Correcting systematic effects in a large set of photometric light curves

We suggest a new algorithm to remove systematic effects in a large set of light curves obtained by a photometric survey. The algorithm can remove systematic effects, such as those associated with atmospheric extinction, detector efficiency, or point spread function changes over the detector. The algorithm works without any prior knowledge of the effects, as long as they linearly appear in many stars of the sample. The approach, which was originally developed to remove atmospheric extinction effects, is based on a lower rank approximation of matrices, an approach which has already been suggested and used in chemometrics, for example. The proposed algorithm is especially useful in cases where the uncertainties of the measurements are unequal. For equal uncertainties, the algorithm reduces to the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) algorithm. We present a simulation to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm and we point out its potential, in the search for transit candidates in particular.     

The evolution of binary fractions in globular clusters

We study the evolution of binary stars in globular clusters using a new Monte Carlo approach combining a population synthesis code ( startrack ) and a simple treatment of dynamical interactions in the dense cluster core using a new tool for computing three- and four-body interactions ( fewbody ). We find that the combination of stellar evolution and dynamical interactions (binary–single and binary–binary) leads to a rapid depletion of the binary population in the cluster core. The maximum binary fraction today in the core of a typical dense cluster such as 47 Tuc, assuming an initial binary fraction of 100 per cent, is only ∼ 5–10 per cent. We show that this is in good agreement with recent Hubble Space Telescope observations of close binaries in the core of 47 Tuc, provided that a realistic distribution of binary periods is used to interpret the results. Our findings also have important consequences for the dynamical modelling of globular clusters, suggesting that 'realistic models' should incorporate much larger initial binary fractions than has usually been the case in the past.     

The nature of Europa's dark non-ice surface material: Spatially-resolved high spectral resolution spectroscopy from the Keck telescope

We present new 1.45-1.75 μm spectra of Europa's dark non-ice material with a spectral resolution (λ/δλ) of 1200, obtained by using adaptive optics on the Keck telescope to spatially separate the spectrum of the non-ice material from that of the surrounding ice-rich regions. Despite the great increase in spectral resolution over the previous best spectra of the non-ice material, taken with Galileo's near-infrared mapping spectrometer (NIMS) with λ/δλ=66, no new fine-scale spectral structure is revealed. The smoothness of the spectra is inconsistent with available laboratory spectra of crystalline hydrated salts at Europa temperatures, but is more consistent with various combinations of non-crystalline hydrated salts and/or hydrated sulfuric acid, as have been matched to the lower-resolution NIMS spectra.     

蛤蜊科3种贝类16SrRNA基因片段及ITS2核苷酸序列分析

利用PCR技术分别扩增连云港及启东沿海蛤蜊科的西施舌（Coelomactra antiquata）、中国蛤蜊（Mactra chinensis）和四角蛤蜊（Mactra veneriformis）3种双壳贝的16SrRNA基因片段和ITS2核苷酸序列．测序后用DNAstar软件分析了核苷酸差异。结果显示：三种贝类16SrRNA基因片段长度相同，均为306bp（去除引物）．核苷酸存在多态性。共有45个变异位点，54个核苷酸发生了变异。全部为碱基置换。西施舌与中国蛤蜊此片段核苷酸的同源性为88．9％．与四角蛤蜊的同源性为88．6％．中国蛤蜊与四角蛤蜊的同源性为90．6％。三种蛤蜊ITS2序列分别为390bp（西施舌）、441bp（四角蛤蜊）和466bp（中国蛤蜊）。存在长度多态性．ITS2核苷酸差异分析结果显示．西施舌与中国蛤蜊的同源性为70．9％-71．1％，西施舌与四角蛤蜊的为70．5％-71．0％。中国蛤蜊与四角蛤蜊的同源性为88．1％-88．8％。ITS2序列分析结果与16SrRNA基因片段分析结果一致．2种分子分析法均显示中国蛤蜊与四角蛤蜊的亲缘关系近。     

Hydrated sulphuric acid in dense molecular clouds

We consider sulphur depletion in dense molecular clouds, and suggest hydrated sulphuric acid, H₂SO₄ ·  n H₂O, as a component of interstellar dust in icy mantles. We discuss the formation of hydrated sulphuric acid in collapsing clouds and its instability in heated regions in terms of the existing hot core models and observations. We also show that some features of the infrared spectrum of hydrated sulphuric acid have correspondence in the observed spectra of young stellar objects.