2,591 research outputs found
A spectroscopic survey for strong galaxy-galaxy lenses
We present a spectroscopic survey for strong galaxy-galaxy lenses. Exploiting
optimal sight-lines to massive, bulge-dominated galaxies at redshifts with wide-field, multifibre spectroscopy, we anticipate the detection of
10-20 lensed Lyman- emitting galaxies at redshifts z \simgreat 3 from
a sample of 2000 deflectors. Initial spectroscopic observations are described
and the prospects for constraining the emission-line luminosity function of the
Lyman- emitting population are outlined
The central image of a gravitationally lensed quasar
A galaxy can act as a gravitational lens, producing multiple images of a
background object. Theory predicts there should be an odd number of images but,
paradoxically, almost all observed lenses have 2 or 4 images. The missing image
should be faint and appear near the galaxy's center. These ``central images''
have long been sought as probes of galactic cores too distant to resolve with
ordinary observations. There are five candidates, but in one case the third
image is not necessarily a central image, and in the others, the central
component might be a foreground source rather than a lensed image. Here we
report the most secure identification of a central image, based on radio
observations of PMN J1632-0033, one of the latter candidates. Lens models
incorporating the central image show that the mass of the lens galaxy's central
black hole is less than 2 x 10^8 M_sun, and the galaxy's surface density at the
location of the central image is more than 20,000 M_sun per square parsec, in
agreement with expectations based on observations of galaxies hundreds of times
closer to the Earth.Comment: Nature, in press [7 pp, 2 figs]. Standard media embargo applies
before publicatio
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Are biologics more effective than corticosteroids for intra‐articular treatment of osteoarthritis?
Summary: Intra‐articular corticosteroids are an effective treatment for equine osteoarthritis, however, there is increasing evidence for the effectiveness of other treatments such as biologics. Whilst current evidence does support biologics and their use in patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis, there remains to be a lack of evidence regarding their long‐term outcomes and the efficacy of their use as a treatment, especially when compared to corticosteroids. This paper reviewed the evidence comparing intra‐articular corticosteroids and biologics in the treatment of equine osteoarthritis and found that whilst they are both effective treatments, more evidence directly comparing them is required
A massive reservoir of low-excitation molecular gas at high redshift
Molecular hydrogen is an important component of galaxies because it fuels
star formation and accretion onto AGN, the two processes that generate the
large infrared luminosities of gas-rich galaxies. Observations of spectral-line
emission from the tracer molecule CO are used to probe the properties of this
gas. But the lines that have been studied in the local Universe, mostly the
lower rotational transitions of J = 1-0 and J = 2-1, have hitherto been
unobservable in high-redshift galaxies. Instead, higher transitions have been
used, although the densities and temperatures required to excite these higher
transitions may not be reached by much of the gas. As a result, past
observations may have underestimated the total amount of molecular gas by a
substantial amount. Here we report the discovery of large amounts of
low-excitation molecular gas around the infrared-luminous quasar, APM
08279+5255 at z = 3.91, using the two lowest excitation lines of 12CO (J = 1-0
and J = 2-1). The maps confirm the presence of hot and dense gas near the
nucleus, and reveal an extended reservoir of molecular gas with low excitation
that is 10 to 100 times more massive than the gas traced by higher-excitation
observations. This raises the possibility that significant amounts of
low-excitation molecular gas may lurk in the environments of high-redshift (z >
3) galaxies.Comment: To appear as a Letter to Nature, 4th January 200
Heating of galactic gas by dark matter annihilation in ultracompact minihalos
The existence of substructure in halos of annihilating dark matter would be expected to substantially boost the rate at which annihilation occurs. Ultracompact minihalos of dark matter (UCMHs) are one of the more extreme examples of this. The boosted annihilation can inject significant amounts of energy into the gas of a galaxy over its lifetime. Here we determine the impact of the boost factor from UCMH substructure on the heating of galactic gas in a Milky Way-type galaxy, by means of N-body simulation. If 1% of the dark matter exists as UCMHs, the corresponding boost factor can be of order 105. For reasonable values of the relevant parameters (annihilation cross section 3×10−26 cm3 s−1, dark matter mass 100 GeV, 10% heating efficiency), we show that the presence of UCMHs at the 0.1% level would inject enough energy to eject significant amounts of gas from the halo, potentially preventing star formation within ~1 kpc of the halo centre
Identification of sex hormone-binding globulin in the human hypothalamus
