16 research outputs found
The Subaru high-z quasar survey: discovery of faint z~6 quasars
We present the discovery of one or two extremely faint z~6 quasars in 6.5
deg^2 utilizing a unique capability of the wide-field imaging of the
Subaru/Suprime-Cam. The quasar selection was made in (i'-z_B) and (z_B-z_R)
colors, where z_B and z_R are bandpasses with central wavelengths of 8842A and
9841A, respectively. The color selection can effectively isolate quasars at z~6
from M/L/T dwarfs without the J-band photometry down to z_R<24.0, which is 3.5
mag. deeper than SDSS. We have selected 17 promising quasar candidates. The
follow-up spectroscopy for seven targets identified one apparent quasar at
z=6.156 with M_1450=-23.10. We also identified one possible quasar at z=6.041
with a faint continuum of M_1450=-22.58 and a narrow Lyman-alpha emission with
HWHM=427 km/s, which cannot be distinguished from Lyman-alpha emitters. We
derive the quasar luminosity function at z~6 by combining our faint quasar
sample with the bright quasar samples by SDSS and CFHQS. Including our data
points invokes a higher number density in the faintest bin of the quasar
luminosity function than the previous estimate employed. This suggests a
steeper faint-end slope than lower-z, though it is yet uncertain based on a
small number of spectroscopically identified faint quasars and several quasar
candidates are still remain to be diagnosed. The steepening of the quasar
luminosity function at the faint-end does increase the expected emission rate
of the ionizing photon, however, it only changes by a factor of ~2-6. This was
found to be still insufficient for the required photon budget of reionization
at z~6.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap
A Ly-alpha Emitter with an Extremely Large Rest-frame Equivalent Width of ~900A at z=6.5: A Candidate of Population III-dominated Galaxy?
We have identified a very interesting Ly-alpha emitter, whose Ly-alpha
emission line has an extremely large observed equivalent width of
EW_0=436^{+422}_{-149}A, which corresponds to an extraordinarily large
intrinsic rest-frame equivalent width of EW_0^{int}=872^{+844}_{-298}A after
the average intergalactic absorption correction. The object was
spectroscopically confirmed to be a real Ly-alpha emitter by its apparent
asymmetric Ly-alpha line profile detected at z=6.538. The continuum emission of
the object was definitely detected in our deep z'-band image; thus, its EW_0
was reliably determined. Follow-up deep near-infrared spectroscopy revealed
emission lines of neither He II lambda1640 as an apparent signature of
Population III, nor C IV lambda1549 as a proof of active nucleus. No detection
of short-lived He II lambda1640 line is not necessarily inconsistent with the
interpretation that the underlying stellar population of the object is
dominated by Population III. We found that the observed extremely large EW_0 of
the Ly-alpha emission and the upper limit on the EW_0 of the He II lambda1640
emission can be explained by population synthesis models favoring a very young
age less than 2-4Myr and massive metal-poor (Z<10^{-5}) or even metal-free
stars. The observed large EW_0 of Ly-alpha is hardly explained by Population
I/II synthesis models with Z>10^{-3}. However, we cannot conclusively rule out
the possibility that this object is composed of a normal stellar population
with a clumpy dust distribution, which could enhance the Ly-alpha EW_0, though
its significance is still unclear.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap
Completing the Census of Ly-alpha Emitters at the Reionization Epoch
We carried out extended spectroscopic confirmations of Ly-alpha emitters
(LAEs) at z=6.5 and 5.7 in the Subaru Deep Field. Now, the total number of
spectroscopically confirmed LAEs is 45 and 54 at z=6.5 and 5.7, respectively,
and at least 81% (70%) of our photometric candidates at z=6.5 (5.7) have been
spectroscopically identified as real LAEs. We made careful measurements of the
Ly-alpha luminosity, both photometrically and spectroscopically, to accurately
determine the Ly-alpha and rest-UV luminosity functions (LFs). The
substantially improved evaluation of the Ly-alpha LF at z=6.5 shows an apparent
deficit from z=5.7 at least at the bright end, and a possible decline even at
the faint end, though small uncertainties remain. The rest-UV LFs at z=6.5 and
5.7 are in good agreement, at least at the bright end, in clear contrast to the
differences seen in the Ly-alpha LF. These results imply an increase in the
neutral fraction of the intergalactic medium from z=5.7 to 6.5. The rest-frame
equivalent width (EW_0) distribution at z=6.5 seems to be systematically
smaller than z=5.7, and it shows an extended tail toward larger EW_0. The
bright end of the rest-UV LF can be reproduced from the observed Ly-alpha LF
and a reasonable EW_0-UV luminosity relation. Integrating this rest-UV LF
provides the first measurement of the contribution of LAEs to the photon budget
required for reionization. The derived UV LF suggests that the fractional
