bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stability of Minor Lipid Components with Emphasis on Phytosterols During Chemical Interesterification of a Blend of Refined Olive Oil and Palm Stearin
Authors: Azadmard‐Damirchi Sodeif , Dutta Paresh C.
Published: December 2007

Minor compounds such as tocopherols and phytosterols in vegetable oils play an important role in their stability and nutritional value. This study monitored the effects of chemical interesterification on the levels of tocopherols, tocotrienols, phytosterols and phytosterol oxidation products (POPs) in an olive oil and palm stearin blend (50/50 w/w). Tocopherols and tocotrienols were dominated by α‐tocopherol (192 ppm) and γ‐tocotrienol (70 ppm) and decreased during interesterification. Among the tocopherols, δ‐tocotrienol had the highest decrease (35%) at 120 °C. During interesterification at 90 and 120 °C, total sterol content in the oil blend (509 ppm) declined slightly, by 3 and 5%, respectively. Phytosterols were esterified at a higher level at 120 °C (7%) than at 90 °C (4%) during this process. Distribution of fatty acids in the esterified sterols followed the fatty acid composition of the oil blend. Total POP content was 4.3 ppm, and remained generally unchanged during interesterification. Among the nine POPs tentatively identified by their mass spectra, 6‐hydroxysitostanol and 6‐hydroxycampestanol dominated in the oil blend and in the interesterified product. The formation pathways of these saturated di‐hydroxyphytosterols have yet to be identified. Although the interesterification process comprised several treatments, there were only minor losses of tocopherols and phytosterols and virtually no increases in the POPs.
Party Systems in the Making: The Emergence and Success of New Parties in New Democracies
Authors: TAVITS MARGIT
Published: December 2007

Why do new parties continue emerging and attracting votes in new democracies? Does the duration of the democratic regime facilitate party system stabilization? With original data on legislative elections in fifteen East European countries (1990–2004), this article shows that new party entry is more likely when the cost of entry is low, the benefit of office is high and the perceived level of electoral viability is high. Support for new parties is influenced by the extent of disappointment with existing parties. Further, while the number of new parties decreases gradually as democracies age, the support for new entrants follows no clear unidirectional pattern across time.
The Origins and Strengths of Regional Parties
Authors: BRANCATI DAWN
Published: December 2007

Traditional explanations of the origins of regional parties as the products of regionally-based social cleavages cannot fully account for the variation in regional party strength both within and across countries. This unexplained variance can be explained, however, by looking at institutions, and in particular, political decentralization. This argument is tested with a statistical analysis of thirty-seven democracies around the world from 1945 to 2002. The analysis shows that political decentralization increases the strength of regional parties in national legislatures, independent of the strength of regional cleavages, as well as of various features of a country's political system, such as fiscal decentralization, presidentialism, electoral proportionality, cross-regional voting laws and the sequencing of executive and legislative elections.
Exploration of the acarine fauna on coconut palm in Brazil with emphasis onAceria guerreronis(Acari: Eriophyidae) and its natural enemies
Authors: Lawson-Balagbo L.M. , Gondim M.G.C. , de Moraes G.J. , Hanna R. , Schausberger P.
Published: December 2007

Coconut is an important crop in tropical and subtropical regions. Among the mites that infest coconut palms,Aceria guerreronisKeifer is economically the most important. We conducted surveys throughout the coconut growing areas of Brazil. Samples were taken from attached coconuts, leaflets, fallen coconuts and inflorescences of coconut palms in 112 localities aiming to determine the occurrence and the distribution of phytophagous mites, particularlyA. guerreronis, and associated natural enemies.Aceria guerreroniswas the most abundant phytophagous mite followed bySteneotarsonemus concavuscutumLofego & Gondim Jr. andSteneotarsonemus furcatusDe Leon (Tarsonemidae). Infestation byA. guerreroniswas recorded in 87% of the visited localities. About 81% of all predatory mites belonged to the family Phytoseiidae, mainly represented byNeoseiulus paspalivorusDe Leon,Neoseiulus barakiAthias-Henriot andAmblyseius largoensisMuma; 12% were Ascidae, mainlyProctolaelaps bickleyiBram,Proctolaelapssp nov andLasioseius subterraneusChant.Neoseiulus paspalivorusandN. barakiwere the most abundant predators on attached coconuts. Ascidae were predominant on fallen coconuts, whileA. largoensiswas predominant on leaflets; no mites were found on branches of inflorescences. Leaflets harboured higher mite diversity than the attached coconuts. Mite diversity was the highest in the state Pará and on palms surrounded by seasonal forests and Amazonian rain-forests.Neoseiulus paspalivorus,N. barakiandP. bickleyiwere identified as the most promising predators ofA. guerreronis. Analyses of the influence of climatic factors revealed that dry ambient conditions favour the establishment ofA. guerreronis. Neoseiulus paspalivorusandN. barakihave differing climatic requirements; the former being more abundant in warm and dry areas, the latter prevailing in moderately tempered and humid areas. We discuss the significance of our findings for natural and biological control ofA. guerreronis.
Patterns of acoustic variation inCicada barbaraStål (Hemiptera, Cicadoidea) from the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco
Authors: Pinto-Juma G.A. , Seabra S.G. , Quartau J.A.
Published: December 2007

