bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Star formation history: secular processes in “main sequence“ galaxies versus merger-driven starbursts
Authors: Bethermin Matthieu
Published: March 2015

Some recent works indicate that most star-forming galaxies follow a main sequence in the SFR-stellar mass plane with a surprisingly low scatter of ≈0.2 dex, suggesting that the star formation in these objects is driven by secular processes. Nevertheless, Herschel identified a population of starbursting galaxies, probably triggered by mergers, which display a large excess of specific star formation rate (sSFR=SFR/Mstar) compared to the main sequence. We will present a new set of models for the contribution of these two populations to the IR/sub-mm luminosity function, but also to source counts selected at various wavelengths.

Our model is based on the stellar mass function of star-forming galaxies, the distribution of sSFR measured at z=2 and its double-Gaussian decomposition, and the observed evolution of the main sequence in the sSFR-Mass plane as a function of redshift. We found that the non-Schechter bright-end of the LF is due to the starbursting galaxies, which represent only 4% in number density and 15% in luminosity density. This fraction of starbursts is remarkably constant with the redshift at 0<z<2, contrary to naive expectation from hierarchical merging. It thus suggests that the majority of stars in the Universe were formed through secular processes. We will then discuss the contribution of starbursting and main sequence galaxies to the number counts and the selection effects towards starbursts sources for various flux-limited IR/sub-mm samples.

We will also present studies of the clustering properties of the main sequence and starburst galaxies at z 2. These measurements suggest strong links between star formation rate, stellar mass and halo mass in the main sequence galaxies. In addition, we will present some clues suggesting that main sequence and starbursting galaxies follows the same M*-Mhalo relation.”
Structure and Dynamics of Magnetized Dark Molecular Clouds
Authors: Li P. S. , McKee C. F. , Klein R. I.
Published: March 2015

Massive infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) are believed to be the precursors to star clusters and massive stars (e.g. Bergin & Tafalla 2007). The supersonic, turbulent nature of molecular clouds in the presence of magnetic fields poses a great challenge in understanding the structure and dynamics of magnetized molecular clouds and the star formation therein. Using the high-order radiation-magneto-hydrodynamic adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) code ORION2 (Li et al. 2012), we perform a large-scale driven-turbulence simulation to reveal the 3D filamentary structure and dynamical state of a highly supersonic (thermal Mach number = 10) and strongly magnetized (plasma β=0.02) massive infrared dark molecular cloud. With the high resolution afforded by AMR, we follow the dynamical evolution of the cloud in order to understand the roles of strong magnetic fields, turbulence, and self-gravity in shaping the cloud and in the formation of dense cores.
Magnetic field components analysis of the SCUPOL 850 microns polarization data catalog
Authors: Poidevin Frédérick , Falceta-Gonçalves Diego , Kowal Grzegorz , Pino Elisabete De Gouveia Dal , Magalhães Antonio-Mário
Published: March 2015

The SCUPOL catalog is a compilation of 83 regions that were observed at the JCMT between 1997 and 2005. For sufficiently sampled maps, we conduct an analysis for characterizing the polarization and magneto-turbulent properties of the observed regions. The same analysis is done on 2D polarization maps produced by 3D MHD 1024 pixel grid simulations that have been scaled on a sample of observed maps. Each scaled MHD cube of simulated data is used to calculate the mean turbulent regime of each observed regions.
CGPS studies of the Galactic Magnetic Field
Authors: Geisbuesch Joern , Kothes R. , Landecker T. L.
Published: March 2015

The Canadian Galactic Plane Survey (CGPS) is the largest effort of its kind to study and understand the Galactic Magnetic Field (GMF) and Interstellar Medium (ISM) in our Galaxy (see e.g. Taylor et al.2003). The CGPS has mapped the Galactic plane visible from DRAO on all spatial scales down to arcminute resolution in total intensity and polarized emission at νobs=1.4 GHz (see Landecker et al.2010). The latest results invoking Faraday rotation and polarization gradient studies of the CGPS are discussed.
The Sino-German λ6cm polarization survey of the Galactic plane
Authors: Han J. L. , Reich W. , Sun X. H. , Gao X. Y. , Xiao L. , Reich P. , Shi W. B. , Wielebinski R.
Published: March 2015

After Prof. R. Wielebinski visited China in 1999, we started to plan the Sino-German λ6 cm polarization survey of the Galactic plane, using the Urumqi 25-m radio telescope of Xinjiang (formerly Urumqi) Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences. It is a high-frequency complement of previous Effelsberg 21-cm and 11-cm surveys, using the same observing and processing methods. The telescope is located at an altitude of 2029 m above sea level at geographic longitude of 87°E and latitude 43°N. The dual-channel λ6 cm receiver with a polarimeter and a bandwidth of 600 MHz was designed by O. Lochner and constructed at the MPIfR in Germany with involvements by the Urumqi engineers M.Z. Chen and J. Ma. In August 2004, the receiver was installed at the secondary focus of the Urumqi 25-m telescope.
Fluctuation dynamos and their Faraday rotation signatures
Authors: Bhat Pallavi , Subramanian Kandaswamy
Published: March 2015

