5,024 research outputs found
Towards a resolved Kennicutt-Schmidt law at high redshift
Massive galaxies in the distant Universe form stars at much higher rates than
today. Although direct resolution of the star forming regions of these galaxies
is still a challenge, recent molecular gas observations at the IRAM Plateau de
Bure interferometer enable us to study the star formation efficiency on
subgalactic scales around redshift z = 1.2. We present a method for obtaining
the gas and star formation rate (SFR) surface densities of ensembles of clumps
composing galaxies at this redshift, even though the corresponding scales are
not resolved. This method is based on identifying these structures in
position-velocity diagrams corresponding to slices within the galaxies. We use
unique IRAM observations of the CO(3-2) rotational line and DEEP2 spectra of
four massive star forming distant galaxies - EGS13003805, EGS13004291,
EGS12007881, and EGS13019128 in the AEGIS terminology - to determine the gas
and SFR surface densities of the identifiable ensembles of clumps that
constitute them. The integrated CO line luminosity is assumed to be directly
proportional to the total gas mass, and the SFR is deduced from the [OII] line.
We identify the ensembles of clumps with the angular resolution available in
both CO and [OII] spectroscopy; i.e., 1-1.5". SFR and gas surface densities are
averaged in areas of this size, which is also the thickness of the DEEP2 slits
and of the extracted IRAM slices, and we derive a spatially resolved
Kennicutt-Schmidt (KS) relation on a scale of ~8 kpc. The data generally
indicates an average depletion time of 1.9 Gyr, but with significant variations
from point to point within the galaxies.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysic
Epidermal Growth Factor–PEG Functionalized PAMAM-Pentaethylenehexamine Dendron for Targeted Gene Delivery Produced by Click Chemistry
Aim of this study was the site-specific conjugation of an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-polyethylene glycol (PEG) chain by click chemistry onto a poly(amido amine) (PAMAM) dendron, as a key step toward defined multifunctional carriers for targeted gene delivery. For this purpose, at first propargyl amine cored PAMAM dendrons with ester ends were synthesized. The chain terminal ester groups were then modified by oligoamines with different secondary amino densities. The oligoamine-modified PAMAM dendrons were well biocompatible, as demonstrated in cytotoxicity assays. Among the different oligoamine-modified dendrons, PAMAM-pentaethylenehexamine (PEHA) dendron polyplexes displayed the best gene transfer ability. Conjugation of PAMAM-PEHA dendron with PEG spacer was conducted via click reaction, which was performed before amidation with PEHA. The resultant PEG-PAMAM-PEHA copolymer was then coupled with EGF ligand. pDNA transfections in HuH-7 hepatocellular carcinoma cells showed a 10-fold higher efficiency with the polyplexes containing conjugated EGF as compared to the ligand-free ones, demonstrating the concept of ligand targeting. Overall gene transfer efficiencies, however, were moderate, suggesting that additional measures for overcoming subsequent intracellular bottlenecks in delivery have to be taken
The rapid formation a large rotating disk galaxy three billion years after the Big Bang
[Abridged] Over the past two decades observations and theoretical simulations
have established a global frame-work of galaxy formation and evolution in the
young Universe. Galaxies formed as baryonic gas cooled at the centres of
collapsing dark matter halos. Mergers of halos led to the build up of galaxy
mass. A major step forward in understanding these issues requires well resolved
physical information on individual galaxies at high redshift. Here we report
adaptive optics, spectroscopic observations of a representative luminous star
forming galaxy when the Universe was only twenty percent of its age. The
superior angular resolution of these data reveals the physical and dynamical
properties of a high redshift galaxy in unprecedented detail. A large and
massive rotating proto-disk is channelling gas towards a growing central
stellar bulge hosting an accreting massive black hole.Comment: Narure, accepted (Released Aug 17th
PACS Evolutionary Probe (PEP) - A Herschel Key Program
Deep far-infrared photometric surveys studying galaxy evolution and the
nature of the cosmic infrared background are a key strength of the Herschel
mission. We describe the scientific motivation for the PACS Evolutionary Probe
(PEP) guaranteed time key program and its role in the complement of Herschel
surveys, and the field selection which includes popular multiwavelength fields
such as GOODS, COSMOS, Lockman Hole, ECDFS, EGS. We provide an account of the
observing strategies and data reduction methods used. An overview of first
science results illustrates the potential of PEP in providing calorimetric star
formation rates for high redshift galaxy populations, thus testing and
superseeding previous extrapolations from other wavelengths, and enabling a
wide range of galaxy evolution studies.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in A&
The metallicity dependence of the CO {\rightarrow} H_2 conversion factor in z>1 star forming galaxies
We use the first systematic samples of CO millimeter emission in z>1
'main-sequence' star forming galaxies (SFGs) to study the metallicity
dependence of the conversion factor {\alpha}CO, from CO line luminosity to
molecular gas mass. The molecular gas depletion rate inferred from the ratio of
the star formation rate (SFR) to CO luminosity, is ~1 Gyr-1 for near-solar
metallicity galaxies with stellar masses above M_S~1e11 M_sun. In this regime
the depletion rate does not vary more than a factor of two to three as a
function of molecular gas surface density, or redshift between z~0 and 2. Below
M_S the depletion rate increases rapidly with decreasing metallicity. We argue
that this trend is not caused by starburst events, by changes in the physical
parameters of the molecular clouds, or by the impact of the fundamental
metallicity-SFR-stellar mass relation. A more probable explanation is that the
conversion factor is metallicity dependent and that star formation can occur in
'CO-dark' gas. The trend is also expected theoretically from the effect of
enhanced photodissociation of CO by ultraviolet radiation at low metallicity.
