Ca II Triplet Spectroscopy of Small Magellanic Cloud Red Giants. III. Abundances and Velocities for a Sample of 14 Clusters

We obtained spectra of red giants in 15 Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) clusters in the region of the CaII lines with FORS2 on the Very Large Telescope (VLT). We determined the mean metallicity and radial velocity with mean errors of 0.05 dex and 2.6 km/s, respectively, from a mean of 6.5 members per cluster. One cluster (B113) was too young for a reliable metallicity determination and was excluded from the sample. We combined the sample studied here with 15 clusters previously studied by us using the same technique, and with 7 clusters whose metallicities determined by other authors are on a scale similar to ours. This compilation of 36 clusters is the largest SMC cluster sample currently available with accurate and homogeneously determined metallicities. We found a high probability that the metallicity distribution is bimodal, with potential peaks at -1.1 and -0.8 dex. Our data show no strong evidence of a metallicity gradient in the SMC clusters, somewhat at odds with recent evidence from CaT spectra of a large sample of field stars Dobbie et al. (2014). This may be revealing possible differences in the chemical history of clusters and field stars. Our clusters show a significant dispersion of metallicities, whatever age is considered, which could be reflecting the lack of a unique AMR in this galaxy. None of the chemical evolution models currently available in the literature satisfactorily represents the global chemical enrichment processes of SMC clusters.Comment: 49 pages, 15 figures. Accepted for publication in A

Determinación de parámetros fundamentales de dos cúmulos abiertos del cuarto cuadrante galáctico en base a fotometría de Washington

We present preliminary results obtained from a photometric analysis in the Washington system C and T1 passbands of two poorly known open clusters (OCs) located in the fourth Galactic quadrant: BH 84 and BH 211. Based on the best fits of theoretical isochrones to the (T1, C −T1) colour- magnitude diagrams, we derive the fundamental cluster parameters. The present results are part of a major project which aims to characterize almost a hundred OCs observed and analyzed in a homogeneous way.Presentamos resultados preliminares obtenidos a partir del análisis fotométrico en las bandas C y T1 del Sistema de Washington de 2 cúmulos abiertos (CAs) pobremente estudiados del cuarto cuadrante galáctico: BH 84 y BH 211. En base a los mejores ajustes de isócronas teóricas a los diagramas color-magnitud (T1, C −T1), derivamos los parámetros fundamentales de ambos objetos. Los presentes resultados constituyen parte de un proyecto mayor que prevé la caracterización de casi un centenar de CAs observados y analizados de manera homogénea.Fil: Marcionni, N.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía y Física; ArgentinaFil: Parisi, M. C.. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Observatorio Astronomico de Cordoba; ArgentinaFil: Claria Olmedo, Juan Jose. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Observatorio Astronomico de Cordoba; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ahumada, Andrea Veronica. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Observatorio Astronomico de Cordoba; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Palma, Tali. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Observatorio Astronomico de Cordoba; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Piatti, Andres Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciónes Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio. - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio; Argentin

The Changing Landscape for Stroke\ua0Prevention in AF: Findings From the GLORIA-AF Registry Phase 2

Background GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, global registry program describing antithrombotic treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke. Phase 2 began when dabigatran, the first non\u2013vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), became available. Objectives This study sought to describe phase 2 baseline data and compare these with the pre-NOAC era collected during phase 1. Methods During phase 2, 15,641 consenting patients were enrolled (November 2011 to December 2014); 15,092 were eligible. This pre-specified cross-sectional analysis describes eligible patients\u2019 baseline characteristics. Atrial fibrillation disease characteristics, medical outcomes, and concomitant diseases and medications were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Of the total patients, 45.5% were female; median age was 71 (interquartile range: 64, 78) years. Patients were from Europe (47.1%), North America (22.5%), Asia (20.3%), Latin America (6.0%), and the Middle East/Africa (4.0%). Most had high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc [Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age  6575 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65 to 74 years, Sex category] score  652; 86.1%); 13.9% had moderate risk (CHA2DS2-VASc = 1). Overall, 79.9% received oral anticoagulants, of whom 47.6% received NOAC and 32.3% vitamin K antagonists (VKA); 12.1% received antiplatelet agents; 7.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. For comparison, the proportion of phase 1 patients (of N = 1,063 all eligible) prescribed VKA was 32.8%, acetylsalicylic acid 41.7%, and no therapy 20.2%. In Europe in phase 2, treatment with NOAC was more common than VKA (52.3% and 37.8%, respectively); 6.0% of patients received antiplatelet treatment; and 3.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. In North America, 52.1%, 26.2%, and 14.0% of patients received NOAC, VKA, and antiplatelet drugs, respectively; 7.5% received no antithrombotic treatment. NOAC use was less common in Asia (27.7%), where 27.5% of patients received VKA, 25.0% antiplatelet drugs, and 19.8% no antithrombotic treatment. Conclusions The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in Asia and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701

Determination of fundamental astrophysical properties of poorly known galactic open clusters from Washington photometry

Abstract: As a complement to our photometric studies on southern open clusters (OCs), we present preliminary results obtained from a photometric analysis in the Washington system C and T1 passbands of some poorly known Galactic OCs. The observations were made using the CTIO 0.9 m telescope. Basically, we determine reddening, distance, and age of the observed objects. The present results are part of a major project which aims to characterize almost a hundred OCs observed and analyzed in a homogeneous way.Fil: Parisi, María Celeste. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba; Argentina.Fil: Parisi, María Celeste. Conicet. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; Argentina.Fil: Clariá Olmedo, Juan José. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba; Argentina.Fil: Ahumada, Andrea Verónica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba; Argentina.Otras Ciencias Naturales y Exacta

