The structure of triphenylgermanium hydroxide

C18H~6GeO, Mr = 320.9, triclinic, Pi, a = 15.408 (6), b = 19.974 (7), c = 23.264 (11) A, a = 107.78 (4), 13 = 1.03.54 (4), y= 101.51 (3) °, V = 6338 (5)/~3, Z = 16, Dx = 1.34 g cm -3, a(Mo Ka) = 0.71073A, /z = 19.1cm-1, F(000)=2624, T= 293 K, R = 0.055 for 6846 observed reflections. The eight independent molecules in the asymmetric unit form two independent O--H...O hydrogen-bonded tetramers with the O atoms in a flattened tetrahedral arrangement [hydrogen-bond distances in the range 2.609 (11) to 2.657 (11)A]. The Ge atoms are tetrahedrally coordinated with mean Gc O 1.791 (7) and Gc C 1.931 (8) A

Alternative Data Reduction Procedures for UVES: Wavelength Calibration and Spectrum Addition

This paper addresses alternative procedures to the ESO supplied pipeline procedures for the reduction of UVES spectra of two quasar spectra to determine the value of the fundamental constant mu = Mp/Me at early times in the universe. The procedures utilize intermediate product images and spectra produced by the pipeline with alternative wavelength calibration and spectrum addition methods. Spectroscopic studies that require extreme wavelength precision need customized wavelength calibration procedures beyond that usually supplied by the standard data reduction pipelines. An example of such studies is the measurement of the values of the fundamental constants at early times in the universe. This article describes a wavelength calibration procedure for the UV-Visual Echelle Spectrometer on the Very Large Telescope, however, it can be extended to other spectrometers as well. The procedure described here provides relative wavelength precision of better than 3E-7 for the long-slit Thorium-Argon calibration lamp exposures. The gain in precision over the pipeline wavelength calibration is almost entirely due to a more exclusive selection of Th/Ar calibration lines.Comment: Accepted for publication in New Astronom

The effect of high velocity steam injection on the colloidal stability of concentrated emulsions for the manufacture of infant formulations

peer-reviewedA major challenge for the infant formula industry is to develop more energy efficient processes while maintaining product quality and robust manufacturing practices. An effective way of improving energy utilisation is to reduce the number of processing steps during manufacture. This study examines a novel high solids process with reduced processing steps paying particular attention to emulsion stability. Model infant formulations (whey to casein ratio, 60:40) were homogenised at a solids content of 60% w/w using an in-line colloid-mill type mixer, yielding a stable emulsion with a fat globule size distribution (D(v,0.9)) of 2.99 colonm. These formulations were heat-treated using a high velocity direct steam injection device, whereby steam is accelerated using a De Laval nozzle before injection. The steam condenses on contact with the formulation, giving up latent heat, thus heating the mix. The process was found to increase the colloidal stability of the formulations, as measured in an analytical centrifuge. The fat globule size distribution was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased to 2.69 μm after processing by the injector with a concomitant significant (p < 0.05) increase in emulsion viscosity. In conclusion, in-line homogenisation followed by high velocity steam injection, using a De Laval geometry, was successfully used for heat treatment of a high solids infant formulation

Radio Jet-Ambient Medium Interactions on Parsec Scales in the Blazar 1055+018

As part of our study of the magnetic fields of AGN we have recently observed a large sample of blazars with the Very Long Baseline Array. Here we report the discovery of a striking two-component jet in the source 1055+018, consisting of an inner spine with a transverse magnetic field, and a fragmentary but distinct boundary layer with a longitudinal magnetic field. The polarization distribution in the spine strongly supports shocked-jet models while that in the boundary layer suggests interaction with the surrounding medium. This behavior suggests a new way to understand the differing polarization properties of strong- and weak-lined blazars.Comment: LaTex; 10 pages; 6 figures; reference fix; to appear in ApJL, 518, 1999 June 2

Inferring the parallax of Westerlund 1 from Gaia DR2

Westerlund 1 (Wd1) is potentially the largest star cluster in the Galaxy. That designation critically depends upon the distance to the cluster, yet the cluster is highly obscured, making luminosity-based distance estimates difficult. Using {\it Gaia} Data Release 2 (DR2) parallaxes and Bayesian inference, we infer a parallax of $0.35^{+0.07}_{-0.06}$ mas corresponding to a distance of $2.6^{+0.6}_{-0.4}$ kpc. To leverage the combined statistics of all stars in the direction of Wd1, we derive the Bayesian model for a cluster of stars hidden among Galactic field stars; this model includes the parallax zero-point. Previous estimates for the distance to Wd1 ranged from 1.0 to 5.5 kpc, although values around 5 kpc have usually been adopted. The {\it Gaia} DR2 parallaxes reduce the uncertainty from a factor of 3 to 18\% and rules out the most often quoted value of 5 kpc with 99\% confidence. This new distance allows for more accurate mass and age determinations for the stars in Wd1. For example, the previously inferred initial mass at the main-sequence turn-off was around 40 M$_{\odot}$; the new {\it Gaia} DR2 distance shifts this down to about 22 M$_{\odot}$. This has important implications for our understanding of the late stages of stellar evolution, including the initial mass of the magnetar and the LBV in Wd1. Similarly, the new distance suggests that the total cluster mass is about four times lower than previously calculated.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figure

Specht modules and semisimplicity criteria for Brauer and Birman--Murakami--Wenzl Algebras

A construction of bases for cell modules of the Birman--Murakami--Wenzl (or B--M--W) algebra $B_n(q,r)$ by lifting bases for cell modules of $B_{n-1}(q,r)$ is given. By iterating this procedure, we produce cellular bases for B--M--W algebras on which a large abelian subalgebra, generated by elements which generalise the Jucys--Murphy elements from the representation theory of the Iwahori--Hecke algebra of the symmetric group, acts triangularly. The triangular action of this abelian subalgebra is used to provide explicit criteria, in terms of the defining parameters $q$ and $r$, for B--M--W algebras to be semisimple. The aforementioned constructions provide generalisations, to the algebras under consideration here, of certain results from the Specht module theory of the Iwahori--Hecke algebra of the symmetric group