Field recordings of the calling song and of an amplitude modulated signal produced by males ofCicada barbarafrom North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula were analysed in order to assess the geographical acoustic variation and the potential usefulness of acoustic data in the discrimination of subspecies and populations. Sound recordings were digitized and the frequency and temporal properties of the calls of each cicada were analysed. In all regions studied, peak frequency, quartiles 25, 50 and 75% and syllable rate showed low coefficients of variation suggesting inherent static properties. All frequency variables were correlated with the latitude, decreasing from south to north. In addition, most acoustic variables of the calling song showed significant differences between regions, and PCA and DFA analyses supported a partitioning within this species between Iberian Peninsula+Ceuta and Morocco, corroborating mtDNA data on the same species. Therefore, the subspecific division ofC. barbaraintoC. barbara barbarafrom Morocco andC. barbara lusitanicafrom Portugal, Spain and Ceuta finds support from the present acoustic analyses, a result which is also reinforced by molecular markers.
Mathematical model of falling of a viscous jet onto a moving surface
Authors: HLOD A. , AARTS A. C. T. , van de VEN A. A. F. , PELETIER M. A.
Published: December 2007

The stationary flow of a jet of a Newtonian fluid that is drawn by gravity onto a moving surface is analyzed. It is assumed that the jet has a convex shape and hits the moving surface tangentially. The flow is modelled by a third-order ODE on a domain of unknown length and with an additional integral condition. By solving part of the equation explicitly, the problem is reformulated as a first-order ODE with an integral constraint. The corresponding existence region in the three-dimensional parameter space is characterized in terms of an easily calculable quantity. In a qualitative sense, the results from the model are found to correspond with experimental observations.
Gravity-driven thin liquid films with insoluble surfactant: smooth traveling waves
Authors: LEVY RACHEL , SHEARER MICHAEL , WITELSKI THOMAS P.
Published: December 2007

The flow of a thin layer of fluid down an inclined plane is modified by the presence of insoluble surfactant. For any finite surfactant mass, traveling waves are constructed for a system of lubrication equations describing the evolution of the free-surface fluid height and the surfactant concentration. The one-parameter family of solutions is investigated using perturbation theory with three small parameters: the coefficient of surface tension, the surfactant diffusivity, and the coefficient of the gravity-driven diffusive spreading of the fluid. When all three parameters are zero, the nonlinear PDE system is hyperbolic/degenerate-parabolic, and admits traveling wave solutions in which the free-surface height is piecewise constant, and the surfactant concentration is piecewise linear and continuous. The jumps and corners in the traveling waves are regularized when the small parameters are nonzero; their structure is revealed through a combination of analysis and numerical simulation.
Revolutionaries' cemeteries in Berlin: memory, history, place and space
Authors: STANGL PAUL
Published: December 2007

In Germany, the Revolutions of 1848 and 1918/19 resulted in the martyrdom of opposition leaders and constituents, whose burial sites in Berlin became key sites of memory and commemoration for the working-class movement. Political turbulence and regime change throughout the twentieth century has resulted in contestation over the meaning and use of these places; a trajectory illustrating the dynamic, reciprocal relationship between popular memory and official history, and the interplay between representation, place-based associations and spatial relations in constituting social meaning in the urban landscape.
Micro-history of a house: memory and place in a Milanese neighbourhood, 1890–2000
Authors: FOOT JOHN
Published: December 2007

The micro-history of one apartment block in the inner-suburb of Bovisa, Milan over a period of 100 or so years is examined using oral history interviews to trace the development of the block and its residents in relation to that of the city of Milan. The piece is bounded by theoretical reflections on the role of micro-history, oral history and other methodologies as tools for understanding the home and urban history, and concludes that the survival of a rural past, the role of gender, the importance of architecture and of nostalgic memory in a rapidly changing world were important influences.
Dietary intake and development of a quantitative food-frequency
questionnaire for a lifestyle intervention to reduce the risk of chronic
diseases in Canadian First Nations in north-western Ontario
Authors: Sharma Sangita , Cao Xia , Gittelsohn Joel , Ho Lara S , Ford Elizabeth , Rosecrans Amanda , Harris Stewart , Hanley Anthony JG , Zinman Bernard
Published: December 2007

Objectives

To characterise the diet of First Nations in north-western Ontario, highlight
foods for a lifestyle intervention and develop a quantitative food-frequency
questionnaire (QFFQ).

Design

Cross-sectional survey using single 24 h dietary recalls.

Setting

Eight remote and semi-remote First Nations reserves in north-western
Ontario.

Subjects

129 First Nations (Oji-Cree and Ojibway) men and women aged between 18 and 80
years.

Results

The greatest contributors to energy were breads, pasta dishes and chips
(contributing over 20 % to total energy intake). ‘Added
fats’ such as butter and margarine added to breads and vegetables
made up the single largest source of total fat intake (8·4 %).
The largest contributors to sugar were sugar itself, soda and other
sweetened beverages (contributing over 45 % combined). The mean number of
servings consumed of fruits, vegetables and dairy products were much lower
than recommended. The mean daily meat intake was more than twice that
recommended. A 119-item QFFQ was developed including seven bread items, five
soups or stews, 24 meat- or fish-based dishes, eight rice or pasta dishes,
nine fruits and 14 vegetables. Frequency of consumption was assessed by
eight categories ranging from ‘Never or less than one time in one
month’ to ‘two or more times a day’.

