Reliability of merger tree realizations of dark halos in the Monte-Carlo modeling of galaxy formation

We examine the reliability of the merger trees generated for the Monte-Carlo modeling of galaxy formation. In particular we focus on the cold gas fraction predicted from the merger trees with different assumptions on the progenitor distribution function, the timestep, and the mass resolution. We show that the cold gas fraction is sensitive to the accuracy of the merger trees at small-mass scales of progenitors at high redshifts. One can reproduce the Press-Schechter prediction to a reasonable degree by adopting a fairly large number of redshift bins, N_{step} ~ 1000 in generating merger trees, which is a factor of ten larger than the canonical value used in previous literature.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figures. To appear in PASJ, October 25, 200

Monte-Carlo Modeling of Non-Gravitational Heating Processes in Galaxy Clusters

We consider non-gravitational heating effects on galaxy clusters on the basis of the Monte-Carlo modeling of merging trees of dark matter halos combined with the thermal evolution of gas inside each halo. Under the assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium and the isothermal gas profiles, our model takes account of the metallicity evolution, metallicity-dependent cooling of gas, supernova energy feedback, and heating due to jets of radio galaxies in a consistent manner. The observed properties of galaxy clusters can be explained in models with higher non-gravitational heating efficiency than that in the conventional model. Possibilities include jet heating by the Fanaroff-Riley Type II radio galaxies, and the enhanced star formation efficiency and/or supernova energy feedback, especially at high redshifts.Comment: 29 pages, 12 figures. To appear in PASJ, February 25, 200

Systematic bias in the estimate of cluster mass and the fluctuation amplitude from cluster abundance statistics

We revisit the estimate of the mass fluctuation amplitude, sigma_8, from the observational X-ray cluster abundance. In particular, we examine the effect of the systematic difference between the cluster virial mass estimated from the X-ray spectroscopy, M_{vir, spec}, and the true virial mass of the corresponding halo, M_{vir}. Mazzotta et al. (2004) recently pointed out the possibility that alpha_M = M_{vir, spec}/M_{vir} is systematically lower than unity. We perform the statistical analysis combining the latest X-ray cluster sample and the improved theoretical models and find that sigma_8 \sim 0.76 +/- 0.01 + 0.50 (1-alpha_M) for 0.5 \le alpha_M \le 1, where the quoted errors are statistical only. Thus if alpha_M \sim 0.7, the value of sigma_8 from cluster abundance alone is now in better agreement with other cosmological data including the cosmic microwave background, the galaxy power spectrum and the weak lensing data. The current study also illustrates the importance of possible systematic effects in mapping real clusters to underlying dark halos which changes the interpretation of cluster abundance statistics.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures. To appear in PASJ, April 25, 200

Response of a stretched cylindrical diffusion flame to a sinusoidal velocity oscillation of air stream

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Avaliação clínica do uso da decametrina no tratamento da pediculose do couro cabeludo

A decametrina, um inseticida piretróide sintético, foi avaliada no tratamento da infestação por Pediculus humanus capitis em 54 crianças. Foi empregada emulsão a 0,0025 mg/ml da decametrina em tratamento tópico único ou repetido após 8 dias, se ainda persistissem sinais do Pediculus humanus capitis. O resultado após o 16.° dia do tratamento foi considerado satisfatório em 98,2% dos casos observados, sendo que 28 crianças, 47,4% dos casos, não apresentaram nenhum sinal de infestação e os demais apresentaram lêndeas secas, em sua maioria e, portanto, inviáveis. A toxicidade foi avaliada pelo exame clínico nos indivíduos tratados e nos aplicadores, não sendo constatadas alterações tróficas locais ou à distância no exame clínico, nem ocorrido queixas. Pela eficácia apresentada, pela ausência de toxicidade e pelo baixo custo do tratamento, concluiu-se pela grande aplicabilidade da decametrina no controle da infestação por Pediculus humanus capitis, em nosso meio.Fifty four children showing Pediculus humanus capitis infestation were treated with decamethrin, a synthetic pyrethoid inseticide. Decamethrin emulsion of 0.0025 mg/ml was used in a single topical treatment or repeated if the infestation signs were still present after 8 days. The results were considered positive for 98.2% of subjects after 16 days of treatment. Twenty eight children, i.e. 47.4%, had no more signs of head lice and the others still presented at the end of evaluation the presence of unviable ova of Pediculus humanus capitis. Toxicity was evaluated by clinical examination of the subjects with head lice and of those people who had participated in the treatment and whose skin had been in contact with the emulsion. No adverse reaction was reported. Since decamethrin has been showed effective in the treatment of head lice, with no signs of toxicity, and also because of its low cost, the author concluded that decamethrin in useful for the control of Pediculus humanus capitis infestation

Neuroprotective Effects of Lutein in the Retina

Although a large variety of pharmaceutical therapies for treating disease have been developed in recent years, there has been little progress in disease prevention. In particular, the protection of neural tissue is essential, because it is hardly regenerated. The use of nutraceuticals for maintaining the health has been supported by several clinical studies, including cross-sectional and interventional studies for age-related macular disease. However, mechanistic evidence for their effects at the molecular level has been very limited. In this review, we focus on lutein, which is a xanthophyll type of carotenoid. Lutein is not synthesized in mammals, and must be obtained from the diet. It is delivered to the retina, and in humans, it is concentrated in the macula. Here, we describe the neuroprotective effects of lutein and their underlying molecular mechanisms in animal models of vision-threatening diseases, such as innate retinal inflammation, diabetic retinopathy, and light-induced retinal degeneration. In lutein-treated mouse ocular disease models, oxidative stress in the retina is reduced, and its downstream pathological signals are inhibited. Furthermore, degradation of the functional proteins, rhodopsin (a visual substance) and synaptophysin (a synaptic vesicle protein also influenced in other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease), the depletion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and DNA damage are prevented by lutein, which preserves visual function. We discuss the possibility of using lutein, an antioxidant, as a neuroprotective treatment for humans