Supernova type Ia luminosities, their dependence on second parameters, and the value of H_0

A sample of 35 SNe Ia with good to excellent photometry in B and V, minimum internal absorption, and 1200 < v < \approx 30000 km/s is compiled from the literature. As far as their spectra are known they are all Branch-normal. For 29 of the SNe Ia also peak magnitudes in I are known. The SNe Ia have uniform colors at maximum, i.e. =-0.012 mag (sigma=0.051) and =-0.276 mag (sigma=0.078). In the Hubble diagram they define a Hubble line with a scatter of $\sigma_M$=0.21-0.16 mag, decreasing with wavelength. The scatter is further reduced if the SNe Ia are corrected for differences in decline rate Delta_m_15 or color (B-V). A combined correction reduces the scatter to sigma<=0.13 mag. After the correction no significant dependence remains on Hubble type or galactocentric distance. The Hubble line suggests some curvature which can be differently interpreted. A consistent solution is obtained for a cosmological model with Omega_M=0.3, Omega_Lambda=0.7, which is indicated also by much more distant SNe Ia. Absolute magnitudes are available for eight equally blue (Branch-normal) SNe Ia in spirals, whose Cepheid distances are known. If their well defined mean values of M_B, M_V, and M_I are used to fit the Hubble line to the above sample of SNe Ia one obtains H_0=58.3 km/s/Mpc, or, after adjusting all SNe Ia to the average values of Delta_m_15 and (B-V), H_0=60.9 km/s/Mpc. Various systematic errors are discussed whose elimination tends to decrease H_0. The finally adopted value at the 90-percent level, including random and systematic errors, is H_0=58.5 +/- 6.3 km/s/Mpc. Several higher values of H_0 from SNe Ia, as suggested in the literature, are found to depend on large corrections for variations of the light curve parameter and/or on an unwarranted reduction of the Cepheid distances of the calibrating SNe Ia.Comment: 42 pages, including 9 figures; submitted to Ap

Molybdenum sputtering film characterization for high gradient accelerating structures

Technological advancements are strongly required to fulfill the demands of new accelerator devices with the highest accelerating gradients and operation reliability for the future colliders. To this purpose an extensive R&D regarding molybdenum coatings on copper is in progress. In this contribution we describe chemical composition, deposition quality and resistivity properties of different molybdenum coatings obtained via sputtering. The deposited films are thick metallic disorder layers with different resistivity values above and below the molibdenum dioxide reference value. Chemical and electrical properties of these sputtered coatings have been characterized by Rutherford backscattering, XANES and photoemission spectroscopy. We will also present a three cells standing wave section coated by a molybdenum layer $\sim$ 500 nm thick designed to improve the performance of X-Band accelerating systems.Comment: manuscript has been submitted and accepted by Chinese Physics C (2012

Evaluation of the surface strength of glass plates shaped by hot slumping process

The Hot Slumping Technology is under development by several research groups in the world for the realization of grazing-incidence segmented mirrors for X-ray astronomy, based on thin glass plates shaped over a mould at temperatures above the transformation point. The performed thermal cycle and related operations might have effects on the strength characteristics of the glass, with consequences on the structural design of the elemental optical modules and consecutively on the entire X-ray optic for large astronomical missions like IXO and ATHENA. The mechanical strength of glass plates after they underwent the slumping process was tested through destructive double-ring tests in the context of a study performed by the Astronomical Observatory of Brera with the collaboration of Stazione Sperimentale del Vetro and BCV Progetti. The entire study has been realized on more than 200 D263 Schott borosilicate glass specimens of dimension 100 mm x 100 mm and thickness 0.4 mm, either flat or bent at a Radius of Curvature of 1000 mm through the particular pressure assisted hot slumping process developed by INAF-OAB. The collected experimental data have been compared to non-linear FEM analyses and treated with Weibull statistic to assess the current IXO glass X-ray telescope design, in terms of survival probability, when subject to static and acoustic loads characteristic of the launch phase. The paper describes the activities performed and presents the obtained results.Comment: Accepted for publication in Optical Enginnering (Jun 26, 2014

Distance to the Active Galaxy NGC 6951 via the Type Ia Supernova 2000E

CCD-photometry and low-resolution spectroscopy of the bright supernova SN 2000E in NGC 6951 are presented. Both the light curve extending up to 150 days past maximum and the spectra obtained at 1 month past maximum confirm that SN 2000E is of Type Ia. The reddening of SN 2000E is determined as E(B-V)=0.36+/-0.15, its error is mainly due to uncertainties in the predicted SN (B-V) colour at late epochs. The V(RI)_C light curves are analyzed with the Multi-Colour Light Curve Shape (MLCS) method. The shape of the late light curve suggests that SN 2000E was overluminous by about 0.5 mag at maximum comparing with a fiducial SN Ia. This results in an updated distance of 33+/-8 Mpc of NGC 6951 (corrected for interstellar absorption). The SN-based distance modulus is larger by about +0.7 mag than the previous Tully-Fisher estimates. However, possible systematic errors due to ambiguities in the reddening determination and estimates of the maximum luminosity of SN 2000E may plague the present distance measurement.Comment: 9 p., 5 figs, accepted for publication in A&A. A reference correcte

