Radial velocity planets de-aliased. A new, short period for Super-Earth 55 Cnc e

Radial velocity measurements of stellar reflex motion have revealed many extrasolar planets, but gaps in the observations produce aliases, spurious frequencies that are frequently confused with the planets' orbital frequencies. In the case of Gl 581 d, the distinction between an alias and the true frequency was the distinction between a frozen, dead planet and a planet possibly hospitable to life (Udry et al. 2007; Mayor et al. 2009). To improve the characterization of planetary systems, we describe how aliases originate and present a new approach for distinguishing between orbital frequencies and their aliases. Our approach harnesses features in the spectral window function to compare the amplitude and phase of predicted aliases with peaks present in the data. We apply it to confirm prior alias distinctions for the planets GJ 876 d and HD 75898 b. We find that the true periods of Gl 581 d and HD 73526 b/c remain ambiguous. We revise the periods of HD 156668 b and 55 Cnc e, which were afflicted by daily aliases. For HD 156668 b, the correct period is 1.2699 days and minimum mass is (3.1 +/- 0.4) Earth masses. For 55 Cnc e, the correct period is 0.7365 days -- the shortest of any known planet -- and minimum mass is (8.3 +/- 0.3) Earth masses. This revision produces a significantly improved 5-planet Keplerian fit for 55 Cnc, and a self-consistent dynamical fit describes the data just as well. As radial velocity techniques push to ever-smaller planets, often found in systems of multiple planets, distinguishing true periods from aliases will become increasingly important.Comment: Accepted by ApJ (in press); 19 pages, 22 figures. Fixed typos; improved wording; added more extensive discussion of orbital eccentricity; improved figure captions; additional reference

A detailed analysis of the HD 73526 2:1 resonant planetary system

We present six years of new radial velocity data from the Anglo-Australian and Magellan Telescopes on the HD 73526 2:1 resonant planetary system. We investigate both Keplerian and dynamical ( interacting) fits to these data, yielding four possible configurations for the system. The new data now show that both resonance angles are librating, with amplitudes of 40 degrees and 60 degrees, respectively. We then perform long-term dynamical stability tests to differentiate these solutions, which only differ significantly in the masses of the planets. We show that while there is no clearly preferred system inclination, the dynamical fit with i = 90 degrees provides the best combination of goodness-of-fit and long-term dynamical stability.Peer reviewe

Retired A Stars and Their Companions VI. A Pair of Interacting Exoplanet Pairs Around the Subgiants 24 Sextanis and HD200964

We report radial velocity measurements of the G-type subgiants 24 Sextanis (=HD90043) and HD200964. Both are massive, evolved stars that exhibit periodic variations due to the presence of a pair of Jovian planets. Photometric monitoring with the T12 0.80m APT at Fairborn Observatory demonstrates both stars to be constant in brightness to <= 0.002 mag, thus strengthening the planetary interpretation of the radial velocity variations. 24 Sex b,c have orbital periods of 453.8 days and 883~days, corresponding to semimajor axes 1.333 AU and 2.08 AU, and minimum masses (Msini) 1.99 Mjup and 0.86 Mjup, assuming a stellar mass 1.54 Msun. HD200964 b,c have orbital periods of 613.8 days and 825 days, corresponding to semimajor axes 1.601 AU and 1.95 AU, and minimum masses 1.85 Mjup and 0.90 Mjup, assuming M* = 1.44 Msun. We also carry out dynamical simulations to properly account for gravitational interactions between the planets. Most, if not all, of the dynamically stable solutions include crossing orbits, suggesting that each system is locked in a mean motion resonance that prevents close encounters and provides long-term stability. The planets in the 24 Sex system likely have a period ratio near 2:1, while the HD200964 system is even more tightly packed with a period ratio close to 4:3. However, we caution that further radial velocity observations and more detailed dynamical modelling will be required to provide definitive and unique orbital solutions for both cases, and to determine whether the two systems are truly resonant.Comment: AJ accepte

Highly connected 3D chromatin networks established by an oncogenic fusion protein shape tumor cell identity.

