Rotational spectroscopy of AlO: Low N transitions of astronomical interest in the X^2 Sigma^+ state

The detection of rotational transitions of the AlO radical at millimeter wavelengths from an astronomical source has recently been reported. In view of this, rotational transitions in the ground X^2 Sigma^+ state of AlO have been reinvestigated. Comparisons between Fourier transform and microwave data indicate a discrepancy regarding the derived value of gamma_D in the v = 0 level of the ground state. This discrepancy is discussed in the light of comparisons between experimental data and synthesized rotational spectra in the v = 0, 1 and 2 levels of X^2 Sigma^+. A list of calculated rotational lines in v = 0, 1 and 2 of the ground state up to N' = 11 is presented which should aid astronomers in analysis and interpretation of observed AlO data and also facilitate future searches for this radical.Comment: To appear in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Intravenös anestesi med sufentanil och midazolam på kanin

Sövning av kaniner är förenat med stora risker och säkra alternativ till inhalationsanestesi behöver utvecklas. I denna studie utvärderades intravenös anestesi med midazolam och sufentanil, för induktion och underhåll, på åtta New Zeeland White-kaniner av honkön. Samtliga kaniner premedicinerades med medetomidin i låg dos. Narkosen inducerades intravenöst med en blandning av midazolam och sufentanil (medeldos 0,09 mg/kg midazolam och 0,48 µg/kg sufentanil). Kaninerna hölls därefter sövda i 60 minuter via kontinuerlig infusion av samma blandning (medeldos 0,13 mg/kg/h midazolam och 0,72 µg/kg/h sufentanil). Induktionen var snabb (medel ± SD: 161 ± 36 s), kaninerna var avslappnade, ingen apné sågs och blind intubering var möjlig. Även under anestesin var kaninerna avslappnade men andningen var kraftigt hämmad (< 14 /min), vilket speglades i det höga partiella koldioxidtrycket (medel ± SD: 9,1 ± 1,6 kPa). Även blodtrycket sänktes kraftigt (30 %). Alla kaniner återhämtade sig utan komplikationer. Studien visar att mekanisk ventilation är en nödvändighet vid användning av midazolam och sufentanil samt att intravenös vätsketerapi med kolloidal lösning är att rekommendera med anledning av det låga blodtryck som kunde iakttas.Rabbits are considered being high risk anaesthetic patients and there is a need for reliable and safe alternatives to inhalation anaesthesia. In this study, intravenous injection of midazolam and sufentanil was evaluated for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia in eight female New Zeeland White rabbits. Prior to anaesthesia, all rabbits were lightly sedated with medetomidine. Anaesthesia was induced intravenously using a mixture of midazolam and sufentanil (0,09 mg/kg midazolam, 0,48 µg/kg sufentanil), and maintained during 60 minutes by continuous infusion of the same mixture (0,13 mg/kg/h midazolam, 0,72 µg/kg/h sufentanil). The induction was fast (mean ± SD: 161 ± 36 s), the rabbits were relaxed, no apnoea was observed and blind tracheal intubation could be performed. During anaesthesia the rabbits were relaxed but respiration was severely depressed (< 14 /min), a fact also reflected in high partial pressures of arterial carbon dioxide (mean ± SD: 9,1 ± 1,6 kPa). A pronounced drop in arterial blood pressure (30 %) could also be observed. All rabbits recovered without complications. The results show that mechanical ventilation is required during anaesthesia with midazolam and sufentanil, and intravenous fluid therapy using colloids is warranted due to the observed hypotension during anaesthesia

Remarkable changes in the near-infrared spectrum of the nova-like variable V4332 Sgr

We report on recent near-IR observations of V4332 Sgr - the nova-like variable that erupted in 1994. Its rapid, post-outburst evolution to a cool M type giant/supergiant, soon after its outburst, had showed that it was an unusual object differing from other eruptive variables like classical/symbiotic novae or born-again AGB stars. The present study of V4332 Sgr was motivated by the keen interest in the recent eruption of V838 Mon - which along with V4332 Sgr - is believed to belong to a new class of objects (we propose they may be called "quasi-novae"). Our observations show new developments in the evolution of V4332 Sgr. The most striking feature is the detection of several molecular bands of AlO - a rarely seen molecule in astronomical spectra - in the JHK spectra. Many of these bands are being detected for the first time. The only other detection of some of these AlO bands are in V838 Mon, thereby showing further spectral similarities between the two objects. JHK photometry shows the development of a new dust shell around V4332 Sgr with a temperature of ~ 900K. This dust shell does not appear to be associated with ejecta of the 1994 outburst but is due to a second mass-loss episode which is not expected in a classical nova outburst. The cold molecular environment, suggested by the AlO emission, is also not expected in novae ejecta. We model the AlO bands and also discuss the possible formation mechanism of the AlO.Comment: To appear in Ap.J(L), 3 figure

