Self-organization of composite model catalysts : vanadium and nickel oxides on Rh(111)

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Distinct Genomic Features Characterize Two Clades of <i>Corynebacterium diphtheriae</i>: Proposal of <i>Corynebacterium diphtheriae</i> Subsp. <i>diphtheriae</i> Subsp. nov. and <i>Corynebacterium diphtheriae</i> Subsp. <i>lausannense</i> Subsp. nov.

&lt;i&gt;Corynebacterium diphtheriae&lt;/i&gt; is the etiological agent of diphtheria, a disease caused by the presence of the diphtheria toxin. However, an increasing number of records report non-toxigenic &lt;i&gt;C. diphtheriae&lt;/i&gt; infections. Here, a &lt;i&gt;C. diphtheriae&lt;/i&gt; strain was recovered from a patient with a past history of bronchiectasis who developed a severe tracheo-bronchitis with multiple whitish lesions of the distal trachea and the mainstem bronchi. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS), performed in parallel with PCR targeting the toxin gene and the Elek test, provided clinically relevant results in a short turnaround time, showing that the isolate was non-toxigenic. A comparative genomic analysis of the new strain (CHUV2995) with 56 other publicly available genomes of &lt;i&gt;C. diphtheriae&lt;/i&gt; revealed that the strains CHUV2995, CCUG 5865 and CMCNS703 share a lower average nucleotide identity (ANI) (95.24 to 95.39%) with the &lt;i&gt;C. diphtheriae&lt;/i&gt; NCTC 11397 &lt;sup&gt;T&lt;/sup&gt; reference genome than all other &lt;i&gt;C. diphtheriae&lt;/i&gt; genomes (&gt;98.15%). Core genome phylogeny confirmed the presence of two monophyletic clades. Based on these findings, we propose here two new &lt;i&gt;C. diphtheriae&lt;/i&gt; subspecies to replace the lineage denomination used in previous multilocus sequence typing studies: &lt;i&gt;C. diphtheriae&lt;/i&gt; subsp. &lt;i&gt;lausannense&lt;/i&gt; subsp. nov. (instead of lineage-2), regrouping strains CHUV2995, CCUG 5865, and CMCNS703, and &lt;i&gt;C. diphtheriae&lt;/i&gt; subsp. &lt;i&gt;diphtheriae&lt;/i&gt; subsp. nov, regrouping all other &lt;i&gt;C. diphtheriae&lt;/i&gt; in the dataset (instead of lineage-1). Interestingly, members of subspecies &lt;i&gt;lausannense&lt;/i&gt; displayed a larger genome size than subspecies &lt;i&gt;diphtheriae&lt;/i&gt; and were enriched in COG categories related to transport and metabolism of lipids (I) and inorganic ion (P). Conversely, they lacked all genes involved in the synthesis of pili (SpaA-type, SpaD-type and SpaH-type), molybdenum cofactor and of the nitrate reductase. Finally, the CHUV2995 genome is particularly enriched in mobility genes and harbors several prophages. The genome encodes a type II-C CRISPR-Cas locus with 2 spacers that lacks &lt;i&gt;csn2&lt;/i&gt; or &lt;i&gt;cas4&lt;/i&gt; , which could hamper the acquisition of new spacers and render strain CHUV2995 more susceptible to bacteriophage infections and gene acquisition through various mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer

Traveling interface modulations in the NH₃ + O₂ reaction on a Rh(110) surface

A new type of traveling interface modulation has been observed in the NH₃ + O₂ reaction on a Rh(110) surface. A model is set up which reproduces the effect, which is attributed to diffusional mixing of two spatially separated adsorbates causing an excitability which is strictly localized to the vicinity of the interface of the adsorbate domains.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasInstituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicada

Traveling interface modulations and anisotropic front propagation in ammonia oxidation over Rh(110)

