Integral Field Spectroscopy of a sample of nearby galaxies. I. Sample, Observations and Data Reduction

Aims: Integral Field Spectroscopy (IFS) is a powerful approach for the study of nearby galaxies since it enables a detailed analysis of their resolved physical properties. Here we present the sample of nearby galaxies selected to exploit the two dimensional information provided by the IFS. Methods: We observed a sample of 48 galaxies from the Local Universe with the PPAK Integral Field Spectroscopy unit (IFU), of the PMAS spectrograph, mounted at the 3.5m telescope at Calar Alto Observatory (Almeria, Spain). Two different setups were used during these studies (low -V300- and medium -V600- resolution mode) covering a spectral range of around 3700-7000 Angs. We developed a full automatic pipeline for the data reduction, that includes an analysis of the quality of the final data products. We applied a decoupling method to obtain the ionised gas and stellar content of these galaxies, and to derive the main physical properties of the galaxies. To asses the accuracy in the measurements of the different parameters, we performed a set of simulations to derive the expected relative errors obtained with these data. In addition, we extracted two aperture, central and integrated spectra, from the datacubes. The main properties of the stellar populations and ionised gas of these galaxies and an estimate of their relative errors are derived from those spectra, as well as from the whole datacubes. Results: The comparison of the central spectrum extracted from the datacubes and the SDSS spectrum for those galaxies in common shows a good agreement between the derived values from both samples. We find differences in the properties of galaxies when comparing a central and an integrated spectra, showing the effects of the extracted aperture in the interpretation of the data. Finally, we present two dimensional maps of some of the main properties derived with the decoupling procedure.Comment: 17 pages, 20 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Integral field spectroscopy of a sample of nearby galaxies: II. Properties of the H ii regions

In this work we analyze the spectroscopic properties of a large number of H ii regions, \sim2600, located in 38 galaxies. The sample of galaxies has been assembled from the face-on spirals in the PINGS survey and a sample described in M\'armol-Queralt\'o (2011, henceforth Paper I). All the galaxies were observed using Integral Field Spectroscopy with a similar setup, covering their optical extension up to \sim2.4 effective radii within a wavelength range from \sim3700 to \sim6900{\AA}. We develop a new automatic procedure to detect H ii regions, based on the contrast of the H{\alpha} intensity maps. Once detected, the procedure provides us with the integrated spectra of each individual segmented region. A well-tested automatic decoupling procedure has been applied to remove the underlying stellar population, deriving the main proper- ties of the strongest emission lines in the considered wavelength range (covering from [O ii] {\lambda}3727 to [S ii] {\lambda}6731). A final catalogue of the spectroscopic properties of these regions has been created for each galaxy. In the current study we focused on the understanding of the average properties of the H ii regions and their radial distributions. We find that the gas-phase oxygen abundance and the H{\alpha} equivalent width present negative and positive gradient, respectively. The distribution of slopes is statistically compatible with a random Gaussian distribution around the mean value, if the radial distances are measured in units of the respective effective radius. No difference in the slope is found for galaxies of different morphologies: barred/non-barred, grand-design/flocculent. Therefore, the effective radius is a universal scale length for gradients in the evolution of galaxies. Other properties have a larger variance across each object.Comment: 29 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publishing in Astronomy and Astrophysics (A&A

Efficacy of clozapine versus standard treatment in adult individuals with intellectual disability and treatment-resistant psychosis (CLOZAID): study protocol of a multicenter randomized clinical trial

BackgroundIntellectual disability (ID) affects approximately 1% of the worldwide population and individuals with ID have a higher comorbidity with mental illness, and specifically psychotic disorders. Unfortunately, among individuals with ID, limited research has been conducted since ID individuals are usually excluded from mental illness epidemiological studies and clinical trials. Here we perform a clinical trial to investigate the effectiveness of clozapine in the treatment of resistant psychosis in individuals with ID. The article highlights the complexity of diagnosing and treating psychopathological alterations associated with ID and advocates for more rigorous research in this field.MethodsA Phase IIB, open-label, randomized, multicenter clinical trial (NCT04529226) is currently ongoing to assess the efficacy of oral clozapine in individuals diagnosed with ID and suffering from treatment-resistant psychosis. We aim to recruit one-hundred and fourteen individuals (N=114) with ID and resistant psychosis, who will be randomized to TAU (treatment as usual) and treatment-with-clozapine conditions. As secondary outcomes, changes in other clinical scales (PANSS and SANS) and the improvement in functionality, assessed through changes in the Euro-QoL-5D-5L were assessed. The main outcome variables will be analyzed using generalized linear mixed models (GLMM), assessing the effects of status variable (TAU vs. Clozapine), time, and the interaction between them.DiscussionThe treatment of resistant psychosis among ID individuals must be directed by empirically supported research. CLOZAID clinical trial may provide relevant information about clinical guidelines to optimally treat adults with ID and treatment-resistant psychosis and the benefits and risks of an early use of clozapine in this underrepresented population in clinical trials.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov: NCT04529226. EudraCT: 2020-000091-37

Cove‐Edged Nanographenes with Localized Double Bonds

10.1002/anie.202000326Angewandte Chemie International Editio

Peri-acenoacene for Solution Processed Distributed Feedback Laser: The Effect of 1,2-Oxaborine Doping

Zigzag edged nanographenes such as peri-acenoacenes are promising materials for organic lasers, but the effects of heteroatom doping on the electronic properties and gain medium performance remain unclear. Herein, the facile synthesis of a new 1,2-oxaborine (BO) doped peri-tetracenotetracene derivative, the bis(1,2-oxaborine)peri-tetracenotetracene (BOTT-Mes), is reported. X-ray crystallographic analysis confirms the BO-doped planar structure and the nonexistence of intermolecular π–π stacking in solid state. Compared with the all-carbon peri-tetracenotetracene derivative (TT-Ar), the BO-doped BOTT-Mes exhibits more disrupted π-conjugation at the BO sites, a lower-lying highest occupied molecular orbital, and a larger energy gap. Due to its rigid skeleton and nonaggregative feature, it displays well-resolved absorption and emission spectra with a small Stokes shift (8 nm) and high photoluminescence quantum yield (80%) when it is dispersed in a polystyrene (PS) thin film. Notably, 1,2-oxaborine doping improves the film amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) performance, with a lower ASE threshold (Eth-ASE = 66 µJ cm–2) as compared to the TT-Ar doped PS film (Eth-ASE = 100 µJ cm–2). Furthermore, a low threshold (22 µJ cm–2) solution-processed distributed feedback laser is fabricated, indicating the feasibility of using BOTT-Mes as gain medium for practical laser applications.J.W. acknowledges financial support from A*STAR Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering grant (A20E5c0089) and National Research Foundation Investigatorship Award (NRF-NRFI05-2019-0005). The group at the University of Alicante acknowledges financial support from the “Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación” of Spain, European Regional Development Fund and European Social Funds (PID2019-106114GB-I00 and BES-2016-077681) and from the Conselleria de Innovación, Universidades y Sociedad Digital de la Comunidad Valenciana (Grant No. AICO/2021/093)