We study fluctuation dynamo (FD) action in turbulent systems like galaxy-clusters focusing on the Faraday rotation signature. This is defined as RM = K ∫LneB ⋅ dl where ne is the thermal electron density, B is the magnetic field, the integration is along the line of sight from the source to the observer, and K = 0.81 rad m−2 cm−3 μG−1 pc−1. We directly compute, using the simulation data, ∫ B ⋅ dl, and hence the Faraday rotation measure (RM) over 3N2 lines of sight, along each x, y and z-directions. We normalise the RM by the rms value expected in a simple model, where a field of strength Brms fills each turbulent cell but is randomly oriented from one turbulent cell to another. This normalised RM is expected to have a nearly zero mean but a non-zero dispersion, σRM. We show in Fig. 1a and 1b, that a suite of simulations, on saturation, obtain the value of σRM = 0.4−0.5, and this is independent of PM, RM and the resolution of the run. This is a fairly large value for an intermittent random field; as it is of order 40%–50%, of that expected in a model where Brms strength fields volume fill each turbulent cell, but are randomly oriented from one cell to another. We also find that the regions with a field strength larger than 2Brms contribute only 15–20% to the total RM (see Fig. 1a). This shows that it is the general ‘sea’ of volume filling fluctuating fields that contribute dominantly to the RM produced, rather than the the high field regions.
Multiwavelength Magnetic Field Modeling
Authors: Jaffe T. R.
Published: March 2015

We model the large-scale Galactic magnetic fields, including a spiral arm compression to generate anisotropic turbulence, by comparing polarized synchrotron and thermal dust emission. Preliminary results show that in the outer Galaxy, the dust emission comes from regions where the fields are more ordered than average while the situation is reversed in the inner Galaxy. We will attempt in subsequent work to present a more complete picture of what the comparison of these observables tells us about the distribution of the components of the magnetized ISM and about the physics of spiral arm shocks and turbulence.
SpS5 - II. Stellar and wind parameters
Authors: Martins F. , Bergemann M. , Bestenlehner J. M. , Crowther P. A. , Hamann W. R. , Najarro F. , Nieva M. F. , Przybilla N. , Freimanis J. , Hou W. , Kaper L.
Published: March 2015

The development of infrared observational facilities has revealed a number of massive stars in obscured environments throughout the Milky Way and beyond. The determination of their stellar and wind properties from infrared diagnostics is thus required to take full advantage of the wealth of observations available in the near and mid infrared. However, the task is challenging. This session addressed some of the problems encountered and showed the limitations and successes of infrared studies of massive stars.
The Role of Radar Astronomy in Assessing and Mitigating the Asteroid Impact Hazard
Authors: Margot Jean-Luc , Giorgini Jon D.
Published: March 2015

Radar instruments play a critical role in studies of Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs) on two distinct levels: trajectory prediction and physical characterization.
Probing the interior of asteroid Apophis: a unique opportunity in 2029
Authors: Michel Patrick , Prado J. Y. , Barucci M. A. , Groussin O. , Hérique A. , Hinglais E. , Mimoun D. , Thuillot W. , Hestroffer D.
Published: March 2015

The near Earth asteroid (99942) Apophis, discovered in 2004, (with a diameter of about 270 meters) will come back very close to the Earth on April 13, 2029.

The close approach of Apophis to the Earth in 2029 will present an unique opportunity for characterizing this object, serving both science and mitigation purposes. The object will be easily visible from the Earth and it can be expected that its shape and thermal properties will be well determined from ground based observations. However, the characterization of its interior will not be achievable from purely terrestrial observations. Such a characterization, beyond its high scientific value, is essential for planning any mitigation operation, should it be necessary in the future.

Near Earth objects are a precious source of information as they represent a mixture of different populations of small bodies containing fundamental information on the origin and early evolution of the solar system.

Monitoring the response of Apophis to the gravitational constraints induced by its close approach to the Earth may provide a way to access information on its internal structure.

A study to identify some affordable mission scenarii for such a mission is presently underway at CNES (the French Space Agency).

We will present the scientific and mitigation objectives of such a mission as well as the preliminary results of the mission analysis and the main system characteristics.
NAO and SHAO participation in the near-Earth space observations
Authors: Shulga A. , Kozyryev Y. , Sybiryakova Y. , Tang Z. , Mao Y. , Li Y. , Yu Y.
Published: March 2015

The joint observations of space debris are conducted by NAO and SHAO. The main task of observations is precise estimation of the hazard collisions of SD with operating satellites. Observations of the near earth asteroids (NEA) on the distance of less than 0.05 AU, according to the NEODyS program, are conducted in NAO. The main task is to obtain the large number of precise observations of the NEAs during their closest approach to the Earth.
The IAU Strategic Plan and its Implementation
Authors: Miley George
Published: March 2015

I shall review the content of the IAU Strategic Plan (SP) to use astronomy as a tool for stimulating development globally during the decade 2010 - 2020. Considerable progress has been made in its implementation since the Plan was ratified at the last General Assembly.
IAU Office of Astronomy for Development: Task Force Children and School Education
Authors: Russo Pedro , Gomez Edward
Published: March 2015

