1,140 research outputs found
The 300km/s stellar stream near Segue 1: Insights From high-resolution spectroscopy of its brightest star
We present a chemical abundance analysis of 300S-1, the brightest likely
member star of the 300 km/s stream near the faint satellite galaxy Segue 1.
From a high-resolution Magellan/MIKE spectrum we determine a metallicity of
[Fe/H] = -1.46 +- 0.05 +- 0.23 (random and systematic uncertainties) for star
300S-1, and find an abundance pattern similar to typical halo stars at this
metallicity. Comparing our stellar parameters to theoretical isochrones, we
estimate a distance of 18 +- 7 kpc. Both the metallicity and distance estimates
are in good agreement with what can be inferred from comparing the SDSS
photometric data of the stream stars to globular cluster sequences. While
several other structures overlap with the stream in this part of the sky, the
combination of kinematic, chemical and distance information makes it unlikely
that these stars are associated with either the Segue 1 galaxy, the Sagittarius
stream or the Orphan stream. Streams with halo-like abundance signatures, such
as the 300 km/s stream, present another observational piece for understanding
the accretion history of the Galactic halo.Comment: 13 pages, emulateapj, accepted for publication in Ap
Soldiers\u27 dream continued : a pictorial history of Lincoln University of Missouri
Pictorial history of Lincoln University of Missouri from 1866-1980s.https://bluetigercommons.lincolnu.edu/lu_history_book/1000/thumbnail.jp
On the Nature of Andromeda IV
Lying at a projected distance of 40' or 9 kpc from the centre of M31,
Andromeda IV is an enigmatic object first discovered during van den Bergh's
search for dwarf spheroidal companions to M31. Being bluer, more compact and
higher surface brightness than other known dwarf spheroidals, it has been
suggested that And IV is either a relatively old `star cloud' in the outer disk
of M31 or a background dwarf galaxy. We present deep HST WFPC2 observations of
And IV and the surrounding field which, along with ground-based long-slit
spectroscopy and Halpha imagery, are used to decipher the true nature of this
puzzling object. We find compelling evidence that And IV is a background galaxy
seen through the disk of M31. The moderate surface brightness (SB(V)~24), very
blue colour (V-I<~0.6), low current star formation rate (~0.001 solar mass/yr)
and low metallicity (~10% solar) reported here are consistent with And IV being
a small dwarf irregular galaxy, perhaps similar to Local Group dwarfs such as
IC 1613 and Sextans A. Although the distance to And IV is not tightly
constrained with the current dataset, various arguments suggest it lies in the
range 5<~D<~8 Mpc, placing it well outside the confines of the Local Group. It
may be associated with a loose group of galaxies, containing major members UGC
64, IC 1727 and NGC 784. We report an updated position and radial velocity for
And IV.Comment: 26 pages, LaTex with 9 figures (including 6 jpg plates). Accepted for
publication in A
Age-Induced Diminution of Free Radical Scavenging Capacity in Bee Pollens and the Contribution of Constituent Flavonoids
Bee-collected pollen (“bee pollen”) is promoted as a health food with a wide range of nutritional and therapeutic properties. The objective of the current study is to evaluate the contribution made through the free radical scavenging capability of bee-collected floval pollens by their flavonoid/phenolics constituents, and to determine whether this capability is affected by aging. The free radical scavenging effectiveness of a bee pollen (EC50) as measured by the DPPH method is shown to be determined by the nature and levels of the constituent floral pollens, which can be assayed via their phenolics profiles by HPLC. Each pure floral pollen has been found to possess a consistent EC50 value, irrespective of its geographic origin or date of collection, and the EC50 value is determined to a large extent (ca. 50%) by the nature and the levels of the pollen's flavonoids and phenolic acids. Non-phenolic antioxidants, possibly proteins, account for the balance of the activity. Pollen aging over 3 years is demonstrated to reduce the free radical scavenging activity by up to 50% in the most active floral pollens, which tend to contain the highest levels of flavonoids/phenolic acids. It is suggested that the freshness of a bee pollen may be determined from its free radical scavenging capacity relative to that of fresh bee pollen containing the same floral pollen mix
Dynamical Friction in dE Globular Cluster Systems
The dynamical friction timescale for globular clusters to sink to the center
of a dwarf elliptical galaxy (dE) is significantly less than a Hubble time if
the halos have King-model or isothermal profiles and the globular clusters
formed with the same radial density profile as the underlying stellar
population. We examine the summed radial distribution of the entire globular
cluster systems and the bright globular cluster candidates in 51 Virgo and
Fornax Cluster dEs for evidence of dynamical friction processes. We find that
the summed distribution of the entire globular cluster population closely
follows the exponential profile of the underlying stellar population. However,
there is a deficit of bright clusters within the central regions of dEs
(excluding the nuclei), perhaps due to the orbital decay of these massive
clusters into the dE cores. We also predict the magnitude of each dE's nucleus
assuming the nuclei form via dynamical friction. The observed trend of
decreasing nuclear luminosity with decreasing dE luminosity is much stronger
than predicted if the nuclei formed via simple dynamical friction processes. We
find that the bright dE nuclei could have been formed from the merger of
orbitally decayed massive clusters, but the faint nuclei are several magnitudes
fainter than expected. These faint nuclei are found primarily in M_V > -14 dEs
which have high globular cluster specific frequencies and extended globular
cluster systems. In these galaxies, supernovae-driven winds, high central dark
matter densities, extended dark matter halos, the formation of new star