Conclusion

We were able to highlight foods for intervention to improve dietary intake
based on the major sources of energy, fat and sugar and the low consumption
of fruit and vegetable items. The QFFQ is being used to evaluate a diet and
lifestyle intervention in First Nations in north-western Ontario.
The power of new experimental techniques in astronomy: zooming in on the black hole in the Center of the Milky Way
Authors: Genzel Reinhard
Published: December 2007

It is becoming ever easier to obtain first class astronomical data by working solely from one's computer terminal, the modern equivalent of the armchair. This wonderful development may tempt us to forget that astronomical discoveries and findings are first and foremost driven by hard-won progress in observational and experimental capabilities. The present article is meant to demonstrate this assertion by reviewing recent developments and future possibilities in studying the Center of the Milky Way, our best case for the existence of a (massive) black hole and a superb laboratory for studying the physical processes in the immediate vicinity of such an enigmatic object.
Particle acceleration theory
Authors: Blandford Roger D.
Published: December 2007

Astrophysical particle acceleration involves the efficient conversion of bulk energy to individual charge particle energy through work done by electric field. The ways in which this happens are quite varied but when considered from a physics perspective, commonalities can found between acceleration in quite different sites.
Summary of Joint Discussion 1
Authors: Vlahos Loukas
Published: December 2007

We review the main ideas discussed during the meeting and propose methods for a new generation of space accelerators
Joint Discussion 5 Calibrating the top of the stellar M - L relation
Authors: Leitherer Claus , Moffat Anthony F. J. , Puls Joachim
Published: December 2007

The goal of this Joint Discussion is to bring together theorists and observers from the stellar and extragalactic communities to discuss the properties of the most massive stars and the implications for cosmological studies. We will focus on a set of themes that follow from fundamental stellar astronomy, such as mass determinations in binary stars, to recent modeling of atmospheres and evolution, to the significance of massive stars for the ecology of the host galaxy, and finally to a critical assessment of the properties of the first generation of stars in the universe.
Keplerian masses for the most massive stars: the very luminous, hydrogen-rich Wolf-Rayet stars
Authors: Moffat Anthony F. J. , Schnurr Olivier , Chené André-Nicolas , Casoli Jules , St-Louis Nicole , Villar-Sbaffi Alfredo
Published: December 2007

We propose that the most massive stars in the local Universe start out on the main sequence being extremely luminous and already exhibiting wind-like emission lines. Such stars can probably be identified as hydrogen-rich WN5-7 stars. Masses are now being determined for these stars using the least model-dependent technique of binary orbits.
Spectroscopicversusevolutionary masses
Authors: Herrero Artemio
Published: December 2007

We describe the present status of the mass discrepancy in the Upper HR Diagram.
Supernova impostors: LBV outbursts from the most massive stars
Authors: Van Dyk Schuyler D.
Published: December 2007

Several recent luminous events that have been identified initially as supernovae (SNe) are probably not genuine SNe at all. Instead we argue that these events are more likely the outbursts, or super-outbursts, of very massive stars in the luminous blue variable (LBV) phase. At least two of these events are analogous to the Great 1843 Eruption of η Carinae.
Influence of X-ray radiation on the non-LTE wind models of O-type stars
Authors: Krtička Jiří
Published: December 2007

We study the influence of shock X-ray emission on the structure of non-LTE wind models of O-type stars.
Joint Discussion 7 The Universe at zz>6
Authors: Schaerer Daniel , Ferrara (eds) Andrea
Published: December 2007

The exploration of the earliest phase of star and galaxy formation after the Big Bang remains an important challenge of contemporary astrophysics and represents a key science driver for numerous future facilities. During this phase the first stars and galaxies appear and start to light up and ionize the then neutral Universe ending thereby the so called cosmic dark ages and leading progressively to the complete reionization we observe now at redshift z≃6 or earlier.
A Spitzer-IRS search for the galaxies that re-ionized the Universe
Authors: Lacy Mark , Bunker Andrew J. , Kneib Jean-Paul , Teplitz Harry I.
Published: December 2007

We describe an observation designed to find Hα emission from galaxies at z≃7–12 made using the InfraRed spectrograph (IRS) on the Spitzer Space Telescope.
New constraints on the co-moving star formation rate in the redshift interval 6<z<10
Authors: Ellis Richard S. , Stark Daniel P. , Richard Johan , Bunker Andrew J. , Egami Eiichi E. , Kneib Jean-Paul
Published: December 2007

Recent progress in measuring the optical depth of neutral hydrogen in distant quasars and that of electron scattering of microwave background photons suggests that most of the sources responsible for cosmic re-ionisation probably lie in the redshift interval 6 to 10. We present two new observational results which, together, provide valuable constraints on the contribution from star-forming sources in this redshift interval. First, using a large sample of v-band dropouts with unconfused Spitzer-IRAC detections, we determine the integrated stellar mass density at z = 5. This provides a valuable ‘integral constraint’ on past star formation. It seems difficult to reconcile the observed stellar mass at z = 5 with the low abundance of luminous i-z- and J-band dropouts in deep Hubble Space Telescope data. Accordingly, we explore whether less luminous star-forming sources in the redshift interval 6 to 10 might be the dominant cause of cosmic re-ionization. In the second component of our research, we report on the results of two surveys for weak Lymanα emitters and z- and J-band dropouts highly-magnified by foreground lensing clusters. Although some promising z = 8–9 candidates are found, it seems unlikely that low luminosity sources in this redshift interval can dominate cosmic reionization. If our work is substantiated by more extensive and precise surveys, the bulk of the re-ionizing photons may come from yet earlier sources lying at redshifts z>10.
High-redshift Lyman-α galaxies
Authors: Malhotra Sangeeta , Rhoads James E.
Published: December 2007

