77 research outputs found
Recommended from our members
Glucocorticoids mediate stress induction of the alarmin HMGB1 and reduction of the microglia checkpoint receptor CD200R1 in limbic brain structures
Exposure to stressors primes neuroinflammatory responses to subsequent immune challenges and stress-induced glucocorticoids (GCs) play a mediating role in this phenomenon of neuroinflammatory priming. Recent evidence also suggests that the alarmin high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) and the microglial checkpoint receptor CD200R1 serve as proximal mechanisms of stress-induced neuroinflammatory priming. However, it is unclear whether stress-induced GCs play a causal role in these proximal mechanisms of neuroinflammatory priming; this forms the focus of the present investigation. Here, we found that exposure to a severe acute stressor (inescapable tailshock) induced HMGB1 and reduced CD200R1 expression in limbic brain regions and pharmacological blockade of GC signaling (RU486) mitigated these effects of stress. To confirm these effects of RU486, adrenalectomy (ADX) with basal corticosterone (CORT) replacement was used to block the stress-induced increase in GCs as well as effects on HMGB1 and CD200R1. As with RU486, ADX mitigated the effects of stress on HMGB1 and CD200R1. Subsequently, exogenous CORT was administered to determine whether GCs are sufficient to recapitulate the effects of stress. Indeed, exogenous CORT induced expression of HMGB1 and reduced expression of CD200R1. In addition, exposure of primary microglia to CORT also recapitulated the effects of stress on CD200R1 suggesting that CORT acts directly on microglia to reduce expression of CD200R1. Taken together, these findings suggest that GCs mediate the effects of stress on these proximal mechanisms of neuroinflammatory priming.</p
The dark energy spectrometer - A potential multi-fiber instrument for the Blanco 4-meter telescope
We describe the preliminary design of the Dark Energy Spectrometer (DESpec), a fiber-fed spectroscopic instrument concept for the Blanco 4-meter telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO). DESpec would take advantage of the infrastructure recently deployed for the Dark Energy Camera (DECam). DESpec would be mounted in the new DECam prime focus cage, would be interchangeable with DECam, would share the DECam optical corrector, and would feature a focal plane with âŒ4000 robotically positioned optical fibers feeding multiple high-throughput spectrometers. The instrument would have a field of view of 3.8 square degrees, a wavelength range of approximately 500<λ<1000 nm, and a spectral resolution of RâŒ3000. DESpec would provide a powerful spectroscopic follow-up system for sources in the Southern hemisphere discovered by the Dark Energy Survey and LSST
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey Quasar Catalog I. Early Data Release
We present the first edition of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Quasar
Catalog. The catalog consists of the 3814 objects (3000 discovered by the SDSS)
in the initial SDSS public data release that have at least one emission line
with a full width at half maximum larger than 1000 km/s, luminosities brighter
than M_i^* = -23, and highly reliable redshifts. The area covered by the
catalog is 494 square degrees; the majority of the objects were found in SDSS
commissioning data using a multicolor selection technique. The quasar redshifts
range from 0.15 to 5.03. For each object the catalog presents positions
accurate to better than 0.2" rms per coordinate, five band (ugriz) CCD-based
photometry with typical accuracy of 0.05 mag, radio and X-ray emission
properties, and information on the morphology and selection method. Calibrated
spectra of all objects in the catalog, covering the wavelength region 3800 to
9200 Angstroms at a spectral resolution of 1800-2100, are also available. Since
the quasars were selected during the commissioning period, a time when the
quasar selection algorithm was undergoing frequent revisions, the sample is not
homogeneous and is not intended for statistical analysis.Comment: 27 pages, 4 figures, 4 tables, accepted by A
The Multi-Object, Fiber-Fed Spectrographs for SDSS and the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey
We present the design and performance of the multi-object fiber spectrographs
for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and their upgrade for the Baryon
Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS). Originally commissioned in Fall 1999
on the 2.5-m aperture Sloan Telescope at Apache Point Observatory, the
spectrographs produced more than 1.5 million spectra for the SDSS and SDSS-II
surveys, enabling a wide variety of Galactic and extra-galactic science
including the first observation of baryon acoustic oscillations in 2005. The
spectrographs were upgraded in 2009 and are currently in use for BOSS, the
flagship survey of the third-generation SDSS-III project. BOSS will measure
redshifts of 1.35 million massive galaxies to redshift 0.7 and Lyman-alpha
absorption of 160,000 high redshift quasars over 10,000 square degrees of sky,
making percent level measurements of the absolute cosmic distance scale of the
Universe and placing tight constraints on the equation of state of dark energy.
