Retrieving planet formation parameters of WASP-77Ab using SimAb

Context. The atmospheric compositions of planets offer a unique view into their respective formation processes. State-of-the-art observatories and techniques are finally able to provide high-precision data on atmospheric composition that can be used to constrain planet formation. Aims. In this context, we focus on the formation of WASP-77Ab based on previous observations of its atmosphere, which have provided precise C/O and metallicity measurements. Methods. We use the SimAb planet formation simulation to model the formation of WASP-77Ab. We assume two compositions for the disk WASP-77Ab was formed within: one of a solar composition and one that represents the composition of WASP-77A. In addition, we consider two different scenarios regarding the migration of the planet and we study the possible planet formation paths that reproduce the composition of WASP-77Ab. Result. This work shows that the planet is expected to have formed in a disk where not many planetesimals could be accreted. Moreover, we demonstrate that the most likely migration scenario is disk-free migration, whereby the planet initiates its Type II migration within the CO ice line and ends it beyond the water ice line

A strong H- opacity signal in the near-infrared emission spectrum of the ultra-hot Jupiter KELT-9b

We present the analysis of a spectroscopic secondary eclipse of the hottest transiting exoplanet detected to date, KELT-9b, obtained with the Wide Field Camera 3 aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. We complement these data with literature information on stellar pulsations and Spitzer/Infrared Array Camera and Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite eclipse depths of this target to obtain a broadband thermal emission spectrum. Our extracted spectrum exhibits a clear turnoff at 1.4$\mu$m. This points to H$^{-}$ bound-free opacities shaping the spectrum. To interpret the spectrum, we perform grid retrievals of self-consistent 1D equilibrium chemistry forward models, varying the composition and energy budget. The model with solar metallicity and C/O ratio provides a poor fit because the H$^{-}$ signal is stronger than expected, requiring an excess of electrons. This pushes our retrievals toward high atmospheric metallicities ($[M/H]=1.98^{+0.19}_{-0.21}$) and a C/O ratio that is subsolar by 2.4$\sigma$. We question the viability of forming such a high-metallicity planet, and therefore provide other scenarios to increase the electron density in this atmosphere. We also look at an alternative model in which we quench TiO and VO. This fit results in an atmosphere with a slightly subsolar metallicity and subsolar C/O ratio ($[M/H]=-0.22^{+0.17}_{-0.13}$, log(C/O)$=-0.34^{+0.19}_{-0.34}$). However, the required TiO abundances are disputed by recent high-resolution measurements of the same planet.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, Accepted for publication in A&A letter

Association Between Interleukin 16 Gene Polymorphisms (rs1131445, rs4072111) and Late Onset of Alzheimer’s Disease in Iranian Patients

Objectives: Alzheimer’s disease is the most common kind of dementia in the old age, and its incidence increases with age. Previous studies have shown that cytokines are proteins that play an important role in inflammation, and their level changes in inflammatory diseases. Since Alzheimer’s disease is an inflammatory disease, cytokines may influence the occurrence of this disease. IL16 is a cytokine whose role has been proved in many inflammatory diseases. This gene is one of the coding genes of cytokines of the inflammatory process. It may be responsible for inflammatory pathology seen around old age plaques in Alzheimer’s disease. It can also associate with the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 2 polymorphisms of gene IL16 (rs1131445 and rs4072111) on the risk of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in the Iranian population. Methods & Materials: In this study, the intervention group consisted of 144 individuals who were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease by psychologists based on a clinical test (DSM-IV), and the control group included 173 healthy individuals with no psychological disorders. DNA was extracted by salting out technique. The PCR response was conducted (for replicating the mentioned pieces) for any polymorphism in optimized conditions by using designed primers. The product of PCR was first checked for the confirmation of accurate function of PCR using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Next, the PCR product was dissected by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method with intended confining enzyme, and then the genotype of the samples was determined by PAGE. Individual genotypes were determined using the PCR-RFLP method. Statistical analyses were done using OpenEpi 2.3.1 and SPSS 11.5. Results: The study of allelic analysis between the control and intervention groups by considering the confidence interval (CI=90%) and significant level (0.05) for rs1131445 showed that the C allele had no significant association with Alzheimer’s disease (P=0.656). The TC genotype did not show any significant difference with TT genotype (P=0.614). However, the study of allelic analysis for rs4072111 polymorphism between 2 groups showed that the relationship of T allele with the disease is significant, and this allele has a protective role in creating the disease (P=0.008). In addition, TC genotype as a protective status showed a significant association with Alzheimer’s disease (P=0.007). Conclusion: The existence of polymorphism in some genes of the inflammatory pathway could make people susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease. The genetic changes in DNA sequence of gene IL16 could result in changes in cytokine product or its function. The association between rs4072111 and Alzheimer’s disease supports the presumptions and shows a probable role of this polymorphism in Alzheimer disease. Besides, the association between rs1131445 and Alzheimer disease cannot be proven due to the small number of samples (Power: 8.23%)

