Global Star Formation Rate Density over 0.7<z<1.9

We determine the global star formation rate density at 0.7<z<1.9 using emission-line selected galaxies identified in Hubble Space Telescope Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrograph (HST-NICMOS) grism spectroscopy observations. Observing in pure parallel mode throughout HST Cycles 12 and 13, our survey covers ~104 arcmin2 from which we select 80 galaxies with likely redshifted Ha emission lines. In several cases, a somewhat weaker [OIII] doublet emission is also detected. The Ha luminosity range of the emission-line galaxy sample is 4.4 x 10^41 < L(Ha) < 1.5 x 10^43 erg/s. In this range, the luminosity function is well described by a Schechter function with phi* = (4.24\pm3.55) x 10^-3 Mpc^-3, L* = (2.88\pm1.58) x 10^42 erg/s, and alpha = -1.39\pm0.43. We derive a volume-averaged star formation rate density of 0.138\pm0.058 Msun/yr/Mpc3 at z=1.4 without an extinction correction. Subdividing the redshift range, we find star formation rate densities of 0.088\pm0.056 Msun/yr/Mpc3 at z=1.1 and 0.265\pm0.174 Msun/yr/Mpc3 at z=1.6. The overall star formation rate density is consistent with previous studies using Ha when the same average extinction correction is applied, confirming that the cosmic peak of star formation occurs at z>1.5.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

Breaking the Curve with CANDELS: A Bayesian Approach to Reveal the Non-Universality of the Dust-Attenuation Law at High Redshift

Dust attenuation affects nearly all observational aspects of galaxy evolution, yet very little is known about the form of the dust-attenuation law in the distant Universe. Here, we model the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of galaxies at z = 1.5--3 from CANDELS with rest-frame UV to near-IR imaging under different assumptions about the dust law, and compare the amount of inferred attenuated light with the observed infrared (IR) luminosities. Some individual galaxies show strong Bayesian evidence in preference of one dust law over another, and this preference agrees with their observed location on the plane of infrared excess (IRX, $L_{\text{TIR}}/L_{\text{UV}}$) and UV slope ($\beta$). We generalize the shape of the dust law with an empirical model, $A_{\lambda,\delta}=E(B-V)\ k_\lambda\ (\lambda/\lambda_V)^\delta$ where $k_\lambda$ is the dust law of Calzetti et al. (2000), and show that there exists a correlation between the color excess ${E(B-V)}$ and tilt $\delta$ with ${\delta=(0.62\pm0.05)\log(E(B-V))}$+ ${(0.26~\pm~0.02)}$. Galaxies with high color excess have a shallower, starburst-like law, and those with low color excess have a steeper, SMC-like law. Surprisingly, the galaxies in our sample show no correlation between the shape of the dust law and stellar mass, star-formation rate, or $\beta$. The change in the dust law with color excess is consistent with a model where attenuation is caused by by scattering, a mixed star-dust geometry, and/or trends with stellar population age, metallicity, and dust grain size. This rest-frame UV-to-near-IR method shows potential to constrain the dust law at even higher ($z>3$) redshifts.Comment: 20 pages, 18 figures, resubmitted to Ap

Anterior uveitis by subconjunctival filariasis

Introduction: Loa loa is a filaria with tropism by the eyeball. It is common in central and western Africa and with the global migration it is observed in other countries in different regions of the world. Clinical case: a patient with clinical symptoms characterized by allergic symptoms, pain and sudden visual loss. The ophthalmological examination revealed the existence of an atypical picture of anterior and posterior uveal inflammation with the presence of a nematode as a possible etiological agent. Medical and surgical treatment was instituted and a pathological study was performed. Conclusions: after the medical and surgical treatment a clinical improvement of the case was achieved

Uveítis anterior por filariasis subconjuntival

Introduction: Loa loa is a filaria with tropism by the eyeball. It is common in central and western Africa and with the global migration it is observed in other countries in different regions of the world.Clinical case: a patient with clinical symptoms characterized by allergic symptoms, pain and sudden visual loss. The ophthalmological examination revealed the existence of an atypical picture of anterior and posterior uveal inflammation with the presence of a nematode as a possible etiological agent. Medical and surgical treatment was instituted and a pathological study was performed.Conclusions: after the medical and surgical treatment a clinical improvement of the case was achieved. Introducción: loa loa es una filaria con tropismo por el globo ocular. Es común en África central y occidental y con la migración global se observa en otros países de diversas regiones del mundo.Caso Clínico: se trata de un paciente que cursa con cuadro clínico caracterizado por sintomatología alérgica, dolor y pérdida visual súbita. Al examen oftalmológico se constató la existencia de un cuadro atípico de inflamación uveal anterior y posterior con presencia de un nematodo como posible agente etiológico. Se instauró tratamiento médico y quirúrgico y se realizó estudio anatomo patológico.Conclusiones: posterior al tratamiento médico y quirúrgico se logró la mejoría clínica del caso

Uveítis anterior por filariasis subconjuntival

Introduction: Loa loa is a filaria with tropism by the eyeball. It is common in central and western Africa and with the global migration it is observed in other countries in different regions of the world.Clinical case: a patient with clinical symptoms characterized by allergic symptoms, pain and sudden visual loss. The ophthalmological examination revealed the existence of an atypical picture of anterior and posterior uveal inflammation with the presence of a nematode as a possible etiological agent. Medical and surgical treatment was instituted and a pathological study was performed.Conclusions: after the medical and surgical treatment a clinical improvement of the case was achieved. Introducción: loa loa es una filaria con tropismo por el globo ocular. Es común en África central y occidental y con la migración global se observa en otros países de diversas regiones del mundo.Caso Clínico: se trata de un paciente que cursa con cuadro clínico caracterizado por sintomatología alérgica, dolor y pérdida visual súbita. Al examen oftalmológico se constató la existencia de un cuadro atípico de inflamación uveal anterior y posterior con presencia de un nematodo como posible agente etiológico. Se instauró tratamiento médico y quirúrgico y se realizó estudio anatomo patológico.Conclusiones: posterior al tratamiento médico y quirúrgico se logró la mejoría clínica del caso