The bistable NH3 + O2 reaction over a Rh(110) surface was explored in the pressure range 10−6 -10−3 mbar and in the temperature range 300-900 K using photoemission electron microscopy and low energy electron microscopy as spatially resolving methods. We observed a history dependent anisotropy in front propagation, traveling interface modulations, transitions with secondary reaction fronts, and stationary island structures.Fil: Rafti, Matias. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico la Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentina. Leibniz-Universität Hannover; AlemaniaFil: Borkenhagen, Benjamin. Technische Universität Clausthal; AlemaniaFil: Lilenkamp, Gerhard. Technische Universität Clausthal; AlemaniaFil: Lovis, Florian. Leibniz-Universität Hannover; AlemaniaFil: Smolinsky, Tim. Leibniz-Universität Hannover; AlemaniaFil: Imbihl, Roland. Leibniz-Universität Hannover; Alemani

Traveling interface modulations and anisotropic front propagation in ammonia oxidation over Rh(110)

The bistable NH3 + O2 reaction over a Rh(110) surface was explored in the pressure range 10−6–10−3 mbar and in the temperature range 300–900 K using photoemission electron microscopy and low energy electron microscopy as spatially resolving methods. We observed a history dependent anisotropy in front propagation, traveling interface modulations, transitions with secondary reaction fronts, and stationary island structures.Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicada

Rossiter-McLaughlin Observations of 55 Cnc e

We present Rossiter-McLaughlin observations of the transiting super-Earth 55 Cnc e collected during six transit events between January 2012 and November 2013 with HARPS and HARPS-N. We detect no radial-velocity signal above 35 cm/s (3-sigma) and confine the stellar v sin i to 0.2 +/- 0.5 km/s. The star appears to be a very slow rotator, producing a very low amplitude Rossiter-McLaughlin effect. Given such a low amplitude, the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect of 55 Cnc e is undetected in our data, and any spin-orbit angle of the system remains possible. We also performed Doppler tomography and reach a similar conclusion. Our results offer a glimpse of the capacity of future instrumentation to study low amplitude Rossiter-McLaughlin effects produced by super-Earths.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

Rotational and Rotational-Vibrational Raman Spectroscopy of Air to Characterize Astronomical Spectrographs

Raman scattering enables unforeseen uses for the laser guide-star system of the Very Large Telescope. Here, we present the observation of one up-link sodium laser beam acquired with the ESPRESSO spectrograph at a resolution λ /Δ λ ˜140 000 . In 900 s on source, we detect the pure rotational Raman lines of 16O2, 14N2, and 14N 15N (tentatively) up to rotational quantum numbers J of 27, 24, and 9, respectively. We detect the 16O2 fine-structure lines induced by the interaction of the electronic spin S and end-over-end rotational angular momentum N in the electronic ground state of this molecule up to N =9 . The same spectrum also reveals the ν1 ←0 rotational-vibrational Q-branch for 16O2 and 14N2 14. These observations demonstrate the potential of using laser guide-star systems as accurate calibration sources for characterizing new astronomical spectrographs

Ground-breaking Exoplanet Science with the ANDES spectrograph at the ELT

In the past decade the study of exoplanet atmospheres at high-spectral resolution, via transmission/emission spectroscopy and cross-correlation techniques for atomic/molecular mapping, has become a powerful and consolidated methodology. The current limitation is the signal-to-noise ratio during a planetary transit. This limitation will be overcome by ANDES, an optical and near-infrared high-resolution spectrograph for the ELT. ANDES will be a powerful transformational instrument for exoplanet science. It will enable the study of giant planet atmospheres, allowing not only an exquisite determination of atmospheric composition, but also the study of isotopic compositions, dynamics and weather patterns, mapping the planetary atmospheres and probing atmospheric formation and evolution models. The unprecedented angular resolution of ANDES, will also allow us to explore the initial conditions in which planets form in proto-planetary disks. The main science case of ANDES, however, is the study of small, rocky exoplanet atmospheres, including the potential for biomarker detections, and the ability to reach this science case is driving its instrumental design. Here we discuss our simulations and the observing strategies to achieve this specific science goal. Since ANDES will be operational at the same time as NASA's JWST and ESA's ARIEL missions, it will provide enormous synergies in the characterization of planetary atmospheres at high and low spectral resolution. Moreover, ANDES will be able to probe for the first time the atmospheres of several giant and small planets in reflected light. In particular, we show how ANDES will be able to unlock the reflected light atmospheric signal of a golden sample of nearby non-transiting habitable zone earth-sized planets within a few tenths of nights, a scientific objective that no other currently approved astronomical facility will be able to reach.Comment: 66 pages (103 with references) 20 figures. Submitted to Experimental Astronom

