957 research outputs found
Spectral Energy Distributions and Age Estimates of 172 Globular Clusters in M31
In this paper we present CCD multicolor photometry for 172 globular clusters
(GCs), taken from the Bologna catalog (Battistini et al. 1987), in the nearby
spiral galaxy M31. The observations were carried out by using the National
Astronomical Observatories 60/90 cm Schmidt Telescope in 13 intermediate-band
filters, which covered a range of wavelength from 3800 to 10000A. This provides
a multicolor map of M31 in pixels of 1.7"*1.7". By aperture photometry, we
obtain the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) for these GCs. Using the
relationship between the BATC intermediate-band system used for the
observations and the UBVRI broad-band system, the magnitudes in the B and V
bands are derived. The computed V and B-V are in agreement with the values
given by Battistini et al. (1987) and Barmby et al. (2000). Finally, by
comparing the photometry of each GC with theoretical stellar population
synthesis models, we estimate ages of the sample GCs for different
metallicities. The results show that nearly all our sample GCs have ages more
than 10^{9} years, and most of them are around 10^{10} years old. Also, we find
that GCs fitted by the metal-poor model are generally older than ones fitted by
the metal-rich model.Comment: 38 pages, 7 figures will appear in the February 2003 issue of A
The Distance to the M31 Globular Cluster System
The distance to the centroid of the M31 globular cluster system is determined
by fitting theoretical isochrones to the observed red-giant branches of
fourteen globular clusters in M31. The mean true distance modulus of the M31
globular clusters is found to be 24.47 +/- 0.07 mag. This is consistent with
distance modulii for M31 that have been obtained using other distance
indicators.Comment: 11 pages, 2 postscript figures, uses aaspp4.sty, to be published in
the May 1998 Astronomical Journa
Wide-Field Survey of Globular Clusters in M31. I. A Catalog of New Clusters
We present the result of a wide-field survey of globular clusters (GCs) in
M31 covering a 3deg x 3deg field c. We have searched for GCs on CCD images
taken with Washington CMT1 filters at the KPNO 0.9 m telescope using steps: (1)
inspection of morphological parameters given by the SExtractor package such as
stellarity, full maximum, and ellipticity; (2) consulting the spectral types
and radial velocities obtained from spectra takena spectrograph at the WIYN 3.5
m telescope; and (3) visual inspection of the images of each object. We have
and GC candidates, of which 605 are newly found GCs and GC candidates and 559
are previously known GCs. Amoects there are 113 genuine GCs, 258 probable GCs,
and 234 possible GCs, according to our classification critee known objects
there are 383 genuine GCs, 109 probable GCs, and 67 possible GCs. In total
there are 496 genprobable GCs and 301 possible GCs. Most of these newly found
GCs have T1 magnitudes of 17.5 - 19.5 mag, [17.9 < V < 19.9 mag assuming (C-T1)
~ 1.5], and (C-T1) colors in the range 1 - 2.Comment: accepted by AJ, using emulateapj.cl
Globular clusters in the outer halo of M31: the survey
We report the discovery of 40 new globular clusters (GCs) that have been
found in surveys of the halo of M31 based on INT/WFC and CHFT/Megacam imagery.
A subset of these these new GCs are of an extended, diffuse nature, and include
those already found in Huxor et al. (2005). The search strategy is described
and basic positional and V and I photometric data are presented for each
cluster. For a subset of these clusters, K-band photometry is also given. The
new clusters continue to be found to the limit of the survey area (~100 kpc),
revealing that the GC system of M31 is much more extended than previously
realised. The new clusters increase the total number of confirmed GCs in M31 by
approximately 10% and the number of confirmed GCs beyond 1 degree (~14 kpc) by
more than 75%. We have also used the survey imagery as well recent HST archival
data to update the Revised Bologna Catalogue (RBC) of M31 globular clusters.Comment: Accepted to MNRA
The M31 Globular Cluster Luminosity Function
We combine our compilation of photometry of M31 globular cluster and probable
cluster candidates with new near-infrared photometry for 30 objects. Using
these data we determine the globular cluster luminosity function (GCLF) in
multiple filters for the M31 halo clusters. We find a GCLF peak and dispersion
of V_0^0=16.84 +/-0.11, sigma_t=0.93 +/- 0.13 (Gaussian sigma = 1.20 +/- 0.14),
consistent with previous results. The halo GCLF peak colors (e.g., B^0_0 -
V^0_0) are consistent with the average cluster colors. We also measure V-band
GCLF parameters for several other subsamples of the M31 globular cluster
population. The inner third of the clusters have a GCLF peak significantly
brigher than that of the outer clusters (delta V =~ 0.5mag). Dividing the
sample by both galacticentric distance and metallicity, we find that the GCLF
also varies with metallicity, as the metal-poor clusters are on average 0.36
mag fainter than the metal-rich clusters. Our modeling of the catalog selection
effects suggests that they are not the cause of the measured differences, but a
more complete, less-contaminated M31 cluster catalog is required for
confirmation. Our results imply that dynamical destruction is not the only
factor causing variation in the M31 GCLF: metallicity, age, and cluster initial
mass function may also be important.Comment: AJ, in press. 36 pages, including 7 figure