A strong Lyman-α line enables relatively easy detection of high redshift galaxies. Lyman-α galaxies are now known from z = 3 to 6.6. No evolution is discerned in the Lyman-α line luminosity function in this redshift range. This implies that the intergalactic medium at z = 6 is at least 50% ionized over more than 50% of the volume. Recent continuum detections of these galaxies from HST, MMT and Spitzer are now allowing us to address questions about the nature of these Lyman-α emitters, their stellar populations and ages. We find that by and large the Lyman-α galaxies are young galaxies dominated by stellar populations that are less than 25 Myr old.
An observational pursuit for Pop III stars in a Lyα emitter at z>6 through He II emission
Authors: Nagao Tohru
Published: December 2007

We report our on-going observational project to search for population III (Pop III) stars in high-z galaxies. We searched Lyα emitters (LAEs) with a large equivalent width (EW), by our new selection technique ‘NB921-depressed i′-dropout selection’. We found eight photometric candidates and spectroscopically identified five LAEs with EW0(Lyα) > 100 Å. We then carried out a very deep near-infrared spectroscopy for a LAE among the above five, to search for the redshifted He iiλ1640 emission from Pop III stars in the galaxy, but obtained only an upper limit.
On the size of H II regions around high-redshift quasars
Authors: Maselli Antonella , Gallerani Simona , Ferrara Andrea , Choudhury T. Roy
Published: December 2007

We investigate the possibility of constraining the ionization state of the Intergalactic Medium (IGM) close to the end of re-ionization (z≈6) by measuring the size of the H II regions in high-z quasars spectra, via a combination of SPH and 3D radiative transfer (RT) simulations and a statistical analysis of mock quasar spectra through the simulated cosmological volume.
Implications for the cosmic re-ionization from the optical afterglow spectrum of GRB050904 at z = 6.3
Authors: Totani Tomonori , Kawai Nobuyuki , Kosugi George , Aoki Kentaro , Yamada Toru , Iye Masanori , Ohta Kouji , Hattori Takashi
Published: December 2007

We discuss the implications for the cosmic re-ionization from the optical afterglow spectrum of GRB050904 at z = 6.3
Maunder Minimum stars revisited: recalibrating Ca II H&K measures
Authors: Wright Jason T.
Published: December 2007

We discuss a recalibration of Ca II H&K measures in sun-like stars
Global stellar magnetic fields: the crossover from fossils to dynamos
Authors: Mathys Gautier
Published: December 2007

Ap stars comprise the majority of early-type stars in which magnetic fields have been definitely detected. Their observational properties are reviewed, with emphasis on those relevant to the understanding of the origin and evolution of their fields.
Recent X-ray studies of stellar cycles and long-term variability
Authors: Peres Giovanni , Micela Giuseppina , Favata Fabio
Published: December 2007

We discuss recent X-ray studies of stellar cycles and long-term variability.
Tachocline, dynamo and the meridional flow connection
Authors: Rüdiger Günther
Published: December 2007

Our model for global circulations in the solar convective zone leads to an equatorial drift at its base with an amplitude of about 7 m/s. Its penetration into the solar tachocline is too weak to play any role in the solar dynamo. It confines, however, the internal magnetic decay modes to the radiative core so that the tachocline can be explained as a magnetic Hartmann layer. In the tachocline for the toroidal fields the magnetic Tayler instability exists. We found stability limits for toroidal fields of only 100 G.
Observing SNe Ia at z > 1 with the HST and at z ≃ 0.2 with the SDSS-II
Authors: Lampeitl Hubert , Riess Adam G.
Published: December 2007

SNe Ia are currently providing the most direct measurements of the accelerated expansion of the Universe and also put constraints on the nature and evolution of the so-called ‘dark energy’. Despite major efforts to increase the number of known high-redshift SNe Ia with reliable distance estimates, two regions in the Hubble diagram remain only sparsely observed. At redshifts z > 1 the limitations of ground-based instruments require the Hubble Space Telescope and its superior angular resolution to get meaningful distance estimates, while at intermediate redshifts (z ≃ 0.2) the large solid angle necessary presents an obstacle to most surveys that can be overcome with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, SDSS-II.
Joint Discussion 10 Progress in planetary exploration missions
Authors: Consolmagno Guy
Published: December 2007

The astronomical study of planets is as old as Galileo's telescope, but in a profound way it was reborn with the advent of the Space Age. By constructing probes capable of leaving the surface of the Earth and traveling to other places in our solar system, sending back data collected from the very places that the astronomers wished to study, for the first time we were freed from the restrictions of observing astronomical objects from afar. These in-situ measurements, in their turn, have inspired countless new research projects back on Earth, from laboratory studies of materials to telescopic observations, of objects and in wavelengths now known to be of astronomical interest, thanks to those probes.
Preliminary examination of the comet Wild 2 samples returned by the Stardust spacecraft
Authors: Zolensky Michael E. , Brownlee Donald E. , Tsou Peter , Hörz Friedrich P. , Sandford Scott A. , Flynn George J. , McKeegan Kevin D. , Keller Lindsay P.
Published: December 2007

