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Male reproduction is one of the primary health endpoints identified in rodent studies for some phthalates, such as DEHP (Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate), DBP (Dibutyl phthalate), and BBP (Benzyl butyl phthalate). The reduction in testosterone level was used as an intermediate key event for grouping some phthalates and to establish a reference point for risk assessment. Phthalates, and specifically DEHP, are one of the chemicals for which the greatest number of non-monotonic dose responses (NMDRs) are observed. These NMDRs cover different endpoints and situations, often including testosterone levels. The presence of NMDR has been the subject of some debate within the area of chemical risk assessment, which is traditionally anchored around driving health-based guidance values for apical endpoints that typically follow a clear monotonic dose–response. The consequence of NMDR for chemical risk assessment has recently received considerable attention amongst regulatory agencies, which confirmed its relevance particularly for receptor-mediated effects. The present review explores the relationship between DEHP exposure and testosterone levels, investigating the biological plausibility of the observed NMDRs. The Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) concept is applied to integrate NMDRs into Key Event Relationships (KERs) for exploring a mechanistic understanding of initial key events and possibly associated reproductive and non-reproductive adverse outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have demonstrated in the laboratory multiple, fully functional, kilopixel, bolometer arrays for the upgraded instrument, the High-resolution airborne wideband camera plus (HAWC+), for the stratospheric observatory for infrared astronomy (SOFIA). Each kilopixel array consists of three individual components assembled into a single working unit: (1) a filled, Transition Edge Sensor (TES) bolometer array, (2) an infrared, back-termination, and (3) an integrated, two-dimensional superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) multiplexer readout. Kilopixel TES arrays are directly indium-bump-bonded to a 32 $$\times $$ 40 SQUID multiplexer (MUX) circuit. In order to provide a fully superconducting pathway from the TES to the SQUID readout, numerous superconductor-to-superconductor interfaces must be made. This paper focuses on the fabrication techniques needed to create the superconducting path from the TES, out of the detector membrane, through the wafer, and to the SQUID readout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present results from laboratory detector characterizations of the first kilopixel BUG arrays for the High- resolution Wideband Camera Plus (HAWC+) which is the imaging far-infrared polarimeter camera for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). Our tests demonstrate that the array performance is consistent with the predicted properties. Here, we highlight results obtained for the thermal conductivity, noise performance, detector speed, and first optical results demonstrating the pixel yield of the arrays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Massive present-day early-type (elliptical and lenticular) galaxies probably gained the bulk of their stellar mass and heavy elements through intense, dust-enshrouded starbursts-that is, increased rates of star formation-in the most massive dark-matter haloes at early epochs. However, it remains unknown how soon after the Big Bang massive starburst progenitors exist. The measured redshift (z) distribution of dusty, massive starbursts has long been suspected to be biased low in z owing to selection effects, as confirmed by recent findings of systems with redshifts as high as ∼5 (refs 2-4). Here we report the identification of a massive starburst galaxy at z = 6.34 through a submillimetre colour-selection technique. We unambiguously determined the redshift from a suite of molecular and atomic fine-structure cooling lines. These measurements reveal a hundred billion solar masses of highly excited, chemically evolved interstellar medium in this galaxy, which constitutes at least 40 per cent of the baryonic mass. A 'maximum starburst' converts the gas into stars at a rate more than 2,000 times that of the Milky Way, a rate among the highest observed at any epoch. Despite the overall downturn in cosmic star formation towards the highest redshifts, it seems that environments mature enough to form the most massive, intense starbursts existed at least as early as 880 million years after the Big Bang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of emission in the far-infrared and submillimeter from astrophysical sources require large arrays of detectors containing hundreds to thousands of elements. A multiplexed readout is necessary for practical implementation of such arrays, and can be developed using SQUIDS, such that, e.g., a 32 × 32 array of bolometers can be read out using ≈100 wires rather than the >2000 needed with a brute force expansion of existing arrays. These bolometer arrays are made by micromachining techniques, using superconducting transition edge sensors as the thermistors. We describe the development of this