Panchromatic observations of the best candidate hyperluminous infrared galaxies from the widest Herschel extragalactic imaging survey have led to the discovery of at least four intrinsically luminous ...z = 2.41 galaxies across an approximately 100 kpc region-a cluster of starbursting protoellipticals. Via subarcsecond interferometric imaging we have measured accurate gas and star formation surface densities. The two brightest galaxies span ~3 kpc FWHM in submillimeter/radio continuum and CO J = 4-3, and double that in CO J = 1-0. The broad CO line is due partly to the multitude of constituent galaxies and partly to large rotational velocities in two counter-rotating gas disks-a scenario predicted to lead to the most intense starbursts, which will therefore come in pairs. The disks have M sub(dyn) of several x 10 super(11) M sub(middot in circle) and gas fractions of ~40%. Velocity dispersions are modest so the disks are unstable, potentially on scales commensurate with their radii: these galaxies are undergoing extreme bursts of star formation, not confined to their nuclei, at close to the Eddington limit. Their specific star formation rates place them gap 5x above the main sequence, which supposedly comprises large gas disks like these. Their high star formation efficiencies are difficult to reconcile with a simple volumetric star formation law. N-body and dark matter simulations suggest that this system is the progenitor of a B(inary)-type gap 10 super(14.6)-M sub(mid dot in circle) cluster.
We present the results of a new search for galaxies at redshift z ≃ 9 in the first two Hubble Frontier Fields with completed HST WFC3/IR and ACS imaging. To ensure robust photometric redshift ...solutions, and to minimize incompleteness, we confine our search to objects with H
160 < 28.6 (AB mag), consider only image regions with an rms noise σ160 > 30 mag (within a 0.5-arcsec diameter aperture), and insist on detections in both H
160 and J
140. The result is a survey covering an effective area (after accounting for magnification) of 10.9 arcmin2, which yields 12 galaxies at 8.4 < z < 9.5. Within the Abell-2744 cluster and parallel fields, we confirm the three brightest objects reported by Ishigaki et al., but recover only one of the four z > 8.4 sources reported by Zheng et al. In the MACSJ0416.1−240 cluster field, we report five objects, and explain why each of these eluded detection or classification as z ≃ 9 galaxies in the published searches of the shallower CLASH data. Finally, we uncover four z ≃ 9 galaxies from the MACSJ0416.1−240 parallel field. Based on the published magnification maps, we find that only one of these 12 galaxies is likely boosted by more than a factor of 2 by gravitational lensing. Consequently, we are able to perform a fairly straightforward reanalysis of the normalization of the z ≃ 9 UV galaxy luminosity function as explored previously in the HUDF12 programme. We conclude that the new data strengthen the evidence for a continued smooth decline in UV luminosity density (and hence star formation rate density) from z ≃ 8 to 9, contrary to recent reports of a marked drop-off at these redshifts. This provides further support for the scenario in which early galaxy evolution is sufficiently extended to explain cosmic reionization.
We present the results of a systematic search for galaxies in the redshift range z= 6–9, within the new, deep, near-infrared (Y, J, H) imaging of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field provided by the Wide ...Field Camera 3 (WFC3) on the Hubble Space Telescope. We have performed full spectral energy distribution fitting to the optical+infrared photometry of all high-redshift galaxy candidates detected at ≥5σ significance in at least one of the WFC3/IR broad-band filters. After careful rejection of contaminants, the result is a sample of 49 galaxies with primary photometric redshift solutions z > 5.9, within the 4.5 arcmin2 field covered by the new near-infrared imaging. Our sample, selected without recourse to specific colour cuts, reselects all but the faintest one of the 16 z850-drops selected by Oesch et al., recovers all five of the Y105-drops reported by Bouwens et al. and adds a further 29 equally plausible galaxy candidates, of which 12 lie beyond z≃ 6.3 and four lie beyond z≃ 7.0. However, we also present confidence intervals on our photometric redshift estimates, including alternative secondary redshift solutions. As a result of this analysis, we caution that acceptable low-redshift (z < 2) solutions exist for 28 out of the 37 galaxies at z > 6.3 and in particular for all eight of the galaxy candidates reported here at z > 7.5. Nevertheless, we note that the very highest redshift candidates appear to be strongly clustered in the field. Based on our photometric redshift analysis, we derive new estimates of the ultraviolet galaxy luminosity function at z≃ 7 and 8. Where our results are most robust, at a characteristic luminosity M1500≃−19.5 (AB), we find that the comoving number density of galaxies declines by a factor of ≃2.5 between z≃ 6 and 7 and by a further factor of ≃2 by z≃ 8. These results suggest that it is difficult for the observed population of high-redshift star-forming galaxies to achieve re-ionization by z≃ 6 without a significant contribution from galaxies well below the detection limits, plus alterations in the escape fraction of ionizing photons and/or continued vigorous star formation at z > 15.
