272 research outputs found
The Detection of Low Mass Companions in Hyades Cluster Spectroscopic Binary Stars
We have observed a large sample of spectroscopic binary stars in the Hyades
Cluster, using high resolution infrared spectroscopy to detect low mass
companions. We combine our double-lined infrared measurements with well
constrained orbital parameters from visible light single-lined observations to
derive dynamical mass ratios. Using these results, along with photometry and
theoretical mass-luminosity relationships, we estimate the masses of the
individual components in our binaries. In this paper we present double-lined
solutions for 25 binaries in our sample, with mass ratios from ~0.1-0.8. This
corresponds to secondary masses as small as ~0.15 Msun. We include here our
preliminary detection of the companion to vB 142, with a very small mass ratio
of q=0.06+-0.04; this indicates that the companion may be a brown dwarf. This
paper is an initial step in a program to produce distributions of mass ratio
and secondary mass for Hyades cluster binaries with a wide range of periods, in
order to better understand binary star formation. As such, our emphasis is on
measuring these distributions, not on measuring precise orbital parameters for
individual binaries.Comment: 36 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical
Journa
Caby Photometry of the Hyades: Comparisons to the Field Stars
Intermediate-band photometry of the Hyades cluster on the Caby system is
presented for dwarf stars ranging from spectral type A through late K. A mean
hk, b-y relation is constructed using only single stars without anomalous
atmospheres and compared to the field stars of the solar neighborhood. For the
F dwarfs, the Hyades relation defines an approximate LOWER bound in the
two-color diagram, consistent with an [Fe/H] between +0.10 and +0.15. These
index-color diagrams follow the common convention of presenting stars with
highest abundance at the bottom of the plot although the index values for the
metal-rich stars are numerically larger. For field F dwarfs in the range [Fe/H]
between +0.4 and -1.0, [Fe/H] = -5.6 delta-hk + 0.125, with no evidence for a
color dependence in the slope. For the G and K dwarfs, the Hyades mean relation
crosses the field star distribution in the two-color diagram, defining an
approximate UPPER bound for the local disk stars. Stars found above the Hyades
stars fall in at least one of three categories: [Fe/H] below -0.7, [Fe/H] above
that of the Hyades, or chromospherically active. It is concluded that, contrary
to the predictions of model atmospheres, the hk index for cool dwarfs at a
given color hits a maximum value for stars below solar composition and, with
increasing [Fe/H] above some critical value, declines. This trend is
consistent, however, with the predictions from synthetic indices based upon
much narrower Ca filters where the crossover is caused by the metallicity
sensitivity of b-y.Comment: 13 pages, 9 eps figures, 1 tex table, 1 ascii tabl
Concepts of Intrinsic Value and Integrity of Plants in Organic Plant Breeding and Propagation
Manipulation and removal of defects in spontaneous optical patterns
Defects play an important role in a number of fields dealing with ordered
structures. They are often described in terms of their topology, mutual
interaction and their statistical characteristics. We demonstrate theoretically
and experimentally the possibility of an active manipulation and removal of
defects. We focus on the spontaneous formation of two-dimensional spatial
structures in a nonlinear optical system, a liquid crystal light valve under
single optical feedback. With increasing distance from threshold, the
spontaneously formed hexagonal pattern becomes disordered and contains several
defects. A scheme based on Fourier filtering allows us to remove defects and to
restore spatial order. Starting without control, the controlled area is
progressively expanded, such that defects are swept out of the active area.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
The role of molecular markers and marker assisted selection in breeding for organic agriculture
The Distance to the Hyades Cluster Based on HST Fine Guidance Sensor Parallaxes
Trigonometric parallax observations made with the Hubble Space Telescope's
Fine Guidance Sensor #3 (HST FGS) of seven Hyades Cluster members in six fields
of view have been analyzed along with their proper motions to determine the
distance to the cluster. Knowledge of the Cluster's convergent point and mean
proper motion are critical to the derivation of the distance to the center of
the cluster. Depending on the choice of the proper-motion system, the derived
cluster center distance varies by 9%. Adopting a reference distance of 46.1 pc
or m-M=3.32, which is derived from the ground-based parallaxes in the General
Catalogue of Trigonometric Stellar Parallaxes (1995 edition), the FK5/PPM
proper-motion system yields a distance 4% larger, while the Hanson (1975)
system yields a distance 2% smaller. The HST FGS parallaxes reported here yield
either a 14% or 5% larger distance depending on the choice of the proper-motion
