118 research outputs found
The discovery of the optical/IR counterpart of the 12s transient X-ray pulsar GS 0834-43
We report the discovery of the optical/infra-red counterpart of the 12.3s
transient X-ray pulsar GS0834-43. We re-analysed archival ROSAT PSPC
observations of GS0834-43, obtaining two new refined positions, about 14" and
18" away from the previously published one, and a new spin period measurement.
Within the new error circles we found a relatively faint (V=20.1) early type
reddened star (V-R=2.24). The optical spectrum shows a strong Halpha emission
line. The IR observations of the field confirm the presence of an IR excess for
the Halpha-emitting star (K'=11.4, J-K'=1.94) which is likely surrounded by a
conspicuous circumstellar envelope. Spectroscopic and photometric data indicate
a B0-2 V-IIIe spectral-type star located at a distance of 3-5kpc and confirm
the Be-star/X-ray binary nature of GS0834-43.Comment: 6 pages. Accepted for publication in MNRA
Electrochemical synthesis of peroxomonophosphate using boron-doped diamond anodes
A new method for the synthesis of peroxomonophosphate, based on the use of boron-doped diamond electrodes, is described. The amount of oxidant electrogenerated depends on the characteristics of the supporting media (pH and solute concentration) and on the operating conditions (temperature and current density). Results show that the pH, between values of 1 and 5, does not influence either the electrosynthesis of peroxomonophosphate or the chemical stability of the oxidant generated. Conversely, low temperatures are required during the electrosynthesis process to minimize the thermal decomposition of peroxomonophosphate and to guarantee significant oxidant concentration. In addition, a marked influence of both the current density and the initial substrate is observed. This observation can be explained in terms of the contribution of hydroxyl radicals in the oxidation mechanisms that occur on diamond surfaces. In the assays carried out below the water oxidation potential, the generation of hydroxyl radicals did not take place. In these cases, peroxomonophosphate generation occurs through a direct electron transfer and, therefore, at these low current densities lower concentrations are obtained. On the other hand, at higher potentials both direct and hydroxyl radical-mediated mechanisms contribute to the oxidant generation and the process is more efficient. In the same way, the contribution of hydroxyl radicals may also help to explain the significant influence of the substrate concentration. Thus, the coexistence of both phosphate and hydroxyl radicals is required to ensure the generation of significant amounts of peroxomonophosphoric acid
The improvement of walking speed after cardiac rehabilitation is associated with the reduction in the metabolic cost of walking in older persons.
Effects of a structured physical activity intervention on measures of physical performance in frail elderly patients after cardiac rehabilitation: a pilot study with 1-year follow-up.
A comparison of electrochemical degradation of phenol on boron doped diamond and lead dioxide anodes
This work compares two electrode materials used to mineralize phenol contained in waste waters. Two disks covered with either boron doped diamond (BDD) or PbO2 were used as anodes in a one compartment flow cell under the same hydrodynamic conditions. Efficiencies of galvanostatic electrolyses are compared on the basis of measurements of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). Galvanostatic electrolyses were monitored by analysis of phenol and of its oxidation derivatives to evaluate the operating time needed for complete elimination of toxic aromatics. The experimental current efficiency is close to the theoretical value for the BDD electrode. Other parameters being equal, phenol species disappeared at the same rate using the two electrode materials but the BDD anode showed better efficiency to eliminate TOC and COD. Moreover, during the electrolysis less intermediates are formed with BDD compared to PbO2 whatever the current density. A comparison of energy consumption is given based on the criterion of 99% removal of aromatic compounds
High sensitivity C-reactive protein predicts the development of new carotid artery plaques in older persons
Modelling the optical spectrum of Romano's star
We consider the luminous blue variable (LBV) star V532 in M33, also known as
Romano's star, in two different spectral states: in the optical minimum of
2007/2008 and during a local brightening in 2005. Optical spectra of low and
moderate resolution are modelled using the non-LTE model atmosphere code
CMFGEN. All the observed properties of the object in the minimum are well
described by a late nitrogen-sequence Wolf-Rayet (WN) star model with
relatively high hydrogen abundance (H/He=1.9), while the spectrum during the
outburst corresponds to the spectral class WN11 and is similar to the spectrum
of P Cyg. The atmosphere is enriched in nitrogen by about a factor of 6 in both
states. Most of the heavy element abundances are consistent with the chemical
composition of M33. Bolometric luminosity is shown to vary between the two
states by a factor of ~1.5. This makes V532 another example of an LBV that
shows variations in its bolometric luminosity during an outburst.Comment: accepted for publication MNRAS; 11 pages, 8 figures, 4 tables; minor
change
A survey of the Wolf-Rayet population of the barred, spiral galaxy NGC 1313
We present a VLT/FORS1 survey of Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars in the spiral galaxy
NGC 1313. In total, 94 WR candidate sources have been identified from
narrow-band imaging. Of these, 82 have been spectroscopically observed, for
which WR emission features are confirmed in 70 cases, one of which also
exhibits strong nebular HeII 4686 emission. We also detect strong nebular HeII
4686 emission within two other regions of NGC 1313, one of which is a possible
supernova remnant. Nebular properties confirm that NGC 1313 has a metal-content
log(O/H)+12=8.23+/-0.06, in good agreement with previous studies. From
continuum subtracted Halpha images we infer a global star formation rate of 0.6
Msun/yr. Using template LMC WR stars, spectroscopy reveals that NGC 1313 hosts
a minimum of 84 WR stars. Our census comprises 51 WN stars, including a rare
WN/C transition star plus 32 WC stars. In addition, we identify one WO star
which represents the first such case identified beyond the Local Group. The
bright giant HII region PES 1, comparable in Halpha luminosity to NGC 595 in M
33, is found to host a minimum of 17 WR stars. The remaining photometric
candidates generally display photometric properties consistent with WN stars,
such that we expect a global WR population of ~115 stars with N(WR)/N(O)~0.01
and N(WC)/N(WN)~0.4.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. Finding charts omitted, full
version available by anonymous ftp (ftp:
hydra.shef.ac.uk/pub/lh/ngc1313-fullversion.pd
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