The main mission of the IAU OAD Task Force on Children and School Education is to support the implementation of the pre-tertiary education part of the IAU Strategic Plan ‘Astronomy for Development’. In this presentation we will give an overview of the role and programme of the task force as well as a general discussion about the past, present and future IAU education activities and programmes.
An exemplary developing astronomy movement in Nepal
Authors: Neupane Sudeep
Published: March 2015

Astronomy and space science education had been given least importance by Nepalese government in the past. The modern astronomy movement is believed to have started when an official observation programme of Haley's comet was organized by Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (RONAST) in 1986. Following the huge pressure from the scientific community, the Nepal government (Kingdom of Nepal at that time) established B.P. Koirala Memorial Planetarium, Observatory and Science Museum Development Board in 1992. Initiatives of the project started with observatory set up and the development of astrophysics syllabus for university students. Astrophysics is included as an elective paper in the Physics masters course. The lead astrophysicist of Nepal Dr. Binil Aryal is running a research group in Tribhuvan University since 2005 which has a significant number of international publications. The developing government initiatives and achievements will be discussed.

In 2007, a group of astronomy enthusiastic students along with amateurs working independently in past established Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO), which surprisingly increased the amateur activities and inspired other amateur groups to revive. During IYA 2009, more than 80 outreach and observation events were organized solely by NASO. NASO was able to collaborate with many international programmes and projects like GHOU/GTTP, EurAstro, AWB, UNAWE, SGAC, Star Peace, TWAN etc during and beyond IYA2009. Currently Nepal is recognized as the most eventful country of outreach and astronomy education among the amateur community. The success story of the astronomy movement and the local difficulties while organizing the events will be explained.
Developing Astronomy Research and Education in the Philippines
Authors: Sese R. M. D. , Kouwenhoven M. B. N. (Thijs)
Published: March 2015

In the past few years, the Philippines has been gradually developing its research and educational capabilities in astronomy and astrophysics. In terms of astronomy development, it is still lagging behind several neighboring Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, while it is advanced with respect to several others. One of the main issues hampering progress is the scarcity of trained professional Filipino astronomers, as well as long-term visions for astronomy development. Here, we will be presenting an overview of astronomy education and research in the country. We will discuss the history and current status of astronomy in the Philippines, including all levels of education, outreach and awareness activities, as well as potential areas for research and collaborations. We also discuss issues that need to be addressed to ensure sustainable astronomy development in the Philippines. Finally, we discuss several ongoing and future programs aimed at promoting astronomy research and education. In essence, the work is a precursor of a possible white paper which we envision to submit to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in the near future, with which we aim to further convince the authorities of the importance of astrophysics. With the support of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), this may eventually lead to the creation of a separate astronomy agency in the Philippines.
Different structures formed at HII boundaries
Authors: Miao Jingqi , Cornwall Paul , Kinnear Tim
Published: March 2015

Hydrodynamic simulations on the evolution of molecular clouds (MCs) at HII boundaries are used to show that radiation driven implosion (RDI) model can create almost all of the different morphological structures, such as a single bright-rimmed cloud (BRC), fragment structure and multiple elephant trunk (ET) structures.
Origin of cosmic rays
Authors: Dogiel V. A.
Published: March 2015

Cosmis rays are an essential component of the interstellar medium because of their high energy density. This paper reviews the origin of cosmic rays.
A kinematical catalogue of HII regions and superbubbles in the LMC
Authors: Ambrocio-Cruz P. , Le Coarer E. , Rosado M. , Russeil D. , Amram P. , Laval A. , Epinat B. , Ramírez M. , Odonne M. , Goldes G.
Published: March 2015

We report the results of a kinematic Hα survey of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) in the form of a kinematic and photometric catalogue of 210 HII regions, the radial velocity field of the ionized hydrogen in this galaxy, and the LMC Rotation Curve obtained from the velocity field. These data aim at understanding the LMC HII regions, bubbles and superbubbles in a global (galactic) scale so that we could have a 3D view and separate the rotation due to gravitational potential from other motions such as expansions.
Commemorating John Dyson
Authors: Pittard Julian M.
Published: March 2015

John Dyson was born on the 7th January 1941 in Meltham Mills, West Yorkshire, England, and later grew up in Harrogate and Leeds. The proudest moment of John's early life was meeting Freddie Trueman, who became one of the greatest fast bowlers of English cricket. John used a state scholarship to study at Kings College London, after hearing a radio lecture by D. M. McKay. He received a first class BSc Special Honours Degree in Physics in 1962, and began a Ph.D. at the University of Manchester Department of Astronomy after being attracted to astronomy by an article of Zdenek Kopal in the semi-popular journal New Scientist. John soon started work with Franz Kahn, and studied the possibility that the broad emission lines seen from the Orion Nebula were due to flows driven by the photoevaporation of neutral globules embedded in a HII region. John's thesis was entitled “The Age and Dynamics of the Orion Nebula“ and he passed his oral examination on 28th February 1966.
Communicating Astronomy in a Metropolis and Disaster Area – Activities of the Tenpla Project
Authors: Kamegai K. , Takanashi N. , Hiramatsu M. , Naito S.
Published: March 2015

We present recent activities delivering astronomy to the public by the Tenpla project in Japan. One is voluntary activities in the disaster area of the Great East Japan Earthquake. The other is holding tens of star parties and public lectures in the central area of Tokyo.
School Workshops on Astronomy
Authors: Molenda-Żakowicz J. , Żakowicz G.
Published: March 2015

