8,749 research outputs found
Studying the Solar system with the International Pulsar Timing Array
Pulsar-timing analyses are sensitive to errors in the Solar-system ephemerides (SSEs) that timing models utilize to estimate the location of the Solar-system barycentre, the quasi-inertial reference frame to which all recorded pulse times-of-arrival are referred. Any error in the SSE will affect all pulsars, therefore pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) are a suitable tool to search for such errors and impose independent constraints on relevant physical parameters. We employ the first data release of the International Pulsar Timing Array to constrain the masses of the planetâmoons systems and to search for possible unmodelled objects (UMOs) in the Solar system. We employ 10 SSEs from two independent research groups, derive and compare mass constraints of planetary systems, and derive the first PTA mass constraints on asteroid-belt objects. Constraints on planetary-system masses have been improved by factors of up to 20 from the previous relevant study using the same assumptions, with the mass of the Jovian system measured at 9.5479189(3) Ă 10^(â4)âMâ. The mass of the dwarf planet Ceres is measured at 4.7(4) Ă 10^(â10)âMâ. We also present the first sensitivity curves using real data that place generic limits on the masses of UMOs, which can also be used as upper limits on the mass of putative exotic objects. For example, upper limits on dark-matter clumps are comparable to published limits using independent methods. While the constraints on planetary masses derived with all employed SSEs are consistent, we note and discuss differences in the associated timing residuals and UMO sensitivity curves
Gene editing restores dystrophin expression in a canine model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Mutations in the gene encoding dystrophin, a protein that maintains muscle integrity and function, cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The deltaE50-MD dog model of DMD harbors a mutation corresponding to a mutational âhotspotâ in the human DMD gene. We used adeno-associated viruses to deliver CRISPR gene editing components to four dogs and examined dystrophin protein expression 6 weeks after intramuscular delivery (n = 2) or 8 weeks after systemic delivery (n = 2). After systemic delivery in skeletal muscle, dystrophin was restored to levels ranging from 3 to 90% of normal, depending on muscle type. In cardiac muscle, dystrophin levels in the dog receiving the highest dose reached 92% of normal. The treated dogs also showed improved muscle histology. These large-animal data support the concept that, with further development, gene editing approaches may prove clinically useful for the treatment of DMD
Large deviations for clocks of self-similar processes
The Lamperti correspondence gives a prominent role to two random time
changes: the exponential functional of a L\'evy process drifting to
and its inverse, the clock of the corresponding positive self-similar process.
We describe here asymptotical properties of these clocks in large time,
extending the results of Yor and Zani
Broad-band X-ray spectral evolution of GX 339-4 during a state transition
We report on X-ray and soft gamma-ray observations of the black-hole
candidate GX 339-4 during its 2007 outburst, performed with the RXTE and
INTEGRAL satellites. The hardness-intensity diagram of all RXTE/PCA data
combined shows a q-shaped track similar to that observed in previous
outbursts.The evolution in the diagram suggested that a transition from
hard-intermediate state to soft-intermediate state occurred, simultaneously
with INTEGRAL observations performed in March. The transition is confirmed by
the timing analysis presented in this work, which reveals that a weak type-A
quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) replaces a strong type-C QPO. At the same
time, spectral analysis shows that the flux of the high-energy component shows
a significant decrease in its flux. However, we observe a delay (roughly one
day) between variations of the spectral parameters of the high-energy component
and changes in the flux and timing properties. The changes in the high-energy
component can be explained either in terms the high-energy cut-off or in terms
of a variations in the reflection component. We compare our results with those
from a similar transition during the 2004 outburst of GX 339-4.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS Main Journa
The young, wide and very low mass visual binary LOri167
We look for wide, faint companions around members of the 5 Myr Lambda Orionis
open cluster. We used optical, near-infrared, and Spitzer/IRAC photometry. We
report the discovery of a very wide very low mass visual binary, LOri167,
formed by a brown dwarf and a planetary-mass candidate located at 5 arcsec,
which seems to belong to the cluster. We derive Teff of 2125 and 1750 K. If
they are members, comparisons with theoretical models indicate masses of 17
(20-15) Mjup and 8 (13-7) Mjup, with a projected separation of 2000 AU. Such a
binary system would be difficult to explain in most models, particularly those
where substellar objects form in the disks surrounding higher mass stars.Comment: Astronomy & Astrophysics Letters, in pres
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