AT2019wxt: An ultra-stripped supernova candidate discovered in electromagnetic follow-up of a gravitational wave trigger

We present optical, radio and X-ray observations of a rapidly-evolving transient AT2019wxt (PS19hgw), discovered during the search for an electromagnetic (EM) counterpart to the gravitational-wave (GW) trigger S191213g (LIGO Scientific Collaboration & Virgo Collaboration 2019a). Although S191213g was not confirmed as a significant GW event in the off-line analysis of LIGO-Virgo data, AT2019wxt remained an interesting transient due its peculiar nature. The optical/NIR light curve of AT2019wxt displayed a double-peaked structure evolving rapidly in a manner analogous to currently know ultra-stripped supernovae (USSNe) candidates. This double-peaked structure suggests presence of an extended envelope around the progenitor, best modelled with two-components: i) early-time shock-cooling emission and ii) late-time radioactive $^{56}$Ni decay. We constrain the ejecta mass of AT2019wxt at $M_{ej} \approx{0.20 M_{\odot}}$ which indicates a significantly stripped progenitor that was possibly in a binary system. We also followed-up AT2019wxt with long-term Chandra and Jansky Very Large Array observations spanning $\sim$260 days. We detected no definitive counterparts at the location of AT2019wxt in these long-term X-ray and radio observational campaigns. We establish the X-ray upper limit at $9.93\times10^{-17}$ erg cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ and detect an excess radio emission from the region of AT2019wxt. However, there is little evidence for SN1993J- or GW170817-like variability of the radio flux over the course of our observations. A substantial host galaxy contribution to the measured radio flux is likely. The discovery and early-time peak capture of AT2019wxt in optical/NIR observation during EMGW follow-up observations highlights the need of dedicated early, multi-band photometric observations to identify USSNe.Comment: 20 pages, 14 figures, Submitted to Ap

Updated Planetary Mass Constraints of the Young V1298 Tau System Using MAROON-X

The early K-type T-Tauri star, V1298 Tau ($V=10\,{\rm mag}$, ${\rm age}\approx20-30\,{\rm Myr}$) hosts four transiting planets with radii ranging from $4.9-9.6\,R_\oplus$. The three inner planets have orbital periods of $\approx8-24\,{\rm d}$ while the outer planet's period is poorly constrained by single transits observed with \emph{K2} and \emph{TESS}. Planets b, c, and d are proto-sub-Neptunes that may be undergoing significant mass loss. Depending on the stellar activity and planet masses, they are expected to evolve into super-Earths/sub-Neptunes that bound the radius valley. Here we present results of a joint transit and radial velocity (RV) modelling analysis, which includes recently obtained \emph{TESS} photometry and MAROON-X RV measurements. Assuming circular orbits, we obtain a low-significance ($\approx2\sigma$) RV detection of planet c implying a mass of $19.8_{-8.9}^{+9.3}\,M_\oplus$ and a conservative $2\sigma$ upper limit of $<39\,M_\oplus$. For planets b and d, we derive $2\sigma$ upper limits of $M_{\rm b}<159\,M_\oplus$ and $M_{\rm d}<41\,M_\oplus$. For planet e, plausible discrete periods of $P_{\rm e}>55.4\,{\rm d}$ are ruled out at a $3\sigma$ level while seven solutions with $43.3<P_{\rm e}/{\rm d}<55.4$ are consistent with the most probable $46.768131\pm000076\,{\rm d}$ solution within $3\sigma$. Adopting the most probable solution yields a $2.6\sigma$ RV detection with mass a of $0.66\pm0.26\,M_{\rm Jup}$. Comparing the updated mass and radius constraints with planetary evolution and interior structure models shows that planets b, d, and e are consistent with predictions for young gas-rich planets and that planet c is consistent with having a water-rich core with a substantial ($\sim5\%$ by mass) H$_2$ envelope.Comment: 18 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication in A

Complex Housing, but Not Maternal Deprivation Affects Motivation to Liberate a Trapped Cage-Mate in an Operant Rat Task.

Early life environment influences the development of various aspects of social behavior, particularly during sensitive developmental periods. We studied how challenges in the early postnatal period or (early) adolescence affect pro-social behavior. To this end, we designed a lever-operated liberation task, to be able to measure motivation to liberate a trapped conspecific (by progressively increasing required lever pressing for door-opening). Liberation of the trapped rat resulted either in social contact or in liberation into a separate compartment. Additionally, a condition was tested in which both rats could freely move in two separate compartments and lever pressing resulted in social contact. When partners were not trapped, rats were more motivated to press the lever for opening the door than in either of the trapped configurations. Contrary to our expectations, the trapped configuration resulted in a reduced motivation to act. Early postnatal stress (24 h maternal deprivation on postnatal day 3) did not affect behavior in the liberation task. However, rearing rats from early adolescence onwards in complex housing conditions (Marlau cages) reduced the motivation to door opening, both in the trapped and freely moving conditions, while the motivation for a sucrose reward was not affected

Barriers experienced by families new to Alberta, Canada when accessing routine-childhood vaccinations

