Search for photon-linelike signatures from dark matter annihilations with H.E.S.S.

Gamma-ray line signatures can be expected in the very-high-energy (E(γ)>100 GeV) domain due to self-annihilation or decay of dark matter (DM) particles in space. Such a signal would be readily distinguishable from astrophysical γ-ray sources that in most cases produce continuous spectra that span over several orders of magnitude in energy. Using data collected with the H.E.S.S. γ-ray instrument, upper limits on linelike emission are obtained in the energy range between ∼ 500 GeV and ∼ 25 TeV for the central part of the Milky Way halo and for extragalactic observations, complementing recent limits obtained with the Fermi-LAT instrument at lower energies. No statistically significant signal could be found. For monochromatic γ-ray line emission, flux limits of (2 × 10(-7) -2 × 10(-5)) m(-2) s(-1) sr(-1) and (1 × 10(-8) -2 × 10(-6)) m(-2) s(-1)sr(-1) are obtained for the central part of the Milky Way halo and extragalactic observations, respectively. For a DM particle mass of 1 TeV, limits on the velocity-averaged DM annihilation cross section ⟨σv⟩(χχ → γγ) reach ∼ 10(-27) cm(3)s(-1), based on the Einasto parametrization of the Galactic DM halo density profile.

Search for a dark matter annihilation signal from the galactic center halo with H.E.S.S.

A search for a very-high-energy (VHE; ≥100 GeV) γ-ray signal from self-annihilating particle dark matter (DM) is performed towards a region of projected distance r∼45-150 pc from the Galactic center. The background-subtracted γ-ray spectrum measured with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) γ-ray instrument in the energy range between 300 GeV and 30 TeV shows no hint of a residual γ-ray flux. Assuming conventional Navarro-Frenk-White and Einasto density profiles, limits are derived on the velocity-weighted annihilation cross section (σv) as a function of the DM particle mass. These are among the best reported so far for this energy range and in particular differ only little between the chosen density profile parametrizations. In particular, for the DM particle mass of ∼1 TeV, values for (σv) above 3×10(-25) cm(3) s(-1) are excluded for the Einasto density profile.

Detection of gamma rays from a starburst galaxy.

Starburst galaxies exhibit in their central regions a highly increased rate of supernovae, the remnants of which are thought to accelerate energetic cosmic rays up to energies of approximately 10(15) electron volts. We report the detection of gamma rays--tracers of such cosmic rays--from the starburst galaxy NGC 253 using the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. The gamma-ray flux above 220 billion electron volts is F = (5.5 +/- 1.0(stat) +/- 2.8(sys)) x 10(-13) cm(-2) s(-1), implying a cosmic-ray density about three orders of magnitude larger than that in the center of the Milky Way. The fraction of cosmic-ray energy channeled into gamma rays in this starburst environment is five times as large as that in our Galaxy.

The first and second backcross progeny of the intergeneric fusion hybrids of potato and tomato after crossing with potato.

Somatic fusion hybrids between the diploid potato and tomato were backcrossed to several genotypes of potato. Two ploidy levels of fusion hybrids, 4x and 6x, were used as female parents in backcrosses with five clones of 4x-potato. An estimate of the berry set and "seed set" in immature berries harvested 14-21 days after pollination indicated that crosses between certain combinations of 6x-fusion hybrids and male parents were more successful than others. The culture of over 4000 young seeds from berries harvested 2-2.5 weeks after pollination gave rise to a single seedling, 93.6701, from the cross between the 6x-fusion hybrid C 31-17-1 and the 4x-potato AM 66.42. This seedling was found to possess a pentaploid chromosome number, which was expected of a 6x × 4x cross. Isozyme analysis and DNA hybridisation studies confirmed that the seedling 93.6701 was indeed a backcross (BC1) progeny. Morphologically, this BC1 plant resembled potato with respect to plant habit, leaf shape, stolons and tuber characteristics, while some of the characters, such as floral morphology and the fragrance of the crushed leaves (typical of tomato), were intermediate. It was male sterile but could be successfully hybridized with 4x-potato through in vitro culture of yound seeds; thus, BC2 plants were obtained. The possibilities of backcrossing and the potential use of BC1 and BC2 plants in genetics and breeding are discussed.

Stroke following scorpion sting.

A 30 year old male presented with crossed buccofacial apraxia, apraxia for speech, Left UMN facial palsy and hemiplegia following scorpion sting. A cerebrovascular accident can develop following a scorpion sting due to venom-induced cerebral thrombosis.

Haemoglobin concentration and linear cardiac output, peripheral resistance, and oxygen transport.

Increasing the haemoglobin concentration results in increased oxygen transport at the cost of increased blood viscosity. This suggested the concept of an optimum packed cell volume for maximising oxygen transport and a study was therefore conducted seeking supportive evidence. Linear cardiac output was measured as minute distance by Doppler ultrasound in 40 patients with haemopoietic disorders who had stable haemoglobin concentrations ranging from 30 to 200 g/l. The correlation between haemoglobin concentration and minute distance (r = -0.45; p less than 0.01) was negative, and correlations between haemoglobin concentration and mean blood pressure (r = 0.66; p less than 0.001) and haemoglobin concentration and peripheral resistance (r = 0.64; p less than 0.001) were positive. Calculated oxygen transport increased across the whole range of haemoglobin values. These results suggest that adjustment of peripheral resistance in response to oxygen availability overrides the influence of blood viscosity on cardiac output and that the optimum packed cell volume for oxygen transport is the highest that can be achieved.

Reproducibility of linear cardiac output measurement by Doppler ultrasound alone.

Inclusion of a pig aorta in an artificial circulation with pulsed blood flow allowed correlation of minute distance, measured in the aorta by Doppler ultrasound, and absolute blood flow, measured by timed blood-volume collection. The correlation coefficient was 0.99 with a standard error of prediction that was 5.4% of the minute distance predicted at a standard flow rate of 5 litres per minute. The horizontal distance between 95% confidence limits for a single prediction expressed as a percentage of 5 litres per minute was 33%, and this corresponded to the range of flow rates of 1.65 litres per minute that could give rise to the same measurement. In 142 patients duplicate measurements of minute distance were made with repositioning of the ultrasound transducer between recordings. The mean difference between paired readings, expressed as a percentage of the average (SD) of each pair was 5.4 (4.7)%. Thus, the non-invasive measurement of linear cardiac output by Doppler ultrasound is similarly reproducible in vitro and in vivo and compares favourably with the measurement of volumetric cardiac output by thermodilution.