Semi-empirical catalog of early-type galaxy-halo systems: dark matter density profiles, halo contraction and dark matter annihilation strength

With SDSS galaxy data and halo data from up-to-date N-body simulations we construct a semi-empirical catalog (SEC) of early-type systems by making a self-consistent bivariate statistical match of stellar mass (M_star) and velocity dispersion (sigma) with halo virial mass (M_vir). We then assign stellar mass profile and velocity dispersion profile parameters to each system in the SEC using their observed correlations with M_star and sigma. Simultaneously, we solve for dark matter density profile of each halo using the spherical Jeans equation. The resulting dark matter density profiles deviate in general from the dissipationless profile of NFW or Einasto and their mean inner density slope and concentration vary systematically with M_vir. Statistical tests of the distribution of profiles at fixed M_vir rule out the null hypothesis that it follows the distribution predicted by N-body simulations for M_vir ~< 10^{13.5-14.5} M_solar. These dark matter profiles imply that dark matter density is, on average, enhanced significantly in the inner region of halos with M_vir ~< 10^{13.5-14.5} M_solar supporting halo contraction. The main characteristics of halo contraction are: (1) the mean dark matter density within the effective radius has increased by a factor varying systematically up to ~ 3-4 at M_vir = 10^{12} M_solar, and (2) the inner density slope has a mean of ~ 1.3 with rho(r) ~ r^{-alpha} and a halo-to-halo rms scatter of rms(alpha) ~ 0.4-0.5 for 10^{12} M_solar ~< M_vir ~< 10^{13-14} M_solar steeper than the NFW profile (alpha=1). Based on our results we predict that halos of nearby elliptical and lenticular galaxies can, in principle, be promising targets for gamma-ray emission from dark matter annihilation.Comment: 43 pages, 20 figures, JCAP, revised and accepted versio

Constraining primordial non-Gaussianity with cosmological weak lensing: shear and flexion

We examine the cosmological constraining power of future large-scale weak lensing surveys on the model of \emph{Euclid}, with particular reference to primordial non-Gaussianity. Our analysis considers several different estimators of the projected matter power spectrum, based on both shear and flexion, for which we review the covariances and Fisher matrices. The bounds provided by cosmic shear alone for the local bispectrum shape, marginalized over $\sigma_8$, are at the level of $\Delta f_\mathrm{NL} \sim 100$. We consider three additional bispectrum shapes, for which the cosmic shear constraints range from $\Delta f_\mathrm{NL}\sim 340$ (equilateral shape) up to $\Delta f_\mathrm{NL}\sim 500$ (orthogonal shape). The competitiveness of cosmic flexion constraints against cosmic shear ones depends on the galaxy intrinsic flexion noise, that is still virtually unconstrained. Adopting the very high value that has been occasionally used in the literature results in the flexion contribution being basically negligible with respect to the shear one, and for realistic configurations the former does not improve significantly the constraining power of the latter. Since the flexion noise decreases with decreasing scale, by extending the analysis up to $\ell_\mathrm{max} = 20,000$ cosmic flexion, while being still subdominant, improves the shear constraints by $\sim 10$ when added. However on such small scales the highly non-linear clustering of matter and the impact of baryonic physics make any error estimation uncertain. By considering lower, and possibly more realistic, values of the flexion intrinsic shape noise results in flexion constraining power being a factor of $\sim 2$ better than that of shear, and the bounds on $\sigma_8$ and $f_\mathrm{NL}$ being improved by a factor of $\sim 3$ upon their combination. (abridged)Comment: 30 pages, 4 figures, 4 tables. To appear on JCA

Exploring new uses of video with videoSpace

Abstract. This paper describes videoSpace, a software toolkit designed to facilitate the integration of image streams into existing or new documents and applications to support new forms of human-computer interaction and collaborative activities. In this perspective, videoSpace is not focused on performance or reliability issues, but rather on the ability to support rapid prototyping and incremental development of video applications. The toolkit is described in extensive details, by showing the architecture and functionalities of its class library and basic tools. Several projects developed with videoSpace are also presented, illustrating its potential and the new uses of video it will allow in the future.

Anti-D monoclonal antibodies from 23 human and rodent cell lines display diverse IgG Fc-glycosylation profiles that determine their clinical efficacy

Anti-D immunoglobulin (Anti-D Ig) prophylaxis prevents haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. Monoclonal IgG anti-Ds (mAb-Ds) would enable unlimited supplies but have differed in efficacy in Fc gamma RIIIa-mediated ADCC assays and clinical trials. Structural variations of the oligosaccharide chains of mAb-Ds are hypothesised to be responsible. Quantitative data on 12 Fc-glycosylation features of 23 mAb-Ds (12 clones, 5 produced from multiple cell lines) and one blood donor-derived anti-D Ig were obtained by HPLC and mass spectrometry using 3 methods. Glycosylation of mAb-Ds from human B-lymphoblastoid cell lines (B) was similar to anti-D Ig although fucosylation varied, affecting ADCC activity. In vivo, two B mAb-Ds with 77-81% fucosylation cleared red cells and prevented D-immunisation but less effectively than anti-D Ig. High fucosylation (>89%) of mouse-human heterohybridoma (HH) and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) mAb-Ds blocked ADCC and clearance. Rat YB2/0 mAb-Ds with 60%) together with lower fucosylation (<60%) as safe features of mAb-Ds for mediating rapid red cell clearance at low doses, to enable effective, inexpensive prophylaxis.Proteomic

IgG N-glycans as potential biomarkers for determining galactose tolerance in Classical Galactosaemia

N-glycan processing and assembly defects have been demonstrated in untreated and partially treated patients with Classical Galactosaemia. These defects may contribute to the ongoing pathophysiology of this disease. The aim of this study was to develop an informative method of studying differential galactose tolerance levels and diet control in individuals with Galactosaemia, compared to the standard biochemical markers. Ten Galactosaemia adults with normal intellectual outcomes were analyzed in the study. Five subjects followed galactose liberalization, increments of 300. mg to 4000. mg/day over 16. weeks, and were compared to five adult Galactosaemia controls on a galactose restricted diet. All study subjects underwent clinical and biochemical monitoring of red blood cell galactose-1-phosphate (RBC Gal-1-P) and urinary galactitol levels. Serum N-glycans were isolated and analyzed by normal phase high-performance liquid chromatography (NP-HPLC) with galactosylation of IgG used as a specific biomarker of galactose tolerance. IgG N-glycan profiles showed consistent individual alterations in response to diet liberalization. The individual profiles were improved for all, but one study subject, at a galactose intake of 1000. mg/day, with decreases in agalactosylated (G0) and increases in digalactosylated (G2) N-glycans. We conclude that IgG N-glycan profiling is an improved method of monitoring variable galactosylation and determining individual galactose tolerance in Galactosaemia compared to the standard methods