4 research outputs found
CARMA CO(J = 2 - 1) Observations of the Circumstellar Envelope of Betelgeuse
We report radio interferometric observations of the 12C16O 1.3 mm J = 2-1
emission line in the circumstellar envelope of the M supergiant Alpha Ori and
have detected and separated both the S1 and S2 flow components for the first
time. Observations were made with the Combined Array for Research in
Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA) interferometer in the C, D, and E antenna
configurations. We obtain good u-v coverage (5-280 klambda) by combining data
from all three configurations allowing us to trace spatial scales as small as
0.9\arcsec over a 32\arcsec field of view. The high spectral and spatial
resolution C configuration line profile shows that the inner S1 flow has
slightly asymmetric outflow velocities ranging from -9.0 km s-1 to +10.6 km s-1
with respect to the stellar rest frame. We find little evidence for the outer
S2 flow in this configuration because the majority of this emission has been
spatially-filtered (resolved out) by the array. We also report a SOFIA-GREAT
CO(J= 12-11) emission line profile which we associate with this inner higher
excitation S1 flow. The outer S2 flow appears in the D and E configuration maps
and its outflow velocity is found to be in good agreement with high resolution
optical spectroscopy of K I obtained at the McDonald Observatory. We image both
S1 and S2 in the multi-configuration maps and see a gradual change in the
angular size of the emission in the high absolute velocity maps. We assign an
outer radius of 4\arcsec to S1 and propose that S2 extends beyond CARMA's field
of view (32\arcsec at 1.3 mm) out to a radius of 17\arcsec which is larger than
recent single-dish observations have indicated. When azimuthally averaged, the
intensity fall-off for both flows is found to be proportional to R^{-1}, where
R is the projected radius, indicating optically thin winds with \rho \propto
R^{-2}.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures To be published in the Astronomical Journal
(Received 2012 February 10; accepted 2012 May 25
Extrasolar Planet Transits Observed at Kitt Peak National Observatory
We obtained J-, H- and JH-band photometry of known extrasolar planet
transiting systems at the 2.1-m Kitt Peak National Observatory Telescope using
the FLAMINGOS infrared camera between October 2008 and October 2011. From the
derived lightcurves we have extracted the mid-transit times, transit depths and
transit durations for these events. The precise mid-transit times obtained help
improve the orbital periods and also constrain transit-time variations of the
systems. For most cases the published system parameters successfully accounted
for our observed lightcurves, but in some instances we derive improved
planetary radii and orbital periods. We complemented our 2.1-m infrared
observations using CCD z'-band and B-band photometry (plus two Hydrogen Alpha
filter observations) obtained with the Kitt Peak Visitor's Center telescope,
and with four H-band transits observed in October 2007 with the NSO's 1.6-m
McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope. The principal highlights of our results are: 1)
our ensemble of J-band planetary radii agree with optical radii, with the
best-fit relation being: (Rp/R*)J = 0.0017 + 0.979 (Rp/R*)optical, 2) We
observe star spot crossings during the transit of WASP-11/HAT-P-10, 3) we
detect star spot crossings by HAT-P-11b (Kepler-3b), thus confirming that the
magnetic evolution of the stellar active regions can be monitored even after
the Kepler mission has ended, and 4) we confirm a grazing transit for
HAT-P-27/WASP-40. In total we present 57 individual transits of 32 known
exoplanet systems.Comment: 33 pages, 6 figures, accepted in Publications of the Astronomical
Society of the Pacifi
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users: Cochrane Review<sup>a</sup>
Abstract Background Problem alcohol use is common among illicit drug users and is associated with adverse health outcomes. It is also an important factor in poor prognosis among drug users with hepatitis C virus (HCV) as it impacts progression to hepatic cirrhosis or opiate overdose in opioid users. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effects of psychosocial interventions for problem alcohol use in adult illicit drug users with concurrent problem alcohol use (principally, problem drug users of opiates and stimulants). Methods We searched the following databases (November 2011): Cochrane Library, PUBMED, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and reference list of articles. We also searched conference proceedings and online registers of clinical trials. Two reviewers independently assessed risk of bias and extracted data from included randomized controlled trials. Results Four studies (594 participants) were included in this review. Half of the trials were rated as having a high or unclear risk of bias. The four studies considered six different psychosocial interventions grouped into four comparisons: 1) cognitive-behavioral coping skills training versus 12-step facilitation (N = 41), 2) brief intervention versus treatment as usual (N = 110), 3) hepatitis health promotion versus motivational interviewing (N = 256), and 4) brief motivational intervention versus assessment-only group (N = 187). Differences between studies precluded any pooling of data. Findings are described for each trial individually. Most findings were not statistically significant except for comparison 2: decreased alcohol use at three months (risk ratio (RR) 0.32; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.19 to 0.54) and nine months (RR 0.16; 95% CI 0.08 to 0.33) in the treatment-as-usual group and comparison 4: reduced alcohol use in the brief motivational intervention (RR 1.67; 95% CI 1.08 to 2.60). Conclusions No conclusion can be made because of the paucity of the data and the low quality of the retrieved studies.</p