an overview of the MHONGOOSE survey: Observing nearby galaxies with MeerKAT

© Copyright owned by the author(s). MHONGOOSE is a deep survey of the neutral hydrogen distribution in a representative sample of 30 nearby disk and dwarf galaxies with H I masses from ∼ 106 to ∼ 1011 M, and luminosities from MR ∼ 12 to MR ∼ −22. The sample is selected to uniformly cover the available range in log(MHI). Our extremely deep observations, down to H I column density limits of well below 1018 cm−2 — or a few hundred times fainter than the typical H I disks in galaxies — will directly detect the effects of cold accretion from the intergalactic medium and the links with the cosmic web. These observations will be the first ever to probe the very low-column density neutral gas in galaxies at these high resolutions. Combination with data at other wavelengths, most of it already available, will enable accurate modeling of the properties and evolution of the mass components in these galaxies and link these with the effects of environment, dark matter distribution, and other fundamental properties such as halo mass and angular momentum. MHONGOOSE can already start addressing some of the SKA-1 science goals and will provide a comprehensive inventory of the processes driving the transformation and evolution of galaxies in the nearby universe at high resolution and over 5 orders of magnitude in column density. It will be a Nearby Galaxies Legacy Survey that will be unsurpassed until the advent of the SKA, and can serve as a highly visible, lasting statement of MeerKAT’s capabilities

An overview of the MHONGOOSE survey: Observing nearby galaxies with MeerKAT

MHONGOOSE is a deep survey of the neutral hydrogen distribution in a representative sample of 30 nearby disk and dwarf galaxies with HI masses from 10^6 to ~10^{11} M_sun, and luminosities from M_R ~ -12 to M_R ~ -22. The sample is selected to uniformly cover the available range in log(M_HI). Our extremely deep observations, down to HI column density limits of well below 10^{18} cm^{-2} - or a few hundred times fainter than the typical HI disks in galaxies - will directly detect the effects of cold accretion from the intergalactic medium and the links with the cosmic web. These observations will be the first ever to probe the very low-column density neutral gas in galaxies at these high resolutions. Combination with data at other wavelengths, most of it already available, will enable accurate modelling of the properties and evolution of the mass components in these galaxies and link these with the effects of environment, dark matter distribution, and other fundamental properties such as halo mass and angular momentum. MHONGOOSE can already start addressing some of the SKA-1 science goals and will provide a comprehensive inventory of the processes driving the transformation and evolution of galaxies in the nearby universe at high resolution and over 5 orders of magnitude in column density. It will be a Nearby Galaxies Legacy Survey that will be unsurpassed until the advent of the SKA, and can serve as a highly visible, lasting statement of MeerKAT's capabilities

SHINING, A Survey of Far-infrared Lines in Nearby Galaxies. I. Survey Description, Observational Trends, and Line Diagnostics

We use the Herschel/PACS spectrometer to study the global and spatially resolved far-infrared (FIR) fine-structure line emission in a sample of 52 galaxies that constitute the SHINING survey. These galaxies include star-forming, active-galactic nuclei (AGN), and luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs). We find an increasing number of galaxies (and kiloparsec size regions within galaxies) with low line-to-FIR continuum ratios as a function of increasing FIR luminosity ($L_{\mathrm{FIR}}$), dust infrared color, $L_{\mathrm{FIR}}$ to molecular gas mass ratio ($L_{\mathrm{FIR}}/M_{\mathrm{mol}}$), and FIR surface brightness ($\Sigma_{\mathrm{FIR}}$). The correlations between the [CII]/FIR or [OI]/FIR ratios with $\Sigma_{\mathrm{FIR}}$ are remarkably tight ($\sim0.3$ dex scatter over almost four orders of magnitude in $\Sigma_{\mathrm{FIR}}$). We observe that galaxies with $L_{\mathrm{FIR}}/M_{\mathrm{mol}} \gtrsim 80\,L_{\odot}\,M_{\odot}^{-1}$ and $\Sigma_{\mathrm{FIR}}\gtrsim10^{11}$ $L_{\odot}$ kpc$^{-2}$ tend to have weak fine-structure line-to-FIR continuum ratios, and that LIRGs with infrared sizes $\gtrsim1$ kpc have line-to-FIR ratios comparable to those observed in typical star-forming galaxies. We analyze the physical mechanisms driving these trends in Paper II (Herrera-Camus et al. 2018). The combined analysis of the [CII], [NII], and [OIII] lines reveals that the fraction of the [CII] line emission that arises from neutral gas increases from 60% to 90% in the most active star-forming regions and that the emission originating in the ionized gas is associated with low-ionization, diffuse gas rather than with dense gas in HII regions. Finally, we report the global and spatially resolved line fluxes of the SHINING galaxies to enable the comparison and planning of future local and high-$z$ studies

