Fitting the integrated Spectral Energy Distributions of Galaxies

Fitting the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of galaxies is an almost universally used technique that has matured significantly in the last decade. Model predictions and fitting procedures have improved significantly over this time, attempting to keep up with the vastly increased volume and quality of available data. We review here the field of SED fitting, describing the modelling of ultraviolet to infrared galaxy SEDs, the creation of multiwavelength data sets, and the methods used to fit model SEDs to observed galaxy data sets. We touch upon the achievements and challenges in the major ingredients of SED fitting, with a special emphasis on describing the interplay between the quality of the available data, the quality of the available models, and the best fitting technique to use in order to obtain a realistic measurement as well as realistic uncertainties. We conclude that SED fitting can be used effectively to derive a range of physical properties of galaxies, such as redshift, stellar masses, star formation rates, dust masses, and metallicities, with care taken not to over-interpret the available data. Yet there still exist many issues such as estimating the age of the oldest stars in a galaxy, finer details ofdust properties and dust-star geometry, and the influences of poorly understood, luminous stellar types and phases. The challenge for the coming years will be to improve both the models and the observational data sets to resolve these uncertainties. The present review will be made available on an interactive, moderated web page (sedfitting.org), where the community can access and change the text. The intention is to expand the text and keep it up to date over the coming years.Comment: 54 pages, 26 figures, Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Scienc

Search for charginos in e+e- interactions at sqrt(s) = 189 GeV

An update of the searches for charginos and gravitinos is presented, based on a data sample corresponding to the 158 pb^{-1} recorded by the DELPHI detector in 1998, at a centre-of-mass energy of 189 GeV. No evidence for a signal was found. The lower mass limits are 4-5 GeV/c^2 higher than those obtained at a centre-of-mass energy of 183 GeV. The (\mu,M_2) MSSM domain excluded by combining the chargino searches with neutralino searches at the Z resonance implies a limit on the mass of the lightest neutralino which, for a heavy sneutrino, is constrained to be above 31.0 GeV/c^2 for tan(beta) \geq 1.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figure

Hadronization properties of b quarks compared to light quarks in e+e- -> q qbar from 183 to 200 GeV

The DELPHI detector at LEP has collected 54 pb^{-1} of data at a centre-of-mass energy around 183 GeV during 1997, 158 pb^{-1} around 189 GeV during 1998, and 187 pb^{-1} between 192 and 200 GeV during 1999. These data were used to measure the average charged particle multiplicity in e+e- -> b bbar events, _{bb}, and the difference delta_{bl} between _{bb} and the multiplicity, _{ll}, in generic light quark (u,d,s) events: delta_{bl}(183 GeV) = 4.55 +/- 1.31 (stat) +/- 0.73 (syst) delta_{bl}(189 GeV) = 4.43 +/- 0.85 (stat) +/- 0.61 (syst) delta_{bl}(200 GeV) = 3.39 +/- 0.89 (stat) +/- 1.01 (syst). This result is consistent with QCD predictions, while it is inconsistent with calculations assuming that the multiplicity accompanying the decay of a heavy quark is independent of the mass of the quark itself.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figure

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

Novas regras e velhos desafios na regulação da propaganda de medicamentos New rules and old challenges in the regulation of drug advertising

Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar o processo de regulamentação da propaganda de medicamentos pela Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (Anvisa) ocorrido em 2008 e identificar os seus resultados quanto ao modelo regulador nessa área de atuação. Foram analisadas as mudanças ocorridas em 2008, com a publicação da RDC nº 96/2008, a partir de três fontes de dados. A primeira foi a análise comparativa com a normativa anterior, a RDC nº 102/2000. Em seguida, as mudanças foram relacionadas a dois documentos técnicos, de escopos diferentes: os Critérios Éticos para a Promoção de Medicamentos da Organização Mundial de Saúde, de alcance mundial; e a Contribuição ao Debate e Proposições à Consulta Pública 84/2005, de âmbito nacional, da Anvisa, relativa à propaganda de medicamentos no Brasil. A análise de onze mudanças de conteúdo na ordenação legal estabelecida pela RDC nº 96/2008 aponta para uma maior proximidade com os Critérios Éticos para a Promoção de Medicamentos da Organização Mundial de Saúde, mas um claro distanciamento de proposições para a alteração do modelo regulador atualmente estabelecido. Concluiu-se que a adoção de medidas que alterem o modelo regulador nesse campo de atuação, o da regulação da propaganda de medicamentos, requer mudanças mais substanciais no modelo de gestão e da ação regulatória da Anvisa, especialmente quanto ao seu papel de regulação social.<br>This study aimed to analyze the process of regulation of drug advertising by ANVISA (National Health Surveillance Agency) in 2008 and to identify its results on the regulatory model in this area. We analyzed the changes in 2008 with the publication of RDC No. 96/2008, based on three data sources. The first was a comparative analysis with the previous rules, the RDC No. 102/2000. Then, the changes were related to two technical papers in different scopes: the Ethical Criteria for Drug Promotion of the World Health Organization, with global reach; and the Contribution to the Debate and Proposals for Public Consultation 84/2005, nationwide , issued by ANVISA, on drug advertising in Brazil. The analysis of 11 content changes in the legal order established by RDC No. 96/2008 points to a closer relationship with the Ethical Criteria for Promotion of Medicines of the World Health Organization, but a clear separation of proposals for changing the regulatory model currently established. It was concluded that the adoption of measures amending the regulatory model in this field, the regulation of drug advertising, requires more substantial changes in the management model and the regulatory action of ANVISA, especially regarding the role of social regulation