The MASSIVE Survey - I. A Volume-Limited Integral-Field Spectroscopic Study of the Most Massive Early-Type Galaxies within 108 Mpc

Massive early-type galaxies represent the modern-day remnants of the earliest major star formation episodes in the history of the universe. These galaxies are central to our understanding of the evolution of cosmic structure, stellar populations, and supermassive black holes, but the details of their complex formation histories remain uncertain. To address this situation, we have initiated the MASSIVE Survey, a volume-limited, multi-wavelength, integral-field spectroscopic (IFS) and photometric survey of the structure and dynamics of the ~100 most massive early-type galaxies within a distance of 108 Mpc. This survey probes a stellar mass range M* > 10^{11.5} Msun and diverse galaxy environments that have not been systematically studied to date. Our wide-field IFS data cover about two effective radii of individual galaxies, and for a subset of them, we are acquiring additional IFS observations on sub-arcsecond scales with adaptive optics. We are also acquiring deep K-band imaging to trace the extended halos of the galaxies and measure accurate total magnitudes. Dynamical orbit modeling of the combined data will allow us to simultaneously determine the stellar, black hole, and dark matter halo masses. The primary goals of the project are to constrain the black hole scaling relations at high masses, investigate systematically the stellar initial mass function and dark matter distribution in massive galaxies, and probe the late-time assembly of ellipticals through stellar population and kinematical gradients. In this paper, we describe the MASSIVE sample selection, discuss the distinct demographics and structural and environmental properties of the selected galaxies, and provide an overview of our basic observational program, science goals and early survey results.Comment: 19 pages, 14 figures. ApJ (2014) vol. 795, in pres

The MASSIVE Survey II: Stellar Population Trends Out to Large Radius in Massive Early Type Galaxies

We examine stellar population gradients in ~100 massive early type galaxies spanning 180 < sigma* < 370 km/s and M_K of -22.5 to -26.5 mag, observed as part of the MASSIVE survey (Ma et al. 2014). Using integral-field spectroscopy from the Mitchell Spectrograph on the 2.7m telescope at McDonald Observatory, we create stacked spectra as a function of radius for galaxies binned by their stellar velocity dispersion, stellar mass, and group richness. With excellent sampling at the highest stellar mass, we examine radial trends in stellar population properties extending to beyond twice the effective radius (~2.5 R_e). Specifically, we examine trends in age, metallicity, and abundance ratios of Mg, C, N, and Ca, and discuss the implications for star formation histories and elemental yields. At a fixed physical radius of 3-6 kpc (the likely size of the galaxy cores formed at high redshift) stellar age and [alpha/Fe] increase with increasing sigma* and depend only weakly on stellar mass, as we might expect if denser galaxies form their central cores earlier and faster. If we instead focus on 1-1.5 R_e, the trends in abundance and abundance ratio are washed out, as might be expected if the stars at large radius were accreted by smaller galaxies. Finally, we show that when controlling for \sigmastar, there are only very subtle differences in stellar population properties or gradients as a function of group richness; even at large radius internal properties matter more than environment in determining star formation history.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures, accepted by ApJ; resubmitted with updated reference

Near Infrared Spectra and Intrinsic Luminosities of Candidate Type II Quasars at 2 < z < 3.4

We present JHK near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy of 25 candidate Type II quasars selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, using Triplespec on the Apache Point Observatory 3.5m telescope, FIRE at the Magellan/Baade 6.5m telescope, and GNIRS on Gemini. At redshifts of 2 < z < 3.4, our NIR spectra probe the rest-frame optical region of these targets, which were initially selected to have strong lines of CIV and Ly alpha, with FWHM<2000 km/s from the SDSS pipeline. We use the [OIII]5007 line shape as a model for the narrow line region emission, and find that \halpha\ consistently requires a broad component with FWHMs ranging from 1000 to 7500 km/s. Interestingly, the CIV lines also require broad bases, but with considerably narrower widths of 1000 to 4500 km/s. Estimating the extinction using the Balmer decrement and also the relationship in lower-z quasars between rest equivalent width and luminosity in the [OIII] line, we find typical A_V values of 0-2 mag, which naturally explain the attenuated CIV lines relative to Halpha. We propose that our targets are moderately obscured quasars. We also describe one unusual object with three distinct velocity peaks in its [OIII] spectrum.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ, 18 pages, 14 figure

Preplanned Studies: Orofacial Clefts in High Prevalence Area of Birth Defects — Five Counties, Shanxi Province, China, 2000–2020

