The JWST Discovery of the Triply-imaged Type Ia "Supernova H0pe" and Observations of the Galaxy Cluster PLCK G165.7+67.0

A Type Ia supernova (SN) at $z=1.78$ was discovered in James Webb Space Telescope Near Infrared Camera imaging of the galaxy cluster PLCK G165.7+67.0 (G165; $z = 0.35$). The SN is situated 1.5-2kpc from its host galaxy Arc 2 and appears in three different locations as a result of gravitational lensing by G165. These data can yield a value for Hubble's constant using time delays from this multiply-imaged SN Ia that we call "SN H0pe." Over the entire field we identified 21 image multiplicities, confirmed five of them using Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRspec), and constructed a new lens model that gives a total mass within 600kpc of ($2.6 \pm 0.3) \times 10^{14}$ M$_{\odot}$. The photometry uncovered a galaxy overdensity at Arc 2's redshift. NIRSpec confirmed six member galaxies, four of which surround Arc 2 with relative velocity $\lesssim$900 km s$^{-1}$ and projected physical extent $\lesssim$33 kpc. Arc 2 dominates the stellar mass ($(5.0 \pm 0.1) \times 10^{11}$ M$_{\odot}$), which is a factor of ten higher than other members of this compact galaxy group. These other group members have specific star formation rates (sSFR) of 2-260Gyr$^{-1}$ derived from the H$\alpha$-line flux corrected for stellar absorption, dust extinction, and slit losses. Another group centered on the dusty star forming galaxy Arc 1 is at $z=2.24$. The total SFR for the Arc 1 group ($gtrsim$ M$_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$) translates to a supernova rate of $\sim$1 SNe yr$^{-1}$, suggesting that regular monitoring of this cluster may yield additional SNe.Comment: 27 pages, submitted to Ap

Paper 1: The JWST PEARLS View of the El Gordo Galaxy Cluster and of the Structure It Magnifies

The massive galaxy cluster El Gordo (z=0.87) imprints multitudes of gravitationally lensed arcs onto James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) images. Eight bands of NIRCam imaging were obtained in the ``Prime Extragalactic Areas for Reionization and Lensing Science'' (``PEARLS'') program. PSF-matched photometry across Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and NIRCam filters supplies new photometric redshifts. A new light-traces-mass lens model based on 56 image multiplicities identifies the two mass peaks and yields a mass estimate within 500 kpc of ~(7.0 +/- 0.30) x 10^14 Msun. A search for substructure in the 140 cluster members with spectroscopic redshifts confirms the two main mass components. The southeastern mass peak that contains the BCG is more tightly bound than the northwestern one. The virial mass within 1.7 Mpc is (5.1 +/- 0.60) x 10^14 Msun, lower than the lensing mass. A significant transverse velocity component could mean the virial mass is underestimated. We contribute one new member to the previously known z=4.32 galaxy group. Intrinsic (delensed) positions of the five secure group members span a physical extent of ~60 kpc. Thirteen additional candidates selected by spectroscopic/photometric constraints are small and faint with a mean intrinsic luminosity ~2.2 mag fainter than L*. NIRCam imaging admits a fairly wide range of brightnesses and morphologies for the group members, suggesting a more diverse galaxy population in this galaxy overdensity.Comment: 24 pages, accepted by Ap

Control of Metallurgical, Magnetic and Electrical Properties of Electrodeposited CoFeNi Thin Films and Cu Nanostructures

The ever increasing quality and reliability demand of microsystems indicate that the electrodeposited magnetic alloys used for their fabrication should have minimum possible magnetic losses at the desired frequency range. In order to meet this challenge, the magnetic industry is facing the task of electrodepositing soft high magnetic moment alloys (SHMM) with high permeability (μr>400) and high resistivity (ρ>100μΩ-cm). The ternary ferromagnetic CoFeNi alloys represent the class of SHMM alloys which inherently have a higher resistivity than their binary (NiFe or CoFe) counterparts, with similar magnetic properties. In the first part of this research, the work exploring the development of solution chemistry for the electrodeposition of CoFeNi magnetic thin films is discussed. The experimental results (FIB, EDS, XRD, 4-point probe and VSM) indicate that a high deposition rate CoFeNi film can be deposited from the developed bath chemistry yielding high saturation magnetization (Ms~2.0 T), high relative permeability (μr~700) and high resistivity (ρ~100μΩ-cm). Additionally, the effect of sulfur containing additives like saccharin on the physical, electrical and metallurgical properties of CoFeNi films is studied. The role played by saccharin in stress reduction is exhibited by performing in-situ stress measurements during thin film growth. The second part of this dissertation focuses on a novel approach towards improving the conductivity of Cu interconnects at nanoscale. The externally applied strain on the Cu interconnects during annealing is used to promote the grain growth via grain boundary densification process. The results indicate that this approach yields positive effect on the resistance of Cu interconnects. The drop in the resistance after annealing at 200°C and 250°C is observed for externally imposed compressive strain along the Cu interconnects with critical dimensions (CD) of 50nm and 64nm. The analysis and results suggest that the compressive strain during annealing induces densification of the grain boundaries with the interface vector parallel to the current path. These results are of great significance for the overall improvement of conductivity of the Cu interconnects as well as reliability and life span of microelectronic devices.Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department o

