bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metagenome-enabled models improve genomic predictive ability and identification of herbivory-limiting genes in sweetpotato
Authors: Cham Alhagie K , Adams Alison K , Wadl Phillip A , Ojeda-Zacarías Ma del Carmen , Rutter William B , Jackson D Michael , Shoemaker D Dewayne , Yencho G Craig , Olukolu Bode A
Published: May 2024

Plant–insect interactions are often influenced by host- or insect-associated metagenomic community members. The relative abundance of insects and the microbes that modulate their interactions were obtained from sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) leaf-associated metagenomes using quantitative reduced representation sequencing and strain/species-level profiling with the Qmatey software. Positive correlations were found between whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and its endosymbionts (Candidatus Hamiltonella defensa, Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum, and Rickettsia spp.) and negative correlations with nitrogen-fixing bacteria that implicate nitric oxide in sweetpotato–whitefly interaction. Genome-wide associations using 252 975 dosage-based markers, and metagenomes as a covariate to reduce false positive rates, implicated ethylene and cell wall modification in sweetpotato–whitefly interaction. The predictive abilities (PA) for whitefly and Ocypus olens abundance were high in both populations (68%–69% and 33.3%–35.8%, respectively) and 69.9% for Frankliniella occidentalis. The metagBLUP (gBLUP) prediction model, which fits the background metagenome-based Cao dissimilarity matrix instead of the marker-based relationship matrix (G-matrix), revealed moderate PA (35.3%–49.1%) except for O. olens (3%–10.1%). A significant gain in PA after modeling the metagenome as a covariate (gGBLUP, ≤11%) confirms quantification accuracy and that the metagenome modulates phenotypic expression and might account for the missing heritability problem. Significant gains in PA were also revealed after fitting allele dosage (≤17.4%) and dominance effects (≤4.6%). Pseudo-diploidized genotype data underperformed for dominance models. Including segregation-distorted loci (SDL) increased PA by 6%–17.1%, suggesting that traits associated with fitness cost might benefit from the inclusion of SDL. Our findings confirm the holobiont theory of host–metagenome co-evolution and underscore its potential for breeding within the context of G × G × E interactions.
Error analysis for local discontinuous Galerkin semidiscretization of Richards’ equation
Authors: Congreve Scott , Dolejší Vít , Sakić Sunčica
Published: May 2024

This paper concerns an error analysis of the space semidiscrete scheme for the Richards’ equation modeling flows in variably saturated porous media. This nonlinear parabolic partial differential equation can degenerate; namely, we consider the case where the time derivative term can vanish, i.e., the fast-diffusion type of degeneracy. We discretize the Richards’ equation by the local discontinuous Galerkin method, which provides high order accuracy and preserves stability. Due to the nonlinearity of the problem, special techniques for numerical analysis of the scheme are required. In particular, we combine two partial error bounds using continuous mathematical induction and derive a priori error estimates with respect to the spatial discretization parameter and the Hölder coefficient of the nonlinear temporal derivative. Finally, the theoretical results are supported by numerical experiments, including cases beyond the assumptions of the theoretical results.
Insights From Omics in Lyme Disease
Authors: Bockenstedt Linda K , Belperron Alexia A
Published: May 2024

Lyme disease is a zoonotic infection due to Ixodes tick–transmitted Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato spirochetes and the most common vector-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere. Despite nearly 50 years of investigation, the pathogenesis of this infection and its 2 main adverse outcomes—postinfectious Lyme arthritis and posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome—are incompletely understood. Advancement in sequencing and mass spectrometry have led to the rapid expansion of high-throughput omics technologies, including transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics, which are now being applied to human diseases. This review summarizes findings of omics studies conducted on blood and tissue samples of people with acute Lyme disease and its postinfectious outcomes.
Why Incorporate the ECHR? The Domestic Incentives of Human Rights Commitment
Authors: Schaffer Johan Karlsson
Published: May 2024

Why do consolidated democracies incorporate international human rights law (IHRL) treaties into national law? Existing research suggests contrastive accounts of the participation of democracies in IHRL regimes. While overall more likely to ratify, consolidated democracies are sometimes reluctant to accept demanding human rights commitments and less likely than both newly democratic and authoritarian regimes to incorporate international law in their constitutions. To theorize why established democracies commit to IHRL, this paper provides a comparative process tracing of the decisions to incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) into national law in Denmark and Sweden in the early 1990s. Why did these solid democracies with an exceptional commitment to human rights wait over 40 years to give domestic effect to a treaty they had helped create? Assessing rival theories of state commitment to human rights norms, the findings suggest that contextual developments in European law provided an opportunity for domestic political elites to seek insurance by incorporating the ECHR to place constraints on executive power. The argument qualifies claims about material strategizing or socialization to European norms as the primary drivers of incorporation.
Differentiation of Polygonatum Cyrtonema Hua from Different Geographical Origins by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy with Chemometrics
Authors: Hao Jing-Wen , Fan Xuan-Xuan , Li Yi-Na , Chen Nai-Dong , Ma Yun-Feng
Published: May 2024

Background

The identification of the geographical origin of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua is of particular importance because the quality and market value of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua from different production areas are highly variable due to differences in the growing environment and climatic conditions.

