1,482 research outputs found
Palomar 13: a velocity dispersion inflated by binaries ?
Recently, combining radial velocities from Keck/HIRES echelle spectra with
published proper motion membership probabilities, Cote et al (2002) observed a
sample of 21 stars, probable members of Palomar 13, a globular cluster in the
Galactic halo. Their projected velocity dispersion sigma_p = 2.2 +/-0.4 km/s
gives a mass-to-light ratio M/L_V = 40 +24/-17, about one order of magnitude
larger than the usual estimate for globular clusters. We present here radial
velocities measured from three different CCD frames of commissioning
observations obtained with the new ESO/VLT instrument FLAMES (Fibre Large Array
Multi Element Spectrograph). From these data, now publicly available, we
measure the homogeneous radial velocities of eight probable members of this
globular cluster. A new projected velocity dispersion sigma_p = 0.6-0.9 +/-0.3
km/s implies Palomar 13 mass-to-light ratio M/L_V = 3-7, similar to the usual
value for globular clusters. We discuss briefly the two most obvious reasons
for the previous unusual mass-to-light ratio finding: binaries, now clearly
detected, and more homogeneous data from the multi-fibre FLAMES spectrograph.Comment: 9 pages, 2 Postscript figure
Resolved Stellar Populations of Super-Metal-Rich Star Clusters in the Bulge of M31
We have applied the MCS image deconvolution algorithm (Magain, Courbin & Sohy
1998) to HST/WFPC2 V, I data of three M31 bulge globular clusters (G170, G177,
and G198) and control fields near each cluster. All three clusters are clearly
detected, with an increase in stellar density with decreasing radius from the
cluster centers; this is the first time that stars have been resolved in bulge
clusters in the inner regions of another galaxy. From the RGB slopes of the
clusters and the difference in I magnitude between the HB and the top of the
RGB, we conclude that these three clusters all have roughly solar metallicity,
in agreement with earlier integrated-light spectroscopic measurements. Our data
support a picture whereby the M31 bulge clusters and field stars were born from
the same metal-rich gas, early in the galaxy formation.Comment: 7 pages, 4 Postscript figures, accepted for publication in A&
Mayall II = G1 in M31: Giant Globular Cluster or Core of a Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy ?
(Abridged version) Mayall II = G1 is one of the brightest globular clusters
belonging to M31, the Andromeda galaxy. Our observations with HST/WFPC2 provide
data for the (I vs. V-I) and (V vs. V-I) color-magnitude diagrams. From model
fitting, we determine a rather high mean metallicity of [Fe/H] = --0.95 +-
0.09, somewhat similar to 47 Tucanae. We find a larger spread in V-I than can
be explained by the measurement errors, and we attribute this to an intrinsic
metallicity dispersion amongst the stars of G1. So far, only omega Centauri,
the giant Galactic globular cluster, has been known to exhibit such an
intrinsic metallicity dispersion.
Three estimates of the total mass of this globular cluster can be obtained:
King mass = 15 x 10^6 with M/Lv ~ 7.5, Virial mass = 7.3 x 10^6 with M/Lv ~
3.6, and King-Michie mass range from 14 to 17 x 10^6. Although uncertain, all
of these mass estimates make G1 more than twice as massive as omega Centauri.
