4,125 research outputs found
Photospheric activity, rotation and magnetic interaction in LHS 6343 A
Context. The Kepler mission has recently discovered a brown dwarf companion
transiting one member of the M4V+M5V visual binary system LHS 6343 AB with an
orbital period of 12.71 days. Aims. The particular interest of this transiting
system lies in the synchronicity between the transits of the brown dwarf C
component and the main modulation observed in the light curve, which is assumed
to be caused by rotating starspots on the A component. We model the activity of
this star by deriving maps of the active regions that allow us to study stellar
rotation and the possible interaction with the brown dwarf companion. Methods.
An average transit profile was derived, and the photometric perturbations due
to spots occulted during transits are removed to derive more precise transit
parameters. We applied a maximum entropy spot model to fit the out-of-transit
optical modulation as observed by Kepler during an uninterrupted interval of
500 days. It assumes that stellar active regions consist of cool spots and
bright faculae whose visibility is modulated by stellar rotation. Results.
Thanks to the extended photometric time series, we refine the determination of
the transit parameters and find evidence of spots that are occulted by the
brown dwarf during its transits. The modelling of the out-of-transit light
curve of LHS 6343 A reveals several starspots rotating with a slightly longer
period than the orbital period of the brown dwarf, i.e., 13.13 +- 0.02 days. No
signature attributable to differential rotation is observed. We find evidence
of a persistent active longitude on the M dwarf preceding the sub- companion
point by 100 deg and lasting for at least 500 days. This can be relevant for
understanding how magnetic interaction works in low-mass binary and star-planet
systems.Comment: 14 pages, 16 figure
Doppler-beaming in the Kepler light curve of LHS 6343 A
Context. Kepler observations revealed a brown dwarf eclipsing the M-type star
LHS 6343 A with a period of 12.71 days. In addition, an out-of-eclipse light
modulation with the same period and a relative semi-amplitude of 2 x 10^-4 was
observed showing an almost constant phase lag to the eclipses produced by the
brown dwarf. In a previous work, we concluded that this was due to the light
modulation induced by photospheric active regions in LHS 6343 A. Aims. In the
present work, we prove that most of the out-of-eclipse light modulation is
caused by the Doppler-beaming induced by the orbital motion of the primary
star. Methods. We introduce a model of the Doppler-beaming for an eccentric
orbit and also considered the ellipsoidal effect. The data were fitted using a
Bayesian approach implemented through a Monte Carlo Markov chain method. Model
residuals were analysed by searching for periodicities using a Lomb-Scargle
periodogram. Results. For the first seven quarters of Kepler observations and
the orbit previously derived from the radial velocity measurements, we show
that the light modulation of the system outside eclipses is dominated by the
Doppler-beaming effect. A period search performed on the residuals shows a
significant periodicity of 42.5 +- 3.2 days with a false-alarm probability of 5
x 10^-4, probably associated with the rotational modulation of the primary
component.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure
The initial-final mass relationship of white dwarfs in common proper motion pairs
A promising approach to decrease the uncertainties in the initial-final mass relationship, which is still poorly constrained, is to study white dwarfs for which external constraints are available, for instance, white dwarfs in common proper motion pairs (CPMPs). Important information of the white dwarf can be inferred from the study of the companion, since they were born at the same time and with the same initial chemical composition. In this contribution, we report new results obtained from spectroscopic observations of both members of several CPMPs composed of a F, G or K type star and a DA white dwarf
Biogeography And Diversification Of Rhegmatorhina (Aves: Thamnophilidae): Implications For The Evolution Of Amazonian Landscapes During The Quaternary
Aim: To test the importance of alternative diversification drivers and biogeographical processes for the evolution of Amazonian upland forest birds through a densely sampled analysis of diversification of the endemic Amazonian genus Rhegmatorhina at multiple taxonomic and temporal scales. Location: Amazonia. Taxon: Antbirds (Thamnophilidae). Methods: We sequenced four mtDNA and nuclear gene regions of 120 individuals from 50 localities representing all recognized species and subspecies of the genus. We performed molecular phylogenetic analyses using both gene tree and species tree methods, molecular dating analysis and estimated population demographic history and gene flow. Results: Dense sampling throughout the distribution of Rhegmatorhina revealed that the main Amazonian rivers delimit the geographic distribution of taxa as inferred from mtDNA lineages. Molecular phylogenetic analyses resulted in a strongly supported phylogenetic hypothesis for the genus, with two main clades currently separated by the Madeira River. Molecular dating analysis indicated diversification during the Quaternary. Reconstruction