12,527 research outputs found
The intermediate age open cluster NGC 2660
We present CCD UBVI photometry of the intermediate old open cluster NGC2660,
covering from the red giants region to about seven magnitudes below the main
sequence turn-off. Using the synthetic Colour - Magnitude Diagram method, we
estimate in a self-consistent way values for distance modulus ((m-M)0 ~= 12.2),
reddening (E(B-V) ~= 0.40), metallicity ([Fe/H] about solar), and age (age ~ 1
Gyr). A 30% population of binary stars turns out to be probably present.Comment: 12 pages, 8 (encapsulated) figures, to be published on MNRA
Old open clusters: UBGVRI photometry of NGC 2506
UBGVRI photometry for the open cluster NGC 2506 is presented. From comparison
of the observed colour-magnitude diagrams with simulations based on stellar
evolutionary models we derive in a self consistent way reddening, distance, and
age of the cluster: E(B-V)=0-0.07, (m-M)o = 12.6, age = 1.5-2.2 Gyr. The
cluster shows a well definite secondary sequence, suggesting that binary
systems constitute about 20 % of the cluster members visible in the
colour-magnitude diagram.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, MNRAS latex style, accepte
Photometric and spectroscopic study of the intermediate age open cluster NGC 3960
We present CCD UBVI photometry and high-resolution spectroscopy of the
intermediate age open cluster NGC 3960. The colour - magnitude diagrams (CMDs)
derived from the photometric data and interpreted with the synthetic CMD method
allow us to estimate the cluster parameters. We derive: age = 0.9 or 0.6 Gyr
(depending on whether or not overshooting from convective regions is included
in the adopted stellar models), distance (m-M)0 = 11.6 +/- 0.1, reddening
E(B-V) = 0.29 +/- 0.02, differential reddening Delta E(B-V) = 0.05 and
approximate metallicity between solar and half of solar. We obtained high
resolution spectra of three clump stars, and derived an average [Fe/H] = -0.12
(rms 0.04 dex), in very good agreement with the photometric determination. We
also obtained abundances of alpha-elements, Fe-peak elements, and of Ba. The
reddenings toward individual stars derived from the spectroscopic temperatures
and the Alonso et al. calibrations give further support to the existence of
significative variations across the cluster.Comment: Accepted for publication on MNRAS; fig. 3, 4, 5, 6 at degraded
resolutio
Many-body effective mass enhancement in a two-dimensional electron liquid
Motivated by a large number of recent magnetotransport studies we have
revisited the problem of the microscopic calculation of the quasiparticle
effective mass in a paramagnetic two-dimensional (2D) electron liquid (EL). Our
systematic study is based on a generalized approximation which makes use
of the many-body local fields and takes advantage of the results of the most
recent QMC calculations of the static charge- and spin-response of the 2D EL.
We report extensive calculations for the many-body effective mass enhancement
over a broad range of electron densities. In this respect we critically examine
the relative merits of the on-shell approximation, commonly used in
weak-coupling situations, {\it versus} the actual self-consistent solution of
the Dyson equation. We show that already for and higher, a
solution of the Dyson equation proves here necessary in order to obtain a well
behaved effective mass. Finally we also show that our theoretical results for a
quasi-2D EL, free of any adjustable fitting parameters, are in good qualitative
agreement with some recent measurements in a GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, CMT28 Conference Proceedings, work related to
cond-mat/041226
Adequate Antigen Availability: A Key Issue for Novel Approaches to Tumor Vaccination and Tumor Immunotherapy
A crucial parameter for activation of the anti-tumor immune response is an adequate antigen availability (AAA) defined here as the optimal tumor antigen dose and related antigen processing and MHC-II-restricted presentation necessary to efficiently trigger tumor-specific TH cells. We will discuss two distinct experimental systems: a) a preventive anti-tumor vaccination system; b) a therapy-induced anti-tumor vaccination approach. In the first case tumor cells are rendered constitutively MHC-II+ by transfecting them with the MHC-II transcriptional activator CIITA. Here AAA is generated by the function of tumor's newly expressed MHC-II molecules to present tumor-associated antigens to tumor-specific TH cells. In the second case, AAA is generated by treating established tumors with neovasculature-targeted TNF alpha. In conjuction with Melphalan, targeted TNF alpha delivery produces extensive areas of tumor necrosis that generate AAA capable of optimally activate tumor-specific TH cells which in turn activate CTL immune effectors. In both experimental systems tumor rejection and persistent and long-lived TH cell anti-tumor memory, responsible of defending the animals from subsequent challenges with tumor cells, are achieved. Based on these and other investigators' results we propose that AAA is a key element for triggering adaptive immune functions resulting in subversion from a pro-tumor to an anti-tumor microenvironment, tumor rejection and acquisition of anti-tumor immune memory. Hypotheses of neuro-immune networks involved in these approaches are discussed. These considerations are important also for the comprehension of how chemotherapy and/or radiation therapies may help to block and/or to eradicate the tumor and for the construction of suitable anti-tumor vaccine strategies
- âŠ