34 research outputs found
The VST Early-type GAlaxy Survey: Exploring the Outskirts and Intra-cluster Regions of Galaxies in the Low-surface-brightness Regime
The VST Early-type GAlaxy Survey (VEGAS) is a deep, multi-band (u, g, r, i)
imaging survey, carried out with the 2.6-metre VLT Survey Telescope (VST) at
ESO's Paranal Observatory in Chile. VEGAS combines the wide (1-square-degree)
OmegaCAM imager and long integration times, together with a specially designed
observing strategy. It has proven to be a gold mine for studies of features at
very low surface brightness, down to levels of mu_g~27-30 magnitudes
arcsec^(-2), over 5-8 magnitudes fainter than the dark sky at Paranal. In this
article we highlight the main science results obtained with VEGAS observations
of galaxies across different environments, from dense clusters of galaxies to
unexplored poor groups and in the field.Comment: Published in The Messenger, vol. 183, p. 25-2
Ultra diffuse galaxies in the Hydra I cluster from the LEWIS Project: Phase-Space distribution and globular cluster richness
Although ultra diffuse galaxies (UDGs) are found in large numbers in clusters
of galaxies, the role of the cluster environment in shaping their low surface
brightness and large sizes is still uncertain. Here we examine a sample of UDGs
in the Hydra I cluster (D = 51 Mpc) with new radial velocities obtained as part
of the LEWIS (Looking into the faintest with MUSE) project using VLT/MUSE data.
Using a phase-space, or infall diagnostic, diagram we compare the UDGs to other
known galaxies in the Hydra I cluster and to UDGs in other clusters. The UDGs,
along with the bulk of regular Hydra I galaxies, have low relative velocities
and are located near the cluster core, and thus consistent with very early
infall into the cluster. Combining with literature data, we do not find the
expected trend of GC-rich UDGs associated with earlier infall times. This
result suggests that quenching mechanisms other than cluster infall should be
further considered, e.g. quenching by strong feedback or in cosmic sheets and
filaments. Tidal stripping of GCs in the cluster environment also warrants
further modelling.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, MNRAS, 525, 9
Looking into the faintEst WIth MUSE (LEWIS): on the nature of ultra-diffuse galaxies in the Hydra-I cluster.I. Project description and preliminary results
Looking into the faintEst WIth MUSE (LEWIS) is an ESO large observing
programme aimed at obtaining the first homogeneous integral-field spectroscopic
survey of 30 extremely low-surface brightness (LSB) galaxies in the Hydra I
cluster of galaxies, with MUSE at ESO-VLT. The majority of LSB galaxies in the
sample (22 in total) are ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs). The distribution of
systemic velocities Vsys ranges between 2317 km/s and 5198 km/s and is centred
on the mean velocity of Hydra I (Vsys = 3683 46 km/s). Considering the
mean velocity and the velocity dispersion of the cluster, 17 out of 20 targets
are confirmed cluster members. To assess the quality of the data and
demonstrate the feasibility of the science goals, we report the preliminary
results obtained for one of the sample galaxies, UDG11. For this target, we
derived the stellar kinematics, including the 2-dimensional maps of
line-of-sight velocity and velocity dispersion, constrained age and
metallicity, and studied the globular cluster (GC) population hosted by the
UDG. Results are compared with the available measurements for UDGs and dwarf
galaxies in literature. By fitting the stacked spectrum inside one effective
radius, we find that UDG11 has a velocity dispersion km/s,
it is old ( Gyr), metal-poor ([M/H]=-1.170.11 dex) and has a total
dynamical mass-to-light ratio M, comparable to those observed for
classical dwarf galaxies. The spatially resolved stellar kinematics maps
suggest that UDG11 does not show a significant velocity gradient along either
major or minor photometric axes. We find two GCs kinematically associated with
UDG11. The estimated total number of GCs in UDG11, corrected for the
spectroscopic completeness limit, is , which
corresponds to a GC specific frequency of .Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic
Galaxy populations in the Hydra i cluster from the VEGAS survey:I. Optical properties of a large sample of dwarf galaxies
At ~50 Mpc, the Hydra I cluster of galaxies is among the closest cluster in
the z=0 Universe, and an ideal environment to study dwarf galaxy properties in
a cluster environment. We exploit deep imaging data of the Hydra I cluster to
construct a new photometric catalog of dwarf galaxies in the cluster core,
which is then used to derive properties of the Hydra I cluster dwarf galaxies
population as well as to compare with other clusters. Moreover, we investigate
the dependency of dwarf galaxy properties on their surrounding environment. The
new Hydra I dwarf catalog contains 317 galaxies with luminosity between
-18.5<<-11.5 mag, a semi-major axis larger than ~200 pc (a=0.84 arcsec),
of which 202 are new detections, previously unknown dwarf galaxies in the Hydra
I central region. We estimate that our detection efficiency reaches 50% at the
limiting magnitude =-11.5 mag, and at the mean effective surface
brightness =26.5 mag/. We present the standard
scaling relations for dwarf galaxies and compare them with other nearby
clusters. We find that there are no observational differences for dwarfs
scaling relations in clusters of different sizes. We study the spatial
distribution of galaxies, finding evidence for the presence of substructures
