LOFAR insights into the epoch of reionization from the cross power spectrum of 21cm emission and galaxies

Using a combination of N-body simulations, semi-analytic models and radiativetransfer calculations, we have estimated the theoretical cross power spectrumbetween galaxies and the 21cm emission from neutral hydrogen during the epochof reionization. In accordance with previous studies, we find that the 21cmemission is initially correlated with halos on large scales (> 30 Mpc),anti-correlated on intermediate (~ 5 Mpc), and uncorrelated on small (< 3 Mpc)scales. This picture quickly changes as reionization proceeds and the twofields become anti-correlated on large scales. The normalization of the crosspower spectrum can be used to set constraints on the average neutral fractionin the intergalactic medium and its shape can be a tool to study the topologyof reionization. When we apply a drop-out technique to select galaxies and addto the 21cm signal the noise expected from the LOFAR telescope, we find thatwhile the normalization of the cross power spectrum remains a useful tool forprobing reionization, its shape becomes too noisy to be informative. On theother hand, for a Lyalpha Emitter (LAE) survey both the normalization and theshape of the cross power spectrum are suitable probes of reionization. A closerlook at a specific planned LAE observing program using Subaru Hyper-Suprime Camreveals concerns about the strength of the 21cm signal at the plannedredshifts. If the ionized fraction at z ~ 7 is lower that the one estimatedhere, then using the cross power spectrum may be a useful exercise given thatat higher redshifts and neutral fractions it is able to distinguish between twotoy models with different topologies.

Simulations of single and two-component galaxy decompositions for spectroscopically selected galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

We present the results of fitting simulations of an unbiased sample of SDSSgalaxies utilizing the fitting routine GALFIT and analysis pipeline PyMorph.These simulations are used to test the two-dimensional decompositions of SDSSgalaxies. The simulations show that single S{\'e}rsic models of SDSS data arerecovered with $\sigma_{\mathrm{mag}} \approx 0.025$ mag and$\sigma_{\mathrm{radius}} \approx 5\%$. The global values (half-light radiusand magnitude) are equally well constrained when a two-component model is used.Sub-components of two-component models present more scatter. SDSS resolution isthe primary source of error in the recovery of models. We use a simplestatistical correction of the biases in fitted parameters, providing an exampleusing the S{\'e}rsic index. Fitting a two-component S{\'e}rsic + Exponentialmodel to a single S{\'e}rsic galaxy results in a noisier, but unbiased,recovery of the input parameters ($\sigma_{\mathrm{total mag}} \approx 0.075$mag and $\sigma_{\mathrm{radius}} \approx 10\%$); fitting a single S{\'e}rsicprofile to a two-component system results in biases of total magnitude andhalflight radius of $\approx 0.05-0.10$ mag and 5\%-10\% in radius. Using anF-test to select the best fit model from among the single- and two-componentmodels is sufficient to remove this bias. We recommend fitting a two-componentmodel to all galaxies when attempting to measure global parameters such astotal magnitude and halflight radius.

NPARSEC: NTT Parallaxes of Southern Extremely Cool objects. Goals, targets, procedures and first results

The discovery and subsequent detailed study of T dwarfs has provided manysurprises and pushed the physics and modeling of cool atmospheres inunpredicted directions. Distance is a critical parameter for studies of theseobjects to determine intrinsic luminosities, test binarity and measure theirmotion in the Galaxy. We describe a new observational program to determinedistances across the full range of T dwarf sub-types using the NTT/SOFItelescope/instrument combination. We present preliminary results for tenobjects, five of which represent new distances.

