282 research outputs found
The Brightest Ly Emitter: Pop III or Black Hole?
CR7 is the brightest emitter (LAE) known to date,
and spectroscopic follow-up by Sobral et al. (2015) suggests that CR7 might
host Population (Pop) III stars. We examine this interpretation using
cosmological hydrodynamical simulations. Several simulated galaxies show the
same "Pop III wave" pattern observed in CR7. However, to reproduce the extreme
CR7 /HeII1640 line luminosities () a
top-heavy IMF and a massive () PopIII burst with age
Myr are required. Assuming that the observed properties of and HeII emission are typical for Pop III, we predict that in the
COSMOS/UDS/SA22 fields, 14 out of the 30 LAEs at with should also host Pop III stars producing an
observable . As an alternate
explanation, we explore the possibility that CR7 is instead powered by
accretion onto a Direct Collapse Black Hole (DCBH). Our model predicts
, , and X-ray luminosities that are in agreement
with the observations. In any case, the observed properties of CR7 indicate
that this galaxy is most likely powered by sources formed from pristine gas. We
propose that further X-ray observations can distinguish between the two above
scenarios.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
The Influence of Interspecific Competition and Host Preference on the Phylogeography of Two African Ixodid Tick Species
A comparative phylogeographic study on two economically important African tick species, Amblyomma hebraeum and Hyalomma rufipes was performed to test the influence of host specificity and host movement on dispersion. Pairwise AMOVA analyses of 277 mtDNA COI sequences supported significant population differentiation among the majority of sampling sites. The geographic mitochondrial structure was not supported by nuclear ITS-2 sequencing, probably attributed to a recent divergence. The three-host generalist, A. hebraeum, showed less mtDNA geographic structure, and a lower level of genetic diversity, while the more host-specific H. rufipes displayed higher levels of population differentiation and two distinct mtDNA assemblages (one predominantly confined to South Africa/Namibia and the other to Mozambique and East Africa). A zone of overlap is present in southern Mozambique. A mechanistic climate model suggests that climate alone cannot be responsible for the disruption in female gene flow. Our findings furthermore suggest that female gene dispersal of ticks is more dependent on the presence of juvenile hosts in the environment than on the ability of adult hosts to disperse across the landscape. Documented interspecific competition between the juvenile stages of H. rufipes and H. truncatum is implicated as a contributing factor towards disrupting gene flow between the two southern African H. rufipes genetic assemblages
Probing the AGN Unification Model at redshift z 3 with MUSE observations of giant Ly nebulae
A prediction of the classic active galactic nuclei (AGN) unification model is
the presence of ionisation cones with different orientations depending on the
AGN type. Confirmations of this model exist for present times, but it is less
clear in the early Universe. Here, we use the morphology of giant Ly
nebulae around AGNs at redshift z3 to probe AGN emission and therefore
the validity of the AGN unification model at this redshift. We compare the
spatial morphology of 19 nebulae previously found around type I AGNs with a new
sample of 4 Ly nebulae detected around type II AGNs. Using two
independent techniques, we find that nebulae around type II AGNs are more
asymmetric than around type I, at least at radial distances ~physical kpc
(pkpc) from the ionizing source. We conclude that the type I and type II AGNs
in our sample show evidence of different surrounding ionising geometries. This
suggests that the classical AGN unification model is also valid for
high-redshift sources. Finally, we discuss how the lack of asymmetry in the
inner parts (r30 pkpc) and the associated high values of the HeII to
Ly ratios in these regions could indicate additional sources of (hard)
ionizing radiation originating within or in proximity of the AGN host galaxies.
This work demonstrates that the morphologies of giant Ly nebulae can be
used to understand and study the geometry of high redshift AGNs on
circum-nuclear scales and it lays the foundation for future studies using much
larger statistical samples.Comment: 15 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
The brightest Ly α emitter: Pop III or black hole?
