We use measurements from the South Pole Telescope (SPT) Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) cluster survey in combination with X-ray measurements to constrain cosmological parameters. We present a statistical ...method that fits for the scaling relations of the SZ and X-ray cluster observables with mass while jointly fitting for cosmology. The method is generalizable to multiple cluster observables, and self-consistently accounts for the effects of the cluster selection and uncertainties in cluster mass calibration on the derived cosmological constraints. We apply this method to a data set consisting of an SZ-selected catalog of 18 galaxy clusters at z > 0.3 from the first 178 deg{sup 2} of the 2500 deg{sup 2} SPT-SZ survey, with 14 clusters having X-ray observations from either Chandra or XMM-Newton. Assuming a spatially flat {Lambda}CDM cosmological model, we find the SPT cluster sample constrains {sigma}{sub 8}({Omega} {sub m}/0.25){sup 0.30} = 0.785 {+-} 0.037. In combination with measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) power spectrum from the SPT and the seven-year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe data, the SPT cluster sample constrains {sigma}{sub 8} = 0.795 {+-} 0.016 and {Omega} {sub m} = 0.255 {+-} 0.016, a factor of 1.5 improvement on each parameter over the CMB data alone. We consider several extensions beyond the {Lambda}CDM model by including the following as free parameters: the dark energy equation of state (w), the sum of the neutrino masses ({Sigma}m {sub {nu}}), the effective number of relativistic species (N {sub eff}), and a primordial non-Gaussianity (f {sub NL}). We find that adding the SPT cluster data significantly improves the constraints on w and {Sigma}m {sub {nu}} beyond those found when using measurements of the CMB, supernovae, baryon acoustic oscillations, and the Hubble constant. Considering each extension independently, we best constrain w = -0.973 {+-} 0.063 and the sum of neutrino masses {Sigma}m {sub {nu}} < 0.28 eV at 95% confidence, a factor of 1.25 and 1.4 improvement, respectively, over the constraints without clusters. Assuming a {Lambda}CDM model with a free N {sub eff} and {Sigma}m {sub {nu}}, we measure N {sub eff} = 3.91 {+-} 0.42 and constrain {Sigma}m {sub {nu}} < 0.63 eV at 95% confidence. We also use the SPT cluster sample to constrain f {sub NL} = -220 {+-} 317, consistent with zero primordial non-Gaussianity. Finally, we discuss the current systematic limitations due to the cluster mass calibration, and future improvements for the recently completed 2500 deg{sup 2} SPT-SZ survey. The survey has detected {approx}500 clusters with a median redshift of {approx}0.5 and a median mass of {approx}2.3 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 14} M {sub Sun} h {sup -1} and, when combined with an improved cluster mass calibration and existing external cosmological data sets will significantly improve constraints on w.
The lack of persistence of transferred autologous mature lymphocytes in humans has been a major limitation to the application of effective cell transfer therapies. The results of a pilot clinical ...trial in 13 patients with metastatic melanoma suggested that conditioning with nonmyeloablative chemotherapy before adoptive transfer of activated tumor-reactive T cells enhances tumor regression and increases the overall rates of objective clinical responses. The present report examines the relationship between T cell persistence and tumor regression through analysis of the TCR beta-chain V region gene products expressed in samples obtained from 25 patients treated with this protocol. Sequence analysis demonstrated that there was a significant correlation between tumor regression and the degree of persistence in peripheral blood of adoptively transferred T cell clones, suggesting that inadequate T cell persistence may represent a major factor limiting responses to adoptive immunotherapy.
We present a catalog of galaxy cluster candidates, selected through their Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect signature in the first 720 deg2 of the South Pole Telescope (SPT) survey. This area was mapped ...with the SPT in the 2008 and 2009 austral winters to a depth of ~18 mu KCMB-arcmin at 150 GHz; 550 deg2 of it was also mapped to ~44 mu KCMB-arcmin at 95 GHz. We report photometrically derived redshifts for confirmed clusters and redshift lower limits for the remaining candidates. The catalog extends to high redshift with a median redshift of z = 0.55 and maximum confirmed redshift of z = 1.37. Forty-five of the clusters have counterparts in the ROSAT bright or faint source catalogs from which we estimate X-ray fluxes. A multi-wavelength observation program to improve the cluster mass calibration will make it possible to realize the full potential of the final 2500 deg2 SPT cluster catalog to constrain cosmology.
Entomopathogenic fungi, such as Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana, have been shown to be efficacious in killing mosquito larvae of different mosquito species. The current study compared ...the pathogenicity and efficacy of two formulations of three fungal strains against different instars of three mosquito species with the aim of identifying the most virulent strain for use under field conditions. Three strains of Metarhizium, ARESF 4556, ARSEF 3297 and V275, were assayed against early (L
2
−3
) and late (L
3
-4
) instar larvae of Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus. Two formulations of the fungi were tested, dry conidia and aqueous suspensions (i.e. 'wet' conidia). Effects of all combinations of conidia, mosquito species, instar, fungal strain and concentration on mosquito mortality were analysed using Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses. Strain ARSEF 4556 was more virulent than ARSEF 3297 and V275, with LT
50
values ranging from 0.3 to 1.1 days, with Anopheles and Culex being more susceptible than Aedes. Early and late instars were equally susceptible independent of species. Although the formulation did influence mortality rates, both 'wet' and 'dry' conidia applications were highly effective in killing mosquito larvae. Viable spores were more efficacious than heat killed spores. The latter did cause mortality but only at high concentrations. Metarhizium sp. has proved to be effective in reducing survivability of all larval stages of Aedes, Anopheles and Culex under laboratory conditions. Aedes larvae were generally more tolerant than Anopheles and Culex irrespective of fungal strain.
