477 research outputs found
HST ultraviolet spectral energy distributions for three ultraluminous infrared galaxies
We present HST Faint Object Camera ultraviolet (230 nm and 140 nm) images of
three ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIG: L_ir > 10^12 L_sun) selected from
the IRAS Revised Bright Galaxy Sample. The purpose is to estimate spectral
energy distributions (SEDs) to facilitate the identification of similar objects
at high redshift in deep optical, infrared, and submm surveys.
All three galaxies (VII Zw031 = IRAS F12112+0305, and IRAS F22491-1808) were
well detected at 230 nm. Two of the three were marginally detected at 140 nm.
The fluxes, together with ground-based optical and infrared photometry, are
used to compute SEDs over a wide wavelength range. The measured SEDs drop from
the optical to the ultraviolet, but the magnitude of the drop ranges from a
factor of ~3 in IRAS F22491-1808 to a factor of ~100 in VIIZw031. This is most
likely due to different internal extinctions. Such an interpretation is also
suggested by extrapolating to ultraviolet wavelengths the optical internal
extinction measured in VIIZw031. K-corrections are calculated to determine the
colors of the sample galaxies as seen at high redshifts. Galaxies like VIIZw031
have very low observed rest-frame UV fluxes which means that such galaxies at
high redshift will be extremely red or even missing in optical surveys. On the
other hand, galaxies like IRAS F12112+0305 and IRAS F22491-1808, if seen at
high redshift, would be sufficiently blue that they would not easily be
distinguished from normal field galaxies, and therefore, identified as ULIGs.
The implication is then that submillimeter surveys may be the only means of
properly identifying the majority of ULIGs at high redshift.Comment: AJ in press, TeX, 23 pages, 7 tab, 17 figs available also (at higher
resolution) from http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk~trentham/ufigs.htm
On the Formation of Galaxy Halos: Comparing NGC 5128 and the Local Group Members
The metallicity distribution function (MDF) for the old red-giant stars in
the halo of NGC 5128, the nearest giant elliptical galaxy, is virtually
identical with the MDF for the old-disk stars in the LMC and also strongly
resembles the halo MDF in M31. These galaxies all have high mean halo
metallicities ( ~ -0.4$) with very small proportions of low-metallicity
stars. These observations reinforce the view that metal-rich halos are quite
normal for large galaxies of all types. Such systems are unlikely to have built
up by accretion of pre-existing, gas-free small satellite galaxies, unless
these satellites had an extremely shallow mass distribution (d log N / d log M
> -1). We suggest that the halo of NGC 5128 is more likely to have assembled
from hierarchical merging of gas-rich lumps in which the bulk of star formation
took place during or after the merger stage.Comment: 10 pages, LaTeX, plus 3 figures in separate postscript files;
Astronomical Journal, in press for December 200
The Near-Infrared Number Counts and Luminosity Functions of Local Galaxies
This study presents a wide-field near-infrared (K-band) survey in two fields;
SA 68 and Lynx 2. The survey covers an area of 0.6 deg., complete to
K=16.5. A total of 867 galaxies are detected in this survey of which 175 have
available redshifts. The near-infrared number counts to K=16.5 mag. are
estimated from the complete photometric survey and are found to be in close
agreement with other available studies. The sample is corrected for
incompleteness in redshift space, using selection function in the form of a
Fermi-Dirac distribution. This is then used to estimate the local near-infrared
luminosity function of galaxies. A Schechter fit to the infrared data gives:
M, and Mpc (for H Km/sec/Mpc and q). When
reduced to , this agrees with other available estimates of the local
IRLF. We find a steeper slope for the faint-end of the infrared luminosity
function when compared to previous studies. This is interpreted as due to the
presence of a population of faint but evolved (metal rich) galaxies in the
local Universe. However, it is not from the same population as the faint blue
galaxies found in the optical surveys. The characteristic magnitude
() of the local IRLF indicates that the bright red galaxies ( mag.) have a space density of Mpc and hence,
are not likely to be local objects.Comment: 24 pages, 8 figures, AASTEX 4.0, published in ApJ 492, 45
GALICS -- VI. Modelling Hierarchical Galaxy Formation in Clusters
High-resolution N-body re-simulations of 15 massive (10^{14}-10^{15} Msun)
dark matter haloes have been combined with the hybrid galaxy formation model
GalICS (Hatton et al. 2003), to study the formation and evolution of galaxies
in clusters, within the framework of the hierarchical merging scenario. New
features in GalICS include a better description of galaxy positioning within
dark matter haloes, a more reliable computation of the temperature of the
inter-galactic medium as a function of redshift, and a description of the ram
pressure stripping process. We focus on the luminosity functions, morphological
fractions and colour distributions of galaxies in clusters and in cluster
outskirts, at z=0. No systematic dependency on cluster richness is found either
for the galaxy luminosity functions, morphological mixes, or colour
distributions. Moving from higher density (cluster cores), to lower density
environments (cluster outskirts), we detect a progressive flattening of the
luminosity functions, an increase of the fraction of spirals and a decrease of
that of ellipticals and S0s, and the progressive emergence of a bluer tail in
the distributions of galaxy colours, especially for spirals. As compared to
cluster spirals, early-type galaxies show a flatter luminosity function, and
more homogeneous and redder colours. An overall good agreement is found between
our results and the observations, particularly in terms of the cluster
luminosity functions and morphological mixes. However, some discrepancies are
also apparent, with too faint magnitudes of the brightest cluster members,
especially in the B band, and galaxy colours tendentially too red (or not blue
enough) in the model, with respect to the observations. Finally, ram pressure
stripping appears to affect very little our results.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 17 pages, 11 figures.
