Retired galaxies: not to be forgotten in the quest of the star formation -- AGN connection

We propose a fresh look at the Main Galaxy Sample of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey by packing the galaxies in stellar mass and redshift bins. We show how important it is to consider the emission-line equivalent widths, in addition to the commonly used emission-line ratios, to properly identify retired galaxies (i.e. galaxies that have stopped forming stars and are ionized by their old stellar populations) and not mistake them for galaxies with low-level nuclear activity. We find that the proportion of star-forming galaxies decreases with decreasing redshift in each mass bin, while that of retired galaxies increases. Galaxies with $M_\star > 10^{11.5} M_\odot$ have formed all their stars at redshift larger than 0.4. The population of AGN hosts is never dominant for galaxy masses larger than $10^{10} M_\odot$. We warn about the effects of stacking galaxy spectra to discuss galaxy properties. We estimate the lifetimes of active galactic nuclei (AGN) relying entirely on demographic arguments --- i.e. without any assumption on the AGN radiative properties. We find upper-limit lifetimes of about 1--5 Gyr for detectable AGN in galaxies with masses between $10^{10}$--$10^{12} M_\odot$. The lifetimes of the AGN-dominated phases are a few $10^8$ yr. Finally, we compare the star-formation histories of star-forming, AGN and retired galaxies as obtained by the spectral synthesis code STARLIGHT. Once the AGN is turned on it inhibits star formation for the next $\sim$ 0.1 Gyr in galaxies with masses around $10^{10} M_\odot$, $\sim$ 1 Gyr in galaxies with masses around $10^{11} M_\odot$.Comment: accepted for MNRAS figure resolution has been degraded with respect to what will be published in MNRA

Economic evaluation of the treatment of grade II haemorrhoids : a comparison of stapled haemorrhoidopexy and rubber band ligation.

The definitive version is available at www3.interscience.wiley.comPeer reviewedPostprin

Momentum-resolved lattice dynamics of parent and electron-doped Sr2_{2}IrO4_{4}

The mixing of orbital and spin character in the wave functions of the $5d$ iridates has led to predictions of strong couplings among their lattice, electronic and magnetic degrees of freedom. As well as realizing a novel spin-orbit assisted Mott-insulating ground state, the perovskite iridate Sr$_{2}$IrO$_{4}$ has strong similarities with the cuprate La$_{2}$CuO$_{4}$, which on doping hosts a charge-density wave that appears intimately connected to high-temperature superconductivity. These phenomena can be sensitively probed through momentum-resolved measurements of the lattice dynamics, made possible by meV-resolution inelastic x-ray scattering. Here we report the first such measurements for both parent and electron-doped Sr$_{2}$IrO$_{4}$. We find that the low-energy phonon dispersions and intensities in both compounds are well described by the same nonmagnetic density functional theory calculation. In the parent compound, no changes of the phonons on magnetic ordering are discernible within the experimental resolution, and in the doped compound no anomalies are apparent due to charge-density waves. These measurements extend our knowledge of the lattice properties of (Sr$_{1-x}$La$_{x}$)$_{2}$IrO$_{4}$ and constrain the couplings of the phonons to magnetic and charge order.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures (+ 12 pages, 6 figures of supplemental material

Evaluation of genetic mixtures of sorghum lines for anthracnose resistance management.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a possibilidade de se utilizar a diversificação de populações hospedeiras de sorgo (Sorghum bicolor) como uma estratégia alternativa para o manejo da resistência ao agente causal da antracnose Colletotrichum graminicola. Foram avaliados 18 híbridos triplos obtidos a partir do cruzamento entre seis híbridos F1, resultantes do cruzamento entre linhagens A (com citoplasma macho-estéril) e linhagens B (com citoplasma fértil não restaurador de fertilidade) e três linhagens R (restauradoras), selecionadas com base na sua reação diferencial ao patógeno. Observou-se uma variação no nível de resistência dos híbridos avaliados. As linhagens contribuíram diferentemente em nível de resistência de cada híbrido triplo e todos aqueles em que a linhagem CMSXS169R foi utilizada como o progenitor masculino foram classificados como altamente resistentes a C. graminicola. Alguns cruzamentos apresentaram um nível final de resistência superior ao das três linhagens componentes do híbrido avaliadas individualmente. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the diversification of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) populations as a way to manage resistance to the sorghum anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum graminicola. A total of 18 three-way hybrids were obtained by crossing six single cross male-sterile F1 hybrids, derived by crossing A (non restorer sterile cytoplasm) and B (non restorer normal cytoplasm) lines, with three fertile R (restorer) lines, previously evaluated for their differential reaction to the pathogen. Variation in the level of resistance was observed, as indicated by the values of the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) obtained for each hybrid. Lines contributed differently to the level of resistance of each hybrid. All hybrids in which CMSXS169R was the male progenitor were classified as highly resistant. Some hybrids had a level of resistance superior to the maximum levels of each line component individually

