93 research outputs found
Effects of the environment on galaxies in the Catalogue of Isolated Galaxies: physical satellites and large scale structure
We aim to identify and quantify the effects of the satellite distribution
around a sample of galaxies in the Catalogue of Isolated Galaxies (CIG), as
well as the effects of the Large Scale Structure (LSS) using the SDSS-DR9. To
recover the physically bound galaxies we focus on the satellites which are
within the escape speed of each CIG galaxy. We also propose a more conservative
method using the stacked Gaussian distribution of the velocity difference of
the neighbours. The tidal strengths affecting the primary galaxy are estimated
to quantify the effects of the local and LSS environments. We also define the
projected number density parameter at the 5 nearest neighbour to
characterise the LSS around the CIG galaxies. Out of the 386 CIG galaxies
considered in this study, at least 340 (88\% of the sample) have no physically
linked satellite. Out of the 386 CIG galaxies, 327 (85\% of the sample) have no
physical companion within a projected distance of 0.3 Mpc. The CIG galaxies are
distributed following the LSS of the local Universe, although presenting a
large heterogeneity in their degree of connection with it. A clear segregation
appears between early-type CIG galaxies with companions and isolated late-type
CIG galaxies. Isolated galaxies are in general bluer, with likely younger
stellar populations and rather high star formation with respect to older,
redder CIG galaxies with companions. Reciprocally, the satellites are redder
and with an older stellar populations around massive early-type CIG galaxies,
while they have a younger stellar content around massive late-type CIG
galaxies. This suggests that the CIG is composed of a heterogeneous population
of galaxies, sampling from old to more recent, dynamical systems of galaxies.Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in Astronomy
& Astrophysic
Challenge 6: Open Science: reproducibility, transparency and reliability
Open Science is becoming a new paradigm in scientific research and complex changes are being done. This new way in knowledge development requires a great transformation that will allow science to adapt efficiently and effectively to the urgency of the problems to be solved while ensuring the reproducibility, transparency and reliability of scientific results. This chapter analyzes the impact of this change of model, the challenges to be addressed and the expected benefits.Peer reviewe
Results of the first user program on the Homogenous Thermal Neutron Source HOTNES (ENEA / INFN)
The HOmogeneous Thermal NEutron Source (HOTNES) is a new type of thermal
neutron irradiation assembly developed by the ENEA-INFN collaboration. The
facility is fully characterized in terms of neutron field and dosimetric
quantities, by either computational and experimental methods. This paper
reports the results of the first "HOTNES users program", carried out in 2016,
and covering a variety of thermal neutron active detectors such as
scintillators, solid-state, single crystal diamond and gaseous detectors
MeerKAT-64 discovers wide-spread tidal debris in the nearby NGC 7232 galaxy group
We report the discovery of large amounts of previously undetected cold neutral atomic hydrogen (H I) around the core triplet galaxies in the nearby NGC 7232 galaxy group with MeerKAT. With a physical resolution of ∼1 kpc, we detect a complex web of low-surface-brightness HI emission down to a 4σ column density level of ∼1 × 1019 cm-2 (over 44 km s-1). The newly discovered HI streams extend over ∼20 arcmin corresponding to 140 kpc in projection. This is approximately three times the HI extent of the galaxy triplet (52 kpc). The HI debris has an HI mass of ∼6.6 × 109 M⊙, more than 50 per cent of the total HI mass of the triplet. Within the galaxy triplet, NGC 7233 and NGC 7232 have lost a significant amount of HI while NGC 7232B appears to have an excess of HI. TheHI deficiency in NGC 7232 and NGC 7233 indicates that galaxÿCgalaxy interaction in the group concentrates on this galaxy pair while the other disc galaxies have visited them over time. In comparison to the AMIGA sample of isolated galaxies, we find that with regards to its total HI mass the NGC 7232/3 galaxy triplet is not HI-deficient. Despite the many interactions associated to the triplet galaxies, no HI seems to have been lost from the group (yet)