High-resolution Figure 1 available in the on-line version of the pape
The Properties of Poor Groups of Galaxies: III. The Galaxy Luminosity Function
We obtain R-band photometry for galaxies in six nearby poor groups for which
we have spectroscopic data, including 328 new galaxy velocities. For the five
groups with luminous X-ray halos, the composite group galaxy luminosity
function (GLF) is fit adequately by a Schechter function with Mstar = -21.6 +/-
0.4 + 5log h and alpha = -1.3 +/- 0.1. We also find that (1) the ratio of
dwarfs to giants is significantly larger for the five groups with luminous
X-ray halos than for the one marginally X-ray detected group, (2) the composite
GLF for the luminous X-ray groups is consistent in shape with that for rich
clusters, (3) the composite group GLF rises more steeply at the faint end than
that of the field, (4) the shape difference between the field and composite
group GLF's results mostly from the population of non-emission line galaxies,
whose dwarf-to-giant ratio is larger in the denser group environment than in
the field, and (5) the non-emission line dwarfs are more concentrated about the
group center than the non-emission line giants. This last result indicates that
the dwarfs and giants occupy different orbits (i.e., have not mixed completely)
and suggests that the populations formed at a different times. Our results show
that the shape of the GLF varies with environment and that this variation is
due primarily to an increase in the dwarf-to-giant ratio of quiescent galaxies
in higher density regions, at least up to the densities characteristic of X-ray
luminous poor groups. This behavior suggests that, in some environments, dwarfs
are more biased than giants with respect to dark matter. This trend conflicts
with the prediction of standard biased galaxy formation models. (Abridged)Comment: 36 pages, AASLaTeX with 8 figures. Table 1 also available at
http://atropos.as.arizona.edu/aiz/papers/all_grp_lf_ascii.dat.final . To
appear in Ap
New Probable Dwarf Galaxies in Northern Groups of the Local Supercluster
We have searched for nearby dwarf galaxies in 27 northern groups with
characteristic distances 8-15 Mpc based on the Second Palomar Sky Survey
prints. In a total area of about 2000 square degrees, we have found 90
low-surface-brightness objects, more than 60% of which are absent from known
catalogs and lists. We have classified most of these objects (~80%) as
irregular dwarf systems. The first 21-cm line observations of the new objects
with the 100-m Effelsberg radio telescope showed that the typical linear
diameters (1-2 kpc), internal motions (30 km/s), and hydrogen masses
(~2*10^7M_sun) galaxies correspond to those expected for the dwarf population
of nearby groups.Comment: 8 pages, 1 fugur
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Environmental exposures during windows of susceptibility for breast cancer: a framework for prevention research.
