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- 2017
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In: Physical Review D. - 2470-0010 .- 2470-0029. ; 96:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)
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- Petroff, E., et al.
(author)
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A polarized fast radio burst at low Galactic latitude
- 2017
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In: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford Academic. - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 469:4, s. 4465-4482
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report on the discovery of a new fast radio burst (FRB), FRB 150215, with the Parkes radio telescope on 2015 February 15. The burst was detected in real time with a dispersion measure (DM) of 1105.6 +/- 0.8 pc cm(-3), a pulse duration of 2.8(-0.5)(+1.2) ms, and a measured peak flux density assuming that the burst was at beam centre of 0.7(-0.1)(+0.2) Jy. The FRB originated at a Galactic longitude and latitude of 24.66 degrees, 5.28 degrees and 25 degrees away from the Galactic Center. The burst was found to be 43 +/- 5 per cent linearly polarized with a rotation measure (RM) in the range -9 < RM < 12 rad m(-2) (95 per cent confidence level), consistent with zero. The burst was followed up with 11 telescopes to search for radio, optical, X-ray, gamma-ray and neutrino emission. Neither transient nor variable emission was found to be associated with the burst and no repeat pulses have been observed in 17.25 h of observing. The sightline to the burst is close to the Galactic plane and the observed physical properties of FRB 150215 demonstrate the existence of sight lines of anomalously low RM for a given electron column density. The Galactic RM foreground may approach a null value due to magnetic field reversals along the line of sight, a decreased total electron column density from the Milky Way, or some combination of these effects. A lower Galactic DM contribution might explain why this burst was detectable whereas previous searches at low latitude have had lower detection rates than those out of the plane.
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- Duffau, S., et al.
(author)
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The Gaia-ESO Survey : Galactic evolution of sulphur and zinc
- 2017
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 604
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. Due to their volatile nature, when sulphur and zinc are observed in external galaxies, their determined abundances represent the gas-phase abundances in the interstellar medium. This implies that they can be used as tracers of the chemical enrichment of matter in the Universe at high redshift. Comparable observations in stars are more difficult and, until recently, plagued by small number statistics. Aims. We wish to exploit the Gaia-ESO Survey (GES) data to study the behaviour of sulphur and zinc abundances of a large number of Galactic stars, in a homogeneous way. Methods. By using the UVES spectra of the GES sample, we are able to assemble a sample of 1301 Galactic stars, including stars in open and globular clusters in which both sulphur and zinc were measured. Results. We confirm the results from the literature that sulphur behaves as an α-element. We find a large scatter in [Zn/Fe] ratios among giant stars around solar metallicity. The lower ratios are observed in giant stars at Galactocentric distances less than 7.5 kpc. No such effect is observed among dwarf stars, since they do not extend to that radius. Conclusions. Given the sample selection, giants and dwarfs are observed at different Galactic locations, and it is plausible, and compatible with simple calculations, that Zn-poor giants trace a younger population more polluted by SN Ia yields. It is necessary to extend observations in order to observe both giants and dwarfs at the same Galactic location. Further theoretical work on the evolution of zinc is also necessary.
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- Macfarlane, M. D., et al.
(author)
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Shape abnormalities of the caudate nucleus correlate with poorer gait and balance: Results from a subset of the ladis study
- 2015
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In: The American journal of geriatric psychiatry. - : Elsevier BV. - 1064-7481. ; 23:1, s. 59-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective Functional deficits seen in several neurodegenerative disorders have been linked with dysfunction in frontostriatal circuits and with associated shape alterations in striatal structures. The severity of visible white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on magnetic resonance imaging has been found to correlate with poorer performance on measures of gait and balance. This study aimed to determine whether striatal volume and shape changes were correlated with gait dysfunction. Methods Magnetic resonance imaging scans and clinical gait/balance data (scores from the Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB]) were sourced from 66 subjects in the previously published LADIS trial, performed in nondisabled individuals older than age 65 years with WMHs at study entry. Data were obtained at study entry and at 3-year follow-up. Caudate nuclei and putamina were manually traced using a previously published method and volumes calculated. The relationships between volume and physical performance on the SPPB were investigated with shape analysis using the spherical harmonic shape description toolkit. Results There was no correlation between the severity of WMHs and striatal volumes. Caudate nuclei volume correlated with performance on the SPPB at baseline but not at follow-up, with subsequent shape analysis showing left caudate changes occurred in areas corresponding to inputs of the dorsolateral prefrontal, premotor, and motor cortex. There was no correlation between putamen volumes and performance on the SPPB. Conclusion Disruption in frontostriatal circuits may play a role in mediating poorer physical performance in individuals with WMHs. Striatal volume and shape changes may be suitable biomarkers for functional changes in this population. © 2015 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.
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- Pallottini, A., et al.