A pair of TESS planets spanning the radius valley around the nearby mid-M dwarf LTT 3780

We present the confirmation of two new planets transiting the nearby mid-M dwarf LTT 3780 (TIC 36724087, TOI-732, $V=13.07$, $K_s=8.204$, $R_s$=0.374 R$_{\odot}$, $M_s$=0.401 M$_{\odot}$, d=22 pc). The two planet candidates are identified in a single TESS sector and are validated with reconnaissance spectroscopy, ground-based photometric follow-up, and high-resolution imaging. With measured orbital periods of $P_b=0.77$ days, $P_c=12.25$ days and sizes $r_{p,b}=1.33\pm 0.07$ R$_{\oplus}$, $r_{p,c}=2.30\pm 0.16$ R$_{\oplus}$, the two planets span the radius valley in period-radius space around low mass stars thus making the system a laboratory to test competing theories of the emergence of the radius valley in that stellar mass regime. By combining 63 precise radial-velocity measurements from HARPS and HARPS-N, we measure planet masses of $m_{p,b}=2.62^{+0.48}_{-0.46}$ M$_{\oplus}$ and $m_{p,c}=8.6^{+1.6}_{-1.3}$ M$_{\oplus}$, which indicates that LTT 3780b has a bulk composition consistent with being Earth-like, while LTT 3780c likely hosts an extended H/He envelope. We show that the recovered planetary masses are consistent with predictions from both photoevaporation and from core-powered mass loss models. The brightness and small size of LTT 3780, along with the measured planetary parameters, render LTT 3780b and c as accessible targets for atmospheric characterization of planets within the same planetary system and spanning the radius valley.Comment: Accepted to AJ. 8 figures, 6 tables. CSV file of the RV measurements (i.e. Table 2) are included in the source cod

Nightside condensation of iron in an ultra-hot giant exoplanet

Ultra-hot giant exoplanets receive thousands of times Earth's insolation. Their high-temperature atmospheres (>2,000 K) are ideal laboratories for studying extreme planetary climates and chemistry. Daysides are predicted to be cloud-free, dominated by atomic species and substantially hotter than nightsides. Atoms are expected to recombine into molecules over the nightside, resulting in different day-night chemistry. While metallic elements and a large temperature contrast have been observed, no chemical gradient has been measured across the surface of such an exoplanet. Different atmospheric chemistry between the day-to-night ("evening") and night-to-day ("morning") terminators could, however, be revealed as an asymmetric absorption signature during transit. Here, we report the detection of an asymmetric atmospheric signature in the ultra-hot exoplanet WASP-76b. We spectrally and temporally resolve this signature thanks to the combination of high-dispersion spectroscopy with a large photon-collecting area. The absorption signal, attributed to neutral iron, is blueshifted by -11+/-0.7 km s-1 on the trailing limb, which can be explained by a combination of planetary rotation and wind blowing from the hot dayside. In contrast, no signal arises from the nightside close to the morning terminator, showing that atomic iron is not absorbing starlight there. Iron must thus condense during its journey across the nightside.Comment: Published in Nature (Accepted on 24 January 2020.) 33 pages, 11 figures, 3 table