Objective

This study utilized near-infrared spectra (NIR) of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua (n = 400) to develop qualitative models for effective differentiation of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua from various regions.

Methods

The models were produced under different conditions to distinguish the origins distinctly. Ten preprocessing methods have been used to preprocess the original spectra (OS) and to select the most optimal spectral preprocessing method. Principal component analysis (PCA), partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to determine appropriate models. For simplicity, the pretreated full spectrum was calculated by different wavelength selection methods, and the four most significant variables were selected as discriminant indicator variables.

Results

The results show that Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua from different regions can be effectively distinguished using spectra from a series of samples analyzed by OPLS-DA. The accuracy of the OPLS-DA model is also satisfactory, with a good differentiation rate.

Conclusion

The study findings indicate the feasibility of using spectroscopy in combination with multivariate analysis to identify the geographical origins of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua.

Highlights

The utilization of NIR spectroscopy combined with chemometrics exhibits high efficacy in discerning the provenance of herbal medicines and foods, thereby facilitating QA measures.
Molecular mechanisms of mechanosensing and plasticity of tendons and ligaments
Authors: Matsushima Takahide , Hiroshi Asahara
Published: May 2024

Tendons and ligaments, crucial components of the musculoskeletal system, connect muscles to bones. In the realm of sports, tendons and ligaments are vulnerable tissues, with injuries such as Achilles tendon rupture and anterior cruciate ligament tears directly impacting an athlete’s career. Furthermore, repetitive trauma and tissue degeneration can lead to conditions like secondary osteoarthritis, ultimately affecting the overall quality of life. Recent research highlights the pivotal role of mechanical stress in maintaining homeostasis within tendons and ligaments. This review delves into the latest insights on the structure of tendons and ligaments and the plasticity of tendon tissue in response to mechanical loads.
The externalities of immigration policies on migration flows: the case of an asylum policy
Authors: Guichard Lucas , Machado Joël
Published: May 2024

We analyze the externalities arising from a bilateral asylum policy—the list of safe origin countries—relying on a tractable model. Using self-collected monthly data, we estimate that including one origin country on the safe list of a given destination decreases asylum applications from that origin to that destination by 29 per cent. We use a counterfactual policy simulation to quantify the spillover effects occurring across origin and destination countries. Individuals from targeted origin countries move to alternative destinations. Individuals from untargeted origins divert from alternative destinations. The magnitude of the externalities depends on the size of the affected flows.
3D high-resolution radon transform based on a strong sparseLp–1norm and its applications
Authors: Shi Wei , Wang Weihong , Shi Ying , Chen Siyuan , Li Zhiwei , Wang Ning
Published: May 2024

Multiple reflections are among the most challenging noises to suppress in seismic data, as they differ from effective waves only in terms of apparent velocity. Also, radon transform, an essential technique for attenuating multiple reflections, has been widely incorporated into various commercial software packages. Thus, this study introduces a 3D radon transform method based on the ${L_{p - 1}}$ norm to enhance sparsity-constraining capability in the transform domain, leveraging high-resolution radon transform techniques. Specifically, an iteratively reweighted least-squares algorithm is employed to obtain the transformed data in the radon domain. Given that the ${L_{p - 1}}$ norm was first applied to the Radon transform in seismic data processing methods, this paper theoretically demonstrates its powerful sparsity-constraining capability. Indeed, the proposed strategy enhances energy concentration in the radon transform domain, better separating primaries from multiples, and ultimately suppressing the multiples. Both model tests and real data indicate that the 3D radon transform constrained by the ${L_{p - 1}}$ norm outperforms existing high-resolution radon transform methods with sparsity constraints regarding energy concentration and effectiveness in multiple reflection attenuation.
Optimized expression of Peptidyl-prolyl cis/transisomerase cyclophilinB with prokaryotic toxicity from Sporothrix globosa
Authors: Hu Ling , Deng Baicheng , Wu Rong , Zhan Miaorong , Hu Xuchu , Huang Huaiqiu
Published: May 2024

Cyclophilin B (CypB), a significant member of immunophilins family with peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) activity, is crucial for the growth and metabolism of prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Sporothrix globosa (S. globosa), a principal pathogen in the Sporothrix complex, causes sporotrichosis. Transcriptomic analysis identified the cypB gene as highly expressed in S. globosa. Our previous study demonstrated that the recombinant Escherichia coli strain containing SgcypB gene failed to produce sufficient product when it was induced to express the protein, implying the potential toxicity of recombinant protein to the bacterial host. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that SgCypB contains transmembrane peptides within the 52 amino acid residues at the N-terminus and 21 amino acids near the C-terminus, and 18 amino acid residues within the cytoplasm. AlphaFold2 predicted a SgCypB 3D structure in which there is an independent PPIase domain consisting of a spherical extracellular part. Hence, we chose to express the extracellular domain to yield high-level recombinant protein with PPIase activity. Finally, we successfully produced high-yield, truncated recombinant CypB protein from S. globosa (SgtrCypB) that retained characteristic PPIase activity without host bacterium toxicity. This study presents an alternative expression strategy for proteins toxic to prokaryotes, such as SgCypB.

