Final Report: SIREV - Development of a Functional Model

Die Entwicklung eines Funktionsmodells für ein vorausschauendes Radarsystem einschließlich der Integration der Hardware in einen DLR-Hubschrauber und die Entwicklung geeigneter Algorithmen und Software für die Prozessierung wurde durchgeführt. Mit STN Atlas GmbH hat das DLR das System "Sector Imaging Radar for Enhanced Vision" (SIREV) mit IHE Karlsruhe und AeroSensing entwickelt. / Preis: 36,80

Abundance analysis of targets for the COROT / MONS asteroseimology missions I. Semi-automatic abundance analysis of the gamma Dor star HD 49434

One of the goals of the ground-based support program for the COROT and MONS/Roemer satellite missions is to select and characterise suitable target stars for the part of the missions dedicated to asteroseismology. While the global atmospheric parameters may be determined with good accuracy from the Stromgren indices, careful abundance analysis must be made for the proposed main targets. This is a time consuming process considering the long list of primary and secondary targets. We have therefore developed new software called VWA for this task. The VWA automatically selects the least blended lines from the atomic line database VALD, and consequently adjusts the abundance in order to find the best match between the calculated and observed spectra. The variability of HD 49434 was discovered as part of COROT ground-based support observations. Here we present a detailed abundance analysis of HD 49434 using VWA. For most elements we find abundances somewhat below the Solar values, in particular we find [Fe/H] = -0.13(14). We also present the results from the study of the variability that is seen in spectroscopic and photometric time series observations. From the characteristics of the variation seen in photometry and in the line profiles we propose that HD 49434 is a variable star of the gamma Doradus type.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure

Photometry of ET Andromedae and pulsation of HD 219891

ET And is a binary system with a B9p(Si) star as the main component. We report on the photometric observing campaigns in 1988, 1989 and 1994 which confirmed the rotation period of 1(.)(d)618875 for ET And while refuting other published values. Furthermore, the controversial issue of pulsational stability of ET And is resolved since we have discovered pulsation for HD 219891, which was the main comparison star and sometimes exclusively used. The frequency of 10.0816 d(-1), a semi-amplitude of 2.5 mmag, T(eff) and M(v) suggest this comparison star to be a delta Scuti variable close to the blue border of the instability strip. The pulsational stability of ET And could be clearly established and hence no need exists to derive new driving mechanisms for stars between the classical instability strip and the region of slowly pulsating B-type (SPB) stars

Effect of fenofibrate on microcirculation and wound healing in healthy and diabetic mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>Disturbances in wound healing in patients with hyperglycaemic blood sugar values are a common clinical problem. Recent studies identified PPARα-ligands as potential skin therapeutic agents. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of oral fenofibrate treatment on dermal wound healing and micro-circulatory parameters in diabetic mice.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Dermal wounds were created in CD-1 mice. Mice were randomized into four treatment groups: diabetic mice treated (dbf) or not-treated with fenofibrate (dbnf). As controls served non-diabetic mice treated (ndf) or not-treated with fenofibrate (ndnf). At various points in time microcirculation was analyzed by intravital fluorescent microscopy to determine wound surface area, vessel diameter, plasma leakage, functional capillary density, and leukocyte/endothelium interaction.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The dbf-mice showed a significantly increased diameter of the venules and the arterioles up to 3 days after wound creation compared to dbnf-mice. However, wound healing was not improved in dbf-compared to dbnf-mice. Surprisingly, all microcirculatory parameter (vessel diameter, plasma leakage and functional capillary density) were not deteriorated in dbnf-compared to ndnf-mice.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We confirm that high blood sugar values lead to a delayed wound healing, but this could not traced back to altered microcirculatory patterns. Furthermore, in dbf-mice an improved vasodilatatory function of small vessels could be detected, but with no substantial effect on wound healing. Further studies are needed to clarify, if topical application of fenofibrate might be beneficial.</p

GAUDI: a preparatory archive for the COROT mission

The GAUDI database (Ground-based Asteroseismology Uniform Database Interface, http://sdc.laeff.esa.es/gaudi/) is a preparatory archive for the COROT (COnvection, ROtation and planetary Transits, http://www.astrsp-mrs.fr/projets/corot/) mission developed at LAEFF (Laboratory for Space Astrophysics and Theoretical Physics, http://www.laeff.esa.es). Its intention is to make the ground-based observations obtained in the preparation of the asteroseismology programme available in a simple and efficient way. It contains spectroscopic and photometric data together with inferred physical parameters for more than 1500 objects gathered since January 1998 in 6 years of observational campaigns. In this paper, the main functionalities and characteristics of the system are described. The observations have been collected at ESO-La Silla, Telescopio Nazionale Galileo, Observatoire de Haute-Provence, South African Astronomical Observatory, Tautenberg Observatory and Sierra Nevada Observatory.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures (quality degraded). Accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journa