Search for gravitational-lensing signatures in the full third observing run of the LIGO-Virgo network

Gravitational lensing by massive objects along the line of sight to the source causes distortions of gravitational wave-signals; such distortions may reveal information about fundamental physics, cosmology and astrophysics. In this work, we have extended the search for lensing signatures to all binary black hole events from the third observing run of the LIGO--Virgo network. We search for repeated signals from strong lensing by 1) performing targeted searches for subthreshold signals, 2) calculating the degree of overlap amongst the intrinsic parameters and sky location of pairs of signals, 3) comparing the similarities of the spectrograms amongst pairs of signals, and 4) performing dual-signal Bayesian analysis that takes into account selection effects and astrophysical knowledge. We also search for distortions to the gravitational waveform caused by 1) frequency-independent phase shifts in strongly lensed images, and 2) frequency-dependent modulation of the amplitude and phase due to point masses. None of these searches yields significant evidence for lensing. Finally, we use the non-detection of gravitational-wave lensing to constrain the lensing rate based on the latest merger-rate estimates and the fraction of dark matter composed of compact objects

Search for eccentric black hole coalescences during the third observing run of LIGO and Virgo

Despite the growing number of confident binary black hole coalescences observed through gravitational waves so far, the astrophysical origin of these binaries remains uncertain. Orbital eccentricity is one of the clearest tracers of binary formation channels. Identifying binary eccentricity, however, remains challenging due to the limited availability of gravitational waveforms that include effects of eccentricity. Here, we present observational results for a waveform-independent search sensitive to eccentric black hole coalescences, covering the third observing run (O3) of the LIGO and Virgo detectors. We identified no new high-significance candidates beyond those that were already identified with searches focusing on quasi-circular binaries. We determine the sensitivity of our search to high-mass (total mass M>70 M⊙) binaries covering eccentricities up to 0.3 at 15 Hz orbital frequency, and use this to compare model predictions to search results. Assuming all detections are indeed quasi-circular, for our fiducial population model, we place an upper limit for the merger rate density of high-mass binaries with eccentricities 0<e≤0.3 at 0.33 Gpc−3 yr−1 at 90\% confidence level

Ultralight vector dark matter search using data from the KAGRA O3GK run

Among the various candidates for dark matter (DM), ultralight vector DM can be probed by laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors through the measurement of oscillating length changes in the arm cavities. In this context, KAGRA has a unique feature due to differing compositions of its mirrors, enhancing the signal of vector DM in the length change in the auxiliary channels. Here we present the result of a search for U(1)B−L gauge boson DM using the KAGRA data from auxiliary length channels during the first joint observation run together with GEO600. By applying our search pipeline, which takes into account the stochastic nature of ultralight DM, upper bounds on the coupling strength between the U(1)B−L gauge boson and ordinary matter are obtained for a range of DM masses. While our constraints are less stringent than those derived from previous experiments, this study demonstrates the applicability of our method to the lower-mass vector DM search, which is made difficult in this measurement by the short observation time compared to the auto-correlation time scale of DM

Schizophrenia-associated somatic copy-number variants from 12,834 cases reveal recurrent NRXN1 and ABCB11 disruptions

While germline copy-number variants (CNVs) contribute to schizophrenia (SCZ) risk, the contribution of somatic CNVs (sCNVs)—present in some but not all cells—remains unknown. We identified sCNVs using blood-derived genotype arrays from 12,834 SCZ cases and 11,648 controls, filtering sCNVs at loci recurrently mutated in clonal blood disorders. Likely early-developmental sCNVs were more common in cases (0.91%) than controls (0.51%, p = 2.68e−4), with recurrent somatic deletions of exons 1–5 of the NRXN1 gene in five SCZ cases. Hi-C maps revealed ectopic, allele-specific loops forming between a potential cryptic promoter and non-coding cis-regulatory elements upon 5′ deletions in NRXN1. We also observed recurrent intragenic deletions of ABCB11, encoding a transporter implicated in anti-psychotic response, in five treatment-resistant SCZ cases and showed that ABCB11 is specifically enriched in neurons forming mesocortical and mesolimbic dopaminergic projections. Our results indicate potential roles of sCNVs in SCZ risk

