1,012 research outputs found
Chemical abundance study of two strongly s-process enriched post-AGB stars in the LMC: J051213.81-693537.1 and J051848.86-700246.9
Context: This paper is part of a larger project in which we study the
chemical abundances of extra-galactic post-AGB stars with the ultimate goal of
improving our knowledge of the poorly understood AGB third dredge-up mixing
processes and s-process nucleosynthesis. Aims: In this paper, we study two
carefully selected post-AGB stars in the LMC. The combination of favourable
atmospheric parameters for detailed abundance studies and their known distances
make these objects ideal probes of the internal AGB third dredge-up and
s-process nucleosynthesis in that they provide observational constraints for
theoretical AGB models. Methods: We use high-resolution optical UVES spectra to
determine accurate stellar parameters and perform detailed elemental abundance
studies. Additionally, we use available photometric data to construct SEDs for
reddening and luminosity determinations. We then estimate initial masses from
theoretical post-AGB tracks. Results: Both stars show extreme s-process
enrichment associated with relatively low C/O ratios of about 1.3. We could
only derive upper limits of the lead (Pb) abundance which indicate no strong Pb
overabundances with respect to other s-elements. Comparison with theoretical
post-AGB evolutionary tracks in the HR-diagram reveals that both stars have low
initial masses between 1.0 and 1.5 Msun. Conclusion: This study adds to the
results obtained so far on a very limited number of s-process enriched post-AGB
stars in the Magellanic Clouds. We find an increasing discrepancy between
observed and predicted Pb abundances towards lower metallicities for all
studied Magellanic Cloud post-AGB stars found so far, as well as moderate C/O
ratios. We find that all s-process rich post-AGB stars in the LMC and SMC
studied so far, cluster in the same region of the HR-diagram and are associated
with low-mass stars with a low metallicity on average.Comment: 11 pages, 14 figure
Chemical abundance study of two strongly s-process enriched post-AGB stars in the LMC: J051213.81-693537.1 and J051848.86-700246.9
Context: This paper is part of a larger project in which we study the
chemical abundances of extra-galactic post-AGB stars with the ultimate goal of
improving our knowledge of the poorly understood AGB third dredge-up mixing
processes and s-process nucleosynthesis. Aims: In this paper, we study two
carefully selected post-AGB stars in the LMC. The combination of favourable
atmospheric parameters for detailed abundance studies and their known distances
make these objects ideal probes of the internal AGB third dredge-up and
s-process nucleosynthesis in that they provide observational constraints for
theoretical AGB models. Methods: We use high-resolution optical UVES spectra to
determine accurate stellar parameters and perform detailed elemental abundance
studies. Additionally, we use available photometric data to construct SEDs for
reddening and luminosity determinations. We then estimate initial masses from
theoretical post-AGB tracks. Results: Both stars show extreme s-process
enrichment associated with relatively low C/O ratios of about 1.3. We could
only derive upper limits of the lead (Pb) abundance which indicate no strong Pb
overabundances with respect to other s-elements. Comparison with theoretical
post-AGB evolutionary tracks in the HR-diagram reveals that both stars have low
initial masses between 1.0 and 1.5 Msun. Conclusion: This study adds to the
results obtained so far on a very limited number of s-process enriched post-AGB
stars in the Magellanic Clouds. We find an increasing discrepancy between
observed and predicted Pb abundances towards lower metallicities for all
studied Magellanic Cloud post-AGB stars found so far, as well as moderate C/O
ratios. We find that all s-process rich post-AGB stars in the LMC and SMC
studied so far, cluster in the same region of the HR-diagram and are associated
with low-mass stars with a low metallicity on average.Comment: 11 pages, 14 figure
Segment Grammar: A formalism for incremental sentence generation
Incremental sentence generation imposes special constraints on the representation of the grammar and the design of the formulator (the module which is responsible for constructing the syntactic and morphological structure). In the model of natural speech production presented here, a formalism called Segment Grammar is used for the representation of linguistic knowledge. We give a definition of this formalism and present a formulator design which relies on it. Next, we present an object- oriented implementation of Segment Grammar. Finally, we compare Segment Grammar with other formalisms
Post-AGB stars in the Magellanic Clouds and neutron-capture processes in AGB stars
We explore modifications to the current scenario for the slow neutron capture
process in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars to account for the Pb deficiency
observed in post-AGB stars of low metallicity ([Fe/H] ~ -1.2) and low initial
mass (~ 1 - 1.5 Msun) in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. We calculated
the stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis for a 1.3 Msun star with [Fe/H]=-1.3
and tested different amounts and distributions of protons leading to the