Efeitos do Programa Escola de Postura e Reeducação Postural Global sobre a amplitude de movimento e níveis de dor em pacientes com lombalgia crônica

ResumoObjetivoComparar os efeitos do programa escola de postura (PEP) e reeducação postural global (RPG) sobre níveis de dor e amplitude de movimento em pacientes com lombalgia crônica.MétodoA amostra foi dividida em 3 grupos de 10 sujeitos: grupo submetido ao tratamento através do PEP (idade: 46.30±8.50 anos); grupo submetido ao tratamento através da RPG (idade: 43.60±10.93 anos) e grupo controle (idade: 44.30±10.68 anos). As intervenções foram realizadas em 10 sessões. Para avaliação do quadro álgico foi utilizada a escala subjetiva de dor CR10 de Borg. Para a análise da amplitude de movimento empregou‐se o protocolo de goniometria LABIFIE para os movimentos de extensão coxofemoral (ECF) e flexão da coluna lombar (FCL).ResultadosO teste de Wilcoxon mostrou uma redução nos escores dos níveis de dor nos grupos PEP e RPG (p<0.0001) do pré para o pós‐tratamento. As comparações intergrupos, através do teste de Kruskal‐Wallis, apresentaram diminuição dos níveis de dor para o PEP (p<0.0001) e o RPG (p<0.0001) quando comparados ao CG no pós‐tratamento. A ANOVA com medidas repetidas revelou um aumento na amplitude do movimento para o PEP (ECF: p=0.006; FCL: p=0.002) e RPG (ECF: p=0.034; FCL: p=0.011) do pré para o pós‐tratamento. As comparações intergrupos apresentaram maiores amplitudes de movimento para o PEP (ECF: p=0.006; FCL: p=0.018) e RPG (EQ: p=0.019; FCL: p=0.020) quando comparados ao CG no pós‐tratamento. Não houve diferenças significativas entre o PEP e RPG.ConclusãoOs tratamentos PEP e RPG se mostraram eficientes para redução da lombalgia crônica.AbstractObjectiveTo compare the effects of school‐based exercise program of posture (SPP) and global postural reeducation (GPR) on pain levels and range of motion in patients with chronic low back pain.MethodThe sample was divided into three groups of 10 subjects: group treated by SPP (age: 46.30±8.50 years) group subjected to treatment by GPR (age: 43.60±10.93 years) and control group (age: 44.30±10.68 years). The interventions were performed in 10 sessions. For assessment of pain was used pain subjective scale CR10‐Borg. For the analysis of range of motion, we used the protocol to goniometry LABIFIE in the movements of hip extension (HE) and flexion of the lumbar spine (FLS).ResultsThe Wilcoxon test showed a reduction in levels of pain scores in groups SPP and GPR (p<0.0001) of pre to post‐treatment. Comparisons between groups by the Kruskal‐Wallis test showed decreased levels of pain for SPP (p<0.0001) and GPR (p<0.0001) when compared to CG post‐treatment. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed an increase in range of motion for the SPP (HE: p=0.006; FLS: p=0.002) and GPR (HE: p=0.034; FLS: p=0.011) of pre to post‐treatment. Comparisons between groups showed greater range of motion for the SPP (HE: p=0.006; FLS: p=0.018) and GPR (HE: p=0.019; FLS: p=0.020) when compared to CG post‐treatment. There were no significant differences between the SPP and GPR.ConclusionsSPP and GPR treatments were effective for reducing chronic low back pain

Cell cycle control of microtubule-based membrane transport and tubule formation in vitro.

When higher eukaryotic cells enter mitosis, membrane organization changes dramatically and traffic between membrane compartments is inhibited. Since membrane transport along microtubules is involved in secretion, endocytosis, and the positioning of organelles during interphase, we have explored whether the mitotic reorganization of membrane could involve a change in microtubule-based membrane transport. This question was examined by reconstituting organelle transport along microtubules in Xenopus egg extracts, which can be converted between interphase and metaphase states in vitro in the absence of protein synthesis. Interphase extracts support the microtubule-dependent formation of abundant polygonal networks of membrane tubules and the transport of small vesicles. In metaphase extracts, however, the plus end- and minus end-directed movements of vesicles along microtubules as well as the formation of tubular membrane networks are all reduced substantially. By fractionating the extracts into soluble and membrane components, we have shown that the cell cycle state of the supernatant determines the extent of microtubule-based membrane movement. Interphase but not metaphase Xenopus soluble factors also stimulate movement of membranes from a rat liver Golgi fraction. In contrast to above findings with organelle transport, the minus end-directed movements of microtubules on glass surfaces and of latex beads along microtubules are similar in interphase and metaphase extracts, suggesting that cytoplasmic dynein, the predominant soluble motor in frog extracts, retains its force-generating activity throughout the cell cycle. A change in the association of motors with membranes may therefore explain the differing levels of organelle transport activity in interphase and mitotic extracts. We propose that the regulation of organelle transport may contribute significantly to the changes in membrane structure and function observed during mitosis in living cells