multiplexed superconducting bolometer array architecture as a step toward bringing about the first astronomically useful arrays of this design. This technology will be used in the SAFIRE instrument on SOFIA, and is a candidate for a wide variety of other spectroscopic and photometric instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas clouds in present-day galaxies are inefficient at forming stars. Low star-formation efficiency is a critical parameter in galaxy evolution: it is why stars are still forming nearly 14 billion years after the Big Bang and why star clusters generally do not survive their births, instead dispersing to form galactic disks or bulges. Yet the existence of ancient massive bound star clusters (globular clusters) in the Milky Way suggests that efficiencies were higher when they formed ten billion years ago. A local dwarf galaxy, NGC 5253, has a young star cluster that provides an example of highly efficient star formation. Here we report the detection of the J = 3→2 rotational transition of CO at the location of the massive cluster. The gas cloud is hot, dense, quiescent and extremely dusty. Its gas-to-dust ratio is lower than the Galactic value, which we attribute to dust enrichment by the embedded star cluster. Its star-formation efficiency exceeds 50 per cent, tenfold that of clouds in the Milky Way. We suggest that high efficiency results from the force-feeding of star formation by a streamer of gas falling into the galaxy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have designed and constructed a Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) for the study of submillimeter-wave mixers and optical components. The FTS has a large aperture (up to 25.4 cm) and small focal ratio (as fast as f/2.5) to achieve a large throughput. It operates in the 100-3750 GHz (3.3-125 cm−1) frequency range with a resolution of up to 75 MHz (0.0025 cm−1). Here we discuss the design goals and provide a detailed description of the construction of the FTS. In addition, we highlight the variety of studies which have been conducted with this instrument, which include characterizing SIS mixers through both direct and heterodyne detection and measuring the properties of optical materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advent of large submillimeter telescopes at high, dry sites, the atmospheric background noise in a moderate bandwidth can be low enough to challenge the ability of instrument designers to produce sufficiently low noise bolometers to be background limited. We compare the predictions for the noise power of a bolometer observing through an emissive atmosphere, considering the effect of atmospheric absorption, telescope optical efficiency, and detector optical efficiency, with measurements through the atmosphere over Mauna Kea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) has been observed on a regular basis since August 1995 at millimetre and submillimetre wavelengths using IRAM, JCMT, CSO and SEST radio telescopes. The production rates of eight molecular species (CO, HCN, CH3OH, H2CO,H2S, CS, CH3CN,HNC) have been monitored as a function of heliocentric distance(rh from 7 AU pre-perihelion to 4 AU post-perihelion. As comet Hale-Bopp approached and receded from the Sun, these species displayed different behaviours. Far from the Sun, the most volatile species were found in general relatively more abundant in the coma. In comparison to other species, HNC, H2CO and CS showed a much steeper increase of the production rate with decreasing rh. Less than 1.5 AU from the Sun, the relative abundances were fairly stable and approached those found in other comets near 1 AU. The kinetic temperature of the coma, estimated from the relative intensities of the CH3OH and CO lines, increased with decreasing rh, from about10 K at 7 AU to 110 K around perihelion. The expansion velocity of the gaseous species, derived from the line shapes, also increased with a law close torh 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present millimeter-wave observations of HNCO, HC3N, SO, NH2CHO, H13CN, and H3O+ in comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp)obtained in February–April, 1997 with the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO). HNCO, first detected at the CSO in comet C/1996B2 (Hyakutake), is securely confirmed in comet Hale-Bopp via observations of three rotational transitions. The derived abundance with respect to H2O is (4-13) × 10-4. HC3N, SO, and NH2CHO are detected for the first time in a comet. The fractional abundance of HC3N based on observations of three rotational lines is (1.9 ± 0.2) × 10-4. Four transitions of SO are detected and the derived fractional abundance, (2-8) ×10-3, is higher than the upper limits derived from UV observations of previous comets. Observations of NH2CHO imply a fractional abundance of (1-8) × 10-4. H3O is detected for the first time from the ground. The H13CN (3-2)transition is also detected and the derived HCN/H13CN abundance ratio is 90 ± 15, consistent with the terrestrial12C/13C ratio. In addition, a number of other molecular species are detected, including HNC, OCS, HCO+, CO+, and CN(the last two are first detections in a comet at radio wavelengths). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]