within half the virial radius. We also find that mid- and high-luminosity
dwarfs (<-14.5 mag) become on average redder toward the cluster center,
and that they have a mild increase in with increasing clustercentric
distance, similar to what is observed for the Fornax cluster. No clear
clustercentric trends are reported with surface brightness and S\'ersic index.
Considering galaxies in the same magnitude-bins, we find that for high and
mid-luminosity dwarfs (<-13.5 mag) the g-r color is redder for the
brighter surface brightness and higher S\'ersic n index objects.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A. 25 pages, 21 figure
The association between perceived emotional support, maternal mood, salivary cortisol, salivary cortisone, and the ratio between the two compounds in response to acute stress in second trimester pregnant women
OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the effect of social support on the reactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis during pregnancy. Moreover, when investigating the HPA axis most studies do not consider the activity of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2), an enzyme within the salivary glands that inactivates cortisol to cortisone. This study explores the association between perceived emotional support and the maternal psychobiological stress response to a standardized naturalistic stressor by assessing maternal mood and the reactivity of salivary cortisol (SalF), salivary cortisone (SalE), and the SalE/(E+F) ratio as a marker of 11β-HSD2 activity.
METHODS: Repeated saliva samples and measures of maternal mood were obtained from 34 healthy second trimester pregnant women undergoing amniocentesis which served as a psychological stressor. The pregnant women additionally responded to a questionnaire of perceived emotional support and provided sociodemographic (e.g., maternal educational degree) and pregnancy-specific data (e.g., planned versus unplanned pregnancy).
RESULTS: Perceived emotional support neither showed a significant effect on mood nor on the SalF or SalE response to stress. However, a moderately strong positive association was found between perceived emotional support and SalE/(E+F) (r=.49). Additionally, the final regression analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between educational degree, planned/unplanned pregnancy and SalE/(E+F).
CONCLUSION: Findings suggest a higher metabolization of cortisol to cortisone in pregnant women with higher emotional support. In contrast, higher maternal education and unplanned pregnancy appear to be associated with decreased salivary 11β-HSD2 activity. The current study emphasizes the importance of taking the activity of 11β-HSD2 into account when examining SalF
Second-Trimester Amniotic Fluid Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone and Urocortin in Relation to Maternal Stress and Fetal Growth in Human Pregnancy
This study explored the association between the acute psychobiological stress response, chronic social overload and amniotic fluid corticotropin corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and urocortin (UCN) in 34 healthy, second-trimester pregnant women undergoing amniocentesis. The study further examined the predictive value of second-trimester amniotic fluid CRH and UCN for fetal growth and neonatal birth outcome. The amniocentesis served as a naturalistic stressor, during which maternal state anxiety and salivary cortisol was measured repeatedly and an aliquot of amniotic fluid was collected. The pregnant women additionally completed a questionnaire on chronic social overload. Fetal growth parameters were obtained at amniocentesis using fetal ultrasound biometry and at birth from medical records. The statistical analyses revealed that the acute maternal psychobiological stress response was unassociated with the amniotic fluid peptides, but that maternal chronic overload and amniotic CRH were positively correlated. Moreover, amniotic CRH was negatively associated with fetal size at amniocentesis and positively with growth in size from amniocentesis to birth. Hardly any studies have previously explored whether acute maternal psychological stress influences fetoplacental CRH or UCN levels significantly. Our findings suggest that 1) chronic, but not acute maternal stress may affect fetoplacental CRH secretion and that 2) CRH is complexly involved in fetal growth processes as previously shown in animals
Cortisol and estriol responses to awakening in the first pregnancy trimester: Associations with maternal stress and resilience factors
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the maternal cortisol awakening response (CAR) in the first pregnancy trimester. Similarly unknown is how the CAR in early gestation relates to other steroid hormones, such as estriol. Maternal estriol in blood and urine is used to monitor fetal well-being since it is produced by the fetoplacental unit from fetal precursors. Low levels have been associated with maternal-fetal complications. We were recently able to show that estriol is measurable in maternal saliva from 6 weeks' gestation onwards. However, its pattern following morning awakening and potential links with salivary cortisol in early gestation is relatively unknown. In this prospective study, we explored the cortisol and estriol responses to morning awakening in first-trimester pregnant women, the potential association of these endocrine variables with maternal stress and resilience factors, and their predictive value for the further pregnancy course.
