Abstract
We use Keck/NIRSPEC to survey a sample of of young (<1 Gyr), short-period mini-Neptunes orbiting nearby K dwarfs to measure their mass loss via the metastable helium line. We detect helium ...absorption from all four of the targets in our initial sample. The first detection, around TOI 560b, was announced in a previous paper. We now announce three additional detections around TOI 1430.01, 2076b, and 1683.01. All four planets show an average in-transit excess absorption of 0.7%–1.0%. However, the outflows differ in their kinematic properties. Object TOI 1430b exhibits preingress absorption, while TOI 2076b’s outflow is exceptionally optically thick and shows significant postegress absorption. For all four planets, the width of the measured helium absorption signal is consistent with expectations for a photoevaporative outflow (10–30 km s
−1
, 5000–10,000 K). Unless broadening mechanisms other than thermal velocity and the bulk outflow velocity are significant, our observations disfavor core-powered mass-loss models, which predict much slower (1–3 km s
−1
) outflows. We utilize both an isothermal Parker wind model and an order-of-magnitude method to estimate the mass-loss timescale and obtain ∼a few hundred megayears for each planet. We conclude that many, if not all, of these planets will lose their hydrogen-rich envelopes and become super-Earths. Our results demonstrate that most mini-Neptunes orbiting Sun-like stars have primordial atmospheres, and that photoevaporation is an efficient mechanism for stripping these atmospheres and transforming these planets into super-Earths.
Abstract
We present an estimate of the occurrence rate of hot Jupiters (7
R
⊕
≤
R
p
≤ 2
R
J
, 0.8 ≤
P
b
≤ 10 days) around early-type M dwarfs based on stars observed by the Transiting Exoplanet ...Survey Satellite (TESS) during its primary mission. We adopt stellar parameters from the TESS Input Catalog and construct a sample of 60,819 M dwarfs with 10.5 ≤
T
mag
≤ 13.5, effective temperatures 2900 ≤
T
eff
≤ 4000 K, and stellar masses 0.45 ≤
M
*
≤ 0.65
M
⊙
. We conduct a uninformed transit search using a detection pipeline based on the box least square search and characterize the searching completeness through an injection and recovery experiment. We combine a series of vetting steps including light centroid measurement, odd/even and secondary eclipse analysis, rotation and transit period synchronization tests as well as inspecting the ground-based photometric, spectroscopic, and imaging observations. Finally, we find a total of nine planet candidates, all of which are known TESS objects of interest. We obtain an occurrence rate of 0.27% ± 0.09% for hot Jupiters around early-type M dwarfs that satisfy our selection criteria. Compared with previous studies, the occurrence rate of hot Jupiters around early-type M dwarfs is smaller than all measurements for FGK stars, although they are consistent within 1
σ
–2
σ
. There is a trend that the occurrence rate of hot Jupiters has a peak at G dwarfs and falls toward both hotter and cooler stars. Combining results from transit, radial velocity, and microlensing surveys, we find that hot Jupiters around early-type M dwarfs possibly show a steeper decrease in the occurrence rate per logarithmic semimajor axis bin (
dN
/
d
log
10
a
) when compared with FGK stars.
Extrachromosomal circularization of DNA is an important genomic feature in cancer. However, the structure, composition and genome-wide frequency of extrachromosomal circular DNA have not yet been ...profiled extensively. Here, we combine genomic and transcriptomic approaches to describe the landscape of extrachromosomal circular DNA in neuroblastoma, a tumor arising in childhood from primitive cells of the sympathetic nervous system. Our analysis identifies and characterizes a wide catalog of somatically acquired and undescribed extrachromosomal circular DNAs. Moreover, we find that extrachromosomal circular DNAs are an unanticipated major source of somatic rearrangements, contributing to oncogenic remodeling through chimeric circularization and reintegration of circular DNA into the linear genome. Cancer-causing lesions can emerge out of circle-derived rearrangements and are associated with adverse clinical outcome. It is highly probable that circle-derived rearrangements represent an ongoing mutagenic process. Thus, extrachromosomal circular DNAs represent a multihit mutagenic process, with important functional and clinical implications for the origins of genomic remodeling in cancer.
