457 research outputs found
The Dependence of Galaxy Shape on Luminosity and Surface Brightness Profile
For a sample of 96,951 galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data
Release 3, we study the distribution of apparent axis ratios as a function of
r-band absolute magnitude and surface brightness profile type. We use the
parameter fracDeV to quantify the profile type (fracDeV = 1 for a de
Vaucouleurs profile; fracDeV = 0 for an exponential profile). When the apparent
axis ratio q_{am} is estimated from the moments of the light distribution, the
roundest galaxies are very bright (M_r \sim -23) de Vaucouleurs galaxies and
the flattest are modestly bright (M_r \sim -18) exponential galaxies. When the
apparent axis ratio q_{25} is estimated from the axis ratio of the 25
mag/arcsec^2 isophote, we find that de Vaucouleurs galaxies are flatter than
exponential galaxies of the same absolute magnitude. For a given surface
brightness profile type, very bright galaxies are rounder, on average, than
fainter galaxies. We deconvolve the distributions of apparent axis ratios to
find the distribution of the intrinsic short-to-long axis ratio gamma, assuming
constant triaxiality T. For all profile types and luminosities, the
distribution of apparent axis ratios is inconsistent with a population of
oblate spheroids, but is usually consistent with a population of prolate
spheroids. Bright galaxies with a de Vaucouleurs profile (M_r < -21.84, fracDeV
> 0.9) have a distribution of q_{am} that is consistent with triaxiality in the
range 0.4 < T < 0.8, with mean intrinsic axis ratio 0.66 < gamma < 0.69. The
fainter de Vaucouleurs galaxies are best fit with prolate spheroids (T = 1)
with mean axis ratio gamma = 0.51.Comment: 32 pages, 12 figures, to appear in Ap
The Size and Shape of Voids in Three-Dimensional Galaxy Surveys
The sizes and shapes of voids in a galaxy survey depend not only on the
physics of structure formation, but also on the sampling density of the survey
and on the algorithm used to define voids. Using an N-body simulation with a
CDM power spectrum, we study the properties of voids in samples with different
number densities of galaxies, both in redshift space and in real space. When
voids are defined as regions totally empty of galaxies, their characteristic
volume is strongly dependent on sampling density; when they are defined as
regions whose density is 0.2 times the mean galaxy density, the dependence is
less strong. We compare two void-finding algorithms, one in which voids are
nonoverlapping spheres, and one, based on the algorithm of Aikio and Mahonen,
which does not predefine the shape of a void. Regardless of the algorithm
chosen, the characteristic void size is larger in redshift space than in real
space, and is larger for low sampling densities than for high sampling
densities. We define an elongation statistic Q which measures the tendency of
voids to be stretched or squashed along the line of sight. Using this
statistic, we find that at sufficiently high sampling densities (comparable to
the number densities of galaxies brighter than L_*), large voids tend to be
slightly elongated along the line of sight in redshift space.Comment: LaTex, 21 pages (including 7 figures), ApJ, submitte
Sex differences in CSF biomarkers for neurodegeneration and blood-brain barrier integrity.
INTRODUCTION:
As cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurofilament light protein (NfL) and the CSF/serum albumin ratio (QAlb) are used in the clinical routine, the impact of demographic factors on these biomarkers is important to understand.
METHODS: Participants were derived from two Swedish samples: the populationābased H70 Study (n = 308, age 70) and a clinical routine cohort (CSF NfL, n = 8995, QAlb, n = 39252, age 0 to 95). In the populationābased study, QAlb and NfL were examined in relation to sex, cardiovascular risk factors, and cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs). In the clinical cohort, QAlb and NfL sex differences were tested in relation to age.
RESULTS: Men had higher QAlb and NfL concentrations and had higher QAlb and NfL concentrations from adolescence throughout life. NfL was not related to WML, but QAlb correlated positively with WMLs.
DISCUSSION: The CSF NfL sex difference could not be explained by vascular pathology. Future studies should consider using different reference limits for men and women
Alignment of galaxy spins in the vicinity of voids
We provide limits on the alignment of galaxy orientations with the direction
to the void center for galaxies lying near the edges of voids. We locate
spherical voids in volume limited samples of galaxies from the Sloan Digital
Sky Survey using the HB inspired void finder and investigate the orientation of
(color selected) spiral galaxies that are nearly edge-on or face-on. In
contrast with previous literature, we find no statistical evidence for
departure from random orientations. Expressed in terms of the parameter c,
introduced by Lee & Pen to describe the strength of such an alignment, we find
that c<0.11(0.13) at 95% (99.7%) confidence limit within a context of a toy
model that assumes a perfectly spherical voids with sharp boundaries.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures; v2 discussion expanded, references fixed, matches
version accepted by JCA
The intrinsic shape of galaxy bulges
The knowledge of the intrinsic three-dimensional (3D) structure of galaxy
components provides crucial information about the physical processes driving
their formation and evolution. In this paper I discuss the main developments
and results in the quest to better understand the 3D shape of galaxy bulges. I
start by establishing the basic geometrical description of the problem. Our
understanding of the intrinsic shape of elliptical galaxies and galaxy discs is
then presented in a historical context, in order to place the role that the 3D
structure of bulges play in the broader picture of galaxy evolution. Our
current view on the 3D shape of the Milky Way bulge and future prospects in the
field are also depicted.Comment: Invited Review to appear in "Galactic Bulges" Editors: Laurikainen
E., Peletier R., Gadotti D. Springer Publishing. 24 pages, 7 figure
Dark matter and structure formation a review
This paper provides a review of the variants of dark matter which are thought
to be fundamental components of the universe and their role in origin and
evolution of structures and some new original results concerning improvements
to the spherical collapse model. In particular, I show how the spherical
collapse model is modified when we take into account dynamical friction and
tidal torques
On the cosmological mass function theory
This paper provides, from one side, a review of the theory of the
cosmological mass function from a theoretical point of view, starting from the
seminal paper of Press & Shechter (1974) to the last developments (Del Popolo &
Gambera (1998, 1999), Sheth & Tormen 1999 (ST), Sheth, Mo & Tormen 2001 (ST1),
Jenkins et al. 2001 (J01), Shet & Tormen 2002 (ST2), Del Popolo 2002a, Yagi et
al. 2004 (YNY)), and from another side some improvements on the multiplicity
function models in literature. ...Comment: Astronomy Reports, in prin
Recommended from our members
Dynamics of Adipocyte Turnover in Humans
Obesity is increasing in an epidemic fashion in most countries and constitutes a public health problem by enhancing the risk for cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes. Owing to the increase in obesity, life expectancy may start to decrease in developed countries for the first time in recent history. The factors determining fat mass in adult humans are not fully understood, but increased lipid storage in already developed fat cells is thought to be most important. We show that adipocyte number is a major determinant for the fat mass in adults. However, the number of fat cells stays constant in adulthood in lean and obese and even under extreme conditions, indicating that the number of adipocytes is set during childhood and adolescence. To establish the dynamics within the stable population of adipocytes in adults, we have measured adipocyte turnover by analyzing the integration of {sup 14}C derived from nuclear bomb tests in genomic DNA. Approximately 10% of fat cells are renewed annually at all adult ages and levels of body mass index. Neither adipocyte death nor generation rate is altered in obesity, suggesting a tight regulation of fat cell number that is independent of metabolic profile in adulthood. The high turnover of adipocytes establishes a new therapeutic target for pharmacological intervention in obesity
- ā¦