The twin multi-object fiber spectrographs utilize a simple optical layout
with reflective collimators, gratings, all-refractive cameras, and
state-of-the-art CCD detectors to produce hundreds of spectra simultaneously in
two channels over a bandpass covering the near ultraviolet to the near
infrared, with a resolving power R = \lambda/FWHM ~ 2000. Building on proven
heritage, the spectrographs were upgraded for BOSS with volume-phase
holographic gratings and modern CCD detectors, improving the peak throughput by
nearly a factor of two, extending the bandpass to cover 360 < \lambda < 1000
nm, and increasing the number of fibers from 640 to 1000 per exposure. In this
paper we describe the original SDSS spectrograph design and the upgrades
implemented for BOSS, and document the predicted and measured performances.Comment: 43 pages, 42 figures, revised according to referee report and
accepted by AJ. Provides background for the instrument responsible for SDSS
and BOSS spectra. 4th in a series of survey technical papers released in
Summer 2012, including arXiv:1207.7137 (DR9), arXiv:1207.7326 (Spectral
Classification), and arXiv:1208.0022 (BOSS Overview
The Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey of SDSS-III
The Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) is designed to measure the
scale of baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) in the clustering of matter over a
larger volume than the combined efforts of all previous spectroscopic surveys
of large scale structure. BOSS uses 1.5 million luminous galaxies as faint as
i=19.9 over 10,000 square degrees to measure BAO to redshifts z<0.7.
Observations of neutral hydrogen in the Lyman alpha forest in more than 150,000
quasar spectra (g<22) will constrain BAO over the redshift range 2.15<z<3.5.
Early results from BOSS include the first detection of the large-scale
three-dimensional clustering of the Lyman alpha forest and a strong detection
from the Data Release 9 data set of the BAO in the clustering of massive
galaxies at an effective redshift z = 0.57. We project that BOSS will yield
measurements of the angular diameter distance D_A to an accuracy of 1.0% at
redshifts z=0.3 and z=0.57 and measurements of H(z) to 1.8% and 1.7% at the
same redshifts. Forecasts for Lyman alpha forest constraints predict a
measurement of an overall dilation factor that scales the highly degenerate
D_A(z) and H^{-1}(z) parameters to an accuracy of 1.9% at z~2.5 when the survey
is complete. Here, we provide an overview of the selection of spectroscopic
targets, planning of observations, and analysis of data and data quality of
BOSS.Comment: 49 pages, 16 figures, accepted by A
A Large, Uniform Sample of X-ray Emitting AGN: Selection Approach and an Initial Catalog from the ROSAT All-Sky and Sloan Digital Sky Surveys
Many open questions in X-ray astronomy are limited by the relatively small
number of objects in uniform optically-identified samples, especially when rare
subclasses are considered, or subsets isolated to search for evolution or
correlations between wavebands. We describe initial results of a program aimed
to ultimately yield 10^4 X-ray source identifications--a sample about an order
of magnitude larger than earlier efforts. The technique employs X-ray data from
the ROSAT All-Sky Survey (RASS), and optical imaging and spectroscopic followup
from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Optical objects in the SDSS catalogs
are automatically cross-correlated with RASS X-ray source positions; then
priorities for follow-on SDSS optical spectra of candidate counterparts are
automatically assigned using an algorithm based on the known fx/fopt ratios for
various classes of X-ray emitters. SDSS parameters for optical morphology,
magnitude, colors, plus FIRST radio data, serve as proxies for object class.
Initial application of this approach to 1400 deg^2 of sky provides a catalog
of 1200 spectroscopically confirmed quasars/AGN that are probable RASS
identifications. Most of the IDs are new, and only a few percent of the AGN are
likely to be random superpositions. The magnitude and redshift ranges of the
counterparts extend over 15<m<21 and 0.03<z<3.6. Although most IDs are quasars
and Sy 1s, a variety of other AGN subclasses are also sampled. Substantial
numbers of rare AGN are found, including more than 130 narrow-line Seyfert 1s
and 45 BL Lac candidates. These results already provide a sizeable set of new
IDs, show utility of the sample in multi-waveband studies, and demonstrate the
capability of the RASS/SDSS approach to efficiently proceed towards the largest
homogeneously selected/observed sample of X-ray emitting AGN. Abridged AbstractComment: 39 pages, 11 bitmapped figs (PDF view or print OK). Version accepted
by AJ: slightly expanded sample, 1 new fig, minor modification
Trans-Neptunian objects found in the first four years of the Dark Energy Survey
We present a catalog of 316 trans-Neptunian bodies (TNOs) detected from the first four seasons ("Y4" data) of the Dark Energy Survey (DES). The survey covers a contiguous 5000 deg(2) of the southern sky in the grizY optical/NIR filter set, with a typical TNO in this part of the sky being targeted by 25-30 Y4 exposures. This paper focuses on the methods used to detect these objects from the 60,000 Y4 exposures, a process made challenging by the absence of the few-hour repeat observations employed by TNO-optimized surveys. Newly developed techniques include: transient/moving object detection by comparison of single-epoch catalogs to catalogs of "stacked" images; quantified astrometric error from atmospheric turbulence; new software for detecting TNO linkages in a temporally sparse transient catalog, and for estimating the rate of spurious linkages; use of faint stars to determine the detection efficiency versus magnitude in all exposures. Final validation of the reality of linked orbits uses a new "sub-threshold confirmation" test, wherein we demand the object be detectable in a stack of the exposures in which the orbit indicates an object should be present, but was not individually detected. This catalog contains all validated TNOs which were detected on >= 6 unique nights in the Y4 data, and is complete to r less than or similar to 23.3 mag with virtually no dependence on orbital properties for bound TNOs at distance 30 au d 0.3 mag more depth, and arcs of >4 yr for nearly all detections.This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]