Cell fate transitions observed in embryonic development involve changes in three-dimensional genomic organization that provide proper lineage specification. Whether similar events occur within tumor cells and contribute to cancer evolution remains largely unexplored. We modeled this process in the pediatric cancer Ewing sarcoma and investigated high-resolution looping and large-scale nuclear conformation changes associated with the oncogenic fusion protein EWS-FLI1. We show that chromatin interactions in tumor cells are dominated by highly connected looping hubs centered on EWS-FLI1 binding sites, which directly control the activity of linked enhancers and promoters to establish oncogenic expression programs. Conversely, EWS-FLI1 depletion led to the disassembly of these looping networks and a widespread nuclear reorganization through the establishment of new looping patterns and large-scale compartment configuration matching those observed in mesenchymal stem cells, a candidate Ewing sarcoma progenitor. Our data demonstrate that major architectural features of nuclear organization in cancer cells can depend on single oncogenes and are readily reversed to reestablish latent differentiation programs

The chromatin landscape of primary synovial sarcoma organoids is linked to specific epigenetic mechanisms and dependencies.

Synovial sarcoma (SyS) is an aggressive mesenchymal malignancy invariably associated with the chromosomal translocation t(X:18; p11:q11), which results in the in-frame fusion of the BAF complex gene SS18 to one of three SSX genes. Fusion of SS18 to SSX generates an aberrant transcriptional regulator, which, in permissive cells, drives tumor development by initiating major chromatin remodeling events that disrupt the balance between BAF-mediated gene activation and polycomb-dependent repression. Here, we developed SyS organoids and performed genome-wide epigenomic profiling of these models and mesenchymal precursors to define SyS-specific chromatin remodeling mechanisms and dependencies. We show that SS18-SSX induces broad BAF domains at its binding sites, which oppose polycomb repressor complex (PRC) 2 activity, while facilitating recruitment of a non-canonical (nc)PRC1 variant. Along with the uncoupling of polycomb complexes, we observed H3K27me3 eviction, H2AK119ub deposition and the establishment of de novo active regulatory elements that drive SyS identity. These alterations are completely reversible upon SS18-SSX depletion and are associated with vulnerability to USP7 loss, a core member of ncPRC1.1. Using the power of primary tumor organoids, our work helps define the mechanisms of epigenetic dysregulation on which SyS cells are dependent

Comparison of rivaroxaban and low molecular weight heparin in the treatment of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism: A Swedish national population-based register study

Background Treating cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (CAT) with anticoagulation prevents recurrent venous thromboembolism (rVTE), but increases bleeding risk. Objectives To compare incidence of rVTE, major bleeding, and all-cause mortality for rivaroxaban versus low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in patients with CAT. Methods We developed a cohort study using Swedish national registers 2013–2019. Patients with CAT (venous thromboembolism within 6 months of cancer diagnosis) were included. Those with other indications or with high bleeding risk cancers were excluded (according to guidelines). Follow-up was from index-CAT until outcome, death, emigration, or end of study. Incidence rates (IR) per 1000 person-years with 95% confidence interval (CI) and propensity score overlap-weighted hazard ratios (HRs) for rivaroxaban versus LMWH were estimated. Results We included 283 patients on rivaroxaban and 5181 on LMWH. The IR for rVTE was 68.7 (95% CI 40.0–109.9) for rivaroxaban, compared with 91.6 (95% CI 81.9–102.0) for LMWH, with adjusted HR 0.77 (95% CI 0.43–1.35). The IR for major bleeding was 23.5 (95% CI 8.6–51.1) for rivaroxaban versus 49.2 (95% CI 42.3–56.9) for LMWH, with adjusted HR 0.62 (95% CI 0.26–1.49). The IR for all-cause mortality was 146.8 (95% CI 103.9–201.5) for rivaroxaban and 565.6 (95% CI 541.8–590.2) for LMWH with adjusted HR 0.48 (95% CI 0.34–0.67). Conclusions Rivaroxaban performed similarly to LMWH for patients with CAT for rVTE and major bleeding. An all-cause mortality benefit was observed for rivaroxaban which potentially may be attributed to residual confounding.Fil: Linder, Marie. Karolinska Huddinge Hospital. Karolinska Institutet; SueciaFil: Ekbom, Anders. Karolinska Huddinge Hospital. Karolinska Institutet; SueciaFil: Brobert, Gunnar. Consultant for Bayer AG; AlemaniaFil: Vogtländer, Kai. Bayer AG; AlemaniaFil: Balabanova, Yanina. Bayer AG; AlemaniaFil: Becattini, Cecilia. Università di Perugia; ItaliaFil: Carrier, Marc. University of Ottawa; CanadáFil: Cohen, Alexander T.. Kings College London (kcl);Fil: Coleman, Craig I.. University of Connecticut; Estados UnidosFil: Khorana, Alok A.. Cleveland Clinic and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center; Estados UnidosFil: Lee, Agnes Y. Y.. BC Cancer; Canadá. University of British Columbia; CanadáFil: Psaroudakis, George. Bayer AG; AlemaniaFil: Abdelgawwad, Khaled. Bayer AG; AlemaniaFil: Rivera, Marcela. Consultant for Bayer AG; AlemaniaFil: Schaefer, Bernhard. Bayer AG; AlemaniaFil: Giunta, Diego Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Karolinska Huddinge Hospital. Karolinska Institutet; Sueci

