795 research outputs found
Sequential Probability Ratio Test for Collision Avoidance Maneuver Decisions Based on a Bank of Norm-Inequality-Constrained Epoch-State Filters
Sequential probability ratio tests explicitly allow decision makers to incorporate false alarm and missed detection risks, and are potentially less sensitive to modeling errors than a procedure that relies solely on a probability of collision threshold. Recent work on constrained Kalman filtering has suggested an approach to formulating such a test for collision avoidance maneuver decisions: a filter bank with two norm-inequality-constrained epoch-state extended Kalman filters. One filter models 1he null hypothesis 1ha1 the miss distance is inside the combined hard body radius at the predicted time of closest approach, and one filter models the alternative hypothesis. The epoch-state filter developed for this method explicitly accounts for any process noise present in the system. The method appears to work well using a realistic example based on an upcoming highly-elliptical orbit formation flying mission
The Dynamical Mass and Three-Dimensional Orbit of HR7672B: A Benchmark Brown Dwarf with High Eccentricity
The companion to the G0V star HR7672 directly imaged by Liu et al. (2002) has
moved measurably along its orbit since the discovery epoch, making it possible
to determine its dynamical properties. Originally targeted with adaptive optics
because it showed a long-term radial velocity acceleration (trend), we have
monitored this star with precise Doppler measurements and have now established
a 24 year time baseline. The radial velocity variations show significant
curvature (change in the acceleration) including an inflection point. We have
also obtained a recent image of HR7672B with NIRC2 at Keck. The astrometry also
shows curvature. In this paper, we use jointly-fitted Doppler and astrometric
models to calculate the three-dimensional orbit and dynamical mass of the
companion. The mass of the host star is determined using a direct radius
measurement from CHARA interferometry in combination with high resolution
spectroscopic modeling. We find that HR7672B has a highly eccentric,
, near edge-on, deg, orbit with
semimajor axis, AU. The mass of the companion is
at the 68.2% confidence level. HR7672B thus resides
near the substellar boundary, just below the hydrogen-fusing limit. These
measurements of the companion mass are independent of its brightness and
spectrum and establish HR7672B as a rare and precious "benchmark" brown dwarf
with a well-determined mass, age, and metallicity essential for testing
theoretical evolutionary models and synthetic spectral models. It is presently
the only directly imaged L,T,Y-dwarf known to produce an RV trend around a
solar-type star.Comment: accepted to Ap
Debris disc candidates in systems with transiting planets
Debris discs are known to exist around many planet-host stars, but no debris
dust has been found so far in systems with transiting planets. Using publicly
available catalogues, we searched for infrared excesses in such systems. In the
recently published Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) catalogue, we
found 52 stars with transiting planets. Two systems with one transiting "hot
Jupiter" each, TrES-2 and XO-5, exhibit small excesses both at 12 and 22
microns at a > 3 sigma level. Provided that one or both of these detections are
real, the frequency of warm excesses in systems with transiting planets of 2-4
% is comparable to that around solar-type stars probed at similar wavelengths
with Spitzer's MIPS and IRS instruments. Modelling suggests that the observed
excesses would stem from dust rings with radii of several AU. The inferred
amount of dust is close to the maximum expected theoretically from a
collisional cascade in asteroid belt analogues. If confirmed, the presence of
debris discs in systems with transiting planets may put important constraints
onto formation and migration scenarios of hot Jupiters.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS Letter
IRAS 20050+2720: Anatomy of a young stellar cluster
IRAS 20050+2720 is young star forming region at a distance of 700 pc without
apparent high mass stars. We present results of our multiwavelength study of
IRAS 20050+2720 which includes observations by Chandra and Spitzer, and 2MASS
and UBVRI photometry. In total, about 300 YSOs in different evolutionary stages
are found. We characterize the distribution of young stellar objects (YSOs) in
this region using a minimum spanning tree (MST) analysis. We newly identify a
second cluster core, which consists mostly of class II objects, about 10 arcmin
from the center of the cloud. YSOs of earlier evolutionary stages are more
clustered than more evolved objects. The X-ray luminosity function (XLF) of
IRAS 20050+2720 is roughly lognormal, but steeper than the XLF of the more
massive Orion nebula complex. IRAS 20050+2720 shows a lower N_H/A_K ratio
compared with the diffuse ISM.Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures, accepted by A
Disks in the Arches cluster -- survival in a starburst environment
Deep Keck/NIRC2 HK'L' observations of the Arches cluster near the Galactic
center reveal a significant population of near-infrared excess sources. We
combine the L'-band excess observations with K'-band proper motions, to confirm
cluster membership of excess sources in a starburst cluster for the first time.