Age-Related Changes in Astrocytic and Ependymal Cells of the Subventricular Zone

Neurogenesis persists in the adult subventricular zone (SVZ) of the mammalian brain. During aging, the SVZ neurogenic capacity undergoes a progressive decline, which is attributed to a decrease in the population of neural stem cells (NSCs). However, the behavior of the NSCs that remain in the aged brain is not fully understood. Here we performed a comparative ultrastructural study of the SVZ niche of 2-month-old and 24-month-old male C57BL/6 mice, focusing on the NSC population. Using thymidine-labeling, we showed that residual NSCs in the aged SVZ divide less frequently than those in young mice. We also provided evidence that ependymal cells are not newly generated during senescence, as others studies suggest. Remarkably, both astrocytes and ependymal cells accumulated a high number of intermediate filaments and dense bodies during aging, resembling reactive cells. A better understanding of the changes occurring in the neurogenic niche during aging will allow us to develop new strategies for fighting neurological disorders linked to senescence

Understanding Radio-Selected Thermal Sources in M 33: Ultraviolet, Optical, Near-Infrared, Spitzer Mid-Infrared, and Radio Observations

We present ultraviolet, optical, near-infrared, Spitzer mid-infrared, and radio images of 14 radio-selected objects in M 33. These objects are thought to represent the youngest phase of star cluster formation. We have detected the majority of cluster candidates in M 33 at all wavelengths. From the near-IR images, we derived ages 2-10 Myr, K_S-band extinctions (A_K_S) of 0-1 mag, and stellar masses of 10^3-10^4 M_solar. We have generated spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of each cluster from 0.1 micron to 160 microns. From these SEDs, we have modeled the dust emission around these star clusters to determine the dust masses (1-10^3 M_solar) and temperatures (40-90 K) of the clusters' local interstellar medium. Extinctions derived from the JHK_S, Halpha, and UV images are similar to within a factor of 2 or 3. These results suggest that eleven of the fourteen radio-selected objects are optically-visible young star clusters with a surrounding H II region, that two are background objects, possibly AGN, and that one is a Wolf-Rayet star with a surrounding H II region.Comment: 57 pages total; 20 figures; 3 tables under review by ApJS; first review complet

Prokineticin 1 induces a pro-inflammatory response in murine fetal membranes but does not induce preterm delivery

The mechanisms that regulate the induction of term or preterm delivery (PTD) are not fully understood. Infection is known to play a role in the induction of pro-inflammatory cascades in uteroplacental tissues associated with preterm pathological parturition. Similar but not identical cascades are evident in term labour. In the current study, we used a mouse model to evaluate the role of prokineticins in term and preterm parturition. Prokineticins are multi-functioning secreted proteins that signal through G-protein-coupled receptors to induce gene expression, including genes important in inflammatory responses. Expression of prokineticins (Prok1 and Prok2) was quantified in murine uteroplacental tissues by QPCR in the days preceding labour (days 16-19). Prok1 mRNA expression increased significantly on D18 in fetal membranes (compared with D16) but not in uterus or placenta. Intrauterine injection of PROK1 on D17 induced fetal membrane mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory mediators Il6, Il1b, Tnf, Cxcl2 and Cxcl5, which are not normally up-regulated until D19 of pregnancy. However, intrauterine injection of PROK1 did not result in PTD. As expected, injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced PTD, but this was not associated with changes in expression of Prok1 or its receptor (Prokr1) in fetal membranes. These results suggest that although Prok1 exhibits dynamic mRNA regulation in fetal membranes preceding labour and induces a pro-inflammatory response when injected into the uterus on D17, it is insufficient to induce PTD. Additionally, prokineticin up-regulation appears not to be part of the LPS-induced inflammatory response in mouse fetal membranes.Tamsin R M Lannagan, Martin R Wilson, Fiona Denison, Jane E Norman, Rob D Catalano and Henry N Jabbou

Splice Isoforms of the Polyglutamine Disease Protein Ataxin-3 Exhibit Similar Enzymatic yet Different Aggregation Properties

Protein context clearly influences neurotoxicity in polyglutamine diseases, but the contribution of alternative splicing to this phenomenon has rarely been investigated. Ataxin-3, a deubiquitinating enzyme and the disease protein in SCA3, is alternatively spliced to encode either a C-terminal hydrophobic stretch or a third ubiquitin interacting motif (termed 2UIM and 3UIM isoforms, respectively). In light of emerging insights into ataxin-3 function, we examined the significance of this splice variation. We confirmed neural expression of several minor 5′ variants and both of the known 3′ ataxin-3 splice variants. Regardless of polyglutamine expansion, 3UIM ataxin-3 is the predominant isoform in brain. Although 2UIM and 3UIM ataxin-3 display similar in vitro deubiquitinating activity, 2UIM ataxin-3 is more prone to aggregate and more rapidly degraded by the proteasome. Our data demonstrate how alternative splicing of sequences distinct from the trinucleotide repeat can alter properties of the encoded polyglutamine disease protein and thereby perhaps contribute to selective neurotoxicity