218 research outputs found
Two chemically similar stellar overdensities on opposite sides of the plane of the Galaxy
Our Galaxy is thought to have undergone an active evolutionary history
dominated by star formation, the accretion of cold gas, and, in particular,
mergers up to 10 gigayear ago. The stellar halo reveals rich fossil evidence of
these interactions in the form of stellar streams, substructures, and
chemically distinct stellar components. The impact of dwarf galaxy mergers on
the content and morphology of the Galactic disk is still being explored. Recent
studies have identified kinematically distinct stellar substructures and moving
groups, which may have extragalactic origin. However, there is mounting
evidence that stellar overdensities at the outer disk/halo interface could have
been caused by the interaction of a dwarf galaxy with the disk. Here we report
detailed spectroscopic analysis of 14 stars drawn from two stellar
overdensities, each lying about 5 kiloparsecs above and below the Galactic
plane - locations suggestive of association with the stellar halo. However, we
find that the chemical compositions of these stars are almost identical, both
within and between these groups, and closely match the abundance patterns of
the Milky Way disk stars. This study hence provides compelling evidence that
these stars originate from the disk and the overdensities they are part of were
created by tidal interactions of the disk with passing or merging dwarf
galaxies.Comment: accepted for publication in Natur
The anti-bacterial iron-restriction defence mechanisms of egg white; the potential role of three lipocalin-like proteins in resistance against Salmonella
Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) is the most frequently-detected Salmonella in foodborne outbreaks in the European Union. Among such outbreaks, egg and egg products were identified as the most common vehicles of infection. Possibly, the major antibacterial property of egg white is iron restriction, which results from the presence of the iron-binding protein, ovotransferrin. To circumvent iron restriction, SE synthesise catecholate siderophores (i.e. enterobactin and salmochelin) that can chelate iron from host iron-binding proteins. Here, we highlight the role of lipocalin-like proteins found in egg white that could enhance egg-white iron restriction through sequestration of certain siderophores, including enterobactin. Indeed, it is now apparent that the egg-white lipocalin, Ex-FABP, can inhibit bacterial growth via its siderophore-binding capacity in vitro. However, it remains unclear whether ex-FABP performs such a function in egg white or during bird infection. Regarding the two other lipocalins of egg white (Cal-γ and α-1-glycoprotein), there is currently no evidence to indicate that they sequester siderophores
Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger
On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transientâs position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta
Measurement of the Îb0, Îb-, and Ωb- Baryon Masses
Bottom baryons decaying to a J/Ï meson and a hyperon are reconstructed using 1.0ââfb-1 of data collected in 2011 with the LHCb detector. Significant Îb0âJ/ÏÎ, Îb-âJ/ÏÎ- and Ωb-âJ/ÏΩ- signals are observed and the corresponding masses are measured to be M(Îb0)=5619.53±0.13(stat.)±0.45(syst.)ââMeV/c2, M(Îb-)=5795.8±0.9(stat.)±0.4(syst.)ââMeV/c2, M(Ωb-)=6046.0±2.2(stat.)±0.5(syst.)ââMeV/c2, while the differences with respect to the Îb0 mass are M(Îb-)-M(Îb0)=176.2±0.9(stat.)±0.1(syst.)ââMeV/c2, M(Ωb-)-M(Îb0)=426.4±2.2(stat.)±0.4(syst.)ââMeV/c2. These are the most precise mass measurements of the Îb0, Îb- and Ωb- baryons to date. Averaging the above Îb0 mass measurement with that published by LHCb using 35ââpb-1 of data collected in 2010 yields M(Îb0)=5619.44±0.13(stat.)±0.38(syst.)ââMeV/c2
Measurement of D s <sup>±</sup> production asymmetry in pp collisions at âs=7 and 8 TeV
The inclusive production asymmetry is measured in collisions
collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of
and 8 TeV. Promptly produced mesons are used, which decay as
, with . The measurement is
performed in bins of transverse momentum, , and rapidity, ,
covering the range GeV and . No kinematic
dependence is observed. Evidence of nonzero production asymmetry is
found with a significance of 3.3 standard deviations.Comment: All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and
additional information, are available at
https://cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/p/LHCb-PAPER-2018-010.htm
Search for CP violation in Îb0âpKâ and Îb0âpÏâ decays
A search for CP violation in Îb0âpKâ and Îb0âpÏâ decays is presented using a sample of pp collisions collected with the LHCb detector and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0fbâ1. The CP -violating asymmetries are measured to be ACPpKâ=â0.020±0.013±0.019 and ACPpÏâ=â0.035±0.017±0.020, and their difference ACPpKââACPpÏâ=0.014±0.022±0.010, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. These are the most precise measurements of such asymmetries to date
Localization and broadband follow-up of the gravitational-wave transient GW150914
A gravitational-wave (GW) transient was identified in data recorded by the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors on 2015 September 14. The event, initially designated G184098 and later given the name GW150914, is described in detail elsewhere. By prior arrangement, preliminary estimates of the time, significance, and sky location of the event were shared with 63 teams of observers covering radio, optical, near-infrared, X-ray, and gamma-ray wavelengths with ground- and space-based facilities. In this Letter we describe the low-latency analysis of the GW data and present the sky localization of the first observed compact binary merger. We summarize the follow-up observations reported by 25 teams via private Gamma-ray Coordinates Network circulars, giving an overview of the participating facilities, the GW sky localization coverage, the timeline, and depth of the observations. As this event turned out to be a binary black hole merger, there is little expectation of a detectable electromagnetic (EM) signature. Nevertheless, this first broadband campaign to search for a counterpart of an Advanced LIGO source represents a milestone and highlights the broad capabilities of the transient astronomy community and the observing strategies that have been developed to pursue neutron star binary merger events. Detailed investigations of the EM data and results of the EM follow-up campaign are being disseminated in papers by the individual teams
Search for dark photons produced in 13 TeV collisions
Searches are performed for both promptlike and long-lived dark photons,
A
0
, produced in proton-proton
collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, using
A
0
â
Ό
ĂŸ
Ό
â
decays and a data sample corresponding
to an integrated luminosity of
1
.
6
fb
â
1
collected with the LHCb detector. The promptlike
A
0
search covers
the mass range from near the dimuon threshold up to 70 GeV, while the long-lived
A
0
search is restricted to
the low-mass region
214
<m
Ă°
A
0
Ă
<
350
MeV. No evidence for a signal is found, and 90% confidence
level exclusion limits are placed on the
Îł
â
A
0
kinetic-mixing strength. The constraints placed on promptlike
dark photons are the most stringent to date for the mass range
10
.
6
<m
Ă°
A
0
Ă
<
70
GeV, and are
comparable to the best existing limits for
m
Ă°
A
0
Ă
<
0
.
5
GeV. The search for long-lived dark photons is the
first to achieve sensitivity using a displaced-vertex signature
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