Disk stars in the Milky Way detected beyond 25 kpc from its center

CONTEXT. The maximum size of the Galactic stellar disk is not yet known. Some studies have suggested an abrupt drop-off of the stellar density of the disk at Galactocentric distances $R\gtrsim 15$ kpc, which means that in practice no disk stars or only very few of them should be found beyond this limit. However, stars in the Milky Way plane are detected at larger distances. In addition to the halo component, star counts have placed the end of the disk beyond 20 kpc, although this has not been spectroscopically confirmed so far. AIMS. Here, we aim to spectroscopically confirm the presence of the disk stars up to much larger distances. METHODS. With data from the LAMOST and SDSS-APOGEE spectroscopic surveys, we statistically derived the maximum distance at which the metallicity distribution of stars in the Galactic plane is distinct from that of the halo populations. RESULTS. Our analysis reveals the presence of disk stars at R>26 kpc (99.7% C.L.) and even at R>31 kpc (95.4% C.L.).Comment: 4 pages, accepted to be published in A&A-Letter

The 50 years experience of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) use in West Syndrome: literatura review and UNIFESP protocol

INTRODUÇÃO: A eficácia do ACTH no tratamento da Síndrome de West (SW) é extensivamente debatida na literatura, o mesmo ocorrendo em relação às doses, efeitos colaterais e protocolos de utilização. OBJETIVO: Revisar, analisar criticamente e discutir os achados das publicações mais recentes e relevantes relacionadas ao uso do ACTH no tratamento da SW. METODOLOGIA: Pesquisou-se as bases de dados MEDLINE e PUBMED, utilizando-se as palavras-chave ACTH e WEST SYNDROME, período de 1997 a 2007. RESULTADOS: Foram obtidos 96 títulos no MEDLINE e 158 no PUBMED, e dentre eles foram selecionados 22 publicações. Outros trabalhos anteriores ao período avaliado mas que apresentavam relevância especial no contexto desta revisão também foram incluídos. CONCLUSÕES: Há evidências de que o ACTH provavelmente apresente eficácia maior no controle imediato dos espasmos e da hipsarritmia. Entretanto, não há evidências concretas desta superioridade no longo prazo (controle de crises a longo prazo e interrrupção ou prevenção de comprometimento do desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor).INTRODUCTION: It is extensively discussed in the literature the efficacy of ACTH in West Syndrome (WS) as well, dosage, best protocols and side effects. OBJECTIVE: Analyze and discuss the most recent and relevant publication related to ACTH in patients with WS. METHODOLOGY: Literature publication was selected from MEDLINE and PUBMED between 1997 to 2007 using the following key words: "ACTH" and " West Syndrome". RESULTS: 96 titles were referral at medline and 158 at pubmed. 22 were selected and previous studies with special relevance were also included. CONCLUSIONS: There are evidences that ACTH probably has efficacy for immediately control of spasms and hypsarrhythmia. There is no evidence about the efficacy of ACTH in long term concerning seizures control and prevent delayed developmental)

A Phenomenology of the Integration of Faith and Learning

This phenomenological investigation examined how eight student-nominated faculty who teach at an evangelical Christian liberal arts university describe their understanding and practice of the Integration of Faith and Learning (IFL). Collected data via informal, conversational, taped interviews led to the emergence of two primary themes: the Inseparability of Faith from Practice and the Outworking of Faith in Practice. The findings of the study highlight the need to create a more conducive context in which students can learn IFL and call for a re-examination of the already murky discourse surrounding definitional aspects of IFL. The study proposes to move the discourse forward by offering a new, yet to be discussed construct that emanated from the participants of this study, ontological foundation. A conceptual model describing its relationship with IFL is proposed