Do you want to know how to make students volunteer to stay all night long watching the stars with their telescopes freezing? Or how to inspire decent adults to prepare a ‘queue-list to Jupiter’, wait for their turn for hours, and control that no one approaches the telescope bypassing the line? Or how to attract people of all age to forget their laziness and duties, and to get up at 3 a.m. to watch the transit of Venus? If your answer is ‘yes’, then come and see what can be done at the School Workshops on Astronomy.
Las Cumbres Observatory: Building a global telescope network from the ground up
Authors: Gomez E. L.
Published: March 2015

Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network (LCOGT) are building a global network of telescopes which will be available to both professional scientists and the science curious public. This telescope network will be global and so will the community, therefore all aspects of the endeavour must be online and self-sustaining - from the observing software to the analysis tools. During 2012 LCOGT have deployed the first 1-meter telescopes, and launched a citizen science project using LCOGT data, Agent Exoplanet, as well as many other online resources for anyone to use as they explore astronomy.
Astronomical Education for public and its future development in Mongolia
Authors: Tsolmon R. , Oyudari V. , Dulmaa A.
Published: March 2015

International activities for astronomy began when Mongolia joined the IAU at the General Assembly held in Prague in August 2006, because space scientists, astronomers and researchers in Mongolia are coming to understand that astronomy can help Mongolian socioeconomic development. For instance, astronomy can increase general interest and encourage public engagement in the sciences.
Radio Surveys: an Overview
Authors: Morganti Raffaella
Published: March 2015

Radio astronomy has provided important surveys that have made possible key (and sometimes serendipitous) discoveries. I will briefly mention some of the past continuum and line (HI) radio surveys as well as new, on-going surveys and surveys planned for the near future. This new generation of large radio surveys is bringing extra challenges in terms of data handling but also great new possibilities thanks to the wider range of data products that they will provide.
The Role of Wide Field X-ray Surveys in Astronomy
Authors: Saxton Richard D.
Published: March 2015

We review the history of X-ray sky surveys from the early experiments to the catalogues of 105 sources produced by ROSAT, Chandra and XMM-Newton. At bright fluxes the X-ray sky is shared between stars, accreting binaries and extragalactic sources while deeper surveys are dominated by AGN and clusters of galaxies. The X-ray background, found by the earliest missions, has been largely resolved into discrete sources at soft (0.3-2 keV) energies but at higher energies an important fraction still escapes detection. The possible identification of the missing flux with Compton-thick AGN has been probed in recent years by Swift and Integral.

Variability seen in objects observed at different epochs has proved to be an excellent discriminator for rare classes of objects. The comparison of ROSAT All Sky Survey (RASS) and ROSAT pointed observations identified several Novae and high variability AGN as well as initiating the observational study of Tidal Disruption events. More recently the XMM-Newton slew survey, in conjunction with archival RASS data, has detected further examples of flaring objects which have been followed-up in near-real time at other wavelengths.
Taming the ALMA Data Avalanche
Authors: Stoehr Felix
Published: March 2015

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is nearing its phase of full operations. ALMA will collect about 200TB/year of astronomical data which will be reduced by an automatic pipeline and turned into fully calibrated science-ready data products. We present design choices, challenges and solutions from data capturing over data reduction and data distribution to archival research, that allow to deal with the large amounts of data and, hopefully, achieve the maximum amount of science return.
Data Intensive Radio Astronomy en route to the SKA: The Rise of Big Radio Data
Authors: Taylor A. R.
Published: March 2015

Advances in both digital processing devices and in technologies to sample the focal and aperture planes of radio antennas is enabling observations of the radio sky with high spectral and spatial resolution combined with large bandwidth and field of view. As a consequence, survey mode radio astronomy generating vast amounts of data and involving globally distributed collaborations is fast becoming a primary tool for scientific advance. The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will open up a new frontier in data intensive astronomy. Within the next few years SKA precursor telescopes will demonstrate new technologies and take the first major steps toward the SKA. Projects that path find the scientific journey to the SKA with these and other telescopes are currently underway and being planned. The associated exponential growth in data require us to explore new methodologies for collaborative end-to-end execution of data intensive observing programs.
Real-time Visualisation and Analysis of Tera-scale Datasets
Authors: Fluke Christopher J.
Published: March 2015

As we move ever closer to the Square Kilometre Array era, support for real-time, interactive visualisation and analysis of tera-scale (and beyond) data cubes will be crucial for on-going knowledge discovery. However, the data-on-the-desktop approach to analysis and visualisation that most astronomers are comfortable with will no longer be feasible: tera-scale data volumes exceed the memory and processing capabilities of standard desktop computing environments. Instead, there will be an increasing need for astronomers to utilise remote high performance computing (HPC) resources. In recent years, the graphics processing unit (GPU) has emerged as a credible, low cost option for HPC. A growing number of supercomputing centres are now investing heavily in GPU technologies to provide O(100) Teraflop/s processing. I describe how a GPU-powered computing cluster allows us to overcome the analysis and visualisation challenges of tera-scale data. With a GPU-based architecture, we have moved the bottleneck from processing-limited to bandwidth-limited, achieving exceptional real-time performance for common visualisation and data analysis tasks.
Fullerenes in Circumstellar and Interstellar Environments
Authors: Cami Jan
Published: March 2015

