OGLE-2019-BLG-0960 Lb: The Smallest Microlensing Planet

We report the analysis of OGLE-2019-BLG-0960, which contains the smallest mass-ratio microlensing planet found to date (q = 1.2-1.6 × 10-5 at 1s). Although there is substantial uncertainty in the satellite parallax measured by Spitzer, the measurement of the annual parallax effect combined with the finite source effect allows us to determine the mass of the host star (M L = 0.3-0.6 M o?), the mass of its planet (m p = 1.4-3.1 M ?), the projected separation between the host and planet (a ? = 1.2-2.3 au), and the distance to the lens system (D L = 0.6-1.2 kpc). The lens is plausibly the blend, which could be checked with adaptive optics observations. As the smallest planet clearly below the break in the mass-ratio function, it demonstrates that current experiments are powerful enough to robustly measure the slope of the mass-ratio function below that break. We find that the cross-section for detecting small planets is maximized for planets with separations just outside of the boundary for resonant caustics and that sensitivity to such planets can be maximized by intensively monitoring events whenever they are magnified by a factor A \u3e 5. Finally, an empirical investigation demonstrates that most planets showing a degeneracy between (s \u3e 1) and (s \u3c 1) solutions are not in the regime (log s| » 0) for which the close / wide degeneracy was derived. This investigation suggests that there is a link between the close / wide and inner/outer degeneracies and also that the symmetry in the lens equation goes much deeper than symmetries uncovered for the limiting cases

<i>Spitzer</i> Microlensing Parallax Reveals Two Isolated Stars in the Galactic Bulge

We report the mass and distance measurements of two single-lens events from the 2017 $\textit {Spitzer}$ microlensing campaign. The ground-based observations yield the detection of finite-source effects, and the microlens parallaxes are derived from the joint analysis of ground-based observations and $\textit {Spitzer}$ observations. We find that the lens of OGLE-2017-BLG-1254 is a 0.60 ± 0.03 M ⊙ star with D LS = 0.53 ± 0.11 kpc, where D LS is the distance between the lens and the source. The second event, OGLE-2017-BLG-1161, is subject to the known satellite parallax degeneracy, and thus is either a ${0.51}_{-0.10}^{+0.12}\,{M}_{\odot }$ star with D LS = 0.40 ± 0.12 kpc or a ${0.38}_{-0.12}^{+0.13}\,{M}_{\odot }$ star with D LS = 0.53 ± 0.19 kpc. Both of the lenses are therefore isolated stars in the Galactic bulge. By comparing the mass and distance distributions of the eight published $\textit {Spitzer}$ finite-source events with the expectations from a Galactic model, we find that the $\textit {Spitzer}$ sample is in agreement with the probability of finite-source effects occurring in single-lens events

New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

Structural Study of xNa2S + (1 − x)B2S3 Glasses and Polycrystals by Multiple-Quantum MAS NMR of 11B and 23Na

Glasses and polycrystals in the series xNa2S + (1 − x)B2S3 have been prepared and studied by magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR and by two-dimensional multiple-quantum (MQ) MAS NMR of11B and 23Na. These techniques, when applied at various magnetic fields and combined with computer simulations of the spectra, provide new insights into the structure of the polycrystalline samples. Isotropic chemical shifts, quadrupolar parameters, and relative concentrations of the various boron sites are obtained by NMR and correlated with the known structures of boron trisulfide (x = 0), sodium metathioborate (x = 0.5) and sodium orthothioborate (x = 0.75). A structural model of polycrystalline sodium dithioborate (x = 0.33) is proposed. The MQMAS NMR method significantly enhanced the resolution in 11B spectra of xNa2S + (1 − x)B2S3 glasses and proved instrumental in finding and identifying various structural units present within these materials as the modification of the B2S3network progressed with increasing Na2S content. The dominant 11B resonances observed in the glassy samples represent the same basic structural units that were observed in the polycrystalline compounds. In addition, several new resonances featuring trigonally and tetrahedrally coordinated boron atoms in various transitional structures between dithioborate and metathioborate, or between metathioborate and orthothioborate, were found. 23Na NMR proved less informative, especially in the glassy samples where the motion of the sodium ions between various sites precluded the observation of well-resolved spectra.Reprinted with permission from Journal of the American Chemical Society 120 (1998): 7337–7346, doi:10.1021/ja9800481. Copyright 1998 American Chemical Society.</p

Structural study of xNa(2)S+(1-x)B2S3 glasses and polycrystals by multiple-quantum MAS NMR of B-11 and Na-23

Glasses and polycrystals in the series xNa(2)S + (1 - x)B2S3 have been prepared and studied by magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR and by two-dimensional multiple-quantum (MQ) MAS NMR of B-11 and Na-23. These techniques, when applied at various magnetic fields and combined with computer simulations of the spectra, provide new insights into the structure of the polycrystalline samples. Isotropic chemical shifts, quadrupolar parameters, and relative concentrations of the various boron sites are obtained by NMR and correlated with the known structures of boron trisulfide (x = 0), sodium metathioborate (x = 0.5) and sodium orthothioborate (x = 0.75). A structural model of polycrystalline sodium dithioborate (x = 0.33) is proposed. The MQMAS NMR method significantly enhanced the resolution in B-11 spectra of xNa(2)S + (1 - x)B2S3 glasses and proved instrumental in finding and identifying various structural units present within these materials as the modification of the B2S3 network progressed with increasing Na2S content. The dominant B-11 resonances observed in the glassy samples represent the same basic structural units that were observed in the polycrystalline compounds. In addition, several new resonances featuring trigonally and tetrahedrally coordinated boron atoms in various transitional structures between dithioborate and metathioborate, or between metathioborate and orthothioborate, were found. Na-23 NMR proved less informative, especially in the glassy samples where the motion of the sodium ions between various sites precluded the observation of well-resolved spectra.close363