A search for radioactive 26Al in the nova-like variable V4332 Sagittarii

We have searched for the important radioactive isotope 26Al in the nova-like source V4332 Sgr. Recent results from gamma ray astronomy show that there is pervasive emission of the 1.809 MeV gamma ray photon, arising from the decay of 26Al to 26Mg, from all over the galactic plane. Though the sites from where this emission originates are not clearly established, novae are believed to be an important contributing source. In this context, V4332 Sgr presented a rare opportunity to observationally investigate whether novae or novae-like sources synthesize 26Al and to what extent. Strong AlO bands in the near-IR have been reported in this object recently. As molecular bands of different isotopic compositions are readily resolved spectroscopically (e.g. 12CO and 13CO), it was thought that the components of AlO associated with 26Al and stable 27Al could be detected as separate bands. Our spectra indicate that there is no strong presence of 26Al in V4332 Sgr. A reliable upper limit of 0.10 for the 26Al/27Al ratio is determined which constitutes the first observational constraint for this ratio in a potential 26Al producing source. While V4332 Sgr is not a typical nova, its outburst amplitude and light-curve behaviour bear close similarity to that of novae. Hence, although the results from V4332 Sgr cannot be directly extended to novae in general, the limit on the observed 26Al/27Al ratio could be a useful input in constraining rather uncertain nucleosynthesis models for the production of 26Al in novae/novae-like sources. By comparing the observed 26Al/27Al ratio in V4332 Sgr with that expected in classical novae it appears unlikely that the progenitor of V4332 Sgr is an Oxygen-Neon-Magnesium white dwarf.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, to appear in Ap.J(L) July 200

Absorption Cross Sections and Kinetics of Formation of AlO at 298 K

The rate coefficient of the Al + O2 reaction has been measured in a laser ablation-fast flow tube apparatus by monitoring atomic Al resonance absorption and AlO laser induced fluorescence (LIF). The rate constant has been found to be k(298 K) = (1.68 ± 0.24) × 10-10 cm3 molecule-1 s-1. Under conditions of near-stoichiometric conversion of Al into AlO, the absorption cross section of AlO at the bandhead of the B2Σ+(v'=0)←X2Σ+(v''=0) transition has been determined to be σ(298 K, 1 hPa) = (6.7 ± 1.6) × 10-15 cm2 molecule-1 (0.003 nm resolution), in very good agreement with theoretical predictions

Realtidsestimering av huvudets vridning i lågupplösta videosekvenser från fotbollsmatcher

This report examines the problem of real-time head pose estimation in low-resolution football footage. A method is presented for inferring the head pose using a combination of footage and knowledge of the locations of the football and players. An ensemble of randomized ferns is compared with a support vector machine for processing the footage, while a support vector machine performs pattern recognition on the location data. Combining the two sources of information outperforms either in isolation. The location of the football turns out to be an important piece of information.QC 20100707Capturing and Visualizing Large scale Human Action (ACTVIS

EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL STUDIES OF THE NIOBIUM MONOCARBIDE (NbC) MOLECULE.

Author Institution: Stockholm University, Box 6730, S-113 85 Stockholm, Sweden.; National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0R6.Laser induced fluorescence studies have been conducted on the jet-cooled NbC molecule. Several band systems lie in the yellow-red region. One of them has been characterized as a ${^{2}}\Pi-^{2}\Delta$ transition in which the ${^{2}}\Delta$ state is believed to be the ground electronic state. One vibronic band has so far been examined at high enough resolution to resolve the nuclear magnetic hyperfine structure which has been analyzed and interpreted. Further information on this molecule has been obtained theoretically using the density functional formalism. A detailed account of these calculations will also be presented