CaTaclysm in the SMC - star clusters vs. field stars

We present new results based on VLT Ca Triplet (CaT) medium resolution spectroscopy of some 200 red giantmembers of 29 SMC intermediate - old age clusters. We derive mean cluster velocities to a few km/s and mean metallicities to 0.05 dex. We also derive accurate velocities and metallicities for about 750 surrounding field giants. We investigate the metallicity distribution, age-metallicity relation and metallicity gradient in great detail for the SMC using this large and homogeneous database. We find a number of interesting results and some surprising differences between the clusters and fields. The clusters display a likely bimodal metallicity distribution while the field stars are unimodal. The clusters show no strong evidence of a metallicity gradient while the field stars show a strong negative gradient in the inner region of the galaxy that appears to reverse sign in the outer region. The difference between the cluster metallicity and the mean of the surrounding field stars is a strong function of the cluster metallicity. The age-metallicity relation of the clusters shows a significant intrinsic metallicity dispersion at all ages, and no satisfactory fit to any current chemical evolution model. We discuss these results and their implications for the formation and evolution of the SMC

Propiedades qu\uedmicas de estrellas del campo de la Nube Menor de Magallanes

In this paper we analyze the chemical properties of 400 red giant stars belonging to 15 areas spread over the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). Metallicities were determined from the equivalent widths of the CaII triplet lines, measured on spectra obtained with the FORS2 instrument at the Very Large Telescope located on Paranal (Chile). We add to this sample other 350 red giant stars previously investigated by our group using the same technique. Using this extended sample, we analyze and discuss the metallicity distribution and the possible existence of a metallicity gradient among the field stars of the SMC. We also compare our results to the chemical properties inferred for the corresponding 30 star clusters of the SMC, whose metallicities have been determined in a homogeneous scale

B.R.N.O. Contributions #38 Times of minima

This paper presents observations of eclipsing binaries acquired by members and cooperating observers of the Variable Star and Exoplanet Section of Czech Astronomical Society (B.R.N.O. observing project). Paper contains 3417 times of minima for 969 objects. It was obtained by 80 observers during 2011 – 2013 period. Some neglected southern eclipsing binaries and newly discovered stars by the observers of project B.R.N.O. are included in the list. New accurate ephemerides have been found for 447 binary systems. Time of primary minimum of long period variable eps Aur is presented as wellFil: Hoňková, K. Variable Star and Exoplanet Section of Czech Astronomical Society; República Checa. Observatory and Planetarium of Johann Palisa; República ChecaFil: Juryšek, J. Variable Star and Exoplanet Section of Czech Astronomical Society; República Checa. Observatory and Planetarium of Johann Palisa; República ChecaFil: Lehký, M. Variable Star and Exoplanet Section of Czech Astronomical Society; República Checa. Astronomical Society at Hradec Kralove; República ChecaFil: Šmelcer, L. Variable Star and Exoplanet Section of Czech Astronomical Society; República Checa. Valašské Meziříčí Observatory; República ChecaFil: Trnka, J. Variable Star and Exoplanet Section of Czech Astronomical Society; República Checa. City Observatory Slaný; República ChecaFil: Colazo, C. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Observatorio Astronomico de Cordoba; Argentina. Estación Astrofísica Bosque Alegre; ArgentinaFil: Guzzo, P. Estación Astrofísica Bosque Alegre; ArgentinaFil: Mina, Federico Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Observatorio Astronomico de Cordoba; ArgentinaFil: Quinones, C. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Observatorio Astronomico de Cordoba; ArgentinaFil: Taormina, M. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Observatorio Astronomico de Cordoba; ArgentinaFil: Melia, R. Observatorio Remoto Bosque Alegre; ArgentinaFil: Schneiter, Ernesto Matías. Estación Astrofísica Bosque Alegre; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Scavuzzo, Alan Martin. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Observatorio Astronomico de Cordoba; ArgentinaFil: Marcionni, M. Estación Astrofísica Bosque Alegre; ArgentinaFil: Tapia, L. Estación Astrofísica Bosque Alegre; ArgentinaFil: Fasseta, G. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Observatorio Astronomico de Cordoba; ArgentinaFil: Suarez, N. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Observatorio Astronomico de Cordoba; ArgentinaFil: Vilášek, M. Observatory and Planetarium of Johann Palisa; República ChecaFil: Rozehnal, J.. Štefánik Observatory; República ChecaFil: Kalisch, T. Variable Star and Exoplanet Section of Czech Astronomical Society; República Checa. Observatory and Planetarium of Johann Palisa; República ChecaFil: Lang, K.. Klokkerholm; DinamarcaFil: Gorková, S. ALTAN.Observatory; República ChecaFil: Novysedlák, R. Námestie sv. Martina; EslovaquiaFil: Salvaggio, F. Gruppo Astrofili Catanesi; ItaliaFil: Smyčka, T. Variable Star and Exoplanet Section of Czech Astronomical Society; República Checa. City Observatory Slaný; República ChecaFil: Spurný, M. Nejdlova 16; República ChecaFil: Wikander, T. Ornäs Backyard; República ChecaFil: Mravik, J. Slobodana Jajića 16; República ChecaFil: Šuchaň, J. Kraskova 12; EslovaquiaFil: Čaloud, J.. V Dolině 211; República Chec