Detection of kinase domain mutations in BCR::ABL1 leukemia by ultra-deep sequencing of genomic DNA
The screening of the BCR::ABL1 kinase domain (KD) mutation has become a routine analysis in case of warning/failure for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) Philadelphia (Ph)-positive patients. In this study, we present a novel DNA-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) methodology for KD ABL1 mutation detection and monitoring with a 1.0E−4 sensitivity. This approach was validated with a well-stablished RNA-based nested NGS method. The correlation of both techniques for the quantification of ABL1 mutations was high (Pearson r = 0.858, p < 0.001), offering DNA-DeepNGS a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 82%. The clinical impact was studied in a cohort of 129 patients (n = 67 for CML and n = 62 for B-ALL patients). A total of 162 samples (n = 86 CML and n = 76 B-ALL) were studied. Of them, 27 out of 86 harbored mutations (6 in warning and 21 in failure) for CML, and 13 out of 76 (2 diagnostic and 11 relapse samples) did in B-ALL patients. In addition, in four cases were detected mutation despite BCR::ABL1 < 1%. In conclusion, we were able to detect KD ABL1 mutations with a 1.0E−4 sensitivity by NGS using DNA as starting material even in patients with low levels of disease.Tis project was funded in part by CRIS CANCER FOUNDATION
Influence of soil chemical composition on U, 226Ra and 210Pb uptake in leaves and fruits of Quercus ilex L
10 páginas, 4 figuras, 4 tablasTo determine their transfer factors, activity concentrations of natural radionuclides were measured in the leaves and acorns of holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) trees collected from seven locations with different soil properties and radionuclide activity concentrations. The chemical and mineralogical compositions of the soils were also analysed to investigate the effect these had on radionuclide absorption by the trees. Soil chemistry showed significant effects on radionuclide incorporation into Quercus ilex L. tissues. A significant relationship was established between activity concentrations and soil content of Ca and P with 238U and 226Ra in the leaves and acorns of Quercus ilex L. Differentiated transfer was found for 40K, which showed greater transfer to the leaves than the other radionuclides. The activity concentration of U and 226Ra was higher in the fruits than in the leaves, with the opposite effect being observed for 40K. The risk of U and 226Ra transfer into the food chain through acorn consumption by livestock is predicted to increase in soils poor in Ca and rich in P.Sampling in Tres Cantos location was performed in the CIEMAT (Spain) Scientific Infrastructure Sin-235, supported by an agreement between CIEMAT and Ayuntamiento de Madrid. The authors J.A. Suarez-Navarro and V.M. Exposito-Suarez are grateful for the support of CIEMAT for the internal project 353-M_CU_PILARPeer reviewe
Patient, tumor, and healthcare factors associated with regional variability in lung cancer survival: a Spanish high‑resolution population‑based study
Purpose
The third most frequently diagnosed cancer in Europe in 2018 was lung cancer; it is also the leading cause of cancer death in Europe. We studied patient and tumor characteristics, and patterns of healthcare provision explaining regional variability in lung cancer survival in southern Spain.
Methods
A population-based cohort study included all 1196 incident first invasive primary lung cancer (C33–C34 according to ICD-10) cases diagnosed between 2010 and 2011 with follow-up until April 2015. Data were drawn from local population-based cancer registries and patients’ hospital medical records from all public and private hospitals from two regions in southern Spain.
Results
There was evidence of regional differences in lung cancer late diagnosis (58% stage IV in Granada vs. 65% in Huelva, p value < 0.001). Among patients with stage I, only 67% received surgery compared with 0.6% of patients with stage IV. Patients treated with a combination of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery had a 2-year mortality risk reduction of 94% compared with patients who did not receive any treatment (excess mortality risk 0.06; 95% CI 0.02–0.16). Geographical differences in survival were observed between the two regions: 35% vs. 26% at 1-year since diagnosis.
