Observations of the bright radio sources in the North Celestial Pole region at the RATAN-600 radio telescope

A survey of the North Celestial Pole region using the RATAN-600 radio telescope at five frequencies in the range 2.3 to 21.7 GHz is described. Sources were chosen from the NVSS catalogue. The flux densities of 171 sources in the Declination range +75 to +88 are presented; typical flux density errors are 5-10 percent including calibration errors. About 20 percent of the sources have flat spectra or a flat component.Comment: 21 pages, 7 figures; to be published in Astronomy and Astrophysics (without last figure with the spectra of the observed sources

ATPMN: accurate positions and flux densities at 5 and 8 GHz for 8,385 sources from the PMN survey

We present a source catalogue of 9,040 radio sources resulting from high-resolution observations of 8,385 PMN sources with the Australia Telescope Compact Array. The catalogue lists flux density and structural measurements at 4.8 and 8.6 GHz, derived from observations of all PMN sources in the declination range -87 deg < delta < -38.5 deg (exclusive of galactic latitudes |b| 70 mJy (50 mJy south of delta = -73 deg). We assess the quality of the data, which was gathered in 1992-1994, describe the population of catalogued sources, and compare it to samples from complementary catalogues. In particular we find 127 radio sources with probable association with gamma-ray sources observed by the orbiting Fermi Large Area Telescope.Comment: 20 pages, 21 figure

The Evolution of Radio Galaxies at Intermediate Redshift

We describe a new estimate of the radio galaxy 1.4 GHz luminosity function and its evolution at intermediate redshifts (z~0.4). Photometric redshifts and color selection have been used to select Bj<23.5 early-type galaxies from the Panoramic Deep Fields, a multicolor survey of two 25 sq deg fields. Approximately 230 radio galaxies have then been selected by matching early-type galaxies with NVSS radio sources brighter than 5 mJy. Estimates of the 1.4 GHz luminosity function of radio galaxies measure significant evolution over the observed redshift range. For an Omega_M=1 cosmology the evolution of the radio power is consistent with luminosity evolution where P(z)=P(0)(1+z)^{k_L} and 3<k_L<5. The observed evolution is similar to that observed for UVX and X-ray selected AGN and is consistent with the same physical process being responsible for the optical and radio luminosity evolution of AGN.Comment: 26 pages, 9 Figures, Accepted for Publication in A

Radio to infrared spectra of late-type galaxies with Planck and WMAP data

We use the Planck Early Release Compact Source Catalogue combined with WMAP and other archival measurements to construct continuum spectra of three nearby dusty star-forming galaxies: Messier 82, NGC 253 and NGC 4945. We carry out a least-squares fit to the spectra using a combination of simple synchrotron, free-free and thermal dust models, and look for evidence of anomalous microwave emission (AME). We find that the radio spectra of all three galaxies are consistent with steep spectrum synchrotron emission, with a significant amount of free-free emission required to explain the Planck and WMAP data points in the frequency range 30-150 GHz. This brings the star-formation rate based on free-free emission into better agreement with that from the non-thermal emission. We place limits on the presence of AME in these galaxies, finding that it is lower than expectations based on the ratio of far infrared to AME from the Galaxy. Nevertheless, the shape of the spectrum of NGC 4945 hints at the presence of AME with a peak around 30 GHz. Future Planck data will let us look more closely at these galaxies, as well as to extend the analysis to many more galaxies.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure (6 panels), 1 table. Submitted to MNRAS letter

Wide-Field Imaging and Polarimetry for the Biggest and Brightest in the 20GHz Southern Sky