system. Orbital parallaxes (Torres et al. 1997a, 1997b, 1997c) yield an average
distance 4% larger than the reference distance. The variation in the distance
derived from the HST data illustrates the importance of the proper-motion
system and the individual proper motions to the derivation of the distance to
the Hyades Cluster center, therefore a full utilization of the HST FGS
parallaxes awaits the establishment of an accurate and consistent proper-motion
system.Comment: 7 pages; This study is collaborated with 8 institution
Functional Characterization of a Newly Identified Group B Streptococcus Pullulanase Eliciting Antibodies Able to Prevent Alpha-Glucans Degradation
Streptococcal pullulanases have been recently proposed as key components of the metabolic machinery involved in bacterial adaptation to host niches. By sequence analysis of the Group B Streptococcus (GBS) genome we found a novel putative surface exposed protein with pullulanase activity. We named such a protein SAP. The sap gene is highly conserved among GBS strains and homologous genes, such as PulA and SpuA, have been described in other pathogenic streptococci. The SAP protein contains two N-terminal carbohydrate-binding motifs, followed by a catalytic domain and a C-terminal LPXTG cell wall-anchoring domain. In vitro analysis revealed that the recombinant form of SAP is able to degrade α-glucan polysaccharides, such as pullulan, glycogen and starch. Moreover, NMR analysis showed that SAP acts as a type I pullulanase. Studies performed on whole bacteria indicated that the presence of α-glucan polysaccharides in culture medium up-regulated the expression of SAP on bacterial surface as confirmed by FACS analysis and confocal imaging. Deletion of the sap gene resulted in a reduced capacity of bacteria to grow in medium containing pullulan or glycogen, but not glucose or maltose, confirming the pivotal role of SAP in GBS metabolism of α-glucans. As reported for other streptococcal pullulanases, we found specific anti-SAP antibodies in human sera from healthy volunteers. Investigation of the functional role of anti-SAP antibodies revealed that incubation of GBS in the presence of sera from animals immunized with SAP reduced the capacity of the bacterium to degrade pullulan. Of interest, anti-SAP sera, although to a lower extent, also inhibited Group A Streptococcus pullulanase activity. These data open new perspectives on the possibility to use SAP as a potential vaccine component inducing functional cross-reacting antibodies interfering with streptococcal infections
Clinical, radiologic, pathologic, and molecular characteristics of long-term survivors of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG): a collaborative report from the International and European Society for Pediatric Oncology DIPG registries
Purpose Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a brainstem malignancy with a median survival of < 1 year. The International and European Society for Pediatric Oncology DIPG Registries collaborated to compare clinical, radiologic, and histomolecular characteristics between short-term survivors (STSs) and long-term survivors (LTSs). Materials and Methods Data abstracted from registry databases included patients from North America, Australia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, and Croatia. Results Among 1,130 pediatric and young adults with radiographically confirmed DIPG, 122 (11%) were excluded. Of the 1,008 remaining patients, 101 (10%) were LTSs (survival ≥ 2 years). Median survival time was 11 months (interquartile range, 7.5 to 16 months), and 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year survival rates were 42.3% (95% CI, 38.1% to 44.1%), 9.6% (95% CI, 7.8% to 11.3%), 4.3% (95% CI, 3.2% to 5.8%), 3.2% (95% CI, 2.4% to 4.6%), and 2.2% (95% CI, 1.4% to 3.4%), respectively. LTSs, compared with STSs, more commonly presented at age < 3 or > 10 years (11% v 3% and 33% v 23%, respectively; P < .001) and with longer symptom duration ( P < .001). STSs, compared with LTSs, more commonly presented with cranial nerve palsy (83% v 73%, respectively; P = .008), ring enhancement (38% v 23%, respectively; P = .007), necrosis (42% v 26%, respectively; P = .009), and extrapontine extension (92% v 86%, respectively; P = .04). LTSs more commonly received systemic therapy at diagnosis (88% v 75% for STSs; P = .005). Biopsies and autopsies were performed in 299 patients (30%) and 77 patients (10%), respectively; 181 tumors (48%) were molecularly characterized. LTSs were more likely to harbor a HIST1H3B mutation (odds ratio, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.5; P = .002). Conclusion We report clinical, radiologic, and molecular factors that correlate with survival in children and young adults with DIPG, which are important for risk stratification in future clinical trials
Transformations in the law concerning slavery: legacies of the nineteenth century anti-slavery movement
Respecting and fulfilling the right of post-primary pupils to consent to participate in trials and evaluative research: A discussion paper
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