A Spectroscopic Analysis of V505 Persei and the Origin of the Lithium Dip

We study the observed Li Dip in stellar clusters and field stars, testing Rotationally Induced Mixing (RIM) by measuring Li abundances in a middle-aged (1.1±0.15 Gyr), metal poor ([Fe/H]=-0.15±0.03), short period binary, V505 Per, finding Li abundances of Log N(Li)=2.67±0.1 and 2.42±0.2 from the primary and secondary components, respectively. These abundances are significantly higher than observed abundances from single stars of similar metallicity and ZAMS Teff; as shown by comparison with NGC 752, and suggest that RIM may be a primary cause of the Li Dip

A Spectroscopic Analysis of the Eclipsing Short-Period Binary v505 Per and the Origin of the Lithium Dip

As a test of rotationally-induced mixing causing the well-known Li dip in older mid-F dwarfs in the local Galactic disk, we utilize high-resolution and -S/N Keck/HIRESspectroscopy to measure the Li abundance in the components of the1 Gyr, [Fe/H]=-0.15 eclipsing short-period binary V505 Per. We find A(Li)=2.7+/-0.1 and 2.4+/-0.2 in the Teff=6500 and 6450 K primary and secondary components, respectively. Previous Teff determinations and uncertainties suggest that each component is located in the midst of the Li dip. If so, their A(Li) are >=2-5 times larger than A(Li) detections and upper limits observed in the similar metallicity and intermediate-age open clusters NGC 752 and 3680, as well as the more metal-rich and younger Hyades and Praesepe. These differences are even larger if the consistent estimates of the scaling ofinitial Li with metallicity inferred from nearby disk stars, open clusters, and recent Galactic chemical evolution models are correct. Our results suggest, independently of complementary evidence based on Li/Be ratios, Be/B ratios, and Li in subgiants evolving out of the Li dip, that main-sequence angular momentum evolution is the origin of the Li dip. Specifically, our stars' A(Li) indicates tidal synchronization can be sufficiently efficient and occur early enough in short-period binary mid-F stars to reduce the effects of rotationally-induced mixing and destruction of Li occuring during the main-sequence in otherwise similar stars that are not short-period tidally-locked binaries.Comment: Accepted for publication in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (July 2013 volume

A Spectroscopic Analysis of the Eclipsing Short-Period Binary V505 Persei and the Origin of the Lithium Dip

As a test of rotationally-induced mixing causing the well-known Li dip in older mid-F dwarfs in the local Galactic disk, we utilize high-resolution and -S/N Keck/HIRES spectroscopy to measure the Li abundance in the components of the ∼1 Gyr, [Fe/H]= −0.15 eclipsing short-period binary V505 Per. We find A(Li) ∼ 2.7 ± 0.1 and 2.4 ± 0.2 in the Teff∼6500 and 6450K primary and sec-ondary components, respectively. Previous Teff determinations and uncertainties suggest that each component is located in the midst of the Li dip. If so, their A(Li) are ≥2–5 times larger than A(Li) detections and upper limits observed in the similar metallicity and intermediate-age open clusters NGC752 and 3680, as well as the more metal-rich and younger Hyades and Praesepe. These differences are even larger if the consistent estimates of the scaling of initial Li with metal-licity inferred from nearby disk stars, open clusters, and recent Galactic chemical evolution models are correct. Our results suggest, independently of complemen-tary evidence based on Li/Be ratios, Be/B ratios, and Li in subgiants evolving out of the Li dip, that main-sequence angular momentum evolution is the origin of the Li dip. Specifically, our stars’ A(Li) indicates tidal synchronization can be sufficiently efficient and occur early enough in short-period binary mid-F stars to reduce the effects of rotationally-induced mixing and destruction of Li occuring during the main-sequence in otherwise similar stars that are not short-period tidally-locked binaries

Quasar Candidates in the Hubble Deep Field

We focus on the search for unresolved faint quasars and AGN in the crude combine images using a multicolor imaging analysis that has proven very successful in recent years. Quasar selection was carried out both in multicolor space and in "profile space," defined as the multi-parameter space formed by the radial profiles of the objects in the different images. By combining the dither frames available for each filter, we were able to obtain well-sampled radial profiles of the objects and measure their deviation from that of a stellar source. We also generated synthetic quasar spectra in the range 1.0 < z < 5.5 and computed expected quasar colors. We determined that the data are 90% complete for point sources at 26.2, 28.0, 27.8, 26.8 in the F300W, F450W, F606W and F814W filters, respectively. We find 41 compact objects in the HDF: 8 pointlike objects with colors consistent with quasars or stars, 18 stars, and 15 slightly resolved objects, 12 of which have colors consistent with quasars or stars. We estimate the upper limit of unresolved and slightly resolved quasars/AGNs with V < 27.0 and z < 3.5 to be 20 objects (16,200 per deg^2). We find good agreement among authors on the number of stars and the lack of quasar candidates with z > 3.5. We find more quasar candidates than previous work because of our more extensive modeling and use of all of the available color information. (abridged)Comment: We have clarified our discussion and conclusions, added some references and removed the appendix, which is now available from the first author. 37 pages including 10 embedded postscript figures and 6 tables. To appear in the Feb. 99 issue of A

Clinicopathological evaluation of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in players of American football