We present wide-field imaging and polarimetry at 20GHz of seven of the most extended, bright (Stot >= 0.50 Jy), high-frequency selected radio sources in the southern sky with declinations < -30 deg. Accompanying the data are brief reviews of the literature for each source, The results presented here aid in the statistical completeness of the Australia Telescope 20GHz Survey's bright source sample. The data are of crucial interest for future cosmic microwave background missions as a collection of information about candidate calibrator sources. We are able to obtain data for seven of the nine sources identified by our selection criteria. We report that Pictor A is thus far the best extragalactic calibrator candidate for the Low Frequency Instrument of the Planck European Space Agency mission due to its high level of integrated polarized flux density (0.50+/-0.06 Jy) on a scale of 10 arcmin. Six of the seven sources have a clearly detected compact radio core, with either a null or less than two percent detection of polarized emission from the nucleus. Most sources with detected jets have magnetic field alignments running in a longitudinal configuration, however PKS1333-33 exhibits transverse fields and an orthogonal change in field geometry from nucleus to jets.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures, 2 table

Radio Frequency Spectra of 388 Bright 74 MHz Sources

As a service to the community, we have compiled radio frequency spectra from the literature for all sources within the VLA Low Frequency Sky Survey (VLSS) that are brighter than 15 Jy at 74 MHz. Over 160 references were used to maximize the amount of spectral data used in the compilation of the spectra, while also taking care to determine the corrections needed to put the flux densities from all reference on the same absolute flux density scale. With the new VLSS data, we are able to vastly improve upon previous efforts to compile spectra of bright radio sources to frequencies below 100 MHz because (1) the VLSS flux densities are more reliable than those from some previous low frequency surveys and (2) the VLSS covers a much larger area of the sky (declination >-30 deg.) than many other low frequency surveys (e.g., the 8C survey). In this paper, we discuss how the spectra were constructed and how parameters quantifying the shapes of the spectra were derived. Both the spectra and the shape parameters are made available here to assist in the calibration of observations made with current and future low frequency radio facilities.Comment: Accepted to ApJ

Galaxy Populations and Evolution in Clusters IV: Deep HI Observations of Dwarf Ellipticals in the Virgo Cluster

We present in this paper the deepest Arecibo HI observations of Virgo cluster dwarf ellipticals (dEs) taken to date. Based on this data we argue that a significant fraction of Virgo cluster dEs recently underwent evolution. Our new observations consist of HI 21-cm line observations for 22 classified dE galaxies with optical radial velocities consistent with membership in the Virgo cluster. Cluster members VCC 390 and VCC 1713 are detected with HI masses M(HI) = 6*10^7 M_solar and 8*10^7 M_solar, respectively, while M(HI) in the remaining 20 dE galaxies have upper limits as low as 5*10^5 M_solar. We combine our results with those for 27 other Virgo cluster dEs with HI observations in the literature, 7 of which have HI detection claims. New optical images from the WIYN telescope of 5 of these HI-detected dEs, along with archival data, suggest that seven of the claimed detections are real, yielding a ~ 15% detection rate. These HI-detected classified dEs are preferentially located near the periphery of the Virgo cluster. Three Virgo dEs have observed HI velocity widths > 200 km/s, possibly indicating the presence of a large dark matter content, or transient extended HI. We discuss the possible origins of these objects and argue that they originate from field galaxies accreted onto high angular momentum orbits by Virgo in the last few Gyr. As a result these galaxies are slowly transformed within the cluster by gradual gas stripping processes, associated truncation of star formation, and passive fading of stellar populations. Low-mass early-type cluster galaxies are therefore currently being produced as the product of cluster environmental effects. We utilize our results to estimate the recent (past 1-3 Gyr) average mass accretion rate into the Virgo cluster, finding dM/dt ~ 50 M_solar/year.Comment: Accepted to ApJ, 21 page