What is already known on this topic?: The prevalence of structural birth defects, especially neural tube defects, decreased after national folic acid (FA) supplementation initiation. / What is added by this report?: The prevalence of orofacial clefts (OFCs) in five counties of Shanxi Province in northern China, including most subtypes except cleft palate, showed a downward trend in the past two decades. In this study, pre-perinatal prevalence increased due to earlier detection. / What are the implications for public health practice?: Periconceptional supplementation with FA may contribute to the decline in OFCs prevalence, while the effect on the OFCs subtype needs further investigation. Continuing to advocate for earlier supplementation (3 months before conception) and increased supplementation frequency (daily consumption) could promote further reduction in the prevalence of OFCs. Specific surveillance of this effect in the era of universal three-child policy is warranted

Changes in PPARδ Protein Content following Acute Aerobic Exercise in Human Vastus Lateralis Muscle.

PPARδ is a transcription factor which functions in the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism, and may be implicated as a therapeutic target for several metabolic diseases. Exercise training has previously been shown to increase PPARδ protein content, but the response of PPARδ to acute exercise is not yet understood. PURPOSE: To explore changes in PPARδ protein content following an acute bout of aerobic exercise in untrained obese adults. METHODS: 8 men and 4 women participated in the study. Subjects’ mean age, weight, VO2MAX (Bruce treadmill GXT), and body composition (DEXA) were 44 yr, 93.2 kg, 28.2 mL/kg/min, and 40.5% body fat, respectively. Subjects were asked to refrain from exercise for 1 week prior to the experiment and to maintain normal dietary habits during the study. Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis 3 days prior to acute exercise and again 24 hours after exercise. Subjects were exercised on a motorized treadmill at 70% VO2MAX for a target duration of 400kcal energy expenditure during the exercise session. PPARδ protein content in biopsied tissue was determined by Western blot analysis. Data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA and expressed as means ± standard error. RESULTS: PPARδ content was enhanced 24 hours following acute exercise in previously untrained, obese adults (unexercised 1.54±0.38 vs. exercised 2.30±0.39 arbitrary units, P\u3c0.05). Gel mobility shift indicated no difference in activity of PPARδ (phosphorylated: total) following exercise (unexercised 0.36±0.03 vs. exercised 0.34±0.04). CONCLUSION: Our study shows that PPARδ expression is enhanced in untrained, obese adults following a single bout of aerobic exercise with no relative change in phosphorylation of PPARδ. These data indicate that acute exercise plays a role in the expression of PPARδ. Funding for this research was provided by HydroWorx International, Inc., the Sydney & J.L. Huffines Institute for Sports Medicine and Human Performance at Texas A&M University and The Texas Chapter of The American College of Sports Medicin

Arene oxidation with malonoyl peroxides

Malonoyl peroxide 7, prepared in a single step from the commercially available diacid, is an effective reagent for the oxidation of aromatics. Reaction of an arene with peroxide 7 at room temperature leads to the corresponding protected phenol which can be unmasked by aminolysis. An ionic mechanism consistent with the experimental findings and supported by isotopic labeling, Hammett analysis, EPR investigations and reactivity profile studies is proposed

Aquatic Treadmill Training Reduces Blood Pressure Reactivity to Acute Graded Exercise in Previously Sedentary Adults

Endurance exercise may reduce blood pressure and improve vasodilatory capacity thereby blunting the hypertensive response to stress. To test the efficacy of a novel model of low-impact endurance training, the aquatic-based treadmill (ATM), to improve blood pressure parameters, we recruited 60 sedentary adults and randomized to 12-weeks of either ATM (n = 36 [19 men, 17 women] , 41±2 yr, 173.58 ±1.58cm, 93.19 ±3.15kg) or land-based treadmill (LTM, n = 24 [11 men, 13 women], 42 ±2yr, 170.39 ±1.94cm, 88.14 ±3.6kg) training; 3sessions·wk-1, progressing to 500 kcal·session-1, 85% VO2max. The maximal Bruce treadmill test protocol was performed before and after training with blood pressures measured prior to, at the end of each stage, and for 5 minutes following exercise testing. Twelve subjects (5 ATM, 7 LTM) volunteered for biopsies of the vastus lateralis before and after training, and muscle samples were assessed for eNOS content. Blood pressure data were analyzed using group by training ANCOVA repeated across training, α = 0.05. Data obtained from muscle sample analysis were analyzed using group by training ANOVA repeated across training α = 0.05. Training reduced systolic blood pressure (9- 18.2mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (3.2-8.1 mmHg), mean arterial pressure (4.8-8.3mmHg), pulse pressure (7.5-15mmHg), and rate pressure product (1.8-3.9 bpm·mm Hg·103) during exercise stress and recovery in the ATM group, but not in the LTM group. Additionally, the ATM group, but not the LTM group, displayed a 31% increase in skeletal muscle eNOS content following training. Both groups improved VO2max (+3.6mL O2·kg-1·min-1), but resting blood pressure was not changed following training. These data support the use of ATM training as a novel therapeutic modality to combat hypertension

Candidate Type II Quasars at 2 < z < 4.3 in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey III

At low redshifts, dust-obscured quasars often have strong yet narrow permitted lines in the rest-frame optical and ultraviolet, excited by the central active nucleus, earning the designation Type II quasars. We present a sample of 145 candidate Type II quasars at redshifts between 2 and 4.3, encompassing the epoch at which quasar activity peaked in the universe. These objects, selected from the quasar sample of the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey III, are characterized by weak continuum in the rest-frame ultraviolet (typical continuum magnitude of i \approx 22) and strong lines of CIV and Ly \alpha, with Full Width at Half Maximum less than 2000 kms-1. The continuum magnitudes correspond to an absolute magnitude of -23 or brighter at redshift 3, too bright to be due exclusively to the host galaxies of these objects. Roughly one third of the objects are detected in the shorter-wavelength bands of the WISE survey; the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of these objects appear to be intermediate between classic Type I and Type II quasars seen at lower redshift. Five objects are detected at rest frame 6\mu m by Spitzer, implying bolometric luminosities of several times 10^46 erg s-1. We have obtained polarization measurements for two objects; they are roughly 3% polarized. We suggest that these objects are luminous quasars, with modest dust extinction (A_V ~ 0.5 mag), whose ultraviolet continuum also includes a substantial scattering contribution. Alternatively, the line of sight to the central engines of these objects may be partially obscured by optically thick material.Comment: 26 pages, 13 figures, 10 tables, 4 machine readable tables. Accepted for publication in MNRA

DEPTOR Expression Correlates with Muscle Protein Synthesis

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has long been declared a focal point of muscle protein synthesis. mTORC1 (an mTOR complex consisting of mTOR, raptor, PRAS40, and mLST8) has been associated with regulation of protein translation in muscle, altering expression and activity levels of key downstream targets S6K1 and eIF-4E-BP1. mTORC1 has been shown to be affected by various stimuli, including nutritional status, growth factors, and mechanical loading. But in past incidents we have found disconnects in muscle protein synthesis and mTOR signaling, stimulating discussions that mTOR content and activation alone may not be able to fully account for muscle protein synthesis. Gaining popularity as a target for anti-cancer therapies, we became interested in DEPTOR, an endogenous inhibitor of mTORC1. Pharmacological inhibition of DEPTOR in cell culture and mouse studies has displayed increases of anabolic signaling in response to atrophic circumstances. We present two unique catabolic conditions in which we explore DEPTOR expression and muscle protein synthesis and demonstrate the first known data proposing that DEPTOR expression is not only influenced by physiological stimuli, including mechanical loading and insulin sensitivity, but that DEPTOR expression strongly correlates with 24-hr cumulative muscle protein synthesis rates. In one study, male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to various conditions of musculoskeletal unloading, reloading, and overload, in which hindlimb unloading (HU) was utilized to mimic chronic disuse atrophy (28-d), followed by ambulatory reloading (56-d post HU) with and without the addition of resistance exercise prescribed to assist in recovery (3 sessions/wk for 7-wks; progressive increases in added resistance up to ~60% BW). DEPTOR expression was assessed via Immunoblotting. 24-hr cumulative muscle protein synthesis (FSR) was measured via stable isotope labeling and quantified by gas chromatogram/mass spectrometry. DEPTOR demonstrated a strong negative correlation with FSR in the gastrocnemius (r = - 0.93261; p \u3c0.01). In our second study, male obese Zucker rats were divided into their lean and obese phenotypes, as well as placed into sedentary and resistance exercised groups. DEPTOR and FSR were assessed as described above following operant conditioning and four progressive exercise sessions over 9-d. Gastrocnemius DEPTOR/FSR was again significant (r = - 0.75723; p\u3c0.01). Collectively, these results are the first to associate physiologic changes in DEPTOR expression with alterations of FSR, which may have important implications towards the design of therapeutic targets for the control of muscle mass or in evaluating muscle anabolism