Single Star-forming galaxies and Star-forming galaxies in SF+SF and mixed pairs

We compare the SFR of single star-forming galaxies with the SFR of star-forming galaxies in pairs. Volume-limited samples are compared selected from the 2dFGRS, applying a maximum magnitude difference criterion. We show that SF galaxies in SF + SF pairs typically increase their SFR as they get fainter, whereas this does not happen for SF galaxies in mixed (SF + passive) pairs. And we provide evidence that differences between single SF and SF in pairs get more significant when SF galaxies in mixed pairs are excluded from the pair sample. Our analysis confirms that enhanced SFR and the presence of a companion galaxy (on 0.5 h^-1 Mpc scale) are correlated quantities, provided the galaxy is neither too luminous nor too faint, and the triggering galaxy is itself a SF galaxy.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, contributed paper, to be published in ''The Evolution of Starbursts'' (Bad Honnef 2004), ed. S. Huettemeister & E. Manthley (Melville:AIP

Dominant galaxies in 2dF groups

We investigate whether the spectral-type of a locally dominant (most luminous) galaxy can be used to select sets of galaxies that are physically associated (groups). We assume that passive dominants trace a group-like potential, and SF-dominants a field-like environment. The group sample includes 988 groups selected in the 2dFGRS applying a maximum magnitude difference criterion. We find that the average number of passive galaxies associated to a dominant is larger when the dominant is passive, a result supporting our assumption that galaxy associations around a passive dominant are reliable groups. Finally we show that, to reduce the contamination by unbound galaxy associations (SF-dominant), a >=3 passive-members criterion is more efficient than a >=6 all-members criterion.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures, to appear in ''Outskirts of galaxy clusters: intense life in the suburbs'' ed. A. Diferio, Proceedings of IAU Coll. No. 195, 200

The effect of the environment on the Faber Jackson relation

We investigate the effect of the environment on the Faber Jackson (FJ) relation, using a sample of 384 nearby elliptical galaxies and estimating objectively their environment on the typical scale of galaxy clusters. We show that the intrinsic scatter of the FJ is significantly reduced when ellipticals in high density environments are compared to ellipticals in low density ones. This result, which holds on a limited range of overdensities, is likely to provide an important observational link between scaling relations and formation mechanisms in galaxies.Comment: accepted by Ap

Optical properties of the NGC 5328 group of galaxies

We present the results of a photometric and spectroscopic study of seven members of the NGC 5328 group of galaxies, a chain of galaxies spanning over 200 kpc (H_0 = 70 km/s/Mpc). We analyze the galaxy structure and study the emission line properties of the group members looking for signatures of star formation and AGN activity. We finally attempt to infer, from the modeling of line-strength indices, the stellar population ages of the early-type members. We investigate also the presence of a dwarf galaxy population associated with the bright members. The group is composed of a large fraction of early-type galaxies including NGC 5328 and NGC 5330, two bona fide ellipticals at the center of the group. In both galaxies no recent star formation episodes are detected by the H_beta vs. MgFe indices of these galaxies. 2MASX J13524838-2829584 has extremely boxy isophotes which are believed to be connected to a merging event: line strength indices suggest that this object probably had a recent star formation episode. A warped disc component emerges from the model subtracted image of 2MASX J13530016-2827061 which is interpreted as a signature of an ongoing interaction with the rest of the group. Ongoing star formation and nuclear activity is present in the projected outskirts of the group. The two early-type galaxies 2MASX J13523852-2830444 and 2MASX J13525393-2831421 show spectral signatures of star formation, while a Seyfert 2 type nuclear activity is detected in MCG -5-33-29.Comment: 18 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

A new sample of bright galaxy pairs in UZC

We present a new sample of bright galaxy pairs extracted applying an objective selection code to UZC catalog.The sample is volume limited to M$_{zw}$ = -18.9 +5 log ${\it h}$ and contains 89 galaxy pairs.We analyze the kinematical, morphological and photometrical properties of galaxies belonging to this sample. We show that velocity separation, $| \Delta v_{r} |$, between pair members is significantly lower in spiral type (S+S) pairs than in early-type (E+E) and mixed (E+S) pairs.This indicates that truly isolated galaxy pairs are more likely to be found among S+S pairs. We show that ellipticals are rare and underluminous in B and that late spirals (T $\ge$ 4) are overluminous. We confirm that the formation of bright ellipticals is a phenomenon linked to group/cluster environment, while galaxy-galaxy interaction may enhance blue luminosity of disk galaxies through SF phenomena. This last statement is supported by the presence of strong FIR emission from early spirals in this sample and by the high frequency of AGN/SB phenomenon, revealed mainly in pairs of low relative radial velocity separation and showing signs of interaction.Comment: A & A accepted, 6 pages, 6 figure

A Semantic Hierarchy for Erasure Policies

We consider the problem of logical data erasure, contrasting with physical erasure in the same way that end-to-end information flow control contrasts with access control. We present a semantic hierarchy for erasure policies, using a possibilistic knowledge-based semantics to define policy satisfaction such that there is an intuitively clear upper bound on what information an erasure policy permits to be retained. Our hierarchy allows a rich class of erasure policies to be expressed, taking account of the power of the attacker, how much information may be retained, and under what conditions it may be retained. While our main aim is to specify erasure policies, the semantic framework allows quite general information-flow policies to be formulated for a variety of semantic notions of secrecy.Comment: 18 pages, ICISS 201