The Mass Distribution and Rotation Curve in the Galaxy

The mass distribution in the Galaxy is determined by dynamical and photometric methods. Rotation curves are the major tool for determining the dynamical mass distribution in the Milky Way and spiral galaxies. The photometric (statistical) method utilizes luminosity profiles from optical and infrared observations, and assumes empirical values of the mass-to-luminosity (M/L) ratio to convert the luminosity to mass. In this chapter the dynamical method is described in detail, and rotation curves and mass distribution in the Milky Way and nearby spiral galaxies are presented. The dynamical method is categorized into two methods: the decomposition method and direct method. The former fits the rotation curve by calculated curve assuming several mass components such as a bulge, disk and halo, and adjust the dynamical parameters of each component. Explanations are given of the mass profiles as the de Vaucouleurs law, exponential disk, and dark halo profiles inferred from numerical simulations. Another method is the direct method, with which the mass distribution can be directly calculated from the data of rotation velocities without employing any mass models. Some results from both methods are presented, and the Galactic structure is discussed in terms of the mass. Rotation curves and mass distributions in external galaxies are also discussed, and the fundamental mass structures are shown to be universal.Comment: 54 pages, 25 figures, in 'Planets, Stars and Stellar Systems', Springer, Vol. 5, ed. G. Gilmore, Chap. 19. Note: Preprint with full figures is available from http://www.ioa.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~sofue/htdocs/2013psss

Galactic bulge preferred over dark matter for the Galactic centre gamma-ray excess

An anomalous gamma-ray excess emission has been found in the Fermi Large Area Telescope data covering the centre of the Galaxy. Several theories have been proposed for this ‘Galactic centre excess’. They include self-annihilation of dark-matter particles, an unresolved population of millisecond pulsars, an unresolved population of young pulsars, or a series of burst events. Here, we report on an analysis that exploits hydrodynamical modelling to register the position of interstellar gas associated with diffuse Galactic gamma-ray emission. We find evidence that the Galactic centre excess gamma rays are statistically better described by the stellar over-density in the Galactic bulge and the nuclear stellar bulge, rather than a spherical excess. Given its non-spherical nature, we argue that the Galactic centre excess is not a dark-matter phenomenon but rather associated with the stellar population of the Galactic bulge and the nuclear bulge

GFP reporters to monitor instability and expression of expanded CAG/CTG repeats

Expanded CAG/CTG repeats are genetically unstable and, upon expression, cause neurological and neuromuscular diseases. The molecular mechanisms of repeat instability and expression remain poorly understood despite their importance for the pathogenesis of a family of 14 devastating human diseases. This is in part because conventional assays are tedious and time-consuming. Recently, however, GFP-based reporters have been designed to provide a rapid and reliable means of assessing these parameters. Here we provide protocols for quantifying repeat instability and expression using a GFP-based chromosomal reporter and the newly developed ParB/ANCHOR-mediated Inducible Targeting (PInT) and how to validate the results

Electroweak parameters of the z0 resonance and the standard model

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HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B and C prevalence among patients with mental illness: a review of the literature Prevalência de infecção por HIV, sífilis e hepatite B e C entre portadores de doenças mentais crônicas

A limited number of studies worldwide have investigated the prevalence of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B and C infection among psychiatric patients. However, prevalence of these infections in the population with chronic mental illness has not been clearly established. Most of the published papers are from developed countries and have derived from relatively small and non-representative samples. We performed a systematic review of the published literature to identify studies on these infectious diseases within psychiatric populations in Brazil and other developing countries. Overall, prevalence rates varied from 0% to 29% for HIV; 1.6% to 66% for HBV; 0.4% to 38% for HCV; and 1.1% to 7.6% for syphilis. Several risk factors were identified and discussed, although sampling limitations restrict the generalization of study findings. This review highlights the lack of information on the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases and their associated factors among persons with chronic mental illness and identifies gaps in the knowledge base in both developing and developed countries.<br>Os portadores de doenças mentais crônicas encontram-se em risco para a infecção pelo HIV e outras infecções sexualmente transmissíveis. Entretanto, a prevalência dessas infecções entre portadores de doença mental crônica ainda não está claramente estabelecida nesta população. A maioria dos trabalhos sobre o tema foi conduzida em países desenvolvidos, com amostras relativamente pequenas e não representativas. Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática da literatura para identificar estudos sobre a prevalência do HIV, sífilis, hepatite B e C entre pacientes com doença mental crônica no Brasil e no mundo. De um modo geral, as prevalências variaram de 0% a 29%, 3 a 66%, 0,4 a 38% e 3,3% a 7,6% para HIV, hepatite B, hepatite C e sífilis, respectivamente. Vários fatores de risco foram identificados e discutidos, embora a literatura atual não demonstre achados significativos gerados por estudos representativos. Tal revisão destaca a escassez de informação sobre a prevalência de infecções sexualmente transmitidas e seus fatores associados entre portadores de doenças mentais crônicas e identifica lacunas no conhecimento atual em países desenvolvidos bem como nos em desenvolvimento