2,011 research outputs found
The Lyman Break Galaxies: their Progenitors and Descendants
We study the evolution of Lyman Break Galaxies (LBGs) from z=5 to z=0 by
tracing the merger trees of galaxies in a large-scale hydrodynamic simulation
based on a Lambda cold dark matter model. In particular, we emphasize on the
range of properties of the sample selected by the rest-frame V band luminosity,
in accordance with recent near-IR observations. The predicted rest-frame V band
luminosity function agrees well with the observed one when dust extinction is
taken into account. The stellar content and the star formation histories of
LBGs are also studied. We find that the LBGs intrinsically brighter than
Mv=-21.0 at z=3 have stellar masses of at least 10^9\Msun, with a median of
10^{10}h^{-1}\Msun. The brightest LBGs (Mv<-23) at z=3 merge into
clusters/groups of galaxies at z=0, as suggested from clustering studies of
LBGs. Roughly one half of the galaxies with -23<Mv<-22 at z=3 fall into
groups/clusters, and the other half become typical L* galaxies at z=0 with
stellar mass of ~10^{11}\Msun. Descendants of LBGs at the present epoch have
formed roughly 30% of their stellar mass by z=3, and the half of their current
stellar population is 10 Gyr old, favoring the scenario that LBGs are the
precursors of the present day spheroids. We find that the most luminous LBGs
have experienced a starburst within 500 Myr prior to z=3, but also have formed
stars continuously over a period of 1 Gyr prior to z=3 when all the star
formation in progenitors is coadded. We also study the evolution of the mean
stellar metallicity distribution of galaxies, and find that the entire
distribution shifts to lower metallicity at higher redshift. The observed
sub-solar metallicity of LBGs at z=3 is naturally predicted in our simulation.Comment: 29 pages, including 11 figures, ApJ in press. One reference adde
Muon-spin-relaxation and magnetic-susceptibility studies of effects of the magnetic impurity Ni on the Cu-spin dynamics and superconductivity in La_2-x_Sr_x_Cu_1-y_Ni_y_O_4_ with x = 0.13
Effects of the magnetic impurity Ni on the Cu-spin dynamics and
superconductivity have been studied in La_2-x_Sr_x_Cu_1-y_Ni_y_O_4_ with x =
0.13 changing y finely up to 0.10. Compared with the case of the nonmagnetic
impurity Zn, it has been found from the muon-spin-relaxation measurements that
a large amount of Ni is required to stabilize a magnetic order of Cu spins.
However, the evolution toward the stabilization of the magnetic order with
increasing impurity concentration is qualitatively similar to each other. The
area of the non-superconducting and slowly fluctuating or static region of Cu
spins around Ni has been found to be smaller than that around Zn, suggesting
that the pinning of rather long-ranged dynamical spin correlation such as the
so-called dynamical stripe by Ni is weaker than that by Zn. This may be the
reason why Zn destroys the superconductivity in the hole-doped high-T_c_
cuprates more markedly than Ni.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
QTL detection and allelic effects for growth and fat traits in outbred pig populations
Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for growth and fatness traits have previously been identified on chromosomes 4 and 7 in several experimental pig populations. The segregation of these QTL in commercial pigs was studied in a sample of 2713 animals from five different populations. Variance component analysis (VCA) using a marker-based identity by descent (IBD) matrix was applied. The IBD coefficient was estimated with simple deterministic (SMD) and Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. Data for two growth traits, average daily gain on test and whole life daily gain, and back fat thickness were analysed. With both methods, seven out of 26 combinations of population, chromosome and trait, were significant. Additionally, QTL genotypic and allelic effects were estimated when the QTL effect was significant. The range of QTL genotypic effects in a population varied from 4.8% to 10.9% of the phenotypic mean for growth traits and 7.9% to 19.5% for back fat trait. Heritabilities of the QTL genotypic values ranged from 8.6% to 18.2% for growth traits, and 14.5% to 19.2% for back fat. Very similar results were obtained with both SMD and MCMC. However, the MCMC method required a large number of iterations, and hence computation time, especially when the QTL test position was close to the marker
Detection of multiple quantitative trait loci and their pleiotropic effects in outbred pig populations
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Simultaneous detection of multiple QTLs (quantitative trait loci) may allow more accurate estimation of genetic effects. We have analyzed outbred commercial pig populations with different single and multiple models to clarify their genetic properties and in addition, we have investigated pleiotropy among growth and obesity traits based on allelic correlation within a gamete.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Three closed populations, (A) 427 individuals from a Yorkshire and Large White synthetic breed, (B) 547 Large White individuals and (C) 531 Large White individuals, were analyzed using a variance component method with one-QTL and two-QTL models. Six markers on chromosome 4 and five to seven markers on chromosome 7 were used.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Population A displayed a high test statistic for the fat trait when applying the two-QTL model with two positions on two chromosomes. The estimated heritabilities for polygenic effects and for the first and second QTL were 19%, 17% and 21%, respectively. The high correlation of the estimated allelic effect on the same gamete and QTL test statistics suggested that the two separate QTL which were detected on different chromosomes both have pleiotropic effects on the two fat traits. Analysis of population B using the one-QTL model for three fat traits found a similar peak position on chromosome 7. Allelic effects of three fat traits from the same gamete were highly correlated suggesting the presence of a pleiotropic QTL. In population C, three growth traits also displayed similar peak positions on chromosome 7 and allelic effects from the same gamete were correlated.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Detection of the second QTL in a model reduced the polygenic heritability and should improve accuracy of estimated heritabilities for both QTLs.</p
