A structure in the early Universe at z 1.3 that exceeds the homogeneity scale of the R-W concordance cosmology

A Large Quasar Group (LQG) of particularly large size and high membership has been identified in the DR7QSO catalogue of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. It has characteristic size (volume^1/3) ~ 500 Mpc (proper size, present epoch), longest dimension ~ 1240 Mpc, membership of 73 quasars, and mean redshift = 1.27. In terms of both size and membership it is the most extreme LQG found in the DR7QSO catalogue for the redshift range 1.0 = 1.28, which is itself one of the more extreme examples. Their boundaries approach to within ~ 2 deg (~ 140 Mpc projected). This new, huge LQG appears to be the largest structure currently known in the early universe. Its size suggests incompatibility with the Yadav et al. scale of homogeneity for the concordance cosmology, and thus challenges the assumption of the cosmological principle

On the relation between Seyfert 2 accretion rate and environment at z < 0.1

We analyse different properties of the small-scale environment of Seyfert 2 for two samples selected according to the accretion rate parameter, R, from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Data Release 7 survey. We compare the results with two control samples of non-active galaxies that cover the same redshift range, luminosity, colours, morphology, age and stellar mass content. Our study shows that both high and low accretion rate subsamples reside in bluer and lower density environments than the control samples. However, we find that this difference is at least two times stronger for the low accretion rate Seyferts. In the vicinity of Seyfert 2, red galaxies have systematically lower values of stellar mass as compared with corresponding control samples. The lower values of stellar mass for red neighbours is more significant at higher density environments and it is more evident for low accretion rate Seyfert. We also find that this effect is independent of the host's stellar mass. Our results are consistent with a scenario where active galactic nucleus occurrence is higher in lower/medium density environments with a higher merger rate and a lack of a dense intergalactic medium (that can strip gas from these systems) that provide suitable conditions for the central black hole feeding. We find this particularly evident for the low accretion rate Seyferts that could compensate through the intergalactic medium the lack of gas of their hosts.Fil: Coldwell Lloveras, Georgina Vanesa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan. Instituto de Ciencias Astronómicas, de la Tierra y del Espacio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Instituto de Ciencias Astronómicas, de la Tierra y del Espacio; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Gurovich, Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Diaz Tello, Jorge Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Söchting, Ilona K.. University of Oxford; Reino UnidoFil: Garcia Lambas, Diego Rodolfo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; Argentin

Two close large quasar groups of size ∼ 350 Mpc at

The Clowes & Campusano large quasar group (LQG) at inline image has been re-examined using the quasar data from the DR7QSO catalogue of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. In the 1991 discovery, the LQG impinged on the northern, southern and eastern limits of the survey. In the DR7QSO data, the western, northern and southern boundaries of the LQG remain essentially the same, but an extension eastwards of ∼2° is indicated. In the DR7QSO data, the LQG has 34 members, with inline image. A new group of 38 members is indicated at inline image and within ∼2bsl000640 of the Clowes & Campusano LQG. The characteristic sizes of these two LQGs, ∼350–400 Mpc, appear to be only marginally consistent with the scale of homogeneity in the concordance cosmology. In addition to their intrinsic interest, these two LQGs provide locations in which to investigate early large-scale structure in galaxies and to identify high-z clusters. A method is presented for assessing the statistical significance and overdensity of groups found by linkage of points

Compatibility of the large quasar groups with the concordance cosmological model

We study the compatibility of large quasar groups with the concordance cosmological model. Large quasar groups are very large spatial associations of quasars in the cosmic web, with sizes of 50–250 h−1 Mpc. In particular, the largest large quasar group known, named Huge-LQG, has a longest axis of ∼860 h−1 Mpc, larger than the scale of homogeneity (∼260 Mpc), which has been noted as a possible violation of the cosmological principle. Using mock catalogues constructed from the Horizon Run 2 cosmological simulation, we found that large quasar groups size, quasar member number and mean overdensity distributions in the mocks agree with observations. The Huge-LQG is found to be a rare group with a probability of 0.3 per cent of finding a group as large or larger than the observed, but an extreme value analysis shows that it is an expected maximum in the sample volume with a probability of 19 per cent of observing a largest quasar group as large or larger than Huge-LQG. The Huge-LQG is expected to be the largest structure in a volume at least 5.3 ± 1 times larger than the one currently studied

Dichotomy in host environments and signs of recycled AGN

We analyse the relation between AGN host properties and large scale environment for a representative red and blue AGN host galaxy sample selected from the DR4 SDSS. A comparison is made with two carefully constructed control samples of non-active galaxies, covering the same redshift range and color baseline. The cross-correlation functions show that the density distribution of neighbours is almost identical for blue galaxies, either active, or non-active. Although active red galaxies inhabit environments less dense compared to non-active red galaxies, both reside in environments considerably denser than those of blue hosts. Moreover, the radial density profile of AGN, relative to galaxy group centres is less concentrated than galaxies. This is particularly evident when comparing red AGN and non-active galaxies. The properties of the neighbouring galaxies of blue and red AGN and non active galaxies reflect this effect. While the neighbourhood of the blue samples is indistinguishable, the red AGN environs show an excess of blue-star forming galaxies with respect to their non-active counterpart. On the other hand, the active and non-active blue systems have similar environments but markedly different morphological distributions, showing an excess of blue early-type AGN, which are argued to be late stage mergers. This comparison reveals that the observable differences between active red and blue host galaxy properties including star formation history and AGN activity depends on the environment within which the galaxies form and evolve.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA

TAKE ME BACK TO MOVE ME FORWARD: RE-ENACTMENT OF THE FAMILY SYSTEM AS A PATHWAY TO BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALEXITHYMIC PATIENTS IN GROUP THERAPY

Background: Despite much attention in the clinical literature, research on alexithymia in the treatment setting has only recently gained traction. While several reports indicate limited benefit from therapy amongst patients with high alexithymia, this seems to be less so in the context of group therapy. This study considers a specific aspect of the group therapy process - family re-enactment - in facilitating improvement in overall quality of life for patients with high levels of alexithymia. Subjects and methods: Family re-enactment was examined as a potential mediator of the relationship between alexithymia and change in quality of life among 50 patients who completed treatment in an intensive, integrative group therapy programme. Patients completed three self-report measures: Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (baseline), Quality of Life Inventory (baseline, post-therapy), and Therapeutic Factors Inventory-Short Form (week 8). Regression with mediation analysis was employed using the change score for the QOLI as the dependent variable, alexithymia scores as the independent variable, and the family re-enactment score as the mediator; baseline quality of life was included in the model as a control variable. Results: Family re-enactment emerged as a significant mediator of the relationship between alexithymia and treatment outcome, implicating it as a contributing mechanism of change for alexithymic patients who participate in group therapy. Conclusion: Patients with higher levels of alexithymia (in particular, difficulty identifying and describing feelings) were more likely to positively endorse aspects of family re-enactment during group therapy, which in turn were significantly associated with greater improvement in patients’ overall quality of life

Untersuchungen zur Populationsdynamik von Senecio jacobaea und anderer Senecio-Arten

In einem im Jahr 2009 angelegten Langzeitversuch werden die Möglichkeit einer künstlichen Etablierung und die weitere Populationsentwicklung von Senecio jacobaea, Senecio aquaticus, Senecio erucifolius und Senecio inaequidens auf zwei extensiven Grünlandflächen untersucht. Dazu wurden auf beiden Versuchsstandorten jeweils 80 Pflanzen der vier Arten eingepflanzt. Die Bewirtschaftungsintensität beider Flächen variierte zunächst bezüglich der Mähdurchgänge. Das Mähgut wird grundsätzlich abgefahren und in regelmäßigen Abständen wird die Anzahl der Senecio-Pflanzen ermittelt. Auf beiden Flächen waren im Herbst 2012 von Senecio aquaticus und Senecio inaequidens keine Pflanzen sowie von Senecio erucifolius weniger als 20 % der ursprünglich vorhandenen Pflanzen nachzuweisen. Dagegen zeigte sich bei Senecio jacobaea nach einem deutlichen Rückgang der Pflanzenzahl auf ca. 40 % der ursprünglichen Auspflanzdichte bis 2012, ab 2013 wieder eine Zunahme bedingt durch Sämlinge, so dass die ursprüngliche Pflanzdichte übertroffen wurde. Ab 2014 wurde daher die Konzeption der Versuchsanstellung umgestellt, mit dem Ziel auch Senecio jacobaea von der Fläche zu verdrängen. Ab jetzt sollten keine Pflanzen mehr zur Blüte kommen, so dass auch drei und mehr Mähdurchgänge durchgeführt wurden. Außerdem wurde eine Düngungsvariante eingeführt, um das Konkurrenzvermögen der Gräser zu erhöhen. Diese Maßnahmen zeigten bereits 2014 Wirkung und der Bestand von Senecio jacobaea war zumindest teilweise wieder rückläufig.Studies on the population dynamics of Senecio jacobaea and other Senecio speciesA longterm experiment was carried out on two extensive grassland areas to examine the development and the spreading patterns of Senecio jacobaea, Senecio aquaticus, Senecio erucifolius and Senecio inaequidens. For this purpose, 80 plants of the four different species were planted on both experimental sites. The Intensity of cultivation in the areas varied regarding different cutting treatments. The cut crop was generally worn. Periodically number and state of development of Senecio plants were determined. By the end of 2012, the species Senecio aquaticus and Senecio inaequidens could no longer be detected on the two experimental plots and only some very few, last plants form Senecio erucifolius were found. In contrast, Senecio jacobaea plants first declined considerably by 2012 to about 40% of the initinal plant density and then in beginning of 2013 a distinct increase by seedling was assessed, so that the initial planting density was exceeded. From summer 2013, therefore, the scheme of the experimental design was changed with the aim to displace Senecio jacobaea from the area. In order to avoid the blossom of the plants, 3 or more cuts were carried out. In addition, a fertilization treatment was introduced in order to increase the competitiveness of the grasses. A positive impact of these measures was already detected in 2014 by a partial decline in Senecio jacobea density

Evaluation of the risks of contaminating low erucic acid rapeseed with high erucic rapeseed and identification of mitigation strategies

High erucic acid rapeseed (HEAR) oil is under increasing demand for various industrial applications. However, many growers are concerned that if they grow the crop, they will not be able to revert to other rapeseed varieties in the future due to the risk of erucic acid (EA) contamination of the harvested seed and inability to maintain acceptable erucic acid thresholds. This review considered published literature and, using the same criteria as that used to contain transgenic crops, aimed to identify the key risks of erucic acid contamination, broadly prioritise them and identify pragmatic mitigation options. Oilseed rape has a number of traits that increase the risk of low erucic acid rapeseed (LEAR) crops being contaminated with EA from HEAR varieties. The quantity of seed produced and the potential for seed dormancy coupled with partial autogamy (self-fertilisation) facilitate the establishment and persistence of volunteer and feral populations. The large quantities of pollen produced when the crop is in flower mean there is also a high potential for cross-pollination. Self-sown volunteer plants represent the highest potential contamination risk, followed by the presence of arable weeds (e.g., wild mustard) whose seeds are also high in EA. Other risks arise from the cross-pollination of compatible wild relatives and the mixing of seed prior to sowing. It is important that both HEAR and LEAR varieties are appropriately managed since risks and their potential for mitigation arise throughout the entire LEAR crop production process. The length of rotation, type of tillage, cultivar choice, buffer zones, effective weed management and basic machinery hygiene are all factors that can reduce the risk of erucic acid contamination of LEAR crops and maintain the required thresholds.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio