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Material expelled from binary neutron star (BNS) mergers can harbour r-process nucleosynthesis and power a kilonova (KN), both intimately related to the astrophysical conditions of the ejection. In turn such conditions indirectly depend on the equation of state (EOS) describing matter inside the neutron star. Therefore, in principle the above observables can hold valuable information on nuclear matter, as the merger gravitational wave signal already does. In this work, we consider the outcome of a set of BNS merger simulations employing different finite-temperature nuclear EOSs. The latter are obtained from a Skyrme-type interaction model where nuclear properties, such as the incompressibility and the nucleon effective mass at saturation density, are systematically varied. We post-process the ejecta using a reaction network coupled with a semi-analytic KN model, to assess the sensitivity on the input EOS of the final yields and the KN light curves. Both of them are found to be non-trivially influenced by the EOS, with the overall outcome being dominated by the heterogeneous outflows from the remnant disc, hosting a variable degree of neutron-rich material. The dynamical ejecta can be more directly related to the EOS parameters considered; however, we find their role in the yields production and the KN emission too entangled with the other ejecta components, in order to infer solid correlations. This result highlights the strong degeneracy that intervenes between the merger outcome and the behaviour of the intrinsic nuclear matter, and places itself as a limit to the employment of EOS-constraining approaches of such kind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In general, a high voltage (HV) substation can be made up of multiple insulation subsystems: an air insulation subsystem (AIS), gas insulation subsystem (GIS), liquid insulation subsystem (power transformers), and solid insulation subsystem (power cables), all of them with their grounding structures interconnected and linked to the substation earth. Partial discharge (PD) pulses, which are generated in a HV apparatus belonging to a subsystem, travel through the grounding structures of the others. PD analyzers using high-frequency current transformer (HFCT) sensors, which are installed at the connections between the grounding structures, are sensitive to these traveling pulses. In a substation made up of an AIS, several non-critical PD sources can be detected, such as possible corona, air surface, or floating discharges. To perform the correct diagnosis, non-critical PD sources must be separated from critical PD sources related to insulation defects, such as a cavity in a solid dielectric material, mobile particles in SF6, or surface discharges in oil. Powerful diagnostic tools using PD clustering and phase-resolved PD (PRPD) pattern recognition have been developed to check the insulation condition of HV substations. However, a common issue is how to determine the subsystem in which a critical PD source is located when there are several PD sources, and a critical one is near the boundary between two HV subsystems, e.g., a cavity defect located between a cable end and a GIS. The traveling direction of the detected PD is valuable information to determine the subsystem in which the insulation defect is located. However, incorrect diagnostics are usually due to the constraints of PD measuring systems and inadequate PD diagnostic procedures. This paper presents a diagnostic procedure using an appropriate PD analyzer with multiple HFCT sensors to carry out efficient insulation condition diagnoses. This PD procedure has been developed on the basis of laboratory tests, transient signal modeling, and validation tests. The validation tests were carried out in a special test bench developed for the characterization of PD analyzers. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the procedure, a real case is also presented, where satisfactory results are shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During their lifespan, high-voltage (HV) electrical systems are subjected to operating conditions in which electrical, mechanical, thermal and environmental-related stresses occur. These conditions over time lead to unforeseen failures caused by various types of defects. For this reason, there are several technologies for measuring and monitoring the electrical systems, with the aim of minimizing the number of faults. The early detection of defects, preferably in their incipient state, will enable the necessary corrective actions to be taken in order to avoid unforeseen failures. These failures generally lead to human risks and material damage, lack of power supply and significant economic losses. An efficient maintenance technique for the early detection of defects consists of the supervision of the dielectrics status in the installations by means of on-line partial discharge (PD) measurement. Nowadays, there are numerous systems in the market for the measurement of PD in HV installations. The most efficient with a reasonable cost will be those that offer greater security guarantees and the best positioned in the market. Currently, technology developers and users of PD measuring systems face difficulties related to the lack of reference procedures for their complete characterization and to the technical and economic drawback of performing the characterization tests on site or in laboratory installations. To deal with the previous difficulties, in this paper a novel method for the complete and standardized characterization of PD measuring systems is presented. The applicability of this method is mainly adapted for the characterization of systems operating in on-line applications using high-frequency current transformer (HFCT) sensors. For the appropriate application of the method, an associated and necessary scale modular test platform is used. In the test platform, the real on-site measuring conditions of an HV insulated distribution line are simulated in a controlled way. Practical characterizations, showing the convenience and advantages of applying the method using the modular test platform, are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elemental abundances between strontium and silver (Z = 38–47) observed in the atmospheres of very metal-poor stars in the Galaxy may contain the fingerprint of the weak r -process and ν p -process occurring in early core-collapse supernovae explosions. In this work, we combine various astrophysical conditions based on a steady-state model to cover the richness of the supernova ejecta in terms of entropy, expansion timescale, and electron fraction. The calculated abundances based on different combinations of conditions are compared with stellar observations, with the aim of constraining supernova ejecta conditions. We find that some conditions of the neutrino-driven outflows consistently reproduce the observed abundances of our sample. In addition, from the successful combinations, the neutron-rich trajectories better reproduce the observed abundances of Sr–Zr (Z = 38–40), while the proton-rich ones, Mo–Pd (Z = 42–47). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of heavy elements is one of the main by-products of the explosive end of massive stars. A long sought goal is finding differentiated patterns in the nucleosynthesis yields, which could permit identifying a number of properties of the explosive core. Among them, the traces of the magnetic field topology are particularly important for extreme supernova (SN) explosions, most likely hosted by magnetorotational effects. We investigate the nucleosynthesis of five state-of-the-art magnetohydrodynamic models with fast rotation that have been previously calculated in full 3D and that involve an accurate neutrino transport (M1). One of the models does not contain any magnetic field and synthesizes elements around the iron group, in agreement with other CC-SNe models in literature. All other models host a strong magnetic field of the same intensity, but with different topology. For the first time, we investigate the nucleosynthesis of MR-SNe models with a quadrupolar magnetic field and a 90° tilted dipole. We obtain a large variety of ejecta compositions reaching from iron nuclei to nuclei up to the third r -process peak. We assess the robustness of our results by considering the impact of different nuclear physics uncertainties such as different nuclear masses, β−-decays and β−-delayed neutron emission probabilities, neutrino reactions, fission, and a feedback of nuclear energy on the temperature. We find that the qualitative results do not change with different nuclear physics input. The properties of the explosion dynamics and the magnetic field configuration are the dominant factors determining the ejecta composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heart, once considered a mere blood pump, is now recognized as a multifunctional metabolic and endocrine organ. Its function is tightly regulated by various metabolic processes, at the same time it serves as an endocrine organ, secreting bioactive molecules that impact systemic metabolism. In recent years, research has shed light on the intricate interplay between the heart and other metabolic organs, such as adipose tissue, liver, and skeletal muscle. The metabolic flexibility of the heart and its ability to switch between different energy substrates play a crucial role in maintaining cardiac function and overall metabolic homeostasis. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of how metabolic disorders disrupt cardiac metabolism is crucial, as it plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of cardiac diseases. The emerging understanding of the heart as a metabolic and endocrine organ highlights its essential contribution to whole body metabolic regulation and offers new insights into the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders. In this review, we provide an in-depth exploration of the heart’s metabolic and endocrine functions, emphasizing its role in systemic metabolism and the interplay between the heart and other metabolic organs. Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests a correlation between heart disease and other conditions such as aging and cancer, indicating that the metabolic dysfunction observed in these conditions may share common underlying mechanisms. By unraveling the complex mechanisms underlying cardiac metabolism, we aim to contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for metabolic diseases and improve overall cardiovascular health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, online partial discharge (PD) measurements are common practice to assess the condition status of dielectrics in high-voltage (HV) electrical grids. However, when online PD measurements are carried out in electrical facilities, several disadvantages must be considered. Among the most important are high levels of changing electrical noise and interferences, signal phase couplings (cross-talk phenomena), and the simultaneous presence of various defects and difficulties in localizing and identifying them. In the last few decades, various PD-measuring systems have been developed to deal with these inconveniences and try to achieve the adequate supervision of electrical installations. In the state of the art, one of the main problems that electrical companies and technology developers face is the difficulty in characterizing the measuring system's functionalities in laboratory setups or in real-world facilities, where simulated or real defects must be detected. This is mainly due to the complexity and costs that the laboratory setups entail and the fact that the facilities are permanently in service. Furthermore, in the latter scenario, owners cannot assign facilities to carry out the tests, which could cause irreversible damage. Additionally, with the aforementioned installations, a comparison of results over time in various locations is not possible, and noise conditions cannot be controlled to perform the characterizations in a correct way. To deal with the problems indicated, in this article, an affordable scale modular test platform that simulates an HV installation is presented, where real on-site PD measuring conditions are simulated and controlled. In this first development, the HV installation comprises a cable system connected at both ends to a gas-insulated substation (GIS). As the most common acquisition technique in online applications is based on the placement of high-frequency current transformer (HFCT) sensors in the grounding cables of facilities, the test platform is mainly adapted to carry out measurements with this type of sensor. The designed and developed test platform was validated to assess its features and the degree of convergence with a real installation, showing the convenience of its use for the appropriate and standardized characterization of PD-measuring systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics in mergers of binary neutron star (BNS) systems depend sensitively on the equation of state (EOS) of dense matter. This has profound implications on the emission of gravitational waves (GWs) and the ejection of matter in the merger and post-merger phases and is thus of high interest for multimessenger astronomy. Today, a variety of nuclear EOSs are available with various underlying microphysical models. This calls for a study to focus on EOS effects from different physical nuclear matter properties and their influence on BNS mergers. We perform simulations of equal-mass BNS mergers with a set of nine different EOSs based on Skyrme density functionals. In the models, we systematically vary the effective nucleon mass, incompressibility, and symmetry energy at saturation density. This allows us to investigate the influence of specific nuclear matter properties on the dynamics of BNS mergers. We analyse the impact of these properties on the merger dynamics, the fate of the remnant, disc formation, ejection of matter, and GW emission. Our results indicate that some aspects of the merger, such as the frequencies of the post-merger GW spectrum and the shock-heated ejecta mass, are sensitive to the EOS around saturation density while others, such as the contraction of the remnant and the tidal ejecta mass, are sensitive to the behaviour towards higher densities, e.g. characterized by the slope of the pressure versus density. The detailed density dependence of the EOS thus needs to be taken into account to describe its influence on BNS mergers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulation‐based digital twins have emerged as a powerful tool for evaluating the mechanical response of bridges. As virtual representations of physical systems, digital twins can provide a wealth of information that complements traditional inspection and monitoring data. By incorporating virtual sensors and predictive maintenance strategies, they have the potential to improve our understanding of the behavior and performance of bridges over time. However, as bridges age and undergo regular loading and extreme events, their structural characteristics change, often differing from the predictions of their initial design. Digital twins must be continuously adapted to reflect these changes. In this article, we present a Bayesian framework for updating simulation‐based digital twins in the context of bridges. Our approach integrates information from measurements to account for inaccuracies in the simulation model and quantify uncertainties. Through its implementation and assessment, this work demonstrates the potential for digital twins to provide a reliable and up‐to‐date representation of bridge behavior, helping to inform decision‐making for maintenance and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insulation condition of HVDC grids consisting of cable systems, GIS, and converters should be monitored by partial discharge (PD) analysers using artificial intelligence (AI) tools for efficient insulation diagnosis. Although there are many experiences of PD monitoring solutions developed for the supervision of the insulation condition of HVAC grids using PD analysers, there are no standardised requirements for their qualification available yet. The international technical specification TS IEC 62478 provides general rules for PD measurements using electromagnetic methods but does not define performance requirements for qualification tests. HVDC and HVAC PD analysers must be tested by unambiguous test procedures. This paper compiles experiences of using PD analysers with HFCT sensors in HVAC grids (cable systems, GIS, and AIS) to define a qualification procedure for HVAC systems. This procedure is applicable to HVDC grids (cable systems, GIS, AIS, and converters) because the particularities related to the insulation behaviour under