Europium abundances in cool dwarf stars of the galactic thick and thin disks

Abundances of europium for 112 FGK dwarf stars of thick and thin disks have been determined in the metallicity range of ?1.0 < [Fe/H] < +0.3. Spectra of the studied stars have been obtained using the 1.93-m telescope of Haute-Provence Observatory (France) with spectral resolution R = 42000 and signal-to-noise ratio S/N = 100?300. Eu content has been calculated with assumption of LTE using the synthetic spectrum approach with detailed consideration of superfine structure. Analysis of europium abundances as a function of metallicity in kinematically selected stars of the Galactic thick and thin disks revealed different values in the disks. Comparison of europium abundances with magnesium abundances makes it possible to assume that at [Fe/H] < ?0.2 dex the origins of these elements are similar and at [Fe/H] > ?0.2 dex they are, probably, different.     

Analysis of the spectral energy distribution of the peculiar carbon giant TU gem

The TU Gem star has long been known as a peculiar carbon giant of the Galaxy halo, but its classification as a CH star is still debated. We estimated the TU Gem atmosphere parameters through modeling its spectrum and comparision one with the spectra of the star observed in two wide spectral ranges (λλ 400–720 nm and λλ 900–2440 nm). The low-dispersion optical TU Gem spectrum obtained by Barnbaum et al. (2006) (R ～ 600) and the infrared spectrum presented by Tanaka et al. (2007) (R ～ 2600) were used in the analysis. The model atmospheres were calculated using the SAM12 software (Pavlenko, 2003). Since the metallicity ([Fe/H]) value could not be determined conclusively based on our spectral data, only the TU Gem effective temperature T _eff (that depends weakly on metallicity) was defined with certainty (T _eff = 3000 ± 100 K). We determined the C/O, [C/Fe], and [N/Fe] values for the ?2.0 ≤ [Fe/H] ≤ 0.0 range with a step of Δ[Fe/H] = 0.5. Our estimate of [C/Fe] (0.63–0.67 at [Fe/H] = ?1.0) is higher than the corresponding estimate ([C/Fe] = 0.21 at [Fe/H] = ?1.1) given in (Kipper et al., 1996), while the estimates for [N/Fe] at the stated metallicities agree with each other: [N/Fe] = +1.0. This brings TU Gem closer to CH stars, but a detailed analysis of the chemical composition of the TU Gem atmosphere is required to reach a definite conclusion.     

Evolution of the distribution of neutron exposures in the Galaxy disc: An analytical model

In this work, based on the analytical model with delayed production approximation developed by Pagel & Tautvaišienė (1995) for the Galaxy, the analytic solutions of the distribution of neutron exposures of the Galaxy (hereafter NEG) are obtained. The present results appear to reasonably reproduce the distribution of neutron exposures of the solar system (hereafter NES). The strong component and the main component of the NES are built up in different epochs. Firstly, the strong component is produced by the s-process nucleosynthesis in the metal-poor AGB stars, starting from [Fe/H] ≈ −1.16 to [Fe/H] ≈ −0.66, corresponding to the time interval 1.06 < t < 2.6 Gyr. Secondly, the main component is produced by the s-process in the galactic disk AGB stars, starting from [Fe/H] ≈ −0.66 to [Fe/H] ≈ 0, corresponding to the time interval t > 2.6 Gyr. The analytic solutions have the advantage of an understanding of the structure and the properties of the NEG. The NEG is believed to be an effective tool to study the s-process element abundance distributions in the Galaxy at different epochs and the galactic chemical evolution of the neutron-capture elements.     

Spectroscopy of high proper motion stars in the ground-based UV

Based on high quality spectral data (spectral resolution R≈60000) within the wavelength range of 3550–5000 Å we determined main parameters (effective temperature, surface gravity, microturbulent velocity, and content of chemical elements including heavy metals from Sr to Dy) for 14 metal-deficient G–K stars with large proper motions. The stars studied have a high range of metallicity: [Fe/H]=?0.3÷?2.9. Abundances of Mg, Al, Sr and Ba were calculated with non-LTE line-formation effects accounted for. The abundance both of radioactive element Th and the r-process element Eu were determined through synthetic spectrum calculations. We selected stars that belong to different galactic populations according to the kinematical criterion and parameters determined by us. We found that the studied stars with large proper motions refer to different components of the Galaxy: thin, thick disks and halo. The chemical composition of the star BD+80°?245 far from the galactic plane agrees with its belonging to the accreted halo. For the giant HD?115444 we obtained [Fe/H]=?2.91, an underabundance of Mn, an overabundance of heavy metals from Ba to Dy, and especially a high excess of the r-process element europium: [Eu/Fe]=+1.26. Contrary to its chemical composition typical for halo stars, HD?115444 belongs to the disc population according to its kinematic parameters.     

