Astroparticle Constraints from the Cosmic Star Formation Rate Density at High Redshift: Current Status and Forecasts for JWST

We exploit the recent determination of cosmic star formation rate (SFR) density at redshifts $z\gtrsim 4$ to derive astroparticle constraints on three common dark matter scenarios alternative to standard cold dark matter (CDM): warm dark matter (WDM), fuzzy dark matter ($\psi$DM) and self-interacting dark matter (SIDM). Our analysis relies on the UV luminosity functions measured by the Hubble Space Telescope out to $z\lesssim 10$ and down to UV magnitudes $M_{\rm UV}\lesssim -17$. We extrapolate these to fainter yet unexplored magnitude ranges, and perform abundance matching with the halo mass functions in a given DM scenario, so obtaining a relationship between the UV magnitude and the halo mass. We then compute the cosmic SFR density by integrating the extrapolated UV luminosity functions down to a faint magnitude limit $M_{\rm UV}^{\rm lim}$, which is determined via the above abundance matching relationship by two free parameters: the minimum threshold halo mass $M_{\rm H}^{\rm GF}$ for galaxy formation, and the astroparticle quantity $X$ characterizing each DM scenario (namely, particle mass for WDM and $\psi$DM, and kinetic temperature at decoupling $T_X$ for SIDM). We perform Bayesian inference on such parameters via a MCMC technique by comparing the cosmic SFR density from our approach to the current observational estimates at $z\gtrsim 4$, constraining the WDM particle mass to $m_X\approx 1.2^{+0.3\,(11.3)}_{-0.4\,(-0.5)}$ keV, the $\psi$DM particle mass to $m_X\approx 3.7^{+1.8\,(+12.9.3)}_{-0.4\,(-0.5)}\times 10^{-22}$ eV, and the SIDM temperature to $T_X\approx 0.21^{+0.04\,(+1.8)}_{-0.06\,(-0.07)}$ keV at $68\%$ ($95\%$) confidence level. We then forecast how such constraints will be strengthened by upcoming refined estimates of the cosmic SFR density, if the early data on the UV luminosity function at $z\gtrsim 10$ from JWST will be confirmed down to ultra-faint magnitudes.Comment: 18 pages, accepted in MDPI Universe. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2205.0947

Dark Matter in Fractional Gravity I: Astrophysical Tests on Galactic Scales

[abridged] We explore the possibility that the dark matter (DM) component in galaxies may originate fractional gravity. In such a framework, the standard law of inertia continues to hold, but the gravitational potential associated to a given DM density distribution is determined by a modified Poisson equation including fractional derivatives (i.e., derivatives of non-integer type), that are meant to describe non-local effects. We derive analytically the expression of the potential that in fractional gravity corresponds to various spherically symmetric density profiles, including the Navarro-Frenk-White (NFW) distribution that is usually exploited to describe virialized halos of collisionless DM as extracted from $N-$body cosmological simulations. We show that in fractional gravity the dynamics of a test particle moving in a cuspy NFW density distribution is substantially altered with respect to the Newtonian case (i.e., basing on the standard Poisson equation), mirroring what in Newtonian gravity would instead be sourced by a density profile with an inner core. We test the fractional gravity framework on galactic scales, showing that: (i) it can provide accurate fits to the stacked rotation curves of galaxies with different properties; (ii) it can reproduce to reasonable accuracy the observed shape and scatter of the radial acceleration relation (RAR); (iii) it can properly account for the universal surface density and the core radius vs. disk scale-length scaling relations. Finally, we discuss the possible origin of the fractional gravity behavior as a fundamental or emerging property of the elusive DM component.Comment: 30 pages, 11 figures, Accepted by Ap

Early-Type Galaxies in the Hubble Deep Field: The Star Formation History

We have investigated the properties of a complete K-band selected sample of 35 elliptical and S0 galaxies brighter than K=20.15 in the Hubble Deep Field, as representative of the field galaxy population. This sample has been derived from deep K-band image by the KPNO-IRIM camera, by applying a rigorous morphological classification scheme based on quantitative analyses of the surface brightness profiles. The broad-band spectra of the sample galaxies allow us to date their dominant stellar populations. The majority of bright early-types in this field are found at redshifts z<1.3 to display colors indicative of a fairly wide range of ages (typically 1.5 to 3 Gyrs). We find that the major episodes of star-formation building up typical M_star galaxies have taken place during a wide redshift interval 11.3, which should be detectable during the luminous star-formation phase expected to happen at these redshifts. Obvious solutions are a) that the merging events imply perturbed morphologies which prevent selecting them by our morphological classification filter, or b) that a dust-polluted ISM obscures the (either continuous or episodic) events of star-formation. We conclude that the likely solution is a combination thereof, i.e. a set of dust-enshrouded merging-driven starbursts occurring during the first few Gyrs of the galaxy's lifetime

Effects of pegylated G-CSF on immune cell number and function in patients with gynecological malignancies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pegylated granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; pegfilgrastim) is a longer-acting form of G-CSF, whose effects on dendritic cell (DC) and regulatory T cell (Treg) mobilization, and on the <it>in vivo </it>and ex vivo release of immune modulating cytokines remain unexplored.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twelve patients with gynecological cancers received carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy and single-dose pegfilgrastim as prophylaxis of febrile neutropenia. Peripheral blood was collected prior to pegfilgrastim administration (day 0) and on days +7, +11 and +21, to quantify immunoregulatory cytokines and to assess type 1 DC (DC1), type 2 DC (DC2) and Treg cell mobilization. <it>In vitro</it>-differentiated, monocyte-derived DC were used to investigate endocytic activity, expression of DC maturation antigens and ability to activate allogeneic T-cell proliferation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Pegfilgrastim increased the frequency of circulating DC1 and DC2 precursors. In contrast, CD4⁺FoxP3⁺<it>bona fide </it>Treg cells were unchanged compared with baseline. Serum levels of hepatocyte growth factor and interleukin (IL)-12p40, but not transforming growth factor-β1 or immune suppressive kynurenines, significantly increased after pegfilgrastim administration. Interestingly, pegfilgrastim fostered <it>in vitro</it> monocytic<it/> secretion of IL-12p40 and IL-12p70 when compared with unconjugated G-CSF. Finally, DC populations differentiated <it>in vitro </it>after clinical provision of pegfilgrastim were phenotypically mature, possessed low endocytic activity, and incited a robust T-cell proliferative response.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Pegfilgrastim induced significant changes in immune cell number and function. The enhancement of monocytic IL-12 secretion portends favorable implications for pegfilgrastim administration to patients with cancer, a clinical context where the induction of immune deviation would be highly undesirable.</p

Plasma bile acid profile in patients with and without Type 2 Diabetes

A paucity of information currently exists on plasma bile acid (BA) profiles in patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We assayed 14 plasma BA species in 224 patients with T2DM and in 102 nondiabetic individuals with metabolic syndrome. Plasma BA levels were measured with ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) technique. Multivariable linear regression analyses were undertaken to assess associations between measured plasma BA species and T2DM status after adjustment for confounding factors. The presence of T2DM was significantly associated with higher plasma concentrations of both primary BAs (adjusted-standardized beta coefficient: 0.279, p = 0.005) and secondary BAs (standardized beta coefficient: 0.508, p &lt; 0.001) after adjustment for age, sex, adiposity measures, serum alanine aminotransferase and use of statins or metformin. More specifically, the presence of T2DM was significantly associated with higher levels of plasma taurochenodeoxycholic acid, taurodeoxycholic acid, glycochenodeoxycholic acid, hyodeoxycholic acid, glycodeoxycholic acid, glycolithocholic acid, deoxycholic acid, taurochenodeoxycholic acid, taurodeoxycholic acid, glycochenodeoxycholic acid and glycodeoxycholic acid (adjusted-standardized beta coefficients ranging from 0.315 to 0.600; p &lt; 0.01 or less), as well as with lower plasma levels of cholic acid (adjusted-standardized beta coefficient: -0.250, p = 0.013) and taurocholic acid (adjusted-standardized beta coefficient: -0.309, p = 0.001). This study shows that there are marked differences in plasma BA profiles between patients with and without T2DM. Further research will be needed to better understand how these differences in plasma BA profiles may interplay with the pathophysiology of T2DM

Residual neurotoxicity in ovarian cancer patients in clinical remission after first-line chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel: The Multicenter Italian Trial in Ovarian cancer (MITO-4) retrospective study

BACKGROUND: Carboplatin/paclitaxel is the chemotherapy of choice for advanced ovarian cancer, both in first line and in platinum-sensitive recurrence. Although a significant proportion of patients have some neurotoxicity during treatment, the long-term outcome of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy has been scantly studied. We retrospectively assessed the prevalence of residual neuropathy in a cohort of patients in clinical remission after first-line carboplatin/paclitaxel for advanced ovarian cancer. METHODS: 120 patients have been included in this study (101 participating in a multicentre phase III trial evaluating the efficacy of consolidation treatment with topotecan, and 19 treated at the National Cancer Institute of Naples after the end of the trial). All patients received carboplatin (AUC 5) plus paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2)) every 3 weeks for 6 cycles, completing treatment between 1998 and 2003. Data were collected between May and September 2004. Residual sensory and motor neurotoxicity were coded according to the National Cancer Institute – Common Toxicity Criteria. RESULTS: 55 patients (46%) did not experience any grade of neurological toxicity during chemotherapy and of these none had signs of neuropathy during follow-up. The other 65 patients (54%) had chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity during treatment and follow-up data are available for 60 of them. Fourteen out of 60 patients (23%) referred residual neuropathy at the most recent follow-up visit, after a median follow up of 18 months (range, 7–58 months): 12 patients had grade 1 and 2 patients grade 2 peripheral sensory neuropathy; 3 patients also had grade 1 motor neuropathy. The remaining 46/60 patients (77%) had no residual neuropathy at the moment of interview: recovery from neurotoxicity had occurred in the first 2 months after the end of chemotherapy in 22 (37%), between 2 and 6 months in 15 (25%), or after more than 6 months in 9 patients (15%). Considering all 120 treated patients, there was a 15% probability of persistent neurological toxicity 6 months after the end of chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of patients with advanced ovarian cancer treated with first-line carboplatin/paclitaxel suffer long-term residual neuropathy. This issue should be carefully taken into account before considering re-treatment with the same agents in sensitive recurrent disease

