We present 17 transit light curves of the ultrashort period planetary system WASP-103, a strong candidate for the detection of tidally-induced orbital decay. We use these to establish a ...high-precision reference epoch for transit timing studies. The time of the reference transit mid-point is now measured to an accuracy of 4.8 s, versus 67.4 s in the discovery paper, aiding future searches for orbital decay. With the help of published spectroscopic measurements and theoretical stellar models, we determine the physical properties of the system to high precision and present a detailed error budget for these calculations. The planet has a Roche lobe filling factor of 0.58, leading to a significant asphericity; we correct its measured mass and mean density for this phenomenon. A high-resolution Lucky Imaging observation shows no evidence for faint stars close enough to contaminate the point spread function of WASP-103. Our data were obtained in the Bessell RI and the SDSS griz passbands and yield a larger planet radius at bluer optical wavelengths, to a confidence level of 7.3σ. Interpreting this as an effect of Rayleigh scattering in the planetary atmosphere leads to a measurement of the planetary mass which is too small by a factor of 5, implying that Rayleigh scattering is not the main cause of the variation of radius with wavelength.
We report further results from a 191-ks Chandra observation of the core of the Perseus cluster, Abell 426. The emission-weighted temperature and abundance structures are mapped in detail. There are ...temperature variations down to ∼1 kpc in the brightest regions. Globally, the strongest X-ray surface brightness features appear to be caused by temperature changes. Density and temperature changes conspire to give approximate azimuthal balance in pressure showing that the gas is in hydrostatic equilibrium. Si, S, Ar, Ca, Fe and Ni abundance profiles rise inwards from about 100 kpc, peaking at about 30–40 kpc. Most of these abundances drop inwards of the peak, but Ne shows a central peak, all of which may be explained by resonance scattering. There is no evidence for a widespread additional cooler temperature component in the cluster with a temperature greater than a factor of 2 from the local temperature. There is, however, evidence for a widespread hard component which may be non-thermal. The temperature and abundance of gas in the cluster are observed to be correlated in a manner similar to that found between clusters.
Strong lensing in RX J1347.5−1145 revisited Köhlinger, F; Schmidt, R. W
Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society,
01/2014, Letnik:
437, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
We present a revised strong lensing mass reconstruction of the galaxy cluster RX J1347.5−1145. The X-ray luminous cluster at redshift z = 0.451 has already been studied intensively in the past. Based ...on information of two such previous (strong-) lensing studies by Halkola et al. and Brada et al., as well as by incorporating newly available data from the Cluster Lensing And Supernova survey with Hubble, we identified four systems of multiply lensed images (anew) in the redshift range 1.75 ≤ z ≤ 4.19. One multiple image system consists of in total eight multiply lensed images of the same source. The analysis based on a parametric mass model derived with the software glafic suggests that the high image multiplicity is due to the source (z
phot = 4.19) being located on a so-called 'swallowtail' caustic. In addition to the parametric mass model, we also employed a non-parametric approach using the software pixelens in order to reconstruct the projected mass of the cluster using the same strong lensing data input. Both reconstructed mass models agree in revealing several mass components and a highly elliptic shape of the mass distribution. Furthermore, the projected mass inside, for example, a radius R ∼ 35 arcsec ∼ 200 kpc of the cluster for a source at redshift z = 1.75 is
as estimated by glafic. Within the same radius pixelens predicts a mass of
which exceeds the glafic estimate by ∼13 per cent. The difference could be related to the fundamental degeneracy involved when constraining dark matter substructures with gravitationally lensed arcs.
•T cells from bone marrow egress to blood during SCM and preferentially home back to marrow after adoptive transfer.•Treg depletion during SCM expands polyfunctional effector T cells in mobilized ...grafts and enhances antimyeloma immunity after ASCT.
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Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is the standard of care consolidation therapy for eligible patients with myeloma but most patients eventually progress, an event associated with features of immune escape. Novel approaches to enhance antimyeloma immunity after ASCT represent a major unmet need. Here, we demonstrate that patient-mobilized stem cell grafts contain high numbers of effector CD8 T cells and immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs). We showed that bone marrow (BM)-residing T cells are efficiently mobilized during stem cell mobilization (SCM) and hypothesized that mobilized and highly suppressive BM-derived Tregs might limit antimyeloma immunity during SCM. Thus, we performed ASCT in a preclinical myeloma model with or without stringent Treg depletion during SCM. Treg depletion generated SCM grafts containing polyfunctional CD8 T effector memory cells, which dramatically enhanced myeloma control after ASCT. Thus, we explored clinically tractable translational approaches to mimic this scenario. Antibody-based approaches resulted in only partial Treg depletion and were inadequate to recapitulate this effect. In contrast, a synthetic interleukin-2 (IL-2)/IL-15 mimetic that stimulates the IL-2 receptor on CD8 T cells without binding to the high-affinity IL-2Ra used by Tregs efficiently expanded polyfunctional CD8 T cells in mobilized grafts and protected recipients from myeloma progression after ASCT. We confirmed that Treg depletion during stem cell mobilization can mitigate constraints on tumor immunity and result in profound myeloma control after ASCT. Direct and selective cytokine signaling of CD8 T cells can recapitulate this effect and represent a clinically testable strategy to improve responses after ASCT.