HVDC voltage are also considered. Representative PD sources are discussed in HVAC and HVDC positive and negative polarity. The PD pulse trend of representative insulation defects in HVDC cable systems is quite different from that of HVAC grids. Special attention should be paid to the acquisition of PD signals in HVDC grids since few pulses appear in solid insulations, mainly during voltage changes (polarity reversals or surges), but rarely in continuous operation with constant direct voltage. A synthetic PD simulator has been developed to reproduce trains of PD pulses or noise signals, similar to those that can appear in the power network. A set of three functionality tests has been developed for qualification of the diagnostic capabilities of PD analysers working up to 30 MHz addressed to HVDC or HVAC grids: (1) PD recognition test, (2) PD clustering test, and (3) PD location test. This qualification procedure has been validated by means of a round-robin test performed by five research institutes (RISE, FFII, TUDelft, TAU, and UPM) using commercial and in-development AI PD recognition and clustering tools to demonstrate its robustness and applicability. Applying this qualification procedure, two PD methods for electrical detection and prevention of insulation defects have been approved, one for HVAC and the other for HVDC grids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On-site partial discharge (PD) measurements have turned out to be a very efficient technique for determining the insulation condition in high-voltage electrical grids (AIS, cable systems, GIS, HVDC converters, etc.); however, there is not any standardised procedure for determining the performances of PD measuring systems. In on-line and on-site PD measurements, high-frequency current transformers (HFCTs) are commonly used as sensors as they allow for monitoring over long distances in high-voltage installations. To ensure the required performances, a metrological qualification of the PD analysers by applying an evaluation procedure is necessary. A novel evaluation procedure was established to specify the quantities to be measured (electrical charge and PD repetition rate) and to describe the evaluation tests considering the measured influence parameters: noise, charge amplitude, pulse width and time interval between consecutive pulses. This procedure was applied to different types of PD analysers used for off-line measurements, sporadic on-line measurements and continuous PD monitoring. The procedure was validated in a round-robin test involving two metrological institutes (RISE from Sweden and FFII from Spain) and three universities (TUDelft from the Netherlands, TAU from Finland and UPM from Spain). With this round-robin test, the effectiveness of the proposed qualification procedure for discriminating between efficient and inappropriate PD analysers was demonstrated. Furthermore, it was shown that the PD charge quantity can be properly determined for on-line measurements and continuous monitoring by integrating the pulse signals acquired with HFCT sensors. In this case, these sensors must have a flat frequency spectrum in the range between several tens of kHz and at least two tens of MHz, where the frequency pulse content is more significant. The proposed qualification procedure can be useful for improving the future versions of the technical specification TS IEC 62478 and the standard IEC 60270. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general lockdown decreed in Spain due to the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the ALAS health promotion intervention aimed at the population at high risk of suffering from type 2 diabetes. We conducted a descriptive study in 2020 through a telephone survey and a comparison with baseline data to determine the impact of confinement on the lifestyles of the participants. We collected sociodemographic variables and conducted assessments before/after confinement on general health status and lifestyle (sleep, physical activity and diet). Additionally, weight, BMI and adherence to a Mediterranean diet were assessed. Descriptive statistical analyses, comparisons of pre–post confinement data and logistic regression were carried out. A total of 387 individuals responded. Among them, 31.8% reported a worse perception of health after confinement, and 63,1% reported no change. Regarding exercise, 61.1% reduced their weekly physical activity time. Regarding diet, 34,4% perceived worse quality, and 53.4% reported no change, despite the fact that 89.4% declared changes in their eating practices. Weight and BMI decreased by 3,1%, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet improved from baseline. Confinement had a negative impact on the general health, diet, sleep and physical activity of this population (at risk of diabetes); however, weight and BMI decreased, and adherence to a Mediterranean diet improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Magnetorotational supernovae are a rare type of core-collapse supernovae where the magnetic field and rotation play a central role in the dynamics of the explosion. We present the post-processed nucleosynthesis of state-of-the-art neutrino-MHD supernova models that follow the post explosion evolution for few seconds. We find three different dynamical mechanisms to produce heavy r-process elements: (i) a prompt ejection of matter right after core bounce, (ii) neutron-rich matter that is ejected at late times due to a reconfiguration of the protoneutronstar shape, (iii) small amount of mass ejected with high entropies in the centre of the jet. We investigate total ejecta yields, including the ones of unstable nuclei such as 26Al, 44Ti, 56Ni, and 60Fe. The obtained 56Ni masses vary between |$0.01\!-\!1\, \mathrm{M_\odot }$|⁠. The latter maximum is compatible with hypernova observations. Furthermore, all of our models synthesize Zn masses in agreement with observations of old metal-poor stars. We calculate simplified light curves to investigate whether our models can be candidates for superluminous supernovae. The peak luminosities obtained from taking into account only nuclear heating reach up to a few |$\sim 10^{43} \, \mathrm{erg\, s^{-1}}$|⁠. Under certain conditions, we find a significant impact of the 66Ni decay chain that can raise the peak luminosity up to |$\sim 38{{\ \rm per \, cent}}$| compared to models including only the 56Ni decay chain. This work reinforces the theoretical evidence on the critical role of magnetorotational supernovae to understand the occurrence of hypernovae, superluminous supernovae, and the synthesis of heavy elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is the origin of the oxygen we breathe, the hydrogen and oxygen (in form of water H2O) in rivers and oceans, the carbon in all organic compounds, the silicon in electronic hardware, the calcium in our bones, the iron in steel, silver and gold in jewels, the rare earths utilized, e.g. in magnets or lasers, lead or lithium in batteries, and also of naturally occurring uranium and plutonium? The answer lies in the skies. Astrophysical environments from the Big Bang to stars and stellar explosions are the cauldrons where all these elements are made. The papers by Burbidge (Rev Mod Phys 29:547–650, 1957) and Cameron (Publ Astron Soc Pac 69:201, 1957), as well as precursors by Bethe, von Weizsäcker, Hoyle, Gamow, and Suess and Urey provided a very basic understanding of the nucleosynthesis processes responsible for their production, combined with nuclear physics input and required environment conditions such as temperature, density and the overall neutron/proton ratio in seed material. Since then a steady stream of nuclear experiments and nuclear structure theory, astrophysical models of the early universe as well as stars and stellar explosions in single and binary stellar systems has led to a deeper understanding. This involved improvements in stellar models, the composition of stellar wind ejecta, the mechanism of core-collapse supernovae as final fate of massive stars, and the transition (as a function of initial stellar mass) from core-collapse supernovae to hypernovae and long duration gamma-ray bursts (accompanied by the formation of a black hole) in case of single star progenitors. Binary stellar systems give rise to nova explosions, X-ray bursts, type Ia supernovae, neutron star, and neutron star–black hole mergers. All of these events (possibly with the exception of X-ray bursts) eject material with an abundance composition unique to the specific event and lead over time to the evolution of elemental (and isotopic) abundances in the galactic gas and their imprint on the next generation of stars. In the present review, we want to give a modern overview of the nucleosynthesis processes involved, their astrophysical sites, and their impact on the evolution of galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Diet, Physical Activity and Health (Alimentación, Actividad física y Salud, ALAS) program is an intervention implemented by the municipal health services of Madrid with the objective of reducing weight and preventing diabetes in high-risk population by improving diet and physical activity. The ALAS program combines individual visits with a 10-session group workshop that takes place over a 6-month period. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the ALAS intervention implemented under real-life conditions between 2016 and 2019. The intervention was evaluated with a pre- and post-intervention study with follow-up performed 6 and 12 months from the start of the program. The analyzed outcomes were a 5–10% reduction in the initial weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and a change in glycemic status in prediabetic participants. Statistical models were adjusted by sociodemographic variables. The participants were recruited from municipal community health centers or referred by municipal occupational health services. Between 2016 and 2019, 1629 people participated in the program. At 6 months, 85% of the participants had lost weight; 43% had lost 5% or more of their initial weight, and 12% had lost 10% or more. Regarding BMI, 22.3% of participants who were initially obese were no longer obese, and 15.2% of the overweight participants achieved normal weight. A total of 35.1% of the prediabetic participants reverted to normoglycemic status. The intervention was found to be more effective for men, for those who completed the intervention and those who accessed the program through the occupational health route. Among the participants who accessed the intervention via the community, the intervention was more effective in those with a high educational level. The evaluation demonstrated the effectiveness of the ALAS program for reducing weight and the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes when applied under real-life conditions. The effectiveness of the intervention differed according to gender, access route and educational level of the participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A promising astrophysical site to produce the lighter heavy elements of the first r -process peak (Z = 38 âˆ' 47) is the moderately neutron-rich (0.4 < Y e < 0.5) neutrino-driven ejecta of explosive environments, such as core-collapse supernovae and neutron star mergers, where the weak r -process operates. This nucleosynthesis exhibits uncertainties from the absence of experimental data from (α, xn) reactions on neutron-rich nuclei, which are currently based on statistical model estimates. In this work, we report on a new study of the nuclear reaction impact using a Monte Carlo approach and improved (α, xn) rates based on the Atomki-V2 α optical model potential. We compare our results with observations from an up-to-date list of metal-poor stars with [Fe/H] < âˆ'1.5 to find conditions of the neutrino-driven wind where the lighter heavy elements can be synthesized. We identified a list of (α, xn) reaction rates that affect key elemental ratios in different astrophysical conditions. Our study aims to motivate more nuclear physics experiments on (α, xn) reactions using the current and new generation of radioactive beam facilities and also more observational studies of metal-poor stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Adequate responses of species to climate changes require that thermal changes remain compatible across different key biological aspects (e.g. reproduction, feeding and development). However, limits of thermal compatibility to such biological aspects are largely unknown in extant ectotherm groups. To fill this gap, we studied the in-traspecific congruence of thermal responses across biological aspects. Location: Iberian Peninsula. Taxon: Scarabaeidae Dung beetles. Methods: We studied the role of temperature in determining the diel, seasonal and geographical occurrences of 16 dung beetle species. We fitted polynomial GLMs of the abundance/occurrence of each species as a function of temperature and alternative predictors for each spatiotemporal scale, using deviance partitioning to explore the relative contribution of temperature. We used the fitted models to estimate realized thermal niche attributes at these three spatiotemporal scales, and assessed their intraspecific congruence through the correlation of niche attributes from different scales. Results: We found that temperature has relatively low--but not negligible--explanatory capacity at the three spatiotemporal scales, once alternative predictors are taken into account. More importantly, the estimated thermal responses were largely incongruent across scales, indicating that these species have multidimensional thermal niches. Main conclusions: The multidimensionality of thermal niches entails that species' adjustments to fulfil temperature requirements for one biological aspect (such as seasonal ontogenetic cycles) may result in detrimental effects on other elements (e.g. diel activity). These trade-offs could expose individuals to inadequate temperatures at certain moments, reducing populations' performance. Paradoxically, the weak effects of temperature we found may have severe consequences for species responses to warming if temperature regulates essential aspects of their biology in divergent ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a popular resource used for the study of evolutionary processes in birds, especially to infer divergence times between lineages. In many cases, due to the scarcity of fossils with which to constrain the age of nodes on a phylogenetic topology, dating relies on mtDNA substitution rates that, ideally, are specific to the taxa being studied. As such values are often unavailable, many studies use fixed‐rate values from other studies, such as the 'standard molecular clock'. The validity of this universal rate across all bird lineages and for the different mtDNA loci has been questioned by multiple authors. We here performed the most comprehensive calibration of the mtDNA molecular clock in birds, with the inclusion of complete mitochondrial genomes for 622 bird species and 25 reliable fossil calibrations. The results show variation in the rates among lineages and among markers, confirming the lack of universality of the standard molecular clock. Moreover, we provide specific rates for every mtDNA marker (except D‐loop) in each of the sampled avian orders, a valuable tool for molecular clock analyses in the absence of fossil calibrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the evolution of europium (Eu) and barium (Ba) abundances in Local Group dwarf spheroidal and ultrafaint dwarf galaxies by means of detailed chemical evolution models and compare our results with new sets of homogeneous abundances. The adopted models include gas infall and outflow and have been previously tested. We investigate several production scenarios for r-process elements: merging neutron stars and magnetorotational-driven supernovae. Production of Ba through the main s-process acting in low- and intermediate-mass stars is considered as well. We also test different sets of nucleosynthesis yields. For merging neutron stars we adopt either a constant and short delay time for merging or a delay time distribution function. Our simulations show that (i) if r-process elements are produced only by a quick source, it is possible to reproduce the [Eu/Fe] versus [Fe/H], but those models fail in reproducing the [Ba/Fe] versus [Fe/H]. (ii) If r-process elements are produced only with longer delays the opposite happens. (iii) If both a quick source and a delayed one are adopted, such as magnetorotational-driven supernovae and merging neutron stars with a delay time distribution, the [Eu/Fe] abundance pattern is successfully reproduced, but models still fail in reproducing the [Ba/Fe]. (iv) On the other hand, the characteristic abundances of Reticulum II can be reproduced only if both the