(author)
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Deep into the structure of the first galaxies : SERRA views
- 2019
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In: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press. - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 487:2, s. 1689-1708
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We study the formation and evolution of a sample of Lyman break galaxies in the epoch of reionization by using high-resolution (similar to 10 pc), cosmological zoom-in simulations part of the SERRA suite. In SERRA, we follow the interstellar medium thermochemical non-equilibrium evolution and perform on-the-fly radiative transfer of the interstellar radiation field (ISRF). The simulation outputs are post-processed to compute the emission of far infrared lines ([C II], [N II], and [O III]). At z = 8, the most massive galaxy, 'Freesia', has an age t(star) similar or equal to 409 Myr, stellar mass M-star similar or equal to 4.2 x 10(9)M(circle dot), and a star formation rate (SFR), SFR similar or equal to 11.5M(circle dot) yr(-1), due to a recent burst. Freesia has two stellar components (A and B) separated by similar or equal to 2.5 kpc; other 11 galaxies are found within 56.9 +/- 21.6 kpc. The mean ISRF in the Habing band is G = 7.9G(0) and is spatially uniform; in contrast, the ionization parameter is U = 2(-2)(+20) x 10(-3), and has a patchy distribution peaked at the location of star-forming sites. The resulting ionizing escape fraction from Freesia is f(esc) similar or equal to 2 per cent. While [C II] emission is extended (radius 1.54 kpc), [O III] is concentrated in Freesia-Lambda (0.85 kpc), where the ratio Sigma([O III])/Sigma([C II]) similar or equal to 10. As many high-z galaxies, Freesia lies below the local [C II]-SFR relation. We show that this is the general consequence of a starburst phase (pushing the galaxy above the Kennicutt-Schmidt relation) that disrupts/photodissociates the emitting molecular clouds around star-forming sites. Metallicity has a sub-dominant impact on the amplitude of [C II]-SFR deviations.
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- Pallottini, A., et al.
(author)
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The impact of chemistry on the structure of high-z galaxies
- 2017
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In: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : OXFORD UNIV PRESS. - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 471:4, s. 4128-4143
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To improve our understanding of high-z galaxies, we study the impact of H-2 chemistry on their evolution, morphology and observed properties. We compare two zoom-in high-resolution (30 pc) simulations of prototypical M-star similar to 1010M(circle dot) galaxies at z = 6. The first, 'Dahlia', adopts an equilibrium model for H-2 formation, while the second, 'Alth ae a', features an improved non-equilibrium chemistry network. The star formation rate (SFR) of the two galaxies is similar (within 50 per cent), and increases with time reaching values close to 100M(circle dot) yr(-1) at z = 6. They both have SFR-stellar mass relation consistent with observations, and a specific SFR of similar or equal to 5Gyr(-1). The main differences arise in the gas properties. The non-equilibrium chemistry determines the H -> H-2 transition to occur at densities > 300 cm(-3), i.e. about 10 times larger than predicted by the equilibrium model used for Dahlia. As a result, Alth ae a features a more clumpy and fragmented morphology, in turn makingSNfeedback more effective. Also, because of the lower density and weaker feedback, Dahlia sits 3 sigma away from the Schmidt-Kennicutt relation; Alth ae a, instead nicely agrees with observations. The different gas properties result in widely different observables. Alth ae a outshines Dahlia by a factor of 7 (15) in [C (II)] 157.74 mu m (H(2)17.03 mu m) line emission. Yet, Alth ae a is underluminous with respect to the locally observed [C (II)]-SFR relation. Whether this relation does not apply at high-z or the line luminosity is reduced by cosmic microwave background and metallicity effects remain as an open question.
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- van Doorn, Ljcv, et al.
(author)
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Improved Cerebrospinal Fluid-Based Discrimination between Alzheimer's Disease Patients and Controls after Correction for Ventricular Volumes
- 2017
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In: Journal of Alzheimers Disease. - : IOS Press. - 1387-2877 .- 1875-8908. ; 56:2, s. 543-555
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers may support the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We studied if the diagnostic power of AD CSF biomarker concentrations, i.e., A beta(42), total tau (t-tau), and phosphorylated tau (p-tau), is affected by differences in lateral ventricular volume (VV), using CSF biomarker data and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 730 subjects, from 13 European Memory Clinics. We developed a Matlab-algorithm for standardized automated segmentation analysis of T1 weighted MRI scans in SPM8 for determining VV, and computed its ratio with total intracranial volume (TIV) as proxy for total CSF volume. The diagnostic power of CSF biomarkers (and their combination), either corrected for VV/TIV ratio or not, was determined by ROC analysis. CSF A beta(42) levels inversely correlated to VV/TIV in the whole study population (A beta(42): r = -0.28; p < 0.0001). For CSF t-tau and p-tau, this association only reached statistical significance in the combined MCI and AD group (t-tau: r = -0.15; p-tau: r = -0.13; both p < 0.01). Correction for differences in VV/TIV improved the differentiation of AD versus controls based on CSF A beta(42) alone (AUC: 0.75 versus 0.81) or in combination with t-tau (AUC: 0.81 versus 0.91). In conclusion, differences in VV may be an important confounder in interpreting CSF A beta(42) levels.
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