513 research outputs found
Extrasolar planets and brown dwarfs around A-F type stars. II. A planet found with ELODIE around the F6V star HD 33564
We present here the detection of a planet orbiting around the F6V star HD
33564. The radial velocity measurements, obtained with the ELODIE echelle
spectrograph at the Haute-Provence Observatory, show a variation with a period
of 388 days. Assuming a primary mass of 1.25 Mo, the best Keplerian fit to the
data leads to a minimum mass of 9.1 MJup for the companion.Comment: 5 pages. Final version, accepted for publication (A&A). Some Spitzer
results on HD33564 (taken this year; not yet published), finally show that
the detection of IR excess around this star (by IRAS) is spuriou
Effective Dose and Size Specific Dose Estimation with and without Tube Current Modulation for Thoracic Computed Tomography Examinations: A Phantom Study
The purpose of this study is to reduce radiation dose for chest CT examination by including Tube Current Modulation (TCM) to a standard CT protocol. A scan of an anthropomorphic male Alderson phantom was performed on a 128-slice scanner. The estimation of effective dose (ED) in both scans with and without mAs modulation was done via multiplication of Dose Length Product (DLP) to a conversion factor. Results were compared to those measured with a CT-Expo software. The size specific dose estimation (SSDE) values were obtained by multiplication of the volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) with a conversion size factor related to the phantom’s effective diameter. Objective assessment of image quality was performed with Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) measurements in phantom. SPSS software was used for data analysis. Results showed including CARE Dose 4D; ED was lowered by 48.35% and 51.51% using DLP and CT-expo, respectively. In addition, ED ranges between 7.01 mSv and 6.6 mSv in case of standard protocol, while it ranges between 3.62 mSv and 3.2 mSv with TCM. Similar results are found for SSDE; dose was higher without TCM of 16.25 mGy and was lower by 48.8% including TCM. The SNR values calculated were significantly different (p=0.03<0.05). The highest one is measured on images acquired with TCM and reconstructed with Filtered back projection (FBP). In conclusion, this study proves the potential of TCM technique in SSDE and ED reduction and in conserving image quality with high diagnostic reference level for thoracic CT examinations
AMBER/VLTI observations of the B[e] star MWC 300
Aims. We study the enigmatic B[e] star MWC 300 to investigate its disk and
binary with milli-arcsecond-scale angular resolution. Methods. We observed MWC
300 with the VLTI/AMBER instrument in the H and K bands and compared these
observations with temperature-gradient models to derive model parameters.
Results. The measured low visibility values, wavelength dependence of the
visibilities, and wavelength dependence of the closure phase directly suggest
that MWC 300 consists of a resolved disk and a close binary. We present a model
consisting of a binary and a temperature-gradient disk that is able to
reproduce the visibilities, closure phases, and spectral energy distribution.
This model allows us to constrain the projected binary separation (~4.4 mas or
~7.9 AU), the flux ratio of the binary components (~2.2), the disk temperature
power-law index, and other parameters.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, accepted by A&
Economic Downturns, Urban Growth and Suburban Fertility in a Mediterranean Context
Despite the wealth of micro–macro data on short-term demographic dynamics, the impact of metropolitan growth and economic downturns on local fertility is still under-investigated in advanced economies. Recent studies in low-fertility contexts have assumed suburban birth rates as being systematically higher than urban and rural rates. This assumption (hereafter, known as the ‘suburban fertility hypothesis’) was grounded on stylized facts and spatial regularities that imply a significant role of both macro (contextual) and micro (behavioral) factors positively influencing fertility in suburban locations. To verify such a hypothesis from a macro (contextual) perspective, the present study compares the general fertility rate of urban, suburban, and rural settlements of the Athens’ metropolitan region (Greece) at various observation years between 1860 and 2020. Long-term Athens’ growth represented a sort of ‘quasi-experiment’ for Mediterranean Europe, linking sequential urban stages and distinctive waves of economic expansion and recession. Using multivariate exploratory analysis and global/local econometric models, a dominant ‘rural’ fertility regime was recorded for 1860 and 1884. A characteristic ‘urban’ fertility regime was, instead, found over a relatively long, intermediate period between 1956 and 1990. Higher fertility in suburban settlements (10 km away from downtown Athens, on average) was, finally, observed since 2000. Considering a sufficiently long-time interval, the existence of multiple fertility regimes along the distance gradient has demonstrated how fertility dynamics are intrinsically bonded with metropolitan growth, economic downturns, and social transformations in Mediterranean Europe
Diffraction-Limited Imaging and Photometry of NGC 1068
The nearby Seyfert 2 Galaxy NGC 1068 was observed with speckle imaging
techniques in the near-infrared H-band (1.6 microns) at the Hale 200-inch
Telescope and K-band (2.2 microns) at the 10 m Keck I Telescope.
Images with diffraction limited or near-diffraction limited resolutions of
0.''05 - 0.''1 were obtained and used to search for structure in the nuclear
region. Images of the nucleus of NGC 1068 reveal an extended region of emission
which accounts for nearly 50% of the nuclear flux at K-band. This region
extends 10 pc on either side of an unresolved point source nucleus which is at
most, 0.''02 or 1.4 pc in size. Both the point source and the newly imaged
extended emission are very red, with identical H-K colors corresponding to a
color temperature of 800 K. While the point source is of a size to be
consistent with grains in thermal equilibrium with the nuclear source, the
extended emission is not. It must consist either of nuclear emission which has
been reflected off an extended dusty disk or of small grains raised to
transiently high temperatures by reflected UV photons.Comment: accepted to AJ, AAS LaTeX and epsfig, 22 pages incl. 5 ps figure
Extrasolar planets and brown dwarfs around A-F type stars V. A planetary system found with HARPS around the F6IV-V star HD 60532
Aims: In the frame of the search for extrasolar planets and brown dwarfs
around early-type stars, we present the results obtained for the F-type
main-sequence star HD 60532 (F6V) with HARPS.