Canadian oncogenic human papillomavirus cervical infection prevalence: Systematic review and meta-analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) infection prevalence is required to determine optimal vaccination strategies. We systematically reviewed the prevalence of oncogenic cervical HPV infection among Canadian females prior to immunization.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We included studies reporting DNA-confirmed oncogenic HPV prevalence estimates among Canadian females identified through searching electronic databases (e.g., MEDLINE) and public health websites. Two independent reviewers screened literature results, abstracted data and appraised study quality. Prevalence estimates were meta-analyzed among routine screening populations, HPV-positive, and by cytology/histology results.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Thirty studies plus 21 companion reports were included after screening 837 citations and 120 full-text articles. Many of the studies did not address non-response bias (74%) or use a representative sampling strategy (53%).</p> <p>Age-specific prevalence was highest among females aged < 20 years and slowly declined with increasing age. Across all populations, the highest prevalence estimates from the meta-analyses were observed for HPV types 16 (routine screening populations, 8 studies: 8.6% [95% confidence interval 6.5-10.7%]; HPV-infected, 9 studies: 43.5% [28.7-58.2%]; confirmed cervical cancer, 3 studies: 48.8% [34.0-63.6%]) and 18 (routine screening populations, 8 studies: 3.3% [1.5-5.1%]; HPV-infected, 9 studies: 13.6% [6.1-21.1%], confirmed cervical cancer, 4 studies: 17.1% [6.4-27.9%].</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results support vaccinating females < 20 years of age, along with targeted vaccination of some groups (e.g., under-screened populations). The highest prevalence occurred among HPV types 16 and 18, contributing a combined cervical cancer prevalence of 65.9%. Further cancer protection is expected from cross-protection of non-vaccine HPV types. Poor study quality and heterogeneity suggests that high-quality studies are needed.</p

Design concepts for the Cherenkov Telescope Array CTA: an advanced facility for ground-based high-energy gamma-ray astronomy

Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has had a major breakthrough with the impressive results obtained using systems of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has a huge potential in astrophysics, particle physics and cosmology. CTA is an international initiative to build the next generation instrument, with a factor of 5-10 improvement in sensitivity in the 100 GeV-10 TeV range and the extension to energies well below 100 GeV and above 100 TeV. CTA will consist of two arrays (one in the north, one in the south) for full sky coverage and will be operated as open observatory. The design of CTA is based on currently available technology. This document reports on the status and presents the major design concepts of CTA

Direct sale in Poland on the example of products of animal origin

Celem badań było określenie skali i zakresu rodzajowego sprzedaży bezpośredniej produktów pochodzenia zwierzęcego prowadzonej przez rolników oraz ustalenie czy mają one związek z liczbą gospodarstw zajmujących się produkcją zwierzęcą w danym województwie. Badania wykazały, że w 2014 roku w Polsce sprzedażą bezpośrednią produktów pochodzenia zwierzęcego zajmowało się 6774 podmiotów, w których strukturze ilościowej dominowali oferenci nieprzetworzonych produktów pszczelich (około 75% sprzedawców), jaj konsumpcyjnych (11,7%) i produktów rybołówstwa (11,1%). Nie potwierdziła się wstępna hipoteza badawcza zakładająca istnienie zależności pomiędzy liczbą gospodarstw zajmujących się produkcją zwierzęcą w poszczególnych województwach a liczbą działających tam podmiotów prowadzących sprzedaż bezpośrednią artykułów pochodzenia zwierzęcego.The aim of this study was to determine the scale and generic scope of direct sales of products of animal origin by the farmers and to determine whether they are connected with the number of holdings engaged in livestock production in the region. The studies have shown that 6774 entities in the country in 2014 dealt with direct sales of products of animal origin. In the quantitative structure of the surveyed entities the dominating ones are those who offered unprocessed bee products (approx. ¾ sellers), table eggs (11.7%) and fishery products (11.1%). The study verified initially adopted a research hypothesis, which assumes a relationship between the number of farms engaged in livestock production in the various provinces and the number of entities selling there directly products of animal origin. For this purpose was use the Spearman correlation, the results of which led to rejection of the hypothesis adopted because showed no relationship between the analyzed features

Phase Diagram, Thermodynamic Activities and Thermodynamic Modelling in the NaBr-DyBr3 System

Thermodynamic properties of the pseudo-binary NaBr-DyBr3 system were studied by differential thermal analysis (DTA), Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry (KEMS) and by thermodynamic modelling (TM). Investigations performed by DTA resulted in the phase diagram involving the binary compound 3NaBr*DyBr3(s) in addition to the pure component metal halides NaBr(s) and DyBr3(s) and the liquid phase. The eutectic parameters of the {DyBr3(s) + 3NaBr*DyBr3(s)} mixture were determined as T-e = 710 +/- 3 K and x(NaBr)(liq) = 0.62. A peritectic transition of 3NaBr*DyBr3(s) at 765 +/- 3 K was indicated. The study of the vaporisation by KEMS in the temperature range of 703-1025 K led to the identification of gaseous species in the equilibrium vapour (NaBr, (NaBr)(2), DyBr3, (DyBr3)(2), NaDyBr4, Na2DyBr5) and to the thermodynamic activities of NaBr and DyBr3 over the complete concentration range of the system at 863 K. The results obtained were used in the computer modelling of the NaBr-DyBr3 system carried out by the use of the BINGGS program. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd