The Metallicity Dependence of the Fourier Components of RR Lyrae Light Curves is the Oosterhoff/Arp/Preston Period Ratio Effect in Disguise

The correlation of particular Fourier components of the light curves of RR Lyrae variables with metallicity, discovered by Simon and later by Kovacs and his coworkers, is shown to have the same explanation as the period ratios (period shifts in log P) between RRab Lyrae variables that have the same colors, amplitudes, and light-curve shapes but different metallicities. A purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that the model which predicts the period-metallicity relations is the mediating parameters of colors, amplitudes, and light-curve shapes also explains the Simon/Kovacs et al. correlation between period, Phi_31, and metallicity. The proof is made by demonstrating that the combination of the first and third phase terms in a Fourier decomposition of RRab light curves, called Phi_31 by Simon and Lee, varies monotonically across the RR Lyrae instability strip in the same way that amplitude, color, and rise time vary with period within the strip. The premise of the model is that if horizontal branches at the RR Lyrae strip are stacked in luminosity according to the metallicity, then there necessarily must be a log period shift between RR Lyraes with different metallicities at the same Phi_31 values. However, there are exceptions to the model. (...)Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in The A

Transgender at Work: Livelihoods for Transgender People in Vietnam

The laws in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam promote equality for all citizens and refer to ‘persons’ rather than ‘men’ or ‘women’. However, because of traditional gender norms, transgender people in Vietnam are facing severe stigma and discrimination in public, in schools, at home and in the workplace (CCIHP 2011; Hoang 2012; ICS 2015; iSEE 2013). Parents, teachers and policemen are among the most common perpetrators (CCIHP 2011, 2012a, 2012b). Before 1975, homosexuality and transgenderism were considered ‘social diseases’, ‘social evils’, and were targets for elimination in government health and public policies; after 1975, there was a higher emphasis on this as the public saw them as remnants of American neo-colonialism (Blanc 2005). People who were found to practice same-sex sex could be sent to an education centre (Blanc 2005). Transgender people have difficulty accessing services and rights as they cannot change their personal identification (ID) card, which is an obstacle to obtaining social services, housing and work. Gender roles and norms affect the employment practices, options and preferences of transmen and transwomen differently. This study, undertaken by the Center for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP) and Institute of Development Studies (IDS), does not claim to report on behalf of all transgender people in Vietnam, but we hope to gain more insights into both the opportunities and the obstacles that transmen and transwomen face and to understand how they could be supported to increase their livelihood options. First, the research involved a case study on transgender people and livelihood opportunities which sought to answer the following questions: What are the different employment options and preferences for Vietnamese transmen and transwomen? What are the links between stigma, education and employment? Second, it involved testing an integrated application of new quantitative online participatory methodologies on young transmen and transwomen communities, alongside qualitative face-to-face methods to reach elderly transgender people and employers who are not members of online communities. Qualitative interviews also help understand these communities better and provide information that can inform their development.UK Department for International Developmen

Negotiating Public and Legal Spaces: The Emergence of an LGBT Movement in Vietnam

Vietnam’s laws, policies and decrees do not explicitly discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals but their rights are not legally protected and they are socially marginalised. The state promotes a model of a married heterosexual couple with two children in the media and through its public policy campaigns. Families that comply are able to obtain membership of the Communist Party and run for office; women are eligible for micro-credit programmes. Same-sex couples cannot marry and are thus ineligible for the benefits that married couples enjoy. Family laws, with regard to child custody, inheritance and property, do not protect same-sex couples. In order to understand how LGBT civil society organisations can affect legal and social change with regard to the laws that regulate sexual norms and unions, this empirical study explores the following two examples of collective action in Vietnam: 1. The mobilisation strategies of civil society organisations to hold gay pride events. 2. Collective action to legalise same-sex ceremonies and marriages.UK Department for International Developmen

Pulsating B-type stars in the young open cluster h Persei (NGC 869)

We announce the discovery of six Beta Cephei stars and many other variable stars in the young open cluster h Persei (NGC 869). The cluster seems to be very rich in variable B-type stars, similarly to its twin, Chi Persei (NGC 884).Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, Proc. HELAS-II conference, Goettingen, 20-24 August 200

Some Systematics of Galactic Globular Clusters

The global properties of all known Galactic globular clusters are examined. The relationship between the luminosities and the metallicities of Galactic globular clusters is found to be complex. Among luminous clusters there is a correlation in the sense that the oldest clusters are slightly more metal deficient than are younger clusters. However, no such clear-cut relationship is found among the faintest globular clusters. The central concentration index C of globular clusters is seen to be independent of metallicity. The dependence of the half-light radii of globular clusters on their Galactocentric distances can be approximated by the relation $R_h \alpha R^{2/3}_{gc}$. Clusters with collapsed cores are mostly situated close to the Galactic nucleus. For $R_{gc} < 10$ kpc the luminosities and the radii of clusters appear to be uncorrelated. The Galaxy differs from the LMC and the SMC in that it appears to lack highly flattened luminous clusters. Galactic globular clusters with ages $\geq$ 13.0 Gyr are all of Oosterhoff type II, whereas almost all of those with ages $<$ 13.0 Gyr have been assigned to Oosterhoff type I. Globular clusters with ages $<$11.5 Gyr are all located in the outer Galactic halo, have below-average luminosities and above-average radii. On the other hand the very old globular cluster NGC 6522 is situated close to the Galactic nucleus.Comment: PASP, in pres

