883 research outputs found
The Quiescent Spectrum of the AM CVn star CP Eri
We used the 6.5m MMT to obtain a spectrum of the AM CVn star CP Eri in
quiescence. The spectrum is dominated by He I emission lines, which are clearly
double peaked with a peak-to-peak separation of ~1900 km/s. The spectrum is
similar to that of the longer period AM CVn systems GP Com and CE 315, linking
the short and the long period AM CVn systems. In contrast with GP Com and CE
315, the spectrum of CP Eri does not show a central 'spike' in the line
profiles, but it does show lines of SiII in emission. The presence of these
lines indicates that the material being transferred is of higher metallicity
than in GP Com and CE 315, which, combined with the low proper motion of the
system, probably excludes a halo origin of the progenitor of CP Eri. We
constrain the primary mass to M_1>0.27 M_sun and the orbital inclination to 33
degr < i < 80 degr. The presence of the He I lines in emission opens up the
possibility for phase resolved spectroscopic studies which allows a
determination of the system parameters and a detailed study of helium accretion
disks under highly varying circumstances.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ Letter
Presentation and Outcomes After Medical and Surgical Treatment Versus Medical Treatment Alone of Spontaneous Infectious Spondylodiscitis: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.
Study Design: Systematic literature review.
Objectives: The aims of this study were to (1) describe the clinical features, disabilities, and incidence of neurologic deficits of pyogenic spondylodiscitis prior to treatment and (2) compare the functional outcomes between patients who underwent medical treatment alone or in combination with surgery for pyogenic spondylodiscitis.
Methods: A systematic literature review was performed using PubMed according to PRISMA guidelines. No year restriction was put in place. Statistical analysis of pooled data, when documented in the original report (ie, number of patients with desired variable and number of patients evaluated), was conducted to determine the most common presenting symptoms, incidence of pre- and postoperative neurologic deficits, associated comorbidities, infectious pathogens, approach for surgery when performed, and duration of hospitalization. Outcomes data, including return to work status, resolution of back pain, and functional recovery were also pooled among all studies and surgery-specific studies alone. Meta-analysis of studies with subgroup analysis of pain-free outcome in surgical and medical patients was performed.
Results: Fifty of 1286 studies were included, comprising 4173 patients undergoing either medical treatment alone or in combination with surgery. Back pain was the most common presenting symptom, reported in 91% of patients. Neurologic deficit was noted in 31% of patients.
Conclusion: Medical management remains first-line treatment of infectious pyogenic spondylodiscitis. Surgery may be indicated for progressive pain, persistent infection on imaging, deformity or neurologic deficits. If surgery is required, reported literature shows potential for significant pain reduction, improved neurologic function and a high number of patients returning to a normal functional/work status
A Population of Faint Non-Transient Low Mass Black Hole Binaries
We study the thermal and viscous stability of accretion flows in Low Mass
Black Hole Binaries (LMBHBs). We consider a model in which an inner
advection-dominated accretion flow (ADAF) is surrounded by a geometrically thin
accretion disk, the transition between the two zones occurring at a radius
R_tr. In all the known LMBHBs, R_tr appears to be such that the outer disks
could suffer from a global thermal-viscous instability. This instability is
likely to cause the transient behavior of these systems. However, in most
cases, if R_tr were slightly larger than the estimated values, the systems
would be globally stable. This suggests that a population of faint persistent
LMBHBs with globally stable outer disks could be present in the Galaxy. Such
LMBHBs would be hard to detect because they would lack large amplitude
outbursts, and because their ADAF zones would have very low radiative
efficiencies, making the systems very dim. We present model spectra of such
systems covering the optical and X-ray bands.Comment: LateX, 37 pages, 11 figures; Accepted for publication in The
Astrophysical Journa
Democratic cultural policy : democratic forms and policy consequences
The forms that are adopted to give practical meaning to democracy are assessed to identify what their implications are for the production of public policies in general and cultural policies in particular. A comparison of direct, representative, democratic elitist and deliberative versions of democracy identifies clear differences between them in terms of policy form and democratic practice. Further elaboration of these differences and their consequences are identified as areas for further research
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