Methods: Using 147 spectra obtained with HARPS at La Silla on a time baseline
of two years, we study the radial velocities of this star.
Results: HD 60532 radial velocities are periodically variable, and the
variations have a Keplerian origin. This star is surrounded by a planetary
system of two planets with minimum masses of 1 and 2.5 Mjup and orbital
separations of 0.76 and 1.58 AU respectively. We also detect high-frequency,
low-amplitude (10 m/s peak-to-peak) pulsations. Dynamical studies of the system
point toward a possible 3:1 mean-motion resonance which should be confirmed
within the next decade.Comment: 7 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Mesure statistique de la résistance de contact d’une grille sérigraphiée pour cellules solaires au silicium multicristallin
La métallisation par sérigraphie est une des étapes les plus importantes dans la technologie d’élaboration des cellules solaires pour une production à grande échelle. Néanmoins, elle demeure dépendante de plusieurs paramètres variables. Pour le silicium multi cristallin, tout changement dans le procédé de réalisation des cellules solaires influence directement l’optimisation du profil de recuit de la métallisation par sérigraphie. Les plaquettes de silicium multi cristallin subissent toutes les étapes classiques de réalisation des cellules solaires comme le nettoyage chimique et la décontamination, une diffusion au phosphore et le dépôt du nitrure de silicium SiNx par PECVD (Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition). Il y a juste le dépôt du contact Argent Ag sur la face avant de la plaquette. Nous avons utilisé la pâte de sérigraphie Ag Ferro 3349. La grille métallique comporte six (06) motifs TLM (Transfer Length Method) pour les mesures de la résistance de contact. Le principal but de ce travail est le contrôle de la qualité du contact Ag/SiNx/n+-Si dans les cellules solaires au silicium multicristallin. Les mesures TLM révèlent une cartographie des valeurs de la résistance de contact pour chaque température. Le profil optimal de température de recuit est autour de 750 °C
No Fossil Disk in the T Tauri Multiple System V773 Tau
We present new multi-epoch near-infrared and optical high-angular images of
the V773 Tau pre-main sequence triple system, a weak-line T Tauri (WTTS) system
in which the presence of an evolved, ``fossil'' protoplanetary disk has been
inferred on the basis of a significant infrared excess. Our images reveal a
fourth object bound to the system, V773 Tau D. While it is much fainter than
all other components at 2 micron, it is the brightest source in the system at
4.7 micron. We also present medium-resolution K band adaptive optics
spectroscopy of this object, which is featureless with the exception of a weak
Br gamma emission line. Based on this spectrum and on the spectral energy
distribution of the system, we show that V773 Tau D is another member of the
small class of ``infrared companions'' (IRCs) to T Tauri stars. It is the least
luminous, and probably the least massive, component of the system, as opposed
to most other IRCs, which suggests that numerous low-luminosity IRCs such as
V773 Tau D may still remain to be discovered. Furthermore, it is the source of
the strong IR excess in the system. We therefore reject the interpretation of
this excess as the signature of a fossil (or ``passive'') disk and further
suggest that these systems may be much less frequent than previously thought.
We further show that V773 Tau C is a variable classical T Tauri star (CTTS)
and that its motion provides a well constrained orbital model. We show that
V773 Tau D can be dynamically stable within this quadruple system if its orbit
is highly inclined. Finally, V773 Tau is the first multiple system to display
such a variety of evolutionary states (WTTS, CTTS, IRC), which may be the
consequence of the strong star-star interactions in this compact quadruple
system.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal, 29 pages, 2
tables, 5 figure
Profil épidémiologique des femmes enceintes cardiaques dans le centre de maternité de Tunis: expérience du service A
Nous rapportons dans ce travail, le profil épidémiologique des femmes enceintes porteuses d'une cardiopathie ayant accouché dans le service «A» du centre de maternité de Tunis. Il s'agit d'une étude rétrospective descriptive sur 3 ans, de janvier 2010 à décembre 2012, portant sur les dossiers des parturientes cardiaques suivies et ayant accouché dans notre service, à l'exclusion des cardiopathies hypertensives. Les paramètresanalysés étaient la gestité et parité des parturientes, le type de la cardiopathie, le mode d'accouchement et le pronostic foetal. Cinquante six cas sur 19655 accouchements avaient été recrutés, soit une incidence de 1 pour 351 accouchements (0,285%). L'âge moyen de nos parturientes était de 30,89±5,3 ans avec des extrêmes allant de 21 à 42 ans. 23 (41,07%) avaient une cardiopathie congénitale, 35 (62,5%) une valvulopathie, 6 (10,71%) un trouble du rythme, 3 (5,35%) un trouble de la conduction à type de bloc auriculo-ventriculaire et 3 (5,35%) une cardiopathie ischémique. Cinquante deux parturientes (92,85%) avaient accouché à un terme dépassant les 37 semaines d'aménorrhée (SA). L'accouchement s'est déroulé par les voies naturelles chez 22 (39,28%) patientes et par césarienne chez 34 (60,71%). Le poids moyen des nouveaux nés à la naissance était de 3341,25 grammes. 3 transferts néonataux en unité de réanimation étaient réalisés avec un seul cas de décès néonatal. La grossesse et l'accouchement chez la femme cardiaque constituent un haut risque materno-foetal dépendant du type, mais surtout du stade de la cardiopathie, nécessitant une prise en charge précoce et multidisciplinaire de la parturiente
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