CR7 is the brightest z=6.6 Ly α emitter (LAE) known to date, and spectroscopic follow-up by Sobral etal. suggests that CR7 might host Population (Pop) III stars. We examine this interpretation using cosmological hydrodynamical simulations. Several simulated galaxies show the same ‘Pop III wave' pattern observed in CR7. However, to reproduce the extreme CR7 Ly α/He ii1640 line luminosities () a top-heavy initial mass function and a massive ( ≳ 107 M⊙) Pop III burst with age ≲ 2Myr are required. Assuming that the observed properties of Ly α and He ii emission are typical for Pop III, we predict that in the COSMOS/UDS/SA22 fields, 14 out of the 30 LAEs at z=6.6 with Lα>1043.3 erg s−1 should also host Pop III stars producing an observable . As an alternate explanation, we explore the possibility that CR7 is instead powered by accretion on to a direct collapse black hole. Our model predicts Lα, , and X-ray luminosities that are in agreement with the observations. In any case, the observed properties of CR7 indicate that this galaxy is most likely powered by sources formed from pristine gas. We propose that further X-ray observations can distinguish between the two above scenario
Effects of Tectonics and Large Scale Climatic Changes On the Evolutionary History of \u3ci\u3eHyalomma\u3c/i\u3e ticks
Hyalomma Koch, 1844 are ixodid ticks that infest mammals, birds and reptiles, to which 27 recognized species occur across the Afrotropical, Palearctic and Oriental regions. Despite their medical and veterinary importance, the evolutionary history of the group is enigmatic. To investigate various taxonomic hypotheses based on morphology, and also some of the mechanisms involved in the diversification of the genus, we sequenced and analysed data derived from two mtDNA fragments, three nuclear DNA genes and 47 morphological characters. Bayesian and Parsimony analyses based on the combined data (2242 characters for 84 taxa) provided maximum resolution and strongly supported the monophyly of Hyalomma and the subgenus Euhyalomma Filippova, 1984 (including H. punt Hoogstraal, Kaiser and Pedersen, 1969). A predicted close evolutionary association was found between morphologically similar H. dromedarii Koch, 1844, H. somalicum Tonelli Rondelli, 1935, H. impeltatum Schulze and Schlottke, 1929 and H. punt, and together they form a sister lineage to H. asiaticum Schulze and Schlottke, 1929, H. schulzei Olenev, 1931 and H. scupense Schulze, 1919. Congruent with morphological suggestions, H. anatolicum Koch, 1844, H. excavatum Koch, 1844 and H. lusitanicum Koch, 1844 form a clade and so also H. glabrum Delpy, 1949, H. marginatum Koch, 1844, H. turanicum Pomerantzev, 1946 and H. rufipes Koch, 1844. Wide scale continental sampling revealed cryptic divergences within African H. truncatum Koch, 1844 and H. rufipes and suggested that the taxonomy of these lineages is in need of a revision. The most basal lineages in Hyalomma represent taxa currently confined to Eurasia and molecular clock estimates suggest that members of the genus started to diverge approximately 36.25 million years ago (Mya). The early diversification event coincides well with the collision of the Indian and Eurasian Plates, an event that was also characterized by large scale faunal turnover in the region. Using S-Diva, we also propose that the closure of the Tethyan seaway allowed for the genus to first enter Africa approximately 17.73 Mya. In concert, our data supports the notion that tectonic events and large scale global changes in the environment contributed significantly to produce the rich species diversity currently found in the genus Hyalomma
The Kinematic and Microphysical Control of Storm Integrated Lightning Flash Extent
Objective: To investigate the kinematic and microphysical control of lightning properties, particularly those that may govern the production of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in thunderstorms, such as flash rate, type (intracloud [IC] vs. cloud-to-ground [CG] ) and extent. Data and Methodology: a) NASA MSFC Lightning Nitrogen Oxides Model (LNOM) is applied to North Alabama Lightning Mapping Array (NALMA) and Vaisala National Lightning Detection Network(TradeMark) (NLDN) observations following ordinary convective cells through their lifecycle. b) LNOM provides estimates of flash type, channel length distributions, lightning segment altitude distributions (SADs) and lightning NOx production profiles (Koshak et al. 2012). c) LNOM lightning characteristics are compared to the evolution of updraft and precipitation properties inferred from dual-Doppler (DD) and polarimetric radar analyses of UAHuntsville Advanced Radar for Meteorological and Operational Research (ARMOR, Cband, polarimetric) and KHTX (S-band, Doppler)
Effects of tectonics and large scale climatic changes on the evolutionary history of Hyalomma ticks
Corrigendum to Effects of tectonics and large scale climatic changes on the evolutionary history of Hyalomma ticks Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution (2017) 114:153-165.
