of biodegradable coating on postharvest conservation of organic strawberries, cv. Camarosa, packed in plastic hinged boxes and stored at 10ºC. The treatments consisted of: a) control; b) 2% cassava starch; c) 1% chitosan; and d) 2% cassava starch + 1% chitosan. Physical and chemical characteristics of fruits were evaluated at 3, 6 and 9 days of storage, and microbiological and sensory analyses were carried out at the end of the storage period. The treatments influenced positively the post-harvest quality of organic strawberries. The coating cassava starch + chitosan provided the best results, with less than 6% of loss in fruit mass, lower counts of yeast and psychrophilic microorganisms and the best appearance according to the sensory analysis