Much of the epidemiology of
Plasmodium falciparum in Sub-Saharan Africa focuses on the prevalence patterns of asexual parasites in people of different ages, whereas the gametocytes that propagate the ...disease are often neglected. One expected benefit of the widespread introduction of artemisinin-based combination therapy for malaria is a reduction in gametocyte carriage. However, the factors that affect the transmission of parasites from humans to mosquitoes show complex dynamics in relation to the intensity and seasonality of malaria transmission, and thus such benefits might not be automatic. Here, we review data on gametocyte carriage in the context of the development of naturally acquired immunity and population infectivity.
Resistance of malaria parasites to chloroquine (CQ) and sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is increasing in prevalence in Africa. Combination therapy can both improve treatment and provide important ...public health benefits if it curbs the spread of parasites harbouring resistance genes. Thus, drug combinations must be identified which minimise gametocyte emergence in treated cases, and so prevent selective transmission of parasites resistant to any of the partner drugs.
In a randomised controlled trial, 497 children with uncomplicated falciparum malaria were treated with CQ and SP (three doses and one dose respectively; n = 91), or six doses of artemether in fixed combination with lumefantrine (co-artemether Coartem, Riamet) (n = 406). Carriage rates of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes and trophozoites were measured 7, 14, and 28 d after treatment. The infectiousness of venous blood from 29 children carrying P. falciparum gametocytes 7 d after treatment was tested by membrane-feeding of Anopheles mosquitoes. Children treated with co-artemether were significantly less likely to carry gametocytes within the 4 weeks following treatment than those receiving CQ/SP (30 of 378 7.94% versus 42 of 86 48.8%; p < 0.0001). Carriers in the co-artemether group harboured gametocytes at significantly lower densities, for shorter periods (0.3 d versus 4.2 d; p < 0.0001) and were less infectious to mosquitoes at day 7 (p < 0.001) than carriers who had received CQ/SP.
Co-artemether is highly effective at preventing post-treatment transmission of P. falciparum. Our results suggest that co-artemether has specific activity against immature sequestered gametocytes, and has the capacity to minimise transmission of drug-resistant parasites.
We present a new determination of the ultraviolet (UV) galaxy luminosity function (LF) at redshift z 7 and 8, and a first estimate at z 9. An accurate determination of the form and evolution of the ...galaxy LF during this era is of key importance for improving our knowledge of the earliest phases of galaxy evolution and the process of cosmic reionization. Our analysis exploits to the full the new, deepest Wide Field Camera 3/infrared imaging from our Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Ultra-Deep Field 2012 (UDF12) campaign, with dynamic range provided by including a new and consistent analysis of all appropriate, shallower/wider area HST survey data. Our new measurement of the evolving LF at z 7 to 8 is based on a final catalogue of 600 galaxies, and involves a step-wise maximum-likelihood determination based on the photometric redshift probability distribution for each object; this approach makes full use of the 11-band imaging now available in the Hubble Ultra-Deep Field (HUDF), including the new UDF12 F140W data, and the latest Spitzer IRAC imaging. The final result is a determination of the z 7 LF extending down to UV absolute magnitudes M
1500 = −16.75 (AB mag) and the z 8 LF down to M
1500 = −17.00. Fitting a Schechter function, we find M1500
* = −19.90+0.23
−0.28, log φ* = −2.96+0.18
−0.23 and a faint-end slope α = −1.90+0.14
−0.15 at z 7, and M1500* = −20.12+0.37
−0.48, log φ* = −3.35+0.28
−0.47 and α = −2.02+0.22
+0.23 at z 8. These results strengthen previous suggestions that the evolution at z > 7 appears more akin to 'density evolution' than the apparent 'luminosity evolution' seen at z 5 − 7. We also provide the first meaningful information on the LF at z 9, explore alternative extrapolations to higher redshifts, and consider the implications for the early evolution of UV luminosity density. Finally, we provide catalogues (including derived z
phot, M
1500 and photometry) for the most robust z ∼ 6.5-11.9 galaxies used in this analysis. We briefly discuss our results in the context of earlier work and the results derived from an independent analysis of the UDF12 data based on colour-colour selection.
The development of an effective malaria vaccine has taken many decades, but there is now a good chance that the first malaria vaccine will be licensed within the next few years. However, this vaccine ...(RTS,S) will not be fully effective, and more efficacious, second-generation vaccines will be needed. Good progress is being made in the development of potential vaccines directed at each of the three main stages of the parasite's life cycle, with a variety of different approaches, but many challenges remain, e.g. overcoming the problem of polymorphism in many key parasite antigens. It is likely vaccines that are effective enough to block transmission, and thus contribute to increasing drives towards malaria elimination, will need to contain antigens from different stages of the parasite's life cycle.