of recent demographic history of populations revealed a trend for population expansion in eastern Amazonia and stability in the west. Estimates of gene flow corroborate the possibility that migration after divergence had some influence on the current patterns of diversity. Main Conclusions: Based on broad-scale sampling, a clarification of taxonomic boundaries, and strongly supported phylogenetic relationships, we confirm that, first, mitochondrial lineages within this upland forest Amazonian bird genus agree with spatial patterns known for decades based on phenotypes, and second, that most lineages are geographically delimited by the large Amazonian rivers. The association between past demographic changes related to palaeoclimatic cycles and the historically varying strength and size of rivers as barriers to dispersal may be the path to the answer to the long-standing question of identifying the main drivers of Amazonian diversification
The effect of activity on stellar temperatures and radii
Recent analyses of low-mass eclipsing binary stars have unveiled a
significant disagreement between the observations and the predictions of
stellar structure models. Results show that theoretical models underestimate
the radii and overestimate the effective temperatures of low-mass stars but
yield luminosities that accord with observations. A hypothesis based upon the
effects of stellar activity was put forward to explain the discrepancies. In
this paper we study the existence of the same trend in single active stars and
provide a consistent scenario to explain systematic differences between active
and inactive stars in the H-R diagram reported earlier. The analysis is done
using single field stars of spectral types late-K and M and computing their
bolometric magnitudes and temperatures through infrared colours and spectral
indices. The properties of the stars in samples of active and inactive stars
are compared statistically to reveal systematic differences. After accounting
for a number of possible bias effects, active stars are shown to be cooler than
inactive stars of similar luminosity therefore implying a larger radius as
well, in proportions that are in excellent agreement with those found from
eclipsing binaries. The present results generalise the existence of strong
radius and temperature dependences on stellar activity to the entire population
of low-mass stars, regardless of their membership in close binary systems.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Imaging and mapping the impact of clouds on skyglow with all-sky photometry
Artificial skyglow is constantly growing on a global scale, with potential
ecological consequences ranging up to affecting biodiversity. To understand
these consequences, worldwide mapping of skyglow for all weather conditions is
urgently required. In particular, the amplification of skyglow by clouds needs
to be studied, as clouds can extend the reach of skyglow into remote areas not
affected by light pollution on clear nights. Here we use commercial digital
single lens reflex cameras with fisheye lenses for all-sky photometry. We track
the reach of skyglow from a peri-urban into a remote area on a clear and a
partly cloudy night by performing transects from the Spanish town of Balaguer
towards Montsec Astronomical Park. From one single all-sky image, we extract
zenith luminance, horizontal and scalar illuminance. While zenith luminance
reaches near-natural levels at 5km distance from the town on the clear night,
similar levels are only reached at 27km on the partly cloudy night. Our results
show the dramatic increase of the reach of skyglow even for moderate cloud
coverage at this site. The powerful and easy-to-use method promises to be
widely applicable for studies of ecological light pollution on a global scale
also by non-specialists in photometry.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figure
Alterações anatómicas induzidas pela idade na coluna vertebral: intervenção para melhoria da saúde da comunidade
O aumento do envelhecimento da população implica uma crescente importância na implementação da política de cuidados de saúde primários. O envelhecimento leva a profundas alterações na morfologia da coluna vertebral do indivíduo. Estas alterações não estão ainda devidamente caracterizadas pelo que é necessário estudar e tipificar quais as mudanças induzidas pela idade. Desta forma será possível avaliar de que forma o patológico se poderá enquadrar num padrão normal de envelhecimento.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Promoção da saúde da mulher com incontinência urinária: validação de instrumentos de avaliação
A incontinência urinária (IU) feminina é um importante problema de saúde pública, quer pela sua prevalência, quer pelo elevado impacto físico, psíquico e social na vida da doente. Embora a prevalência da IU tenha sido descrita em vários trabalhos como mais elevada em mulheres idosas, esta perturbação atinge igualmente mulheres jovens e de meia-idade ou seja no ciclo da vida activa. Desta forma constitui um handicap na condição da mulher quer ao nível profissional, familiar e/ou sexual.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
RNA-dependent RNA polymerase consensus sequence of the L-A double-stranded RNA virus: definition of essential domains.
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