An accurate description of the center-to-limb variation (CLV) of stellar spectra is becoming an increasingly critical factor in both stellar and exoplanet characterization. In particular, the CLV of spectral lines is extremely challenging as its characterization requires highly detailed knowledge of the stellar physical conditions. To this end, we present the Numerical Empirical Sun-as-a-Star Integrator (NESSI) as a tool for translating high-resolution solar observations of a partial field of view into disk-integrated spectra that can be used to test common assumptions in stellar physics.

Strenuous physical activity, sleep deprivation and psychological stress are common features of military field training. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementation with a synbiotic ice cream on salivary IgA, gastrointestinal symptoms, well-being indicators and gut microbiota in young military participants undergoing field training. Sixty-five military completed the study: one group was supplemented for 30 d with synbiotic ice cream containing: 2·1 × 108 CFU/g for Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and 2·7 × 109 CFU/g for Bifidobacterium animalis BB-12 and 2·3 g of inulin in the 60 g of ice cream at manufacture, and the other with a placebo ice cream. Volunteers were evaluated at pre-supplementation (baseline), post-supplementation and after a 5-d military training. Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus genera were measured in stool samples and both showed a higher differential abundance post-supplementation and training. Salivary IgA and gastrointestinal symptoms decreased at post-training in both groups (P < 0·05; main effect of time); however, supplementation with synbiotic did not mitigate this effect. Tenseness and sleepiness were decreased in the synbiotic-treated group, but not in the placebo group at post-military training (P = 0·01 and 0·009, respectively; group × time effect). The other well-being indicators were not affected by the synbiotic supplementation. In conclusion, 30 d of synbiotic ice cream supplementation containing inulin, L. acidophilus LA-5 and B. animalis BB-12 favourably modulated gut microbiota and improved tenseness and sleepiness in healthy young military undergoing a 5-d field training. These improvements may be relevant to this population as they may influence the decision-making process in an environment of high physical and psychological stress.

A new species, Oocephalus pubescens A.Soares & Harley, from Chapada dos Veadeiros, Goiás, Brazil, is described and illustrated. The characteristics that distinguish it from a similar taxon, Oocephalus foliosus, are listed, and comments on its distribution and an occurrence map are provided.

This is the first report on the development and characterization of eight monoclonal antibodies (MABs) generated against whole- and membrane-enriched tachyzoite extracts of the apicomplexan parasite Besnoitia besnoiti. Confocal laser scanning immunofluorescence microscopy was used to localize respective epitopes in B. besnoiti tachyzoites along the lytic cycle. A pattern compatible with dense granule staining was observed with MABs 2.A.12, 2.F.3 and 2.G.4, which could be confirmed by immunogold electron microscopy for MABs 2.A.12 and 2.F.3. In particular, MABs 2.F.3 and 2.G.4 were secreted during early invasion, proliferation and egress phases. MABs 3.10.8 and 5.5.11 labelled the tachyzoite surface, whilst MABs 1.17.8, 8.9.2 and 2.G.A recognized the apical tip, which is reminiscent for microneme localization. Besides, the epitopes recognized by the latter two (MABs 8.9.2 and 2.G.A) exhibited a redistribution from the anterior part across the parasite surface towards the posterior end during invasion. Most MABs developed were genus-specific. Indeed, the MABs cross-reacted neither with T. gondii nor with N. caninum tachyzoites. In summary, we have generated MABs that will be useful to study the key processes in the lytic cycle of the parasite and with additional promising diagnostic value. However, the molecular identity of the antigens recognized remains to be elucidated.

A new generation of solar instruments provides improved spectral, spatial, and temporal resolution, thus facilitating a better understanding of dynamic processes on the Sun. High-resolution observations often reveal multiple-component spectral line profiles, e.g., in the near-infrared He i 10830 Å triplet, which provides information about the chromospheric velocity and magnetic fine structure. We observed an emerging flux region, including two small pores and an arch filament system, on 2015 April 17 with the ‘very fast spectroscopic mode’ of the GREGOR Infrared Spectrograph (GRIS) situated at the 1.5-meter GREGOR solar telescope at Observatorio del Teide, Tenerife, Spain. We discuss this method of obtaining fast (one per minute) spectral scans of the solar surface and its potential to follow dynamic processes on the Sun. We demonstrate the performance of the ‘very fast spectroscopic mode’ by tracking chromospheric high-velocity features in the arch filament system.