IMPORTANCE: Players of American football may be at increased risk of long-term neurological conditions, particularly chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). OBJECTIVE: To determine the neuropathological and clinical features of deceased football players with CTE. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Case series of 202 football players whose brains were donated for research. Neuropathological evaluations and retrospective telephone clinical assessments (including head trauma history) with informants were performed blinded. Online questionnaires ascertained athletic and military history. EXPOSURES: Participation in American football at any level of play. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Neuropathological diagnoses of neurodegenerative diseases, including CTE, based on defined diagnostic criteria; CTE neuropathological severity (stages I to IV or dichotomized into mild [stages I and II] and severe [stages III and IV]); informant-reported athletic history and, for players who died in 2014 or later, clinical presentation, including behavior, mood, and cognitive symptoms and dementia. RESULTS: Among 202 deceased former football players (median age at death, 66 years [interquartile range, 47-76 years]), CTE was neuropathologically diagnosed in 177 players (87%; median age at death, 67 years [interquartile range, 52-77 years]; mean years of football participation, 15.1 [SD, 5.2]), including 0 of 2 pre–high school, 3 of 14 high school (21%), 48 of 53 college (91%), 9 of 14 semiprofessional (64%), 7 of 8 Canadian Football League (88%), and 110 of 111 National Football League (99%) players. Neuropathological severity of CTE was distributed across the highest level of play, with all 3 former high school players having mild pathology and the majority of former college (27 [56%]), semiprofessional (5 [56%]), and professional (101 [86%]) players having severe pathology. Among 27 participants with mild CTE pathology, 26 (96%) had behavioral or mood symptoms or both, 23 (85%) had cognitive symptoms, and 9 (33%) had signs of dementia. Among 84 participants with severe CTE pathology, 75 (89%) had behavioral or mood symptoms or both, 80 (95%) had cognitive symptoms, and 71 (85%) had signs of dementia. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In a convenience sample of deceased football players who donated their brains for research, a high proportion had neuropathological evidence of CTE, suggesting that CTE may be related to prior participation in football.This study received support from NINDS (grants U01 NS086659, R01 NS078337, R56 NS078337, U01 NS093334, and F32 NS096803), the National Institute on Aging (grants K23 AG046377, P30AG13846 and supplement 0572063345-5, R01 AG1649), the US Department of Defense (grant W81XWH-13-2-0064), the US Department of Veterans Affairs (I01 CX001038), the Veterans Affairs Biorepository (CSP 501), the Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence (grant B6796-C), the Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Alzheimer’s Research Program (grant 13267017), the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment, the Alzheimer’s Association (grants NIRG-15-362697 and NIRG-305779), the Concussion Legacy Foundation, the Andlinger Family Foundation, the WWE, and the NFL

Associates of an Elevated Natriuretic Peptide Level in Stable Heart Failure Patients: Implications for Targeted Management

Background. Persistently elevated natriuretic peptide (NP) levels in heart failure (HF) patients are associated with impaired prognosis. Recent work suggests that NP-guided therapy can improve outcome, but the mechanisms behind an elevated BNP remain unclear. Among the potential stimuli for NP in clinically stable patients are persistent occult fluid overload, wall stress, inflammation, fibrosis, and ischemia. The purpose of this study was to identify associates of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in a stable HF population. Methods. In a prospective observational study of 179 stable HF patients, the association between BNP and markers of collagen metabolism, inflammation, and Doppler-echocardiographic parameters including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left atrial volume index (LAVI), and E/e prime (E/e ) was measured. Results. Univariable associates of elevated BNP were age, LVEF, LAVI, E/e , creatinine, and markers of collagen turnover. In a multiple linear regression model, age, creatinine, and LVEF remained significant associates of BNP. E/e and markers of collagen turnover had a persistent impact on BNP independent of these covariates. Conclusion. Multiple variables are associated with persistently elevated BNP levels in stable HF patients. Clarification of the relative importance of NP stimuli may help refine NP-guided therapy, potentially improving outcome for this at-risk population

Managing Insect and Mite Pests of Texas Corn.

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The Global Flood Partnership Conference 2017 - From hazards to impacts

From 27 – 29 June 2017, the 2017 Global Flood Partnership Conference was held at the University of Alabama, U.S.A. More than 90 participants attended the conference coming from 11 different countries in 5 continents. They represented 56 institutions including international organisations, the private sector, national authorities, universities, governmental research agencies and non-profit organisations. Each year, floods cause devastating losses and damage across the world. Growing populations in ill-planned flood-prone coastal and riverine areas are increasingly exposed to more extreme rainfall events. With more population and economic assets at risk, governments, banks, international development and relief agencies, and private firms are investing in flood reduction measures. However, in many countries, the flood risk is not managed optimally because of a lack of scientific data and methods or a communication gap between science and risk managers. The Global Flood Partnership was launched in 2014 and is a cooperation framework between scientific organisations and flood disaster managers worldwide to develop flood observational and modeling infrastructure, leveraging on existing initiatives for better predicting and managing flood disaster impacts and flood risk globally. The conference theme was “From hazards to impacts” and participants had the opportunity to showcase their latest relevant research and activities. As usual, the advances and success stories of the Partnership were reviewed and the next steps to further strengthen the GFP were discussed. As in past meetings, participants had numerous opportunities to present their work, exchange ideas, and turn it into a lively and successful meeting. This included a "Marketplace of Ideas" session, "Ignite" talks, Problem-solving session, workshops, poster pitch session and breakout groups.JRC.E.1-Disaster Risk Managemen

Topological Defects and CMB anisotropies : Are the predictions reliable ?

We consider a network of topological defects which can partly decay into neutrinos, photons, baryons, or Cold Dark Matter. We find that the degree-scale amplitude of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies as well as the shape of the matter power spectrum can be considerably modified when such a decay is taken into account. We conclude that present predictions concerning structure formation by defects might be unreliable.Comment: 14 pages, accepted for publication in PR