In recent years, the fullerene species C60 (and to a lesser extent also C70) has been reported in the mid-IR spectra of various astronomical objects. Cosmic fullerenes form in the circumstellar material of evolved stars, and survive in the interstellar medium (ISM). It is not entirely clear how they form or what their excitation mechanism is.
Carbon Nanoparticles and Carbonaceous Solids
Authors: Duley W. W.
Published: March 2015

This paper reports on the preparation of hydrogenated amorphous carbon nano-particles whose spectral characteristics include an absorption band at 217.5 nm with the profile and characteristics of the interstellar 217.5 nm feature. Vibrational spectra of these particles also contain the features commonly observed in IR absorption and emission from dust in the diffuse interstellar medium. These materials are produced under “slow“ deposition conditions by minimizing the flux of incident carbon atoms and by reducing surface mobility.
The Impact of Light Pollution Education through a Global Star-Hunting Campaign & Classroom Curricula
Authors: Walker Constance E. , Buxner Sanlyn
Published: March 2015

Results of a survey assessing the impact on respondents and their students from the worldwide, citizen-science light pollution campaign called GLOBE at Night and the accompanying environmental-astronomy-based curricula called Dark Skies Rangers are presented.
Angular distribution of uplight at 10,000 ft over Berlin
Authors: Kyba Christopher C. M. , Ruhtz Thomas , Lindemann Carsten , Fischer Jürgen , Hölker Franz , Luginbuhl Christian B.
Published: March 2015

The upward emission direction of artificial light from cities is unknown, and is the most important systematic uncertainty in simulations of skyglow. We present a technique for measuring the emission for zenith angles up to 70°.
A standard format for measurements of skyglow
Authors: Kyba Christopher C. M. , Lolkema Dorien E. , Walker Constance E.
Published: March 2015

A standard format for recording skyglow measurements is needed to allow for effective data exchange. A proposal for such a format was discussed at the IAU Symposium.
Dark Sky Collaborators: Arizona (AZ) Observatories, Communities, and Businesses
Authors: del Castillo Elizabeth Alvarez , Corbally Christopher , Falco Emilio E. , Green Richard F. , Hall Jeffrey C. , Williams G. Grant
Published: March 2015

With outdoor lighting ordinances in Arizona first in place around observatories in 1958 and 1972, then throughout the state since 1986, Arizonans have extensive experience working with communities and businesses to preserve our dark skies. Though communities are committed to the astronomy sector in our state, astronomers must collaborate with other stakeholders to implement solutions. Ongoing education and public outreach is necessary to enable ordinance updates as technology changes. Despite significant population increases, sky brightness measurements over the last 20 years show that ordinance updates are worth our efforts as we seek to maintain high quality skies around our observatories. Collaborations are being forged and actions taken to promote astronomy for the longer term in Arizona.
The Selection and Protection of Optical Astronomical Observing Sites in China
Authors: Wenjing Jin , Bai Jinming , Yao Yongqiang
Published: March 2015

Before 1950 there are two observatories, Shanghai and Purple Mountain Astronomical Observatories (SHAO and PMO), and two observing stations, Qingdao and Kunming stations in China. With the requirements of astronomical research, two observatories, Beijing and Shaanxi Astronomical Observatories (BAO and SXAO) and two artificial satellite stations, Urumqi and Changchun, were established about 1960. Based on the current management, now there are 4 observatories, SHAO, PMO, NAOC(National Astronomical Observatories), which was grouped from BAO, YNAO and 2 others, as well as XAO (Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory). The optical 1-2 m class telescopes are being operated at former four observatories. SXAO is changed as National Time Service Center. Because of city expansion as well as the traveling and economic developments, these observatories are suffered severe light pollution. For example, Zo Ce is located at the suburb of Shanghai city. A 40 cm double astrograph was installed in 1900 and a 1.56 m optical reflector have been operated since November 1987. In 1994 the seeing is better than 1 and the night sky brightness in V is about 19 mag/arcsec2, stars fainter than 20 mag with CCD are visibles. In 2007 a large playground was built in Zô Cè area. The light pollution is severe gradually. The night sky brightness has been increased to 15.8 mag/arcsec2. The other observatories have similar situation. New site surveys and found new stations to solve the problem. Except the solar and radio stations of each Astronomical Observatory, now there are 3 optical observing sites at PMO (Hong-He, Xu-Yi and Yaoan), 2 at SHAO (Zô Cè and Tian Huang Ping) and 2 at YNAO (Kunming and Gao-Mei-Gu) as well as 1 optical observing site at BAO (Xing-Long). The best observing site is Gao-Mei-Gu, which is selected as the optical observing site of YNAO and where atmospheric turbulence distribution is 0.11 near ground with heights from 6.5m to 2.7m during night. Sky brightness in B and V band are 22.34 and 21.54. The extinction coefficient K,bv and K,v are 0.298 and 0.135. The seeing measurement is 0.72’,. In the recent years a new 2.4m telescope the second largest telescope in China, was installed there.
Light pollution in Beijing and effects on Xinglong Station of National Astronomical Observatory
Authors: Lu Ligen , Zhang Baozhou , Liu Jian , Zeng Shanshan
Published: March 2015