Occupational Exposure to Metal Engineered Nanoparticles: A Human Biomonitoring Pilot Study Involving Italian Nanomaterial Workers
Advances in nanotechnology have led to an increased use of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) and the likelihood for occupational exposures. However, how to assess such exposure remains a challenge. In this study, a methodology for human biomonitoring, based on Single Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS), was developed as a tool to assess the ENPs exposure of workers involved in nanomaterial activities in two Italian Companies. The method was validated for size and number concentration determination of Ag, Au, In2O3, Ir, Pd, Pt, and TiO2 NPs in urine and blood samples. The results showed the presence of In2O3 NPs in blood of exposed workers (mean, 38 nm and 10,371 particles/mL), but not in blood of controls. Silver, Au, and TiO2 NPs were found in urine (mean, Ag 29 nm and 16,568 particles/mL) or blood (mean, Au 15 nm and 126,635 particles/mL; TiO2 84 nm and 27,705 particles/mL) of workers, though these NPs were found also in controls. The presence of ENPs in both workers and controls suggested that the extra-professional exposure is a source of ENPs that cannot be disregarded. Iridium, Pd, and Pt NPs were not detected neither in blood nor in urine. Overall, the findings provided a rational basis to evaluate the exposure assessment to ENPs in cohorts of workers as part of risk assessment and risk management processes in workplaces
Multifrequency Study of The Radio Galaxy NGC326
We present the results of a multi-frequency study of the inversion symmetric
radio galaxy NGC326 based on Very Large Array observations at 1.4, 1.6, 4.8,
8.5 and 14.9 GHz. The morphological, spectral and polarization properties of
this peculiar object are studied at different levels of spatial resolutions.
The interpretation of the data will be discussed in forthcoming papers.Comment: 15 pages, 15 ps figures, accepted by A&
Plasma heavy metal levels correlate with deregulated gene expression of detoxifying enzymes in osteoporotic patients
Heavy metal levels appear to be associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) and the consequent osteoporosis risk, but the relationship with the disease has not been clearly defined. The altered expression pattern of numerous genes, including detoxifying genes, seems to play a pivotal role in this context, leading to increased susceptibility to several diseases, including osteoporosis. The purpose of this study is to analyse circulating heavy metals levels and the expression of detoxifying genes in osteoporotic patients (OPs, nâ=â31), compared with healthy subjects (CTRs, nâ=â32). Heavy metals concentration in plasma samples was determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), and the subsequent expression analysis of NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1), Catalase (CAT), and Metallothionein 1E (MT1E) genes in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), molybdenum (Mo) and lead (Pb) were found to be significantly higher in the plasma of OPs compared to CTRs. Analysis of the expression levels of detoxifying genes showed a significant decrease in CAT and MT1E in OP group. In addition, Cu correlated positively with the expression levels of both CAT and MT1E in CTRs group and MT1E in OPs. This study shows an increased circulating concentration of certain metals combined with an altered expression pattern of detoxifying genes in OPs, highlighting a novel aspect to be investigated in order to better characterize the role of metals in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis
Globular Cluster and Galaxy Formation: M31, the Milky Way and Implications for Globular Cluster Systems of Spiral Galaxies
The globular cluster (GC) systems of the Milky Way and of our neighboring
spiral galaxy, M31, comprise 2 distinct entities, differing in 3 respects. 1.
M31 has young GCs, ages from ~100 Myr to 5 Gyr old, as well as old globular
clusters. No such young GCs are known in the Milky Way. 2. We confirm that the
oldest M31 GCs have much higher nitrogen abundances than do Galactic GCs at
equivalent metallicities. 3. Morrison et al. found M31 has a subcomponent of
GCs that follow closely the disk rotation curve of M31. Such a GC system in our
own Galaxy has yet to be found. These data are interpreted in terms of the
hierarchical-clustering-merging (HCM) paradigm for galaxy formation. We infer
that M31 has absorbed more of its dwarf systems than has the Milky Way. This
inference has 3 implications: 1. All spiral galaxies likely differ in their GC
properties, depending on how many companions each galaxy has, and when the
parent galaxy absorbs them. The the Milky Way ties down one end of this
spectrum, as almost all of its GCs were absorbed 10-12 Gyr ago. 2. It suggests
that young GCs are preferentially formed in the dwarf companions of parent
galaxies, and then absorbed by the parent galaxy during mergers. 3. Young GCs
seen in tidally-interacting galaxies might come from dwarf companions of these
galaxies, rather than be made a-new in the tidal interaction. There is no ready
explanation for the marked difference in nitrogen abundance for old M31 GCs
relative to the oldest Galactic GCs. The predictions made by Li & Burstein
regarding the origin of nitrogen abundance in globular clusters are consistent
with what is found for the old M31 GCs compared to that for the two 5 Gyr-old
M31 GCs.Comment: to be published in ApJ, Oct 2004; 13 pages of text, 2 tables, 7
postscript figure
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