Two-stage model for chemical evolution of galactic halo

We propose a model of chemical evolution of the galactic halo which consists of a succession of two different evolutionary stages; each stage is characterized by different outflow rate of gas from the star-forming region so that different metal-enrichment rate is resulted. The low-metal stars with [Fe/H]<–0.8 are formed mainly during the first 3×10⁸ yr, and most of the high-metal stars with [Fe/H]–0.8 are formed during the succeeding 2×10⁹ yr. This model naturally explains the metallicity distribution of globular clusters in the galactic halo including both the metal-rich and the metal-poor clusters. We also discuss the implications of the present model on the formation and evolution of the galactic halo.     

Influence of Inelastic Collisions with Hydrogen Atoms on Non-LTE Oxygen Abundance Determinations

We present the results of our modeling of the O I line formation under non-LTE conditions in the atmospheres of FG stars. The statistical equilibrium of O I has been calculated using Barklem’s quantum-mechanical rates of inelastic collisions with hydrogen atoms. We have determined the non-LTE oxygen abundance from atomic O I lines for the Sun and 46 FG stars in a wide metallicity range, ?2.6 < [Fe/H] < 0.2. The application of accurate atomic data has led to an increase in the departures from LTE and a decrease in the oxygen abundance compared to the use of Drawin’s theoretical approximation. The change in the non-LTE abundance from the infrared O I 7771-5 Å triplet lines is 0.11 dex for solar atmospheric parameters and diminishes in absolute value with decreasing metallicity. We have revised the [O/Fe]–[Fe/H] relationship derived by us previously. The change in [O/Fe] is small in the [Fe/H] range from ?1.5 to 0.2. For stars with [Fe/H] < ?1 the [O/Fe] ratio has increased so that [O/Fe] = 0.60 at [Fe/H] = ?0.8 and rises to [O/Fe] = 0.75 at [Fe/H] = ?2.6.     

Chemical evolution of the galaxy: Abundances of the light elements (sodium to calcium)

The abundances of the light (Na to Ca) elements in disc and halo stars are reviewed. New analyses are emphasized. Elements considered are the α-nuclei (Mg, Si, and Ca), and the odd-even nuclei (Na and Al, also²⁵Mg and²⁶Mg). The α-nuclei are overabundant (relative to Fe) in the old disc and halo stars. Halo stars ([Fe/H] < —1.2) have [α/Fe] ∼0.3 with extreme halo ([Fe/H] ≲ −2.0) stars showing possibly higher overabundances. The scatter in [α/Fe] at a given [Fe/H] is small. To within the observational errors, the abundance patterns for Mg, Si, and Ca are identical. For disc stars, the Na and Al abundances relative to Mg are almost independent of the [Fe/H]. Halo stars ([Fe/H] < −1) show [Na/Mg] < 0 and [AI/Mg] < 0, but the form of the mean relation and the scatter about the relation between [odd-even/Mg] and [Fe/H] remains uncertain.     

Metallicity distributions of globular cluster systems in galaxies

We collected a sample of 100 galaxies for which different observers have determined colour indices of globular cluster candidates. The sample includes representatives of galaxies of various morphological types and different luminosities. Colour indices (in most cases (V–I), but also (B–I) and (C–T1)) were transformed into metallicities [Fe/H] according to a relation by Kissler‐Patig (1998). These data were analysed with the KMM software in order to estimate similarity of the distribution with uni‐ or bimodal Gaussian distribution. We found that 45 of 100 systems have bimodal metallicity distributions. Mean metallicity of the metal‐poor component for these galaxies is 〈[Fe/H]〉 = –1.40 ± 0.02, of the metalrich component 〈[Fe/H]〉 = –0.69 ± 0.03. Dispersions of the distributions are 0.15 and 0.18, respectively. Distribution of unimodal metallicities is rather wide. These data will be analysed in a subsequent paper in order to find correlations with parameters of galaxies and galactic environment.     

High Resolution Optical Spectroscopy of Hot Post-AGB Star Candidates LS IV-04 1 and LB3116

We present LTE analysis of high resolution optical spectra for B-type hot PAGB stars LS IV-04 1 and LB3116 (LSE 237). The spectra of these high Galactic latitude stars were obtained with the 3.9-m Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) and the UCLES spectrograph. The standard 1D LTE analysis with line-blanketed LTE model atmospheres and spectral synthesis provided fundamental atmospheric parameters of T_eff= 15 000±1000 K, log g= 2.5±0.2, ξ = 5.0±1.0 km s^?1, [M/H] = ?1.81 dex, and v sin i= 5 km s^?1 for LSIV-04 1 and T_eff= 16 000±1000 K, log g= 2.5±0.1, v sin i= 25 km s^?1, and [Fe/H] = ?0.93 dex for LB 3116. Chemical abundances of ten different elements were obtained. For LS IV-04 1, its derived model temperature contradicts with previous analysis results. The upper limits for its nitrogen and oxygen abundances were reported for the first time. The magnesium, silicon and calcium were overabundant (i.e. [Mg/Fe] = 0.8 dex, [Si/Fe] = 0.5 dex, [Ca/Fe] = 0.9 dex). With its metal-poor photosphere and V_LSR ≈ 96 km s^?1, LSIV-04 1 is likely a population II star and most probably a PAGB star. LTE abundances of LB 3116 were reported for the first time. The spectrum of this helium rich star shows 0.9 dex enhancement in the nitrogen. The photosphere of the star is slightly deficient in Mg, Si, and S. (i.e. [Mg/Fe] = ?0.2 dex, [Si/Fe] = ?0.4 dex, [S/Fe] = ?0.2 dex). The Al is slightly enhanced. The phosphorus is overabundant, i.e. [P/Fe] ≈ 1.7 ± 0.47 dex, hence LB3116 may be the first example of a PAGB star which is rich in phosphorus. With its high radial velocity (i.e.V_LSR = 73 km s^?1), and the deficiencies observed in C, Mg, Si, and S indicate that LB 3116 is likely a hot PAGB star at high galactic latitude.     

Recent work on CNO in dwarfs and subdwarfs

The recent results on CNO in dwarfs and subdwarfs are discussed. The value of [O/Fe] ≃ 0.0 at solar abundances but gradually increases with decreasing [Fe/H]. The value of [C/Fe] is constant at ≃ 0.0 ₋₂ ⁺¹ as [Fe/H] declines from + 0.5 to −2.0; for [Fe/H] < − 2.0, [C/Fe] increases somewhat reaching a mean value near + 0.2 or + 0.3 dex. All the investigations agree that N has a strong primary component.     

Observational restrictions on sodium and aluminium abundance variations in evolution of the galaxy

In this paper we construct and analyze the uniform non-LTE distributions of the aluminium ([Al/Fe]-[Fe/H]) and sodium ([Na/Fe]-[Fe/H]) abundances in the sample of 160 stars of the disk and halo of our Galaxy with metallicities within ?4.07 ≤ [Fe/H] ≤ 0.28. The values of metallicity [Fe/H] and microturbulence velocity ξ _turb indices are determined from the equivalent widths of the Fe II and Fe I lines. We estimated the sodium and aluminium abundances using a 21-level model of the Na I atom and a 39-level model of the Al I atom. The resulting LTE distributions of [Na/Fe]-[Fe/H] and [Al/Fe]-[Fe/H] do not correspond to the theoretical predictions of their evolution, suggesting that a non-LTE approach has to be applied to determine the abundances of these elements. The account of non-LTE corrections reduces by 0.05–0.15 dex the abundances of sodium, determined from the subordinate lines in the stars of the disk with [Fe/H] ≥ ?2.0, and by 0.05–0.70 dex (with a strong dependence on metallicity) the abundances of [Na/Fe], determined by the resonance lines in the stars of the halo with [Fe/H] ≤ ?2.0. The non-LTE corrections of the aluminium abundances are strictly positive and increase from 0.0–0.1 dex for the stars of the thin disk (?0.7 ≤ [Fe/H] ≤ 0.28) to 0.03–0.3 dex for the stars of the thick disk (?1.5 ≤ [Fe/H] ≤ ?0.7) and 0.06–1.2 dex for the stars of the halo ([Fe/H] ≤ ?2.0). The resulting non-LTE abundances of [Na/Fe] reveal a scatter of individual values up to Δ[Na/Fe] = 0.4 dex for the stars of close metallicities. The observed non-LTE distribution of [Na/Fe]-[Fe/H] within 0.15 dex coincides with the theoretical distributions of Samland and Kobayashi et al. The non-LTE aluminium abundances are characterized by a weak scatter of values (up to Δ[Al/Fe] = 0.2 dex) for the stars of all metallicities. The constructed non-LTE distribution of [Al/Fe]-[Fe/H] is in a satisfactory agreement to 0.2 dex with the theoretical data of Kobayashi et al., but strongly differs (up to 0.4 dex) from the predictions of Samland.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">r</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">s</Emphasis>-process contributions to heavy-element abundances in the halo star HD 29907