Galaxy Groups in the SDSS DR4: II. halo occupation statistics

We investigate various halo occupation statistics using a large galaxy group catalogue constructed from the SDSS DR4 with an adaptive halo-based group finder. The conditional luminosity function (CLF) is measured separately for all, red and blue galaxies, as well as in terms of central and satellite galaxies. The CLFs for central and satellite galaxies can be well modelled with a log-normal distribution and a modified Schechter form, respectively. About 85% of the central galaxies and about 80% of the satellite galaxies in halos with masses M_h\ga 10^{14}\msunh are red galaxies. These numbers decrease to 50% and 40%, respectively, in halos with M_h \sim 10^{12}\msunh. For halos of a given mass, the distribution of the luminosities of central galaxies, $L_c$, has a dispersion of about 0.15 dex. The mean luminosity (stellar mass) of the central galaxies scales with halo mass as $L_c\propto M_h^{0.17}$ ($M_{*,c}\propto M_h^{0.22}$) for halos with masses M\gg 10^{12.5}\msunh, and both relations are significantly steeper for less massive halos. We also measure the luminosity (stellar mass) gap between the first and second brightest (most massive) member galaxies, $\log L_1 - \log L_2$ ($\log M_{*,1}-\log M_{*,2}$). These gap statistics, especially in halos with M_h \la 10^{14.0}\msunh, indicate that the luminosities of central galaxies are clearly distinct from those of their satellites. The fraction of fossil groups, defined as those groups with $\log L_1 - \log L_2\ge 0.8$, ranges from $\sim 2.5$ for groups with M_h\sim 10^{14}\msunh to 18-60% for groups with M_h\sim 10^{13}\msunh. Finally, we measure the fraction of satellites, which changes from $\sim 5.0$ for galaxies with \rmag\sim -22.0 to $\sim40$ for galaxies with \rmag\sim -17.0. (abridged)Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap

Intrinsic surface depression of the order parameter under mixed (s+id)-wave pair symmetry and its effect on the critical current of high-Tc SIS Josephson junctions

An intrinsic gap depression at the Superconductor-Insulator interface due to the very short value of the coherence length in High-Tc Superconductors [HTSs] is considered, in the framework of a mixed (s+id)-wave pair symmetry for the order parameter ranging from pure s to pure d-wave. This gap depression acts as the main physical agent causing the relevant reduction of IcRn(T) values with respect to BCS expectations in HTS SIS Josephson junctions. Good agreement with various experimental data is obtained with both pure s-wave and pure d-wave symmetries of the order parameter, but with amounts of gap depression depending on the pair symmetry adopted. Regardless of the pair symmetry considered, these results prove the importance of the surface order-parameter depression in the correct interpretation of the Ic(T)Rn(T) data in HTS SIS junctions. In a case of planar YBCO-based junction the use of the de Gennes condition allowed us to tentatively obtain an upper limit for the amount of d-wave present in the order parameter of YBCO.Comment: 11 pages REVTeX file, 6 PostScript figures, to be published in J. Superconductivit

Efeito da toxicidade de Cr (VI) e Zn (II) no crescimento do fungo filamentoso Aspergillus niger isolado de efluente industrial.

Processos convencionais de tratamento de efluentes utilizam microrganismos vivos, o que sugere limitações relativas à toxicidade de metais para os microrganismos. O experimento consistiu em adicionar soluções monoelementares de Cr (VI) e Zn(II) em diferentes concentrações (0, 20, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 mg.L-1) ao meio de crescimento e observar a influência dos metais no crescimento micelial e germinativo do fungo Aspergillus Níger por verificação visual da expansão radial do micélio e da germinação de esporos, seguida de registro fotográfico. Os resultados mostraram que o metabolismo do fungo foi completamente inibido em concentrações acima de 500 mg Zn (II).L-1 e 150 mg Cr (VI).L-1. O ED50 (concentração de ingrediente ativo capaz de inibir 50% do crescimento micelial do fungo) para os dois íons metálicos, nas condições estudadas, está na faixa entre 100 e 150 mg.L-1