One-Sentence Summary

The recombinant cyclophilin B protein of Sporothrix globosa was expressed successfully by retaining extracellular domain with peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase activity to avoid toxicity to the host bacterium.
Assessing responses to heat in a range-shifting, nocturnal, flying squirrel
Authors: Hensley Vanessa R , Tan Ek Han , Gagne Emily , Levesque Danielle L
Published: May 2024

Over the last few decades North American flying squirrels (Glaucomys spp.) have experienced dramatic northward range shifts. Previous studies have focused on the potential effects of warming winter temperatures, yet the hypothesis that rising summer temperature had a role in these range shifts remained unexplored. We therefore sought to determine the effect of high environmental temperatures on the thermoregulation and energetics of flying squirrels in an area of the Northeast of North America with a recent species turnover. Unable to find a logistically feasible population of the northern species (Glaucomys sabrinus), we focused on Southern Flying Squirrels (G. volans). Using flow-through respirometry, we measured the relationship between metabolic rate, evaporative water loss, and body temperature at high ambient temperatures. We also measured core body temperature in free-ranging flying squirrels using temperature-sensitive data loggers. We detected no significant increase in metabolic rate up to ambient temperatures as high as 40 °C. However, evaporative water loss increased at temperatures above 36.2 °C. Free-ranging body temperature of flying squirrels followed a circadian pattern with a ~2 °C difference between active and resting phase modal body temperatures. Rest-phase body temperatures were influenced by environmental temperatures with higher resting temperatures observed on days with higher daily maximum ambient temperatures but not to an extent that energy or water costs were significantly increased during rest. We found that, due to a relatively high level of thermal tolerance, high ambient temperatures are unlikely to cause an energetic strain on Southern Flying Squirrels. However, these findings do not preclude negative impacts of high ambient temperatures on the northern species, and these may still play a role in the changing distributions of Glaucomys in North America.
Unmet needs in people with high-grade glioma: defining criteria for stepped care intervention
Authors: Faris Mona M , Dhillon Haryana M , Campbell Rachel , Halkett Georgia K B , Miller Annie , Chan Raymond J , Haydon Helen M , Sansom-Daly Ursula M , Koh Eng-Siew , Ownsworth Tamara , Nowak Anna K , Kelly Brian , Leonard Robyn , Pike Kerryn E , Legge Dianne M , Pinkham Mark B , Agar Meera R ,   BRAINS Program Group, Dhillon Haryana , Shaw Joanne , Agar Meera , Blackler Thea , Chan Raymond , Halkett Georgia , Haydon Helen , Legge Dianne , Leonard Robyn , Kelly Brian , Koh Eng-Siew , Nowak Anna , Ownsworth Tamara , Pike Kerryn , Rankin Nicole , Sansom-Daly Ursula , Rhee Joel , Miller Annie , Milley Kristi , Faris Mona , Campbell Rachel , Jeon Megan , Lion Katarzyna , Banks Hannah , Carlick Thomas , Chen Jill , Fazon Tiffany , Lyne Melinda , Virtue-Griffiths Sian , Vitangcol Kathryn , Buster Jessica , McDougall Emma , Shaw Joanne
Published: May 2024

Background

We aimed to define levels of unmet supportive care needs in people with primary brain tumor and to reach expert consensus on feasibility of addressing patients’ needs in clinical practice.

Methods

We conducted secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of people diagnosed with high-grade glioma (n = 116) who completed the Supportive Care Needs Survey-Short Form during adjuvant chemoradiation therapy. Participants were allocated to 1 of 3 categories: no need (“no need” for help on all items), low need (“low need” for help on at least 1 item, but no “moderate” or “high” need), or moderate/high need (at least 1 “moderate” or “high” need indicated). Clinical capacity to respond to the proportion of patients needing to be prioritized was assessed.

Results

Overall, 13% (n = 5) were categorized as no need, 23% (n = 27) low need, and 64% (n = 74) moderate/high need. At least 1 moderate/high need was reported in the physical and daily living domain (42%) and the psychological (34%) domain. In recognition of health system capacity, the moderate/high need category was modified to distinguish between moderate need (“moderate” need indicated for at least 1 item but “high” need was not selected for any item) and high need (at least 1 “high” need indicated). Results revealed 24% (n = 28) moderate need and 40% (n = 46) high need. Those categorized as high need indicated needing assistance navigating the health system and information.

Conclusions

Using four step allocations resulted in 40% of patients indicating high need. Categories may facilitate appropriate triaging and guide stepped models of healthcare delivery.
Ebb and flow of network participation: flexibility, stability, and forms of flux in a purpose-oriented network
Authors: Lemaire Robin H , McKeague Lauren K , Sedgwick Donna
Published: May 2024