BackgroundThe long time from exposure to potentially harmful chemicals until breast cancer occurrence poses challenges for designing etiologic studies and for implementing successful prevention programs. Growing evidence from animal and human studies indicates that distinct time periods of heightened susceptibility to endocrine disruptors exist throughout the life course. The influence of environmental chemicals on breast cancer risk may be greater during several windows of susceptibility (WOS) in a woman's life, including prenatal development, puberty, pregnancy, and the menopausal transition. These time windows are considered as specific periods of susceptibility for breast cancer because significant structural and functional changes occur in the mammary gland, as well as alterations in the mammary micro-environment and hormone signaling that may influence risk. Breast cancer research focused on these breast cancer WOS will accelerate understanding of disease etiology and prevention.Main textDespite the plausible heightened mechanistic influences of environmental chemicals on breast cancer risk during time periods of change in the mammary gland's structure and function, most human studies of environmental chemicals are not focused on specific WOS. This article reviews studies conducted over the past few decades that have specifically addressed the effect of environmental chemicals and metals on breast cancer risk during at least one of these WOS. In addition to summarizing the broader evidence-base specific to WOS, we include discussion of the NIH-funded Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program (BCERP) which included population-based and basic science research focused on specific WOS to evaluate associations between breast cancer risk and particular classes of endocrine-disrupting chemicals-including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, perfluorinated compounds, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and phenols-and metals. We outline ways in which ongoing transdisciplinary BCERP projects incorporate animal research and human epidemiologic studies in close partnership with community organizations and communication scientists to identify research priorities and effectively translate evidence-based findings to the public and policy makers.ConclusionsAn integrative model of breast cancer research is needed to determine the impact and mechanisms of action of endocrine disruptors at different WOS. By focusing on environmental chemical exposure during specific WOS, scientists and their community partners may identify when prevention efforts are likely to be most effective
Using participatory and creative methods to facilitate emancipatory research with people facing multiple disadvantage: a role for health and care professionals
Participatory and creative research methods are a powerful tool for enabling active engagement in the research process of marginalised people. It can be particularly hard for people living with multiple disadvantage, such as disabled people from ethnic minority backgrounds, to access research projects that are relevant to their lived experience. This article argues that creative and participatory methods facilitate the co-researchersâ engagement in the research process, which thus becomes more empowering. Exploring the congruence of these methods with their professional ethos, health and care professionals can use their skills to develop them further. Both theory and practice examples are presented
The Ursa Major association of galaxies - VI: a relative dearth of gas-rich dwarf galaxies
We determined the HI mass function of galaxies in the Ursa Major association
of galaxies using a blind VLA-D array survey, consisting of 54 pointings in a
cross pattern, covering the centre as well as the outskirts of the Ursa Major
volume. The calculated HI mass function has best-fitting Schechter parameters
{\theta}^* = 0.19+/-0.11 Mpc^{-3}, log(M^*_{HI}/M_{\odot}) = 9.8+/-0.8 and
{\alpha} = -0.92+/-0.16. The high-mass end is determined by a complementary,
targeted WSRT survey, the low-mass end is determined by the blind VLA survey.
The slope is significantly shallower than the slopes of the HIPASS ({\alpha} =
-1.37+/-0.03+/-0.05) and ALFALFA ({\alpha} = -1.33+/-0.02) HI mass functions,
which are measured over much larger volumes and cover a wider range of cosmic
environments: There is a relative lack of low HI mass galaxies in the Ursa
Major region. This difference in the slope strongly hints at an environmental
dependence of the HI mass function slope.Comment: 19 pages, 15 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA
Pre-Diagnosis Oophorectomy, Estrogen Therapy and Mortality in a Cohort of Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
Introduction:
Pre-diagnosis oophorectomy and estrogen therapy could impact mortality due to breast cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) among breast cancer survivors. Elective bilateral oophorectomy at the time of hysterectomy for benign conditions is not uncommon among US women. Methods:
We examined the association between pre-diagnosis total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAHBSO) and both overall and cause-specific mortality in the Collaborative Breast Cancer Studies cohort. Medical history and prior estrogen use were collected during standardized telephone interviews. Vital status, including date and cause of death, was obtained by linkage with the National Death Index. Multivariate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for cause-specific mortality were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression. Results:
Seventeen percent (N = 1,778) of breast cancer survivors (mean age at diagnosis = 63.5) reported pre-diagnosis TAHBSO. During follow-up (mean = 9.5 years), 2,856 deaths occurred, including 1,060 breast cancer deaths and 459 CVD deaths. Breast cancer deaths occurred a median of 5.1 years after diagnosis; CVD deaths occurred further from diagnosis (median = 9.7 years). Women who reported pre-diagnosis TAHBSO had a 16% decrease in all-cause mortality (HR = 0.84; 95% CI: 0.76, 0.92) compared to those with an intact uterus and ovaries. This overall decrease reflected a 27% lower breast cancer mortality among women who never used postmenopausal hormones (HR = 0.73; CI: 0.55, 0.96) and 43% lower CVD risk among women who reported using estrogen (HR = 0.57; CI: 0.39, 0.83) after TAHBSO. Conclusions:
Information on prior TAHBSO and estrogen use can inform risk of death from both breast cancer and cardiovascular disease among breast cancer survivors
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