1,327 research outputs found
Global HI profiles of spiral galaxies
In this paper we present short HI synthesis observations of 57 galaxies
without HI information in the RC3. These are a by-product of a large survey
with the WSRT of the neutral hydrogen gas in spiral and irregular galaxies.
Global profiles and related quantities are given for the 42 detected galaxies
and upper limits for the remaining 15. A number of galaxies have low values of
HI mass-to-blue luminosity ratio.Comment: A LATEX file without figures. The postscript version including all
the figures can be retrieved from http://www.astro.rug.nl:80/~secr/ Accepted
for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics Suppl. Serie
2D Bayesian automated tilted-ring fitting of disk galaxies in large HI galaxy surveys: 2DBAT
We present a novel algorithm based on a Bayesian method for 2D tilted-ring
analysis of disk galaxy velocity fields. Compared to the conventional
algorithms based on a chi-squared minimisation procedure, this new
Bayesian-based algorithm suffers less from local minima of the model parameters
even with highly multi-modal posterior distributions. Moreover, the Bayesian
analysis, implemented via Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling, only
requires broad ranges of posterior distributions of the parameters, which makes
the fitting procedure fully automated. This feature will be essential when
performing kinematic analysis on the large number of resolved galaxies expected
to be detected in neutral hydrogen (HI) surveys with the Square Kilometre Array
(SKA) and its pathfinders. The so-called '2D Bayesian Automated Tilted-ring
fitter' (2DBAT) implements Bayesian fits of 2D tilted-ring models in order to
derive rotation curves of galaxies. We explore 2DBAT performance on (a)
artificial HI data cubes built based on representative rotation curves of
intermediate-mass and massive spiral galaxies, and (b) Australia Telescope
Compact Array (ATCA) HI data from the Local Volume HI Survey (LVHIS). We find
that 2DBAT works best for well-resolved galaxies with intermediate inclinations
(20 deg < i < 70 deg), complementing three-dimensional techniques better suited
to modelling inclined galaxies.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS; 46 pages, 33 figure
A Test of the Standard Hypothesis for the Origin of the HI Holes in Holmberg II
The nearby irregular galaxy Holmberg II has been extensively mapped in HI
using the Very Large Array (VLA), revealing intricate structure in its
interstellar gas component (Puche et al. 1992). An analysis of these structures
shows the neutral gas to contain a number of expanding HI holes. The formation
of the HI holes has been attributed to multiple supernova events occurring
within wind-blown shells around young, massive star clusters, with as many as
10-200 supernovae required to produce many of the holes. From the sizes and
expansion velocities of the holes, Puche et al. assigned ages of ~10^7 to 10^8
years. If the supernova scenario for the formation of the HI holes is correct,
it implies the existence of star clusters with a substantial population of
late-B, A and F main sequence stars at the centers of the holes. Many of these
clusters should be detectable in deep ground-based CCD images of the galaxy. In
order to test the supernova hypothesis for the formation of the HI holes, we
have obtained and analyzed deep broad-band BVR and narrow-band H-alpha images
of Ho II. We compare the optical and HI data and search for evidence of the
expected star clusters in and around the HI holes. We also use the HI data to
constrain models of the expected remnant stellar population. We show that in
several of the holes the observed upper limits for the remnant cluster
brightness are strongly inconsistent with the SNe hypothesis described in Puche
et al. Moreover, many of the HI holes are located in regions of very low
optical surface brightness which show no indication of recent star formation.
Here we present our findings and explore possible alternative explanations for
the existence of the HI holes in Ho II, including the suggestion that some of
the holes were produced by Gamma-ray burst events.Comment: 30 pages, including 6 tables and 3 images. To appear in Astron.