The flexibility/stability tension is a key challenge for purpose-oriented networks, especially salient with network participation. Because of the voluntary nature of networks, it is common for network participation to fluctuate, with participants entering, leaving, and returning over time for a variety of reasons. This fluctuation may challenge the stability that is key to network effectiveness. Yet, despite the salience of this tension, we know little about managing the ebb and flow of network participation. Driven by phenomenon-based theorizing, we draw on longitudinal participatory action research to examine participant attendance and contribution in monthly workgroup meetings over a four-year period of an early child education network. Combining interviews (n = 5), meeting attendance tracking (n = 37), and meeting observations (n = 30), we identify six types of flux stemming from individual, organizational, and system forces. We find these forces of flux support both flexibility and stability. Highlighting the duality of flexibility and stability, we explain how flexibility at one level may result in stability at another and vice versa. Our findings contribute to a greater understanding of how stability and flexibility are both valuable for networks and thus, the need to embrace the ebb and flow of participation.
Pharmacological potential of 4-dimethylamino chalcone against acute and neuropathic pain in mice
Authors: Marchon Isabela Souza dos Santos , Melo Evelynn Dalila do Nascimento , Botinhão Mirella da Costa , Pires Greice Nascimento , Reis João Vitor Rocha , de Souza Rodrigo Octavio Mendonça Alves , Leal Ivana Correa Ramos , Bonavita André Gustavo Calvano , Mendonça Henrique Rocha , Muzitano Michelle Frazão , da Silva Leandro Louback , do Carmo Paula Lima , Raimundo Juliana Montani
Published: May 2024

Objectives

This work investigated the acute antinociceptive effect of a synthetic chalcone, 4-dimethylamino chalcone (DMAC), as well as its effects on vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN) in mice.

Methods

The inhibitory activity of myeloperoxidase was assessed by measuring HOCl formation. Formalin and hot plate tests were used to study the acute antinociceptive effect of DMAC. VIPN was induced through the administration of vincristine sulphate (0.1 mg/kg, i.p., 14 days). Then, DMSO, DMAC (10 or 30 mg/kg; i.p.), or pregabalin (10 mg/kg, i.p.) were administered for 14 consecutive days. Thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia were evaluated before and after VIPN induction and on days 1, 3, 7, and 14 of treatment. Neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation were assessed through immunohistochemistry for NF200, iNOS, and arginase-1 within the sciatic nerve.

Key findings

DMAC inhibited myeloperoxidase activity in vitro and presented an acute antinociceptive effect in both formalin and hot plate tests, with the involvement of muscarinic and opioid receptors. Treatment with 30 mg/kg of DMAC significantly attenuated thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia and prevented macrophage proinflammatory polarisation in VIPN mice.

Conclusions

Our results show that DMAC, acting through different mechanisms, effectively attenuates VIPN.
Identification of the mechanistic basis of nitrogen responsiveness in two contrasting Setaria italica accessions
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Tirthankar , Maurya Jyoti , Bentley Alison R , Griffiths Howard , Swarbreck Stéphanie M , Prasad Manoj
Published: May 2024

Nitrogen (N) is a macronutrient limiting crop productivity with varied requirements across species and genotypes. Understanding the mechanistic basis of N responsiveness by comparing contrasting genotypes could inform the development and selection of varieties with lower N demands, or inform agronomic practices to sustain yields with lower N inputs. Given the established role of millets in ensuring climate-resilient food and nutrition security, we investigated the physiological and genetic basis of nitrogen responsiveness in foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.). We had previously identified genotypic variants linked to N responsiveness, and here we dissect the mechanistic basis of the trait by examining the physiological and molecular behaviour of N responsive (NRp-SI58) and non-responsive (NNRp-SI114) accessions at high and low N. Under high N, NRp-SI58 allocates significantly more biomass to nodes, internodes and roots, more N to developing grains, and is more effective at remobilizing flag leaf N compared with NNRp-SI114. Post-anthesis flag leaf gene expression suggests that differences in N induce much higher transcript abundance in NNRp-SI114 than NRp-SI58, a large proportion of which is potentially regulated by APETALA2 (AP2) transcription factors. Overall, the study provides novel insights into the regulation and manipulation of N responsiveness in S. italica.
The mitochondrial orf117Sha gene desynchronizes pollen development and causes pollen abortion in Arabidopsis Sha cytoplasmic male sterility
Authors: Dehaene Noémie , Boussardon Clément , Andrey Philippe , Charif Delphine , Brandt Dennis , Gilouppe Taillefer Clémence , Nietzel Thomas , Ricou Anthony , Simon Matthieu , Tran Joseph , Vezon Daniel , Camilleri Christine , Arimura Shin-ichi , Schwarzländer Markus , Budar Françoise
Published: May 2024

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is of major agronomical relevance in hybrid breeding. In gametophytic CMS, abortion of pollen is determined by the grain genotype, while in sporophytic CMS, it is determined by the mother plant genotype. While several CMS mechanisms have been dissected at the molecular level, gametophytic CMS has not been straightforwardly accessible. We used the gametophytic Sha-CMS in Arabidopsis to characterize the cause and process of pollen abortion by implementing in vivo biosensing in single pollen and mitoTALEN mutagenesis. We obtained conclusive evidence that orf117Sha is the CMS-causing gene, despite distinct characteristics from other CMS genes. We measured the in vivo cytosolic ATP content in single pollen, followed pollen development, and analyzed pollen mitochondrial volume in two genotypes that differed only by the presence of the orf117Sha locus. Our results showed that the Sha-CMS is not triggered by ATP deficiency. Instead, we observed desynchronization of a pollen developmental program. Pollen death occurred independently in pollen grains at diverse stages and was preceded by mitochondrial swelling. We conclude that pollen death is grain-autonomous in Sha-CMS and propose that mitochondrial permeability transition, which was previously described as a hallmark of developmental and environmental-triggered cell death programs, precedes pollen death in Sha-CMS.
Prevalence and genetic diversity of azole-resistant Malassezia pachydermatis isolates from canine otitis and dermatitis: A 2-year study
Authors: Álvarez-Pérez Sergio , Quevedo-Caraballo Sergio , García Marta E , Blanco José L
Published: May 2024

Despite previous reports on the emergence of Malassezia pachydermatis strains with decreased susceptibility to azoles, there is limited information on the actual prevalence and genetic diversity of azole-resistant isolates of this yeast species. We assessed the prevalence of azole resistance in M. pachydermatis isolates from cases of dog otitis or skin disease attended in a veterinary teaching hospital during a 2-year period and analyzed the ERG11 (encoding a lanosterol 14-α demethylase, the primary target of azoles) and whole genome sequence diversity of a group of isolates that displayed reduced azole susceptibility. Susceptibility testing of 89 M. pachydermatis isolates from 54 clinical episodes (1-6 isolates/episode) revealed low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) to most azoles and other antifungals, but 11 isolates from six different episodes (i.e., 12.4% of isolates and 11.1% of episodes) had decreased susceptibility to multiple azoles (fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, ravuconazole, and/or voriconazole). ERG11 sequencing of these 11 azole-resistant isolates identified eight DNA sequence profiles, most of which contained amino acid substitutions also found in some azole-susceptible isolates. Analysis of whole genome sequencing (WGS) results revealed that the azole-resistant isolates from the same episode of otitis, or even different episodes affecting the same animal, were more genetically related to each other than to isolates from other dogs. In conclusion, our results confirmed the remarkable ERG11 sequence variability in M. pachydermatis isolates of animal origin observed in previous studies and demonstrated the value of WGS for disentangling the epidemiology of this yeast species.
The binding energy distribution of H2S: why it is not the major sulphur reservoir of the interstellar ices
Authors: Bariosco Vittorio , Pantaleone Stefano , Ceccarelli Cecilia , Rimola Albert , Balucani Nadia , Corno Marta , Ugliengo Piero
Published: May 2024

Despite hydrogen sulphide (H2S) has been predicted to be the major reservoir of S-bearing species on the icy mantles of interstellar grains, no solid H2S has been detected so far. A crucial parameter that governs whether or not a species remains frozen on to the grain mantles is its binding energy (BE). We present a new computational study of the H2S BE on a large amorphous water ice surface, constituted by 200 water molecules. The resulting H2S BE distribution ranges from 57 K (0.5 kJ mol−1) to 2406 K (20.0 kJ mol−1), with the average μ = 984 K (8.2 kJ mol−1). We discuss the reasons why the low bound of the newly computed BE distribution, which testifies to the very weak interaction of H2S with the ice surface, has never been found by previous theoretical or experimental works before. In addition, the low H2S BEs may also explain why frozen H2S is not detected in interstellar ices. Following previous molecular dynamics studies that show that the energy of reactions occurring on ice surfaces is quickly absorbed by the water molecules of the ice and conservatively assuming that 10 per cent of the HS + H → H2S formation energy (−369.5 kJ mol−1) is left to the newly formed H2S, its energy is more than twice the largest BE and five times the average BE and, hence, H2S will most likely leave the water surface.
General multipoles and their implications for dark matter inference
Authors: Cohen Jacob S , Fassnacht Christopher D , O’Riordan Conor M , Vegetti Simona
Published: May 2024

The flux ratios of strongly lensed quasars have previously been used to infer the properties of dark matter. In these analyses, it is crucial to separate the effect of the main lensing galaxy and the low-mass dark matter halo population. In this work, we investigate flux-ratio perturbations resulting from general third- and fourth-order multipole perturbations to the main lensing galaxy’s mass profile. We simulate four lens systems, each with a different lensing configuration, without multipoles. The simulated flux ratios are perturbed by 10–40 per cent by a population of low-mass haloes consistent with cold dark matter and, in one case, also a satellite galaxy. This level of perturbation is comparable to the magnitude of flux-ratio anomalies in real data that has been previously analysed. We then attempt to fit the simulated systems using multipoles instead of low-mass haloes. We find that multipoles with amplitudes of 0.01 or less can produce flux-ratio perturbations in excess of 40 per cent. In all cases, third- or fourth-order multipoles can individually reduce the magnitude of, if not eliminate, flux-ratio anomalies. When both multipole orders are jointly included, all simulated flux ratios can be fit to within the observational uncertainty. Our results indicate that low-mass haloes and multipoles are highly degenerate when modelling quadruply imaged quasars based just on image positions and flux ratios. In the presence of this degeneracy, flux-ratio anomalies in lensed quasars alone cannot be used to place strong constraints on the properties of dark matter without additional information that can inform our priors.
Prospects for the observation of continuous gravitational waves from deformed fast-spinning white dwarfs
Authors: Sousa Manoel F , Otoniel Edson , Coelho Jaziel G , de Araujo José C N
Published: May 2024

