4,016 research outputs found
Oxygen Gas Abundances at 0.4<z<1.5: Implications for the Chemical Evolution History of Galaxies
We report VLT-ISAAC and Keck-NIRSPEC near-infrared spectroscopy for a sample
of 30 0.47<z<0.92 CFRS galaxies and five [OII]-selected, M_B,AB<-21.5, z~1.4
galaxies. We have measured Halpha and [NII] line fluxes for the CFRS galaxies
which have [OII], Hbeta and [OIII] line fluxes available from optical
spectroscopy. For the z~1.4 objects we measured Hbeta and [OIII] emission line
fluxes from J-band spectra, and Halpha line fluxes plus upper limits for [NII]
fluxes from H-band spectra. We derive the extinction and oxygen abundances for
the sample using a method based on a set of ionisation parameter and oxygen
abundance diagnostics, simultaneously fitting the [OII], Hbeta, [OIII], Halpha
and [NII] line fluxes. Our most salient conclusions are: a) the source of gas
ionisation in the 30 CFRS and in all z~1.4 galaxies is not due to AGN activity;
b) about one third of the 0.47<z<0.92 CFRS galaxies in our sample have
substantially lower metallicities than local galaxies with similar luminosities
and star formation rates; c) comparison with a chemical evolution model
indicates that these low metallicity galaxies are unlikely to be the
progenitors of metal-poor dwarf galaxies at z~0, but more likely the
progenitors of massive spirals; d) the z~1.4 galaxies are characterized by the
high [OIII]/[OII] line ratios, low extinction and low metallicity that are
typical of lower luminosity CADIS galaxies at 0.4<z<0.7, and of more luminous
Lyman Break Galaxies at z~3.1, but not seen in CFRS galaxies at 0.4<z<1.0; e)
the properties of the z~1.4 galaxies suggest that the period of rapid chemical
evolution takes place progressively in lower mass systems as the universe ages,
and thus provides further support for a downsizing picture of galaxy formation,
at least from z~1.4 to today.Comment: Proceedings contribution for "The Fabulous Destiny of Galaxies;
Bridging Past and Present", Marseille, 200
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy of 0.4<z<1.0 CFRS Galaxies: Oxygen Abundances, SFRs and Dust
Using new J-band VLT-ISAAC and Keck-NIRSPEC spectroscopy, we have measured
Halpha and [NII] line fluxes for 0.47<z<0.92 CFRS galaxies which have [OII],
Hbeta and [OIII]a line fluxes available from optical spectroscopy, to
investigate how the properties of the star forming gas in galaxies evolve with
redshift. We derive the extinction and oxygen abundances for the sample using a
method based on a set of ionisation parameter and oxygen abundance diagnostics,
simultaneously fitting the [OII], Hbeta,[OIII], Halpha, and [NII] line fluxes.
The individual reddening measurements allow us to accurately correct the
Halpha-based star formation rate (SFR) estimates for extinction. Our most
salient conclusions are: a) in all 30 CFRS galaxies the source of gas
ionisation is not due to AGN activity; b) we find a range of 0<AV<3, suggesting
that it is important to determine the extinction for every single galaxy in
order to reliably measure SFRs and oxygen abundances in high redshift galaxies;
c) high values of [NII]/Halpha >0.1 for most (but not all) of the CFRS galaxies
indicate that they lie on the high-metallicity branch of the R23 calibration;
d) about one third of the 0.47<z<0.92 CFRS galaxies in our sample have lower
metallicities than local galaxies with similar luminosities and star formation
rates; e) comparison with a chemical evolution model indicates that these low
metallicity galaxies are unlikely to be the progenitors of metal-poor dwarf
galaxies at z~0.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa
Is the Scottish population living dangerously? Prevalence of multiple risk factors: the Scottish Health Survey 2003
<b>Background:</b>
Risk factors are often considered individually, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of combinations of multiple behavioural risk factors and their association with socioeconomic determinants.<p></p>
<b>Methods:</b>
Multinomial logistic regression was used to model the associations between socioeconomic factors and multiple risk factors from data in the Scottish Health Survey 2003. Prevalence of five main behavioural risk factors - smoking alcohol, diet, overweight/obesity, and physical inactivity, and the odds in relation to demographic, individual and area socioeconomic factors.<p></p>
<b>Results:</b>
Full data were available on 6,574 subjects (80.7% of the survey sample). Nearly the whole adult population (97.5%) reported to have at least one behavioural risk factor; while 55% have three or more risk factors; and nearly 20% have four or all five risk factors. The most important determinants for having four or five multiple risk factors were low educational attainment which conferred around a 3-fold increased odds compared to high education; and residence in the most deprived communities (relative to least deprived) which had greater than 3-fold increased odds.<p></p>
<b>Conclusions:</b>
The prevalence of multiple behavioural risk factors was high and the prevalence of absence of all risk factors very low. These behavioural patterns were socioeconomically determined. Policy to address factors needs to be joined up and better consider underlying socioeconomic circumstances.<p></p>
Risk of cancer following primary total hip replacement or primary resurfacing arthroplasty of the hip : A retrospective cohort study in Scotland
Acknowledgements: We are grateful to Lee Barnsdale, Doug Clark, and Richard Dobbie for advice and assistance with data preparation before analysis, and to the three anonymous referees for their helpful comments and suggestions.Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Stellar Populations of Luminous Evolved Galaxies at z~1.5
Observational evidence has been mounting over the past decade that at least
some luminous (~2 L*) galaxies have formed nearly all of their stars within a
short period of time only 1-2x10^9 years after the Big Bang. These are examples
of the first major episodes of star formation in the Universe and provide
insights into the formation of the earliest massive galaxies. We have examined
in detail the stellar populations of six z~1.5 galaxies that appear to be
passively evolving, using both ground and space-based photometry covering
rest-frame UV to visible wavelengths. In addition, we have obtained
medium-resolution spectroscopy for five of the six galaxies, covering the
rest-frame UV portion of the spectrum. Spectral synthesis modeling for four of
these galaxies favors a single burst of star formation more than 1 Gyr before
the observed epoch. The other two exhibit slightly younger ages with a higher
dust content and evidence for a small contribution from either recent star
formation or active nuclei. The implied formation redshifts for the oldest of
these sources are consistent with previous studies of passive galaxies at high
redshift, and improved stellar modeling has shown these results to be quite
robust. It now seems clear that any valid galaxy formation scenario must be
able to account for these massive (2x10^11 M_sun) galaxies at very early times
in the Universe.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures (2 in color), accepted for publication in Ap
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