The detection and characterization of young planetary systems offer a direct path to study the processes that shape planet evolution. We report on the discovery of a sub-Neptune-sized planet orbiting ...the young star HD 110082 (TOI-1098). Transit events we initially detected during TESS Cycle 1 are validated with time-series photometry from Spitzer. High-contrast imaging and high-resolution, optical spectra are also obtained to characterize the stellar host and confirm the planetary nature of the transits. The host star is a late-F dwarf (M⁎ = 1.2Mꙩ) with a low-mass, M dwarf binary companion (M⁎ = 0.26Mꙩ) separated by nearly one arcminute (∼6200 au). Based on its rapid rotation and Lithium absorption, HD 110082 is young, but is not a member of any known group of young stars (despite proximity to the Octans association). To measure the age of the system, we search for coeval, phase-space neighbors and compile a sample of candidate siblings to compare with the empirical sequences of young clusters and to apply quantitative age-dating techniques. In doing so, we find that HD 110082 resides in a new young stellar association we designate MELANGE-1, with an age of 250(+50, -70) Myr. Jointly modeling the TESS and Spitzer light curves, we measure a planetary orbital period of 10.1827 days and radius of R(p) = 3.2 ± 0.1Rꚛ. HD 110082 b’s radius falls in the largest 12% of field-age systems with similar host-star mass and orbital period. This finding supports previous studies indicating that young planets have larger radii than their field-age counterparts.
Cancer operations are increasingly utilizing specialized equipment and technology. Related costs are often not known to the responsible surgeon. We seek to evaluate cost aspects of care episodes ...attributable to the surgeon's management decisions.
Financial cost data in a tertiary academic cancer center were queried over 3 y. Consecutive patients undergoing gastrointestinal operations followed by inpatient admission of two or more days were included, excluding patients with 40+ d admissions. Analysis of variance, Kruskal–Wallis, and multiple regression statistics were utilized.
The study population included 1540 patients: 54% men and 46% women, with a median age of 64 y (range 15-95). Eight surgeons conducted major (82%) and minor (18%) operations, with a minimally invasive surgical approach in 60.4%. Procedures included colorectal (37%), pancreatic (19%), esophagogastric (18%), hepatobiliary (18%), and small bowel resections (8%). Total direct costs differed between surgeons with an analysis of variance coefficient range between −$3265 and +$6163 (P < 0.001). Surgeons' cost differences were observed for central medical supply, operating room (OR) supply, total OR, inpatient room, laboratory, pharmacy, supportive care (P < 0.001), and radiology costs (P < 0.02). OR supply cost was the dominant consistent domain with significant differences between surgeons in all case subcategories. When controlled for case category and minimally invasive surgical approach, multiple regression showed the most significant variations between surgeons in ORs, medical supply, and nutrition costs (P < 0.001), followed by laboratory costs (P < 0.01). Top OR supply costs were staplers and energy devices.
Even in a highly subspecialized surgical environment, surgeons’ variable utilization of ORs and medical supplies is strongly linked to variations in care-related costs. Specific queries into supply items should reduce costs and optimize value generated.
Abstract M-dwarf stars provide us with an ideal opportunity to study nearby small planets. The HUnting for M Dwarf Rocky planets Using MAROON-X (HUMDRUM) survey uses the MAROON-X spectrograph, which ...is ideally suited to studying these stars, to measure precise masses of a volume-limited (<30 pc) sample of transiting M-dwarf planets. TOI-1450 is a nearby (22.5 pc) binary system containing a M3 dwarf with a roughly 3000 K companion. Its primary star, TOI-1450A, was identified by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) to have a 2.04 days transit signal, and is included in the HUMDRUM sample. In this paper, we present MAROON-X radial velocities (RVs) which confirm the planetary nature of this signal and measure its mass at nearly 10% precision. The 2.04 days planet, TOI-1450A b, has R b = 1.13 ± 0.04 R ⊕ and M b = 1.26 ± 0.13 M ⊕ . It is the second-lowest-mass transiting planet with a high-precision RV mass measurement. With this mass and radius, the planet’s mean density is compatible with an Earth-like composition. Given its short orbital period and slightly sub-Earth density, it may be amenable to JWST follow-up to test whether the planet has retained an atmosphere despite extreme heating from the nearby star. We also discover a nontransiting planet in the system with a period of 5.07 days and a M sin i c = 1.53 ± 0.18 M ⊕ . We also find a 2.01 days signal present in the systems’s TESS photometry that likely corresponds to the rotation period of TOI-1450A’s binary companion, TOI-1450B. TOI-1450A, meanwhile, appears to have a rotation period of approximately 40 days, which is in line with our expectations for a mid-M dwarf.
