Comet C/2001 Q4 (NEAT) at its closest approach to the Earth

in American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #36 (2004, November 01)

Comet C/2001 Q4 (NEAT) was observed at ESO (La Silla) for three consecutive nights at the beginning of May, 2004 at its closest approach to Earth. The observations consisted of quasi-simultaneous multi ... [more ▼]

Comet C/2001 Q4 (NEAT) was observed at ESO (La Silla) for three consecutive nights at the beginning of May, 2004 at its closest approach to Earth. The observations consisted of quasi-simultaneous multi-wavelength exposures in the visible, near-IR and thermal-IR in order to study different properties of the solid component that are responsible for the scattering and emission of radiation in different spectral ranges. The comet was observed with the 3.6m telescope, equipped with TIMMI2 for the thermal-IR region, the NTT, equipped with EMMI and SOFI for the visible and near-IR regions. Narrow band images and long slit spectra were recorded for each spectral region. In the near-IR range, polarimetric observations were also performed during the last night. The aim of the observations was the characterization of the solid component at small scalelength to search for possible short lifetime organic components, as those found in the comet C/2000 WM1 (Tozzi et al., 2004, A&A, 424, 235), dust fragmentation etc.. Here we report preliminary results of the analysis of these observations. [less ▲]

Polarization properties of broad absorption line QSOs: New statistical clues

in Astronomy and Astrophysics (2004), 427

We report the results of several statistical tests performed on a large sample of 139 broad absorption line (BAL) QSOs with good quality optical spectra and/or optical polarization data. Correlations ... [more ▼]

We report the results of several statistical tests performed on a large sample of 139 broad absorption line (BAL) QSOs with good quality optical spectra and/or optical polarization data. Correlations between ten optical indices and the polarization degree p[SUB]0[/SUB] are systematically searched for. We find six significant non-trivial correlations. In order to identify the most important correlations, we perform a principal component analysis with a sample of 30 BAL QSOs and eight quantities (including p[SUB]0[/SUB]). Most of the variance (Ë 57%) in the data is contained in two principal components called PC1 and PC2. PC1 is mainly dominated by the correlation between the balnicity index BI and the strength of the Fe II emission; it may be driven by the accretion rate of matter onto the central compact object. The variance in PC2 is essentially due to the anti-correlation between p[SUB]0[/SUB] and the detachment index DI, indicating that BAL QSOs with P Cygni profiles (DIâ ª) are usually more polarized than those objects with C IV absorption troughs well detached from the corresponding emission lines (DIâ «). We show that PC2 may be related to the orientation of the BAL QSOs with respect to the line of sight. We also present new spectropolarimetric observations of six BAL QSOs. By adding spectropolarimetric data from the literature, we build a sample of 21 BAL QSOs for which we define four spectropolarimetric indices describing the polarization properties of the absorption and emission lines. We find that the polarization of the C III]] emission line is systematically higher than the polarization of the C IV emission line, and that the highest polarization in the troughs is correlated to the balnicity index. Another important result emerging from the statistical tests performed on this spectropolarimetric sample is a possible anti-correlation between the detachment index and a quantity SI which measures the ratio of the depths of the C IV absorption in the polarized flux and in the total flux. This correlation indicates that in BAL QSOs with P cygni profiles, the BAL troughs in the polarized flux are nearly as deep as in the total flux while, in BAL QSOs with detached absorptions, the BAL troughs in the polarized flux are much weaker than in the total flux. We show that our main results may be explained in the framework of a ``two-component'' wind model which is a natural extension of the classical wind-from-disk models. In this model, the broad absorption occurs in a dense equatorial wind emerging from the accretion disk, while scattering and polarization mainly take place in a polar region. The orientation relative to the observer drives the correlations p[SUB]0[/SUB] - DI and DI - SI. While most of our observations can be explained within this framework, there are also several indications that other polarization mechanisms, and more particularly resonance scattering, may also be at work. Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory (ESO, La Silla). Table 1 is only available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http: / / cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/427/107 [less ▲]

The European Large Area ISO Survey - VIII. 90-microns final analysis and source counts

in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2004), 354

We present a re-analysis of the European Large Area Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) Survey (ELAIS) 90-μm observations carried out with ISOPHOT, an instrument on board the ISO of the European Space ... [more ▼]

We present a re-analysis of the European Large Area Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) Survey (ELAIS) 90-μm observations carried out with ISOPHOT, an instrument on board the ISO of the European Space Agency. With more than 12 deg[SUP]2[/SUP], the ELAIS survey is the largest area covered by ISO in a single programme and is about one order of magnitude deeper than the IRAS 100-μm survey. The data analysis is presented and was mainly performed with the PHOT interactive analysis software but using the pairwise method of Stickel et al. for signal processing from edited raw data to signal per chopper plateau. The ELAIS 90-μm catalogue contains 237 reliable sources with fluxes larger than 70 mJy and is available in the electronic version of this article. Number counts are presented and show an excess above the no-evolution model prediction. This confirms the strong evolution detected at shorter (15 μm) and longer (170 μm) wavelengths in other ISO surveys. The ELAIS counts are in agreement with previous works at 90 μm and in particular with the deeper counts extracted from the Lockman hole observations. Comparison with recent evolutionary models show that the models of Franceschini et al. and Guiderdoni et al. (which includes a heavily extinguished population of galaxies) give the best fit to the data. Deeper observations are nevertheless required to discriminate better between the model predictions in the far-infrared, and are scheduled with the Spitzer Space Telescope, which has already started operating, and will also be performed by ASTRO-F. [less ▲]