production of the main neutron source within the 13C-pocket and proton
ingestion scenarios. No s-process models can fully reproduce the abundance
patterns observed in the post-AGB stars. When the Pb production is lowered the
abundances of the elements between Eu and Pb, such as Er, Yb, W, and Hf, are
also lowered to below those observed. Neutron-capture processes with neutron
densities intermediate between the s and the rapid neutron-capture processes
may provide a solution to this problem and be a common occurrence in low-mass,
low-metallicity AGB stars.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures. To be published in Astronomy and Astrophysic
The lead discrepancy in intrinsically s-process enriched post-AGB stars in the Magellanic Clouds
Context: Our understanding of the s-process nucleosynthesis in asymptotic
giant branch (AGB) stars is incomplete. AGB models predict, for example, large
overabundances of lead (Pb) compared to other s-process elements in metal-poor
low-mass AGB stars. This is indeed observed in some extrinsically enhanced
metal-poor stars, but not in all. An extensive study of intrinsically s-process
enriched objects is essential for improving our knowledge of the AGB third
dredge-up and associated s-process nucleosynthesis. Aims: We compare the
spectral abundance analysis of the SMC post-AGB star J004441.04-732136.4 with
state-of-the-art AGB model predictions with a main focus on Pb. The low S/N in
the Pb line region made the result of our previous study inconclusive. We
acquired additional data covering the region of the strongest Pb line. Methods:
By carefully complementing re-reduced previous data, with newly acquired UVES
optical spectra, we improve the S/N of the spectrum around the strongest Pb
line. Therefore, an upper limit for the Pb abundance is estimated from a merged
weighted mean spectrum using synthetic spectral modeling. We then compare the
abundance results from the combined spectra to predictions of tailored AGB
evolutionary models from two independent evolution codes. In addition, we
determine upper limits for Pb abundances for three previously studied LMC
post-AGB objects. Results: Although theoretical predictions for
J004441.04-732136.4 match the s-process distribution up to tungsten (W), the
predicted very high Pb abundance is clearly not detected. The three additional
LMC post-AGB stars show a similar lack of a very high Pb abundance. Conclusion:
From our study, we conclude that none of these low-mass, low-metallicity
post-AGB stars of the LMC and SMC are strong Pb producers. This conflicts with
current theoretical predictions.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
New physical and chemical approaches for the cytosolic delivery of bio- therapeutics and nanoparticles into cells
Delivery of bio-therapeutics and nanomaterials into living cells is an important step not only for cell studies but also for therapy and bio-imaging. Clear examples are the intracellular delivery of various classes of nucleic acids (siRNA, µRNA, mRNA, pDNA), peptides and proteins for therapy purposes. As another example, all types of (inorganic/organic) nanoparticles are under investigation as intracellular labels for imaging purposes. Meanwhile it generally accepted that after uptake by cells, nanomaterials typically end up in endo-lysosomal vesicles in which they remain entrapped while they should escape from such compartments and arrive in the cytosolic fluids of the cells. In recent years our team undertook major efforts to understand the biophysics which play a role in (a lack of) escape of nanomaterials from endo-lysosomal vesicles. Vere recently we also discovered new chemical strategies (so named ‘escape adjuvants’) (1) which seems promising to ‘liberate’ nucleic acids (like siRNA) from endo-lysosomal vesicles into the cytosol. Furthermore we explored physical methods (either light (2,3) or ultrasound (4) driven) which directly deliver bio-therapeutics into the cytosol, thereby bypassing the endo-lysosomal routes. This lecture will explain our recent findings in this area, as reported in a serious of recently published papers (1-4). Both pharmaceutical, biological and engineering aspects of our work will be highlighted in the lecture.
References
1) Repurposing cationic amphiphilic drugs as adjuvants to induce lysosomal siRNA escape in nanogel transfected cells
F. Joris, L. De Backer, T. Van de Vyver, C. Bastiancich, S.C. De Smedt, K. Raemdonck
Journal of Controlled Release 2018, in Press
2) Comparison of gold nanoparticle mediated photoporation: vapour nanobubbles outperform direct heating for delivering macromolecules in live cells
R.H. Xiong, K. Raemdonck, K. Peynshaert, I. Lentacker, I. De Cock, J. Demeester, S.C. De Smedt, A.G. Skirtach, K. Braeckmans
ACS Nano 2014, 8(6): 6288-6296
3) Cytosolic Delivery of Nanolabels Prevents Their Asymmetric Inhentance and Enables Extended Quantitative in Vivo Cell Imaging
R.H. Xiong, F. Joris, S.Y. Liang, R. De Rycke, S. Lippens, J. Demeester, A. Skirtach, K. Raemdonck, U. Himmelreich, S.C. De Smedt, K. Braeckmans
Nano Letters 2016, 16(10): 5975-5986
4) Sonoprinting and the importance of microbubble loading for the ultrasound mediated cellular
delivery of nanoparticles
I. De Cock, G.P.R. Lajoinie, M. Versluis, S.C. De Smedt*, I. Lentacker
Biomaterials 2016, 83: 294-30
- …