Sands AF, Apanaskevich DA, Matthee S, Horak IG, Harrison A, Karim S, Mohammad MK, Mumcuoglu KY, Rajakaruna RS, Santos-Silva MM, Kamani J, Matthee CA.
Mol Phylogenet Evol. 2018 Mar;120:390. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.01.010. DisponÃvel em: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1055790318300307?via%3DihubHyalomma Koch, 1844 are ixodid ticks that infest mammals, birds and reptiles, to which 27 recognized
species occur across the Afrotropical, Palearctic and Oriental regions. Despite their medical and veterinary
importance, the evolutionary history of the group is enigmatic. To investigate various taxonomic
hypotheses based on morphology, and also some of the mechanisms involved in the diversification of
the genus, we sequenced and analysed data derived from two mtDNA fragments, three nuclear DNA
genes and 47 morphological characters. Bayesian and Parsimony analyses based on the combined data
(2242 characters for 84 taxa) provided maximum resolution and strongly supported the monophyly of
Hyalomma and the subgenus Euhyalomma Filippova, 1984 (including H. punt Hoogstraal, Kaiser and
Pedersen, 1969). A predicted close evolutionary association was found between morphologically similar
H. dromedarii Koch, 1844, H. somalicum Tonelli Rondelli, 1935, H. impeltatum Schulze and Schlottke, 1929
and H. punt, and together they form a sister lineage to H. asiaticum Schulze and Schlottke, 1929, H. schulzei
Olenev, 1931 and H. scupense Schulze, 1919. Congruent with morphological suggestions, H. anatolicum
Koch, 1844, H. excavatum Koch, 1844 and H. lusitanicum Koch, 1844 form a clade and so also H. glabrum
Delpy, 1949, H. marginatum Koch, 1844, H. turanicum Pomerantzev, 1946 and H. rufipes Koch, 1844. Wide
scale continental sampling revealed cryptic divergences within African H. truncatum Koch, 1844 and H.
rufipes and suggested that the taxonomy of these lineages is in need of a revision. The most basal lineages
in Hyalomma represent taxa currently confined to Eurasia and molecular clock estimates suggest that
members of the genus started to diverge approximately 36.25 million years ago (Mya). The early diversification
event coincides well with the collision of the Indian and Eurasian Plates, an event that was also
characterized by large scale faunal turnover in the region. Using S-Diva, we also propose that the closure
of the Tethyan seaway allowed for the genus to first enter Africa approximately 17.73 Mya. In concert, our
data supports the notion that tectonic events and large scale global changes in the environment contributed
significantly to produce the rich species diversity currently found in the genus Hyalomma.The National Research Foundation (NRF) is thanked for their
financial support of the study and the Faculty of Science (University
of Stellenbosch) for a scholarship provided to AFS.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
The clustering of H + [O III] and [O II] emitters since z \tilde 5: dependencies with line luminosity and stellar mass
We investigate the clustering properties of ∼7000 H β + [O III] and [O II] narrowband-selected emitters at z ∼ 0.8–4.7 from the High-z Emission Line Survey. We find clustering lengths, r0, of 1.5–4.0 h−1 Mpc and minimum dark matter halo masses of 1010.7–12.1 M⊙ for our z = 0.8–3.2 H β + [O III] emitters and r0 ∼ 2.0–8.3 h−1 Mpc and halo masses of 1011.5–12.6 M⊙ for our z = 1.5–4.7 [O II] emitters. We find r0 to strongly increase both with increasing line luminosity and redshift. By taking into account the evolution of the characteristic line luminosity, L⋆(z), and using our model predictions of halo mass given r0, we find a strong, redshift-independent increasing trend between L/L⋆(z) and minimum halo mass. The faintest H β + [O III] emitters are found to reside in 109.5 M⊙ haloes and the brightest emitters in 1013.0 M⊙ haloes. For [O II] emitters, the faintest emitters are found in 1010.5 M⊙ haloes and