Long-term outcome of patients with acromegaly and congestive heart failure

in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (2004), 89(11), 5308-5313

Cardiovascular complications are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with acromegaly. Normalization of GH secretion is associated with an improvement in structural and functional cardiac ... [more ▼]

Cardiovascular complications are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with acromegaly. Normalization of GH secretion is associated with an improvement in structural and functional cardiac abnormalities. However, the long-term cardiac effects of treatment for acromegaly have not been studied in patients who have already developed chronic congestive heart failure (CHF). We reviewed the charts of 330 consecutive patients with acromegaly treated in two French and Belgian centers since 1985. Ten patients with both acromegaly and CHF (eight men, two women, mean age 49.7 yr) were studied retrospectively. One of them was excluded because CHF was due to severe aortic stenosis. CHF ( New York Heart Association stages III-IV and echocardiography showing dilated hypokinetic cardiomyopathy with left ventricular systolic dysfunction and a left ventricular ejection fraction less than 45%) was diagnosed before, concomitantly, or after acromegaly in, respectively, two, five, and two patients. Three patients were referred with terminal heart failure requiring transplantation. One patient had transient CHF associated with a hypertensive crisis. The other eight patients had symptomatic chronic CHF. Control of GH hypersecretion failed, totally or partially, in three patients: one had a long-term survival, and the two others died at 1 and 5 yr. Good GH control was achieved in five patients: four of these are still alive 2-16 yr after diagnosis of CHF, their clinical status is stable or improved, and their quality of life is good. Overall, the 1- and 5-yr mortality ( or transplantation) rates for patients with chronic symptomatic CHF were 25% ( 2 of 8 patients) and 37.5% ( 3 of 8 patients), respectively. In conclusion, less than 3% of acromegalic patients developed CHF in this study. Although effective treatment of acromegaly improved short-term cardiovascular status, its impact on long-term survival is questionable. [less ▲]

Marie Madeleine ou le goût de la sainteté

in Voir (2004), 28-29

Cet article porte sur la traduction intersémiotique des iconographies religieuses (Madeleine en extase et Madeleine pénitente) de la peinture en photographie. Il met l’accent sur le genre de la nature ... [more ▼]

Cet article porte sur la traduction intersémiotique des iconographies religieuses (Madeleine en extase et Madeleine pénitente) de la peinture en photographie. Il met l’accent sur le genre de la nature morte, lequel implique un rapport du texte visuel avec la sensorialité de l’observateur – qui devient « consommateur » de l’image. Cette recherche vise à analyser l’intertextualité, c’est-à-dire la convocation de valeurs d’un texte à l’autre (polémiques et iréniques), mais aussi le rapport entre statut religieux et statut artistique de l’image. [less ▲]

Les causes d’intolérance à l’effort chez le cheval : résultats de deux études rétrospectives

Conference (2004, November)

Image du mois. Fibrodysplasie musculaire de l'artère rénale.

in Revue Médicale de Liège (2004), 59(11), 624-5

Carcinome parathyroïdien et immunothérapie

Scientific conference (2004, November)

Interférométrie holographique sur base de cristaux photoréfractifs dynamiques et lasers à double impulsion : le projet européen PHIFE

in Smigielski, P. (Ed.) Actes du Cinquième colloque francophone Méthodes et Techniques Optiques pour l'Industrie (2004, November)

Les cristaux photoréfractifs sont des supports holographiques dynamiques (auto-enregistrables, effaçables et indéfiniment réutilisables) qui permettent l'acquisition rapide d'hologrammes utilisables en ... [more ▼]

Les cristaux photoréfractifs sont des supports holographiques dynamiques (auto-enregistrables, effaçables et indéfiniment réutilisables) qui permettent l'acquisition rapide d'hologrammes utilisables en interférométrie holographique. De plus, certaines de leurs propriétés cristallines permettent l'obtention d'interférogrammes de qualité incomparable. Nous avons déjà présenté à maintes reprises les développements et applications d'instruments de métrologie basés sur ces cristaux avec des lasers continus. Des expériences préliminaires sur base de lasers à simple impulsion avaient aussi été montrées. Nous présentons ici la suite de ces expériences et qui ont lieu dans le cadre du projet européen PHIFE "Pulsed Holographic Interferometer for the analysis of Fast Events". PHIFE a pour objectif le développement d'un instrument à champ complet fonctionnant avec un laser YAG Q-switch à double impulsion. [less ▲]

Penile prosthesis, sexual satisfaction and representation of male erotic value

in Sexual & Relationship Therapy (2004), 19(4),

A follow-up study conducted among 39 implanted patients and 30 partners shows that subjects' satisfaction towards prosthetic-sexulaity depends on their representation of male erotic value. The less ... [more ▼]

A follow-up study conducted among 39 implanted patients and 30 partners shows that subjects' satisfaction towards prosthetic-sexulaity depends on their representation of male erotic value. The less satisfied patients are sensitive to a normative representation that associates erotic value to criteria of "sponataneity", "naturalness", "tall an non-assisted erections". Their main dissatisfaction likely derives from the insufficiency of a prosthetic solution to restore a male self-image based on such criteria. This induces a more important impact on satisfaction rates than do functional problems (e.g. difficulties in manipulating the device, unwanted deflations, uncomfortable sensations). These patients also show an attribution bias consisting in attributing erroneously the same dissatisfaction and negative attitude towards prosthetic sexuality to their partner. Therfore, in addition to surgery, a psychosexual support is necessary to modify erotic representations and to improve the communication between the partners in order to increase sexual satisfaction with prosthesis-assisted sexuality [less ▲]