Such large masses relate to the metallicity spread whose origin is still
unknown (either self-enrichment, an inhomogeneous proto-cluster cloud, or
remaining core of a dwarf galaxy). When considering the positions of G1 in the
different diagrams defined by Kormendy (1985), G1 always appears on the
sequence defined by globular clusters, and definitely away from the other
sequences defined by elliptical galaxies, bulges, and dwarf spheroidal
galaxies. The same is true for omega Centauri and for the nucleus of the dwarf
elliptical NGC 205. This does not prove that all (massive) globular clusters
are the remnant cores of nucleated dwarf galaxies.Comment: 24 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in AJ (August 2001
Kinematic Masses of Super Star Clusters in M82 from High-Resolution Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Using high-resolution (R~22,000) near-infrared (1.51 -- 1.75 microns) spectra
from Keck Observatory, we measure the kinematic masses of two super star
clusters in M82. Cross-correlation of the spectra with template spectra of cool
evolved stars gives stellar velocity dispersions of sigma_r=15.9 +/- 0.8 km/s
for MGG-9 and sigma_r=11.4 +/- 0.8 km/s for MGG-11. The cluster spectra are
dominated by the light of red supergiants, and correlate most closely with
template supergiants of spectral types M0 and M4.5. We fit King models to the
observed profiles of the clusters in archival HST/NICMOS images to measure the
half-light radii. Applying the virial theorem, we determine masses of 1.5 +/-
0.3 x 10^6 M_sun for MGG-9 and 3.5 +/- 0.7 x 10^5 M_sun for MGG-11. Population
synthesis modelling suggests that MGG-9 is consistent with a standard initial
mass function, whereas MGG-11 appears to be deficient in low-mass stars
relative to a standard IMF. There is, however, evidence of mass segregation in
the clusters, in which case the virial mass estimates would represent lower
limits.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures; ApJ, in pres
Clinical experience with Timentin in severe hospital infections
Sixty-four severe infections in hospitalized patients were treated with intravenous Timentin. Most patients (mean age: 50-5 years, range 18-85) had serious underlying conditions such as agranulocytosis, heart failure, cancer, diabetes mellitus, chronic alcoholism or other functional or anatomical abnormalities. Forty-three episodes were bacteriologically proved, and bacteraemia was diagnosed in 18. The sites of infection were: lower respiratory tract (10), upper respiratory tract (10), soft tissues(9), urinary tract (7), bones (6), peritoneal cavity (3), meninges (1) and pelvis (1). Inaddition, 13 episodes of fever and four of septicaemia in patients with agranulocytosis were treated with Timentin plus amilcacin. Overall, 59% of the episodes were cured, 14% improved and 17% failed to respond. In 9% of cases the efficacy of the Timentin was unassessable mainly because of concurrent administration of other antimicrobials. Failure appeared to be more frequent in soft tissue and intra-abdominal infections, in patients infected with bacteria susceptibleto Timentin but resistant to ticarcillin and in patients superinfected with Timentin-resistant strains. Major side effects were haemorrhagic diathesis with platelet dysfunction (1), severe water sodium overload (1), and possibly pancreatitis (1).Other side effects were mild: catheter-related phlebitis, and abnormal but clinically insignificant laboratory test results. Timentin appears to be an effective and safebroad-spectrum combination which compares favourably with third-generation cephalosporins in the treatment of severe hospital infections. More experience is needed to decide whether the some what lower response rate in patients infected with ticarcillin-resistant strains is significan
No Increase of the Red-Giant-Branch Tip Luminosity Toward the Center of M31
We present observations with the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary
Camera 2 of three fields centered on super-metal-rich globular clusters in the
bulge of M31. Our (I,V-I) color-magnitude diagrams reach as faint as I ~ 26.5
mag and clearly reveal the magnitude of the first ascent red giant branch (RGB)
tip. We find that the apparent I magnitude of the RGB tip does not become
brighter near the center of M31 as concluded by previous investigators. Our
observations and artificial star experiments presented in this study strongly
support the idea that previous very bright stars were likely the result of
spurious detections of blended stars due to crowding in lower resolution
images. On the contrary, our observations indicate that, at a mean projected
galactocentric distance of 1.1 kpc, the RGB tip is some 1.3 magnitudes fainter
than it is at 7 kpc. An analysis of this difference in RGB tip magnitude
suggests that the M31 bulge stellar population has a mean metallicity close to
that of the Sun.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ, June 20, 1999 issu
Evaluation of a new serological test for the detection of anti-Coxiella and anti-Rickettsia antibodies.