the brightest emitters in 1012.6 M⊙ haloes. A redshift-independent stellar mass dependency is also observed where the halo mass increases from 1011 to 1012.5 M⊙ for stellar masses of 108.5 to 1011.5 M⊙, respectively. We investigate the interdependencies of these trends by repeating our analysis in a Lline−Mstar grid space for our most populated samples (H β + [O III] z = 0.84 and [O II] z = 1.47) and find that the line luminosity dependency is stronger than the stellar mass dependency on halo mass. For L > L⋆ emitters at all epochs, we find a relatively flat trend with halo masses of 1012.5–13 M⊙, which may be due to quenching mechanisms in massive haloes that is consistent with a transitional halo mass predicted by models
Evolutionary history of the Karoo bush rat, Myotomys unisulcatus (Rodentia: Muridae): disconcordance between morphology and genetics
Morphological characters have historically been used as the basis for mammalian taxonomic designations and, in a geographic context, subspecies descriptions. Geographic genetic structuring of a species, however, often reflects a contrasting classification for sampled populations. To investigate morphological and genetic congruence, geometric morphometrics and phylogeographic mitochondrial DNA sequence analyses of a South African plainsdwelling species, Myotomys unisulcatus, the Karoo bush rat, was performed across its range. A Bayesian population structure analysis identified two closely-related distinct genetic assemblages: the first contains populations from both the eastern, southern, and western parts of the species range (coastal lowland group), and the second comprises individuals from the Little Karoo (central interior group). Areas of sharp elevation (the Great Escarpment), coupled to vegetational differences, appeared to be the main factor limiting gene flow between these two groups. Geometric morphometric analyses on the ventral and dorsal views of the crania of M. unisulcatus failed to support the genetic groupings. Instead environmental factors in the respective biomes appeared to play a more
important role in shaping the crania of both genders. The contrasting patterns obtained between morphology and genetics in M. unisulcatus is probably indicative of phenotypic plasticity throughout the range of the species, and it is hypothesized that regional environmental factors play a prominent role in explaining geographic morphological variation within the species
. South Africa's fresh fruit industry: Optimising export performance and securing sustainable exporter-importer relationships
The fresh fruit industry in South Africa is considered the biggest contributor to the
agricultural export sector (by value) and a major source of employment. Fresh fruit exporters
operate in a challenging environment, juggling the financial challenges of competitive pricing
and foreign markets’ regulatory requirements. Although exporter-importer relationships
are key in driving export performance and sustainability, empirical research in this area is
unfortunately sparse. This white paper reports the findings of a recent study that explored
the interpersonal dynamics among 65 fresh fruit exporters in South Africa and investigated
export performance, considering quantitative targets and measures. Results revealed that
the key inter-firm relationship behaviours that drive export performance differ from those
driving sustainable exporter-importer relationships. According actions recommended
for the way forward include securing the economic viability of local fresh fruit exporters’
relationships with foreign buyers, considering the new business formula; adopting a longterm view of export markets and buyer relationships; ensuring regular, open communication
with buyers; and creating a business culture that facilitates sustainable and mutually
beneficial relationships among all stakeholderspagibs202
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