Elodie metallicity-biased search for transiting Hot Jupiters I. Two Hot Jupiters orbiting the slightly evolved stars HD118203 and HD149143

We report the discovery of a new planet candidate orbiting the subgiant star HD118203 with a period of P=6.1335 days. The best Keplerian solution yields an eccentricity e=0.31 and a minimum mass m2sin(i)=2.1MJup for the planet. This star has been observed with the ELODIE fiber-fed spectrograph as one of the targets in our planet-search programme biased toward high-metallicity stars, on-going since March 2004 at the Haute-Provence Observatory. An analysis of the spectroscopic line profiles using line bisectors revealed no correlation between the radial velocities and the line-bisector orientations, indicating that the periodic radial-velocity signal is best explained by the presence of a planet-mass companion. A linear trend is observed in the residuals around the orbital solution that could be explained by the presence of a second companion in a longer-period orbit. We also present here our orbital solution for another slightly evolved star in our metal-rich sample, HD149143, recently proposed to host a 4-d period Hot Jupiter by the N2K consortium. Our solution yields a period P=4.09 days, a marginally significant eccentricity e=0.08 and a planetary minimum mass of 1.36MJup. We checked that the shape of the spectral lines does not vary for this star as well.Comment: Accepted in A&A (6 pages, 6 figures

Bifurcations in the theory of current transfer to cathodes of dc discharges and observations of transitions between different modes

General scenarios of transitions between different spot patterns on electrodes of dc gas discharges and their relation to bifurcations of steady-state solutions are analyzed. In the case of cathodes of arc discharges, it is shown that any transition between different modes of current transfer is related to a bifurcation of steady-state solutions. In particular, transitions between diffuse and spot modes on axially symmetric cathodes, frequently observed in the experiment, represent an indication of the presence of pitchfork or fold bifurcations of steady-state solutions. Experimental observations of transitions on cathodes of dc glow microdischarges are analyzed and those potentially related to bifurcations of steady-state solutions are identified. The relevant bifurcations are investigated numerically and the computed patterns are found to conform to those observed in the course of the corresponding transitions in the experiment

Inductive learning spatial attention

This paper investigates the automatic induction of spatial attention from the visual observation of objects manipulated on a table top. In this work, space is represented in terms of a novel observer-object relative reference system, named Local Cardinal System, defined upon the local neighbourhood of objects on the table. We present results of applying the proposed methodology on five distinct scenarios involving the construction of spatial patterns of coloured blocks

Avaliação e seleção de bulbos de cebola de baixo teor de ácido pirúvico de cultivares adaptadas ao Nordeste.

Diferente de outros países, o Brasil não desenvolveu populações de cebola com baixa pungência, o que poderia aumentar o consumo nacional e criar novas oportunidades para os agricultores. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o teor de ácido pirúvico em algumas populações de cebola desenvolvidas para o Nordeste brasileiro para orientar trabalhos de melhoramento da espécie. Foram avaliados bulbos de cinco variedades de cebola cultivados nos Campos Experimentais de Bebedouro e Mandacaru/Embrapa Semiárido, em 2010. As condições de cultivo e manejo de fertilizantes foram semelhantes nos dois locais. Os bulbos foram quantificados para o teor de ácido pirúvico por espectrofotometria, sendo selecionados aqueles com teor menor que 5 μmol/mL. Dos 206 bulbos de Bebedouro, os teores de ácido pirúvico variaram de 3,02 μmol/mL a 14,22 μmol/mL de suco de cebola, dos quais selecionou-se 14 (6,8%). Dos 360 bulbos, colhidos no Campo Experimental de Mandacaru, os teores de ácido pirúvico variaram de 3,65 μmol/mL a 18,52 μmol/mL de suco de cebola; destes 13 (3,6%) foram selecionados. Obteve-se sementes em 18 plantas dos 27 bulbos selecionados, o que possibilitará um novo ciclo de seleção recorrente, visando o desenvolvimento de populações de cebola com baixos teores de ácido pirúvico para o Nordeste brasileiro

Collective modes in relativistic npe matter at finite temperature

Isospin and density waves in neutral neutron-proton-electron (npe) matter are studied within a relativistic mean-field hadron model at finite temperature with the inclusion of the electromagnetic field. The dispersion relation is calculated and the collective modes are obtained. The unstable modes are discussed and the spinodals, which separate the stable from the unstable regions, are shown for different values of the momentum transfer at various temperatures. The critical temperatures are compared with the ones obtained in a system without electrons. The largest critical temperature, 12.39 MeV, occurs for a proton fraction y_p=0.47. For y_p=0.3 we get $T_{cr}$ =5 MeV and for y_p>0.495 $T_cr\lesssim 8$ MeV. It is shown that at finite temperature the distillation effect in asymmetric matter is not so efficient and that electron effects are particularly important for small momentum transfers.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure

The HARPS search for southern extrasolar planets XXI. Three new giant planets orbiting the metal-poor stars HD5388, HD181720, and HD190984

We present the discovery of three new giant planets around three metal-deficient stars: HD5388b (1.96M_Jup), HD181720b (0.37M_Jup), and HD190984b (3.1M_Jup). All the planets have moderately eccentric orbits (ranging from 0.26 to 0.57) and long orbital periods (from 777 to 4885 days). Two of the stars (HD181720 and HD190984) were part of a program searching for giant planets around a sample of ~100 moderately metal-poor stars, while HD5388 was part of the volume-limited sample of the HARPS GTO program. Our discoveries suggest that giant planets in long period orbits are not uncommon around moderately metal-poor stars.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A (replaced by version with minor language corrections