• Canada
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada close
• Mémoires en Sciences de l'Information et de la Communication close

We present preliminary results on a study of the 2--850 micron SEDs of a sample of 30 FIRBACK galaxies selected at 170 micron. These sources are representative of the brightest ~10% of the Cosmic Infrared Background. They are a mixture of mostly local (z<~0.3) starforming galaxies, and a tail of ULIGs that extend up to z~1, and are likely to be a similar population to faint SCUBA sources. We use archival Spitzer IRAC and MIPS data to extend the spectral coverage to the mid-IR regime, resulting in an unprecended (for this redshift range) census of their infrared SEDs. This allows us to study in far greater detail this important population linking the near-IR stellar emission with PAH and thermal dust emission. We do this using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo method, which easily allows for the inclusion of ~6 free parameters, as well as an estimate of parameter uncertainties and correlations. Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. Proceeding for the conference "Starbursts: From 30 Doradus to Lyman Break Galaxies", held in Cambridge (UK) in September, 2004

The evolution of massive stars is still partly unconstrained. Mass, metallicity, mass loss and rotation are the main drivers of stellar evolution. Binarity and magnetic field may also significantly affect the fate of massive stars. Our goal is to investigate the evolution of single O stars in the Galaxy. For that, we use a sample of 74 objects comprising all luminosity classes and spectral types from O4 to O9.7. We rely on optical spectroscopy obtained in the context of the MiMeS survey of massive stars. We perform spectral modelling with the code CMFGEN. We determine the surface properties of the sample stars, with special emphasis on abundances of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen. Most of our sample stars have initial masses in the range 20 to 50 Msun. We show that nitrogen is more enriched and carbon/oxygen more depleted in supergiants than in dwarfs, with giants showing intermediate degrees of mixing. CNO abundances are observed in the range of values predicted by nucleosynthesis through the CNO cycle. More massive stars, within a given luminosity class, appear to be more chemically enriched than lower mass stars. We compare our results with predictions of three types of evolutionary models and show that, for two sets of models, 80% of our sample can be explained by stellar evolution including rotation. The effect of magnetism on surface abundances is unconstrained. Our study indicates that, in the 20-50 Msun mass range, the surface chemical abundances of most single O stars in the Galaxy are fairly well accounted for by stellar evolution of rotating stars. Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures. Accepted in Astronomy & Astrophysics

International audience; Temperature-induced variations in bioturbation could affect sediment mixing processes in the marine benthic environment. In this study, sediment reworking by Neanthes virens (Sars), a widely distributed polychaete in muddy sand communities of northern temperate latitudes, was studied under different temperature conditions representing winter (1°C), spring and fall (6°C), summer(13°C), and tide pool (18°C) temperatures in the lower St. Lawrence Estuary, Québec, Canada. Sediment reworking was quantified using inert fluorescent particles (luminophores) deposited at the sediment surface. Based on the 1-D luminophore distributions obtained after 5 and 30 d, the use of the specific 'gallery-biodiffusor' model allowed us to quantify both biodiffusion (Db) and biotransport (Vb) due to the organisms. Our results showed temperature effects on sediment transport. The lowest biotransport and biodiffusion coefficients were measured at 1 and 6°C and did not change with time. The highest biodiffusion occurred at 13°C for both sampling periods. At 18°C, biodiffusion was intermediate while biotransport was maximal. Differences between the 13°C biodiffusive transport and the other temperatures increased with time. Low transport values at 1 and 6°C suggest that a quiescent stage exists for this species at these temperatures, with sediment mixing occurring mostly during burrow construction. On the other hand, sediment mixing resulted from both the burrow construction and maintenance phases at higher temperatures (13 and 18°C).

AbstractCephalopods are radically different from any other invertebrate. Their molluscan heritage, innovative nervous system, and specialized behaviors create a unique blend of characteristics that are sometimes reminiscent of vertebrate features. For example, despite differences in the organization and development of their nervous systems, both vertebrates and cephalopods use many of the same neurotransmitters. One neurotransmitter, histamine (HA), has been well studied in both vertebrates and invertebrates, including molluscs. While HA was previously suggested to be present in the cephalopod central nervous system (CNS), Scaros, Croll, and Baratte only recently described the localization of HA in the olfactory system of the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis. Here, we describe the location of HA using an anti‐HA antibody and a probe for histidine decarboxylase (HDC), a synthetic enzyme for HA. We extended previous descriptions of HA in the olfactory organ, nerve, and lobe, and describe HDC staining in the same regions. We found HDC‐positive cell populations throughout the CNS, including the optic gland and the peduncle, optic, dorso‐lateral, basal, subvertical, frontal, magnocellular, and buccal lobes. The distribution of HA in the olfactory system of S. officinalis is similar to the presence of HA in the chemosensory organs of gastropods but is different than the sensory systems in vertebrates or arthropods. However, HA's widespread abundance throughout the rest of the CNS of Sepia is a similarity shared with gastropods, vertebrates, and arthropods. Its widespread use with differing functions across Animalia provokes questions regarding the evolutionary history and adaptability of HA as a transmitter.

International audience; In the context of the severe decrease in temperate eel abundance, understanding and control of eel maturation has strong interest for scientific and commercial purposes. Possible use of ultrasonography for improvement of sex determination and maturation monitoring in silver eel was investigated. Gonads of 96 Anguilla anguilla silver eels were observed using portable equipment associated to a 6-15MHz probe, and sex determination was tried before artificial induction of maturation. To estimate gonad mass and monitor individual gonadosomatic index (GSI) in females, cross-sectional images were captured at different times of maturation and gonad length was measured at scanning. Two methods were tried for ovary mass estimation using ultrasonography: one based on a linear model and another on calculating ovary volume from a representation of gonad shape. Ultrasonography resulted in 100% success in sex determination. Ovary mass estimated by ultrasonography was strongly correlated to true ovary mass (R2=0.97). The use of a linear model for gonad mass and then GSI estimation seemed more appropriate than the use of a representation of gonad shape. Evolution of GSI estimates during maturation supports possible detection of early inter-individual differences in maturation using ultrasonography in female silver eels. This non-invasive tool can then obviously be exploited to improve sex determination in silver eels caught in the wild and to monitor maturation at the individual level. Ultrasonography thus has great potential for use in eel both for conservation and aquaculture. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the use of ultrasonography on eels or any anguillid species.

A search for the Standard Model Higgs boson in the two photon decay channel is reported, using 1.08 fb−11.08 fb[superscript −1] of proton–proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector. No significant excess is observed in the investigated mass range of 110–150 GeV. Upper limits on the cross-section times branching ratio of between 2.0 and 5.8 times the Standard Model prediction are derived for this mass range. National Science Foundation (U.S.) United States. Dept. of Energy Brookhaven National Laboratory