We present the first good evidence for exocomet transits of a host star in continuum light in data from the mission. The star in question, KIC 3542116, is of spectral type F2V and is quite bright at = 10. The transits have a distinct asymmetric shape with a steeper ingress and slower egress that can be ascribed to objects with a trailing dust tail passing over the stellar disk. There are three deeper transits with depths of ≃ 0.1% that last for about a day, and three that are several times more shallow and of shorter duration. The transits were found via an exhaustive visual search of the entire photometric data set, which we describe in some detail. We review the methods we use to validate the data showing the comet transits, and rule out instrumental artefacts as sources of the signals. We fit the transits with a simple dust-tail model, and find that a transverse comet speed of ∼35-50 km s and a minimum amount of dust present in the tail of ∼ 10 g are required to explain the larger transits. For a dust replenishment time of ∼10 days, and a comet lifetime of only ∼300 days, this implies a total cometary mass of ≳ 3 × 10 g, or about the mass of Halley's comet. We also discuss the number of comets and orbital geometry that would be necessary to explain the six transits detected over the four years of prime-field observations. Finally, we also report the discovery of a single comet-shaped transit in KIC 11084727 with very similar transit and host-star properties.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stx2735 | DOI Listing |
Parasit Vectors
January 2025
Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
Background: Nippostrongylus brasiliensis-a nematode of rodents-is commonly used as a model to study the immunobiology of parasitic nematodes. It is a member of the Strongylida-a large order of socioeconomically important parasitic nematodes of animals. Lipids are known to play essential roles in nematode biology, influencing cellular membranes, energy storage and/or signalling.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Public Health
January 2025
Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Public and Occupational Health, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Background: Developing interventions along with the population of interest using systems thinking is a promising method to address the underlying system dynamics of overweight. The purpose of this study is twofold: to gain insight into the perspectives of adolescents regarding: (1) the system dynamics of energy balance-related behaviours (EBRBs) (physical activity, screen use, sleep behaviour and dietary behaviour); and (2) underlying mechanisms and overarching drivers of unhealthy EBRBs.
Methods: We conducted Participatory Action Research (PAR) to map the system dynamics of EBRBs together with adolescents aged 10-14 years old living in a lower socioeconomic, ethnically diverse neighbourhood in Amsterdam East, the Netherlands.
Environ Manage
January 2025
TECNALIA Research & Innovation, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Energy, climate, and urban transition, Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio, Spain.
The extent and timescale of climate change impacts remain uncertain, including global temperature increase, sea level rise, and more frequent and intense extreme events. Uncertainties are compounded by cascading effects. Nevertheless, decision-makers must take action.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Clin Nutr
January 2025
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences and Education, Harokopio University of Athens, Kallithea, Athens, Attica, Greece.
Background: The long-term effects of breakfast on childhood z-BMI remain inconclusive.
Objective: To prospectively assess the impact of stable and altered breakfast consumption habits on z-BMI change over two years, in school-aged children across six European countries.
Methods: Data of 6,528 children (8.
Apoptosis
January 2025
Department of Cardiac Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan II Rd, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
Recent studies have suggested that sVEGFR3 is involved in cardiac diseases by regulating lymphangiogenesis; however, results are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to investigate the function and mechanism of sVEGFR3 in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI). sVEGFR3 effects were evaluated in vivo in mice subjected to MI/RI, and in vitro using HL-1 cells exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion.
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