The abundances of 22 heavy elements from Sr to Pb have been determined for the halo star HD 29907 (T _eff = 5500 K, log g = 4.64) with [Fe/H] = −1.55 using high-quality VLT/UVES spectra (ESO, Chile). The star has a moderate enhancement of r-process elements (Eu-Tm) with [r/Fe] = 0.63. In the range from Ba to Yb, the derived abundance pattern agrees well with those for strongly r-process enhanced stars (r-II stars with [Eu/Fe] > 1 and [Ba/Eu] < 0), such as CS 22892-052 and CS 31082-001, as well as with the scaled solar r-process curve and the r-process model HEW. Thus, Ba-Yb in HD 29907 originate in the r-process. Just as other moderately r-process enhanced stars studied in the literature, HD 29907 exhibits higher Sr, Y, and Zr abundances than those for r-II stars. These results confirm the assumption by other authors about the existence of an additional Sr-Zr synthesis mechanism in the early Galaxy before the onset of nucleosynthesis in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. The same mechanism can be responsible for the enhancement of Mo-Ag in the star being investigated compared to r-II stars. There are no grounds to suggest the presence of s-nuclei of lead in the material of the star being investigated, because its measured abundance ratio log ɛ(Pb/Eu) = 1.20 lies within the range for the comparison stars: from log ɛ(Pb/Eu) = 0.17 (CS 31082-001) to < 1.55 (HE 1219-0312). Thus, even if there was a contribution of AGB stars to the heavy-element enrichment of the interstellar medium at the epoch with [Fe/H] = −1.55, it was small, at the level of the abundance error.     

Evolution of the titanium and oxygen abundances from observations of FGK dwarfs in a wide metallicity range

For a sample of dwarf stars close to the Sun with well-known atmospheric parameters and an iron abundance in the range ?2.6 < [Fe/H] < 0.2, we have determined the titanium and oxygen abundances by taking into account the departures from LTE. The dependence of the [O/Fe] and [Ti/Fe] abundance ratios on [Fe/H] has been refined in comparison with the published data. We have established that [O/Fe] increases from ?0.2 to 0.6 as the metallicity [Fe/H] decreases from 0.2 to ?0.8 and remains constant at a lower metallicity. A similar behavior has been found for [Ti/Fe], but the plateau is formed by stars with [Fe/H] > ?0.7, and the titanium overabundance relative to iron is 0.3. The results confirm that not only oxygen but also titanium are synthesized in the α-process. Our data can be used to test the Galactic chemical evolution models.     

