103 research outputs found
Filamentous ascomycete genomes provide insights into Copia retrotransposon diversity in fungi
Dark matter annihilation and decay profiles for the Reticulum II dwarf spheroidal galaxy
The dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSph) of the Milky Way are among the most
attractive targets for indirect searches of dark matter. In this work, we
reconstruct the dark matter annihilation (J-factor) and decay profiles for the
newly discovered dSph Reticulum II. Using an optimized spherical Jeans analysis
of kinematic data obtained from the Michigan/Magellan Fiber System (M2FS), we
find Reticulum II's J-factor to be among the largest of any Milky Way dSph. We
have checked the robustness of this result against several ingredients of the
analysis. Unless it suffers from tidal disruption or significant inflation of
its velocity dispersion from binary stars, Reticulum II may provide a unique
window on dark matter particle properties.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Match the ApJL accepted versio
Phase field approach to optimal packing problems and related Cheeger clusters
In a fixed domain of we study the asymptotic behaviour of optimal
clusters associated to -Cheeger constants and natural energies like the
sum or maximum: we prove that, as the parameter converges to the
"critical" value , optimal Cheeger clusters
converge to solutions of different packing problems for balls, depending on the
energy under consideration. As well, we propose an efficient phase field
approach based on a multiphase Gamma convergence result of Modica-Mortola type,
in order to compute -Cheeger constants, optimal clusters and, as a
consequence of the asymptotic result, optimal packings. Numerical experiments
are carried over in two and three space dimensions
Unraveling the evolutionary scenario of the hobo element in populations of Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans in South America using the TPE repeats as markers
Magellan/M2FS Spectroscopy of Tucana 2 and Grus 1
We present results from spectroscopic observations with the Michigan/Magellan
Fiber System (M2FS) of stellar targets along the line of sight to the
newly-discovered `ultrafaint' stellar systems Tucana 2 (Tuc 2) and Grus 1 (Gru
1). Based on simultaneous estimates of line-of-sight velocity and
stellar-atmospheric parameters, we identify 8 and 7 stars as probable members
of Tuc 2 and and Gru 1, respectively. Our sample for Tuc 2 is sufficient to
resolve an internal velocity dispersion of km s
about a mean of km s (solar rest frame), and to
estimate a mean metallicity of [Fe/H]= . These results
place Tuc 2 on chemodynamical scaling relations followed by dwarf galaxies,
suggesting a dominant dark matter component with dynamical mass
enclosed within the central
pc, and dynamical mass-to-light ratio
. For Gru 1 we estimate a mean velocity of
km s and a mean metallicity of
[Fe/H]=, but our sample does not resolve Gru 1's
velocity dispersion. The radial coordinates of Tuc 2 and Gru 1 in Galactic
phase space suggest that their orbits are among the most energetic within
distance kpc. Moreover, their proximity to each other in this space
arises naturally if both objects are trailing the Large Magellanic Cloud.Comment: replaced with ApJ-accepted version, all spectra and data products
(including samples from posterior PDFs) are available at
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/mgwalker/tuc2gru1_dataproducts.tar.g
Eukaryote DIRS1-like retrotransposons: an overview
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>DIRS1-like elements compose one superfamily of tyrosine recombinase-encoding retrotransposons. They have been previously reported in only a few diverse eukaryote species, describing a patchy distribution, and little is known about their origin and dynamics. Recently, we have shown that these retrotransposons are common among decapods, which calls into question the distribution of DIRS1-like retrotransposons among eukaryotes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To determine the distribution of DIRS1-like retrotransposons, we developed a new computational tool, ReDoSt, which allows us to identify well-conserved DIRS1-like elements. By screening 274 completely sequenced genomes, we identified more than 4000 DIRS1-like copies distributed among 30 diverse species which can be clustered into roughly 300 families. While the diversity in most species appears restricted to a low copy number, a few bursts of transposition are strongly suggested in certain species, such as <it>Danio rerio </it>and <it>Saccoglossus kowalevskii</it>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this study, we report 14 new species and 8 new higher taxa that were not previously known to harbor DIRS1-like retrotransposons. Now reported in 61 species, these elements appear widely distributed among eukaryotes, even if they remain undetected in streptophytes and mammals. Especially in unikonts, a broad range of taxa from Cnidaria to Sauropsida harbors such elements. Both the distribution and the similarities between the DIRS1-like element phylogeny and conventional phylogenies of the host species suggest that DIRS1-like retrotransposons emerged early during the radiation of eukaryotes.</p
Precision Measurement of the Boron to Carbon Flux Ratio in Cosmic Rays from 1.9 GV to 2.6 TV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station
Knowledge of the rigidity dependence of the boron to carbon flux ratio (B/C) is important in understanding the propagation of cosmic rays. The precise measurement of the B/C ratio from 1.9 GV to 2.6 TV, based on 2.3 million boron and 8.3 million carbon nuclei collected by AMS during the first 5 years of operation, is presented. The detailed variation with rigidity of the B/C spectral index is reported for the first time. The B/C ratio does not show any significant structures in contrast to many cosmic ray models that require such structures at high rigidities. Remarkably, above 65 GV, the B/C ratio is well described by a single power law R[superscript Δ] with index Δ=-0.333±0.014(fit)±0.005(syst), in good agreement with the Kolmogorov theory of turbulence which predicts Δ=-1/3 asymptotically.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grants 1455202 and 1551980)Wyle Research (Firm) (Grant 2014/T72497)United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship Grant HELIO15F-0005
Electron and positron fluxes in primary cosmic rays measured with the alpha magnetic spectrometer on the international space station
Precision measurements by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station of the primary cosmic-ray electron flux in the range 0.5 to 700 GeV and the positron flux in the range 0.5 to 500 GeV are presented. The electron flux and the positron flux each require a description beyond a single power-law spectrum. Both the electron flux and the positron flux change their behavior at ∼30GeV but the fluxes are significantly different in their magnitude and energy dependence. Between 20 and 200 GeV the positron spectral index is significantly harder than the electron spectral index. The determination of the differing behavior of the spectral indices versus energy is a new observation and provides important information on the origins of cosmic-ray electrons and positrons.</p
High statistics measurement of the positron fraction in primary cosmic rays of 0.5-500 GeV with the alpha magnetic spectrometer on the international space station
A precision measurement by AMS of the positron fraction in primary cosmic rays in the energy range from 0.5 to 500 GeV based on 10.9 million positron and electron events is presented. This measurement extends the energy range of our previous observation and increases its precision. The new results show, for the first time, that above ∼200GeV the positron fraction no longer exhibits an increase with energy.</p
Antiproton Flux, Antiproton-to-Proton Flux Ratio, and Properties of Elementary Particle Fluxes in Primary Cosmic Rays Measured with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station
International audienceA precision measurement by AMS of the antiproton flux and the antiproton-to-proton flux ratio inprimary cosmic rays in the absolute rigidity range from 1 to 450 GV is presented based on 3.49 × 105antiproton events and 2.42 × 109 proton events. The fluxes and flux ratios of charged elementary particlesin cosmic rays are also presented. In the absolute rigidity range ∼60 to ∼500 GV, the antiproton ¯p, protonp, and positron eþ fluxes are found to have nearly identical rigidity dependence and the electron e− fluxexhibits a different rigidity dependence. Below 60 GV, the ( ¯ p=p), ( ¯ p=eþ), and (p=eþ) flux ratios eachreaches a maximum. From ∼60 to ∼500 GV, the ( ¯ p=p), ( ¯ p=eþ), and (p=eþ) flux ratios show no rigiditydependence. These are new observations of the properties of elementary particles in the cosmos
- …