A night-sky luminance survey was carried on in Beijing to assess the level of light pollution. The luminance of the zenith night sky and skies in four directions at six sites with different distances from the city center was measured by using a photometric luminance meter. The Xinglong Station of National Astronomical Observatory was included to study the impacts of city lights on an astronomical observatory. The survey shows that the night-sky luminance decreases with increasing distance from the city center. Measurement results indicate that outdoor lighting in the Xinglong county town which is close to the observatory has non-negligible influence on the night sky at Xinglong Station.
Night Sky Protection Initiatives in Argentina
Authors: García Beatriz , Álvarez Silvina Pérez , Bibé Victor , Risi Andrés , Gino Lisandro
Published: March 2015

Light Pollution is a global problem. Some local actions carried out by a network of professional and amateur astronomers in Argentina are changing the way to attack this problem, taking into account measurements, education, public activities, planetarium shows and legislation proposals.
How cell death shapes cancer
Authors: Labi V , Erlacher M
Published: March 2015

Apoptosis has been established as a mechanism of anti-cancer defense. Members of the BCL-2 family are critical mediators of apoptotic cell death in health and disease, often found to be deregulated in cancer and believed to lead to the survival of malignant clones. However, over the years, a number of studies pointed out that a model in which cell death resistance unambiguously acts as a barrier against malignant disease might be too simple. This is based on paradoxical observations made in tumor patients as well as mouse models indicating that apoptosis can indeed drive tumor formation, at least under certain circumstances. One possible explanation for this phenomenon is that apoptosis can promote proliferation critically needed to compensate for cell loss, for example, upon therapy, and to restore tissue homeostasis. However, this, at the same time, can promote tumor development by allowing expansion of selected clones. Usually, tissue resident stem/progenitor cells are a major source for repopulation, some of them potentially carrying (age-, injury- or therapy-induced) genetic aberrations deleterious for the host. Thereby, apoptosis might drive genomic instability by facilitating the emergence of pathologic clones during phases of proliferation and subsequent replication stress-associated DNA damage. Tumorigenesis initiated by repeated cell attrition and repopulation, as confirmed in different genetic models, has parallels in human cancers, exemplified in therapy-induced secondary malignancies and myelodysplastic syndromes in patients with congenital bone marrow failure syndromes. Here, we aim to review evidence in support of the oncogenic role of stress-induced apoptosis.
T-cell intracellular antigens function as tumor suppressor genes
Authors: Sánchez-Jiménez C , Ludeña M D , Izquierdo J M
Published: March 2015

Knockdown of T-cell intracellular antigens TIA1 and TIAR in transformed cells triggers cell proliferation and tumor growth. Using a tetracycline-inducible system, we report here that an increased expression of TIA1 or TIAR in 293 cells results in reduced rates of cell proliferation. Ectopic expression of these proteins abolish endogenous TIA1 and TIAR levels via the regulation of splicing of their pre-mRNAs, and partially represses global translation in a phospho-eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha-dependent manner. This is accompanied by cell cycle arrest at G1/S and cell death through caspase-dependent apoptosis and autophagy. Genome-wide profiling illustrates a selective upregulation of p53 signaling pathway-related genes. Nude mice injected with doxycycline-inducible cells expressing TIA1 or TIAR retard, or even inhibit, growth of xenotumors. Remarkably, low expressions of TIA1 and TIAR correlate with poor prognosis in patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma. These findings strongly support the concept that TIA proteins act as tumor suppressor genes.
TRPC1-mediated Ca2+ entry is essential for the regulation of hypoxia and nutrient depletion-dependent autophagy
Authors: Sukumaran P , Sun Y , Vyas M , Singh B B
Published: March 2015

Autophagy is a cellular catabolic process needed for the degradation and recycling of protein aggregates and damaged organelles. Although Ca2+ is suggested to have an important role in cell survival, the ion channel(s) involved in autophagy have not been identified. Here we demonstrate that increase in intracellular Ca2+ via transient receptor potential canonical channel-1 (TRPC1) regulates autophagy, thereby preventing cell death in two morphologically distinct cells lines. The addition of DMOG or DFO, a cell permeable hypoxia-mimetic agents, or serum starvation, induces autophagy in both epithelial and neuronal cells. The induction of autophagy increases Ca2+ entry via the TRPC1 channel, which was inhibited by the addition of 2APB and SKF96365. Importantly, TRPC1-mediated Ca2+ entry resulted in increased expression of autophagic markers that prevented cell death. Furthermore, hypoxia-mediated autophagy also increased TRPC1, but not STIM1 or Orai1, expression. Silencing of TRPC1 or inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine, but not TRPC3, attenuated hypoxia-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ influx, decreased autophagy, and increased cell death. Furthermore, the primary salivary gland cells isolated from mice exposed to hypoxic conditions also showed increased expression of TRPC1 as well as increase in Ca2+ entry along with increased expression of autophagic markers. Altogether, we provide evidence for the involvement of Ca2+ influx via TRPC1 in regulating autophagy to protect against cell death.
Control of coherent information via on-chip photonic–phononic emitter–receivers
Authors: Shin Heedeuk , Cox Jonathan A. , Jarecki Robert , Starbuck Andrew , Wang Zheng , Rakich Peter T.
Published: March 2015

