35 research outputs found
A Spectroscopic Orbit for Regulus
We present a radial velocity study of the rapidly rotating B-star Regulus
that indicates the star is a single-lined spectroscopic binary. The orbital
period (40.11 d) and probable semimajor axis (0.35 AU) are large enough that
the system is not interacting at present. However, the mass function suggests
that the secondary has a low mass (M_2 > 0.30 M_sun), and we argue that the
companion may be a white dwarf. Such a star would be the remnant of a former
mass donor that was the source of the large spin angular momentum of Regulus
itself.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figures, ApJL in pres
Dynamical masses of the primary Be star and the secondary sdB star in the single-lined binary kappa Dra (B6 IIIe)
Because many classical Be stars may owe their nature to mass and
angular-momentum transfer in a close binary, the present masses, temperatures,
and radii of their components are of high interest for comparison to stellar
evolution models. Kappa Dra is a 61.5-day single-lined binary with a B6 IIIe
primary. With the CHARA Array instruments MIRC/MIRC-X and MYSTIC, we detected
the secondary at (approximately photospheric) flux ratios of 1.49 +- 0.10% and
1.63 +- 0.09% in the H and K band, respectively. From a large and diverse
optical spectroscopic database only the radial velocity curve of the Be star
could be extracted. However, employing the parallaxes from Hipparcos and Gaia,
which agree within their nominal 1-sigma errors, we could derive the total mass
and found component masses of 3.65 +- 0.48 Msun and 0.426 +- 0.043 Msun for the
Be star and the companion, respectively. Previous cross-correlation of the
observed far-UV spectrum with sdO spectral model templates had not detected a
companion belonging to the hot O-type subdwarf (sdO) population known from ~20
earlier-type Be stars. Guided by our full 3D orbital solution, we found a
strong cross-correlation signal for a stripped subdwarf B-type companion
(far-UV flux ratio of 2.3 +- 0.5%), enabling the first firm characterization of
such a star, and making kappa Dra the first mid- to late-type Be star with a
directly-observed subdwarf companion.Comment: Accepted to ApJ. Figure sets available on reques
Asteroseismology and Interferometry
Asteroseismology provides us with a unique opportunity to improve our
understanding of stellar structure and evolution. Recent developments,
including the first systematic studies of solar-like pulsators, have boosted
the impact of this field of research within Astrophysics and have led to a
significant increase in the size of the research community. In the present
paper we start by reviewing the basic observational and theoretical properties
of classical and solar-like pulsators and present results from some of the most
recent and outstanding studies of these stars. We centre our review on those
classes of pulsators for which interferometric studies are expected to provide
a significant input. We discuss current limitations to asteroseismic studies,
including difficulties in mode identification and in the accurate determination
of global parameters of pulsating stars, and, after a brief review of those
aspects of interferometry that are most relevant in this context, anticipate
how interferometric observations may contribute to overcome these limitations.
Moreover, we present results of recent pilot studies of pulsating stars
involving both asteroseismic and interferometric constraints and look into the
future, summarizing ongoing efforts concerning the development of future
instruments and satellite missions which are expected to have an impact in this
field of research.Comment: Version as published in The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review, Volume
14, Issue 3-4, pp. 217-36
The combined effect of determinants on coverage of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria during pregnancy in the Kilombero Valley, Tanzania
BACKGROUND\ud
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Intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy (IPTp) at routine antenatal care (ANC) clinics is an important and efficacious intervention to reduce adverse health outcomes of malaria infections during pregnancy. However, coverage for the recommended two IPTp doses is still far below the 80% target in Tanzania. This paper investigates the combined impact of pregnant women's timing of ANC attendance, health workers' IPTp delivery and different delivery schedules of national IPTp guidelines on IPTp coverage.\ud
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METHODS\ud
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Data on pregnant women's ANC attendance and health workers' IPTp delivery were collected from ANC card records during structured exit interviews with ANC attendees and through semi-structured interviews with health workers in south-eastern Tanzania. Women's timing of ANC visits and health worker's timing of IPTp delivery were analyzed in relation to the different national IPTp schedules and the outcome on IPTp coverage was modelled.\ud
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RESULTS\ud
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Among all women eligible for IPTp, 79% received a first dose of IPTp and 27% were given a second dose. Although pregnant women initiated ANC attendance late, their timing was in line with the national guidelines recommending IPTp delivery between 20-24 weeks and 28-32 weeks of gestation. Only 15% of the women delayed to the extent of being too late to be eligible for a first dose of IPTp. Less than 1% of women started ANC attendance after 32 weeks of gestation. During the second IPTp delivery period health workers delivered IPTp to significantly less women than during the first one (55% vs. 73%) contributing to low second dose coverage. Simplified IPTp guidelines for front-line health workers as recommended by WHO could lead to a 20 percentage point increase in IPTp coverage.\ud
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CONCLUSIONS\ud
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This study suggests that facility and policy factors are greater barriers to IPTp coverage than women's timing of ANC attendance. To maximize the benefit of the IPTp intervention, revision of existing guidelines is needed. Training on simplified IPTp messages should be consolidated as part of the extended antenatal care training to change health workers' delivery practices and increase IPTp coverage. Pregnant women's knowledge about IPTp and the risks of malaria during pregnancy should be enhanced as well as their ability and power to demand IPTp and other ANC services