There has been a growing interest within the astrophysics community in highly magnetized and fast-spinning white dwarfs (WDs), commonly referred to as HMWDs. WDs with these characteristics are quite uncommon and possess magnetic fields ≥106 G, along with short rotation periods ranging from seconds to just a few minutes. Based on our previous work, we analyse the emission of Gravitational Waves (GWs) in HMWDs through two mechanisms: matter accretion and magnetic deformation, which arise due to the asymmetry surrounding the star’s rotational axis. Here, we perform a thorough self-consistent analysis, accounting for rotation and employing a realistic equation of state to investigate the stability of stars. Our investigation focuses on the emission of gravitational radiation from six rapidly spinning WDs: five of them are situated within binary systems, while one is an AXP, proposed as a magnetic accreting WD. Furthermore, we apply the matter accretion mechanism alongside the magnetic deformation mechanism to assess the influence of one process on the other. Our discoveries indicate that these WDs could potentially act as GW sources for BBO and DECIGO, depending on specific parameters, such as their mass, the angle (α) between the magnetic and rotational axes, and the accumulated mass (δm) at their magnetic poles, which is influenced by the effect of matter accretion. However, detecting this particular class of stars using the LISA and TianQin space detectors seems unlikely due to the challenging combination of parameters such as a large δm, a large α angle and a small WD mass value.
A dusty rain falls on the nova V959 Monocerotis
Authors: Evans A , Banerjee D P K , Varricatt W P , Joshi V
Published: May 2024

We present archival and ground-based infrared observations of the γ-ray-emitting nova V959 Mon, covering the period 100–4205 d after the 2012 eruption. We use these data to determine that the secondary in the nova system is a G5 main sequence star. Data from the NEOWISE survey reveal a significant increase in the emission at 3.4 and 4.6 $\, \mu$m at late (≳600 d) times, which we interpret as emission by dust. Other interpretations are considered but cannot be reconciled with the data. The presence of such late dust emission, and in particular its variation with time, are unprecedented in the context of novae. The behaviour of the dust emission suggests a qualitative interpretation in which ejecta from the 2012 eruption encounter denser pre-eruption circumbinary material, giving rise to Rayleigh–Taylor instabilities that cause clumps of dust-bearing material to fall back towards the central binary, the dust undergoing destruction by chemisputtering as it does so. The observed rise in the dust temperature, the decline in the nova-dust distance, and in the dust mass are consistent with this interpretation. Not all novae are expected to show this behaviour, but inspection of resources such as NEOWISE might reveal other novae post-eruption that do.
Three-body binary formation in clusters: analytical theory
Authors: Ginat Yonadav Barry , Perets Hagai B
Published: May 2024

Binary formation in clusters through triple encounters between three unbound stars, ‘three-body’ binary formation, is one of the main dynamical formation processes of binary systems in dense environments. In this paper, we use an analytical probabilistic approach to study the process for the equal mass case and calculate a probability distribution for the orbital parameters of three-body-formed binaries, as well as their formation rate. For the first time, we give closed-form analytical expressions to the full orbital parameter distribution, accounting for both energy and angular momentum conservation. This calculation relies on the sensitive dependence of the outcomes of three-body scatterings on the initial conditions: here we compute the rate of three-body binaries from ergodic interactions, which allow for an analytical derivation of the distribution of orbital parameters of the binaries thus created. We find that soft binaries are highly favoured in this process and that these binaries have a superthermal eccentricity distribution, while the few hard three-body binaries have an eccentricity distribution much closer to thermal. The analytical results predict and reproduce simulation results of three-body scattering experiments in the literature well.
The impact of nuclear reactions on the neutron-star g-mode spectrum
Authors: Counsell A R , Gittins F , Andersson N
Published: May 2024

Mature neutron stars are expected to exhibit gravity g modes due to stratification caused by a varying matter composition. These modes are affected by nuclear reactions, leading to complex (damped) mode frequencies and the suppression of high-order g modes. This is in contrast with the common non-dissipative analysis which leads to an infinite g-mode spectrum. Focusing on the transition between the fast- and slow-reaction regimes, we examine the precise impact of nuclear reactions on the g-mode spectrum. The general framework for the analysis is presented along with sample numerical results for a matter model based on the BSk21 equation of state with a suitable parametrization for the reaction rates.
X-ray signatures of galactic outflows into the circumgalactic medium
Authors: Jana Ranita , Sarkar Kartick C , Stern Jonathan , Sternberg Amiel
Published: May 2024

We present a set of controlled hydrodynamical simulations to study the effects of strong galactic outflows on the density and temperature structures, and associated X-ray signatures, of extra-planar and circumgalactic gas. We consider three initial state models, isothermal, isentropic, and rotating cooling-flow, for the hot circumgalactic medium (CGM) into which the outflows are driven. The energy sources are either stellar winds and supernovae, or active galactic nuclei. We consider energy injection rates in the range $10^{40} \lt \dot{E}_{\rm inj} \lt 10^{44.5}$ erg s−1, and compute the time-dependent soft X-ray (0.5–2 keV) surface brightness. For $\dot{E}_{\rm inj} \gtrsim 10^{41} {\small --} 10^{42}$ erg s−1, with the exact threshold depending on the initial CGM state, the X-ray response is dominated by dense hot gas in the forward shock that eventually fades into the CGM as a sound wave. The shock surrounds an inner hot bubble leading to a radial flattening of the X-ray surface brightness. For lower energy injection rates, the X-ray surface brightness of the initial CGM state is almost unaffected. We present analytical approximations for the outflow shock propagation and the associated X-ray emissions.
Did the Gaia Enceladus/Sausage merger form the Milky Way’s bar?
Authors: Merrow Alex , Grand Robert J J , Fragkoudi Francesca , Martig Marie
Published: May 2024