Analysis of UBV photometry in selected area 133

We interpret the de‐reddened UBV data for the field SA 133 to deduce the stellar density and metallicity distribution functions. The logarithmic local space density for giants, D*(0) = 6.40, and the agreement of the luminosity function for dwarfs and sub‐giants with the one of Hipparcos confirms the empirical method used for their separation. The metallicity distribution for dwarfs gives a narrow peak at [Fe/H] = +0.13 dex, due to apparently bright limiting magnitude, V_o = 16.5, whereas late‐type giants extending up to z ∼ 4.5 kpc from the galactic plane have a multimodal distribution. The metallicity distribution for giants gives a steep gradient d[Fe/H]/dz = –0.75 dex kpc^–1 for thin disk and thick disk whereas a smaller value for the halo, i.e. d[Fe/H]/dz = –0.45 dex kpc^–1. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Oxygen Abundances in Solar-Type Stars

The absolute solar oxygen abundance,ε ⊙ = 8.80± 0.06, has been determined from various oxygen abundance indicators in different solar atlases, and a new method is proposed to test collision rate coefficientsfor the NLTE model of OI.Using effective temperatures derived from Balmer lines, oxygen abundances from O triplets in 83 solar-type stars within the solar neighborhood spanning a metallicity range of [Fe/H] = −2.3 ... +0.4 have been determined.NLTE effects are not negligible, especially in warm stars(T_eff ≥ 5800) with [Fe/H] ≥ −0.5. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Kinematics of high proper motion stars determined from high resolution spectra in ground-based ultraviolet

Radial velocities for 15 stars with high proper motions were measured as a result of spectral observations, conducted with the NES echelle spectrograph of the 6-m BTA telescope in the wavelength range of 3550–5100 Å with a spectral resolution of R=60000. The standard deviation of the measured velocity does not exceed σ ≤ 0.9 km/s for the stars with metallicity [Fe/H]? ?1, and σ ≤ 1.1 km/s for [Fe/H]? ?1. The heliocentric velocities measured with high accuracy in combination with trigonometrical parallaxes and proper motions from the HIPPARCOS catalog allowed us to determine the distances and parameters of the galactic orbits of the stars under study. In general they are located within 100 pc; the binarity of several program stars is confirmed.     

Formation of galactic subsystems in light of the magnesium abundance in field stars: The thin disk

Data from our compiled catalog of spectroscopically determined magnesium abundances in stars with accurate parallaxes are used to select thin-disk dwarfs and subgiants according to kinematic criteria. We analyze the relations between the relative magnesium abundances in stars, [Mg/Fe], and their metallicities, Galactic orbital elements, and ages. The [Mg/Fe] ratios in the thin disk at any metallicity in the range ?1.0 dex <[Fe/H] < ?0.4 dex are shown to be smaller than those in the thick disk, implying that the thin-disk stars are, on average, younger than the thick-disk stars. The relative magnesium abundances in such metal-poor thin-disk stars have been found to systematically decrease with increasing stellar orbital radii in such a way that magnesium overabundances ([Mg/Fe] > 0.2 dex) are essentially observed only in the stars whose orbits lie almost entirely within the solar circle. At the same time, the range of metallicities in magnesium-poor stars is displaced from ?0.5 dex < [Fe/H] < +0.3 dex to ?0.7 dex < [Fe/H] < +0.2 dex as their orbital radii increase. This behavior suggests that, first, the star formation rate decreases with increasing Galactocentric distance and, second, there was no star formation for some time outside the solar circle, while this process was continuous within the solar circle. The decrease in the star formation rate with increasing Galactocentric distance is responsible for the existence of a negative radial metallicity gradient (grad _R[Fe/H] = ?0.05 ± 0.01 kpc^?1) in the disk, which shows a tendency to increase with decreasing age. At the same time, the relative magnesium abundance exhibits no radial gradient. We have confirmed the existence of a steep negative vertical metallicity gradient (grad _Z[Fe/H] = ?0.29 ± 0.06 kpc^?1) and detected a significant positive vertical gradient in relative magnesium abundance (grad _Z[Mg/Fe] = 0.13 ± 0.02 kpc^?1); both gradients increase appreciably in absolute value with decreasing age. We have found that there is not only an age-metallicity relation, but also an age-magnesium abundance relation, in the thin disk. We surmise that the thin disk has a multicomponent structure, but the existence of a negative trend in the star formation rate along the Galactocentric radius does not allow the stars of its various components to be identified in the immediate solar neighborhood.     