B,V,I - photometry of 20 dwarf irregular galaxies within 10 Mpc

CCD - photometry is presented for 20 dIrr galaxies situated in the nearby complexes CenA/M83, and CVnI as well as in the general field of the Local Volume. We present integrated magnitudes of the galaxies in B,V,I - bands and also surface brightness profiles to a median isophote mu_B ~ 28 mag /sq.arcsec. The popular Sersic parameterization of surface brightness profiles generally does a poor job of simultaneously fitting the inner cores and outer exponential surface brightness fall-offs observed in many of our targets. The observed sample is a part of a general project to image about 500 nearby (D < 10 Mpc) dwarf galaxies in multiple bands.Comment: 3 figures, accepted to the MNRA

Metabolism of ticagrelor in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

© The Author(s) 2018Ticagrelor is a state-of-the-art antiplatelet agent used for the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Unlike remaining oral P2Y12 receptor inhibitors ticagrelor does not require metabolic activation to exert its antiplatelet action. Still, ticagrelor is extensively metabolized by hepatic CYP3A enzymes, and AR-C124910XX is its only active metabolite. A post hoc analysis of patient-level (n = 117) pharmacokinetic data pooled from two prospective studies was performed to identify clinical characteristics affecting the degree of AR-C124910XX formation during the first six hours after 180 mg ticagrelor loading dose in the setting of ACS. Both linear and multiple regression analyses indicated that ACS patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction or suffering from diabetes mellitus are more likely to have decreased rate of ticagrelor metabolism during the acute phase of ACS. Administration of morphine during ACS was found to negatively influence transformation of ticagrelor into AR-C124910XX when assessed with linear regression analysis, but not with multiple regression analysis. On the other hand, smoking appears to increase the degree of ticagrelor transformation in ACS patients. Mechanisms underlying our findings and their clinical significance warrant further research.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Current state of knowledge on Takotsubo Syndrome: a Position Statement from the Taskforce on Takotsubo Syndrome of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology

Takotsubo syndrome is an acute reversible heart failure syndrome that is increasingly recognized in modern cardiology practice. This Position Statement from the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Association provides a comprehensive review of the various clinical and pathophysiological facets of Takotsubo syndrome, including nomenclature, definition, and diagnosis, primary and secondary clinical subtypes, anatomical variants, triggers, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, complications, prognosis, clinical investigations, and treatment approaches. Novel structured approaches to diagnosis, risk stratification, and management are presented, with new algorithms to aid decision-making by practising clinicians. These also cover more complex areas (e.g. uncertain diagnosis and delayed presentation) and the management of complex cases with ongoing symptoms after recovery, recurrent episodes, or spontaneous presentation. The unmet needs and future directions for research in this syndrome are also discussed

Photometric Properties of Six Local Volume Dwarf Galaxies from Deep Near-Infrared Observations

We have obtained deep near-infrared $J$- (1.25 $\mu$m), $H$- (1.65$\mu$m) and $K_s$-band (2.15 $\mu$m) imaging for a sample of six dwarf galaxies (M_B\ga-17 mag) in the Local Volume (LV, D\la10 Mpc). The sample consists mainly of early-type dwarf galaxies found in various environments in the LV. Two galaxies (LEDA 166099 and UGCA 200) in the sample are detected in the near-infrared for the first time. The deep near-infrared images allow for a detailed study of the photometric and structural properties of each galaxy. The surface brightness profiles of the galaxies are detected down to the ~$24 mag arcsec^{-2}$ isophote in the $J$- and $H$-bands, and $23 mag arcsec^{-2}$ in the $K_s$-band. The total magnitudes of the galaxies are derived in the three wavelength bands. For the brightest galaxies (M_B\la-15.5 mag) in the sample, we find that the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) underestimates the total magnitudes of these systems by up to \la0.5 mag. The radial surface brightness profiles of the galaxies are fitted with an exponential (for those galaxies having a stellar disk) or S\'ersic law to derive the structure of the underlying stellar component. In particular, the effective surface brightness ($\mu_e$) and effective radius ($r_e$) are determined from the analytic fits to the surface brightness profile. The $J$-$K_s$ colours for the galaxies have been measured to explore the luminosity-metallicity relation for early-type dwarfs. In addition, the $B$-$K_s$ colours of the galaxies are used to assess their evolutionary state relative to other galaxy morphologies. The total stellar masses of the dwarf galaxies are derived from the $H$-band photometric measurements. These will later be compared to the dynamical mass estimates for the galaxies to determine their dark matter content.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, submitted to MNRA