The Gravity Collective: A Search for the Electromagnetic Counterpart to the Neutron Star-Black Hole Merger GW190814
We present optical follow-up imaging obtained with the Katzman Automatic
Imaging Telescope, Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network, Nickel
Telescope, Swope Telescope, and Thacher Telescope of the LIGO/Virgo
gravitational wave (GW) signal from the neutron star-black hole (NSBH) merger
GW190814. We searched the GW190814 localization region (19 deg for the
90th percentile best localization), covering a total of 51 deg and 94.6%
of the two-dimensional localization region. Analyzing the properties of 189
transients that we consider as candidate counterparts to the NSBH merger,
including their localizations, discovery times from merger, optical spectra,
likely host-galaxy redshifts, and photometric evolution, we conclude that none
of these objects are likely to be associated with GW190814. Based on this
finding, we consider the likely optical properties of an electromagnetic
counterpart to GW190814, including possible kilonovae and short gamma-ray burst
afterglows. Using the joint limits from our follow-up imaging, we conclude that
a counterpart with an -band decline rate of 0.68 mag day, similar to
the kilonova AT 2017gfo, could peak at an absolute magnitude of at most
mag (50% confidence). Our data are not constraining for ''red'' kilonovae and
rule out ''blue'' kilonovae with (30% confidence). We
strongly rule out all known types of short gamma-ray burst afterglows with
viewing angles 17 assuming an initial jet opening angle of
and explosion energies and circumburst densities similar to
afterglows explored in the literature. Finally, we explore the possibility that
GW190814 merged in the disk of an active galactic nucleus, of which we find
four in the localization region, but we do not find any candidate counterparts
among these sources.Comment: 86 pages, 9 figure
The Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey of SDSS-III
The Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) is designed to measure the scale of baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) in the clustering of matter over a larger volume than the combined efforts of all previous spectroscopic surveys of large-scale structure. BOSS uses 1.5 million luminous galaxies as faint as i = 19.9 over 10,000 deg(2) to measure BAO to redshifts z < 0.7. Observations of neutral hydrogen in the Ly alpha forest in more than 150,000 quasar spectra (g < 22) will constrain BAO over the redshift range 2.15 < z < 3.5. Early results from BOSS include the first detection of the large-scale three-dimensional clustering of the Ly alpha forest and a strong detection from the Data Release 9 data set of the BAO in the clustering of massive galaxies at an effective redshift z = 0.57. We project that BOSS will yield measurements of the angular diameter distance d(A) to an accuracy of 1.0% at redshifts z = 0.3 and z = 0.57 and measurements of H(z) to 1.8% and 1.7% at the same redshifts. Forecasts for Ly alpha forest constraints predict a measurement of an overall dilation factor that scales the highly degenerate D-A(z) and H-1(z) parameters to an accuracy of 1.9% at z similar to 2.5 when the survey is complete. Here, we provide an overview of the selection of spectroscopic targets, planning of observations, and analysis of data and data quality of BOSS
The Eleventh and Twelfth Data Releases of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey: Final Data from SDSS-III
The third generation of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-III) took data from 2008 to 2014 using the original SDSS wide-field imager, the original and an upgraded multi-object fiber-fed optical spectrograph, a new near-infrared high-resolution spectrograph, and a novel optical interferometer. All of the data from SDSS-III are now made public. In particular, this paper describes Data Release 11 (DR11) including all data acquired through 2013 July, and Data Release 12 (DR12) adding data acquired through 2014 July (including all data included in previous data releases), marking the end of SDSS-III observing. Relative to our previous public release (DR10), DR12 adds one million new spectra of galaxies and quasars from the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) over an additional 3000 deg2 of sky, more than triples the number of H-band spectra of stars as part of the Apache Point Observatory (APO) Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE), and includes repeated accurate radial velocity measurements of 5500 stars from the Multi-object APO Radial Velocity Exoplanet Large-area Survey (MARVELS). The APOGEE outputs now include the measured abundances of 15 different elements for each star. In total, SDSS-III added 5200 deg2 of ugriz imaging; 155,520 spectra of 138,099 stars as part of the Sloan Exploration of Galactic Understanding and Evolution 2 (SEGUE-2) survey; 2,497,484 BOSS spectra of 1,372,737 galaxies, 294,512 quasars, and 247,216 stars over 9376 deg2; 618,080 APOGEE spectra of 156,593 stars; and 197,040 MARVELS spectra of 5513 stars. Since its first light in 1998, SDSS has imaged over 1/3 of the Celestial sphere in five bands and obtained over five million astronomical spectra. \ua9 2015. The American Astronomical Society
- âŠ