Larger sizes of massive quiescent early-type galaxies in clusters than in the field at 0.8 < z < 1.5

[abridged] The mass-size relation of early-type galaxies (ETGs) has beenlargely studied in the last years to probe the mass assembly of the mostmassive objects in the Universe. In this paper, we focus on the mass-sizerelation of quiescent massive ETGs (Mstar/Msol > 3*10^10) living in massiveclusters (M200 ~ 10^14 Mstar) at 0.8< z <1.5, as compared to those living inthe field at the same epoch. Our sample contains ~ 400 ETGs in clusters and thesame number in the field. Therefore, our sample is approximately an order ofmagnitude larger than previous studies in the same redshift range for galaxyclusters. We find that ETGs living in clusters are between ~30-50% larger thangalaxies with the same stellar mass residing in the field. We parametrize thesize using the mass-normalized size, gamma=Re/Mstar^0.57. The gammadistributions in both environments peak at the same position but thedistributions in clusters are more skewed towards larger sizes. Since this sizedifference is not observed in the local Universe, the size evolution at fixedstellar mass from z~1.5 of cluster galaxies is less steep ((1+z)-0.53pm0.04)than the evolution of field galaxies ((1+z)-0.92pm0.04). The size difference seems to be essentially driven by the galaxies residingin the clusters cores (R<0.5*R200). If part of the size evolution is due tomergers, the difference we see between cluster and field galaxies could be dueto higher merger rates in clusters at higher redshift, probably during theformation phase of the clusters when velocity dispersions are lower. We cannotexclude however that the difference is driven by newly quenched galaxies whichare quenched more efficiently in clusters. The implications of these resultsfor the hierarchical growth of ETGs will be discussed in a companion paper.

Genetic Engineering of Novel Bluer-Colored Chrysanthemums Produced by Accumulation of Delphinidin-Based Anthocyanins

Chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) have no purple-, violet- or blue-flowered cultivars because they lack delphinidin-based anthocyanins. This deficiency is due to the absence of the flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase gene (F3'5'H), which encodes the key enzyme for delphinidin biosynthesis. In F3'5'H-transformed chrysanthemums, unpredictable and unstable expression levels have hampered successful production of delphinidin and reduced desired changes in flower color. With the aim of achieving delphinidin production in chrysanthemum petals, we found that anthocyanin biosynthetic gene promoters combined with a translational enhancer increased expression of some F3'5'H genes and accompanying delphinidin-based anthocyanin accumulation in transgenic chrysanthemums. Dramatic accumulation of delphinidin (up to 95%) was achieved by simple overexpression of Campanula F3'5'H controlled by a petal-specific flavanone 3-hydroxylase promoter from chrysanthemum combined with the 5'-untranslated region of the alcohol dehydrogenase gene as a translational enhancer. The flower colors of transgenic lines producing delphinidin-based anthocyanins changed from a red-purple to a purple-violet hue in the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Charts. This result represents a promising step toward molecular breeding of blue chrysanthemums.

Temporal ultrasonography findings in temporal arteritis: early disappearance of halo sign after only 2 days of steroid treatment

First Report of Mango Anthracnose Caused by Colletotrichum karstii in Brazil

Vasopressin infusion increases intravesical pressure in Wistar rats.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the effect of vasopressin on intravesical pressure, renal blood flow and arterial pressure in Wistar rats. Methods Adult female Wistar rats (~250 g) were anesthetized with 2% halothane in 100% O 2 and the femoral artery and vein were cannulated for mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) recordings, and drug infusion, respectively. A miniaturized Doppler flow probe was placed around the left renal artery and the renal conductance (RC) was calculated as the ratio of Doppler shift and MAP. The urinary bladder was cannulated for measurement of the intravesical pressure (IP). Saline (vehicle) or 0.25, 0.5 and 1 ng/mL of vasopressin were infused in a ratio of 0.1 mL/min/5 min in rats with bilateral urether ligature. Data are as mean±SE and were submitted to unpaired Student t‐test. Significance level was set at p<0.05. Vasopressin increased the IP (70±30, 107±34, and 105±39% at 0.25, 0.5 and 1 ng/mL, respectively, N=6) compared to saline (1.8±0.5%, N=6). The RC was reduced (−43±18, −26±2, and − 34±12%) by 0.25, 0.5 and 1 ng/mL of vasopressin, respectively, compared to saline (−2±0.02%). No significant changes were observed in MAP (13±15, 7±16, and 6±8 mmHg) after 0.25, 0.5 and 1 ng/mL of vasopressin, respectively, or saline (2±2 mmHg). No changes were also observed on HR (9±21, 7±22, and −5±17 bpm) after 0.25, 0.5 and 1 ng/mL of vasopressin, respectively, or saline (−10±9 bpm). Conclusions Infusions of subpressor doses of vasopressin evoked renal vasoconstriction and increased the intravesical pressure in rats with bilateral urether ligature, suggesting that vasopressin can likely increase the contractility of the detrusor muscle regardless the effects on renal blood flow. Supported by: FAPESP and PIBIC‐CNPq.

