Solar type II radio bursts associated with CME expansions as shown by EUV waves

We investigate the physical conditions of the sources of two metric Type-II bursts associated with CME expansions with the aim of verifying the relationship between the shocks and the CMEs, comparing the heights of the radio sources and the heights of the EUV waves associated with the CMEs. The heights of the EUV waves associated with the events were determined in relation to the wave fronts. The heights of the shocks were estimated by applying two different density models to the frequencies of the Type-II emissions and compared with the heights of the EUV waves. For the 13 June 2010 event, with band-splitting, the shock speed was estimated from the frequency drifts of the upper and lower branches of the harmonic lane, taking into account the H/F frequency ratio fH/fF = 2. Exponential fits on the intensity maxima of the branches revealed to be more consistent with the morphology of the spectrum of this event. For the 6 June 2012 event, with no band-splitting and with a clear fundamental lane on the spectrum, the shock speed was estimated directly from the frequency drift of the fundamental emission, determined by linear fit on the intensity maxima of the lane. For each event, the most appropriate density model was adopted to estimate the physical parameters of the radio source. The 13 June 2010 event presented a shock speed of 664-719 km/s, consistent with the average speed of the EUV wave fronts of 609 km/s. The 6 June 2012 event was related to a shock of speed of 211-461 km/s, also consistent with the average speed of the EUV wave fronts of 418 km/s. For both events, the heights of the EUV wave revealed to be compatible with the heights of the radio source, assuming a radial propagation of the shock.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Scotin, a novel p53-inducible proapoptotic protein located in the ER and the nuclear membrane

p53 is a transcription factor that induces growth arrest or apoptosis in response to cellular stress. To identify new p53-inducible proapoptotic genes, we compared, by differential display, the expression of genes in spleen or thymus of normal and p53 nullizygote mice after γ-irradiation of whole animals. We report the identification and characterization of human and mouse Scotin homologues, a novel gene directly transactivated by p53. The Scotin protein is localized to the ER and the nuclear membrane. Scotin can induce apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner. Inhibition of endogenous Scotin expression increases resistance to p53-dependent apoptosis induced by DNA damage, suggesting that Scotin plays a role in p53-dependent apoptosis. The discovery of Scotin brings to light a role of the ER in p53-dependent apoptosis

Spectroscopy of Stardust from 200nm to 16µM (with a gap in the middle)

UV/Vis and IR spectroscopy are complementary, non-destructive techniques that can be used to identify the presence of a range of organic and inorganic, hydrated and anhydrous minerals within micron-sized grains. We look forward to applying these techniques to the Stardust materials

Aspectos citológicos e bioquímicos da interação entre Mycosphaerella fijiensis e Musa sp.

A bananeira é cultivada em todas as regiões tropicais do mundo, sendo a banana a fruta de maior produção e comercialização mundial. Entretanto, a cultura da banana enfrenta o ataque de diversos patógenos que contribuem para redução de sua produtividade, notadamente a sigatoka negra, causada pelo fungo Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet, estádio anamórfico Paracercospora fijiensis (Morelet) Deighton. Apresentando ampla distribuição geográfica, a sigatoka negra causa a morte precoce das folhas infectadas sendo responsável por perdas superiores a 50% da produção. Para se defenderem de doenças e pragas, as plantas estão equipadas com as defesas constitutivas, naturalmente presentes na planta, funcionando como barreiras físicas, tais como a cutícula e os tricomas, e barreiras químicas, incluindo os inibidores de proteases, fenóis, PR-Proteínas e enzimas do estresse oxidativo, e as defesas induzidas. Este trabalho relata as avaliações citológicas e bioquímicas decorrentes da interação entre o fungo M. fijiensis e Musa sp., demonstrando os índices de germinação e penetração de esporos e os níveis de atividades de enzimas ligadas ao mecanismo de defesa da bananeira

Stellar population gradients in Seyfert 2 galaxies. Northern sample

We use high signal-to-noise ratio long-slit spectra in the 3600-4700A range of the twenty brightest northern Seyfert 2 galaxies to study the variation of the stellar population properties as a function of distance from the nucleus. In order to characterize the stellar population and other continuum sources (e.g. featureless continuum FC) we have measured equivalent widths Ws of six absorption features, four continuum colours and their radial variations, and performed spectral population synthesis as a function of distance from the nucleus. About half the sample has CaIIK and G-band W values smaller at the nucleus than at 1 kpc from it, due to a younger population and/or FC. The stellar population synthesis shows that, while at the nucleus, 75% of the galaxies present contribution > 20% of ages younger or equal than 100Myr and/or of a FC, this proportion decreases to 45% at 3 kpc. In particular, 55% of the galaxies have contribution > 10% of the 3 Myr/FC component (a degenerate component in which one cannot separate what is due to a FC or to a 3 Myr stellar population) at the nucleus, but only 25% of them have this contribution at 3 kpc. As reference, the stellar population of 10 non-Seyfert galaxies, spanning the Hubble types of the Seyfert (from S0 to Sc) was also studied. A comparison between the stellar population of the Seyferts and that of the non-Seyferts shows systematic differences: the contribution of ages younger than 1 Gyr is in most cases larger in the Seyfert galaxies than in non-Seyferts, not only at the nucleus but up to 1 kpc from it.Comment: 23 pages, 18 figures, MNRAS in pres

A localização espacial e geográfica de alunos de ensino médio : uma investigação envolvendo o ensino de Astronomia

Trata-se de um estudo com enfoque na orientação espacial e geográfica de alunos de Ensino Médio de uma escola pública brasileira, tomando por base uma atividade didática que envolveu elementos astronômicos. Basicamente, tal atividade tomou como eixo central a marcação da trajetória do Sol, a partir da escola, e estabeleceu relações entre tal trajetória, os lados cardeais e sua localização num mapa do município. A partir de duas entrevistas, que ocorreram no início e no final do trabalho, identificamos as principais formas de se orientar que os alunos empregam, e analisamos a viabilidade de um trabalho desta natureza na construção, pelos alunos, de um sistema de referência mais próximo ao real