clusters, or tidal interactions may act to prevent dynamical friction from
collapsing the entire globular cluster population into a single bright nucleus.Comment: 15 pages, 2 tables, 7 figures; to appear in the Astrophysical
Journal, April 20, 200
On the Nature of the NGC 1275 System
Sub-arcsecond images, taken in B, R, and H-Alpha filters, and area
spectroscopy obtained with the WIYN 3.5-m telescope provide the basis for an
investigation of the unusual structures in the stellar body and ionized gas in
and around the Perseus cluster central galaxy, NGC 1275. Our H-Alpha filter is
tuned to gas at the velocity of NGC 1275, revealing complex, probably
unresolved, small-scale features in the extended ionized gas, located up to
50/h kpc from NGC 1275. The mean H-Alpha surface brightness varies little along
the outer filaments; this, together with the complex excitation state
demonstrated by spectra, imply that the filaments are likely to be tubes, or
ribbons, of gas. The morphology, location and inferred physical parameters of
the gas in the filaments are consistent with a model whereby the filaments form
through compression of the intracluster gas by relativistic plasma emitted from
the active nucleus of NGC 1275. Imaging spectroscopy with the Densepak fiber
array on WIYN suggests partial rotational support of the inner component of low
velocity ionized gas. We confirm and extend evidence for features in the
stellar body of NGC 1275, and identify outer stellar regions containing very
blue, probably very young, star clusters. We interpret these as evidence for
recent accretion of a gas-rich system, with subsequent star formation. We
suggest that two main processes, which may be causally connected, are
responsible for the rich phenomenology of the NGC 1275 system -- NGC 1275
experienced a recent merger/interaction with a group of gas-rich galaxies, and
recent outflows from its AGN have compressed the intracluster gas, and perhaps
the gas in the infalling galaxies, to produce a complex web of filaments.
(Abridged)Comment: AJ, accepted; a recommended full resolution version is available at
http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~chris/pera.p
Determining the date of diagnosis – is it a simple matter? The impact of different approaches to dating diagnosis on estimates of delayed care for ovarian cancer in UK primary care
Background Studies of cancer incidence and early management will increasingly draw on routine electronic patient records. However, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. We developed a generalisable strategy for investigating presenting symptoms and delays in diagnosis using ovarian cancer as an example. Methods The General Practice Research Database was used to investigate the time between first report of symptom and diagnosis of 344 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer between 01/06/2002 and 31/05/2008. Effects of possible inaccuracies in dating of diagnosis on the frequencies and timing of the most commonly reported symptoms were investigated using four increasingly inclusive definitions of first diagnosis/suspicion: 1. "Definite diagnosis" 2. "Ambiguous diagnosis" 3. "First treatment or complication suggesting pre-existing diagnosis", 4 "First relevant test or referral". Results The most commonly coded symptoms before a definite diagnosis of ovarian cancer, were abdominal pain (41%), urogenital problems(25%), abdominal distension (24%), constipation/change in bowel habits (23%) with 70% of cases reporting at least one of these. The median time between first reporting each of these symptoms and diagnosis was 13, 21, 9.5 and 8.5 weeks respectively. 19% had a code for definitions 2 or 3 prior to definite diagnosis and 73% a code for 4. However, the proportion with symptoms and the delays were similar for all four definitions except 4, where the median delay was 8, 8, 3, 10 and 0 weeks respectively. Conclusion Symptoms recorded in the General Practice Research Database are similar to those reported in the literature, although their frequency is lower than in studies based on self-report. Generalisable strategies for exploring the impact of recording practice on date of diagnosis in electronic patient records are recommended, and studies which date diagnoses in GP records need to present sensitivity analyses based on investigation, referral and diagnosis data. Free text information may be essential in obtaining accurate estimates of incidence, and for accurate dating of diagnoses
Effect of nursing behaviour, sex of the calf, and parity order on milk production of buffaloes
Background: the allonursing effect on daily milk production (DMP) and total milk production (TMP) has been little explored. Objective: to evaluate the effect of nursing behaviour, sex of the calf and parity order (PO) on DMP and TMP of buffalo cows. Methods: thirty-five buffalo cows and their calves were evaluated. Observations were performed monthly (three consecutive days) from May to November. The nursing behavior was characterized as: 1) isolated filial nursing (IFN); 2) collective filial nursing (CFN), and 3) non-filial nursing (NFN). Cows were grouped into four categories to study the effects of nursing behavior on DMP and TMP: 1) non-permissive (NP); 2) filial permissive (FP); 3) filial and collective filial permissive (FCFP); and 4) filial, collective filial and non-filial permissive (FCFNFP). DMP was recorded three days per month and TMP was calculated as DMP*270 days of lactation. Results: sex of the calf and second and third PO had an effect on nursing behavior (p<0.05). DMP and TMP were significantly affected by calf sex and nursing behaviour (p<0.05). PO had no effect on DMP and TMP. Conclusion: our results suggest that nursing behaviour is associated with milk production in buffalo cows. Buffalo cows that accept all types of nursing behaviour had the highest DMP and TMP. Sex of the calf influenced nursing behaviour, DMP, and TMP, so that buffalo cows with male calves displayed more frequent allonursing behaviour and yielded more milk
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