Conclusions
The observed geographic differences in survival between regions are due in part to the late cancer diagnosis which determines the use of less effective therapeutic options. Results from our study justify the need for promoting lung cancer early detection strategies and the harmonization of the best practice in lung cancer management and treatment.Maria Jose Sanchez Perez is supported by the Andalusian Department of Health: Research, Development, and Innovation Office project grant PI-0152/2017. Miguel Angel Luque-Fernandez is supported by the Spanish National Institute of Health, Carlos III Miguel Servet I Investigator Award (CP17/00206)
Evaluation of the utilization of external radiotherapy in the treatment of localized prostate cancer in Andalusia, Spain
Unveiling the environment and faint features of the isolated galaxy CIG 96 with deep optical and HI observations
Asymmetries in HI in galaxies are often caused by the interaction with close
companions, making isolated galaxies an ideal framework to study secular
evolution. The AMIGA project has demonstrated that isolated galaxies show the
lowest level of asymmetry in their HI integrated profiles, yet some present
significant asymmetries. CIG 96 (NGC 864) is a representative case reaching a
16% level. Our aim is to investigate the HI asymmetries of this spiral galaxy
and what processes have triggered the star-forming regions observed in the XUV
pseudoring. We performed deep optical observations at CAHA 1.23m, 2.2m and VST
telescopes. We reach surface brightness (SB) limits of mu_2.2m = 27.5 mag
arcsec-2 (Cous R) and mu_VST = 28.7mag arcsec-2 (r) that show the XUV
pseudoring of the galaxy in detail. Additionally, a wavelet filtering of the HI
data cube from our deep observations with E/VLA telescope allowed us to reach a
column density of N_HI = 8.9x10^18 cm -2 (5sigma) (28"x28" beam), lower than in
any isolated galaxy. We confirm that the HI extends farther than 4xr_25 in all
directions. Furthermore, we detect for the first time two gaseous structures
(10^6 Msol) in the outskirts. The g-r colour index image from 1.23m shows
extremely blue colours in certain regions of the pseudoring where
N_HI>8.5x10^20 cm-2 , whereas the rest show red colours. Galactic cirrus
contaminate the field, setting an unavoidable detection limit at 28.5mag
arcsec-2 (r). We detect no stellar link within 1degx1deg or gaseous link within
40'x40' between CIG 96 and any companion. The isolation criteria rule out
interactions with other similar-sized galaxies for at least 2.7Gyr. Using
existing stellar evolution models, the age of the pseudoring is estimated at
1Gyr or older. Undetected previously accreted companions and cold gas accretion
remain as the main hypothesis to explain the optical pseudoring and HI features
of CIG 96.Comment: 23 pages, 18 figures, 4 table
SKA Science Data Challenge 2: analysis and results
The Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) will explore the radio sky to
new depths in order to conduct transformational science. SKAO data products
made available to astronomers will be correspondingly large and complex,
requiring the application of advanced analysis techniques to extract key
science findings. To this end, SKAO is conducting a series of Science Data
Challenges, each designed to familiarise the scientific community with SKAO
data and to drive the development of new analysis techniques. We present the
results from Science Data Challenge 2 (SDC2), which invited participants to
find and characterise 233245 neutral hydrogen (Hi) sources in a simulated data
product representing a 2000~h SKA MID spectral line observation from redshifts
0.25 to 0.5. Through the generous support of eight international supercomputing
facilities, participants were able to undertake the Challenge using dedicated
computational resources. Alongside the main challenge, `reproducibility awards'
were made in recognition of those pipelines which demonstrated Open Science
best practice. The Challenge saw over 100 participants develop a range of new
and existing techniques, with results that highlight the strengths of
multidisciplinary and collaborative effort. The winning strategy -- which
combined predictions from two independent machine learning techniques to yield
a 20 percent improvement in overall performance -- underscores one of the main
Challenge outcomes: that of method complementarity. It is likely that the
combination of methods in a so-called ensemble approach will be key to
exploiting very large astronomical datasets.Comment: Under review by MNRAS; 28 pages, 16 figure
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