Results of the Stardust mission to sample dust from comet Wild 2 are summarized.
Pre-solar grains in meteorites and interplanetary dust: an overview
Authors: Ott Ulrich , Hoppe Peter
Published: December 2007

Small amounts of pre-solar grains have survived in the matrices of primitive meteorites and interplanetary dust particles. Their detailed study in the laboratory with modern analytical tools provides highly accurate and detailed information with regard to stellar nucleosynthesis and evolution, grain formation in stellar atmospheres, and Galactic Chemical Evolution. Their survival puts constraints on conditions they were exposed to in the interstellar medium and in the Early Solar System.
Pre-solar grains from supernovae and novae
Authors: Amari Sachiko , Lodders Katharina
Published: December 2007

Pre-solar grains from supernova ejecta – silicon carbide of type X, Si3N4 and low-density graphite – are characterized by Si isotopic anomalies (mainly 28Si excesses), low 14N/15N, high 26Al/27 Al ratios, and occasionally by excesses in 44Ca (from 44Ti decay). Overall isotopic features of these SiC and graphite grains can be explained by mixing of inner Si-rich zones and the outer C-and He-rich zones, but supernova models require fine tuning to account for 14N/15N and 29Si/28Si ratios of the grains. Isotopic ratios of Zr, Mo and Ba in SiC X grains may be explained by a neutron burst model. Some of the pre-solar nanodiamonds require a supernova origin to explain measured xenon isotopic ratios. Only a few nova grain candidates, with low 12C/13C, 14N/15N, and high 26Al/27 Al ratios, have been identified.
Deep GMRT images of the Spitzer extragalactic First Look Survey at 610 MHz
Authors: Green David A. , Garn Timothy S.
Published: December 2007

We have observed the Spitzer extragalactic First Look Survey (xFLS) region with the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (GMRT), near Pune, India, at 610 MHz. Seven pointings were observed with the GMRT, one central and six in a surrounding hexagon. Each field was observed with an integration time of ~ 200 min., in a series of scans spread over a range of LST to improve u – v coverage. Two sidebands, each of 16 MHz with 128 channels – to allow narrow band interference to be excised efficiently – were observed. The synthesised beam of the images is ~ 5″ and as the primary beam of the GMRT at 610 MHz is ~ 43′, these seven pointings cover most of the xFLS region.
A very brief description of LOFAR – the Low Frequency Array
Authors: Falcke Heino D. , van Haarlem Michiel P. , de Bruyn A. Ger , Braun Robert , Röttgering Huub J.A. , Stappers Benjamin , Boland Wilfried H.W.M. , Butcher Harvey R. , de Geus Eugène J. , Koopmans Leon V. , Fender Robert P. , Kuijpers H. Jan M.E. , Miley George K. , Schilizzi Richard T. , Vogt Corina , Wijers Ralph A.M.J. , Wise Michael W. , Brouw Willem N. , Hamaker Johan P. , Noordam Jan E. , Oosterloo Thomas , Bähren Lars , Brentjens Michiel A. , Wijnholds Stefan J. , Bregman Jaap D. , van Cappellen Wim A. , Gunst André W. , Kant G.W. (Dion) , Reitsma Jan , van der Schaaf Kjeld , de Vos Cornelis M.
Published: December 2007

LOFAR (Low Frequency Array) is an innovative radio telescope optimized for the frequency range 30–240 MHz. The telescope is realized as a phased aperture array without any moving parts. Digital beam forming allows the telescope to point to any part of the sky within a second. Transient buffering makes retrospective imaging of explosive short-term events possible. The scientific focus of LOFAR will initially be on four key science projects (KSPs): (i) Detection of the formation of the very first stars and galaxies in the universe during the so-called epoch of reionization by measuring the power spectrum of the neutral hydrogen 21-cm line (Shaveret al. 1999) on the ∼ 5′ scale; (ii) Low-frequency surveys of the sky with of order 108expected new sources; (iii) All-sky monitoring and detection of transient radio sources such as γ-ray bursts, X-ray binaries, and exo-planets (Farrellet al. 2004); and (iv) Radio detection of ultra-high energy cosmic rays and neutrinos (Falcke & Gorham 2003) allowing for the first time access to particles beyond 1021eV (Scholtenet al. 2006). Apart from the KSPs open access for smaller projects is also planned. Here we give a brief description of the telescope.
The Square Kilometre Array (SKA)
Authors: Lazio T. Joseph W. , Gaensler Bryan M.
Published: December 2007

The Square Kilometre Array SKA is intended to be the centimeter- and meter-wavelength telescope for the 21stcentury. At long wavelengths, the SKA's key science projects include the search for highly redshifted hydrogen, including the signal from the epoch of re-ionization, and the search for the first supermassive black holes.
Joint Discussion 14 Modeling dense stellar systems
Authors: Sills Alison I. , Subr Ladislav , Portegies Zwart Simon F.
Published: December 2007

Joint Discussion 14 was held at the General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union from August 17 until 23 in the beautiful Bohemian capital, Prague. The blueprints for this meeting were laid out during the MODEST-5 workshop, held in the Canadian city of Hamilton, Ontario in August 2004. We were sitting in a nice cafe with local brew and food, discussing the future of the MODEST community when we posed the idea for this Joint Discussion at the General Assembly. The meeting was then coined MODEST-7.
Dynamical implications of multiple stellar populations
Authors: Sills Alison I. , Downing Jonathan M.
Published: December 2007