Data from: Phased whole-genome genetic risk in a family quartet using a major allele reference sequence

Whole-genome sequencing harbors unprecedented potential for characterization of individual and family genetic variation. Here, we develop a novel synthetic human reference sequence that is ethnically concordant and use it for the analysis of genomes from a nuclear family with history of familial thrombophilia. We demonstrate that the use of the major allele reference sequence results in improved genotype accuracy for disease-associated variant loci. We infer recombination sites to the lowest median resolution demonstrated to date (<1,000 base pairs). We use family inheritance state analysis to control sequencing error and inform family-wide haplotype phasing, allowing quantification of genome-wide compound heterozygosity. We develop a sequence-based methodology for Human Leukocyte Antigen typing that contributes to disease risk prediction. Finally, we advance methods for analysis of disease and pharmacogenomic risk across the coding and non-coding genome that incorporate phased variant data. We show these methods are capable of identifying multigenic risk for inherited thrombophilia and informing the appropriate pharmacological therapy. These ethnicity-specific, family-based approaches to interpretation of genetic variation are emblematic of the next generation of genetic risk assessment using whole-genome sequencing

Reformas educativas, formación y subjetividades de los profesores

No contexto das reformas educativas iniciadas em Portugal nos anos de 1980, a formação contínua de professores teve forte incremento, associado a financiamentos avultados da União Européia e a uma lógica de oferta e procura induzida por um enquadramento legal que estabeleceu uma ligação entre a formação e a progressão na carreira. Neste artigo, defende-se que esse incremento não teve equivalente na transformação das concepções e práticas de formação, gerando até lógicas contrárias aos princípios participativos e emancipatórios da educação de adultos. A formação desenvolveu-se predominantemente à imagem do modelo formal e académico da escolarização e com influências de políticas de racionalização das reformas educativas. Nas primeiras secções do artigo, abordam-se essas lógicas, salientando-se seus efeitos nas subjectividades dos professores. Em seguida, abordam-se concepções alternativas, considerando a formação contínua numa perspectiva de educação de adultos e pressupondo, assim, outro tipo de relação dos professores com a formação.In the context of the educational reforms initiated in Portugal in the 1980s, the in-service training of teachers experienced a significant increase, associated both with strong financial backing from the European Union and a logic of supply and demand induced by a legal framework which established a link between training and career progression. This article defends the position that this increase found no equivalence in the transformation of conceptions and practices of training, and even generated an opposing logic to the participatory and emancipatory principles of adult education. Teacher training has predominantly developed as a reflection of the formal and academic model of schooling and influenced by policies of rationalization of educational reforms. In the first sections of this article, the effects of these logics on teacher subjectivities are analysed. Later, alternative conceptions of training are dealt with, considering in-service teacher training in a perspective of adult education and presupposing, in this way, a different relationship between teachers and training.En el contexto de las reformas educativas iniciadas en Portugal en los años de 1980, la formación continua de profesores tuvo un fuerte incremento, asociado a financiamientos de gran porte de la Unión Europea y a una lógica de oferta y procura inducida por un encuadramiento legal que estableció una unión entre la formación y la progresión en la carrera. En este artículo, se defiende que ese incremento no tuvo equivalente en la transformación de las concepciones y prácticas de formación, generando lógicas hasta contrarias a los principios participativos y de emancipación de la educación de adultos. La formación se desarrolló predominantemente a la imagen del modelo formal y académico de la escolarización y con influencias de políticas de racionalización de las reformas educativas. En las primeras secciones del artículo, se abordan esas lógicas, acentuándose sus defectos en las subjetividades de los profesores. En seguida, se abordan concepciones alternativas, considerando la formación continua en una perspectiva de educación de adultos y previendo, así, otro tipo de relación de los profesores con la formación.(undefined)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

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