Integrated spectra extraction based on signal-to-noise optimization using Integral Field Spectroscopy

We propose and explore the potential of a method to extract high signal-to-noise (S/N) integrated spectra related to physical and/or morphological regions on a 2-dimensional field using Integral Field Spectroscopy (IFS) observations by employing an optimization procedure based on either continuum (stellar) or line (nebular) emission features. The optimization method is applied to a set of IFS VLT-VIMOS observations of (U)LIRG galaxies, describing the advantages of the optimization by comparing the results with a fixed-aperture, single spectrum case, and by implementing some statistical tests. We demonstrate that the S/N of the IFS optimized integrated spectra is significantly enhanced when compared with the single aperture unprocessed case. We provide an iterative user-friendly and versatile IDL algorithm that allows the user to spatially integrate spectra following more standard procedures. This is made available to the community as part of the PINGSoft IFS software package.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 12 pages, 7 figure

TreeViewJ: An Application for Viewing and Analyzing Phylogenetic Trees

BACKGROUND. Phylogenetic trees are widely used to visualize evolutionary relationships between different organisms or samples of the same organism. There exists a variety of both free and commercial tree visualization software available, but limitations in these programs often require researchers to use multiple programs for analysis, annotation, and the production of publication-ready images. RESULTS. We present TreeViewJ, a Java tool for visualizing, editing and analyzing phylogenetic trees. The software allows researchers to color and change the width of branches that they wish to highlight, and add names to nodes. If collection dates are available for taxa, the software can map them onto a timeline, and sort the tree in ascending or descending date order. CONCLUSION. TreeViewJ is a tool for researchers to visualize, edit, "decorate," and produce publication-ready images of phylogenetic trees. It is open-source, and released under an GPL license, and available at http://treeviewj.sourceforge.net