Rapid progress in integrated photonics has fostered numerous chip-scale sensing, computing and signal processing technologies. However, many crucial filtering and signal delay operations are difficult to perform with all-optical devices. Unlike photons propagating at luminal speeds, GHz-acoustic phonons moving at slower velocities allow information to be stored, filtered and delayed over comparatively smaller length-scales with remarkable fidelity. Hence, controllable and efficient coupling between coherent photons and phonons enables new signal processing technologies that greatly enhance the performance and potential impact of integrated photonics. Here we demonstrate a mechanism for coherent information processing based on travelling-wave photon–phonon transduction, which achieves a phonon emit-and-receive process between distinct nanophotonic waveguides. Using this device, physics—which supports GHz frequencies—we create wavelength-insensitive radiofrequency photonic filters with frequency selectivity, narrow-linewidth and high power-handling in silicon. More generally, this emit-receive concept is the impetus for enabling new signal processing schemes.
Reconciling spatial and temporal soil moisture effects on afternoon rainfall
Authors: Guillod Benoit P. , Orlowsky Boris , Miralles Diego G. , Teuling Adriaan J. , Seneviratne Sonia I.
Published: March 2015

Soil moisture impacts on precipitation have been strongly debated. Recent observational evidence of afternoon rain falling preferentially over land parcels that are drier than the surrounding areas (negative spatial effect), contrasts with previous reports of a predominant positive temporal effect. However, whether spatial effects relating to soil moisture heterogeneity translate into similar temporal effects remains unknown. Here we show that afternoon precipitation events tend to occur during wet and heterogeneous soil moisture conditions, while being located over comparatively drier patches. Using remote-sensing data and a common analysis framework, spatial and temporal correlations with opposite signs are shown to coexist within the same region and data set. Positive temporal coupling might enhance precipitation persistence, while negative spatial coupling tends to regionally homogenize land surface conditions. Although the apparent positive temporal coupling does not necessarily imply a causal relationship, these results reconcile the notions of moisture recycling with local, spatially negative feedbacks.
Repurpose terbutaline sulfate for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using electronic medical records
Authors: Paik Hyojung , Chung Ah-Young , Park Hae-Chul , Park Rae Woong , Suk Kyoungho , Kim Jihyun , Kim Hyosil , Lee KiYoung , Butte Atul J.
Published: March 2015

Prediction of new disease indications for approved drugs by computational methods has been based largely on the genomics signatures of drugs and diseases. We propose a method for drug repositioning that uses the clinical signatures extracted from over 13 years of electronic medical records from a tertiary hospital, including >9.4 M laboratory tests from >530,000 patients, in addition to diverse genomics signatures. Cross-validation using over 17,000 known drug–disease associations shows this approach outperforms various predictive models based on genomics signatures and a well-known “guilt-by-association” method. Interestingly, the prediction suggests that terbutaline sulfate, which is widely used for asthma, is a promising candidate for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis for which there are few therapeutic options. In vivo tests using zebrafish models found that terbutaline sulfate prevents defects in axons and neuromuscular junction degeneration in a dose-dependent manner. A therapeutic potential of terbutaline sulfate was also observed when axonal and neuromuscular junction degeneration have already occurred in zebrafish model. Cotreatment with a β2-adrenergic receptor antagonist, butoxamine, suggests that the effect of terbutaline is mediated by activation of β2-adrenergic receptors.
Prognostic Impact of HOTAIR Expression is Restricted to ER-Negative Breast Cancers
Authors: Gökmen-Polar Yesim , Vladislav I. Tudor , Neelamraju Yaseswini , Janga Sarath C. , Badve Sunil
Published: March 2015

Expression of HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR), a large intergenic noncoding RNA (lincRNA), has been described as a metastases-associated lincRNA in various cancers including breast, liver and colon cancer cancers. We sought to determine if expression of HOTAIR could be used as a surrogate for assessing nodal metastases and evaluated RNA in situ hybridization (RNA-ISH) assay in a tissue microarray constructed from 133 breast cancer patients. The prognostic value of HOTAIR was further validated in large cohorts using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) breast cancer subjects. RNA-ISH analysis was successful in 94 cases (17% cases scored 0, 32.9% scored 1, 30.8% scored 2 and 19.1% scored 3). The expression of HOTAIR did not correlate with nodal metastasis regardless of the scoring intensity or with other study parameters (age, tumor size and grade, expression status). Further analysis of TCGA dataset showed that HOTAIR expression was lower in ductal carcinomas but higher in ER-negative tumors. Overexpression of HOTAIR was not associated with nodal metastases or prognosis in ER-positive patients. Its function as a poor prognostic indicator in ER-negative patients was restricted to node-positive patients. HOTAIR appears to be a marker for lymphatic metastases rather than hematogenous metastases in ER-negative patients.
Network-assisted genetic dissection of pathogenicity and drug resistance in the opportunistic human pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Kim Hanhae , Jung Kwang-Woo , Maeng Shinae , Chen Ying-Lien , Shin Junha , Shim Jung Eun , Hwang Sohyun , Janbon Guilhem , Kim Taeyup , Heitman Joseph , Bahn Yong-Sun , Lee Insuk
Published: March 2015