From the available z~0 and z~1-3 samples we constrain the slope of the
log({\alpha}CO) -log (metallicity) relation to range between -1 and -2, fairly
insensitive to the assumed slope of the gas-star formation rate relation.
Because of the lower metallicities near the peak of the galaxy formation
activity at z~1-2 compared to z~0, we suggest that molecular gas masses
estimated from CO luminosities have to be substantially corrected upward for
galaxies below M_S.Comment: ApJ in pres
The young stellar population in the Serpens Cloud Core: An ISOCAM survey
We present results from an ISOCAM survey in the two broad band filters LW2
(5-8.5 mu) and LW3 (12-18 mu) of a 0.13 square degree coverage of the Serpens
Main Cloud Core. A total of 392 sources were detected in the 6.7 mu band and
139 in the 14.3 mu band to a limiting sensitivity of ~ 2 mJy. Only about 50% of
the mid-IR excess sources show excesses in the near-IR J-H/H-K diagram. In the
central Cloud Core the Class I/Class II number ratio is 19/18, i.e. about 10
times larger than in other young embedded clusters such as rho Ophiuchi or
Chamaeleon. The mid-IR fluxes of the Class I and flat-spectrum sources are
found to be on the average larger than those of Class II sources. Stellar
luminosities are estimated for the Class II sample, and its luminosity function
is compatible with a coeval population of about 2 Myr which follows a three
segment power-law IMF. For this age about 20% of the Class IIs are found to be
young brown dwarf candidates. The YSOs are in general strongly clustered, the
Class I sources more than the Class II sources, and there is an indication of
sub-clustering. The sub-clustering of the protostar candidates has a spatial
scale of 0.12 pc. These sub-clusters are found along the NW-SE oriented ridge
and in very good agreement with the location of dense cores traced by
millimeter data. The smallest clustering scale for the Class II sources is
about 0.25 pc, similar to what was found for rho Ophiuchi. Our data show
evidence that star formation in Serpens has proceeded in several phases, and
that a ``microburst'' of star formation has taken place very recently, probably
within the last 10^5 yrs.Comment: 25 pages, 14 figures, accepted by A&A March 18th, see also
http://www.not.iac.es/~amanda
Nonequilibrium Weak Processes in Kaon Condensation I --- Reaction rate for the thermal kaon process ---
We investigate the thermal kaon process,in which kaons are thermally produced
via nucleon-nucleon collisions.This process is relevant to nonequilibrium
dynamics of kaon condensation inside neutron stars.The reaction rates for these
processes are calculated, and their temperature and density dependences are
compared with those of other reaction rates.It is shown that the thermal kaon
process is dominant over other relevant weak reactions throughout the
nonequilibrium process, such as the kaon-induced Urca and the modified Urca
reactions, and may control the entire evolution of the kaon condensate. The
characteristic role of the soft and hard kaons during the evolution is
explained, and implications for astrophysical phenomena are briefly discussed.Comment: 31 pages,incl.10 eps figures,RevTe
Colouration in amphibians as a reflection of nutritional status : the case of tree frogs in Costa Rica
Colouration has been considered a cue for mating success in many species; ornaments in males often are related to carotenoid mobilization towards feathers and/or skin and can signal general health and nutrition status. However, there are several factors that can also link with status, such as physiological blood parameters and body condition, but there is not substantial evidence which supports the existence of these relationships and interactions in anurans. This study evaluated how body score and blood values interact with colouration in free-range Agalychnis callidryas and Agalychnis annae males. We found significant associations between body condition and plasmatic proteins and haematocrit, as well as between body condition and colour values from the chromaticity diagram. We also demonstrated that there is a significant relation between the glucose and plasmatic protein values that were reflected in the ventral colours of the animals, and haematocrit inversely affected most of those colour values. Significant differences were found between species as well as between populations of A. callidryas, suggesting that despite colour variation, there are also biochemical differences within animals from the same species located in different regions. These data provide information on underlying factors for colouration of male tree frogs in nature, provide insights about the dynamics of several nutrients in the amphibian model and how this could affect the reproductive output of the animals
The impacts of environmental warming on Odonata: a review
Climate change brings with it unprecedented rates of increase in environmental temperature, which will have major consequences for the earth's flora and fauna. The Odonata represent a taxon that has many strong links to this abiotic factor due to its tropical evolutionary history and adaptations to temperate climates. Temperature is known to affect odonate physiology including life-history traits such as developmental rate, phenology and seasonal regulation as well as immune function and the production of pigment for thermoregulation. A range of behaviours are likely to be affected which will, in turn, influence other parts of the aquatic ecosystem, primarily through trophic interactions. Temperature may influence changes in geographical distributions, through a shifting of species' fundamental niches, changes in the distribution of suitable habitat and variation in the dispersal ability of species. Finally, such a rapid change in the environment results in a strong selective pressure towards adaptation to cope and the inevitable loss of some populations and, potentially, species. Where data are lacking for odonates, studies on other invertebrate groups will be considered. Finally, directions for research are suggested, particularly laboratory studies that investigate underlying causes of climate-driven macroecological patterns
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