Autograft remains a key component of management of fit patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma, in part because it establishes an antimyeloma immune response. Takahashi et al explored how this emerges, showing that during stem cell mobilization, both effector CD8 T cells necessary for the antimyeloma response and immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs), which dampen the response, are collected in high numbers. In murine models, manipulation of the graft to reduce Tregs and expand effector CD8 T cells improved the antitumor effect of autografts, setting the scene for an ongoing phase 1 study in patients.
Strong gravitational lensing of quasars has the potential to unlock the poorly understood physics of these fascinating objects, as well as serve as a probe of the lensing mass distribution and of ...cosmological parameters. In particular, gravitational microlensing by compact bodies in the lensing galaxy can enable mapping of quasar structure to
<
10
−
6
arcsec scales. Some of this potential has been realized over the past few decades, however the upcoming era of large sky surveys promises to bring this promise to full fruition. In this article, we review the theoretical framework of this field, describe the prominent current methods for parameter inference from quasar microlensing data across different observing modalities, and discuss the constraints so far derived on the geometry and physics of quasar inner structure. We also review the application of strong lensing and microlensing to constraining the granularity of the lens potential, i.e. the contribution of the baryonic and dark matter components, and the local mass distribution in the lens, i.e. the stellar mass function. Finally, we discuss the future of the field, including the new possibilities that will be opened by the next generation of large surveys and by new analysis methods now being developed.
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION
What is the rate of natural conception leading to ongoing pregnancy or livebirth over 6–12 months for infertile women of age ≥35 years?
SUMMARY ANSWER
Natural conception rates ...were still clinically relevant in women aged 35 years and above and were significantly higher in women with unexplained infertility compared to those with other diagnoses.
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
In recent years, increasing numbers of women have attempted to conceive at a later age, resulting in a commensurate increase in the need for ART. However, there is a lack of data on natural fertility outcomes (i.e. no interventions) in women with increasing age.
STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION
A systematic review with individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis was carried out. PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, clinicaltrials.gov were searched until 1 July 2018 including search terms ‘fertility service’, ‘waiting list’, ‘treatment-independent’ and ‘spontaneous conception’. Language restrictions were not imposed.
PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS
Inclusion criteria were studies (at least partly) reporting on infertile couples with female partner of age ≥35 years who attended fertility services, underwent fertility workup (e.g. history, semen analysis, tubal status and ovulation status) and were exposed to natural conception (e.g. independent of treatment such as IVF, ovulation induction and tubal surgery). Studies that exclusively studied only one infertility diagnosis, without including other women presenting to infertility services for other causes of infertility, were excluded. For studies that met the inclusion criteria, study authors were contacted to provide IPD, after which fertility outcomes for women of age ≥35 years were retrieved. Time to pregnancy or livebirth and the effect of increasing age on fertility outcomes after adjustment for other prognostic factors were analysed. Quality of studies was graded with the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (non-randomised controlled trials (RCTs)) or the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (for RCTs).
MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE
We included nine studies (seven cohort studies and two RCTs) (n = 4379 women of at least age 35 years), with the observed composite primary outcome of ongoing pregnancy or livebirth occurring in 429 women (9.8%) over a median follow-up of 5 months (25th to 75th percentile: 2.5–8.5 months). Studies were of moderate to high quality. The probability of natural conception significantly decreased with any diagnosis of infertility, when compared with unexplained infertility. We found non-linear effects of female age and duration of infertility on ongoing pregnancy and tabulated the predicted probabilities for unexplained infertile women aged 35–42 years with either primary or secondary infertility and with a duration of infertility from 1 to 6 years. For a 35-year-old woman with 2 years of primary unexplained infertility, the predicted probability of natural conception leading to ongoing pregnancy or livebirth was 0.15 (95% CI 0.11–0.19) after 6 months and 0.24 (95% CI 0.17–0.30) after 12 months. For a 42-year-old woman, this decreased to 0.08 (95% CI 0.04–0.11) after 6 months and 0.13 (95% CI 0.07–0.18) after 12 months.
LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION
In the studies selected, there were different study designs, recruitment strategies in different centres, protocols and countries and different methods of assessment of infertility. Data were limited for women above the age of 40 years.
WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS
Women attending fertility services should be encouraged to pursue natural conception while waiting for treatment to commence and after treatment if it is unsuccessful. Our results may aid in counselling women, and, in particular, for those with unexplained infertility.
STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)
S.J.C. received funding from the University of Adelaide Summer Research Scholarship. B.W.M. is supported by a NHMRC Investigator grant (GNT1176437), B.W.M. reports consultancy for ObsEva, Merck, Merck KGaA, iGenomix and Guerbet. B.W.M. reports research support by Merck and Guerbet.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42018096552.
We report 13 high-precision light curves of eight transits of the exoplanet WASP-52 b, obtained by using four medium-class telescopes, through different filters, and adopting the defocussing ...technique. One transit was recorded simultaneously from two different observatories and another one from the same site but with two different instruments, including a multiband camera. Anomalies were clearly detected in five light curves and modelled as star-spots occulted by the planet during the transit events. We fitted the clean light curves with the JKTEBOP code, and those with the anomalies with the PRISM+GEMC codes in order to simultaneously model the photometric parameters of the transits and the position, size and contrast of each star-spot. We used these new light curves and some from the literature to revise the physical properties of the WASP-52 system. Star-spots with similar characteristics were detected in four transits over a period of 43 d. In the hypothesis that we are dealing with the same star-spot, periodically occulted by the transiting planet, we estimated the projected orbital obliquity of WASP-52 b to be ... = 3 Math Processing Error...8 plus or minus 8 Math Processing Error...4. We also determined the true orbital obliquity, ... = 20... plus or minus 50..., which is, although very uncertain, the first measurement of ... purely from star-spot crossings. We finally assembled an optical transmission spectrum of the planet and searched for variations of its radius as a function of wavelength. Our analysis suggests a flat transmission spectrum within the experimental uncertainties. (ProQuest: ... denotes formulae/symbols omitted.)
We report the discovery by the HATSouth network of HATS-18b: a (ProQuest: Formulae and/or non-USASCII text omitted) planet in a 0.8378 day orbit, around a solar analog star (mass 1.037 + or - 0.047 ...Mmiddot in circle and radius (ProQuest: Formulae and/or non-USASCII text omitted) Rmiddot in circle) V= 14.067 + or - 0.040 mag. The high planet mass, combined with its short orbital period, implies strong tidal coupling between the planetary orbit and the star. In fact, given its inferred age, HATS-18 shows evidence of significant tidal spin up, which together with WASP-19 (a very similar system) allows us to constrain the tidal quality factor for Sun-like stars to be in the range of 6.5 <, ~ log sub(10)(Q*/k sub(2)) <, ~ 7 even after allowing for extremely pessimistic model uncertainties. In addition, the HATS-18 system is among the best systems (and often the best system) for testing a multitude of star-planet interactions, be they gravitational, magnetic, or radiative, as well as planet formation and migration theories.
Context. The ability to automatically select scientifically-important transient events from an alert stream of many such events, and to conduct follow-up observations in response, will become ...increasingly important in astronomy. With wide-angle time domain surveys pushing to fainter limiting magnitudes, the capability to follow-up on transient alerts far exceeds our follow-up telescope resources, and effective target prioritization becomes essential. The RoboNet-II microlensing program is a pathfinder project, which has developed an automated target selection process (RoboTAP) for gravitational microlensing events, which are observed in real time using the Las Cumbres Observatory telescope network. Aims. Follow-up telescopes typically have a much smaller field of view compared to surveys, therefore the most promising microlensing events must be automatically selected at any given time from an annual sample exceeding 2000 events. The main challenge is to select between events with a high planet detection sensitivity, with the aim of detecting many planets and characterizing planetary anomalies. Methods. Our target selection algorithm is a hybrid system based on estimates of the planet detection zones around a microlens. It follows automatic anomaly alerts and respects the expected survey coverage of specific events. Results. We introduce the RoboTAP algorithm, whose purpose is to select and prioritize microlensing events with high sensitivity to planetary companions. In this work, we determine the planet sensitivity of the RoboNet follow-up program and provide a working example of how a broker can be designed for a real-life transient science program conducting follow-up observations in response to alerts; we explore the issues that will confront similar programs being developed for the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) and other time domain surveys.
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