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic human pathogenic fungus that causes meningoencephalitis. Due to the increasing global risk of cryptococcosis and the emergence of drug-resistant strains, the development of predictive genetics platforms for the rapid identification of novel genes governing pathogenicity and drug resistance of C. neoformans is imperative. The analysis of functional genomics data and genome-scale mutant libraries may facilitate the genetic dissection of such complex phenotypes but with limited efficiency. Here, we present a genome-scale co-functional network for C. neoformans, CryptoNet, which covers ~81% of the coding genome and provides an efficient intermediary between functional genomics data and reverse-genetics resources for the genetic dissection of C. neoformans phenotypes. CryptoNet is the first genome-scale co-functional network for any fungal pathogen. CryptoNet effectively identified novel genes for pathogenicity and drug resistance using guilt-by-association and context-associated hub algorithms. CryptoNet is also the first genome-scale co-functional network for fungi in the basidiomycota phylum, as Saccharomyces cerevisiae belongs to the ascomycota phylum. CryptoNet may therefore provide insights into pathway evolution between two distinct phyla of the fungal kingdom. The CryptoNet web server (www.inetbio.org/cryptonet) is a public resource that provides an interactive environment of network-assisted predictive genetics for C. neoformans.
Intercalation and Retention of Carbon Dioxide in a Smectite Clay promoted by Interlayer Cations
Authors: Michels L. , Fossum J. O. , Rozynek Z. , Hemmen H. , Rustenberg K. , Sobas P. A. , Kalantzopoulos G. N. , Knudsen K. D. , Janek M. , Plivelic T. S. , da Silva G. J.
Published: March 2015

A good material for CO2 capture should possess some specific properties: (i) a large effective surface area with good adsorption capacity, (ii) selectivity for CO2, (iii) regeneration capacity with minimum energy input, allowing reutilization of the material for CO2 adsorption and (iv) low cost and high environmental friendliness. Smectite clays are layered nanoporous materials that may be good candidates in this context. Here we report experiments which show that gaseous CO2 intercalates into the interlayer nano-space of smectite clay (synthetic fluorohectorite) at conditions close to ambient. The rate of intercalation, as well as the retention ability of CO2 was found to be strongly dependent on the type of the interlayer cation, which in the present case is Li+, Na+ or Ni2+. Interestingly, we observe that the smectite Li-fluorohectorite is able to retain CO2 up to a temperature of 35°C at ambient pressure and that the captured CO2 can be released by heating above this temperature. Our estimates indicate that smectite clays, even with the standard cations analyzed here, can capture an amount of CO2 comparable to other materials studied in this context.
Lessons from Hepatocyte-Specific Cyp51 Knockout Mice: Impaired Cholesterol Synthesis Leads to Oval Cell-Driven Liver Injury
Authors: Lorbek Gregor , Perše Martina , Jeruc Jera , Juvan Peter , Gutierrez-Mariscal Francisco M. , Lewinska Monika , Gebhardt Rolf , Keber Rok , Horvat Simon , Björkhem Ingemar , Rozman Damjana
Published: March 2015

We demonstrate unequivocally that defective cholesterol synthesis is an independent determinant of liver inflammation and fibrosis. We prepared a mouse hepatocyte-specific knockout (LKO) of lanosterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) from the part of cholesterol synthesis that is already committed to cholesterol. LKO mice developed hepatomegaly with oval cell proliferation, fibrosis and inflammation, but without steatosis. The key trigger was reduced cholesterol esters that provoked cell cycle arrest, senescence-associated secretory phenotype and ultimately the oval cell response, while elevated CYP51 substrates promoted the integrated stress response. In spite of the oval cell-driven fibrosis being histologically similar in both sexes, data indicates a female-biased down-regulation of primary metabolism pathways and a stronger immune response in males. Liver injury was ameliorated by dietary fats predominantly in females, whereas dietary cholesterol rectified fibrosis in both sexes. Our data place defective cholesterol synthesis as a focus of sex-dependent liver pathologies.
Spatio-temporal behaviour of atomic-scale tribo-ceramic films in adaptive surface engineered nano-materials
Authors: Fox-Rabinovich G. , Kovalev A. , Veldhuis S. , Yamamoto K. , Endrino J. L. , Gershman I. S. , Rashkovskiy A. , Aguirre M. H. , Wainstein D. L.
Published: March 2015

Atomic-scale, tribo-ceramic films associated with dissipative structures formation are discovered under extreme frictional conditions which trigger self-organization. For the first time, we present an actual image of meta-stable protective tribo-ceramics within thicknesses of a few atomic layers. A mullite and sapphire structure predominates in these phases. They act as thermal barriers with an amazing energy soaking/dissipating capacity. Less protective tribo-films cannot sustain in these severe conditions and rapidly wear out. Therefore, a functional hierarchy is established. The created tribo-films act in synergy, striving to better adapt themselves to external stimuli. Under a highly complex structure and non-equilibrium state, the upcoming generation of adaptive surface engineered nano-multilayer materials behaves like intelligent systems - capable of generating, with unprecedented efficiency, the necessary tribo-films to endure an increasingly severe environment.