The objective of the current study was to determine whether exposure to an artificial long-day photoperiod increases milk production in subtropical goats maintained under extensive grazing conditions, with or without the presence of a nutritional supplement. Forty-four lactating goats were exposed to a natural photoperiod (11 h light) with nutritional supplementation (NDS; natural day supplemented group; n=11) or without nutritional supplementation (NDN; natural day non-supplemented group; n=11) or to an artificial long-day photoperiod (16 h light) with nutritional supplementation (LDS; long-day supplemented group; n=11) or without nutritional supplementation (LDN; long-day non-supplemented group; n=11). Daily nutritional supplementation consisted of a mixture of 300 g rolled maize and 200 g soya bean per animal. During the suckling phase, milk yield was assessed at 10 and 20 days lactation and thereafter every 10 days up to 110 days lactation from day 40 of lactation. Plasma insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) concentration was determined at 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 days of lactation. Mean milk yield was greater in goats from the LDN group than the NDN group. The difference in mean milk yield was greater when goats received a nutritional supplement. With nutritional supplementation, the plasma IGF-I concentrations were greater in goats exposed to long days than in those maintained under natural photoperiod. However, IGF-I concentrations were lower with long days when goats were not supplemented. In conclusion, exposure to an artificial long-day photoperiod increases milk yield in subtropical lactating goats maintained under extensive grazing conditions, and this increased milk production is more pronounced with a nutritional supplement. Furthermore, depending on nutritional status, exposure to artificial long days increases plasma IGF-I concentration in lactating goats.

A large outbreak of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection occurred in 2004 in Campania, a region of southern Italy, with 882 cases reported between 1 January and 1 August. The local public health authorities and the Italian National Institute of Health carried out investigations in order to characterize the agent, identify the source of infection and the route of transmission, and implement appropriate control measures. A web-based reporting system enhanced the flow of information between public health authorities, providing real-time epidemic curves and frequency distributions. The same 1B HAV genotype was found in 90% of sera from a subset of patients with acute disease, suggesting a local common source. A case-control study in the municipality with the highest attack rate showed that raw seafood consumption, in particular if illegally sold in water, was strongly associated with HAV illness. Samples of seafood systematically collected from retailers were found contaminated by HAV.

The magnetism of CoRh nanoparticles (NPs) is investigated experimentally and theoretically. NPs of about 2 nm diameter have been synthesized by decomposition of organometallic precursors in mild conditions of pressure and temperature, under hydrogen atmosphere and in the presence of a polymer matrix. The magnetic properties are determined by SQUID and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism. All the studied CoRh clusters are magnetic with an average spin moment per atom that is significantly larger than the one of macroscopic crystals or alloys with similar concentrations. The experimental results and the comparison with theory suggest that the most likely chemical arrangement is a Rh core with a Co-rich outer shell and some degree of intermixing at the CoRh interface. A detailed analysis of the theoretical results from a local perspective shows that the spin and orbital moments of the Co and Rh atoms at the interface are largely responsible for the enhancement of the magnetization.

In this paper we show that the usual behaviour of forward bias C-V-f measurements performed on p-i-n structure, Modifies at the lowest test frequencies when the measurement is performed at high temperature (120°C), or if the cell under test is at a certain stage of the degradation process. We relate the effect to the relaxation of charged defects toward dangling bonds in the i-layer of a p-i-n structure. In capacitance measurements under forward bias, the applied sinusoidal test voltage periodically changes the density of injected charge and the defect occupancy in the intrinsic layer. We show that this effect may Modulate the tendency of defects to relax to lower energy configuration. Relaxation changes the time scale of the subsequent thermal emission of the trapped charge; this reflects on the measured capacitance which drops at low frequency. We also demonstrate the possibility to obtain the relaxation parameters from the frequency dependence of the measured capacitance.

We give a simple proof, using only classical algebraic topology, of the following theorem of B. H. Li and F. P. Peterson. Any map from an N-manifold into a (2N − 1)-manifold is homotopic to an immersion.