We investigate some implications of having two star formation episodes in globular clusters, rather than the traditional single-burst approximation. Evidence for more than one stellar generation is accumulating in observations of abundances of elements lighter than iron in globular cluster stars, and is thought to imply some self-enrichment of the globular cluster gas. In particular, we explore models based on the assumption that the self-enrichment comes from an early generation of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars.
Observations of blue straggler stars in globular clusters
Authors: Ferraro Francesco R. , Lanzoni Barbara
Published: December 2007

Blue stragglers stars (BSS) define a sparsely populated sequence extending to higher luminosity than the turnoff point of normal main sequence stars in the color magnitude diagrams of stellar aggregates, thus mimicking a rejuvenated (more massive) stellar population. The nature of these stars has been a puzzle for many years and their formation mechanism is not completely understood, yet. Two mechanisms have been proposed to produce BSS: (i) the mass transfer in binary systems; and ((ii) the merger of two stars induced by stellar interactions. In this contribution we schematically report on the main properties of BSS in globular clusters (GCs) in the light of the most recent photometric and spectroscopic observations. These results, combined with dynamical simulations, indicate that both the proposed formation mechanisms play an important role in the production of BSS in GCs.
Observational evidence for origin of stellar exotica in globular clusters
Authors: Verbunt Franciscus W.M.
Published: December 2007

The formation of special binaries in a globular cluster is regulated by the total encounter rate γ in the cluster, but their life expectancy by the number of encounters γ that one system experiences. The orbital periods indicate whether a neutron star or white dwarf entered a binary via direct collision, via tidal capture, or via exchange encounter. The numbers of X-ray binaries with a neutron star scales with γ. Magnetically active binaries (including blue stragglers) are formed via evolution of primordial binaries, and their numbers scale with the cluster mass. Cataclysmic variables are formed by stellar encounters or via evolution of a primordial binary in clusters with high and low central density, respectively.
Spectroscopic binaries in M 67
Authors: Latham David W.
Published: December 2007

We summarize the characteristics of 85 spectroscopic orbits derived from more than two decades of radial-velocity monitoring of stars in the old open cluster M 67, with special emphasis on the blue stragglers and other members that do not fall on the evolutionary tracks expected for isolated single stars.
A summary of Joint Discussion 14
Authors: Heggie Douglas C.
Published: December 2007

Modelling rich star clusters is at an exciting time, now that detailed star-by-star modelling of all open star clusters has become possible. We should renew attention to the modelling of globular star clusters, to enable us to exploit the flood of excellent observational data now available. At the same time, new ideas in star cluster astrophysics require us to broaden the realism of our modelling in various directions.
Véron, & Véron-based optical extragalactic reference frame – progress report
Authors: Andrei Alexander H. , da Silva Neto D. N. , Assafin Marcelo , Zacharias Norbert , Martins Roberto Vieira , de Camargo J. I. B. , Souchay Jean , de Melo Anna P. B.
Published: December 2007

We present a Véron & Véron based optical extragalactic reference frame progress report.
Review of the Division I Working Group on Precession and the Ecliptic
Authors: Hilton James L.
Published: December 2007

We present a review of the Division I Working Group on Precession and the Ecliptic.
Using the P03 precession model
Authors: Wallace Patrick T. , Capitaine Nicole
Published: December 2007

We discuss aspects of using the P03 precession model.
Long-periodic precession parametrization
Authors: Vondrák Jan
Published: December 2007

We discuss aspects of long-periodic precession parametrization.
The dynamical model of the planet motions and EPM ephemerides
Authors: Pitjeva Elena V.
Published: December 2007

We discuss the dynamical model of the planet motions and EPM ephemerides.
INPOP06: a new planetary ephemeris
Authors: Fienga Agnes , Manche H. , Laskar Jacques , Gastineau Michael
Published: December 2007

We present INPOP06: a new planetary ephemeris.
Proposed terminology in fundamental astronomy based on IAU 2000 resolutions
Authors: Capitaine Nicole , Andrei Alexandre H. , Calabretta Mark R. , Dehant Véronique , Fukushima Toshio , Guinot Bernard R. , Hohenkerk Catherine Y. , Kaplan George H. , Klioner Sergei A. , Kovalevsky Jean , Kumkova Irina I. , Ma Chopo , McCarthy Dennis D. , Seidelmann Kenneth P. , Wallace Patrick T.
Published: December 2007

We present the proposals of the IAU Division I Working Group on Nomenclature for Fundamental Astronomy (NFA) that was formed at the IAU XXV General Assembly in 2003.
TDB or TCB: does it make a difference?
Authors: Klioner Sergei A.
Published: December 2007

We argue that with the refined definition of TDB to be adopted by the IAU, the transformation between TDB and TCB becomes trivial.
Space astrometry with the Milli-Arcsecond Pathfinder Survey: mission overview and science possibilities
Authors: Gaume Ralph A. , Dorland Bryan , Makarov Valeri V. , Zacharias Norbert , Johnston Kenneth J. , Hennessy Gregory S.
Published: December 2007

