International audienc

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The GAUDI 1 database (Ground-based Asteroseismology Uniform Database Interface) is a preparatory archive for the COROT 2 (COnvection, ROtation and planetary Transits) mission developed at LAEFF 3 (Laboratory for Space Astrophysics and Theoretical Physics). Its intention is to make the ground-based observations obtained in

Solar UV-C photons do not reach Earth’s surface, but are known to be endowed with germicidal properties that are also effective on viruses. The effect of softer UV-B and UV-A photons, which copiously reach the Earth’s surface, on viruses are instead little studied, particularly on single-stranded RNA viruses. Here we combine our measurements of the action spectrum of Covid-19 in response to UV light, Solar irradiation measurements on Earth during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemics, worldwide recorded Covid-19 mortality data and our “Solar-Pump” diffusive model of epidemics to show that (a) UV-B/A photons have a powerful virucidal effect on the single-stranded RNA virus Covid-19 and that (b) the Solar radiation that reaches temperate regions of the Earth at noon during summers, is sufficient to inactivate 63% of virions in open-space concentrations (1.5 × 103 TCID50/mL, higher than typical aerosol) in less than 2 min. We conclude that the characteristic seasonality imprint displayed world-wide by the SARS-Cov-2 mortality time-series throughout the diffusion of the outbreak (with temperate regions showing clear seasonal trends and equatorial regions suffering, on average, a systematically lower mortality), might have been efficiently set by the different intensity of UV-B/A Solar radiation hitting different Earth’s locations at different times of the year. Our results suggest that Solar UV-B/A play an important role in planning strategies of confinement of the epidemics, which should be worked out and set up during spring/summer months and fully implemented during low-solar-irradiation periods.

Abstract. The frequency-period distribution and other properties of Cepheids in IC 1613 are discussed and compared with those of stars in our Galaxy (Milky Way), LMC, SMC, M 31 and M 33. Taking into account the observational limitations and related incompleteness, it is concluded that the frequency-period distribution of Cepheids in IC 1613 is similar to that of SMC; we suspect that a much larger number of stars exist in IC 1613 with a period of less than 2 d that have not yet been detected. A discussion of the deficiency of fundamental mode Cepheids with periods in the range 8-10 d in the Milky Way, M 31 and M 33 is reported. The present data are not sufficient to verify if this is produced by a real bimodal frequency-period distribution or whether depends on the lack of pulsating stars in such a period range due to pulsational stability reasons. Some arguments are presented in favor of a bimodal distribution that is a function of the average metallicity. The Milky Way, M 31 and M 33 have the two maxima located at the same periods, about 5 and 13 d, respectively. A comment on very long period Cepheids is also given.