METHODS: Fifty-one women with an uncomplicated, singleton pregnancy responded to questionnaires measuring chronic and pregnancy-specific stress, emotional support, and daily uplifts at 6 weeks' gestation. At 8 and 10 weeks, the women collected saliva samples immediately, 30, and 60Â min after morning awakening. After 12 weeks, 40 women reported on the further pregnancy course, of whom 6 had developed complications.
RESULTS: In response to morning awakening, cortisol levels increased significantly at 10 weeks (p = .04), while estriol levels decreased significantly at both 8 and 10 weeks (p  .10).
DISCUSSION: These findings advance our knowledge of cortisol and estriol secretion following morning awakening and encourage the investigation of E3 in addition to cortisol when researching prenatal stress and its consequences for maternal and fetal health
[Management of benign esophageal strictures: a literature review.]
The management of benign esophageal strictures is challenging. The first strategy includes endoscopic dilation using bougies or balloons. Although the immediate success rate of these is up to 90%, about 30-40% of patients experience recurrent dysphagia within the first year of follow-up. The management of refractory stenosis involves repeated sessions of endoscopic dilation. In order to obtain long-lasting functional results, alternative treatments have been developed, such as the use of self-expanding stents, particularly indicated in subgroups of patients with post-surgical stenosis or post-radiation therapy. If this approach fails, other possibilities are represented by self-decoding, PEG/J-tube positioning and, finally, reconstructive surgery
Creative music therapy with premature infants and their parents: a mixed-method pilot study on parents' anxiety, stress and depressive symptoms and parent-infant attachment
Premature birth is stressful for infants and parents and can adversely affect the parent-infant dyad. This mixed-methods pilot study evaluates whether creative music therapy (CMT) can alleviate anxiety, stress, and depressive symptoms in parents and support the bonding process with their infant. Sixteen parent couples were included. Ten couples were randomly allocated to the music therapy group (MTG) and six to the control group (CG). All couples completed psychological questionnaires measuring anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as an implicit measure of parent-infant attachment at two weeks postpartum (T1), at approximate neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization halftime (T2), and two weeks after the infant had been discharged (T3). At T1 and T2, the parents additionally completed a questionnaire assessing the degree of stress they experienced at the NICU. Qualitative data were collected through a semi-structured, problem-centered interview with MTG parents at T3. The results of the quantitative analyses revealed reductions in anxiety levels from T1 to T2 (p = 0.002) as well as decreases in depressive symptoms from T2 to T3 (p = 0.022). No such changes were apparent in the CG. In fact, parental stress increased from T1 to T2 (p = 0.016). Significant increases in attachment across time were also observed within the MTG, but not in the CG. The qualitative inquiry confirmed that CMT can support the parent-infant relationship. Being in musical interaction evoked feelings of joy and relaxation in the parents and encouraged them to interact more profoundly with their infant. The results call for a more extensive powered follow-up study to further investigate CMT's potential for parental well-being and parent-infant bonding