Gonadal steroids are known to influence hypothalamic functions through both genomic and non-genomic pathways. Sex hormone-binding globulin ( SHBG) may act by a non-genomic mechanism independent of classical steroid receptors. Here we describe the immunocytochemical mapping of SHBG-containing neurons and nerve fibers in the human hypothalamus and infundibulum. Mass spectrometry and Western blot analysis were also used to characterize the biochemical characteristics of SHBG in the hypothalamus and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of humans. SHBG-immunoreactive neurons were observed in the supraoptic nucleus, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, paraventricular nucleus, arcuate nucleus, the perifornical region and the medial preoptic area in human brains. There were SHBG-immunoreactive axons in the median eminence and the infundibulum. A partial colocalization with oxytocin could be observed in the posterior pituitary lobe in consecutive semithin sections. We also found strong immunoreactivity for SHBG in epithelial cells of the choroid plexus and in a portion of the ependymal cells lining the third ventricle. Mass spectrometry showed that affinity-purified SHBG from the hypothalamus and choroid plexus is structurally similar to the SHBG identified in the CSF. The multiple localizations of SHBG suggest neurohypophyseal and neuroendocrine functions. The biochemical data suggest that CSF SHBG is of brain rather than blood origin. Copyright (c) 2005 S. Karger AG, Base
Maca (L. meyenii) for improving sexual function: a systematic review
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Maca (<it>Lepidium meyenii</it>) is an Andean plant of the brassica (mustard) family. Preparations from maca root have been reported to improve sexual function. The aim of this review was to assess the clinical evidence for or against the effectiveness of the maca plant as a treatment for sexual dysfunction.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We searched 17 databases from their inception to April 2010 and included all randomised clinical trials (RCTs) of any type of maca <it/>compared to a placebo for the treatment of healthy people or human patients with sexual dysfunction. The risk of bias for each study was assessed using Cochrane criteria, and statistical pooling of data was performed where possible. The selection of studies, data extraction, and validations were performed independently by two authors. Discrepancies were resolved through discussion by the two authors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Four RCTs met all the inclusion criteria. Two RCTs suggested a significant positive effect of maca on sexual dysfunction or sexual desire in healthy menopausal women or healthy adult men, respectively, while the other RCT failed to show any effects in healthy cyclists. The further RCT assessed the effects of maca in patients with erectile dysfunction using the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction-5 and showed significant effects.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results of our systematic review provide limited evidence for the effectiveness of maca in improving sexual function. However, the total number of trials, the total sample size, and the average methodological quality of the primary studies were too limited to draw firm conclusions. More rigorous studies are warranted.</p
It is a Graviton! or maybe not
The discovery of Kaluza-Klein (KK) gravitons is a smoking gun of extra
dimensions. Other scenarios, however, could give rise to spin-two resonances of
a new strongly-coupled sector and act as impostors. In this paper we prove that
a spin-two resonance does not couple to the Standard Model through
dimension-four operators. We then show that the massive graviton and its
impostor both couple to the Standard Model through the same dimension-five
operators. Therefore the spin determination is identical. Nevertheless, we also
show that one can use the ratio of branching ratios to photons and to jets for
distinguishing between KK gravitons and their impostors. The capacity to
distinguish between KK gravitons and impostors is a manifestation of the
breakdown of the duality between AdS and strongly-coupled theories.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, 1 table. References added, typos correcte
A Self-Consistent Model for Positronium Formation from Helium Atoms
The differential and total cross sections for electron capture by positrons
from helium atoms are calculated using a first-order distorted wave theory
satisfying the Coulomb boundary conditions. In this formalism a parametric
potential is used to describe the electron screening in a consistent and
realistic manner. The present procedure is self consistent because (i) it
satisfies the correct boundary conditions and post-prior symmetry, and (ii) the
potential and the electron binding energies appearing in the transition
amplitude are consistent with the wave functions describing the collision
system. The results are compared with the other theories and with the available
experimental measurements. At the considered range of collision energies, the
results agree reasonably well with recent experiments and theories.
[Note: This paper will be published on volume 42 of the Brazilian Journal of
Physics
Quality of private and public ambulatory health care in low and middle income countries: systematic review of comparative studies
Paul Garner and colleagues conducted a systematic review of 80 studies to compare
the quality of private versus public ambulatory health care in low- and
middle-income countries
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