The ability to make accurate determinations of planetary parameters is inextricably linked to measuring physical parameters of the host star, in particular the stellar radius. In this paper, we fit the stellar spectral energy distributions of exoplanet hosts to measure their radii, making use of only archival photometry, the Gaia parallaxes, and Gaia extinction maps. Using the extinction maps frees us of the degeneracy between temperature and extinction, which has plagued this method in the past. The resulting radii have typical random uncertainties of about 2 per cent. We perform a quantitative study of systematic uncertainties affecting the methodology and find they are similar to, or smaller than, the random ones. We discuss how the stellar parameters can be used to derive the properties of both transiting exoplanets, and those where only a radial-velocity curve is available. We then explore in detail the improvements the method makes possible for the parameters of the PanCET sample of transiting planets. For this sample we find the best literature measurements of the planetary radii have mean uncertainties about 40 per cent larger than those presented here, with the new measurements achieving precisions of 2 per cent in radius and 10 per cent in mass. In contrast to much recent work, these transiting exoplanet parameters are derived without using theoretical models of stellar interiors, freeing them of the assumptions those models contain and any priors for stellar age. As the data used are available for the whole sky, the method can be used for self-consistent measurements of the planetary parameters of a very large fraction of known exoplanets.
While convection has been known to play a key role in stars for many decades, its implementation in one-dimensional stellar evolution codes still represents a major uncertainty today. The purpose of this work is to investigate the impact of initial mass dependent convective boundary mixing (CBM), often referred to as overshooting, on the frequency and type of nuclear burning shell interactions that occur in low metallicity massive stars and the subsequent effect on their fates. Two grids of models were calculated using the Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA) code and a 22-isotope nuclear network, each with a different strength of CBM applied. One grid uses the typical CBM value for diffusive overshooting used in literature whereas the other grid uses CBM values guided by the results of 3D convection simulations. Interactions between the carbon, neon and oxygen shells (C-Ne-O) are common throughout both grids. The higher CBM grid also exhibits more frequent H-He and He-C interactions at lower initial masses than in the lower CBM grid. Several models also undergo multiple interaction events during evolution. While future work will be needed to fully assess the impact of the new CBM and the interactions it leads to, one expects interesting effects like unusual nucleosynthesis including more common or enhanced i- and gamma-process nucleosynthesis. Furthermore, SN precursors and a significant change to the pre-SN structure are also expected, with many models not having the commonly expected onion-ring like structure and having a different explosion probability.
Introduction Haemoproteus spp. (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae) are widespread avian blood parasites known for their high genetic diversity and host specificity. Haemoproteus spp. can cause internal organ damage to their vertebrate hosts, which raises concerns about their health impacts. However, the distribution of Haemoproteus spp. in Africa, particularly among non-passerine birds, remains poorly understood, with unknown implications for species conservation. Sub-Saharan Africa, including The Gambia, hosts several critically endangered vulture species, including Hooded Vultures (Necrosyrtes monachus), yet information on their haemosporidian parasites is scarce. This study aimed to identify an effective primer set for detecting Haemoproteus parasites in Hooded Vultures and to provide the first molecular confirmation of infection in this species and country. MethodsBetween 2019 and 2025, Hooded Vultures were blood sampled in The Gambia, and microscope slides were screened for parasites. Samples microscopically positive for Haemoproteus spp. were subjected to DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis using different primer sets targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene. ResultOf these, only UNIVF/ UNIVR3 amplified Haemoproteus spp. DNA from the Hooded Vulture samples. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses revealed a novel Haemoproteus lineage, named hNECMON01. This represents the first molecular record of avian haemosporidian parasites in Hooded Vultures and in The Gambia. ConclusionOur findings highlight the importance of optimizing molecular tools for detecting haemosporidian parasites in non-passerine hosts and contribute to our understanding of the diversity of Haemoproteus spp. in sub-Saharan Africa. Further studies on parasite diversity in scavenging birds are essential for integrating parasite monitoring into avian conservation efforts.
Tendon injuries affect millions each year, yet effective repair remains limited by the tissue's avascular nature and complex mechanobiology. An anisotropic electrospun scaffold functionalized with GDF‐7‐loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) is developed to address these challenges. GDF‐7 is efficiently encapsulated (99.9%) in MSNs and incorporated into aligned poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) fibers, achieving controlled release over 46 days following non‐Fickian kinetics. MSN incorporation initially reduces scaffold stiffness and tensile strength; however, dynamic bioreactor culture of human mesenchymal stromal cell (MSCs) and porcine tendon progenitor stem cell (TPSCs) seeded scaffolds, under physiological axial strain, enhances cell alignment, proliferation, and extracellular matrix deposition. Culture under physiological oxygen (2%) conditions further promotes cell viability, proliferation, and tenogenic gene expression. Notably, the combination of topographical guidance, mechanical loading, and physoxia synergistically enhances the expression of terminal tenogenic markers, such as tenomodulin (Tnmd), in both MSCs and TPSCs, as evidenced by increased protein levels detected via immunofluorescence and elevated gene expression confirmed by RT‐qPCR analysis. This integration of topographical, biochemical, and mechanical cues in a tissue engineering approach supports tendon‐specific lineage commitment, offering a promising strategy for functional tendon regeneration.
Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of the increasing adoption of a commercial approach on the financial performance and outreach of microfinance institutions (MFIs). Drawing on institutional theory, it investigates whether commercialisation enhances MFIs’ financial performance and outreach while also considering the risk of mission drift. Design/methodology/approach A two-step system generalised method of moments estimation is applied to a dataset of 2,102 MFIs across 114 countries over a 15-year period. The study evaluates both traditional financial performance measures, such as return on assets and operational self-sufficiency, and outreach indicators, including number of active borrowers, average loan size (ALS) and new measures, such as market share of borrowers (MSB) and market share by assets (MSBA). Robustness checks, including the Arellano–Bond and Hansen tests, confirm the validity of the instruments and the reliability of the results. Further, the authors conducted mean difference tests to confirm the results. Findings Results show that commercialisation has no significant effect on the financial performance of MFIs. However, commercialisation is positively associated with breadth of outreach, as reflected in an increased number of active borrowers and with the depth of outreach, as reflected in larger ALSs. The increase in ALS suggests a shift away from serving the poorest clients, indicating mission drift. Additional results reveal that overall, commercial MFIs are moving towards larger scale and profitability but with reduced focus on their traditional social mission. Originality/value This paper extends the debate on commercialisation and mission drift in microfinance by using a large cross-country data set and multiple outreach measures, going beyond previous region-specific studies. It challenges the effectiveness of new outreach indicators such as MSBA in dynamic panel models and highlights the trade-offs between social and financial goals. The findings provide valuable implications for policymakers and practitioners, suggesting the need for frameworks that encourage MFIs to balance legitimacy, scale and sustainability with their original poverty alleviation mission.
