AVOCADO: A Virtual Observatory Census to Address Dwarfs Origins

Dwarf galaxies are by far the most abundant of all galaxy types, yet their properties are still poorly understood -especially due to the observational challenge that their intrinsic faintness represents. AVOCADO aims at establishing firm conclusions on their formation and evolution by constructing a homogeneous, multiwavelength dataset for a statistically significant sample of several thousand nearby dwarfs (-18 < Mi < -14). Using public data and Virtual Observatory tools, we have built GALEX+SDSS+2MASS spectral energy distributions that are fitted by a library of single stellar population models. Star formation rates, stellar masses, ages and metallicities are further complemented with structural parameters that can be used to classify them morphologically. This unique dataset, coupled with a detailed characterization of each dwar's environment, allows for a fully comprehensive investigation of their origins and to track the (potential) evolutionary paths between the different dwarf types.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure. To appear in the proceedings of IAU Symposium 277, "Tracing the Ancestry of Galaxies on the Land of our Ancestors", Carignan, Freeman, and Combes, ed

An investigation into the perspectives of providers and learners on MOOC accessibility

An effective open eLearning environment should consider the target learner’s abilities, learning goals, where learning takes place, and which specific device(s) the learner uses. MOOC platforms struggle to take these factors into account and typically are not accessible, inhibiting access to environments that are intended to be open to all. A series of research initiatives are described that are intended to benefit MOOC providers in achieving greater accessibility and disabled learners to improve their lifelong learning and re-skilling. In this paper, we first outline the rationale, the research questions, and the methodology. The research approach includes interviews, online surveys and a MOOC accessibility audit; we also include factors such the risk management of the research programme and ethical considerations when conducting research with vulnerable learners. Preliminary results are presented from interviews with providers and experts and from analysis of surveys of learners. Finally, we outline the future research opportunities. This paper is framed within the context of the Doctoral Consortium organised at the TEEM'17 conference

Improving graph-based detection of singular events for photochemical smog agents

Recently, a set of graph-based tools have been introduced for the identification of singular events of O3, NO2 and temperature time series, as well as description of their dynamics. These are based on the use of the Visibility Graphs (VG). In this work, an improvement of the original approach is proposed, being called Upside-Down Visibility Graph (UDVG). It adds the possibility of investigating the singular lowest episodes, instead of the highest. Results confirm the applicability of the new method for describing the multifractal nature of the underlying O3, NO2, and temperature. Asymmetries in the NO2 degree distribution are observed, possibly due to the interaction with different chemicals. Furthermore, a comparison of VG and UDVG has been performed and the outcomes show that they describe opposite subsets of the time series (low and high values) as expected. The combination of the results from the two networks is proposed and evaluated, with the aim of obtaining all the information at once. It turns out to be a more complete tool for singularity detection in photochemical time series, which could be a valuable asset for future research.Comment: 35 pages, 7 figure

Influence of the electric field on the latent heat of the ferroelectric phase transition in KDP

The specific heat, heat flux (DTA trace) and dielectric constant of KDP ferroelectric crystal have been measured simultaneously for various electric fields with a conduction calorimeter. The specific heat presents a strong anomaly but these simultaneous measurements allow us to evaluate the latent heat accurately. Latent heat decreases with field and the value of critical electric field --that where latent heat disappears-- is estimated to be (0.44\pm0.03) kV/cm. Incidentally, we have measured simultaneously the dielectric permittivity which suggests that latent heat is developed as domains are growing.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, ReVTeX, twocolumn format, to appear in J. Phys. Cond. Matte

Mutation in VPS35 associated with Parkinson's disease impairs WASH complex association and inhibits autophagy

Endosomal protein sorting controls the localization of many physiologically important proteins and is linked to several neurodegenerative diseases. VPS35 is a component of the retromer complex, which mediates endosome-to-Golgi retrieval of membrane proteins such as the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor. Furthermore, retromer is also required for the endosomal recruitment of the actin nucleation promoting WASH complex. The VPS35 D620N mutation causes a rare form of autosomal-dominant Parkinson’s disease (PD). Here we show that this mutant associates poorly with the WASH complex and impairs WASH recruitment to endosomes. Autophagy is impaired in cells expressing PD-mutant VPS35 or lacking WASH. The autophagy defects can be explained, at least in part, by abnormal trafficking of the autophagy protein ATG9A. Thus, the PD-causing D620N mutation in VPS35 restricts WASH complex recruitment to endosomes, and reveals a novel role for the WASH complex in autophagosome formation

Trends in early childhood obesity in a large, urban school district in the Southwest from 2007 to 2014.

Presented at: Experimental Biology 2016; April 2-6, 2016; San Diego, CA.https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/prc-posters-presentations/1022/thumbnail.jp

Evaluation of bread quality and volatile compounds of breads made by sourdoughs fermented by sediments of pulque (xaxtle) as starter culture

Sourdough is an important modern fermentation method of cereal flour and water. The fermentation process is carried out by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts which confer specific flavor characteristics to the bread. The main aim of this research was to investigate the bread quality and volatile compounds of breads made by sourdoughs inoculated with sediments of pulque (xaxtle) used it as starter culture. Fifty five volatile compounds were found in the bread made with sourdoughs inoculated with xaxtle from three different regions of Mexico. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, compounds as 3-hydroxy-2-butanone; 3-methyl-1-butanol; 2-methyl, 1-butanol; dimethyl disulfide; furfural, nonanal, phenyl ethyl alcohol and butanoic acid were presented in the flavor profile of the breads and having a positive response to sensory analysis made by evaluators. The xaxtle of Nanacamilpa (XN) and the xaxtle of Villa Alta (XV) were the best breads getting 8.3±0.03, 8.8±0.02, 6.2±0.08 and 8.2±0.01 scores in a scale from 0 to 10 in color, smell, texture and flavor attributes respectively which are positive attributes in favor of the quality bread. As a result of fermentation sourdough with LAB and yeasts from the xaxtle during 24 hours (30° C), the bread made with the sourdough inoculated with xaxtle of Milpa Alta (XM) showed the major acid flavor therefore its sample was less acceptable getting 8.1±0.01, 7.8±0.02, 5.3±0.01 and 7.9±0.01 in the same attributes evaluated. The xaxtle of Nanacamilpa, Tlaxcala (XN) run better than the others as starter fermentation culture for sourdoughs