We present a mission overview and science possibilities of space astrometry with the Milli-Arcsecond Pathfinder Survey (MAPS).
Japan's optical/infrared astronomy plan
Authors: Iye Masanori
Published: December 2007

The status of Japan's planning of the optical/infrared astronomy projects for the 2010's is briefly reviewed. The road map shows a 30 m class extremely large ground based telescope project with advanced adaptive optics capability, JELT, and a mid-infrared optimized 3.5 m space telescope project, SPICA, as the top-priority major project to be accomplished probably on international collaboration basis.
ASTRONET: strategic planning for European astronomy
Authors: Lagrange Anne-Marie , Andersen Johannes
Published: December 2007

ASTRONET is an ERA-NET led by a group of European funding agencies, including ESO and ESA. Its aim is to establish a comprehensive, long-term planning process for all of European astronomy – at all wavelengths, from the ground and from space, and for all of Europe. By addressing both long-term scientific goals, infrastructure needs, and resource management procedures, ASTRONET seeks to consolidate the continued development of European astronomy as a front-line player in the field.
A VO study of SDSS AGNs with X-ray emission from ROSAT-PSPC pointed observations
Authors: Hanisch Robert J. , Suchkov Anatoly A. , Heckman Timothy M. , Voges Wolfgang H.
Published: December 2007

We use VO facilities to study AGNs with X-ray emission. We present a sample of 1744 of Type 1 AGNs from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 4 (SDSS DR4) spectroscopic catalog with X-ray counterparts in the White-Giommi-Angelini catalogue (WGACAT) of ROSAT-pspc pointed observations. Of 1744 X-ray sources, 1410 (80.9%) are new AGN identifications. Of 4,574 SDSS DR4 AGNs for which we found radio matches in the catalogue of radio sources from the Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty (FIRST) cm survey, 224 turned up in our sample of SDSS X-ray AGN.
Storing and accessing the largest astronomical catalogues with the SAI CAS project
Authors: Koposov Sergey E. , Bartunov Oleg , Karpov Sergey
Published: December 2007

One of the main goals of the Virtual Observatory activities right now is to provide the simple and powerful access to the large existing astronomical datasets in the VO compatible way. That is why we want present the results of the recent development of Sternberg Astronomical Institute Catalogue Access Services (SAI CAS) project – the first and the only project in Russia, which provides on-line access to the major astronomical catalogues and different services on top of them. It is developed by a group of astronomers in a framework of SAI Astronet project, funded by Russian Foundation for Basic Research. SAI CAS is an open-source implementation of the general Catalogue access service (influenced by SDSS CASjobs & OpenSkyQuery projects), based on original algorithms and open-source software. We decided to build our own system providing an effective access to the major astronomical catalogues and different services including cone-searches and cross-matching of user data with hosted catalogues.
ANCHORS: an Archive of Chandra Observations of Regions of Star formation
Authors: Wolk Scott J. , Spitzbart Bradley D.
Published: December 2007

ANCHORS is a web based archive of all the point sources observed during Chandra observations of regions of star formation. It is designed to aid both the X-ray astronomer with a desire to compare X-ray datasets and the star formation astronomer wishing to compare stars across the spectrum. For some 50 Chandra fields, yielding 10000+ sources, the database contains X-ray source properties including position, net count rates, flux, hardness ratios, lightcurve statistics and plots.
Science projects with the Armenian Virtual Observatory (ArVO)
Authors: Mickaelian Areg M.
Published: December 2007

The main goal of the Armenian Virtual Observatory is to develop efficient methods for science projects based on the digitized famous Markarian survey (Digitized First Byurakan Survey, DFBS) and other large astronomical databases, both Armenian and international. Two groups of projects are especially productive: search for new interesting objects of definite types by low-dispersion template spectra, and optical identifications of new gamma, X-ray, IR and radio sources. The first one is based on modeling of spectra for a number of types of objects: QSOs, Seyfert galaxies, white dwarfs, subdwarfs, cataclysmic variables, planetary nebulae, late-type stars (K-M, S, carbon), etc. Each kind of object appears in the DFBS with its typical SED and spectral lines (for objects having broad lines only, like white dwarfs and subdwarfs, quasars and Seyferts, etc.), however affected also by its brightness, so that each template works for definite range of magnitudes. The search criteria define how many objects will be found for further study, and may restrict these numbers leaving with the best candidates. Optical identifications have been proven to be rather efficient for IR sources from IRAS-psc and -fsc. Tests have been carried out for X-ray and radio sources as well. Special emphasis is put on search for bright QSOs missed by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), rather important for making up their complete sample, studies of the properties of the Local Universe, a comparison of their X-ray, IR, and radio properties and making up their multiwavelength SEDs, as well as for a refinement of the AGN classification. A project for search for new bright QSOs using the DFBS has been started in the region with δ>0° and |b|>20°. The Byurakan 2.6m telescope is being used for the spectral identification of the candidates. The first test resulted in 145 objects found, 81 being known QSOs/Sys, and 64 new candidates (including 23 NVSS and FIRST radio sources).
Solar physics with the Virtual Solar Observatory
Authors: Hill Frank
Published: December 2007

The Virtual Solar Observatory (VSO) is a lightweight web service unifying twelve major solar data archives. With the VSO, users can simultaneously search for data from 50 space- and ground-based instruments covering the time period from 1915 to the present.
VOMegaPlot: efficient plotting of large VOTable datasets
Authors: Urunkar Nilesh , Kembhavi Ajit K. , Navelkar Ameya , Pandya Jagruti , Moosani Vivekananda , Nair Prameela , Shaikh Mohasin
Published: December 2007

Most plotting tools tend to load all the data to be plotted into main memory and then use the in-memory data for the actual operations such as plotting. Our Analysis shows that in case of such interactive applications, as the memory usage grows, the response time increases in a significant fashion resulting in poor user interactivity. Further, in cases where the data size exceeds the limits imposed by the available physical memory, the entire data cannot be loaded in memory for performing any kind of operation.
Science applications of the Montage image mosaic engine
Authors: Berriman G. Bruce , Laity Anastasia C. , Good John C. , Katz Daniel S. , Jacob Joseph C. , Deelman Ewa , Singh Gurmeet , Su Mei-Hu , Prince Thomas A.
Published: December 2007

Montage is a portable, scaleable toolkit that runs on end-users desktops, clusters, and computing grids. It generates astronomical image mosaics that preserve the calibration and photometry in the input FITS files. The code is available for download at the project website at , and includes independent modules for image discovery (including support for VO image access protocols), image reprojection, rectification of the sky background to a common level and image co-addition.
Summary of Special Session 3
Authors: Genova Françoise
Published: December 2007

The Virtual Observatory is one of the very few truly global endeavours of astronomy, and IAU General Assemblies are the natural places to present the VO to the community. The three-year time scale of IAU is also well suited to measure progress. At the IAU XXV GA in Sydney, 2003, half of the two-day Joint Discussion 8 on Large Telescopes & Virtual Observatories: Visions for the Future was devoted to VO talks: the main goal was to review what was expected from the VO in different disciplines of astronomy; many projects were also presented in the poster sessions. This time the three-day VO Special Session has given an excellent overview of present status of the VO, showing both tremendous progress and the work which remains to be done. Several scientific communities (astronomy, solar and heliospheric physics) are working on VO development, national communities have been organizing themselves in VO projects. Implementation by data centres has begun. Additional technical development is required, and there are still technical challenges. There is also a huge work ahead for providing high quality data and services, but the VO development already has a very positive influence on astronomers' work environment, and more is to come.
AMICA – the infrared eye at Dome C
Authors: Riva Alberto , Dolci Mauro , Straniero Oscar , Zerbi Filippo Maria , Molinari Emilio , Conconi Paolo , De Caprio Vincenzo , Valentini Gaetano , Di Rico Gianluca , Ragni Maurizio , Pelusi Danilo , Di Varano Igor , Giuliani Croce , Di Cianno Amico , Valentini Angelo , Bortoletto Favio , D'Alessandro Maurizio , Bonoli Carlotta , Giro Enrico , Fantinel Daniela , Magrin Demetrio , Corcione Leonardo , Busso Maurizio , Tosti Gino , Nucciarelli Giuliano , Roncella Fabio , Abia Carlos ,   the IRAIT Team
Published: December 2007

Amica (Antarctic Multiband Infrared Camera) is a dual-channel Infrared Imager (2-28μm), that will be located at the Nasmyth focus of the IRAIT telescope at Dome C. Dome C base, on Antarctic plateau offers an unique chance for infrared astronomy. It has several advantages like temperature, pressure and site environment. Temperature, around –60°C (mean) allows a good atmospheric stability (good seeing and good windows transparency) a low atmospheric background and the reduction of instrumental background. Pressure (equivalent of 4000 m a.s.l.), implies low content of water vapors; this means higher transmission, broader and new astronomical windows. The site offers the possibility of very long observations (about 6 months winter night).
Primary production associated with the Florida Current along the East Florida Shelf: Weekly to seasonal variability from mesoscale‐resolution biophysical simulations
Authors: Fiechter J. , Mooers C. N. K.
Published: December 2007

Numerical simulations with a mesoscale‐resolution, three‐dimensional coastal ocean model, coupled to a four‐component ecosystem model, provide estimates of the frequency, intensity, duration, and property transport of upwelling events along the East Florida Shelf (EFS), and help identify their underlying mechanisms. The results compare favorably with in situ observations and demonstrate the strong variability in the ecosystem response associated with shelfbreak upwelling on daily to seasonal timescales. Monthly‐to‐seasonal nitrate inputs are mainly due to bottom Ekman transport, as the Florida Current (FC) jet interacts with the EFS topography, and summer coastal upwelling‐favorable winds. The mesoscale variability in nitrate inputs along the EFS shelfbreak is directly related to Florida Current Frontal Eddies (FCFE), but their contribution to primary production is strongly modulated by the monthly‐to‐seasonal fluctuations in biological activity. Owing to short‐lived biological activity and only approximately weekly recurrence periods, cumulative mesoscale contributions to primary production over the year are approximately 50% smaller than cumulative monthly‐to‐seasonal contributions. Since mesoscale contributions to net cross‐stream transport are offshore and of equal or larger magnitude than monthly‐to‐seasonal contributions, FCFE activity should contribute significantly to the export of nitrate and phytoplankton from the continental shelf, especially north of 29°N as the FCFEs intensify while translating poleward along the EFS. In conclusion, the coupled physical‐biological simulations provide a new framework to investigate the ecosystem response to the FC circulation over the EFS and represent a necessary step toward the implementation of more elaborate ecosystem models for future ecological forecasting efforts in the region.