Effect of an exercise training intervention with resistance bands on blood cell counts during chemotherapy for lung cancer: a pilot randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE: Chemotherapy for lung cancer can have a detrimental effect on white blood cell (WBC) and red blood cell (RBC) counts. Physical exercise may have a role in improving WBCs and RBCs, although few studies have examined cancer patients receiving adjuvant therapies. The purpose of this pilot trial was to examine the effects of an exercise intervention utilizing resistance bands on WBCs and RBCs in lung cancer patients receiving curative intent chemotherapy. METHODS: A sample of lung cancer patients scheduled for curative intent chemotherapy was randomly assigned to the exercise intervention (EX) condition or usual care (UC) condition. The EX condition participated in a three times weekly exercise program using resistance bands for the duration of chemotherapy. RESULTS: A total of 14 lung cancer patients completed the trial. EX condition participants completed 79% of planned exercise sessions. The EX condition was able to maintain WBCs over the course of the intervention compared to declines in the UC condition (p = .008; d = 1.68). There were no significant differences in change scores in RBCs. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise with resistance bands may help attenuate declines in WBCs in lung cancer patients receiving curative intent chemotherapy. Larger trials are warranted to validate these findings. Ultimately these findings could be informative for the development of supportive care strategies for lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials Registration #: NCT01130714

Phase I/II study of first-line irinotecan combined with 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid Mayo Clinic schedule in patients with advanced colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND: This multicentre phase I/II study was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose of irinotecan when combined with 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid according to the Mayo Clinic schedule and to evaluate the activity of this combination as first-line therapy in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. METHODS: Sixty-three patients received irinotecan (250 or 300 mg/m(2), 30- to 90-minute intravenous infusion on day 1), immediately followed by folinic acid (20 mg/m(2)/day) and 5-fluorouracil (425 mg/m(2), 15-minute bolus infusion) days 1 to 5, every four weeks. RESULTS: Diarrhoea was dose limiting at 300 mg/m(2 )irinotecan in combination with 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid, and this was determined to be the maximum tolerated dose. Grade 3–4 neutropenia was the most frequently reported toxicity. The recommended dose of irinotecan for the phase II part of the study was 250 mg/m(2). The response rate for the evaluable patient population was 36% (13/36), and 44% (16 patients) had stable disease (including 19% of minor response). For the intention-to-treat population, the response rate was 29% (14/49) and 35% (17 patients) stable disease (including 14% of minor response). The median time to progression was 7.0 months and the median survival was 12.0 months. Grade 3–4 non-haematological drug-related toxicities included delayed diarrhoea, stomatitis, fatigue, and nausea/vomiting. There were three deaths due to septic shock that were possibly or probably treatment-related. CONCLUSIONS: This regimen of irinotecan in combination with the Mayo Clinic schedule of bolus 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid every four weeks showed activity as first-line therapy in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. In keeping with other published results of studies using bolus 5-fluorouracil combined with irinotecan, the use of this regimen is limited by a relatively high rate of grade 3–4 neutropenia, and the combination of irinotecan and infusional 5-fluorouracil / folinic acid should remain the regimen of first choice

Spectral energy distribution and radio halo of NGC253 at low radio frequencies

A. D. Kapinska, 'Spectral Energy Distribution and Radio Halo of NGC 253 at Low Radio Frequencies', The Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 838(68), 15 pp, March 2017. The version of record is available online at doi: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aa5f5d. © 2017. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.We present new radio continuum observations of NGC253 from the Murchison Widefield Array at frequencies between 76 and 227 MHz. We model the broadband radio spectral energy distribution for the total flux density of NGC253 between 76 MHz and 11 GHz. The spectrum is best described as a sum of central starburst and extended emission. The central component, corresponding to the inner 500pc of the starburst region of the galaxy, is best modelled as an internally free-free absorbed synchrotron plasma, with a turnover frequency around 230 MHz. The extended emission component of the NGC253 spectrum is best described as a synchrotron emission flattening at low radio frequencies. We find that 34% of the extended emission (outside the central starburst region) at 1 GHz becomes partially absorbed at low radio frequencies. Most of this flattening occurs in the western region of the SE halo, and may be indicative of synchrotron self-absorption of shock re-accelerated electrons or an intrinsic low-energy cut off of the electron distribution. Furthermore, we detect the large-scale synchrotron radio halo of NGC253 in our radio images. At 154 - 231 MHz the halo displays the well known X-shaped/horn-like structure, and extends out to ~8kpc in z-direction (from major axis).Peer reviewedFinal Published versio