Journal (June 1999
Outcomes from the other side
Parents and individuals who were born preterm rarely contribute to research study design in order to ensure that outcomes are reported that are of relevance to them. In this article we explore aspects of the measures we use and the lived experiences of three individuals with experience of having a very preterm birth or being very preterm themselves. Their experiences tell us that follow up needs to be more than 2 years, that prematurity needs to be more widely acknowledged in education and that adult services need to consider the consequences of being born early. There are encouraging signs that these important issues are becoming recognised. Individuals designing outcome studies should ensure that these important voices are heard, and their perspectives captured in such studies
Blasting away a dwarf galaxy: the \u27tail\u27 of ESO 324-G024
We present Australia Telescope Compact Array radio data of the dwarf irregular galaxy ESO 324-G024 which is seen in projection against the giant, northern lobe of the radio galaxy Centaurus A (Cen A, NGC 5128). The distorted morphology and kinematics of ESO 324-G024, as observed in the 21âcm spectral line emission of neutral hydrogen, indicate disruptions by external forces. We investigate whether tidal interactions and/or ram pressure stripping are responsible for the formation of the HâItail stretching to the north-east of ESO 324-G024 with the latter being most probable. Furthermore, we closely analyse the sub-structure of Cen A\u27s polarized radio lobes to ascertain whether ESO 324-G024 is located in front, within or behind the northern lobe. Our multiwavelength, multicomponent approach allows us to determine that ESO 324-G024 is most likely behind the northern radio lobe of Cen A. This result helps to constrain the orientation of the lobe, which is likely inclined to our line of sight by approximately 60° if NGC 5128 and ESO 324-G024 are at the same distance
Global gene expression profiling of ischemic preconditioning in the rat retina
PURPOSE: To obtain and analyze the gene expression changes after ischemic preconditioning (IPC) in the rat retina. METHODS: Ischemic damage to the inner retina can be prevented by a short, non-deleterious, ischemic insult of 5 min applied 24 h preceding a full ischemic insult of 60 min; a phenomenon termed tolerance or IPC. The time course of changes in gene expression after induction of IPC was assessed by 22K oligonucleotide microarrays, followed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) validation. Functional pathways of interest were identified by Gene Ontology-term analysis. RESULTS: Histology confirmed that IPC induction by 5 min of retinal ischemia results in a complete protection against the neurodegenerative effects of a 60 min ischemic period applied 24 or 48 h later. The microarray analysis revealed differential expression of 104 known genes at one or more time points between 1 h and 7 days after IPC. The group of altered genes contained a significant overrepresentation of genes involved in aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activity (Iars, Lars, Cars, Yars, Gars, Tars), amino acid transport (Slc3a2, Slc6a6, Slc7a1, Slc38a2), regulation of transcription (including Egr1, Egr4, Nr4a1, Nr4a3, c-fos), and cell death (including Anxa1, Trib3). qPCR assays on cDNA of individual animals confirmed the microarray results. CONCLUSIONS: Endogenous neuroprotection, provoked by ischemic preconditioning is associated with changes in transcript levels of several functionally-related groups of genes. During the time window of effective protection, transcript levels of genes encoding for aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and for amino acid transport are reduced. These changes suggest that a reduction of translational activity may play a significant role in preconditioning-mediated neuroprotectio
New HErschel Multi-wavelength Extragalactic Survey of Edge-on Spirals (NHEMESES)
Edge-on spiral galaxies offer a unique perspective on the vertical structure
of spiral disks, both stars and the iconic dark dustlanes. The thickness of
these dustlanes can now be resolved for the first time with Herschel in
far-infrared and sub-mm emission. We present NHEMESES, an ongoing project that
targets 12 edge-on spiral galaxies with the PACS and SPIRE instruments on
Herschel. These vertically resolved observations of edge-on spirals will impact
on several current topics.
First and foremost, these Herschel observations will settle whether or not
there is a phase change in the vertical structure of the ISM with disk mass.
Previously, a dramatic change in dustlane morphology was observed as in massive
disks the dust collapses into a thin lane. If this is the case, the vertical
balance between turbulence and gravity dictates the ISM structure and
consequently star-formation and related phenomena (spiral arms, bars etc.). We
specifically target lower mass nearby edge-ons to complement existing Herschel
observations of high-mass edge-on spirals (the HEROES project).
Secondly, the combined data-set, together with existing Spitzer observations,
will drive a new generation of spiral disk Spectral Energy Distribution models.
These model how dust reprocesses starlight to thermal emission but the dust
geometry remains the critical unknown.
And thirdly, the observations will provide an accurate and unbiased census of
the cold dusty structures occasionally seen extending out of the plane of the
disk, when backlit by the stellar disk. To illustrate the NHEMESES project, we
present early results on NGC 4244 and NGC 891, two well studies examples of a
low and high-mass edge-on spiral.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures, to appear in the proceedings of IAU 284, "The
Spectral Energy Distribution of Galaxies", (SED2011), 5-9 September 2011,
Preston, UK, editors, R.J. Tuffs & C.C.Popescu (v2 updated metadata
- âŠ