Eu and the r-process fraction of Ba are produced on short and constant time delays during a single merging event. We discuss also other possible interpretations, including an inhomogeneous mixing of gas that might characterize this galaxy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present and discuss three extremely r-process enhanced stars located in the massive dwarf spheroidal galaxy Fornax. These stars are very unique with an extreme Eu enrichment (1.25 ≤ [Eu/Fe]≤1.45) at high metallicities (−1.3 ≤ [Fe/H]≤−0.8). They have the largest Eu abundances ever observed in a dwarf galaxy opening new opportunities to further understand the origin of heavy elements formed by the r-process. We derive stellar abundances of Co, Zr, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Er, and Lu using one-dimensional, local thermodynamic equilibrium codes and model atmospheres in conjunction with state-of-the art yield predictions. We derive Zr in the largest sample of stars (105) known to date in a dwarf galaxy. Accurate stellar abundances combined with a careful assessment of the yield predictions have revealed three metal-rich stars in Fornax showing a pure r-process pattern. We define a new class of stars, namely, Eu-stars, as r-II stars (i.e., [Eu/Fe] > 1) at high metallicities (i.e., [Fe/H] ≳ −1.5). The stellar abundance pattern contains Lu, observed for the first time in a dwarf galaxy, and reveals that a late burst of star formation has facilitated extreme r-process enhancement late in the galaxy's history (<4 Gyr ago). Due to the large uncertainties associated with the nuclear physics input in the yield predictions, we cannot yet determine the r-process site leading to the three Eu-stars in Fornax. Our results demonstrate that extremely r-rich stars are not only associated with ultra-faint low-mass dwarf galaxies, but can be born also in massive dwarf galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Spatio‐temporal changes have likely caused range fragmentation and population isolation, which could have given rise to the observed current intraspecific differentiation in some species. Here, we test several hypotheses on the potential effect of Pleistocene glacial cycles in the diversification of Arctic shorebird species, comparing between different scenarios of fragmentation of the breeding distribution during glacial and interglacial periods. Location: Global. Taxon: Arctic migratory shorebirds. Methods: We performed species distribution models (SDMs) to explore the changes in the breeding and non‐breeding ranges of 69 species between the last glacial maximum (c. 21,000 years ago) and the present. We also included independent evidence from the fossil record and estimations on the potential extension of the tundra during glacial periods to validate the results from the SDMs. We assigned each species to one of four potential scenarios based on fragmentation and potential recolonization patterns of their breeding ranges during glaciations. Results: Our findings show that most of the species with subspecies experienced fragmentation of their ranges during the glacial, the interglacial or both periods. Meanwhile, the majority of the monotypic species maintained their ranges as a continuum. Moreover, the impacts of glacial cycles in the distribution were not homogeneous across the Arctic, and some regions were more prone to the fragmentation of breeding ranges than others. Main conclusions: Our work suggests that Pleistocene climatic cycles drove the diversification of Arctic shorebirds by creating allopatric breeding distributions. While the fragmentation of the breeding ranges occurred mainly during glacial periods, interglacials also played a part in maintaining or establishing newly isolated breeding populations for many species. Furthermore, species' distribution changes varied between different regions and habitats, which determined current shorebird diversity patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the nucleosynthesis of magneto-rotational supernovae (MR-SNe) including neutrino-driven and magneto-rotational-driven ejecta based, for the first time, on 2D simulations with accurate neutrino transport. The models analysed here have different rotation and magnetic fields, allowing us to explore the impact of these two key ingredients. The accurate neutrino transport of the simulations is critical to analyse the slightly neutron-rich and proton-rich ejecta that are similar to the, also neutrino-driven, ejecta in standard supernovae. In the model with strong magnetic field, the r-process produces heavy elements up to the third r-process peak (A ∼ 195), in agreement with previous works. This model presents a jet-like explosion with proton-rich jets surrounded by neutron-rich material where the r-process occurs. We have estimated a lower limit for 56Ni of |$2.5\times 10^{-2} \, \mathrm{M}_\odot$|⁠ , which is still well below the expected hypernova value. Longer simulations including the accretion disc evolution are required to get a final prediction. In addition, we have found that the late evolution is critical in a model with weak magnetic field in which late-ejected neutron-rich matter produces elements up to the second r-process peak. Even if we cannot yet provide conclusions for hypernova nucleosynthesis, our results agree with observations of old stars and radioactive isotopes in supernova remnants. This makes MR-SNe a good additional scenario to neutron star mergers for the synthesis of heavy elements and brings us closer to understand their origin and the role of MR-SNe in the early Galaxy nucleosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insulin secretion from the pancreatic β-cell is finely modulated by different signals to allow an adequate control of glucose homeostasis. Incretin hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) act as key physiological potentiators of insulin release through binding to the G protein-coupled receptor GLP-1R. Another key regulator of insulin signaling is the Ser/Thr kinase G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2). However, whether GRK2 affects insulin secretion or if GRK2 can control incretin actions in vivo remains to be analyzed. Results: Using GRK2 hemizygous mice, isolated pancreatic islets, and model β-cell lines, we have uncovered a relevant physiological role for GRK2 as a regulator of incretin-mediated insulin secretion in vivo. Feeding, oral glucose gavage, or administration of GLP-1R agonists in animals with reduced GRK2 levels (GRK2+/− mice) resulted in enhanced early phase insulin release without affecting late phase secretion. In contrast, intraperitoneal glucose-induced insulin release was not affected. This effect was recapitulated in isolated islets and correlated with the increased size or priming efficacy of the readily releasable pool (RRP) of insulin granules that was observed in GRK2+/− mice. Using nanoBRET in β-cell lines, we found that stimulation of GLP-1R promoted GRK2 association to this receptor and that GRK2 protein and kinase activity were required for subsequent β-arrestin recruitment. Conclusions: Overall, our data suggest that GRK2 is an important negative modulator of GLP-1R-mediated insulin secretion and that GRK2-interfering strategies may favor β-cell insulin secretion specifically during the early phase, an effect that may carry interesting therapeutic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lighter heavy elements beyond iron and up to around silver can form in neutrino-driven ejecta in core-collapse supernovae and neutron star mergers. Slightly neutron-rich conditions favor a weak r-process that follows a path close to stability. Therefore, the beta decays are slow compared to the expansion timescales, and (α,n) reactions become critical to move matter toward heavier nuclei. The rates of these reactions are calculated with the statistical model and their main uncertainty, at energies relevant for the weak r-process, is the α+nucleus optical potential. There are several sets of parameters to calculate the α+nucleus optical potential leading to large deviations for the reaction rates, exceeding even one order of magnitude. Recently the 96Zr(α,n)99Mo reaction has been identified as a key reaction that impacts the production of elements from Ru to Cd. Here, we present the first cross section measurement of this reaction at energies (6.22 MeV ≤ Ec.m. ≤ 12.47 MeV) relevant for the weak r-process. The new data provide a stringent test of various model predictions which is necessary to improve the precision of the weak r-process network calculations. The strongly reduced reaction rate uncertainty leads to very well-constrained nucleosynthesis yields for Z = 44–48 isotopes under different neutrino-driven wind conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrophages are key effector cells in obesity-associated inflammation. G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) is highly expressed in different immune cell types. Using LysM-GRK2+/− mice, we uncover that a reduction of GRK2 levels in myeloid cells prevents the development of glucose intolerance and hyperglycemia after a high fat diet (HFD) through modulation of the macrophage pro-inflammatory profile. Low levels of myeloid GRK2 confer protection against hepatic insulin resistance, steatosis and inflammation. In adipose tissue, pro-inflammatory cytokines are reduced and insulin signaling is preserved. Macrophages from LysM-GRK2+/− mice secrete less pro-inflammatory cytokines when stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and their conditioned media has a reduced pathological influence in cultured adipocytes or naïve bone marrow-derived macrophages. Our data indicate that reducing GRK2 levels in myeloid cells, by attenuating pro-inflammatory features of macrophages, has a relevant impact in adipose-liver crosstalk, thus preventing high fat diet-induced metabolic alterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: During the Plio‐Pleistocene, glacial cycles shaped Northern Hemisphere species' distributions causing range contractions followed by interglacial expansions. In migratory bird species, climatic changes could result in a rapid reshaping of their ranges and/or migratory behaviour, given their dispersal capacity. In this context, it has been suggested that long‐distance North American migratory species could have lost their migratory condition during cold glacial periods, regaining it later in warmer periods. Here, we explored this hypothesis for extant Eurasian‐African migratory bird species. Location: Eurasia and Africa. Taxon: Migratory birds. Methods: We used Species Distribution Models (SDMs) to infer the present and Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) potential distribution of 81 Trans‐Saharan migratory bird species, and reviewed the available bird fossil record for the Plio‐Pleistocene covering Eurasia and Africa. Results: SDMs predicted a reduction of the northern edges of the breeding ranges during the LGM compared to the present. However, the current wintering ranges were somewhat similar in the Pleistocene, with the Saharan desert belt gap being always present through time, not overlapping with their breeding ranges. The fossil record also supports the persistence of migration during the Pleistocene. Main conclusions: The palaeo‐distributions and absence of medullary bone in Pleistocene fossils from wintering Euro‐African migratory species confirm that they were migratory, providing independent support for our models. The hypothesis of the loss of migratory behaviour in these species during the Pleistocene is not supported. Furthermore, the differences in migratory species from Eurasia‐Africa and the Americas can be influenced by geographical differences, the persistence of the Mediterranean basin as climatically suitable area during glaciations and the existence of the Saharan belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present results of three-dimensional (3D), radiation-magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations of core-collapse supernovae in full general relativity (GR) with spectral neutrino transport. In order to study the effects of the progenitor's rotation and magnetic fields, we compute three models, where the precollapse rotation rate and magnetic fields are included parametrically to a 20 M⊙ star. While we find no shock revival in our two nonmagnetized models during our simulation times (∼500 ms after bounce), the magnetorotational (MR) driven shock expansion immediately initiates after bounce in our rapidly rotating and strongly magnetized model. We show that the expansion of the MR-driven flows toward the polar directions is predominantly driven by the magnetic pressure, whereas the shock expansion toward the equatorial direction is supported by neutrino heating. Our detailed analysis indicates that the growth of the so-called kink instability may hinder the collimation of jets, resulting in the formation of broader outflows. Furthermore, we find a dipole emission of lepton number, only in the MR explosion model, whose asymmetry is consistent with the explosion morphology. Although it is similar to the lepton number emission self-sustained asymmetry (LESA), our analysis shows that the dipole emission occurs not from the proto–neutron star convection zone but from above the neutrino sphere, indicating that it is not associated with the LESA. We also report several unique neutrino signatures, which are significantly dependent on both the time and the viewing angle, if observed, possibly providing rich information regarding the onset of the MR-driven explosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our current understanding of how species have evolved is mainly based on comparative phylogenetic methods, which use phylogenies to infer the evolution of traits. The development of ancestral state reconstruction (ASR) methods has provided the tools to reconstruct trait evolution, which are widely used in fields like evolutionary biology, macroecology and paleontology. As there are different elements involved in those analyses, with different levels of uncertainty (i.e. relating to branch length estimation, trait coding, statistical framework, taxon sampling or software), the various combinations of these elements likely have a strong impact on the reconstruction of the evolution of traits, potentially leading to opposite conclusions. To assess the impact of these different elements in ASR, we performed a set of analyses, including all possible combinations of such elements and using the evolution of migratory behavior in Sylvia warblers as a case study, which was coded as a continuous or as a discrete character. Our results show that taxon sampling, character coding, tree shape, statistical framework and software all significantly affect ASR, both individually and in combination. Not all reconstructed tree nodes show discrepancies, but in the critical ones most pairwise comparisons between analyses lead to conflicting and unexpectedly antagonistic results (zero migration vs fully migratory), thus challenging interpretations of trait evolution. We propose some possible solutions to partly inform decisions, involving the method selection and the incorporation of biological or fossil evidence regarding how traits evolve, but our results demand serious rethinking about how the research community currently uses ASR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migratory birds occupy different geographical areas during breeding and non‐breeding periods, and thus different factors may determine their range limits depending on each season. One such factor is the spatial climatic component of the niche, which is widely used to model species distributions, yet the temporal component is often neglected and is generally assumed to be constant. We tested the hypothesis that the climatic niche is conserved between breeding and non‐breeding areas in 355 bird species migrating through Eurasian–African flyways. For this, we performed niche overlap analyses and compared niche differences between sister or phylogenetically closely related species, as well as linking the differences to migratory distances. For more than 80% of the species, there was no or very little overlap between their breeding and non‐breeding climatic niches. For most closely related species, the degree of overlap of their breeding climatic niches was larger than the overlap observed within each species, but not for their wintering climatic niches, suggesting a phylogenetic conservation of breeding climatic niches. Finally, there was a clear negative relationship between migratory distances and climatic niche overlap within each species. Our results confirmed that the climatic niche of most Eurasian–African migratory species differs between both breeding and non‐breeding ranges, suggesting distinctive seasonal climatic requirements. Given these results and the geographically uneven effects of climate change, the impact of global change is likely to have different effects in each seasonal range. Hence, both breeding and non‐breeding climatic data need to be considered when using species distribution models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Half of all of the elements in the Universe that are heavier than iron were created by rapid neutron capture. The theory underlying this astrophysical r-process was worked out six decades ago, and requires an enormous neutron flux to make the bulk of the elements1. Where this happens is still debated2. A key piece of evidence would be the discovery of freshly synthesized r-process elements in an astrophysical site. Existing models3–5 and circumstantial evidence6 point to neutron-star mergers as a probable r-process site; the optical/infrared transient known as a 'kilonova' that emerges in the days after a merger is a likely place to detect the spectral signatures of newly created neutron-capture elements7–9. The kilonova AT2017gfo—which was found following the discovery of the neutron-star merger GW170817 by gravitational-wave detectors10—was the first kilonova for which detailed spectra were recorded. When these spectra were first reported11,12, it was argued that they were broadly consistent with an outflow of radioactive heavy elements; however, there was no robust identification of any one element. Here we report the identification of the neutron-capture element strontium in a reanalysis of these spectra. The detection of a neutron-capture element associated with the collision of two extreme-density stars establishes the origin of r-process elements in neutron-star mergers, and shows that neutron stars are made of neutron-rich matter13. Reanalysis of the spectra associated with the merger of two neutron stars identifies strontium, spectroscopically establishing the origin of the heavy elements created by rapid neutron capture and proving that neutron stars comprise neutron-rich matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of migration in birds and its causes are still subject of debate. Recent studies tracking current bird migration have identified peaks in net primary productivity (NPP) as a main driver of bird migratory behaviour. However, it is unclear which variables may have played a major role in the evolution of bird migration at deeper phylogenetic levels. Here, we used phylogenetic comparative methods to assess whether the evolutionary patterns of migratory distances, as a proxy for migratory behaviour, are correlated with several biometric, climatic and productivity variables in a phylogenetic context, using Sylvia warblers as a case study. Our results recover NPP in the breeding range and during the breeding season as the variable with stronger positive correlation with migratory distances, being always included in the best models considering all potential variables. Several climatic variables show a correlation with the evolution of migration, but those are also tightly correlated with NPP. Among morphological variables, migratory lineages tend to have longer wings than sedentary ones. Although NPP has been identified as a driver of migratory behaviour in current species, in a phylogenetic scale it is not possible to disentangle if it was a main driver in the evolution of bird migratory behaviour or a consequence of it, yet migration and NPP seem to be tightly related today and along the long evolutionary history of these passerines. The evolution of migration in birds and its causes are still subject to debate. It is unclear which variables may have played a major role in the evolution of bird migration at deeper phylogenetic levels. Here, we used phylogenetic comparative methods to assess whether the evolutionary patterns of migratory distances, as a proxy for migratory behaviour, are correlated with several biometric, climatic and productivity variables in a phylogenetic context, using Sylvia warblers as a case study. Our results recover Net Primary Productivity (NPP) in the breeding range and during the breeding season as the variable with stronger positive correlation with migratory distances. Migration and NPP seem to be tightly related today and along the long evolutionary history of these passerines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), the most severe form of leishmaniasis, is endemic in Europe with Mediterranean countries reporting endemic status alongside a worrying northward spread. Serological diagnosis, including immunochromatographic test based on the recombinant antigen rK39 (rK39-ICT) and a direct agglutination test (DAT) based on the whole parasite antigen, have been validated in regions with high VL burden, such as eastern Africa and the Indian subcontinent. To date, no studies using a large set of patients have performed an assessment of both methods within Europe. Methodology/Principal findings: We selected a range of clinical serum samples from patients with confirmed VL (including HIV co-infection), Chagas disease, malaria, other parasitic infections and negative samples (n = 743; years 2009–2015) to test the performance of rK39-ICT rapid test (Kalazar Detect Rapid Test; InBios International, Inc., USA) and DAT (ITM-DAT/VLG; Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Belgium). An in-house immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), was included for comparison. Estimated sensitivities for rK39-ICT and DAT in HIV-negative VL patients were 83.1% [75.1–91.2] and 84.2% [76.3–92.1], respectively. Sensitivity was reduced to 67.3% [52.7–82.0] for rK39 and increased to 91.3% [82.1–100.0] for DAT in HIV/VL co-infected patients. The in-house IFAT was more sensitive in HIV-negative VL patients, 84.2% [76.3–92.1] than in HIV/VL patients, 79.4% [73.3–96.2]. DAT gave 32 false positives in sera from HIV-negative VL suspects, compared to 0 and 2 for rK39 and IFAT, respectively, but correctly detected more HIV/VL patients (42/46) than rK39 (31/46) and IFAT (39/46). Conclusions/Significance: Though rK39-ICT and DAT exhibited acceptable sensitivity and specificity a combination with other tests is required for highly sensitive diagnosis of VL cases in Spain. Important variation in the performance of the tests were seen in patients co-infected with HIV or with other parasitic infections. This study can help inform the choice of serological test to be used when screening or diagnosing VL in a European Mediterranean setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: The leading cause of death among the obese population is heart failure and stroke prompted by structural and functional changes in the heart. The molecular mechanisms that underlie obesity-related cardiac remodeling are complex, and include hemodynamic and metabolic alterations that ultimately affect the functionality of the myocardium. G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) is an ubiquitous kinase able to desensitize the active form of several G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) and is known to play an important role in cardiac GPCR modulation. GRK2 has also been recently identified as a negative modulator of insulin signaling and systemic insulin resistance. Methods: We investigated the effects elicited by GRK2 downregulation in obesity-related cardiac remodeling. For this aim, we used 9 month-old wild type (WT) and GRK2+/- mice, which display circa 50% lower levels of this kinase, fed with either a standard or a high fat diet (HFD) for 30 weeks. In these mice we studied different parameters related to cardiac growth and lipid accumulation. Results: We find that GRK2+/- mice are protected from obesity-promoted cardiac and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and fibrosis. Moreover, the marked intracellular lipid accumulation caused by a HFD in the heart is not observed in these mice. Interestingly, HFD significantly increases cardiac GRK2 levels in WT but not in GRK2+/- mice, suggesting that the beneficial phenotype observed in hemizygous animals correlates with the maintenance of GRK2 levels below a pathological threshold. Low GRK2 protein levels are able to keep the PKA/CREB pathway active and to prevent HFDinduced downregulation of key fatty acid metabolism modulators such as Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activators (PGC1), thus preserving the expression of cardioprotective proteins such as mitochondrial fusion markers mitofusin MFN1 and OPA1. Conclusions: Our data further define the cellular processes and molecular mechanisms by which GRK2 down-regulation is cardioprotective during diet-induced obesity, reinforcing the protective effect of maintaining low levels of GRK2 under nutritional stress, and showing a role for this kinase in obesity-induced cardiac remodeling and steatosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous work has shown that the synthetic lethality of the slt2▵ rim101▵ mutant results from a combination of factors, including improper functioning of the septum assembly machinery. Here, we identify new multicopy suppressors of this lethality including Kss1, Pcl1 and Sph1, none of which seems to be linked to the upregulation of chitin synthesis. Characterization of the suppression mediated by Kss1 showed that it is independent of the transcriptional response of the CWI signaling response, but efficiently restores the Bni4 localization defects produced by the absence of Slt2. Accordingly, Bni4 interacts physically with both kinases, and its levels of phosphorylation are reduced in the slt2▵ mutant but increased after Kss1 overexpression. Using an assay based on hypersensitive cells of the cdc10-11mutant, we have pinpointed several MAP kinase phosphorylatable residues required for Bni4 function. Our results, together with a genetic correlation analysis, strongly support a functional model linking Slt2 MAP kinase and Pcl1, a Pho85 cyclin-dependent kinase, in septum assembly through Bni4. This model, based on the coordinated phosphorylation of Bni4 by both kinases, would be able to integrate cellular signals rapidly to maintain cell integrity during cytokinesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular methods are increasingly used for both species identification of sandflies and assessment of their population structure. In general, they are based on DNA sequence analysis of targets previously amplified by PCR. However, this approach requires access to DNA sequence facilities, and in some circumstances, it is time-consuming. Though DNA sequencing provides the most reliable information, other downstream PCR applications are explored to assist in species identification. Thus, it has been recently proposed that the amplification of a DNA region encompassing partially both the cytochrome-B ( cytb) and the NADH dehydrogenase 1 ( nd1) genes followed by RFLP analysis with the restriction enzyme Ase I allows the rapid identification of the most prevalent species of phlebotomine sandflies in the Mediterranean region. In order to confirm the suitability of this method, we collected, processed, and molecularly analyzed a total of 155 sandflies belonging to four species including Phlebotomus ariasi, P. papatasi, P. perniciosus, and Sergentomyia minuta from different regions in Spain. This data set was completed with DNA sequences available at the GenBank for species prevalent in the Mediterranean basin and the Middle East. Additionally, DNA sequences from 13 different phlebotomine species ( P. ariasi, P. balcanicus, P. caucasicus, P. chabaudi, P. chadlii, P. longicuspis, P. neglectus, P. papatasi, P. perfiliewi, P. perniciosus, P. riouxi, P. sergenti, and S. minuta), from 19 countries, were added to the data set. Overall, our molecular data revealed that this PCR-RFLP method does not provide a unique and specific profile for each phlebotomine species tested. Intraspecific variability and similar RFLP patterns were frequently observed among the species tested. Our data suggest that this method may not be applicable throughout the Mediterranean region as previously proposed. Other molecular approaches like DNA barcoding or phylogenetic analyses would allow a more precise molecular species identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eukaryotic cells must coordinate contraction of the actomyosin ring at the division site together with ingression of the plasma membrane and remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) to support cytokinesis, but the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. In eukaryotes, glycosyltransferases that synthesise ECM polysaccharides are emerging as key factors during cytokinesis. The budding yeast chitin synthase Chs2 makes the primary septum, a special layer of the ECM, which is an essential process during cell division. Here we isolated a group of actomyosin ring components that form complexes together with Chs2 at the cleavage site at the end of the cell cycle, which we named ‘ingression progression complexes’ (IPCs). In addition to type II myosin, the IQGAP protein Iqg1 and Chs2, IPCs contain the F-BAR protein Hof1, and the cytokinesis regulators Inn1 and Cyk3. We describe the molecular mechanism by which chitin synthase is activated by direct association of the C2 domain of Inn1, and the transglutaminase-like domain of Cyk3, with the catalytic domain of Chs2. We used an experimental system to find a previously unanticipated role for the C-terminus of Inn1 in preventing the untimely activation of Chs2 at the cleavage site until Cyk3 releases the block on Chs2 activity during late mitosis. These findings support a model for the co-ordinated regulation of cell division in budding yeast, in which IPCs play a central role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We sequenced the complete mitogenome of the Pyrenean frogRana pyrenaica, which was determined from an Illumina Hi-seq RNAseq run (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA). The genome is 17,213 bp in size, including 13 protein-coding genes, 21 transfer RNAs, two ribosomal RNAs and a control region. It shows the typical gene order of previously available frog mitogenomes, although it lacks thetRNAPhe. This is the first complete mitogenome described for a Western Palearctic brown frog species. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We present a detailed, three-dimensional hydrodynamic study of the neutrino-driven winds emerging from the remnant of a neutron star merger. Our simulations are performed with the Newtonian, Eulerian code fish, augmented by a detailed, spectral neutrino leakage scheme that accounts for neutrino absorption. Consistent with earlier two-dimensional studies, a strong baryonic wind is blown out along the original binary rotation axis within ≈100 ms. From this model, we compute a lower limit on the expelled mass of 3.5 × 10−3 M⊙, relevant for heavy element nucleosynthesis. Because of stronger neutrino irradiation, the polar regions show substantially larger electron fractions than those at lower latitudes. The polar ejecta produce interesting r-process contributions from A ≈ 80 to about 130, while the more neutron-rich, lower latitude parts produce elements up to the third r-process peak near A ≈ 195. We calculate the properties of electromagnetic transients powered by the radioactivity in the wind, in addition to the ‘macronova’ transient stemming from the dynamic ejecta. The polar regions produce ultraviolet/optical transients reaching luminosities up to 1041 erg s−1, which peak around 1 d in optical and 0.3 d in bolometric luminosity. The lower latitude regions, due to their contamination with high-opacity heavy elements, produce dimmer and more red signals, peaking after ∼2 d in optical and infrared. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Neutrino-driven winds that follow core collapse supernovae were thought to be the site where half of the heavy elements are produced by the r-process. Although recent hydrodynamic simulations show that the conditions in the wind are not enough for the r-process, lighter heavy elements like Sr, Y, and Zr can be produced. However, it is still not clear whether the conditions in the wind are slightly neutron-rich or proton-rich. Here, we investigate the nucleosynthesis in neutrino-driven winds for both these conditions and systematically explore the impact of wind parameters on abundances. Our results show the difficulty of obtaining a robust abundance pattern in neutron-rich winds, where an over production of Sr, Y, and Zr is also likely. In proton-rich conditions, the abundances smoothly change when varying wind parameters. Constraints for wind parameters and neutrino energies and luminosities will soon become available by combining nucleosynthesis studies, like the one presented here, with new and future experimental data and observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]