Constraining Galactic dark matter with gamma-ray pixel counts statistics

Gamma-ray searches for new physics such as dark matter are often driven by investigating the composition of the extragalactic gamma-ray background (EGB). Classic approaches to EGB decomposition manifest in resolving individual point sources and dissecting the intensity spectrum of the remaining unresolved component. Furthermore, statistical methods have recently been proven to outperform the sensitivity of classic source detection algorithms in finding point-source populations in the unresolved flux regime. In this article, we employ the 1-point photon count statistics of eight years of Fermi-LAT data to resolve the population of extragalactic point sources and to decompose the diffuse isotropic background contribution for Galactic latitudes |b|>30 deg. We use three adjacent energy bins between 1 and 10 GeV. For the first time, we extend the analysis to incorporate a potential contribution from annihilating dark matter smoothly distributed in the Galaxy. We investigate the sensitivity reach of 1-point statistics for constraining the thermally-averaged self-annihilation cross section of dark matter, using different template models for the Galactic foreground emission. Given the official Fermi-LAT interstellar emission model, we set upper bounds on the DM self-annihilation cross section that are comparable with the constraints obtained by other indirect detection methods, in particular by the stacking analysis of several dwarf spheroidal galaxies.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, 1 table; v2: major changes improving the selection of the RO

Contribution of pulsars to cosmic-ray positrons in light of recent observation of inverse-Compton halos

The hypothesis that pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) can significantly contribute to the excess of the positron ($e^+$) cosmic-ray flux has been consolidated after the observation of a $\gamma$-ray emission at TeV energies of a few degree size around Geminga and Monogem PWNe, and at GeV energies for Geminga at a much larger extension. The $\gamma$-ray halos around these PWNe are interpreted as due to electrons ($e^-$) and $e^+$ accelerated and escaped by their PWNe, and inverse Compton scattering low-energy photons of the interstellar radiation fields. The extension of these halos suggests that the diffusion around these PWNe is suppressed by two orders of magnitude with respect to the average in the Galaxy. We implement a two-zone diffusion model for the propagation of $e^+$ accelerated by the Galactic population of PWNe. We consider pulsars from the ATNF catalog and build up simulations of the PWN Galactic population. In both scenarios, we find that within a two-zone diffusion model, the total contribution from PWNe and secondary $e^+$ is at the level of AMS-02 data, for an efficiency of conversion of the pulsar spin down energy in $e^\pm$ of $\eta\sim0.1$. For the simulated PWNe, a $1\sigma$ uncertainty band is determined, which is of at least one order of magnitude from 10 GeV up to few TeV. The hint for a decreasing $e^+$ flux at TeV energies is found, even if it is strongly connected to the chosen value of the radius of the low diffusion bubble around each source.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures. Figures 2, 3 and 5 updated. Results unchange

Free and forced wave motion in a two-dimensional plate with radial periodicity

In many practical engineering situations, a source of vibrations may excite a large and flexible structure such as a ship’s deck, an aeroplane fuselage, a satellite antenna, a wall panel. To avoid transmission of the vibration and structure-borne sound, radial or polar periodicity may be used. In these cases, numerical approaches to study free and forced wave propagation close to the excitation source in polar coordinates are desirable. This is the paper’s aim, where a numerical method based on Floquet-theory and the FE discretision of a finite slice of the radial periodic structure is presented and verified. Only a small slice of the structure is analysed, which is approximated using piecewise Cartesian segments. Wave characteristics in each segment are obtained by the theory of wave propagation in periodic Cartesian structures and Finite Element analysis, while wave amplitude change due to the changes in the geometry of the slice is accommodated in the model assuming that the energy flow through the segments is the same. Forced response of the structure is then evaluated in the wave domain. Results are verified for an infinite isotropic thin plate excited by a point harmonic force. A plate with a periodic radial change of thickness is then studied. Free waves propagation are shown, and the forced response in the nearfield is evaluated, showing the validity of the method and the computational advantage compared to FE harmonic analysis for infinite structures

Cognitive Impairment and Age-Related Vision Disorders: Their Possible Relationship and the Evaluation of the Use of Aspirin and Statins in a 65 Years-and-Over Sardinian Population

Neurological disorders (Alzheimer’s disease, vascular and mixed dementia) and visual loss (cataract, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy) are among the most common conditions that afflict people of at least 65 years of age. An increasing body of evidence is emerging, which demonstrates that memory and vision impairment are closely, significantly, and positively linked and that statins and aspirin may lessen the risk of developing age-related visual and neurological problems. However, clinical studies have produced contradictory results. Thus, the intent of the present study was to reliably establish whether a relationship exist between various types of dementia and age-related vision disorders, and to establish whether statins and aspirin may or may not have beneficial effects on these two types of disorders. We found that participants with dementia and/or vision problems were more likely to be depressed and displayed worse functional ability in basic and instrumental activities of daily living than controls. Mini mental state examination scores were significantly lower in patients with vision disorders compared to subjects without vision disorders. A closer association with macular degeneration was found in subjects with Alzheimer’s disease than in subjects without dementia or with vascular dementia, mixed dementia, or other types of age-related vision disorders. When we considered the associations between different types of dementia and vision disorders and the use of statins and aspirin, we found a significant positive association between Alzheimer’s disease and statins on their own or in combination with aspirin, indicating that these two drugs do not appear to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease or improve its clinical evolution and may, on the contrary, favor its development. No significant association in statin use alone, aspirin use alone, or the combination of these was found in subjects without vision disorders but with dementia, and, similarly, none in subjects with vision disorders but without dementia. Overall, these results confirm the general impression so far; namely, that macular degeneration may contribute to cognitive disorders (Alzheimer’s disease in particular). In addition, they also suggest that, while statin and aspirin use may undoubtedly have some protective effects, they do not appear to be magic pills against the development of cognitive impairment or vision disorders in the elderly

Identification of two new repetitive elements and chromosomal mapping of repetitive DNA sequences in the fish Gymnothorax unicolor (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae)

Muraenidae is a species-rich family, with relationships among genera and species and taxonomy that have not been completely clarified. Few cytogenetic studies have been conducted on this family, and all of them showed the same diploid chromosome number (2n=42) but with conspicuous karyotypic variation among species. The Mediterranean moray eel Gymnothorax unicolor was previously cytogenetically studied using classical techniques that allowed the characterization of its karyotype structure and the constitutive heterochromatin and argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (Ag-NORs) distribution pattern. In the present study, we describe two new repetitive elements (called GuMboI and GuDdeI) obtained from restricted genomic DNA of G. unicolor that were characterized by Southern blot and physically localized by in situ hybridization on metaphase chromosomes. As they are highly repetitive DNA sequences, they map in heterochromatic regions. However, while GuDdeI was localized in the centromeric regions, the GuMboI fraction was distributed on some centromeres and was co-localized with the nucleolus organizer region (NOR). Comparative analysis with other Mediterranean species such as Muraena helena pointed out that these DNA fractions are species-specific and could potentially be used for species discrimination. As a new contribution to the karyotype of this species, we found that the major ribosomal genes are localized on acrocentric chromosome 9 and that the telomeres of each chromosome are composed of a tandem repeat derived from a poly-TTAGGG DNA sequence, as it occurs in most vertebrate species. The results obtained add new information useful in comparative genomics at the chromosomal level and contribute to the cytogenetic knowledge regarding this fish family, which has not been extensively studied