Coxiella burnetii and members of the genus Rickettsia are obligate intracellular bacteria. Since cultivation of these organisms requires dedicated techniques, their diagnosis usually relies on serological or molecular biology methods. Immunofluorescence is considered the gold standard to detect antibody-reactivity towards these organisms. Here, we assessed the performance of a new automated epifluorescence immunoassay (InoDiag) to detect IgM and IgG against C. burnetii, Rickettsia typhi and Rickettsia conorii. Samples were tested with the InoDiag assay. A total of 213 sera were tested, of which 63 samples from Q fever, 20 from spotted fever rickettsiosis, 6 from murine typhus and 124 controls. InoDiag results were compared to micro-immunofluorescence. For acute Q fever, the sensitivity of phase 2 IgG was only of 30% with a cutoff of 1 arbitrary unit (AU). In patients with acute Q fever with positive IF IgM, sensitivity reached 83% with the same cutoff. Sensitivity for chronic Q fever was 100% whereas sensitivity for past Q fever was 65%. Sensitivity for spotted Mediterranean fever and murine typhus were 91% and 100%, respectively. Both assays exhibited a good specificity in control groups, ranging from 79% in sera from patients with unrelated diseases or EBV positivity to 100% in sera from healthy patients. In conclusion, the InoDiag assay exhibits an excellent performance for the diagnosis of chronic Q fever but a very low IgG sensitivity for acute Q fever likely due to low reactivity of phase 2 antigens present on the glass slide. This defect is partially compensated by the detection of IgM. Because it exhibits a good negative predictive value, the InoDiag assay is valuable to rule out a chronic Q fever. For the diagnosis of rickettsial diseases, the sensitivity of the InoDiag method is similar to conventional immunofluorescence
Detection of ionized gas in the globular cluster 47 Tucanae
We report the detection of ionized intracluster gas in the globular cluster
47 Tucanae. Pulsars in this cluster with a negative period derivative, which
must lie in the distant half of the cluster, have significantly higher measured
integrated electron column densities than the pulsars with a positive period
derivative. We derive the plasma density within the central few pc of the
cluster using two different methods which yield consistent values. Our best
estimate of n_e = (0.067+-0.015)/cm^3 is about 100 times the free electron
density of the ISM in the vicinity of 47 Tucanae, and the ionized gas is
probably the dominant component of the intracluster medium.Comment: 5 pages, 3 included figures, accepted for publication by ApJ Letter
Model predictions of wave overwash extent into the marginal ice zone
A model of the extent of wave driven overwash into fields of sea ice floes is
proposed. The extent model builds on previous work modelling wave overwash of a
single floe by regular waves by including irregular incoming waves and random
floe fields. The model is validated against a laboratory experiment. It is then
used to study the extent of wave overwash into marginal ice zones consisting of
pancake and fragmented floe fields. The effects of wave conditions and floe
geometry on predicted extents are investigated. Finally, the model is used to
predict the wave overwash extent for the conditions observed during a winter
(July) 2017 Antarctic voyage in which the sea surface was monitored by a
stereo-camera system
Tidal spin-up of stars in dense stellar cusps around massive black holes
We show that main-sequence stars in dense stellar cusps around massive black
holes are likely to rotate at a significant fraction of the centrifugal breakup
velocity due to spin-up by hyperbolic tidal encounters. We use realistic
stellar structure models to calculate analytically the tidal spin-up in soft
encounters, and extrapolate these results to close and penetrating collisions
using smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations. We find that the spin-up
falls off only slowly with distance from the black hole because the increased
tidal coupling in slower collisions at larger distances compensates for the
decrease in the stellar density. We apply our results to the stars near the
massive black hole in the Galactic Center. Over their lifetime, ~1 Msol main
sequence stars in the inner 0.3 pc of the Galactic Center are spun-up on
average to ~10%--30% of the centrifugal breakup limit. Such rotation is ~20--60
times higher than is usual for such stars and may affect their subsequent
evolution and their observed properties.Comment: 25 pages, 7 figures. Submitted to Ap
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