The robust removal of field contamination provides a reliable disk fraction
down to our completeness limit of H=19 mag, or about 5 Msun at the distance of
the Arches. Of the 24 identified sources with K'-L' > 2.0 mag, 21 have reliable
proper motion measurements, all of which are proper motion members of the
Arches cluster. VLT/SINFONI K'-band spectroscopy of three excess sources
reveals strong CO bandhead emission, which we interpret as the signature of
dense circumstellar disks. The detection of strong disk emission from the
Arches stars is surprising in view of the high mass of the B-type main sequence
host stars of the disks and the intense starburst environment. We find a disk
fraction of 6 +/- 2% among B-type stars in the Arches cluster. A radial
increase in the disk fraction from 3 to 10% suggests rapid disk destruction in
the immediate vicinity of numerous O-type stars in the cluster core. A
comparison between the Arches and other high- and low-mass star-forming regions
provides strong indication that disk depletion is significantly more rapid in
compact starburst clusters than in moderate star-forming environments.Comment: 51 pages preprint2 style, 22 figures, accepted by Ap
Lithium abundances along the RGB: FLAMES-GIRAFFE spectra of a large sample of low-mass Bulge stars
Context: A small number of K-type giants on the red giant branch (RGB) is
known to be very rich in lithium (Li). This fact is not accounted for by
standard stellar evolution theory. The exact phase and mechanism of Li
enrichment is still a matter of debate. Aims: Our goal is to probe the
abundance of Li along the RGB, from its base to the tip, to confine Li-rich
phases that are supposed to occur on the RGB. Methods: For this end, we
obtained medium-resolution spectra with the FLAMES spectrograph at the VLT in
GIRAFFE mode for a large sample of 401 low-mass RGB stars located in the
Galactic bulge. The Li abundance was measured in the stars with a detectable Li
670.8 nm line by means of spectral synthesis with COMARCS model atmospheres. A
new 2MASS (J-K) - Teff calibration from COMARCS models is presented in the
Appendix. Results: Thirty-one stars with a detectable Li line were identified,
three of which are Li-rich according to the usual criterion (). The stars are distributed all along the RGB, not concentrated in
any particular phase of the red giant evolution (e.g. the luminosity bump or
the red clump). The three Li-rich stars are clearly brighter than the
luminosity bump and red clump, and do not show any signs of enhanced mass loss.
Conclusions: We conclude that the Li enrichment mechanism cannot be restricted
to a clearly defined phase of the RGB evolution of low-mass stars
(M\sim1M_{\sun}), contrary to earlier suggestions from disk field stars.Comment: 6 pages (14 with appendix), 5 figures (1 in appendix), accepted for
publication in A&
A review of RCTs in four medical journals to assess the use of imputation to overcome missing data in quality of life outcomes
Background: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are perceived as the gold-standard method for evaluating healthcare interventions, and increasingly include quality of life (QoL) measures. The observed results are susceptible to bias if a substantial proportion of outcome data are missing. The review aimed to determine whether imputation was used to deal with missing QoL outcomes. Methods: A random selection of 285 RCTs published during 2005/6 in the British Medical Journal, Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine and Journal of American Medical Association were identified. Results: QoL outcomes were reported in 61 (21%) trials. Six (10%) reported having no missing data, 20 (33%) reported ≤ 10% missing, eleven (18%) 11%–20% missing, and eleven (18%) reported >20% missing. Missingness was unclear in 13 (21%). Missing data were imputed in 19 (31%) of the 61 trials. Imputation was part of the primary analysis in 13 trials, but a sensitivity analysis in six. Last value carried forward was used in 12 trials and multiple imputation in two. Following imputation, the most common analysis method was analysis of covariance (10 trials). Conclusion: The majority of studies did not impute missing data and carried out a complete-case analysis. For those studies that did impute missing data, researchers tended to prefer simpler methods of imputation, despite more sophisticated methods being available.The Health Services Research Unit is funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health Directorate. Shona Fielding is also currently funded by the Chief Scientist Office on a Research Training Fellowship (CZF/1/31)
A review of RCTs in four medical journals to assess the use of imputation to overcome missing data in quality of life outcomes
Peer reviewedPublisher PD
EVN observations of 6.7 GHz methanol maser polarization in massive star-forming regions
The role of magnetic fields in the formation of high-mass stars is still
under debate, and recent measurements of their orientation and strength by
using polarized maser emissions are contributing new insights. Masers
polarization, in particular of the 6.7-GHz methanol masers, are one of the best
probes of the magnetic field morphologies around massive protostars.
Determining the magnetic field morphology around an increasing number of
massive protostars at milliarcsecond resolution by observing 6.7-GHz methanol
masers is crucial to better understand the role of magnetic fields in massive
star formation.The First EVN Group consists of 4 massive star-forming
complexes: W51, W48, IRAS18556+0138, and W3(OH). These contain well-studied
\hii ~regions from some of which molecular bipolar outflows were also detected
(W51-e2, G35.20-0.74N). Nine of the European VLBI Network antennas were used to
measure the linear polarization and Zeeman-splitting of the 6.7-GHz methanol
masers in the star-forming regions of the First EVN Group. We detected a total
of 154 CH3OH masers, one third of these towards W3(OH). Fractional linear
polarization (1.2-11.5%) was detected towards 55 masers. The linear
polarization vectors are well-ordered in all the massive star-forming regions.
We measured significant Zeeman-splitting in 3 massive star-forming regions
(W51, W48, and W3(OH)) revealing a range of separations -3.5 m/s<\Delta
V_{z}<3.8 m/s with the smallest |\Delta V_{z}|=0.4m/s. We were also able to
compare our magnetic field results with those obtained from submillimeter
wavelength dust observation in W51 and show that the magnetic field at low and
high resolutions are in perfect agreement.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures, 5 tables, accepted by Astronomy & Astrophysic
Targeted Disruption of the Low-Affinity Leukemia Inhibitory Factor-Receptor Gene Causes Placental, Skeletal, Neural and Metabolic Defects and Results in Perinatal Death
The low-affinity receptor for leukemia inhibitory factor (LIFR)* interacts with gp130 to induce an intracellular signal cascade, The LIFR-gp130 heterodimer is implicated in the function of diverse systems, Normal placentation is disrupted in LIFR mutant animals, which leads to poor intrauterine nutrition but allows fetuses to continue to term. Fetal bone volume is reduced greater than three-fold and the number of osteoclasts is increased six-fold, resulting in severe osteopenia of perinatal bone. Astrocyte numbers are reduced in the spinal cord and brain stem. Late gestation fetal livers contain relatively high stores of glycogen, indicating a metabolic disorder. Hematologic and primordial germ cell compartments appear normal. Pleiotropic defects in the mutant animals preclude survival beyond the day of birth
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