Red wine polyphenols prevent metabolic and cardiovascular alterations associated with obesity in Zucker fatty rats (Fa/Fa)

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Phytochemicals as antibiotic alternatives to promote growth and enhance host health

There are heightened concerns globally on emerging drug-resistant superbugs and the lack of new antibiotics for treating human and animal diseases. For the agricultural industry, there is an urgent need to develop strategies to replace antibiotics for food-producing animals, especially poultry and livestock. The 2nd International Symposium on Alternatives to Antibiotics was held at the World Organization for Animal Health in Paris, France, December 12-15, 2016 to discuss recent scientific developments on strategic antibiotic-free management plans, to evaluate regional differences in policies regarding the reduction of antibiotics in animal agriculture and to develop antibiotic alternatives to combat the global increase in antibiotic resistance. More than 270 participants from academia, government research institutions, regulatory agencies, and private animal industries from >25 different countries came together to discuss recent research and promising novel technologies that could provide alternatives to antibiotics for use in animal health and production; assess challenges associated with their commercialization; and devise actionable strategies to facilitate the development of alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) without hampering animal production. The 3-day meeting consisted of four scientific sessions including vaccines, microbial products, phytochemicals, immune-related products, and innovative drugs, chemicals and enzymes, followed by the last session on regulation and funding. Each session was followed by an expert panel discussion that included industry representatives and session speakers. The session on phytochemicals included talks describing recent research achievements, with examples of successful agricultural use of various phytochemicals as antibiotic alternatives and their mode of action in major agricultural animals (poultry, swine and ruminants). Scientists from industry and academia and government research institutes shared their experience in developing and applying potential antibiotic-alternative phytochemicals commercially to reduce AGPs and to develop a sustainable animal production system in the absence of antibiotics.Fil: Lillehoj, Hyun. United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service; ArgentinaFil: Liu, Yanhong. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Calsamiglia, Sergio. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Fernandez Miyakawa, Mariano Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Patobiología; ArgentinaFil: Chi, Fang. Amlan International; Estados UnidosFil: Cravens, Ron L.. Amlan International; Estados UnidosFil: Oh, Sungtaek. United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service; ArgentinaFil: Gay, Cyril G.. United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service; Argentin

Run 2 Upgrades to the CMS Level-1 Calorimeter Trigger

The CMS Level-1 calorimeter trigger is being upgraded in two stages to maintain performance as the LHC increases pile-up and instantaneous luminosity in its second run. In the first stage, improved algorithms including event-by-event pile-up corrections are used. New algorithms for heavy ion running have also been developed. In the second stage, higher granularity inputs and a time-multiplexed approach allow for improved position and energy resolution. Data processing in both stages of the upgrade is performed with new, Xilinx Virtex-7 based AMC cards.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure