Electronic excitation of furfural as probed by high-resolution vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and ab initio calculations

13 págs.; 7 figs.; 8 tabs.© 2015 AIP Publishing LLC. The electronic spectroscopy of isolated furfural (2-furaldehyde) in the gas phase has been investigated using high-resolution photoabsorption spectroscopy in the 3.5-10.8 eV energy-range, with absolute cross section measurements derived. Electron energy loss spectra are also measured over a range of kinematical conditions. Those energy loss spectra are used to derive differential cross sections and in turn generalised oscillator strengths. These experiments are supported by ab initio calculations in order to assign the excited states of the neutral molecule. The good agreement between the theoretical results and the measurements allows us to provide the first quantitative assignment of the electronic state spectroscopy of furfural over an extended energy range.F.F.S. and P.L.V. acknowledge the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT-MEC) through Grant Nos. SFRH/BPD/68979/2010 and SFRH/BSAB/105792/2014, respectively, the research Grant Nos. PTDC/FIS-ATO/1832/ 2012 and UID/FIS/00068/2013. P.L.V. also acknowledges his Visiting Research Fellow position at Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia. The Patrimoine of the University of Liège, the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique, and the Fonds de la Recherche Fondamentale Collective of Belgium have also supported this research. E.L. and R.F.C.N. thank CNPq (Brazil) and the Science Without Borders Programme for opportunities to study abroad. The authors wish to acknowledge the beam time at the ISA synchrotron at Aarhus University, Denmark. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (Grant No. FP7/2007-2013) CALIPSO under Grant Agreement No. 312284. D.B.J. thanks the Australian Research Council for financial support provided through a Discovery Early Career Research Award. M.J.B. also thanks the Australian Research Council for some financial support, while M.J.B. and M.C.A.L. acknowledge the Brazilian agencies CNPq and FAPEMIG for financial support. F.B. and G.G. acknowledge partial financial support from the Spanish Ministry MINECO (Project No. FIS2012-31230) and the EU COST Action No. CM1301 (CELINA). Finally, R.F.C., M.T.do N.V., M.H.F.B., and M.A.P.L. acknowledge support from the Brazilian agency CNPq.Peer Reviewe

Searching for star-planet magnetic interaction in CoRoT observations

Close-in massive planets interact with their host stars through tidal and magnetic mechanisms. In this paper, we review circumstantial evidence for star-planet interaction as revealed by the photospheric magnetic activity in some of the CoRoT planet-hosting stars, notably CoRoT-2, CoRoT-4, and CoRoT-6. The phenomena are discussed in the general framework of activity-induced features in stars accompanied by hot Jupiters. The theoretical mechanisms proposed to explain the activity enhancements possibly related with hot Jupiter are also briefly reviewed with an emphasis on the possible effects at photospheric level. The unique advantages of CoRoT and Kepler observations to test these models are pointed out.Comment: Invited review paper accepted by Astrophysics and Space Science, 13 pages, 5 figure

Soil biochemistry and microbial activity in vineyards under conventional and organic management at Northeast Brazil.

The São Francisco Submedium Valley is located at the Brazilian semiarid region and is an important center for irrigated fruit growing. This region is responsible for 97% of the national exportation of table grapes, including seedless grapes. Based on the fact that orgThe São Francisco Submedium Valley is located at the Brazilian semiarid region and is an important center for irrigated fruit growing. This region is responsible for 97% of the national exportation of table grapes, including seedless grapes. Based on the fact that organic fertilization can improve soil quality, we compared the effects of conventional and organic soil management on microbial activity and mycorrhization of seedless grape crops. We measured glomerospores number, most probable number (MPN) of propagules, richness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species, AMF root colonization, EE-BRSP production, carbon microbial biomass (C-MB), microbial respiration, fluorescein diacetate hydrolytic activity (FDA) and metabolic coefficient (qCO2). The organic management led to an increase in all variables with the exception of EE-BRSP and qCO2. Mycorrhizal colonization increased from 4.7% in conventional crops to 15.9% in organic crops. Spore number ranged from 4.1 to 12.4 per 50 g-1 soil in both management systems. The most probable number of AMF propagules increased from 79 cm-3 soil in the conventional system to 110 cm-3 soil in the organic system. Microbial carbon, CO2 emission, and FDA activity were increased by 100 to 200% in the organic crop. Thirteen species of AMF were identified, the majority in the organic cultivation system. Acaulospora excavata, Entrophospora infrequens, Glomus sp.3 and Scutellospora sp. were found only in the organically managed crop. S. gregaria was found only in the conventional crop. Organically managed vineyards increased mycorrhization and general soil microbial activity

KOBEsim: A Bayesian observing strategy algorithm for planet detection in radial velocity blind-search surveys

Context. Ground-based observing time is precious in the era of exoplanet follow-up and characterization, especially in high-precision radial velocity instruments. Blind-search radial velocity surveys thus require a dedicated observational strategy in order to optimize the observing time, which is particularly crucial for the detection of small rocky worlds at large orbital periods. Aims. We developed an algorithm with the purpose of improving the efficiency of radial velocity observations in the context of exoplanet searches, and we applied it to the K-dwarfs Orbited By habitable Exoplanets experiment. Our aim is to accelerate exoplanet confirmations or, alternatively, reject false signals as early as possible in order to save telescope time and increase the efficiency of both blind-search surveys and follow-up of transiting candidates. Methods. Once a minimum initial number of radial velocity datapoints is reached in such a way that a periodicity starts to emerge according to generalized Lomb-Scargle periodograms, that period is targeted with the proposed algorithm, named KOBEsim. The algorithm selects the next observing date that maximizes the Bayesian evidence for this periodicity in comparison with a model with no Keplerian orbits. Results. By means of simulated data, we proved that the algorithm accelerates the exoplanet detection, needing 29-33% fewer observations and a 41-47% smaller time span of the full dataset for low-mass planets (mp < 10 M⊕) in comparison with a conventional monotonic cadence strategy. For 20 M⊕ planets we found a 16% enhancement in the number of datapoints. We also tested KOBEsim with real data for a particular KOBE target and for the confirmed planet HD 102365 b. These two tests demonstrate that the strategy is capable of speeding up the detection by up to a factor of 2 (i.e., reducing both the time span and number of observations by half).14 página

Professional activities of parents of High School students applicants to Health Sciences Courses

Modelo do estudo: Estudo baseado em coleta de informações por meio de Questionário Estruturado. Objetivo do estudo: Verificar indicadores da situação econômica e cultural das famílias de alunos do segundo grau que pleiteiam o ingresso em cursos destinados a formar profissionais da saúde. Metodologia: Questionários auto-administrados foram respondidos por 256 estudantes do segundo grau, visitantes de Feira das Profissões da USP (FPUSP-interior). Esses questionários continham perguntas relativas ao tipo de escola que frequentavam e as atividades laborais de seus genitores. Os 108 estudantes de Escolas Públicas constituíram o Grupo 1 e os 148 alunos de Escolas Particulares formaram o Grupo 2. Resultados: A atividade profissional paterna mais frequente no Grupo 1 foi a de “Técnico Manual”(42,15%) e no Grupo 2 a de “Profissional de Nível Universitário” (24,11%). O maior grupo de mães do Grupo 1 foi composto por “Donas de Casa” (22,33%) seguido pelo das que exerciam “Outras Profissões Manuais”( 21,36%). No Grupo 2 a categoria mais frequente para as mães foi “Profissionais de Nível Universitário” (23,18%) seguida por “Professores e Diretores de Escolas” (19,56%). Cinco participantes do Grupo 1 e 27 do Grupo 2 eram filhos de Profissionais da Saúde. Conclusões: Apesar das diferenças das atividades laborais predominantes em cada um dos grupos estudados, os resultados confirmam que aspiração de se tornar um Profissional da Saúde independe da formação ou das profissões dos pais.Study design: Study based on collection of information by means of a Structured Questionnaire. Objective of the study: To determine indicators of the economic and cultural situation of the families of high school students who intend to enroll in courses for the formation of health professionals. Methodology: Self-report questionnaires were answered by 256 high school students who were visiting the Professions Fair of USP (FPUSP- inland). The questionnaires contained questions about the type of school the students frequented and the work activities of their parents. Group 1 consisted of 108 Public School students and Group 2 consisted of 148 Private School students. Results: The most frequent paternal professional activity was “Manual Technician” (42.15%) for Group 1 and “University Level Professional” (24.11%) for Group 2 . The largest group of mothers in Group 1 consisted of “Housewives” (22.33%), followed by the group of mothers who had “Other Manual Professions” (21.36%). In Group 2, the most frequent category for the mothers was “University Level Professional” (23.18%), followed by “Teachers and Directors of Schools” (19.56%). Five participants in Group 1 and 27 in Group 2 were children of Health Professionals. Conclusions: Despite the differences in the work activities predominating in each group studied, the results confirm the ambition to become a Health Professional regardless of the training or profession of the parent