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Rates and Predictors of Colorectal Cancer Screening
Introduction: Despite widespread recommendations for colorectal cancer screening, the U.S. screening rate is low. The objectives of this study were to describe the rates and predictors of colorectal cancer screening use by examining groups in two categories — 1) those who have ever been screened and 2) those with up-to-date screening — and to assess whether trends and predictors change over time. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2000 and 2003 National Health Interview Surveys about the use of fecal occult blood tests, sigmoidoscopies, and colonoscopies for adults aged 50 years and older and without a history of colorectal cancer (N = 11,574 in 2000 and N = 11,779 in 2003). Results: Rates in the 2000 study population of those who have ever been screened for colorectal cancer (53%) had increased in the 2003 study population (55%) as had the rates in the 2003 study population of those with up-to-date colorectal screening (53%) compared with the rates in the 2000 study population (38%). Among those who were ever screened, 76% were up-to-date with screening in 2003, compared with 68% in 2000. There was increased use of colonoscopies but decreased use of fecal occult blood tests and sigmoidoscopies. Individuals were more likely to be up-to-date with screening if they had higher income, higher education, insurance coverage, a usual source of care, and a dental visit in the last year than if these predictors were not evident. Since 2000, these predictors of colorectal cancer screening use have remained stable. Conclusion: Although there has been relatively limited success in increasing overall screening, it is encouraging that most people in the group of those who have ever been screened are up-to-date with colorectal cancer screening. Predictors for colorectal screening were stable over time despite changes in screening policies and rates. Further research is needed to uncover barriers to colorectal cancer screening
The K20 survey. VI. The Distribution of the Stellar Masses in Galaxies up to z~2
We present a detailed analysis of the stellar mass content of galaxies up to
z=2.5 in the K20 galaxy sample, that has a 92% spectroscopic completeness and a
complete multicolor coverage. We find that the M/L ratio decreases
with redshift: in particular, the average M/L ratio of early type galaxies
decreases with , with a scatter that is indicative of a range of
star--formation time-scales and redshift of formation. More important, the
typical M/L of massive early type galaxies is larger than that of less massive
ones, suggesting that their stellar population formed at higher z. The final
K20 galaxy sample spans a range of stellar masses from M*=10^9Msun to
M*=10^12Msun, with massive galaxies ($M*>10^11Msun) detected up to z~2. We
compute the Galaxy Stellar Mass Function at various z, of which we observe only
a mild evolution (i.e. by 20-30%) up to z~1. At z>1, the evolution of the GSMF
appears to be much faster: at z~2, about 35% of the present day stellar mass in
objects with M*~10^11Msun appear to have assembled. We also detect a change in
the physical nature of the most massive galaxies, since at z>1 a population of
massive star--forming galaxies progressively appears. We finally analyze our
results in the framework of Lambda-CDM hierarchical models. First, we show that
the large number of massive galaxies detected at high z does not violate any
fundamental Lambda-CDM constraint based on the number of massive DM halos.
Then, we compare our results with the predictions of renditions of both
semianalytic and hydro-dynamical models, that range from severe underestimates
to slight overestimates of the observed mass density at z<~2. We discuss how
the differences among these models are due to the different implementation of
the main physical processes. (Abridged)Comment: Accepted for publication on Astronomy & Astrophysic
Imaging the cool gas, dust, star formation, and AGN in the first galaxies
When, and how, did the first galaxies and supermassive black holes (SMBH)
form, and how did they reionization the Universe? First galaxy formation and
cosmic reionization are among the last frontiers in studies of cosmic structure
formation. We delineate the detailed astrophysical probes of early galaxy and
SMBH formation afforded by observations at centimeter through submillimeter
wavelengths. These observations include studies of the molecular gas (= the
fuel for star formation in galaxies), atomic fine structure lines (= the
dominant ISM gas coolant), thermal dust continuum emission (= an ideal star
formation rate estimator), and radio continuum emission from star formation and
relativistic jets. High resolution spectroscopic imaging can be used to study
galaxy dynamics and star formation on sub-kpc scales. These cm and mm
observations are the necessary compliment to near-IR observations, which probe
the stars and ionized gas, and X-ray observations, which reveal the AGN.
Together, a suite of revolutionary observatories planned for the next decade
from centimeter to X-ray wavelengths will provide the requisite panchromatic
view of the complex processes involved in the formation of the first generation
of galaxies and SMBHs, and cosmic reionization.Comment: 8 pages total. White paper submitted to the Astro 2010 Decadal Surve
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