The Milky Way’s last significant merger, the Gaia Enceladus/Sausage (GES), is thought to have taken place between $8\hbox{ and }11\, \mathrm{Gyr}$ ago. Recent studies in the literature suggest that the bar of the Milky Way is rather old, indicating that it formed at a similar epoch to the GES merger. We investigate the possible link between these events using one of the Auriga cosmological simulations that has salient features in common with the Milky Way, including a last significant merger with kinematic signatures resembling that of the GES. In this simulation, the GES-like merger event triggers tidal forces on the disc, gas inflows, and a burst of star formation, with the formation of a bar occurring within $1\, \mathrm{Gyr}$ of the first pericentre. To highlight the effects of the merger, we rerun the simulation from z = 4 with the progenitors of the GES-like galaxy removed well before the merger time. The consequence is a delay in bar formation by around $2\, \mathrm{Gyr}$, and this new bar forms without any significant external perturbers. We conclude that this Milky Way-like simulation shows a route to the real Milky Way’s bar forming around the epoch of the GES merger due to tidal forces on its first pericentre. We explore all Auriga galaxies with GES-like merger events, and find that those with stellar mass ratios below $10{{\, \rm per\, cent}}$ form bars within $1\, \mathrm{Gyr}$ of the merger, while bar formation is delayed in the more massive merger scenarios. These include the four oldest bars in the simulation suite. Lastly, we note some later morphological differences between the disc of the original simulation and our rerun, in particular that the latter does not grow radially for the final $7\, \mathrm{Gyr}$. Our study suggests that the GES may therefore be responsible for the formation of the Milky Way’s bar, as well as for the build-up of its extended disc.
Multicolour photometry of LEO mega-constellations Starlink and OneWeb
Authors: Zhi Hui , Jiang Xiaojun , Wang Jianfeng
Published: May 2024

The development of low earth orbit (LEO) mega-constellation fundamentally threatens ground-based optical astronomical observations. To study the photometric properties of the LEO mega-constellations, we used the Xinglong 50 cm telescope to conduct a large-sample, high-precision, and multicolour target-tracking photometry of two typical LEO mega-constellations: Starlink and OneWeb. Over a three-month observation period starting on 2022 January 1, we collected 1447 light curves of 404 satellites in four typical versions: Starlink v1.0, DarkSat, VisorSat, Starlink v1.5, and OneWeb. According to data statistics, Starlink v1.0 has the smallest median magnitude at clear and Sloan Digital Sky Survey gri band, and OneWeb is the dimmest bus. The brightness of Starlink v1.5 is slightly brighter than VisorSat. We construct a detailed photometric model with solar phase angle variations by calculating the illumination-visibility geometry based on the orbital parameters. Our data analysis shows that the solar phase angle is the significant characteristic which influencing Starlink satellites’ brightness, but it is not sensitive to OneWeb satellites. VisorSat and Starlink v1.5 versions, which are equipped with deployable visors, have significantly reduced scattered light compared to the previous Starlink v1.0 version. The multiband LOWESS and colour index are analysed in characterizing the energy and colour features of LEO mega-constellation satellites. This work found that the proportion of scattered sunlight mitigation achieved with VisorSat and Starlink v1.5 was 55.1 and 40.4 per cent, respectively. The colour index of different buses shows an evident clustering feature. Our observation and analysis could provide valuable quantitative data and photometric models, which can contribute to assessing the impact of LEO mega-constellations on astronomical observations.
Astro-electrochemistry of NH3 clusters and ice: e− trapping, stability, and electron transfer
Authors: Fioroni Marco , Ramabhadran Raghunath O , DeYonker Nathan J
Published: May 2024

Quantifying electron trapping and transfer to small molecules is crucial for interfacial chemistry. In an astrochemical context, we study how NH3 clusters in both crystalline and amorphous forms can capture low-energy electrons to form ammoniated electrons. Electron affinities, vertical detachment energies, and vertical attachment energies were computed via ab initio static and dynamics simulations, (DFT, DLPNO-CCSD(T);AIMD), for (NH3)n clusters (n = 4, 5, 6, 8, 14, 23, and 38). Our results indicate that the clusters could trap and stabilize the unpaired electron which is always externally localized on the clusters. Interactions of the ammoniated electron clusters with astrochemically relevant molecules indicate that electron transfer to water and methanol are feasible, forming the radical anions (H2O)−· and (CH3OH)−·. The trapping of electrons by both crystalline and amorphous NH3 ices, and subsequent transfer to small molecules, highlights ‘astro-electrochemical’ reactions, and has implications for both astrochemistry as well as terrestrial cluster science.
The Merian survey: design, construction, and characterization of a filter set optimized to find dwarf galaxies and measure their dark matter halo properties with weak lensing
Authors: Luo Yifei , Leauthaud Alexie , Greene Jenny , Huang Song , Kado-Fong Erin , Danieli Shany , Li Ting S , Li Jiaxuan , Blanco Diana , Wasleske Erik J , Wick Joseph , Mintz Abby , Guan Runquan , Peter Annika H G , Baldassare Vivienne , Brooks Alyson , Banerjee Arka , Bhattacharyya Joy , Cai Zheng , Chen Xinjun , Gunn Jim , Johnson Sean D , Kelvin Lee S , Li Mingyu , Lin Xiaojing , Lupton Robert , Mace Charlie , Medina Gustavo E , Read Justin , Rosado Rodrigo Córdova , Seifert Allen
Published: May 2024