Pathways Disrupted in Human ALS Motor Neurons Identified through Genetic Correction of Mutant SOD1

Direct electrical recording and stimulation of neural activity using micro-fabricated silicon and metal micro-wire probes have contributed extensively to basic neuroscience and therapeutic applications; however, the dimensional and mechanical mismatch of these probes with the brain tissue limits their stability in chronic implants and decreases the neuron–device contact. Here, we demonstrate the realization of a three-dimensional macroporous nanoelectronic brain probe that combines ultra-flexibility and subcellular feature sizes to overcome these limitations. Built-in strains controlling the local geometry of the macroporous devices are designed to optimize the neuron/probe interface and to promote integration with the brain tissue while introducing minimal mechanical perturbation. The ultra-flexible probes were implanted frozen into rodent brains and used to record multiplexed local field potentials and single-unit action potentials from the somatosensory cortex. Significantly, histology analysis revealed filling-in of neural tissue through the macroporous network and attractive neuron–probe interactions, consistent with long-term biocompatibility of the device.Stem Cell and Regenerative Biolog

MOA-2020-BLG-208Lb: Cool Sub-Saturn-mass Planet within Predicted Desert

We analyze the MOA-2020-BLG-208 gravitational microlensing event and present the discovery and characterization of a new planet, MOA-2020-BLG-208Lb, with an estimated sub-Saturn mass. With a mass ratio q = 3.17(-0.26)(+0.28) x 10(-4), the planet lies near the peak of the mass-ratio function derived by the MOA collaboration and near the edge of expected sample sensitivity. For these estimates we provide results using two mass-law priors: one assuming that all stars have an equal planet-hosting probability, and the other assuming that planets are more likely to orbit around more massive stars. In the first scenario, we estimate that the lens system is likely to be a planet of mass m(planet) = 46(-24)(+42) M-circle plus and a host star of mass M-host = 0.43(-0.23)(+0.39) M-circle dot, located at a distance D-L = 7.49(-1.13)(+0.99) kpc. For the second scenario, we estimate m(planet) = 69(-34)(+37) M-circle plus, M-host = 0.66(-0.32)(+0.35) M-circle dot, and D-L = 7.81(-0.93)(+0.93) kpc. The planet has a projected separation as a fraction of the Einstein ring radius s = 1.3807(-0.0018)(+0.0018). As a cool sub-Saturn-mass planet, this planet adds to a growing collection of evidence for revised planetary formation models

<i>Spitzer</i> microlensing parallax reveals two isolated stars in the Galactic bulge

We report the mass and distance measurements of two single-lens events from the 2017 Spitzer microlensing campaign. The ground-based observations yield the detection of finite-source effects, and the microlens parallaxes are derived from the joint analysis of ground-based observations and Spitzer observations. We find that the lens of OGLE-2017-BLG-1254 is a 0.60 ± 0.03 M ⊙ star with D LS = 0.53 ± 0.11 kpc, where D LS is the distance between the lens and the source. The second event, OGLE-2017-BLG-1161, is subject to the known satellite parallax degeneracy, and thus is either a 0.51-0.10+0.12 M⊙ star with D LS = 0.40 ± 0.12 kpc or a 0.38-0.12+0.13 M⊙ star with D LS = 0.53 ± 0.19 kpc. Both of the lenses are therefore isolated stars in the Galactic bulge. By comparing the mass and distance distributions of the eight published Spitzer finite-source events with the expectations from a Galactic model, we find that the Spitzer sample is in agreement with the probability of finite-source effects occurring in single-lens events

Spitzer Microlensing Parallax Reveals Two Isolated Stars in the Galactic Bulge

We report the mass and distance measurements of two single-lens events from the 2017 Spitzer microlensing campaign. The ground-based observations yield the detection of finite-source effects, and the microlens parallaxes are derived from the joint analysis of ground-based observations and Spitzer observations. We find that the lens of OGLE-2017-BLG-1254 is a 0.60 ± 0.03 M⊙ star with DLS = 0.53 ± 0.11 kpc, where DLS is the distance between the lens and the source. The second event, OGLE-2017-BLG-1161, is subject to the known satellite parallax degeneracy, and thus is either a ${0.51}_{-0.10}^{+0.12}\,{M}_{\odot }$ star with DLS = 0.40 ± 0.12 kpc or a ${0.38}_{-0.12}^{+0.13}\,{M}_{\odot }$ star with DLS = 0.53 ± 0.19 kpc. Both of the lenses are therefore isolated stars in the Galactic bulge. By comparing the mass and distance distributions of the eight published Spitzer finite-source events with the expectations from a Galactic model, we find that the Spitzer sample is in agreement with the probability of finite-source effects occurring in single-lens events