NKp46-expressing human gut-resident intraepithelial V\u3b41 T cell subpopulation exhibits high anti-tumor activity against colorectal cancer

\u3b3\u3b4 T cells account for a large fraction of human intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) endowed with potent anti-tumor activities. However, little is known about their origin, phenotype and clinical relevance in colorectal cancer (CRC). To determine \u3b3\u3b4 IEL gut-specificity, homing and functions, \u3b3\u3b4 T cells were purified from human healthy blood, lymph nodes, liver, skin, intestine either disease-free or affected by CRC or generated from thymic precursors. The constitutive expression of NKp46 specifically identifies a new subset of cytotoxic V\u3b41 T cells representing the largest fraction of gut-resident IELs. The ontogeny and gut-tropism of NKp46pos/V\u3b41 IELs depends both on distinctive features of V\u3b41 thymic precursors and gut-environmental factors. Either the constitutive presence of NKp46 on tissue-resident V\u3b41 intestinal IELs or its induced-expression on IL-2/IL-15 activated V\u3b41 thymocytes are associated with anti-tumor functions. Higher frequencies of NKp46pos/V\u3b41 IELs in tumor-free specimens from CRC patients correlate with a lower risk of developing metastatic III/IV disease stages. Additionally, our in vitro settings reproducing CRC tumor-microenvironment inhibited the expansion of NKp46pos/V\u3b41 cells from activated thymic precursors. These results parallel the very low frequencies of NKp46pos/V\u3b41 IELs able to infiltrate CRC, thus providing new insights to either follow-up cancer progression or develop novel adoptive cellular therapies

Herschel-ATLAS: Blazars in the science demonstration phase field

To investigate the poorly constrained sub-mm counts and spectral properties of blazars we searched for these in the Herschel-ATLAS (H-ATLAS) science demonstration phase (SDP) survey catalog. We cross-matched 500 μm sources brighter than 50 mJy with the FIRST radio catalogue. We found two blazars, both previously known. Our study is among the first blind blazar searches at sub-mm wavelengths, i.e., in the spectral regime where little is still known about the blazar SEDs, but where the synchrotron peak of the most luminous blazars is expected to occur. Our early results are consistent with educated extrapolations of lower frequency counts and question indications of substantial spectral curvature downwardsand of spectral upturns at mm wavelengths. One of the two blazars is identified with a Fermi/LAT Υ-ray source and a WMAP source. The physical parameters of the two blazars are briefly discussed. These observations demonstrate that the H-ATLAS survey will provide key information aboutthe physics of blazars and their contribution to sub-mm counts.We are grateful to the referee, P. Padovani, for very useful comments. Thanks are due to the PACO collaboration for having made available the data on the 2 blazars. M.M. and L.B. thanks the staff at the Australia Telescope Compact Array site, Narrabri (NSW), for the valuable support they provide in running the telescope. Work partially supported by the Italian Space Agency (contract I/016/07/0 "COFIS'' and ASI/INAF Agreement I/072/09/0 for the Planck LFI Activity of Phase E2). This research has made use of the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED) which is operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Inorganic Raw Materials Economy and Provenance of Chipped Industry in Some Stone Age Sites of Northern and Central Italy

An opportunistic and local choice of raw materials is typically attested in the Lower and Middle Paleolithic industries throughout Italy. The quality of the raw material usually affected the flaking technology and quality of the products. In the Upper Paleolithic and the Mesolithic, raw material procurement strategies were more complex. Flint was exploited both locally, in areas where abundant outcrops of raw materials were available (such as the Lessini mountains), and in distant localities, after which it was transported or exchanged over medium/long distances. Different routes of exchange were thus followed in the various periods; good reconstruction of these routes have been provided by a study of the Garfagnana sites in Northern Tuscany, and the Mesolithic deposit of Mondeval de Sora (Dolomites). An interesting example of a Late Upper Paleolithic flint quarry and workshop were found in Abruzzo, in the San Bartolomeo shelter. The extended trade of obsidian from Lipari, Palmarola and Sardinia to the Italian Peninsula is attested in the Neolithic, with some differences concerning the age and different areas