Abstract Background As Canada and other high-income countries continue to welcome newcomers, we aimed to 1) understand newcomer parents’ attitudes towards routine-childhood vaccinations (RCVs), and 2) identify barriers newcomer parents face when accessing RCVs in Alberta, Canada. Methods Between July 6th—August 31st, 2022, we recruited participants from Alberta, Canada to participate in moderated focus group discussions. Inclusion criteria included parents who had lived in Canada for < 5 years with children < 18 years old. Focus groups were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using content and deductive thematic analysis. The capability opportunity motivation behaviour model was used as our conceptual framework. Results Four virtual and three in-person focus groups were conducted with 47 participants. Overall, parents were motivated and willing to vaccinate their children but experienced several barriers related to their capability and opportunity to access RCVs. Five main themes emerged: 1) lack of reputable information about RCVs, 2) language barriers when looking for information and asking questions about RCVs, 3) lack of access to a primary care provider (PCP), 4) lack of affordable and convenient transportation options, and 5) due to the COVID-19 pandemic, lack of available vaccine appointments. Several minor themes were also identified and included barriers such as lack of 1) childcare, vaccine record sharing, PCP follow-up. Conclusions Our findings highlight that several barriers faced by newcomer families ultimately stem from issues related to accessing information about RCVs and the challenges families face once at vaccination clinics, highlighting opportunities for health systems to better support newcomers in accessing RCVs

A broadband thermal emission spectrum of the ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-18b

Close-in giant exoplanets with temperatures greater than 2,000 K (''ultra-hot Jupiters'') have been the subject of extensive efforts to determine their atmospheric properties using thermal emission measurements from the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. However, previous studies have yielded inconsistent results because the small sizes of the spectral features and the limited information content of the data resulted in high sensitivity to the varying assumptions made in the treatment of instrument systematics and the atmospheric retrieval analysis. Here we present a dayside thermal emission spectrum of the ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-18b obtained with the NIRISS instrument on JWST. The data span 0.85 to 2.85 $\mu$m in wavelength at an average resolving power of 400 and exhibit minimal systematics. The spectrum shows three water emission features (at $>$6$\sigma$ confidence) and evidence for optical opacity, possibly due to H$^-$, TiO, and VO (combined significance of 3.8$\sigma$). Models that fit the data require a thermal inversion, molecular dissociation as predicted by chemical equilibrium, a solar heavy element abundance (''metallicity'', M/H = 1.03$_{-0.51}^{+1.11}$ $\times$ solar), and a carbon-to-oxygen (C/O) ratio less than unity. The data also yield a dayside brightness temperature map, which shows a peak in temperature near the sub-stellar point that decreases steeply and symmetrically with longitude toward the terminators.Comment: JWST ERS bright star observations. Uploaded to inform JWST Cycle 2 proposals. Manuscript under review. 50 pages, 14 figures, 2 table

Organizzazione e cambiamento nelle pubbliche amministrazioni

Il volume si rivolge a studiosi, studenti e operatori, offrendo concetti fondamentali dell’organizzazione e del cambiamento nelle aziende e nelle pubbliche amministrazioni, attraversando percorsi di ricerca classici e di frontiera proposti dalla più accreditata letteratura nazionale ed internazionale. Le riflessioni sull’analisi e la gestione del cambiamento organizzativo includono le principali dimensioni strutturali e contestuali dell’azienda pubblica, quali la formalizzazione, la gerarchia, la specializzazione, la tecnologia, l’ambiente e la cultura. Il volume si propone di “leggere” le condizioni di efficienza ed efficacia di tali dimensioni e, quindi, di evidenziare spazi e modalità per una loro evoluzione.Changes requested to public sector pose important questions not only on the bureaucratic re-configuration of public organizations, but also on how they may perform their new tasks. A new environment ask public organizations for more flexibility, efficiency, and service quality, and it implies transformations on their characteristics, both on the political side and on the cultural side. Based on these premises, the book is directed to students, researchers and operators of public sector and offers an analysis of the main topics related to public administrations organization and change

Gestire e organizzare nel terzo settore. Soggetti, strategie e strumenti

Storia, dimensione, importanza politica, sociale ed economica delle organizzazioni non profit relegano ormai al passato la concezione di un settore "terzo". Partendo da questa consapevolezza il volume intende cogliere tre obiettivi fondamentali: a) definire e descrivere il settore delle organizzazioni non profit in Italia per ciò che è e non, come parte della letteratura continua a fare, per ciò che non è; b) andare oltre una riflessione sul governo e la gestione del terzo settore in genere per calare la riflessione teorica nella realtà specifica di alcune tipologie dominanti; offrire agli operatori mappe concettuali e strumenti tecnci di base per conoscere e valutare le scelte operative compiute e, quindi, individuare i propri spazi di miglioramento.History, size, political, social and economic importance of the Non Profit Organisations relegate to the past the concept of a “third” sector. On the basis of this awareness this volume intends to examine three fundamental objectives: a) define and describe the Non Profit sector in Italy for what it is and not - as some literature continues to do - for what it isn’t; b) go beyond a general reflection on the government and management of the third sector and apply these theoretical reflections to the specific reality of the dominant typologies; c) offer the operators a conceptual map and basic technical instruments to recognize and evaluate the operative choices made and, therefore, identify the areas to be improved