Abstract Based on photometric observations by TESS, we present the discovery of a potential Venus analog transiting LHS 475, an M3 dwarf located 12.5 pc from the Sun. The mass of the star is 0.274 ± ...0.015 M ☉ . The planet, originally reported as TOI 910.01, has an orbital period of 2.0291010 ± 0.0000017 days and an estimated radius of 0.975 ± 0.058 R ⊕ . We confirm the validity and source of the transit signal with MEarth and Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope ground-based follow-up photometry. We present radial velocity data from CHIRON that rule out massive companions. In accordance with the observed mass–radius distribution of exoplanets as well as planet formation theory, we expect this planetary companion to be terrestrial, with an estimated radial velocity semiamplitude of 1.1 m s −1 . LHS 475 b is likely too hot to be habitable but is a suitable candidate for emission and transmission spectroscopy.
Abstract We report the discovery and characterization of three giant exoplanets orbiting solar-analog stars, detected by the TESS space mission and confirmed through ground-based photometry and ...radial velocity measurements taken at La Silla observatory with FEROS. TOI-2373 b is a warm Jupiter orbiting its host star every ∼13.3 days, and is one of the most massive known exoplanet with a precisely determined mass and radius around a star similar to the Sun, with an estimated mass of m p = 9.3 − 0.2 + 0.2 M jup and a radius of r p = 0.93 − 0.2 + 0.2 R jup . With a mean density of ρ = 14.4 − 1.0 + 0.9 g cm − 3 , TOI-2373 b is among the densest planets discovered so far. TOI-2416 b orbits its host star on a moderately eccentric orbit with a period of ∼8.3 days and an eccentricity of e = 0.32 − 0.02 + 0.02 . TOI-2416 b is more massive than Jupiter with m p = 3.0 − 0.09 + 0.10 M jup , however is significantly smaller with a radius of r p = 0.88 − 0.02 + 0.02 , R jup , leading to a high mean density of ρ = 5.4 − 0.3 + 0.3 g cm − 3 . TOI-2524 b is a warm Jupiter near the hot Jupiter transition region, orbiting its star every ∼7.2 days on a circular orbit. It is less massive than Jupiter with a mass of m p = 0.64 − 0.04 + 0.04 M jup , and is consistent with an inflated radius of r p = 1.00 − 0.03 + 0.02 R jup , leading to a low mean density of ρ = 0.79 − 0.08 + 0.08 g cm − 3 . The newly discovered exoplanets TOI-2373 b, TOI-2416 b, and TOI-2524 b have estimated equilibrium temperatures of 860 − 10 + 10 K, 1080 − 10 + 10 K, and 1100 − 20 + 20 K, respectively, placing them in the sparsely populated transition zone between hot and warm Jupiters.
Abstract
The nearby LHS 1678 (TOI-696) system contains two confirmed planets and a wide-orbit, likely brown-dwarf companion, which orbit an M2 dwarf with a unique evolutionary history. The host star ...occupies a narrow “gap” in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram lower main sequence, associated with the M dwarf fully convective boundary and long-term luminosity fluctuations. This system is one of only about a dozen M dwarf multiplanet systems to date that hosts an ultra-short-period planet (USP). Here we validate and characterize a third planet in the LHS 1678 system using TESS Cycle 1 and 3 data and a new ensemble of ground-based light curves. LHS 1678 d is a 0.98 ± 0.07
R
⊕
planet in a 4.97 day orbit, with an insolation flux of
9.1
−
0.8
+
0.9
S
⊕
. These properties place it near 4:3 mean motion resonance with LHS 1678 c and in company with LHS 1678 c in the Venus zone. LHS 1678 c and d are also twins in size and predicted mass, making them a powerful duo for comparative exoplanet studies. LHS 1678 d joins its siblings as another compelling candidate for atmospheric measurements with the JWST and mass measurements using high-precision radial velocity techniques. Additionally, USP LHS 1678 b breaks the “peas-in-a-pod” trend in this system although additional planets could fill in the “pod” beyond its orbit. LHS 1678's unique combination of system properties and their relative rarity among the ubiquity of compact multiplanet systems around M dwarfs makes the system a valuable benchmark for testing theories of planet formation and evolution.
Objective: High frequency (HF) heart rate variability (HRV) has long been accepted as an index of cardiac vagal control. Recent studies report relationships between HF-HRV and indices of positive and ...negative affect, personality traits and well-being but these studies generally are based on small and selective samples. Method: These relationships were examined using data from 967 participants in the second Midlife in the U.S. (MIDUS II) study. Participants completed survey questionnaires on well-being and affect. HF-HRV was measured at rest. A hierarchical series of regression analyses examined relationships between these various indices and HF-HRV before and after adjustment for relevant demographic and biomedical factors. Results: Significant inverse relationships were found only between indices of negative affect and HF-HRV. Relationships between indices of psychological and hedonic well-being and positive affect failed to reach significance. Conclusions: These findings raise questions about relationships between cardiac parasympathetic modulation, emotion regulation, and indices of well-being.