The Merian survey is mapping ∼ 850 deg2 of the Hyper Suprime-Cam Strategic Survey Program (HSC-SSP) wide layer with two medium-band filters on the 4-m Victor M. Blanco telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, with the goal of carrying the first high signal-to-noise (S/N) measurements of weak gravitational lensing around dwarf galaxies. This paper presents the design of the Merian filter set: N708 (λc = 7080 Å, Δλ = 275 Å) and N540 (λc = 5400 Å, Δλ = 210 Å). The central wavelengths and filter widths of N708 and N540 were designed to detect the $\rm H\alpha$ and $\rm [OIII]$ emission lines of galaxies in the mass range $8\lt \rm \log M_*/M_\odot \lt 9$ by comparing Merian fluxes with HSC broad-band fluxes. Our filter design takes into account the weak lensing S/N and photometric redshift performance. Our simulations predict that Merian will yield a sample of ∼ 85 000 star-forming dwarf galaxies with a photometric redshift accuracy of σΔz/(1 + z) ∼ 0.01 and an outlier fraction of $\eta =2.8~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ over the redshift range 0.058 < z < 0.10. With 60 full nights on the Blanco/Dark Energy Camera (DECam), the Merian survey is predicted to measure the average weak lensing profile around dwarf galaxies with lensing S/N ∼32 within r < 0.5 Mpc and lensing S/N ∼90 within r < 1.0 Mpc. This unprecedented sample of star-forming dwarf galaxies will allow for studies of the interplay between dark matter and stellar feedback and their roles in the evolution of dwarf galaxies.
In vivo effect of vaginal seminal plasma application on the human endometrial transcriptome: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Catalini Laura , Burton Mark , Egeberg Dorte L , Eskildsen Tilde V , Thomassen Mads , Fedder Jens
Published: May 2024

Studies in humans and animals suggest that seminal plasma, the acellular seminal fluid component, stimulates the endometrium to promote immune tolerance and facilitate implantation. We designed a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial to investigate changes in the endometrial transcriptomic profile after vaginal application of seminal plasma. The study participants were randomized into two groups. Five women received a vaginal application of seminal plasma, and four received a placebo application with saline solution. The application was performed 2 days after HCG-triggered ovulation in an unstimulated cycle. After 5–8 days, an endometrial biopsy was collected to analyze differences in the endometrial transcriptomic profile using microarray analyses. A differential gene expression analysis and a gene set analysis were performed. The gene set enrichment analysis showed a positive enrichment of pathways associated with the immune response, cell viability, proliferation, and cellular movement. Moreover, pathways involved in implantation, embryo development, oocyte maturation, and angiogenesis were positively enriched. The differential gene expression analysis, after adjusting for multiple testing, showed no significantly differentially expressed genes between the two groups. A comparative analysis was also performed with similar studies conducted in other animals or in vitro using human endometrial cells. The comparative analysis showed that the effect of seminal plasma effect on the endometrium is similar in pigs, mice, and in vitro human endometrial cells. The present study provides evidence that seminal plasma might impact the endometrium during the implantation window, with potential to affect endometrial receptivity and embryo development.
Highly biased sex ratios in the twelve species of the freshwater snail genus Semisulcospira in and around Lake Biwa
Authors: Hamazaki Kanta , Miura Osamu
Published: May 2024

The sex ratio is nearly equal in most organisms, while several ecological and evolutionary factors skew the sex ratio. We evaluated the sex ratios of 12 species in the freshwater snail genus Semisulcospira in and around Lake Biwa. We found highly female-biased sex ratios in all 12 species. The sex ratios were nearly equal or slightly female-biased in the smaller shell-size classes, while they were highly female-biased in the larger size classes. We also found that females were significantly larger in most of these species. Further, the species with a larger size difference between the sexes tended to exhibit a more female-biased sex ratio. Considering the general correlation between shell size and age, this pattern can be explained by longer lifespans in females, shaping the observed female-biased sex ratios. We also found that some Semisulcospira species showed female-biased sex ratios in all shell size classes. This pattern suggests that the distinct longevity hypothesis can not solely explain the observed biased sex ratios. We discussed the possible contributions of the sampling errors and selfish genetic elements to the observed biased sex ratios. This study provides essential information to disentangle the mechanisms of the biased sex ratio in the Semisulcospira snails.