Effects of Herbal Compound (IMOD) on Behavior and Expression of Alzheimer's Disease Related Genes in Streptozotocin-Rat Model of Sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease

Purpose: Sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD) accounts for over 95% of cases. Possible mechanisms of AD such as inflammation and oxidative stresses in the brain motivate researchers to follow many therapies which would be effective, especially in the early stages of the disease. IMOD, the herbal extract of R. Canina, T. Vulgare and U. Dioica plant species enriched with selenium, has anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory and protective effects against oxidative stress. Methods: In this study three AD-related genes, DAXX, NFκβ and VEGF, were chosen as candidate to investigate the neuroprotective effect of the extract by comparing their expression levels in the hippocampus of rat model of sporadic AD, using qPCR in the herbal-treated and control groups. The therapeutic effects on learning and memory levels were evaluated by Morris Water Maze (MWM) test. Results: Gene expression results were indicative of significant up-regulation of Vegf in rat’s hippocampus after treatment with the herbal extract comparing to model group (P-value= 0.001). The MWM results showed significant changes in path length and time for finding the hidden platform in all groups during test and the same change in the treated comparing to the control group in memory level. Conclusion: It could be concluded that the herbal extract may have significant effect on gene expression but not on behavioral level

Effects of Ectoine on Behavior and Candidate Genes Expression in ICV-STZ Rat Model of Sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease

Purpose: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is pathologically defined by the presence of amyloid plaques and tangles in the brain, therefore, any drug or compound with potential effect on lowering amyloid plaques, could be noticed for AD management especially in the primary phases of the disease. Ectoine constitutes a group of small molecule chaperones (SMCs). SMCs inhibit proteins and other changeable macromolecular structures misfolding from environmental stresses. Ectoine has been reported successfully prohibit insulin amyloid formation in vitro. Methods: We selected eight genes, DAXX, NFκβ, VEGF, PSEN1, MTAP2, SYP, MAPK3 and TNFα genes which had previously showed significant differential expression in Alzheimer human brain and STZ- rat model. We considered the neuroprotective efficacy by comparing the expression of candidate genes levels in the hippocampus of rat model of Sopradic Alzheimer’s disease (SAD), using qPCR in compound-treated and control groups as well as therapeutic effects at learning and memory levels by using Morris Water Maze (MWM) test. Results: Our results showed significant down-regulation of Syp, Mapk3 and Tnfα and up-regulation of Vegf in rat’s hippocampus after treatment with ectoine comparing to the STZ-induced group. In MWM, there was no significant change in swimming distance and time for finding the hidden platform in treated comparing to STZ-induced group. In addition, it wasn’t seen significant change in compound-treated comparing to STZ-induced and control groups in memory level. Conclusion: It seems this compound may have significant effect on expression level of some AD- related genes but not on clinical levels

Reproduction package for "A strong H− opacity signal in the near-infrared emission spectrum of the ultra-hot Jupiter KELT-9b"

<p>This is a basic reproduction package for the paper "A strong H− opacity signal</p><p>in the near-infrared emission spectrum of the ultra-hot Jupiter KELT-9b"</p><p>by [Jacobs, B.; Désert, J. -M.; Pino, L. et al. (2022)](https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202244533).</p><p> </p><p>Abstract:</p><p>We present the analysis of a spectroscopic secondary eclipse of the hottest transiting exoplanet detected to date, KELT-9b, obtained with the Wide Field Camera 3 aboard the <i>Hubble</i> Space Telescope. We complement these data with literature information on stellar pulsations and <i>Spitzer</i>/Infrared Array Camera and Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite eclipse depths of this target to obtain a broadband thermal emission spectrum. Our extracted spectrum exhibits a clear turnoff at 1.4 μm. This points to H− bound-free opacities shaping the spectrum. To interpret the spectrum, we perform grid retrievals of self-consistent 1D equilibrium chemistry forward models, varying the composition and energy budget. The model with solar metallicity and C/O ratio provides a poor fit because the H− signal is stronger than expected, requiring an excess of electrons. This pushes our retrievals toward high atmospheric metallicities ([M/H] = 1.98−0.21+0.19) and a C/O ratio that is subsolar by 2.4<i>σ</i>. We question the viability of forming such a high-metallicity planet, and therefore provide other scenarios to increase the electron density in this atmosphere. We also look at an alternative model in which we quench TiO and VO. This fit results in an atmosphere with a slightly subsolar metallicity and subsolar C/O ratio ([M/H] = −0.22−0.13+0.17, log (C/O) = −0.34−0.34+0.19). However, the required TiO abundances are disputed by recent high-resolution measurements of the same planet.</p&gt