Salt induced cardiac hypertrophy is blood pressure independent and prevented by Losartan and N‐acetylcysteine

Objective To evaluate the mechanisms of left (LV) and right (RV) ventricular hypertrophy induced by high salt intake. Methods Wistar rats were fed normal (NS1.3% NaCl) or high (HS 8%) salt diet since weaning. From the 7th week of age, 3 HS subgroups received hydralazine, losartan or N‐acetylcysteine (HZ 15 and LOS 20mg/kg/day and NAC 600mg/l). Tail blood pressure (BP), food intake (FI), cardiac mass to tibial length ratio (CM/TL), cardiomyocyte transverse diameter (TD) in both ventricles and myocardial TBARS were measured. Results (n=8/group):NS HS HS+HZ HS+LOS HS+NACBP (mmHg) 110.7± 1.6 a 143.1± 4.0 b 116.4± 1.8 a 116.5± 1.6 a 166.8± 1.6 cFI (g/day) 16.6±1.85 a 15.7±0.91 a 14.3±0.59 a 16.5±0.98 a 23.7±0.63 aCM/TL (g/cm) 0.34±0.01 a 0.51±0.02 b 0.47±0.02 b 0.38±0.01 a 0.44±0.00 cTD – LV (μm) 12.5±0.47 a 19.6±0.44 b 18.9±0.76 b 13.2±0.33 a 15.9±0.75 cTD – RV (μm) 11.8±0.32 a 17.7±0.56 b 16.4±0.71 b 11.9±0.45 a 12.8±0.41 aTBARS (nmol/mg/ml) 0.78±0.27 a 2.57±0.38 b 2.75±0.75 b 2.65±0.32 b 0.89±0.09 aData are reported as mean ± SEM. Means in row with superscripts without a common letter differ, P<0.05Conclusions In Wistar rats, LOS prevented cardiac hypertrophy induced by high salt intake. It can be speculated that this result is an AT1 receptor‐dependent mechanism. However, NAC partially prevented the cardiac hypertrophy, suggesting that oxidative stress also could be involved on this process. Supported by FAPESP and CNPq.

Myocardial AT1 gene expression is increased in a model of left ventricular hypertrophy induced by high salt intake.

Objective To evaluate gene expression of the renin‐angiotensin system components in a model of left ventricular hypertrophy induced by high salt intake demonstrated in a previous study. Methods Wistar rats were fed normal (NS1.3% NaCl) or high (HS 8%) salt diet since weaning. From the 7th week of age, two HS subgroups received hydralazine or losartan (HZ 15 and LOS 20mg/kg/day). Angiotensinogen, renin, ACE, ACE2, AT1 and AT2 gene expression in left ventricle were measured. Results (n=8/group)NS HS HS+HZ HS+LOSAngiotensinogen/GAPDH (IDV) 0.21±0.017 a 0.19±0.017 a 0.21±0.013 a 0.19±0.024 aRenin/GAPDH (IDV) 0.71±0.02 a 0.68±0.02 a 0.67±0.02 a 0.67±0.02 aACE/GAPDH (IDV) 0.87±0.03 a 0.83±0.05 a 0.97±0.06 a 097±0.05 aACE2/GAPDH (IDV) 0.41±0.02 a 0.43±0.02 a 0.37±0.03 a 0.34±0.02 aAT1/GAPDH (IDV) 0.23±0.00 a 0.46±0.06 b 0.45±0.06 b 0.22±0.00 aAT2/GAPDH (IDV) 0.52±0.04 a 0.51±0.03 a 0.45±0.03 a 0.44±0.02 aData are reported as mean±SEM. Means in row with superscripts without a common letter differ, P<0.05Conclusion High salt intake increases AT1 gene expression, however it is prevented by losartan treatment. Supported by FAPESP and CNPq.