Visual outcome and impact on quality of life after surgeries differ in children operated for unilateral and bilateral cataract (Pune study 2011)

Background: We compared vision and quality of life (VQL) of children aged 5-15 years and operated for unilateral and bilateral cataract between 2008 and 2010 in western India. Materials and Methods: In this cohort study, ophthalmologists assessed vision, anterior and posterior segment of eyes with cataract. Children completed a functional vision questionnaire (LVP-FVQ). Follow up at 6 months after surgery included the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), FVQ and eye assessment. The improvement of BCVA and quality of life were compared in group of unilateral and bilateral cataract. Result: A total of 20 (70%) bilateral and 7 (39%) unilateral cataract were operated within 1 month of detection. All 48 eyes with bilateral cataract were congenital and 12 (67%) unilateral cataract were traumatic. Among bilateral group, 27 eyes [56.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 44.4-72.2)] and in unilateral group 11 eyes [61.1% (95% CI 38.6-83.6)] had vision ≥ 20/60 at 6 months follow up. The visual gain was significantly higher in children who were operated between 1 month and 1 year of detection (adjusted Odds ratio (OR) = 15.6 P = 0.03). Positive impact on VQL in bilateral group was noted in 50%, 27%, and 13% children for subscale of distant vision, near vision, and field of vision, respectively. There was positive impact in these subscales among children with unilateral cataract. Thirty percent eyes with bilateral cataract and 22% of eyes with unilateral cataract improved their vision. Surgery within 1 month of cataract was significant predictor of improved vision (OR = 16.6 P = 0.02). Conclusion: Vision and VQL improved in children with unilateral and bilateral cataract. However, it was better 6 months following surgery in children with bilateral cataract than in children with unilateral cataract

TIP60 Up-Regulates ΔNp63α to Promote Cellular Proliferation

An estimated 5.4 million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer are reported in the United States at an associated cost of $4.8 billion. ΔNp63α, a proto-oncogene in the p53 family of transcription factors, is overexpressed in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and associated with poor prognosis and survival. ΔNp63α elicits its tumorigenic effects in part by promoting cellular proliferation and cell survival. Despite its importance in SCC, the upstream regulation of ΔNp63α is poorly understood. In this study, we identify TIP60 as a novel upstream regulator of ΔNp63α. Using a combination of overexpression, silencing, stable expression, and pharmacological approaches in multiple cell lines, we showed that TIP60 up-regulates ΔNp63α expression. Utilizing cycloheximide treatment, we showed that TIP60 catalytic activity is required for stabilization of ΔNp63α protein levels. We further showed that TIP60 coexpression inhibits ΔNp63α ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Stabilization of ΔNp63α protein was further associated with TIP60-mediated acetylation. Finally, we demonstrated that TIP60-mediated regulation of ΔNp63α increases cellular proliferation by promoting G2/M progression through MTS assays and flow cytometry. Taken together, our findings provide evidence that TIP60 may contribute to SCC progression by increasing ΔNp63α protein levels, thereby promoting cellular proliferation

The JWST PEARLS View of the El Gordo Galaxy Cluster and of the Structure It Magnifies

The massive galaxy cluster El Gordo (z = 0.87) imprints multitudes of gravitationally lensed arcs onto James Webb Space Telescope Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) images. Eight bands of NIRCam imaging were obtained in the “Prime Extragalactic Areas for Reionization and Lensing Science” (“PEARLS”) program. Point-spread function-matched photometry across Hubble Space Telescope and NIRCam filters supplies new photometric redshifts. A new light-traces-mass lens model based on 56 image multiplicities identifies the two mass peaks and yields a mass estimate within 500 kpc of (7.0 ± 0.30) × 1014 M ⊙. A search for substructure in the 140 cluster members with spectroscopic redshifts confirms the two main mass components. The southeastern mass peak that contains the brightest cluster galaxy is more tightly bound than the northwestern one. The virial mass within 1.7 Mpc is (5.1 ± 0.60)×1014 M ⊙, lower than the lensing mass. A significant transverse velocity component could mean the virial mass is underestimated. We contribute one new member to the previously known z = 4.32 galaxy group. Intrinsic (delensed) positions of the five secure group members span a physical extent of ∼60 kpc. 13 additional candidates selected by spectroscopic/photometric constraints are small and faint, with a mean intrinsic luminosity ∼2.2 mag fainter than L *. NIRCam imaging admits a fairly wide range of brightnesses and morphologies for the group members, suggesting a more diverse galaxy population in this galaxy overdensity