The first generations of stars

Summary. Up to a decade ago, searches for population III stars (i.e. with strictly the chemical composition left by the Big Bang) had led to the results that (1) no such star had been found, (2) stars with metallicities significantly below [Fe/H] = were exceedingly rare. Thanks to a major survey, undertaken by Beers, Preston and Shectman 18 years ago, covering about 7500 square degrees in the sky, and down to magnitude =16.0, the situation has drastically changed. The observational limit towards the lowest metallicities is now about [Fe/H] = , i.e. 4 dex below the solar metallicity , (a level of pollution by supernova ejecta of only a few ppm), and over 100 stars are known with metallicities [Fe/H] in the range to . The study of this sample, and of a few stars found more serendipitously, has allowed a number of new conclusions: (i) The cosmological element Li stays constant (prolongation of the Spite's plateau) down to the lowest metallicities, a great observational gift to the hot Big Bang cosmology (ii) All heavier elements show a roughly linear increase with the abundance of O (or even Fe if the metallicity is below [Fe/H] = ), including the other light elements, Be and B. This last point has led to a reappraisal of the current view that they were produced by spallation of interstellar nuclei by galactic cosmic rays, because the rise of those elements with metallicity should then have been more quadratic than linear. An alternative new perspective is that these elements are produced by spallation of the primary nuclei ejected by SNe ii against protons of the interstellar medium. (iii) The ratio of the alpha elements (O, Si, Mg,...) to iron also stays constant down to the lowest metallicities, at about 3 times the solar value. (iv) Significant deviations to a lockstep variation of the various elements within the iron-peak start to appear below [Fe/H] = . The strongest are a decrease of [Cr/Fe] and an increase of [Co/Fe] when [Fe/H] decreases from to . These trends are not explained by the current status of explosive nucleosynthesis. (v) A great scatter of the abundances of the neutron capture elements relative to iron appears at very low metallicities. Similar scatter is seen for [Al/Fe]. A remarkable star with [Fe/H] = , CS 22892-052, has been found, with a superb spectrum of the -elements, involving over-abundances of those with respect to iron by factors ranging between 10 and 50. (vi) The kinematics of the very metal-poor stars is similar to that of other halo stars, with a complete lack of systemic rotation in an inertial frame, if not a small amount of counter-rotation in the Galaxy. Evidence exists that the velocity ellipsoid is radially elongated for stars within 10 kpc from the galactic center, whereas it is more spherical or even radially contracted at 20 kpc from the galactic center. (vii) The low metallicity stars were likely formed at an early cosmological epoch ( if H km/s), before the Galaxy had developed a disk. The new views concerning the sizes of the Ly clouds open the possibility that the low-metallicity Ly systems are large halos having the right metallicity for being protogalaxies, just forming early stellar generations. (viii) One may wonder why, if more than 100 stars are known with metallicities between [Fe/H] = to no pop. III has been found, or even not one star near [Fe/H] = . Different kinds of explanations have been proposed, with none conclusive at present. Either we have already observed a pop. III star, but its pristine Big Bang composition has been corrupted by a small amount of interstellar matter accreted during its 10 Gyr of orbiting in an already-enriched gas, or the collective process of star formation has polluted the medium before it has produced the low-mass stars we can still observe now, or, simpler, pop. III stars exist, but are sufficiently rare that we have not yet observed a volume large enough to have found one. Received: April 3, 1996     

DDO integrated photometry of globular clusters and initial chemical evolution of the galaxy

Integrated photometry of 91 galactic globular clusters was carried out with theUBV and DDO systems. A method to determine reddening is presented. Metal abundances were obtained by means of a calibration ofC(42–45)₀ vs [Fe/H]. Thirteen other clusters whose metallicity values were made compatible with those observed here, were added to the sample totalizing a homogenous set of [Fe/H] estimates for 104 globular clusters. This sample is used to analyze the spatial distribution of metallicities. An estimate of the intrinsic metal abundance frequency distribution of the globular cluster system is provided. The chemical properties of the globular cluster system are compared with one-zone-chemical-enrichment models which take into account gas loss from star formation regions. It is concluded that these models cannot describe the complete chemical enrichment of the globular cluster system.     

Li production in the big bang

Li abundance is determined for 23 halo subdwarfs. About half of the stars show [Fe/H] < −1.4 and a space velocityV > 160 km s⁻¹ Li appears to be present in all our halo stars, with an abundance within about ± 0.2 dex of the value logn (Li) = 2.0 found by Spite & Spite (1982). Thus our results provide confirmation of the main conclusion of Spite & Spite.