Participatory Action Research on Alcoholism and Bonded Labor in Times of Prohibition in India

The research presented in this article examines whether participatory action research methods can transform violent, stigmatising approaches to alcohol consumption in marginalised communities into community-owned, evidence-informed, non-violent harm reduction approaches. In both locations’ alcohol consumption is a highly stigmatised public secret. Bihar has banned alcohol production and consumption. Tamil Nadu alcohol consumption is frowned upon while sales are an important source of revenue for the state

Another Faint UV Object Associated with a Globular Cluster X-Ray Source: The Case of M92

The core of the metal poor Galactic Globular Cluster M92 (NGC 6341) has been observed with WFPC2 on the Hubble Space Telescope through visual, blue and mid-UV filters in a program devoted to study the evolved stellar population in a selected sample of Galactic Globular Clusters. In the UV $(m_{255}, m_{255}-U)$ color magnitude diagram we have discovered a faint `UV-dominant' object. This star lies within the error box of a Low Luminosity Globular Cluster X-ray source (LLGCX) recently found in the core of M92. The properties of the UV star discovered in M92 are very similar to those of other UV stars found in the core of some clusters (M13, 47 Tuc, M80, etc)---all of them are brighter in the UV than in the visible and are located in the vicinity of a LLGCX. We suggest that these stars are a new sub-class of cataclysmic variables.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures. Astrophysical journal in pres

Radial Velocity Studies of Close Binary Stars. IX

Radial-velocity measurements and sine-curve fits to the orbital velocity variations are presented for the eighth set of ten close binary systems: AB And, V402 Aur, V445 Cep, V2082 Cyg, BX Dra, V918 Her, V502 Oph, V1363 Ori, KP Peg, V335 Peg. Half of the systems (V445 Cep, V2082 Cyg, V918 Her, V1363 Ori, V335 Peg) were discovered photometrically by the Hipparcos mission and all systems are double-lined (SB2) contact binaries. The broadening function method permitted improvement of the orbital elements for AB And and V502 Oph. The other systems have been observed for radial velocity variations for the first time; in this group are five bright (V<7.5) binaries: V445 Cep, V2082 Cyg, V918 Her, KP Peg and V335 Peg. Several of the studied systems are prime candidates for combined light and radial-velocity synthesis solutions.Comment: 17+ pages, 2 tables, 4 figure

Evidence for Distinct Components of the Galactic Stellar Halo from 838 RR Lyrae Stars Discovered in the LONEOS-I Survey

We present 838 ab-type RR Lyrae stars from the Lowell Observatory Near Earth Objects Survey Phase I (LONEOS-I). These objects cover 1430 deg^2 and span distances ranging from 3-30 kpc from the Galactic Center. Object selection is based on phased, photometric data with 28-50 epochs. We use this large sample to explore the bulk properties of the stellar halo, including the spatial distribution. The period-amplitude distribution of this sample shows that the majority of these RR Lyrae stars resemble Oosterhoff type I, but there is a significant fraction (26 %) which have longer periods and appear to be Oosterhoff type II. We find that the radial distributions of these two populations have significantly different profiles (rho_{OoI} ~ R^(-2.26 +- 0.07) and rho_{OoII} ~ R^(-2.88 +- 0.11). This suggests that the stellar halo was formed by at least two distinct accretion processes and supports dual-halo models.Comment: 18 pages, 28 figures, apjemulated, minor corrections and clarifications. Accepted to ApJ on Jan 21, 200

The Globular Cluster Omega Centauri and the Oosterhoff Dichotomy

CCD observations obtained by the OGLE team for 128 RR Lyrae variables in Omega Cen have been analysed. The P-L and P-A plots indicate that, in addition to fundamental (RRab) and first overtone (RRc) pulsators, the Omega Cen RR Lyrae population seems to include second overtone (RRe) and possibly third overtone pulsators. The mean periods derived for the RRab and RRc stars are typical values for an Oosterhoff type II (OoII) cluster. Nevertheless, the P-A plot plot also shows that some of the RR Lyrae variables have `Oosterhoff type I' (OoI) characteristics. Relative luminosities derived for the RRc variables from Fourier coefficients correlate with the observed apparent magnitudes. Masses for the RRc stars have been calculated from Fourier coefficients. A comparison of the derived masses for RRc stars in the four OoII clusters Omega Cen, M15, M55 and M68 indicates that the masses of the RRc stars in M15 and M68 are almost 0.2 solar masses greater than those in the other two. Since M15 and M68 have a high frequency of RRd stars among their first overtone pulsators, while none have been identified in Omega Cen or M55, this suggests that the double-mode pulsation phenomenon may be associated with mass. Among the RRc variables in Omega Cen, the OoII variables have lower derived masses and higher luminosities than the OoI variables. An application of the period-density law to pairs of OoI and OoII RRab stars selected according to their position in the P-A plot also indicates that the OoII variables in general have lower masses and higher luminosities. These findings support the hypothesis that RR Lyrae variables in OoII systems are evolved HB stars that spend their ZAHB phase on the blue side of the instability strip.Comment: 52 pages, 10 figures, to appear in the AJ (November 2000