Lifetime measurements in CeI, CeII, and CeIII using time-resolved laser spectroscopy with application to stellar abundance determinations of cerium

Radiative lifetimes of two levels in Ce I, eight levels in Ce rr, and nine levels in Ce III have been measured using the time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence technique. Free cerium atoms and singly and doubly ionized ions were obtained in a laser-produced plasma. A narrow bandwidth UV laser pulse was employed to selectively populate the short-lived upper levels and the lifetime values were evaluated from the time-resolved fluorescence signals recorded by a fast detection system. Transition probabilities for Ce III were obtained from branching fractions calculated by the Cowan code and the experimental lifetimes. The results are compared with previous measurements and calculations. Spectral Lines of Ce III were identified in the spectrum of the magnetic chemically peculiar star alpha(2)CVn and the abundance of cerium was determined from synthetic spectrum fitting to be 800 times greater than the solar abundance

The FERRUM project: new experimental and theoretical f-values for 4p-4d transitions in FeII applied to HST spectra of chi Lupi

Radiative lifetimes for six highly excited levels in Fe II have been measured at Lund Laser Centre applying the laser induced fluorescence technique and two-step excitation. The energy levels belong to the even-parity 3d(6)(D-5)(4)d subconfiguration at about 10 eV. Branching fractions (BF:s) of 29 transitions from these levels to the 3d(6)(D-5)4p subconfiguration at about 5 eV have been measured in the wavelength region 2000-3000 Angstrom with the Lund Fourier Transform Spectrometer. By normalizing the BF:s with the lifetimes we get experimental oscillator strengths for these 29 4p-4d lines. The oscillator strengths are compared with new theoretical calculations using the orthogonal operator technique and applied to high-resolution spectra of the star chi Lupi, recorded with the Hubble Space Telescope

Abundances of neutron-capture elements in the Hot Extreme-Helium Stars V1920 Cygni and HD 124448

Analysis of HST STIS ultraviolet spectra of two hot extreme helium stars (EHes): V1920 Cyg and HD 124448 provide the first measurements of abundances of neutron-capture elements for EHes. Although the two stars have similar abundances for elements up through the iron-group, they differ strikingly in their abundances of heavier elements: V1920 Cyg is enriched by a factor of 30 in light neutron-capture elements (Y/Fe, Zr/Fe) relative to HD 124448. These differences in abundances of neutron-capture elements among EHes mirrors that exhibited by the RCrB stars, and is evidence supporting the view that there is an evolutionary connection between these two groups of hydrogen-deficient stars. Also, the abundances of Y and Zr in V1920 Cyg provide evidence that at least one EHe star went through a s-process synthesis episode in its earlier evolution.Comment: 4 pages (embedded figure and table), accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

Lifestyle and socio-demographic factors associated with high-risk HPV infection in UK women

The world age-standardised prevalence of high-risk HPV (hrHPV) infection among 5038 UK women aged 20–59 years, with a low-grade smear during 1999–2002, assessed for eligibility for TOMBOLA (Trial Of Management of Borderline and Other Low-grade Abnormal smears) was 34.2%. High-risk HPV prevalence decreased with increasing age, from 61% at ages 20–24 years to 14–15% in those over 50 years. The age-standardised prevalence was 15.1, 30.7 and 52.7%, respectively, in women with a current normal, borderline nuclear abnormalities (BNA) and mild smear. In overall multivariate analyses, tertiary education, previous pregnancy and childbirth were associated with reduced hrHPV infection risk. Risk of infection was increased in non-white women, women not married/cohabiting, hormonal contraceptives users and current smokers. In stratified analyses, current smear status and age remained associated with hrHPV infection. Data of this type are relevant to the debate on human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in screening and development of HPV vaccination programmes

Sex- and age-dependent association of SLC11A1 polymorphisms with tuberculosis in Chinese: a case control study

BACKGROUND: Host genetic factors are important determinants in tuberculosis (TB). The SLC11A1 (or NRAMP1) gene has been studied extensively for genetic association with TB, but with inconsistent findings. In addition, no study has yet looked into the effect of sex and age on the relationship between SLC11A1 polymorphisms and TB. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted. In total, 278 pulmonary TB patients and 282 sex- and age-matched controls without TB were recruited. All subjects were ethnic Chinese. On the basis of linkage disequilibrium pattern, three genetic markers from SLC11A1 and one from the nearby IL8RB locus were selected and examined for association with TB susceptibility. These markers were genotyped using single strand conformation polymorphism analysis or fragment analysis of amplified products. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in allele (P = 0.0165, OR = 1.51) and genotype (P = 0.0163, OR = 1.59) frequencies of the linked markers SLC6a/b (classically called D543N and 3'UTR) of the SLC11A1 locus were found between patients and controls. With stratification by sex, positive associations were identified in the female group for both allele (P = 0.0049, OR = 2.54) and genotype (P = 0.0075, OR = 2.74) frequencies. With stratification by age, positive associations were demonstrated in the young age group (age ≤65 years) for both allele (P = 0.0047, OR = 2.52) and genotype (P = 0.0031, OR = 2.92) frequencies. All positive findings remained significant even after correction for multiple comparisons. No significant differences were noted in either the male group or the older age group. No significant differences were found for the other markers (one SLC11A1 marker and one IL8RB marker) either. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the association between SLC11A1 and TB susceptibility and demonstrated for the first time that the association was restricted to females and the young age group

New Zr II oscillator strengths and the zirconium conflict in the HgMn star chi Lupi

Lifetimes on the sub-nanosecond scale for the levels v(2)D(3/2), v(2)F(3/2) and v(2)F(5/2) in the 4d5s5p configuration in Zr II have been measured, using the method of laser-induced fluorescence. Combined with branching fractions obtained with the Lund Ultraviolet (UV) Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS), experimental oscillator strengths have been derived. From Hubble Space Telescope/Goddard High-Resolution Spectrograph spectra, the zirconium abundance in the HgMn star chi Lupi has been determined from Zr II and Zr III lines. More than an order of magnitude difference in the Zr II abundance has been derived from these ionization stages. The difference is much too large to be explained by uncertainties in the oscillator strengths. Possible explanations of this difference have to be found in the stellar models, such as the influence of non-LTE or diffusion

Experimental MoII oscillator strengths

Experimental branching fractions (BFs) of Mo (II,) ranging in wavelength from 1970 to 4370 Angstrom, have been measured from intensity calibrated spectra recorded with the Lund UV Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS). Radiative lifetimes for 10 levels have been measured using the method of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). Combining BFs with new as well as previously measured lifetimes, 16 in total, oscillator strengths of 91 lines were derived. Seven transitions are resonance lines involving the ground state. The BF results are compared with calculations made with the Cowan code and the f-values are compared with previously published data. Improved wavelengths from an ongoing term analysis are also reported

The FERRUM project: experimental lifetimes of highly excited FeII 3d(6)4p levels and transition probabilities

We report on measurements of radiative lifetimes in singly ionized iron of six 3d(6)4p levels between 61 512 and 64 041 cm(-1),using time resolved laser-induced fluorescence. Absolute oscillator strengths of 18 Fe II lines in the wavelength range from 2350 to 2800 Angstrom have been obtained by measuring branching fractions for the lines from two Fe II levels with a Fourier-transform spectrometer. The uncertainty in the lifetimes is between 8% and 13%, whereas the uncertainty of the f-values varies between 9% and 19%. A comparison with several previously published values is given