contribution of LAEs to the photon budget among Lyman break galaxies
significantly increases towards faint magnitudes. Low-luminosity LAEs could
dominate the ionizing photon budget, though this inference depends strongly on
the uncertain faint-end slope of the Ly-alpha LF.Comment: 19 pages, 14 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap
Candida albicansマンナンのマクロファージ傷害作用
Mannan of Candida albicans NIH A-207 strain induced cytotoxic activity in RAW264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line, but not in U937 cells, a human monocyte cell line. The mannan greatly increased TNF-α production in RAW264.7 cells. Anti-TNF-α antibody completely inhibited both the TNF-α production from RAW264.7 cells and the cytotoxicity of the cells by mannan. Commercial recombinant TNF-α showed cytotoxic activity in RAW264.7 cells
Erucic Acid-Rich Yellow Mustard Oil Improves Insulin Resistance in KK-Ay Mice
Obesity is a major risk factor for some metabolic disorders including type 2 diabetes. Enhancement of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ, a master regulator of adipocyte differentiation, is known to increase insulin-sensitive small adipocytes. In contrast, decreased PPARγ activity is also reported to improve insulin resistance. We have previously identified erucic acid as a novel natural component suppressing PPARγ transcriptional activity. In this study, we investigated the effect of erucic acid-rich yellow mustard oil (YMO) on obese/diabetic KK-Ay mice. An in vitro luciferase reporter assay and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation assay revealed that 25 µg/mL YMO significantly inhibited PPARγ transcriptional activity and differentiation of MSCs into adipocytes but promoted their differentiation into osteoblasts. In KK-Ay mice, dietary intake of 7.0% (w/w) YMO significantly decreased the surrogate indexes for insulin resistance and the infiltration of macrophages into adipose tissue. Furthermore, 7.0% YMO increased bone mineral density. These results suggest that YMO can ameliorate obesity-induced metabolic disorders
Abrupt Intralesional Color Change on Dermoscopy as a New Indicator of Early Superficial Spreading Melanoma in a Japanese Woman
Diagnosis of superficial spreading melanoma in the early stage is often difficult, even with dermoscopy. We report the case of a 37-year-old Japanese woman with superficial spreading melanoma in her left buttock. The lesion developed 20 years before becoming visible and gradually enlarged over the past few years without any symptoms. Physical examination showed a well-demarcated dark-brown macule 10 mm in diameter. Dermoscopy demonstrated a central dark area with a blue-grey structureless area, a milky-red area with irregular blue-grey dots or globules suggestive of regression structures, and multifocal black pigmentation with whitish scaly areas. An abrupt intralesional change in color from a central dark area to a peripheral light-brown area was also seen. The peripheral area showed an atypical pigment network with an obscure mesh and holes. Histopathologic examination of the lesion showed acanthosis with melanocytic proliferation and nuclear atypia, a band-like lymphocytic infiltrate, melanophages and a few nests of melanocytes just beneath the epidermis. The epidermal melanocytes were positive for S-100, Melan-A and HMB-45, but the dermal nests of melanocytes were negative for HMB-45 and positive for S-100 and Melan-A. A diagnosis of superficial spreading melanoma with a tumor thickness of 0.4 mm (pT1aN0M0, stage 1A) was established based on the clinical, dermoscopic and histopathologic findings. This case suggests that dermoscopy is useful in the diagnosis of this condition. An abrupt intralesional change of color might be a new indicator of early superficial spreading melanoma
Imidazolone, a novel advanced glycation end product, is present at high levels in kidneys of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes
AbstractWe produced a monoclonal antibody to imidazolones A and B, novel advanced glycation end products formed from the reaction of 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG) with the guanidino group of arginine. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry demonstrated that the formation of imidazolone A by incubating 3-DG with arginine is very rapid, reaching a maximum concentration within 24 h, but the formation of imidazolone B is very slow and low in quantity even after 2 weeks. Thus, at physiological conditions the formation of imidazolone A is dominant, while that of imidazolone B is negligible. Immunochemistry demonstrated that the imidazolone content in the kidneys of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was significantly higher than in the control rats. Serum levels of 3-DG in the diabetic rats were also significantly higher than in control rats. 3-DG attacks the arginine residues of the tissue proteins, producing imidazolone at high levels in the kidneys affected by diabetic nephropathy