We present optical spectroscopy of galaxies in clusters detected through the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect with the South Pole Telescope (SPT). We report our own measurements of 61 spectroscopic ...cluster redshifts, and 48 velocity dispersions each calculated with more than 15 member galaxies. This catalog also includes 19 dispersions of SPT-observed clusters previously reported in the literature. The majority of the clusters in this paper are SPT-discovered; of these, most have been previously reported in other SPT cluster catalogs, and five are reported here as SPT discoveries for the first time. By performing a resampling analysis of galaxy velocities, we find that unbiased velocity dispersions can be obtained from a relatively small number of member galaxies (lap30), but with increased systematic scatter. We use this analysis to determine statistical confidence intervals that include the effect of membership selection.We fit scaling relations between the observed cluster velocity dispersions and mass estimates from SZ and X-ray observables. In both cases, the results are consistent with the scaling relation between velocity dispersion and mass expected from dark-matter simulations. We measure a ~30% log-normal scatter in dispersion at fixed mass, and a ~10% offset in the normalization of the dispersion-mass relation when compared to the expectation from simulations, which is within the expected level of systematic uncertainty.
We present South Pole Telescope (SPT) observations of the five galaxy cluster candidates in the southern hemisphere which were reported as unconfirmed in the Planck Early Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (ESZ) ...sample. One cluster candidate, PLCKESZ G255.62-46.16, is located in the 2500 deg2 SPT SZ survey region and was reported previously as SPT-CL J0411-4819. For the remaining four candidates, which are located outside of the SPT SZ survey region, we performed short, dedicated SPT observations. Each of these four candidates was strongly detected in maps made from these observations, with signal-to-noise ratios ranging from 6.3 to 13.8. We have observed these four candidates on the Magellan-Baade telescope and used these data to estimate cluster redshifts from the red sequence. Resulting redshifts range from 0.24 to 0.46. We report measurements of Y 075, the integrated Comptonization within a 075 radius, for all five candidates. We also report X-ray luminosities calculated from ROSAT All-Sky Survey catalog counts, as well as optical and improved SZ coordinates for each candidate. The combination of SPT SZ measurements, optical red-sequence measurements, and X-ray luminosity estimates demonstrates that these five Planck ESZ cluster candidates do indeed correspond to real galaxy clusters with redshifts and observable properties consistent with the rest of the ESZ sample.
Overexpression of the cellular oncogene c-Myc frequently occurs during induction of leukemias and lymphomas in many species. Retroviruses have enhanced our understanding of the role of c-Myc in such ...tumors. Leukemias and lymphomas induced by retroviruses activate c-Myc by: (1) use of virally specified proteins that increase c-Myc transcription, (2) transduction and modification of c-Myc to generate a virally encoded form of the gene, v-Myc, and (3) proviral integration in or near c-Myc. Proviral integrations elevate transcription by insertion of retroviral enhancers found in the long terminal repeat (LTR). Studies of the LTR enhancer elements from these retroviruses have revealed the importance of these elements for c-Mycactivation in several cell types. Retroviruses also have been used to identify genes that collaborate with c-Myc during development and progression of leukemias and lymphomas. In these experiments, animals that are transgenic for c-Mycoverexpression (often in combination with the overexpression or deletion of known proto-oncogenes) have been infected with retroviruses that then insertionally activate novel co-operating cellular genes. The retrovirus then acts as a molecular 'tag' for cloning of these genes. This review covers several aspects of c-Myc involvement in retrovirally induced leukemias and lymphomas.
The South Pole Telescope (SPT) is currently surveying 2500 deg2 of the southern sky to detect massive galaxy clusters out to the epoch of their formation using the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect. ...This paper presents a catalog of the 26 most significant SZ cluster detections in the full survey region. The catalog includes 14 clusters which have been previously identified and 12 that are new discoveries. These clusters were identified in fields observed to two differing noise depths: 1500 deg2 at the final SPT survey depth of 18 Delta *mK arcmin at 150 GHz and 1000 deg2 at a depth of 54 Delta *mK arcmin. Clusters were selected on the basis of their SZ signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) in SPT maps, a quantity which has been demonstrated to correlate tightly with cluster mass. The S/N thresholds were chosen to achieve a comparable mass selection across survey fields of both depths. Cluster redshifts were obtained with optical and infrared imaging and spectroscopy from a variety of ground- and space-based facilities. The redshifts range from 0.098 <= z <= 1.132 with a median of z med = 0.40. The measured SZ S/N and redshifts lead to unbiased mass estimates ranging from 9.8 X 1014 M h --1 70 <= M 200( Delta *rmean) <= 3.1 X 1015 M h --1 70. Based on the SZ mass estimates, we find that none of the clusters are individually in significant tension with the Delta *LCDM cosmological model. We also test for evidence of non-Gaussianity based on the cluster sample and find the data show no preference for non-Gaussian perturbations.
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