We present the results of a study which uses the 3C RR sample of radio-loud active galactic nuclei to investigate the evolution of the black hole:spheroid mass ratio in the most massive early-type ...galaxies from 0 < z < 2. Radio-loud unification is exploited to obtain virial (linewidth) black hole mass estimates from the 3C RR quasars, and stellar mass estimates from the 3C RR radio galaxies, thereby providing black hole and stellar mass estimates for a single population of early-type galaxies. At low redshift (z≲ 1), the 3C RR sample is consistent with a black hole:spheroid mass ratio of Mbh/Msph≃ 0.002, in good agreement with that observed locally for quiescent galaxies of similar stellar mass (Msph≃ 5 × 1011 M⊙). However, over the redshift interval 0 < z < 2 the 3C RR black hole:spheroid mass ratio is found to evolve as Mbh/Msph∝ (1 +z)2.07±0.76, reaching Mbh/Msph≃ 0.008 by redshift z≃ 2. This evolution is found to be inconsistent with the local black hole:spheroid mass ratio remaining constant at a moderately significant level (98 per cent). If confirmed, the detection of evolution in the 3C RR black hole:spheroid mass ratio further strengthens the evidence that, at least for massive early-type galaxies, the growth of the central supermassive black hole may be completed before that of the host spheroid.
We use the new ultra-deep, near-infrared imaging of the Hubble Ultra-Deep Field (HUDF) provided by our UDF12 Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Field Camera 3/IR campaign to explore the rest-frame ...ultraviolet (UV) properties of galaxies at redshifts z > 6.5. We present the first unbiased measurement of the average UV power-law index, 〈β〉, (f
λ ∝ λβ) for faint galaxies at z 7, the first meaningful measurements of 〈β〉 at z 8, and tentative estimates for a new sample of galaxies at z 9. Utilizing galaxy selection in the new F140W (J
140) imaging to minimize colour bias, and applying both colour and power-law estimators of β, we find 〈β〉 = −2.1 ± 0.2 at z 7 for galaxies with M
UV −18. This means that the faintest galaxies uncovered at this epoch have, on average, UV colours no more extreme than those displayed by the bluest star-forming galaxies at low redshift. At z 8 we find a similar value, 〈β〉 = −1.9 ± 0.3. At z 9, we find 〈β〉 = −1.8 ± 0.6, essentially unchanged from z 6 to 7 (albeit highly uncertain). Finally, we show that there is as yet no evidence for a significant intrinsic scatter in β within our new, robust z 7 galaxy sample. Our results are most easily explained by a population of steadily star-forming galaxies with either solar metallicity and zero dust, or moderately sub-solar ( 10-20 per cent) metallicity with modest dust obscuration (A
V
0.1-0.2). This latter interpretation is consistent with the predictions of a state-of-the-art galaxy-formation simulation, which also suggests that a significant population of very-low metallicity, dust-free galaxies with β −2.5 may not emerge until M
UV > −16, a regime likely to remain inaccessible until the James Webb Space Telescope.
The asexual blood stages of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum produce highly immunogenic polymorphic antigens that are expressed on the surface of the host cell. In contrast, few ...studies have examined the surface of the gametocyte-infected erythrocyte.
We used flow cytometry to detect antibodies recognising the surface of live cultured erythrocytes infected with gametocytes of P. falciparum strain 3D7 in the plasma of 200 Gambian children. The majority of children had been identified as carrying gametocytes after treatment for malaria, and each donated blood for mosquito-feeding experiments. None of the plasma recognised the surface of erythrocytes infected with developmental stages of gametocytes (I-IV), but 66 of 194 (34.0%) plasma contained IgG that recognised the surface of erythrocytes infected with mature (stage V) gametocytes. Thirty-four (17.0%) of 200 plasma tested recognised erythrocytes infected with trophozoites and schizonts, but there was no association with recognition of the surface of gametocyte-infected erythrocytes (odds ratio 1.08, 95% C.I. 0.434-2.57; P = 0.851). Plasma antibodies with the ability to recognise gametocyte surface antigens (GSA) were associated with the presence of antibodies that recognise the gamete antigen Pfs 230, but not Pfs48/45. Antibodies recognising GSA were associated with donors having lower gametocyte densities 4 weeks after antimalarial treatment.
We provide evidence that GSA are distinct from antigens detected on the surface of asexual 3D7 parasites. Our findings suggest a novel strategy for the development of transmission-blocking vaccines.
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